Hi! Tom,

On Wed, 13 Nov 13, you wrote to me:

 PQ>> Barb's Thunderbird profile directory, and also for my U'u TB profile.
 PQ>> (Sure new/re-created installations use a different profile
 PQ>> pseudo-root but the backups can be grafted in fairly easily.)

 TW> For Firefox and Thunderbird I use "Monzbackup"

It can do a partial restore of just the profile 'root'?  Have you tried it?
 If so, then it's a keeper.  :)

I do all of Barb's backups with Total Commander (TC), considering both
simple restores or restoring after a total catastrophe.  The backup target
files (on a network share) take the form of either complete directory trees
or ZIPs containing directory trees, both of which TC can directly compare
& synchronize.  (BTW, TC views ZIP contents as just directories.) 
They're easily restored using either TC or even any other *nix vBox.

The backup thing is a daily chore, only lasting about 15 minutes or so. 
While TC is working away in the vBox I'm usually playing (Klondike)
Solitare, or browsing the 'net, in her U'u.  :)

Cheers,
Paul.

... Gotta go... the orderlies are about to check my room!
--- Paul's Win98SE VirtualBox