Thanks for image. It shows the issue and tells me you are using a Mac.

Please try the following and report back on results.

First make sure your graphics driver is up to date. If this does not improve the situation, then try disabling hardware acceleration.

Thunderbird > Preferences > Advanced > General tab uncheck : 'use hardware acceleration when available' click on OK

Restart Thunderbird

thanks, but that was already unchecked. And some other place last nite in Tbird, that happened. can't remember where.

In order for us to better investigate this issue you need to add a little more non-personal information.

Please add the troubleshooting information to your post To find the Troubleshooting information:

• Open Help (or click on three-line-icon and select Help)
• Choose Troubleshooting Information
• Use the button Copy to clipboard to select all. Do not check box "Include account names"!
• Paste this in your post.

Please also add the result of these troubleshooting steps to your post

• Does Thunderbird work in TB Safe mode (see Thunderbird Safe Mode)?
• Do you use anti-virus and firewall software? What is the version?

Thanks. I will check that stuff out, and respond. Just a note: I've been on Macs since 1985, and with Thunderbird for just about as long. Never had this problem, even up thru last year and this year … after getting this new MacMini last October. I think it only started after Mac. 10.10.4 upgrade, and some TBird upgrades … perhaps a month or so now. Hopefully that also gives you some clues; and I will check out what you mention. thanks.

HERE'S THE TROUBLE-SHOOTING INFO: Working on the safe mode thing now. thanks.

 Application Basics

   Name: Thunderbird
   Version: 38.2.0
   User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10.10; rv:38.0) Gecko/20100101 Thunderbird/38.2.0
   Profile Folder: Show in Finder
   Application Build ID: 20150813074416
   Enabled Plugins: about:plugins
   Build Configuration: about:buildconfig
   Memory Use: about:memory

 Mail and News Accounts
   account1:
     INCOMING: account1, , (pop3) pop.cybermesa.com:110, plain, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: smtp.cybermesa.com:587, plain, passwordCleartext, true
     OUTGOING: smtp.cybermesa.com:587, plain, passwordCleartext, false
     OUTGOING: smtp.cybermesa.com:587, plain, passwordCleartext, false
     OUTGOING: smtp.cybermesa.com:587, plain, passwordCleartext, false
     OUTGOING: smtp.cybermesa.com:587, plain, passwordCleartext, false
     OUTGOING: smtp.cybermesa.com:587, plain, passwordCleartext, false
     OUTGOING: smtp.cybermesa.com:587, plain, passwordCleartext, false

   account2:
     INCOMING: account2, , (none) Local Folders, plain, passwordCleartext

 Crash Reports
   http://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-94db1433-6f4b-4b51-93b5-5fc972150502 (5/2/15)
   http://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-4447bf36-bf31-4976-8701-b55f92141217 (12/17/14)

 Extensions
   Account Colors, 9.1, true, accountcolors@DW-dev
   Lightning, 4.0.2, true, {e2fda1a4-762b-4020-b5ad-a41df1933103}
   Theme Font & Size Changer, 38.3, true, {f69e22c7-bc50-414a-9269-0f5c344cd94c}
   BorderColors, 0.6, false, {CE135039-AEA3-46bb-BCB6-28F720A8612D}
   Extra Folder Columns, 1.1.5, false, extra-cols@jminta_gmail.com

