Why oh why would you try to install an old version. If you want to uses same with same update your V38. otherwise just install the new version. Just remember there is no automatic moving of your profile. So you need to do that manually.

You are using Windows XP when trying to download Thunderbird is why you are getting served 38.5.0 and not anything newer.

WinXP users needs SP3 in order to install 38.6.0 and newer setups on Windows due to Microsoft's requirement of signing since. WinXP SP2 users can use current versions if updated in Thunderbird but not by setup install. It is not possible to tell by the default browser useragents on WinXP if the WinXP user has SP2 or SP3 installed.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/get-latest-version-thunderbird-windows-xp-vista

A similar thing is being done with Firefox as WinXP users are being served 43.0.1 in which they can update to current from. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/get-latest-version-firefox-windows-xp-vista

I am using XP sp3. I was trying to download 38.7.2 so I can install the same version I currently am using. I figured that there might be a problem moving my profile to the 38.5.0 in Windows 7. So I must install 38.5.0 and then the built-in updater will bring me to 38.7.2? This version is fairly recent I thought from April. I'm not sure what's different in 45.1.1 but 38.7.2 is what we have on our Win 7 laptop so I'll stick with that until everything else is working.

Now if I could only get Thunderbird to download pdfs intact on my Mac at work I'd be all set. I've had to revert back to Apple Mail.

issues with PDFs fall into two categories. 1. Anti virus programs that corrupt them in their fruitless attempts at scanning 2. Those with old hardware that need to reduce the chunk size of their mail to match the old routers and modems. As this second issue usually has send problems associated with it and it has become exceedingly rare in the last 5 years I would say your issue is 1.

BTW it may well be some edge firewall/scanner that is turning PDF files to gravy. Rather than the anti virus on the desktop machine.

I would suggest you just move your profile files to Windows 7 using version 45. There have been no profile changes in the interim that should cause any difficulties.

Thanks Matt.

TB on XPsp3 has be bugging me to update to 45.5.1 the last few days. Has there been any interface changes in 45.5?

The work mac is running OSX 10.10.5. No virus program running except for whatever is built into the OS. I think there is a firewall but we've never had problems with attachments. This was the first time using TB on the Macs. One of the office PCs uses TB on Win 7 or 8 with no problems.

There is no 45.5.1 as the version is 45.1.1

MikeZZ said

So I must install 38.5.0 and then the built-in updater will bring me to 38.7.2? This version is fairly recent I thought from April. I'm not sure what's different in 45.1.1 but 38.7.2 is what we have on our Win 7 laptop so I'll stick with that until everything else is working.

Well since you have WinXP SP3 you can install 38.6.0 or newer setups of Thunderbird.

Actually you would likely get updated to 45.1.1 as the Thunderbird 38 branch is EOL. The last version of the 38 branch was 38.8.0 and not 38.7.2.