In Windows install Thunderbird.
Convert/import all mail and adresses to Thunderbird.
In Linux install Thunderbird. Do NOT start Thunderbird.
create a /home/[user]/.thunderbird/ map in Linux.
Copy the xxxxxxxx.default map from:
C:\Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\ (Win7)
C:\Documents and Settings\[user]\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\ (WinXP)
or
C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\ (WinXP)
to:
/home/[user]/.thunderbird/
Now start Linux Thunderbird.
If you are lucky

you see all your mail, adresses and maps as expected.
If not, cause Thunderbird created a new profile, then shut down Thunderbird and change the profile name in:
/home/[user]/.thunderbird/profiles.ini
to match xxxxxxxx.default
Now you are lucky

Ed