 Important Modified Preferences

   Name: Value

     accessibility.typeaheadfind.flashBar: 0
     browser.cache.disk.capacity: 358400
     browser.cache.disk.smart_size_cached_value: 358400
     browser.cache.disk.smart_size.first_run: false
     browser.cache.disk.smart_size.use_old_max: false
     browser.display.background_color: #CCCCFF
     browser.display.foreground_color: #330000
     extensions.lastAppVersion: 38.2.0
     font.minimum-size.x-western: 16
     font.name.monospace.x-western: Times New Roman
     font.name.sans-serif.x-western: Palatino
     font.name.serif.x-western: Times New Roman
     font.size.fixed.x-western: 16
     font.size.variable.x-western: 16
     gfx.blacklist.direct2d: 3
     mail.openMessageBehavior.version: 1
     mail.spotlight.firstRunDone: true
     mailnews.database.global.datastore.id: 3ff1b4a0-cbd1-2942-848a-d335df5d555
     mailnews.database.global.views.conversation.columns: {"threadCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"1"},"flaggedCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"7"},"attachmentCol":{"visible":false…
     network.cookie.prefsMigrated: true
     places.database.lastMaintenance: 1440020369
     places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages: 104858
     plugin.importedState: true
     plugin.state.silverlight: 0
     print.macosx.pagesetup: PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPCFET0NUWVBFIHBsaXN0IFBVQkxJQyAiLS8vQXBwbGUgQ29tcHV0ZXIvL0RURCBQTElT…
     print.macosx.pagesetup-2: AAAiMTw/eG1sIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMCIgZW5jb2Rpbmc9IlVURi04Ij8+CjwhRE9DVFlQRSBwbGlzdCBQVUJMSUMgIi0vL0FwcGxlIENvbXB1dGVyLy9EVEQg…
     print.print_bgcolor: false
     print.print_bgimages: false
     print.print_command:
     print.print_downloadfonts: false
     print.print_evenpages: true
     print.print_in_color: true
     print.print_margin_bottom: 0.5
     print.print_margin_left: 0.5
     print.print_margin_right: 0.5
     print.print_margin_top: 0.5
     print.print_oddpages: true
     print.print_orientation: 0
     print.print_pagedelay: 500
     print.print_paper_data: 0
     print.print_paper_height: 11.00
     print.print_paper_size: -1582235645
     print.print_paper_size_type: 1
     print.print_paper_size_unit: 0
     print.print_paper_width: 8.50
     print.print_printer:
     print.print_reversed: false
     print.print_scaling: 1.00
     print.print_shrink_to_fit: true
     print.print_to_file: false
     privacy.donottrackheader.enabled: true
     security.disable_button.openCertManager: false

 Graphics

     Vendor ID: 0x8086
     Device ID: 0x a2e
     WebGL Renderer: false
     GPU Accelerated Windows: 0

     AzureCanvasBackend: quartz
     AzureSkiaAccelerated: 0
     AzureFallbackCanvasBackend: none
     AzureContentBackend: quartz

 JavaScript

 Incremental GC: 1

 Accessibility

   Activated: 0
   Prevent Accessibility: 0

 Library Versions

     Expected minimum version
     Version in use

     NSPR
     4.10.8
     4.10.8

     NSS
     3.19.2 Basic ECC
     3.19.2 Basic ECC

     NSS Util
     3.19.2
     3.19.2

     NSS SSL
     3.19.2 Basic ECC
     3.19.2 Basic ECC

     NSS S/MIME
     3.19.2 Basic ECC
     3.19.2 Basic ECC

Firstly, again, this only started at most a couple weeks ago, and only with your questions, do I see the pics below, while in safe-mode … Do you use anti-virus and firewall software? NO. Does Thunderbird work in TB Safe mode (see Thunderbird Safe Mode)? NO see pics below, in Safe mode … truncated at bottom!

and this: To confirm that Thunderbird is running in safe mode, click the Tools menu and then click Add-Ons and Extensions. Above your list of Add-ons, there will be a banner displayed stating that Thunderbird is in Safe Mode. NO BANNER!

I SEE TRUNCATED WINDOWS IN SO MANY PLACES, EVEN IN SAFE MODE! PICS BELOW

Just a hunch, See what happens if you turn of Account Colors And anything under appearances, except default

I find it odd for you to have 6 SMTP-servers on a single account.

what do you mean by 6 servers? Are you referring to the various names I use on outgoing emails? I wear many hats!

Under Server settings, it shows just the one: pop.cybermesa.com

outgoing: smtp.cybermesa.com

I just did the color thing you mentioned, but that changed nothing. My version of TBird is latest … 38.2.0 and I think since that upgrade, this foolishness started; but can't say for sure … only that it is new to me. Previously, anytime I start entering a name in "to" , a variety of options will show NOT just with 1st letter, but 2nd also; and I've never seen these cut-off dialog boxes, that I am seeing in so many Tbird places now. Thanks for hanging in with me on this. Mac. syst. 10.10.4

Could you please modify your Apple OSX theme to something else and try Thunderbird. I have no idea exactly what is the cause, but I do wonder if it is a bad interaction with an OSX theme.

There have been one or two unexplained issues with OSX in the current version. There would be many more if it was a widespread issue but only a few might be accounted for by a theme only they are using.

