Does that happen in Thunderbird safe mode? Maybe an extension is interfering. Are you scanning outgoing messages for viruses? That could slow things down. If your system has no viruses, then outgoing messages would have no viruses.

Hi finitarry. I haven't tried safe mode, so I will. Extensions: I strongly doubt the problem is there; I only have Calendar. And I don't scan outgoing messages for viruses. What will safe mode tell me, if that solves the problem? That Calendar is interfering? thanx. Steve

It could be hardware acceleration, or one of several other things. This page explains: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_mode

Thanks again, but sadly this isn't where the problem lies. Not surprising, really, since I've been using Thunderbird for many years, I use it only as an emailer (and calendar), and I haven't added an extension for at least a year. Nor has my computer's hardware situation changed. I have a pretty fast processor and 10 gigs of ram; plenty of room on my HD. The only thing new was a recent update of Thunderbird. This problem, I'm pretty sure, resides somewhere in the account settings. Perhaps my server changed a port or security setting. That's not a T-bird problem; otherwise, there's a glitch in a setting, or in the coding. If others aren't experiencing this (and it appears no one else is) then it's not coding. That's the best I can offer at this point. all the best, Steve

Do you have anti virus scanning on outgoing mails? Try turning it off.

Thanks Matt, but no, that isn't the problem either. A knotty little thing, this one. best Steve

Perhaps try the two safe modes and report back any success or failure.:

• 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

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.

So here's what I've found. When I open T-bird open, the first send from my account generates the "server timed out" message. If I click "send" again, the email is sent properly. After that, so long as I don't close Tbird, all sends go with no glitches. It's only that first send that gets hung up. If I close T-bird and open it again, boom, back to the beginning. So, for sure, this isn't any of the standard problems - add ons, virus scanning, cache problems, etc. Where do I go from here? Steve

You do the operating system safe mode. Nothing is exempt including the anti virus you say is not a problem. You can assume nothing. Until your do operating system safe mode you have not even excluded the probably 30 post install memory resident programs that everything from adobe to Cannon appear to think you need.

well, I started the system in safe mode (keep tapping f8 as your system boots, in case you've never done it) and disabled all addons and skins for TBird, and it didn't solve the problem. Honestly, I'm not surprised. The symptoms didn't suggest a software clash or slowed down system, and I know my computer rather well. I carefully monitor and control all startup apps, to keep my machine running clean and fast. Since this problem isn't happening to lots of people (at least judging by the problems coming up in this forum), I'm guessing it isn't a Tbird coding glitch (which was where I was leaning as a cause). I may try reinstalling tbird. I'll also contact my hosting service, thru which all my email accounts are driven. Maybe there's been a change there. Steve