does it write a complete file if you use the windows 10 PDF printer?

I tried your suggestion and couldn't get past selecting the windows pdf printer because the email wasn't a pdf file and that's all the program would accept. I had previously tried copying the email into open office word processor. It showed there but that printed a blank page.

Maybe my problem is I don't know how to do what you suggested.

You lost me with that one.

in Thunderbird right click the message in the list and select print. When the dialog opens select the Microsoft print to PDF printer When prompted give it a file name something like Test and set the location to your desktop.

Double click the new file on your desktop. What do you see?

Thanks - It worked. It's a cumbersome workaround but gets it done. Print quality was less that great but I'm low on ink so that's probably why.

What it is is evidence that your printer driver is the issue, as it worked on a different printer (windows does not see the PDF printer as anything but a printer). You probably need to reinstall the drivers that came with your printer, or it is not as compatible with windows 10 as you thought.

The printer was the problem, clogged print head. Windows 10 a non issue. Thank you for the guidance.