If you have not migrated to dovecot yet you will still be able to access your email INBOX, but none of the other folders until you complete the following steps. It looks daunting at first glance, but it's really easy. It's a lot of step-by-step stuff you probably already know. And, if you don't, give it a try and if you have questions just email problem@cs.brown.edu.

1. Determine your current IMAP Root Folder which is the directory where your email folders are kept (it could be named ~/mail, ~/nsmail, or something like that). Make a note of this folder name--it will be refer to it in subsiquent steps. Be sure to note any capitalization, as cAsE matters. After noting the folder name, set that folder name to blank using the following directions:

     * If you use Thunderbird:
         1. click, in sequance, "Tools", "Server Settings", "Advanced"
	 2. blank out "IMAP Server Directory"
	 3. be sure "Show only subscribed folders" is unchecked
	 4. be sure "Personal Namespace", "Public (shared)", and "Other
	    Users" are blanked out as well.

         ** Each mail client is a bit different.  As an example, I use Icedove 
	    and so, for 1. above I need to first click "Edit" and then 
	    "Account Settings".   If you don't find what you need by hunting 
	    around a bit send mail to problem and we'll help.
	    
     * If you use Outlook:
         1. click, in sequance, "Tools" and then "E-mail Accounts"
	 2. "View or Change Existing E-Mail accounts" should be checked
	 3. click, in sequance, "Next", "Change", "More Settings", and then 
	    "Advanced"
	 4. be sure the box named "Root folder path:" is blank

2. Make sure that all mail clients are closed and that you are not logged into 
   webmail

3. Dovecot requires a ~/mail directory, which may not currently exist.
      * From step 1, if the current IMAP Root Folder was called mail, then 
        continue to step 4.
      * If you have a random directory named mail you'll need to rename it
        before the next step
      * From step 1, if the current IMAP Root Folder was NOT called mail
        then you need to change it to mail. As an example, if from step 1 
	you determine that the current IMAP Root Folder is Mail, then you 
	would need to run:

        From Linux run the following two commands:
            mv ~/Mail ~/mail 
            rm ~/.mailboxlist

        From Windows:
            * click, in sequance, "Start", "My Computer", and then the 
	      Z drive "(Z:)"
            * right click on the IMAP Root Folder
            * click "Rename" and type mail
	    * delete the file named .mailboxlist

      * If you have an active ~/mbox file you need to move it into ~/mail
        You might want to rename it as it will now appear as a new folder.

4. Thunderbird requires you to remove it's cache files.  
      * Under Linux:
            1. Under Linux your profile directory should be something like
               ~/.mozilla-thunderbird/wyieb5qe.default
               where wyieb5qe is a random string generated when Thunderbird 
	       was first setup
            2. cd to that directory and remove a file named panacea.dat
	    3. cd to ImapMail 
	       For most users there will be one sub-directory there named
	       imap.cs.brown.edu or imaps.cs.brown.edu.  If there are 
	       others pick the most recent sub-directory with a similar name.
            4. cd into that directory and remove any files ending in .msf
                

      * Under Windows: 
            1. click "Start" and then "Run"
	    2. in the "Open" line type:  %appdata%
            3. within that folder the profile folder should be something 
	       like Thunderbird/Profiles/wyieb5qe.default
               where wyieb5qe is a random string generated when Thunderbird 
	       was first setup
            4. open that folder and remove a file named panacea.dat
            5. open a folder named ImapMail
	       For most users there will be one sub-folder there named
	       imap.cs.brown.edu.  If there are others pick the most
	       recent sub-folder with a similar name.
	    6. open that folder and remove any files ending in .msf

5. Restart your email client and you should be all set!

** If, after all this, you restart your email client and don't see your folders you'll probably just need to subscribing to them again.

** If you use webmail after the switch, be sure to choose "Dovecot Server" in the "Server" drop down menu on the login screen.

** If any problems occur, contact problem@cs.brown.edu