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.

Avatar for Username

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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Why does a unresponsive script error in Thunderbird cause Firefox to freeze

  • 6 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Wayne Mery

lifeinhackney
lifeinhackney
more options

I usually have Thunderbird open while I am using Firefox to google, up date wordpress or whatever.

Every now and again Firefox will freeze and I used to think it was because I had too many tabs open.

But in fact I now know to check Thunderbird where there is usuallly a message saying program not responding.

But as there is no advance alert it can mean most other programs then also become non responsive.

Why is this happening and how can I stop it.

I usually always update Thunderbird when alerted that there is an update.

And why because Thunderbird is unresponsibe does Firefox also freeze.

Thanks

I usually have Thunderbird open while I am using Firefox to google, up date wordpress or whatever. Every now and again Firefox will freeze and I used to think it was because I had too many tabs open. But in fact I now know to check Thunderbird where there is usuallly a message saying program not responding. But as there is no advance alert it can mean most other programs then also become non responsive. Why is this happening and how can I stop it. I usually always update Thunderbird when alerted that there is an update. And why because Thunderbird is unresponsibe does Firefox also freeze. Thanks

Modified by Wayne Mery

All Replies (6)

lifeinhackney
lifeinhackney Question owner
more options

Sorry 

- Thunderbird 68.10.0 (32-bit)
- Firefox 78.0.2 (64-bit)
Matt
Matt
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Well mostly it is because your anti virus is the common factor. Thunderbird freezes because the anti virus blocks it because it is scanning, often in Thunderbird own profile folder but it can be contention in the temp folder as well. interrupted disk access then cascades as the system only has one system disk to access.

lifeinhackney
lifeinhackney Question owner
more options

Thanks - if it is my antivirus software McAfee LiveSafe why doesn't it happen every day?

But if it is should I change the settings in McAfee or close Thunderbird rather than leave it open?

Appreciate your thoughts

Matt
Matt
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

I suggest you look here https://wiki.mozilla.org/Thunderbird:Testing:Antivirus_Related_Performance_Issues

There is discussion there on the reasons anti virus products can cause issues, along with years worth of McAfee caused chaos. We actually recommend you disable email scanning, and scam/spam detection and scanning of the Thunderbird profile with the products real time protection.

lifeinhackney
lifeinhackney Question owner
more options

Thanks - I thought I had de-activated scanning, but I suppose an update could have reset that. Will check!

Wayne Mery
Wayne Mery
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

AV sometimes doesn't recognize the new program