Thunderbird hangs on start after upgrade to 78.4 from 68.x
Thunderbird just did a background update to 78.4 from v68.x. It launches then immediately hangs in both regular and safe mode. I have tried launching in both modes after starting Windows 10 Pro 64b in Safe mode, but it still hangs. I first saw this behavior several months ago when trying to import an .ics calendar file. Since then anytime an incremental update came through it would show up again and my work-around was always to launch Thunderbird in Safe mode, then disable the calendar. I can't get into Thunderbird at all to do that. It hangs and on any click int eh app window, reports "Not Responding". It stays that way even after hours of waiting.
Things I tried:
- Launch in Safe mode - FAIL
- Start Win 10 in Safe mode, then try Thunderbird - FAIL / Safe mode - FAIL
- Try re-installing Thunderbird 78.4 over apparently foul update and launch - FAIL / Safe mode - FAIL
A screenshot is attached showing Thunderbird in its "hung" state. Notice Lightning calendar is exposed (it was closed/disabled prior to auto-update), [Not Responding] in title bar, , and "null" notice at lower left.
Is there a way to load v68.x over this messed up installation without losing all of my email? Is there a way to permanently disable Lightning - assuming I can get Thunderbird working again?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Wot Sky
Wubrane rozrisanje
You should add your accounts and 78-compatible extensions manually to whichever profile works properly in 78. The filters from the faulty profile are stored in msgFilterRules.dat files in each account subfolder of Mail or ImapMail, and can be copied into the new profile. Local mail folders in Mail, ImapMail and Mail/Local Folders can be copied into Mail/Local Folders of the new profile: copy the mbox files - large files with no extension, named after folders. Ignore the .msf index files with the same name as the mbox files.
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Before you try reverting to TB 68, see if TB still hangs with a new profile. Open a Run window (Windowskey+R), type thunderbird.exe -p to start Profile Manager, create a new profile, then add an account. If that's stable, add other items such as a calendar, incrementally, to see if something causes a hang. The old profile is unaffected, and mail, contacts etc. can be transferred from the old to the new.
If you don't mind deleting your calendar data and adding it back, in your original profile directory straightforward delete calendar-data directory.
Another option, start
thunderbird.exe -offline
Wayne Mery said
If you don't mind deleting your calendar data and adding it back, in your original profile directory straightforward delete calendar-data directory. Another option, start thunderbird.exe -offline
Wayne Mery,
Thanks for the tip. Tried both options. Found the calendar-data folder in Users\me\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\profilename.default-release & deleted it — FAIL. Offline start — FAIL.
Sky
sfhowes said
Before you try reverting to TB 68, see if TB still hangs with a new profile. Open a Run window (Windowskey+R), type thunderbird.exe -p to start Profile Manager, create a new profile, then add an account. If that's stable, add other items such as a calendar, incrementally, to see if something causes a hang. The old profile is unaffected, and mail, contacts etc. can be transferred from the old to the new.
sfhowes,
Thanks for the tip. I tried this and it initially looks like the profiles vs. multiple accounts issues combined with automatic updating is the key. | Launched Thunderbird using -p switch. Created new profile, launched Thunderbird & got the welcome mat. Worked for main IMAP account just fine.
It appears from what I am reading that each email account will need its own profile. Assuming that is correct, is it possible to access multiple profiles at the same time or will I need to exit > relaunch or profile > select or some other gymnastics?
Sky
> It appears from what I am reading that each email account will need its own profile.
no. multiple accounts per profile is fine.
Please be sure to keep your original profile for later analysis
Launching with -p:
- Opens OK — T-78 created ########.default
- Opens OK — My newly created ########.ISP_IMAP
- FAIL-HANG — T-78 attempted upgrade 68.4 > 78.4 nwipuw2i.default-release
The default-release that T-78 created during the upgrade displays all of my email accounts, folders, etc., when T-78 launches, but T-78 just hangs after that.
Is there a way to get all of my stuff out of there? It has the filters, customizations, folders, email, etc. In addition, that installation had a handful of add-ons or extensions for T-68.
I recall seeing something about excising extensions in the profile but can't find it right now. Thinking that might be worth a try:
- I went into the default-release > extensions, removed all contents of that folder and launched -p, chose that profile and it hung after starting but before displaying the event window on right;
- put the \staged folder back in \extensions and launched -p: this time it displayed the events window on right, then hung;
- removed the folder [email protected] from \staged & launched -p: displayed the events window on right.
I don't know if this helps or not.
Wubrane rozrisanje
You should add your accounts and 78-compatible extensions manually to whichever profile works properly in 78. The filters from the faulty profile are stored in msgFilterRules.dat files in each account subfolder of Mail or ImapMail, and can be copied into the new profile. Local mail folders in Mail, ImapMail and Mail/Local Folders can be copied into Mail/Local Folders of the new profile: copy the mbox files - large files with no extension, named after folders. Ignore the .msf index files with the same name as the mbox files.
Ignore also the *.sbd files, popstat.dat, and filterlog.html?
Also, there is a folder in the T-68 Mail set (smart mailboxes) that does not exist in the T-78 set. Does that need to be recreated and populated if I wish to retain the Drafts/Inbox/Junk/Sent/Trash emails in there? The same folders appear in \mail.------.net.
Copying the mbox files worked for grabbing the 'parent' folders and their contents — however — it did not bring over the nested child folders and their contents. Looking in the *.sbd folders I see child folders, more *.sbd folders, and more child folders, etc. I copy these including the *.msf files, then delete the *.msf files to allow T-78 to re-index in its own manner. I am guessing that would be a better method (based on T-78's creation of the *.msf files in the parent folders) and will proceed in that fashion.
Wot Sky
You can copy the mbox files inside the sbd folders, or try just copying the sbd folder, and deleting the .msf files inside. Popstate.dat stores the list of messages already downloaded. If you don't copy it, all mail on the server will be downloaded. The filterlog.html is just a record of filter operations, so it can be ignored.
Importing complex folder structures may be easier with ImportExportTools NG, but the manual method is more transparent.
sfhowes,
Thank you very much for the extensive hand-holding, I definitely needed and appreciated it.
Fwiw, after doing some more checking it appears one or more of my add-ons may have been causing the issues. I see only 10 are currently showing as compatible with T-78, none of which I use. My most-used add-on, ThunderHTML, is only compatible (at this time) to T-68. I can't say of the old *.ics file I tried to use with Lightning in T-68 added to the issue or not.
Regardless of cause, T-78 is now working quite happily and all email is recovered. Now to re-link to the email archive son my NAS.
Sky
Wot Sky
ThunderHTML works here in TB 78, and the frequently-updated list (currently 168) of 78-compatible add-ons is here:
https://cleidigh.github.io/ThunderKdB/xall/extension-list-tbmx.html
AWWWEEESSSOOOOOMMMMME!!!!!
That put a huge smile on my face this morning.Thanks, sfhowes!
Btw, T-78 seems to be much faster at dl'g email than T-68 was. I don't know if it's from the improvements in the newest iteration, or from losing "messiness" in my old installation, but it's noticeably quicker.
Thanks, again! Sky
Wot Sky