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How to rectify/repair Thunderbird? I can only see ONE folder, eg. Inbox, before it then Seizes up completely!

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by propstwice

propstwice
propstwice
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My problem is that about 2 weeks ago, Thunderbird inexplicably partially seized up.

It will now only open ONE 'Folder' at a time - for example, Inbox, and will allow me to scroll through that folder, and read any of the text (words) in the body of the email. (I can also Reply to/ or Forward / any of those emails.)

HOWEVER, what I can NOT do, now, is then click on the "Sent Mail" box - and see any of the emails there. (The emails that continue to show still belong to the Inbox). Even though I have now clicked on the Folder 'Sent Mail' to open it.

The only way that I can see the list - and read - the emails in my Sent Mail box, is to Quit Thunderbird, reopen it, (having carefully left the pointer on the choosen Sent Mail, before Quitting!), and then once it has reopened Thunderbird again, I can now click on Sent Mail.

Then I can see and open all all of that mail, in Sent Mail - BUT ... I cannot go back to say 'Inbox', or any other Folder!

It is now frozen on that one Folder, 'Sent Mail', and will not move to any other Folder - unless I *first place the pointer on the next Folder I want to look at, Then *Quit Thunderbird, then *open up Thunderbird again, and then I can look at the contents of the next chosen Folder!!

Incredibly infuriating and tedious!

WHY has Thunderbird frozen up like this? And what can I do to rectify this problem, pleeeease!?

Help!

I have an iMac, and a MacBook Air. Thunderbird keeps seizing up on both of them. I have version - 52.6.0 (64-bit). It says I am "currently on the release update channel) - whatever that means!

My problem is that about 2 weeks ago, Thunderbird inexplicably partially seized up. It will now only open ONE 'Folder' at a time - for example, Inbox, and will allow me to scroll through that folder, and read any of the text (words) in the body of the email. (I can also Reply to/ or Forward / any of those emails.) HOWEVER, what I can NOT do, now, is then click on the "Sent Mail" box - and see any of the emails there. (The emails that continue to show still belong to the Inbox). Even though I have now clicked on the Folder 'Sent Mail' to open it. The only way that I can see the list - and read - the emails in my Sent Mail box, is to Quit Thunderbird, reopen it, (having carefully left the pointer on the choosen Sent Mail, before Quitting!), and then once it has reopened Thunderbird again, I can now click on Sent Mail. Then I can see and open all all of that mail, in Sent Mail - BUT ... I cannot go back to say 'Inbox', or any other Folder! It is now frozen on that one Folder, 'Sent Mail', and will not move to any other Folder - unless I *first place the pointer on the next Folder I want to look at, Then *Quit Thunderbird, then *open up Thunderbird again, and then I can look at the contents of the next chosen Folder!! Incredibly infuriating and tedious! WHY has Thunderbird frozen up like this? And what can I do to rectify this problem, pleeeease!? Help! I have an iMac, and a MacBook Air. Thunderbird keeps seizing up on both of them. I have version - 52.6.0 (64-bit). It says I am "currently on the release update channel) - whatever that means!

Chosen solution

To diagnose problems with Thunderbird, try one of the following:

  • Restart Thunderbird with add-ons disabled (Thunderbird Safe Mode). On the Help menu, click on "Restart with Add-ons Disabled". If Thunderbird works like normal, there is an Add-on or Theme interfering with normal operations. You will need to re-enable add-ons one at a time until you locate the offender.
  • Restart the operating system in safe mode with Networking. This loads only the very basics needed to start your computer while enabling an Internet connection. Click on your operating system for instructions on how to start in safe mode: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, OSX
If safe mode for the operating system fixes the issue, there's other software in your computer that's causing problems. Possibilities include but not limited to: AV scanning, virus/malware, background downloads such as program updates.
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All Replies (2)

Matt
Matt
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  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

To diagnose problems with Thunderbird, try one of the following:

  • Restart Thunderbird with add-ons disabled (Thunderbird Safe Mode). On the Help menu, click on "Restart with Add-ons Disabled". If Thunderbird works like normal, there is an Add-on or Theme interfering with normal operations. You will need to re-enable add-ons one at a time until you locate the offender.
  • Restart the operating system in safe mode with Networking. This loads only the very basics needed to start your computer while enabling an Internet connection. Click on your operating system for instructions on how to start in safe mode: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, OSX
If safe mode for the operating system fixes the issue, there's other software in your computer that's causing problems. Possibilities include but not limited to: AV scanning, virus/malware, background downloads such as program updates.
propstwice
propstwice Question owner
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Hello Matt,

Om my iMac, I tried what you suggested, ie holding shift key down while opening Thunderbird. And on Help, I clicked on 'Restart with Add-ons disabled". And magic - It is no longer frozen and *works normally*, I can move between Inbox, to Send, to Draft, etc. Brilliant. Thank you.

I am an amateur, and don't know what an Add-on is!

I do have AVG antivirus running, and it is constantly updating.

I have also now updated the iMac to it's latest incarnation of High Sierra, done a few days ago, so, only AFTER this problem began.