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Thunderbird won't launch after updating

  • 9 respostas
  • 1 has this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by Stans

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When I launched Thunderbird a few minutes ago, it did the automatic update. When my inbox appeared, it had not downloaded any mail since I checked it a few days ago. I tried to download manually, but it timed out and did not download. So, I shut the program down and now when I launch it I get the error:

"A newer version of Thunderbird may have made changes to your profile which are no longer compatible with this older version. Use this profile only with that newer version..."

I tried launching using the "thunderbird.exe -p" command, to see if there were multiple profiles. There are not and when I tried to launch the Default profile, I got the above error again.

The "maintenanceservice-install.lot" file for today has this text in it:

"Upgrading service if installed... User access was set successfully on the service. The MozillaMaintenance service path is correct. The service was upgraded successfully"

Obviously, it wasn't upgraded successfully! Any ideas on how I can fix this?

Many thanks.

When I launched Thunderbird a few minutes ago, it did the automatic update. When my inbox appeared, it had not downloaded any mail since I checked it a few days ago. I tried to download manually, but it timed out and did not download. So, I shut the program down and now when I launch it I get the error: "A newer version of Thunderbird may have made changes to your profile which are no longer compatible with this older version. Use this profile only with that newer version..." I tried launching using the "thunderbird.exe -p" command, to see if there were multiple profiles. There are not and when I tried to launch the Default profile, I got the above error again. The "maintenanceservice-install.lot" file for today has this text in it: "Upgrading service if installed... User access was set successfully on the service. The MozillaMaintenance service path is correct. The service was upgraded successfully" Obviously, it wasn't upgraded successfully! Any ideas on how I can fix this? Many thanks.

Chosen solution

Stans said

The Mozilla Update Service and Thunderbird are NOT one and the same thing. If the service was upgraded, i doesn't mean Thunderbird was also upgraded. Uninstall ALL installations of Thunderbird (if more than one) via Control Panel, then go to C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86) and delete the folder named Thunderbird from both locations. Finally, go to thunderbird.net and download then install the latest version from there.

But won't this delete all my messages?

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All Replies (9)

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The Mozilla Update Service and Thunderbird are NOT one and the same thing. If the service was upgraded, i doesn't mean Thunderbird was also upgraded. Uninstall ALL installations of Thunderbird (if more than one) via Control Panel, then go to C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86) and delete the folder named Thunderbird from both locations. Finally, go to thunderbird.net and download then install the latest version from there.

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But won't this delete all my email messages and account info?

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No it won't. Those are not stored in the program files folders.

See https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-thunderbird-stores-user-data

Stans modificouno o

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Chosen Solution

Stans said

The Mozilla Update Service and Thunderbird are NOT one and the same thing. If the service was upgraded, i doesn't mean Thunderbird was also upgraded. Uninstall ALL installations of Thunderbird (if more than one) via Control Panel, then go to C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86) and delete the folder named Thunderbird from both locations. Finally, go to thunderbird.net and download then install the latest version from there.

But won't this delete all my messages?

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Stans said

No it won't. Those are not stored in the program files folders.

Okay, I can try that. Where is my profile? I'd like to back that up "just in case." :)

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Thunderbird stores your data (accounts, messages, user settings etc) separately from its program files. See the link in my previous reply.

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Stans said

The Mozilla Update Service and Thunderbird are NOT one and the same thing. If the service was upgraded, i doesn't mean Thunderbird was also upgraded. Uninstall ALL installations of Thunderbird (if more than one) via Control Panel, then go to C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86) and delete the folder named Thunderbird from both locations. Finally, go to thunderbird.net and download then install the latest version from there.

Whew! This worked. Thanks so much for the help!

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Glad it worked.

Stans modificouno o