Please check you graphics driver is up to date.

If your graphics driver is up to date then try disabling hardware acceleration.

Tools > Options > Advanced > General tab

However, if your toolbars are black try this method of getting access.

select the top mail account Hold down 'Alt' key and press 'T'- keep holding down 'Alt and press 'O' then press 'O' again, release 'Alt' and hit Enter.

this should get your Options window open Select 'Advanced' and 'General' tab click on 'config Editor' button

a new window opens. In top search type: gfx look for this line : gfx.direct2d.disabled Value = false double click on that line to toggle the 'False' to 'true'

In top search type: acceleration look for this line : layers.acceleration.disabled Value = false double click on that line to toggle the 'False' to 'true'

If using linux or mac: set this line to Value = true : layers.prefer-opengl Value = True

close window - top right X clickon OK to save and close Options.

Restart Thunderbird.

Toad-Hall said

Please check you graphics driver is up to date.

Thanks for replying so quickly. Just finished updating the graphics driver and will wait a couple days to verify if it has resolved the issue. So far it seems good.

Hi, I'm sorry to report that the issue is continuing. I have updated my graphics driver and also disabled hardware acceleration. What is happening is that, for new messages, the entire message pane is black. I have to select another message, then re-select the original one and then it displays properly.

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.

Application Basics

   Name: Thunderbird
   Version: 38.0.1
   User Agent:
   Profile Folder: Show Folder

             (Local drive)
   Application Build ID: 20150608103712
   Enabled Plugins: about:plugins
   Build Configuration: about:buildconfig
   Memory Use: about:memory

 Mail and News Accounts
   account1:
     INCOMING: account1, , (none) Local Folders, plain, passwordCleartext

   account3:
     INCOMING: account4, , (imap) imap.googlemail.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: smtp.googlemail.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true

 Crash Reports

 Extensions
   AddExpandedList, 1.0.3, true, {beefcf4b-214d-4758-aeaf-96a7d84d7de2}
   CompactHeader, 2.1.0, true, {58D4392A-842E-11DE-B51A-C7B855D89593}
   Disable "You", 1.1, true, {79F88CCE-DC6B-11DE-A153-58A455D89593}
   Duplicate Contact Manager, 0.9.2, true, {b4447f60-db9c-11da-a94d-0800200c9a66}
   EditSender, 0.3, true, {c167cbdf-1178-4dff-a279-bd8808614476}
   Email Address Crawler - Kaosmos version, 5.1.2, true, emailcrawler@torge.kummerow
   FiltaQuilla, 1.3.1, true, filtaquilla@mesquilla.com
   Folder Pane View Switcher, 1.10, true, FolderPaneSwitcher@kamens.us
   Folderpane Tools, 0.6.1, true, {b243fe83-b8a7-47de-855d-21d865243d5d}
   Inverse SOGo Connector, 17.0.5, true, sogo-connector@inverse.ca
   Lightning, 4.0.1, true, {e2fda1a4-762b-4020-b5ad-a41df1933103}
   Maximize Message Pane, 1.1.16, true, {CC1FC7EB-79F7-4A28-B12C-731304F16E53}
   MoreFunctionsForAddressBook, 0.7.2.1, true, {3e17310d-82e8-4a43-bd2f-7c3055bfe589}
   ResetRec, 1.2, true, ResetRec@lejav.com
   Theme Font & Size Changer, 38.3, true, {f69e22c7-bc50-414a-9269-0f5c344cd94c}
   UnMHT, 7.3.0.5.1-signed, true, {f759ca51-3a91-4dd1-ae78-9db5eee9ebf0}
   AttachmentExtractor, 1.3.5.1, false, {35834d20-efdb-4f78-ab77-9635fb4e56c4}
   Enigmail, 1.8.2, false, {847b3a00-7ab1-11d4-8f02-006008948af5}
   gContactSync, 2.0.5, false, gContactSync@pirules.net
   Mail Merge, 3.10.1, false, mailmerge@example.net
   Personas Plus, 1.7.3.1-signed, false, personas@christopher.beard
   PrintingTools, 1.2.5, false, {5e9999c2-ba1d-44b6-bcee-5b30ce37d3b0}
   Provider for Google Calendar, 1.0.4, false, {a62ef8ec-5fdc-40c2-873c-223b8a6925cc}
   ReminderFox, 2.1.5.2.1-signed, false, {ada4b710-8346-4b82-8199-5de2b400a6ae}
   Select Addressbook Text, 1.5, false, select_addressbook_text@cbmarkwardt.com
   Signature Switch, 1.6.13, false, {2ab1b709-ba03-4361-abf9-c50b964ff75d}
   Simple HT Jumper, 1.0.4, false, simplehtjumper@xzer.net
   SortRecipients, 0.2.7, false, sortrecipients@martin.soffner
   Stationery, 0.8.6.2, false, {d0e38b3a-0d60-46bf-bf01-83d4ba041015}
   Themes Menu, 1.23.1-signed, false, {84625510-7e5d-11e0-a411-0800200c9a66}
   ThunderPlunger, 2.14, false, {bfec0750-aa6f-11db-abbd-0800200c9a66}

