That is what menu options are for. Options-General Uncheck the box to show the start page.

Thank you for the reply so quickly. I must be obtuse but I can't find a global menu button in Thunderbird, nor anywhere to uncheck the start page. I can't even find the version number for the program.

Do you have a Mail Toolbar that starts with Get messages and Write? If so at the far end of that toolbar is a 3 horizontal line button. Click that, hover over Options, click Options when the new drop down appears. From there click General and the first box is to show the Start page.

If you do not have a Mail toolbar, press the alt key to make the Menu Bar appear. From the Menu Bar select Tools and select Options from there.

The version number is under Help-About just like all software that I have ever used.

You do know that Thunderbird is software running on your computer. You are in complete control of it. I am not sure how you expect the software to know that you have made a donation. I am sure the developers appreciate your support.

Thank you. The key was the alt key which brought up all the buttons I wasn't seeing. I am a newbie here, and will no doubt figure all this out as time goes by.

The alt key or F10 brings up hidden menu bars in most applications. Those are 2 good shortcuts to put in your computer toolbox.

Feel free to come back with any questions you discover.