In order to use and see coloured text, you all need to be using HTML. (I say this to differentiate from some colouring used automatically in Thunderbird to indicate quoted text.)

So, given that you get colour on three computers, the sender appears to be using HTML and so are the working computers. I'd check the odd one out for View|Message Body As|Original HTML.

Thanks Zenos, I have looked at them setting and they are all on Original HTML, I tried Simple HTML and plain text but still the same.

On the outlier computer, open Tools/Options/Display/Formatting/Fonts & Colors, Advanced... In the Font Control section, is 'Allow messages to use other fonts' unchecked?

Thanks for the reply sfhowes, tried that and no change, also noticed the box in the Compositions HTML section the box was unticked on the problem desktop and ticked on the rest, ticked that but still the same, puzzling!

re :it shows the coloured text on all except one

Are all computers set to use the same 'Display' colour settings:

• 'Menu icon' > 'Options' > 'Options' > 'Display' > 'Formatting' tab
• click on 'Colours' button.

Assuming 'Text and background' are the same eg: Black and White Assuming Link colours are the same: Unvisited and Visited links are blue and purple. The following can override colours, so please check: Have you selected 'Use system colours'? If yes, uncheck that option.

What have you got selected for 'Override the colours specified by the content with my selections above'. Suggest you select 'Only with High contrast themes'.

• 'Menu icon' > 'Options' > 'Options' > 'Composition'
• HTML section

If you make selections different from the default this will hard code the default composition html when you compose emails. It is strongly advised you are careful with choices as not all computers will have the same fonts and size can appear larger or smaller depending upon the font and computer resolution settings etc. Many people prefer to choose what they see as they may have eg: eyesight issues.

Ideally use the default or make choices that will not adversely impact on recipients.

• The default is 'Font: Variable width' and 'Size: Medium'
• Text colour black and background White.

Also check 'Send Options'.

• click on 'Send Options' button
• Select: 'send the message in both Plain text and HTML'.

Please Note: If you leave the 'Composition' section to use default settings, the 'Display' settings will be used for incoming email display and also for default composing of emails. This means it can look as you prefer when you are composing the email, but it is not hardcoded in the html, so will use whatever the recipient has chosen for displaying/reading of emails. This means both the sender and recipient will be happy their choices are used. So, you need to check both of these places 'Display' and 'Composition' to see if one computer is different from the other.

OK thanks for the info Toad-Hall, I will check it out next time I am back in office.