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Can't get past 'get new address' (Ghandi). Clicking new account later, etc., does nothing. Have to quit TB to get out.

  • 8 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Zenos

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New installation of latest TB. Have used Thunderbird on previous computers for many years (PC & Mac). This time trying to setup existing account gets stuck on the 'Ghandi' page. Clicking on set up existing account or 'do it later' does nothing. Link appear dead. Literally have to quit TB. Can't do anything else. Have disabled AV and firewall. Nothing else installed - brand new clean computer. MacBook El Capitan. Any ideas?

New installation of latest TB. Have used Thunderbird on previous computers for many years (PC & Mac). This time trying to setup existing account gets stuck on the 'Ghandi' page. Clicking on set up existing account or 'do it later' does nothing. Link appear dead. Literally have to quit TB. Can't do anything else. Have disabled AV and firewall. Nothing else installed - brand new clean computer. MacBook El Capitan. Any ideas?

All Replies (8)

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It would seem you are selecting the option 'get a new Mail account' hence why the Gandi page appears, although why it is not responding to you selecting 'Skip this and use my existing email' button does not take you to the account setup window is puzzling.

Do it this way: 'Menu icon' > 'New Message' > 'Existing Mail account'

Or if Menu Bar enabled: 'File' > 'New' > 'Existing Mail account'

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What happens on this installation is that as soon as you open Thunderbird this pop-up appears with the offer to 'start a new address' with Gandi.

The menus are not available. Nothing else is available.

The options shown underneath on the pop-up to set up existing address or do it later are not functioning. You cannot get out of this pop-up without exiting TB altogether.

Have uninstalled and re-installed. Switch off firewall, etc. There are no confictling apps - this is a brand new computer with nothing else on it yet.

Any suggestions welcome. I'm stumped!

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Can you confirm that you have downloaded the correct version for your OS: Uninstall Thunderbird. Then get a fresh download for your MAC OS in your preferred language from here:


re: Firewall. This might be part of your 'Anti-Virus' package, if you switched it off then it is possible that the default firewall has taken over.

You need to make sure 'Thunderbird' is set as 'Allowed' in the 'Firewall' you wish to use.

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Tried as you said, with hope, but same issue. (All firewalls off.) Pop-up selections do not work. Nothing showing in the menu bar behind it. Can't either move or close it.

Perhaps, can I try an older version of TB? (Never had this problem before) If that works, then upgrade once I have accounts set up?

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Old versions:

  • select which version you want. eg: 38.7
  • select 'mac/'
  • select language eg: en-GB = English (British)
  • select the .dmg file to download.
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Thanks, will try this later. Will post back if it works.

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@Toad-Hall Downloading older version (38.7) on MacBook solved the problem. Able to set up my own existing account. Up and running inside 10 mins. Thanks for your help :)

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A user on the newsgroup recently reported the same issue. He was able to get to the Existing Mail Account option via the App Menu and proceed from there.

Seems to be a real bug and it's been filed on bugzilla.

Modified by Zenos