how do I stop Thunderbird from installing an update it downloaded
I still have the old version of T-bird and am quite happy with it. Normally T-bird gives me a pop up that asks if I want to update and I say no. Today, though, on its own, T-bird has downloaded the version 12 big change and says it will install on my next restart. I DON'T WANT THAT. How can I stop T-bird from installing that unwanted download ... and why the heck did it do the download without asking me!
All Replies (7)
Download the required version of Thunderbird from here:
https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/thunderbird/releases/
Set your computer to offline and then install the downloaded Thunderbird.
Open it, go to Tools|Options|Advanced|Update and select "Never".
Now you can go online.
My perception is that Thunderbird forgets or changes settings when it updates, and various settings (e.g. html vs plain text, TLS/SSL vs unsecured connections) can randomly change. However, you hadn't voluntarily updated, so that doesn't appear to be the cause here.
We don't see it reported here in the forums, but on the newsgroup there are recurrent discussions about why Thunderbird updates when the users have, as far as possible, set it not to update. So, I don't have an answer for you, but you are not alone.
Modified by Zenos
It's frustrating. I did go to Tools and took out anything that referenced updating (again). It's been at least a year since it asked me about the new T-bird so something caused it to do its thing on its own.
However, I don't want the update to install and from reading what you wrote, you're telling me to install it. There has to be a file or something, somewhere, that stores this downloaded update. Seems like I should be able to delete that folder or file but I just don't know what to look for.
By the way, I noticed there was a file in T-bird called updater.exe and updater.ini. Would deleting those do anything?
No, I advised you to go to the ftp site and download whatever older version you prefer to use.
OH! I misunderstood that. So you don't know of a way to stop the update of this one that has yet to install? That's really what I want to do before it messes up my very large email setup.
oh ... and one more thing ... all I get is the parent directory with lots of versions and each version has more files. I don't know what I'm supposed to click on. I'm used to basic .exe files but obviously there's more to it here. I see the release I want, but what then? I thought going to 'update' under it would help, but I still just get more files and saving the link is only up as an htm option so I'm clueless on that aspect, if that's something I need to do.
Finally found it but there are two choices ... Thunderbird Setup 3.1.20.exe and Thunderbird Setup 3.1.20.exe.asc What's the difference? (still trying to see if there is a way to prevent the version 12 from installing in the first place; I really don't want it to mess up my system).
I hate to break it to you but Thunderbird version 3. anything was unstable, perhaps the worst version of Thunderbird ever released.
But what is your fundamental issue with having an up to date version that is actually receiving security patches? It is Version 31, and soon to be 34, it should be installing, not 12.