Hello Bill,

Would you try this please :

Go to the Configuration Editor (Tools, Options, Advanced, General, Config Editor). Scroll down to mail.strictly_mime Click on it and change it from "false" to true.

That should do the trick ......

Hi McCoy, Thank you so much. That seems to have fixed the problem. Many thanks, Bill Gray

BillGray said

Hi McCoy, Thank you so much. That seems to have fixed the problem. Many thanks, Bill Gray

My pleasure, Bill  !

Hi McCoy: I also had this problem and followed your advice. Behold, this 84 year old was able to fix this problem. THANK YOU. I would add to your instructions that you must start on Thunderbird at the compose screen and the tools at the top of that screen. I previously had the problem of the 1/2 after a "." when I put in 2 spaces. With this one eliminating the 2 spaces after the . at the end of a sentence worked to get rid of the extras. BUT, for an old time typing habit to not put two spaces at the end of a sentence is just not in the brain. I guess younger people do not have this problem as they were not taught to put 2 spaces at the end of a sentence. Also of possible interest, the reason we were taught so long ago to put the two spaces is because a typewriter gives the same space to an i as to an m so you need the two spaces to show a difference in spacing. Thank you for the forum and for your help. BTW, is there any downside to the change from false to True? What does it do to other things in the program?

Hello jimsteele,

I'm glad this worked for you too  !

I am not aware of there being a downside to changing the value of this preference - should there be one : I'm sure we'll find out if people post about it here .....

You mentioned your age - wisdom comes with age ....

Hi McCoy, Your solution was perfect for me. Solved my problem. I thank you very much. I was looking for a Problem Solved button but cannot find one. So let me just say here: PROBLEM SOLVED! Thank you and God bless, Bill Gray

The wonders of reading. I have been having this problem since April 16th. All the mails I have sent to friends contained ??? in odd places.

I was building my case before I went on line and found this post.

I followed it to the letter. I sent myself an email that had previously contained a bunch of ??? upon receipt.

Closed Thunderbird. Re-started it.

Retrieved the e-mail and the  ???? were gone.

Thank you.

@ Sil Romero :

I'm so glad that it worked for you too !

Thank you for letting us know  !

When I use this solution I there isn't a "mail.strictly_mime" option to be found...

pvault said

When I use this solution I there isn't a "mail.strictly_mime" option to be found...

Hello pvault,

Would you take a look at this please :

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/config-editor

Does that help ?

Found it! Changed the setting and it took care of the problem. Thank you Dr. McCoy

Well done, pvault - and : my pleasure !