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Thunderbird constantly Hangs "Not Responding"

  • 8 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 33 views
  • Last reply by Kami Scott

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I began using Thunderbird several weeks ago, beginning with the previous version and upgrading to the new one. From the beginning, Thunderbird hangs every couple of minutes, whether I'm navigating or composing a reply. It doesn't shut down, it just stops working, often with "Not Responding" in the title bar. It usually comes back within 5-10 seconds. It did this when I was in Troubleshoot mode.

I've seen suggestions to see what happens in Safe Mode. I hate using Safe Mode, so I'm hoping for another suggestion or test to do in regular mode before I go that route. Kami

I began using Thunderbird several weeks ago, beginning with the previous version and upgrading to the new one. From the beginning, Thunderbird hangs every couple of minutes, whether I'm navigating or composing a reply. It doesn't shut down, it just stops working, often with "Not Responding" in the title bar. It usually comes back within 5-10 seconds. It did this when I was in Troubleshoot mode. I've seen suggestions to see what happens in Safe Mode. I hate using Safe Mode, so I'm hoping for another suggestion or test to do in regular mode before I go that route. Kami

Modified by Wayne Mery

All Replies (8)

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You may hate safe mode, but it is the most useful initial tool. And it is only a short test. Please test it so we can move on to other ideas if it doesn't help.

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OK. I went into Safe Mode. GOT THE SAME HANGS.

*Please Note*: When I returned to normal, my desktop appearance - shortcut locations, shortcut font sizes; font sizes and sub-windows in Windows File Manager -- was totally messed up. After spending an hour with computer tech support, it's still not back how it was.

So don't expect me to go into Safe Mode again.

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I was having this issue too, had to stop Thunderbird from within Task Manager and restart it. But since the update today, the issue is gone. I am just hating the new layout in my inbox though.

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Not exactly the same. The hangs I get last for a few seconds. Then T-bird is responsive.

I didn't know an upgrade, so when I read your msg., I did that manually. Have to see if I still get hangs.

Modified by Kami Scott

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Kami Scott said

OK. I went into Safe Mode. GOT THE SAME HANGS. *Please Note*: When I returned to normal, my desktop appearance - shortcut locations, shortcut font sizes; font sizes and sub-windows in Windows File Manager -- was totally messed up. After spending an hour with computer tech support, it's still not back how it was.

It's unclear to me what you did.

1. Windows' Safe Mode makes no permanent changes 2. Thunderbird Troubleshoot Mode also makes no permanent changes - but if you picked non-default choices, then yes it would make permanent changes.

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If you still have slowness after version 128.2.0 comes out then we have a tool you can run to measure what's slow.

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I made no changes in T-Bird or anywhere when I was in Safe Mode. I typed a few things in T-bird (New Msg. and navigated to different screens. That was it.

Then I closed T-bird and hit Restart. Period. Desktop messed up, Windows Explorer text is different. Desktop popups are like 4 times the original size. Text sizes significantly larger in other apps as well, including T-bird.

And while in Safe Mode, I couldn't send email.

And the "hangs" are still happening, even after I did the T-bird version update.

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Updated today to 128.1esr (64 bit). It says this is the current one.

Slowness isn't the issue. It's short Hangs, where T-bird Freezes for a few seconds, with a Not Responding message in the Title Bar. It happens when I'm replying to a message or navigating to another screen.

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