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Preview pane keeps disappearing

  • 8 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by Matt

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The preview keeps disappearing in thunderbird. I have it set up to display on the bottom, and when I first open it it does. After a while, it does not. Not doing anything in particular apart from simply using email - writing messages mostly, or replies.

I have to keep quitting and restarting thunderbird. I'm on the verge of going to a different client unless you can fix or suggest. It happens every single time I use the app for a bit.

I have CompactHeader installed, have disabled Change quote and reply format and Lightning (installed automatically last update, but the problem was already happening pretty regularly).

The preview keeps disappearing in thunderbird. I have it set up to display on the bottom, and when I first open it it does. After a while, it does not. Not doing anything in particular apart from simply using email - writing messages mostly, or replies. I have to keep quitting and restarting thunderbird. I'm on the verge of going to a different client unless you can fix or suggest. It happens every single time I use the app for a bit. I have CompactHeader installed, have disabled Change quote and reply format and Lightning (installed automatically last update, but the problem was already happening pretty regularly).

All Replies (8)

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Try restarting Thunderbird with add ons disabled. You can do this from the HELP menu.

FYI: pressing F8 toggles the MESSAGE PANE on and off. It is not a preview pane. It is actually opening the message. Try F8 next time instead of closing an opening the program and see if it comes back.

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I only have one addon, and I want that - compact headers. I've already decided to try that if it happens again (it may have been the other one), and/or switch to another tool. F8 will show or hide the preview pane - what I'm saying is that the pane is there but messages don't display. It's blank.

Funny how you think you've explained something and somebody finds a loophole! :-/ Thanks for any help

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Twice in your original post, once in your title and again in your description you say the Pane disappears. That is hardly explaining the issue if in reality it is there but blank. Sorry you do not appreciate the attempt to help. Maybe someone else will come along.

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"The preview keeps disappearing" - hmm, we were supposed to get it from that? ;-)

Try disabling hardware acceleration.

Tools|Options|Advanced|General->Use hardware acceleration if available

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Ok, I was imprecise, I got that right away! sheesh

I could disable hardware acceleration, but that seems a bit odd, and extreme to solve a thunderbird issue. I'll give it a try, tho, if it happens again.

Hoping the other addon disabled will solve it, will see what happens.

Thanks for the suggestions, much appreciated.

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We're seeing a lot of issues which seem to be related to hardware acceleration. Usually distortion or blacking out of visual components but I'm sure some of the reports are related to instability.

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Ah, thanks for explaining your reasoning. Will put that on my list to try.

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Zenos said

We're seeing a lot of issues which seem to be related to hardware acceleration. Usually distortion or blacking out of visual components but I'm sure some of the reports are related to instability.

Not to mention being a topcrash for Thunderbird.