Start by changing the collection time for email to 15 minutes. Still have that issue?

I may not have made my problem clear. When I first open Thunderbird, it should automatically check with my ISP and download new email. It should then do so again either manually when I click on GET MAIL or automatically depending upon the frequency (every three minutes) for which I have it configured.

Recently, it usually has not been downloading email upon being opened unless I open the program over and over again.

Changing the time from 3 minutes to 15 made no difference.

Thank you, though.

In account settings > server settings > advanced is include this server when getting mail checked?

In Account settings > server settings. Is check for new messages at startup checked?

If yes to both. Try safe mode to see if there is an external cause or an add-on causing the issue.,

• 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 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, OSX

In account settings > server settings > advanced is include this server when getting mail checked? YES PLEASE SEE ATTACHED IMAGE FOR SETTINGS.

In Account settings > server settings. Is check for new messages at startup checked? YES

As for your other suggestions, I am running, dare I say it, version 2.0 (my multiple contact lists of lists would not work with later versions of Thunderbird. However, I temporarily downloaded the latest version and while my contact lists would not work, neither would the new version of Thunderbird download new email unless I opened the program multiple times.

I forgot to mention that I cannot do what you suggested with version 2 (opening Thunderbird in its safe mode).

I checked for add ons via the tools menu and there are no add ons (well, one, that would send information to Mozilla if the program crashed, but it was not enabled).

No you can not open V2 in safe mode that way. in version 2 is is the command line switch -safe-mode

But what of the operating system?

Is it because your lists have spaces in their name that they don't work? ie "My list" instead of My_list. Are you sure they don;t work in the current version?

Okay, one thing at a time. I am able to open Thunderbird in safe mode, which disables the already disabled add on. The problem was not resolved. Sometimes it downloads new email when opened, sometimes (usually) not.

The operating system is still XP. Whenever I upgraded from an older to a new operating system, it has been with the purchase of a new computer. I have Windows 7 on a disc, but have been leery of using it lest it cause problems with the multiple programs and files I already have.

There was no change in software, either XP or Thunderbird, that caused the problem with downloading email to start a month ago.

As for the contact lists, they all work fine with V2, but not with newer versions, starting with V3. Once I discovered that they did not work with V3, I reinstalled V2 and have stuck with it since. If it ain't broke ...

Anyway, open Thunderbird regularly or in safe mode made no difference in its only sometimes downloading new email.

Finally, regarding the contact lists not working in newer versions, I will have a list of email addresses in a contact list titled, say, PEOPLE IN BOSTON, and another list titled, say, PEOPLE IN WALTHAM, and then a master list titled PEOPLE IN MASSACHUSETTS that consists of the two above-named lists of PEOPLE IN BOSTON and PEOPLE IN WALTHAM, so that the master list does not have any email addresses itself but only the email addresses in the sublists, if that makes sense. And as for the titles, it would be PEOPLE IN BOSTON, not PEOPLE_IN_BOSTON, using spaces instead of the underline filler. Are you suggesting that if I used a newer version of Thunderbird and changed all of the titles to use an underline instead of a space that all would be well?

Of course, when I tried the newest version of Thunderbird, it still would only download email once in a while.

Well it is broke and now your looking for support on many years unsupported software. There might be two people on the forum that have actually used Version 2

Yes, nested lists do not work. Nor are they likely to anytime in the near future. They were never supported even in Version 2 and stopped working when the bugs in the architecture were fixed. The Bug to support nested lists is 40301 It has been open since May 2000 and has seen no activity since 2013

Perhaps it is time to rethink your mailing lists.

But this is the third time I have asked;

• 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 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, OSX

Most interesting reading. Thank you for passing it along to me. Am I to understand that nested lists (lists within lists) are not supported in Thunderbird?

As for starting up my computer in safe mode, I shall certainly try that later today.

Thank you so far.

I could not wait and started Windows XP in safe mode with networking. Sometimes in the past month, like when I was talking with technical support for Verizon, Thunderbird would open up a dozen times in a row and either downloading new email or notifying me that I had no new email. In safe mode, it has worked properly two dozen times in a row.

What is happening? It is time for me to leave, but I will be most interested in reopening Windows in regular mode and seeing what happens, and if it reverts to its malfunction, switch back and forth between regular mode and safe mode to establish a pattern.

What I imagine is happening is your anti virus or other security software such as add blockers disk cleaners or system optimizers has barfed and only on occasion works properly and allows mail to actually download. My first choice would be anti virus. The second anything that blocks advertising.

Personally I think just stick the windows 7 disk in there and update. Sure there will be something that does not work. But most of your issues right now are probably because of XP. In Thunderbird's case there is basically no manual testing on XP. Simply because none of the testers would still be using XP on their machines. The automatic test will still be running, but they do not really take into account the operating system. I have certainly noticed an uptick of people with XP appearing in support forums of late.

The same problem probably also goes for every other software that your still able to update. The testing on XP is either non existent or minimal.

Beta testing often involves corporate IT desks. They will not be testing with XP. They probably still have it. But it will be locked in a sandbox where the internet and software updates are very strictly controlled. So locked down that it probably has no anti virus program installed. (I am talking of CNC controllers, Wheel Aligners, QPS Auto Steer, ATM's)

Nested Lists Yes, what I am saying is they are not and were never supported. They worked for a time by accident due to bugs in the software. Bugs that caused other undesirable things to happen. When those bugs were fixed in V3 the Nested lists did not work any longer. So you and probably some others are waiting for a fix to a bug that really is not a bug. It is a feature request that is on hold until the new address book is developed. Ensemble as it is called is being tracked on bug 841598 and a very simple version of the new user interface can be seen here This is turning out to be so slow (been on the back burner for three years and Mike is short of spare time) that work is again starting on some of the more pressing address book bugs.

Thank you many times over for your help. I have grudgingly and reluctantly held off on updating to Windows 7 and will have to bite the bullet soon and just take my chances.

As for add blockers, disk cleaners or system optimizers, I do not use them. I keep Norton antivirus updated daily and use Malwarebytes manually (not running in the background). While conceivable that the antivirus program could be interfering with the downloading of email, I would be reluctant to download email without it being up and running.

Since you write that nested lists only worked because of a bug that was resolved in V3 and higher and is on a back burner to be addressed (pun intended), I shall update several generations to the latest version and instead of adding a nested list to an email, I shall open up the address book, highlight the lists in question and click on the WRITE icon to open up an email.

Finally, I shall be left wondering why two programs, Thunderbird and XP suddenly stopped working together reliable after many happy years together.

Again, thank you.

Just some Norton Specific information.

Norton does not scan IMAP mail. Norton does not scan mail on SSL secured connections. That is all the free providers and most ISPs these days. So not having your mail scanned may well already be something you are doing.

See https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/norton-security/current/solutions/v96137879_EndUserProfile_en_us?inid=us_hho_topnav_customersupport&q=e-mail+scanning

I shall put off the Windows update for a little while longer (it may be more involved and I may need more time to deal with unexpected consequences). As for Thunderbird, I shall make the quantum leap from V2 to V31 sooner.

More immediately, I await the arrival in the morning of the Verizon technician (for the umpteenth time), in conjunction with their Presidential Appeal (and not just a consultant but the supervisor herself is overseeing this) to resolve my DSL issue (once and for all?).

If you would like, for your curiosity, I shall keep you posted after each change.

For the kind person who has helped me address my non-downloading email problem, updating to a newer version seems to have fixed the problem. Thank you, thank you, thank you. It was a fair trade off to give up the ability to have nested contact lists.