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Windows/Linux Dual boot causes problems with Thunderbird indicating already running

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I have a dual boot computer (currently Windows 10 and PCLinuxOS. If I boot into Windows and open email I have to either delete all of the files in this path "Thunderbird/Profiles/xugyydgb.default/cache2/entries/" (that's the Linux path) or go into the properties of the folder and change the owner of the folder to my user name. If I do not do that and boot into Linux and start Thunderbird, I get a messaged indicating that Thunderbird is already running and I need to close existing instance and restart.

Thunderbird is not running. I tried logging in as Linux root, but even when I do that I can not delete the files in the folder or take ownership of the folder. The folder shows root as owner, but when I try to delete the files it stops and says I don't have permission.

Another interesting thing, if that path has files in it from having Windows open, then Linux will only see my 3 Windows partitions as read only. If I have deleted those file while in Windows, everything works as expected in Linux.

I have had the same basic setup (on the same computer) with Windows XP, Windows 7 and PCLinuxOS (not sure of the versions) without any problem until about 4 months ago.

I honestly, don't know if this is a Windows, Linux or Thunderbird problem.

Any suggestions? Thanks, Roger

I have a dual boot computer (currently Windows 10 and PCLinuxOS. If I boot into Windows and open email I have to either delete all of the files in this path "Thunderbird/Profiles/xugyydgb.default/cache2/entries/" (that's the Linux path) or go into the properties of the folder and change the owner of the folder to my user name. If I do not do that and boot into Linux and start Thunderbird, I get a messaged indicating that Thunderbird is already running and I need to close existing instance and restart. Thunderbird is not running. I tried logging in as Linux root, but even when I do that I can not delete the files in the folder or take ownership of the folder. The folder shows root as owner, but when I try to delete the files it stops and says I don't have permission. Another interesting thing, if that path has files in it from having Windows open, then Linux will only see my 3 Windows partitions as read only. If I have deleted those file while in Windows, everything works as expected in Linux. I have had the same basic setup (on the same computer) with Windows XP, Windows 7 and PCLinuxOS (not sure of the versions) without any problem until about 4 months ago. I honestly, don't know if this is a Windows, Linux or Thunderbird problem. Any suggestions? Thanks, Roger

Chosen solution

I found the problem. Windows has apparently changed the way quick boot operates and re-enabled it on my computer during one of the updates.

I know I had turned Quick Start off previously as it made the shared drives unreadable. It now just sets the drives to read only. I turned it off again and now I can access Email again in both Windows and Linux.

I was misled about what was fixing it as when Windows is just restarted, it does not lock the drive, so I was able to get in from Linux.

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All Replies (3)

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You will probably find other issues as the file path naming conventions of Linux and Windows are not the same. one using / and the other \ as a delimiter. This leads to problems when absolute paths are set in the pref.js file.

What happens if you set the cache to 0 in Options/Advanced/network and disk space

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Thank you for the suggestions.

i don't think it is the file path differences. I have separate profile files and it worked for about 8 years without a problem.

I tried setting the cache to 0, but it is always back to 350 when I reopen Thunderbird.

rogerelliott modificouno o

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Chosen Solution

I found the problem. Windows has apparently changed the way quick boot operates and re-enabled it on my computer during one of the updates.

I know I had turned Quick Start off previously as it made the shared drives unreadable. It now just sets the drives to read only. I turned it off again and now I can access Email again in both Windows and Linux.

I was misled about what was fixing it as when Windows is just restarted, it does not lock the drive, so I was able to get in from Linux.