the latest (today) automatic update was to 68.12.1 (32). It has resulted in many persisting problems.

What problems? Please be specific.

Hello christ1,

I guess I deserve that rejoinder :-)

After the update the restart process failed to terminate and I had to shut off the computer. After turning it on again, there were numerous issues such as various applications not loading, e-mails not being sent and more. Subsequent restarts did not terminate and I had to turn the computer off/on several more times before some semblance of normality was restored. I suspect a buggy Thunderbird update and wonder whether I could install the latest version (maybe the 64 bit), keep all my data and get off the automatic update channel.

Many thanks, tiha

After the update the restart process failed to terminate

Are you saying Thunderbird didn't properly shut down after pressing 'Restart'?

I had to shut off the computer.

Well, typically you don't have to shut off the computer, just because Thunderbird is hanging. You can always end the thunderbird.exe process via task manager. Was there any other reason why you 'had to shut off the computer'?

After turning it on again, there were numerous issues such as various applications not loading

I'm not sure what exactly this means. As long as it's not related to Thunderbird, let's ignore that.

e-mails not being sent ...

You'd need to explain that in more detail.

• What were you doing?
• What happened?
• What did you expect to happen?

... and more.

What else?

Subsequent restarts did not terminate

Restarts of Thunderbird? Please confirm.

I suspect a buggy Thunderbird update

The update to v68.12.1 really just changed one thing: Thunderbird will no longer automatically install updates when Preferences tab is opened

It is highly unlikely that this caused the effects you described. It's much more likely the problem is with your Thunderbird profile. Updating to TB78 wouldn't change that.

keep all my data

A Thunderbird update doesn't touch your profile with all your data.

and get off the automatic update channel.

You want to be on the 'automatic update channel' to always get the latest security updates.

Wrt your problems, try to start Thunderbird in safe mode. https://support.mozilla.org/kb/safe-mode-thunderbird

Is there any difference?

Hi,

look, I am not a computer engineer and apparently incapable of ascending to the level of specificity that you require. I am just to get to the point where a problems with a utility like e-mail doesn't take doesn't bog me down.

After an update (Thunderbird in this case) there is an automatic restart (not of Thunderbird but of the system). That restart did not terminate: that to me is a potentially buggy update. I had to shut down the computer (i.e. not Thunderbird). After tuning it on (the computer, not Thunderbird) several issues popped up. I then again started a restart (of the computer, not Thunderbird) and it (the restart (of the computer)) again failed to terminate. A mess, in other very specific words.

You say the problem may be with my "profile" and I will try to find out what that means but my "profile" has not been a problem for years as far as I know. Then, I guess, I am on my own in trying to find out what that problem may be.

If some updates result in such events, I definitely would like to be off the automatic update channel and would appreciate knowing:

1. how to get off that channel (I can update myself occasionally); 2. can I install the latest version (or some other recommended version) in either 32 or 64 on top of my existing version without losing email, addresses etc?

Many thanks and all the best, tiha

> It's much more likely the problem is with your Thunderbird profile

Perhaps even more likely, antivirus. Which one do you use? You could try starting Windows 10 in safe mode https://www.dell.com/support/article/en-us/sln306359/how-to-boot-to-safe-mode-in-windows-10?lang=en

Hello Wayne,

thank you very much.

I use ESET as antivirus since many years. It has never been a problem.

In any case, I got most things back to working order and just wonder how to get off the automatic update and whether I can download/install another version (maybe 64) on top of my current version (32) and assume that my profile survives the exercise.

Best regards, tiha

re :After an update (Thunderbird in this case) there is an automatic restart (not of Thunderbird but of the system). Weird as only Thunderbird needs to restart, but I have heard that some people get this when Windows OS has just performed an update just prior and this went on to cause issues starting Thunderbird etc.

Exit Thundrbird if running and check Thunderbird is not running in Task Manager. Uninstall the current version you are using. Download a fresh install. If you are using v68.12.1, you can get it here: http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/thunderbird/releases/68.12.1/

If using a Windows OS then select either win32 or win64 (assuming your computer is 64bit and you do not need to integrate other programs that only run using win32) Then select desired language eg: en-GB is English British Click on Thunderbird Setup 68.12.1.exe file to download.

Hello Toad-Hall,

many thanks: that is very helpful. Just checked on the Windows update history and I think you are right. There was a Windows update that same night.

I’ll follow the suggestions you made with regards to a re-install.

Best regards, tiha