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I am blocked from filling out address, subject and message text when trying to write messages!!!!

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 11 views
  • Last reply by KatAustria

KatAustria
KatAustria
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Suddenly when I hit 'reply' to a message the new message window 1) does not have the address already filled out and does not show the original message inline, as it should - IMAGE 1 2) if I click on my name in the 'from' field the original message will populate, but I can't write anything - my cursor will not even appear in the message field. IMAGE 2

Even worse, when I try to write a new message I basically can't click on any fields to write the address, subject or text in the body of the message. Only if I click several times can I write the address, but under no circumstances can I write a subject or an actual message!

I have the latest update, have used Thunderbird for over 8 years, everything worked yesterday, I restarted my computer several times, then even installed the lates Mac update - no love!

I did just change the message pane setting so that when I am in my inbox and I highlight a message it doesn't get marked as read (after the last Thunderbird update that started happening) but I can't imagine that has anything to do with it!

I have never installed an add-on.

Thank you, thank you thank you for any help you can offer

Suddenly when I hit 'reply' to a message the new message window 1) does not have the address already filled out and does not show the original message inline, as it should - IMAGE 1 2) if I click on my name in the 'from' field the original message will populate, but I can't write anything - my cursor will not even appear in the message field. IMAGE 2 Even worse, when I try to write a new message I basically can't click on any fields to write the address, subject or text in the body of the message. Only if I click several times can I write the address, but under no circumstances can I write a subject or an actual message! I have the latest update, have used Thunderbird for over 8 years, everything worked yesterday, I restarted my computer several times, then even installed the lates Mac update - no love! I did just change the message pane setting so that when I am in my inbox and I highlight a message it doesn't get marked as read (after the last Thunderbird update that started happening) but I can't imagine that has anything to do with it! I have never installed an add-on. Thank you, thank you thank you for any help you can offer
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

Does it change if you run in safe mode? Hold Option when you launch TB.

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All Replies (5)

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

Does it change if you run in safe mode? Hold Option when you launch TB.

KatAustria
KatAustria Question owner
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Thanks - that worked, and I apologize that I didn't try that before posting - I did find that mentioned when I googled, but I have never used an add-on and (silly me) thought starting in safe mode was something complicated - so thanks again for you time!

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 10 Contributor
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I don't think you want to keep running in safe mode, but if the problem isn't caused by add-ons, the next most likely cause is a broken layout.

Launch again in safe mode, check 'Reset toolbars and controls' and click 'Make changes and restart'. Is the problem still there in normal mode?

KatAustria
KatAustria Question owner
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Hi - thanks for following up - I had also been wondering if I would have to always run it in safe mode, so after it started working again I shut Thunderbird down and opened it again without safe mode, had the same problem gain, ran it on safe mode again, then shut it down again, opened it again, and the second time it worked fine without needing safe mode.

I am hesitant to reset the toolbars and controls, as I don't then want to re-customize them again and possibly trigger the problem, but will save this thread in case I have problems again and need to try that.

Again, thank you so much for your time, and I am a bit sheepish that googling suggested safe mode and I didn't try it - hope you don't feel I wasted your time - but I was much more confident taking advice from this forum than the Internet at large!

KatAustria
KatAustria Question owner
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Okay, after working for a while, started having the same problem, so did your next fix - again, thanks for following up!