I have no idea what you mean by "Apple OSX theme". NO place can I find such, not even with a Spotlight search. This is a late 2014 MacMini.

something like http://techcrunch.com/2014/07/07/mac-os-x-gets-the-dark-theme-weve-all-been-waiting-for-in-yosemite-preview-3/

Or are you using a theme in Thunderbird? that color scheme is certainly not the default. It look a lot like the walnut theme. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/walnut2-for-thunderbird/?src=cb-dl-users

Have been "otherwise occupied" for the past week. I just dumped Walnut theme, but it did not solve the problem. With the default Tbird, same problem. And, I've been using Walnut for a year or more, and have never seen this problem until sometime this month I believe. thanks.

Actually, it seems perhaps "affected" by the problem, for I see without Walnut, the address line is NOT split, as in pics I sent; but it still does not function properly. For example, with the address book showing on left, I see 4 "adam" entries. However, when I start entering "a" gives a list of "a" names; then "ad" gives "abhijit", "ada" gives "Adam West", however there also exists: Adam Foster, and Adam Neeley for which I get no option to choose, no pop down showing other options Simply Adam West remains, and it was not even the first in the three (Foster, Neeley, West). THIS is without Walnut installed. ?So big deal, I can read the one line, but what happened to showing options. Now it is a boring Tbird default theme, and no real improvement on this address thing. Never had this problem before latest 10.10.4 upgrade, perhaps the version before, don't recall. thanks

another very strange action: When I open Tbird prefs, and then click on the different options (display, composition, attachments,e tc.) the page slowly creeps up the monitor towards left corner (with each click), and also shrinks it height so that the bottom is getting cut off with each click. Reminds me also of another weird thing … many times when I right click (such as to copy, etc.) a little window flies up to left corner. And just now, another weird thing … when I click on an email (inbox, sent box) that line becomes blank up top (can't see subject, recipient, etc. .. nothing), tho it does show the email below which I did click on. THIS i've never seen before now, and NOW I am in TBird default mode; no walnut. After doing the above, and dumping walnut, and still no luck; I then downloaded "Fresh Green Leaves" from Tbirds Add-ons manager, and now get these last two weird things I just described!!

Close thunderbird and restart. Can you confirm these settings:

Thunderbird > Preferences > Advanced > General tab click on 'Config Editor' button

search for each of these settings and make sure all have a value = 'True'

• gfx.direct2d.disabled
• layers.acceleration.disabled
• layers.prefer-opengl

Double click on each line to toggle any 'False' value to a 'True' value. Close window - top right X click on OK

Also can you confirm that you have checked your Graphics card and that it is up to date.

T^he primary issue of display is fixed by disabling the walnut them, or at least that is my reading of this thread.

The secondary issue of address completion is I think unresolved. But the example given does not show an issue, other than an opinion that it is wrong. It may well be wrong, I am having some trouble keeping up with the bug in address auto completion. But as the auto complete is searching email address and names and nicknames there really is not enough information to know if it is an issue of not.

3 replies:

   gfx.direct2d.disabled                    doesn't exist in the list
   layers.acceleration.disabled        says : true
   layers.prefer-opengl                      doesn't exist in the list

Don't know how to check "up-to-date" on graphics card, but most likely it is, given this is a new MacMini, and with 10.10.4

WALNUT theme … i've done lots of checking with and without, and it is NOT Walnut. I had Walnut in here for perhaps 2 years, and this goofy problem only started perhaps 2 months ago at most … after t-bird and Mac updates!

Hi Matt: re :layers.prefer-opengl

Should this be in the prefs for Mac? I have been under the impression that this was available in Linux and MAC. Can you offer any advice?

Firstly, I wish to thank all of you for persisting in trying to resolve this. So, here's a new piece, sort of. I mentioned before, but am more clear with it now. I'm doing something in prefs, and the window is cropped at the bottom. Then, as I change windows, not only does the window height shorten, it also creeps up the monitor towards upper left corner, getting shorter and shorter … so I can't even see (right from the beginning) the bottom of prefs pane!! Totally weird, and surely not before the latest upgrades. again, big thanks for contemplating this for me. oh, note the pics, 1-5. #3 didn't load .. it is cropped like #4, but in composition tab. Thanks!!