This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

mail in windows is blank after viewing in linux

  • 3 cavab
  • 2 have this problem
  • 3 views
  • Last reply by kenpile

more options

I have been running Thunderbird for years on Windows 7 ( currently version 38.6 ). Yesterday I downloaded the latest Linux version of Thunderbird for my Ubuntu 14.04 dual boot installation.

I pointed the Linux Thunderbird at the Windows Thunderbird mail directories.

I used the Linux Thunderbird.

When I re booted to Windows and looked at the mail, the headers were there but I can't see the text in the body of the text. Can you tell me how to fix this please

I have been running Thunderbird for years on Windows 7 ( currently version 38.6 ). Yesterday I downloaded the latest Linux version of Thunderbird for my Ubuntu 14.04 dual boot installation. I pointed the Linux Thunderbird at the Windows Thunderbird mail directories. I used the Linux Thunderbird. When I re booted to Windows and looked at the mail, the headers were there but I can't see the text in the body of the text. Can you tell me how to fix this please

Chosen solution

PS did you read through this article when you set up Thunderbird to work across Windows and Ubuntu? http://kb.mozillazine.org/Sharing_a_profile_between_Windows_and_Linux There are important issues about file system compatibility. Also (at the end) it mentions a problem that can arise when Windows hibernates rather than shuts down properly.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (3)

more options

Does this apply to all your mail folders? Or only the folders you opened in Linux? It's possible that by opening them in Linux, and especially if you made changes, you might have corrupted the folder indexes: that's a common cause of blank messages. Other possible causes, and remedies, are suggested here: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Disappearing_mail

more options

Seçilmiş Həll

PS did you read through this article when you set up Thunderbird to work across Windows and Ubuntu? http://kb.mozillazine.org/Sharing_a_profile_between_Windows_and_Linux There are important issues about file system compatibility. Also (at the end) it mentions a problem that can arise when Windows hibernates rather than shuts down properly.

more options

Sorry for the very late reply and thank you for your help.

I had read the article and followed it through so all was well for a while.

I think my problems started when I ran Thunderbird in Linux and the Windoze partition containing the mail folders was not mounted at the time ( it's mounted at boot now to prevent this happening again ). I suspect I didn't follow the instructions properly on the second set up after this.

I still have some corrupted mail but I have learned a lesson :-)

Modified by kenpile