How long have you been running Thunderbird on Windows 10? Do things improve if you start Thunderbird in safe mode?

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/safe-mode

Hello, Wayne:

I have been using Windows 10 (T'Bird for years!) since it first came out - the problems I mention here have been in the last couple of weeks. As to Safe Mode, as far as I can tell, it works exactly the same - it still refuses to load the address book and rebuilds the Inbox Summary File - same message as before! Is there a way to re-build the database? Several weeks ago I had problems (it seemed to me) with downloading messages (I get quite a lot) at the same time that I was saving/moving other messages to local folders. That might be a way to fix the address book ('cause it's still there) and the other problems I'm having?

Thanks for replying.

Sparky

A different approach is needed than rebuilding database.

What version is running? What addons are listed in help | troubleshooting?

Hello, again, Wayne: Version: 45.1.0 - I just updated from 45.0 to see if that made a difference but alas, no. Add-ons: (Extensions) Compact Header 2.1.0 Plug-ins: Soda PDF 8, Dell Data Protection | Security Tools, AdobeAAMDetect, Adobe Acrobat, Google Update, Intel® Identity Protection Technology, Foxit PhantomPDF Plugin for Mozilla, Shockwave for Director, Shockwave Flash, Hola VLC Web Plugin, & Foxit Reader Plugin for Mozilla. Only Shockwave is enabled.

Hope this helps!!

Sparky

TheArtfulDodger said

I have noticed that lately the List of Recent Moves is not updating. I also have noticed that lately the address book (abook.mab) will not load (though it is in the profile) and the message "Unable to open the summary file for Inbox. Perhaps there was an error on disk, or the full path is too long." How can I fix these errors? Thanks in advance.

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1268334 is an example of an addon that can cause a problem. But given your entire description, an addon is less likely than other possibilities to be the cause.

Your description suggests the Thunderbird process is running in to an OS open file descriptor limit. Which requires a witch hunt. - Please go to tools | options | advanced | general | config editor - paste mailnews.database.dbcache.logging.console in the field - double click the line, change value to debug, click ok - restart thunderbird - visit tools | error console In a few minutes you will periodically see lines like the attached screen shot. report what you see for open db count

let's try the image again

(grr)

Wow - there were countless errors - under messages I saw both open db count = 30 and 60. I'll be happy to forward some of it if you need more info. Sparky

Does problem go away if you reinstall 38.7.2, where I assume you did not have a problem?

DL from https://archive.mozilla.org/pub/thunderbird/releases/38.7.2/win32/en-US/

No, the errors I can see are still there - no address book and the Inbox Summary File. Lots of errors in the Error Console. Plus on my main e-mail I have lost the "from" column - I don't know how to get it back!

Sparky

columns - https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/message-list-columns

Do you use virtual folders? Heavy message filtering?

Hello, again, Wayne:

First, thanks for hanging in there - I really appreciate it 'cause this has wound me up!

My setup may tell you something - the machine that the problem first cropped up on is a Windows (originally 8.1) 10 Tablet. But I also need to (sometimes) work with my e-mails on a desktop (I haven't tried it recently on the desktop, though) so I have put all of the files on a flash drive (very fast, 32 GB) encrypted with TrueCrypt). I use encryption because on an earlier drive I didn't, and the drive failed such that I could not erase anything. When the manufacturer demanded that I return it to benefit from the lifetime guarantee, I couldn't because it wasn't encrypted!

Now to your questions. Virtual folders - I don't know what they are - I don't use any filtering - I decide where everything goes, manually! I usually move each message to it's appropriate local folder, also on the flash drive. I guess the only thing unusual is that I have (I think) about 12 e-mail addresses and a very long history (about 10 years) so I guess the total size is quite large.

Thanks again for your help.

Sparky

1. Type %appdata% into Windows Explorer (not IE). What is the full path name that is displayed?

2. How many (file) handles are in use? If task manager won't display it for you (I don't know if you can get it in windows 10 taskmgr), then install process manager from https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653 and enable the Handles column.

3. Also, obtain an open file list for thunderbird and email me the list vseerror -at- lehigh.edu. Install https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896655.aspx and extract the zip file. Start thunderbird. In a dos command prompt do

 handle -p thunderbird > c:\temp\tbfilelist.txt

also email results of network connections. In dos prompt do

 netstat -baf > c:\temp\netstatlst.txt