 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.zoom.full: true
     dom.max_chrome_script_run_time: 0
     extensions.lastAppVersion: 38.0.1
     font.internaluseonly.changed: true
     font.minimum-size.x-western: 14
     font.name.monospace.el: Consolas
     font.name.monospace.tr: Consolas
     font.name.monospace.x-baltic: Consolas
     font.name.monospace.x-central-euro: Consolas
     font.name.monospace.x-cyrillic: Consolas
     font.name.monospace.x-unicode: Consolas
     font.name.sans-serif.el: Calibri
     font.name.sans-serif.tr: Calibri
     font.name.sans-serif.x-baltic: Calibri

font.name.sans-serif.x-central-euro: Calibri

     font.name.sans-serif.x-cyrillic: Calibri
     font.name.sans-serif.x-unicode: Calibri
     font.name.serif.el: Cambria
     font.name.serif.tr: Cambria
     font.name.serif.x-baltic: Cambria
     font.name.serif.x-central-euro: Cambria
     font.name.serif.x-cyrillic: Cambria
     font.name.serif.x-unicode: Cambria
     font.size.fixed.el: 14
     font.size.fixed.tr: 14
     font.size.fixed.x-baltic: 14
     font.size.fixed.x-central-euro: 14
     font.size.fixed.x-cyrillic: 14
     font.size.fixed.x-unicode: 14
     font.size.fixed.x-western: 14
     font.size.variable.el: 17
     font.size.variable.tr: 17
     font.size.variable.x-baltic: 17
     font.size.variable.x-central-euro: 17
     font.size.variable.x-cyrillic: 17
     font.size.variable.x-unicode: 17
     font.size.variable.x-western: 14
     general.useragent.override:
     gfx.direct2d.disabled: true
     gfx.direct3d.last_used_feature_level_idx: 0
     layers.acceleration.disabled: true
     mail.openMessageBehavior.version: 1
     mail.winsearch.firstRunDone: true
     mailnews.database.global.datastore.id: f1e38a68-a31b-4e50-8b57-b40313a03b0
     mailnews.database.global.views.conversation.columns: {"threadCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"1"},"flaggedCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"5"},"attachmentCol":{"visible":false…
     mailnews.database.global.views.global.columns: {"threadCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"1"},"flaggedCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"5"},"attachmentCol":{"visible":false…
     network.cookie.prefsMigrated: true
     network.predictor.cleaned-up: true
     places.database.lastMaintenance: 1436596381
     places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages: 104858
     places.history.expiration.transient_optimal_database_size: 167772160
     plugin.importedState: true
     plugins.update.notifyUser: true
     print.printer_Canon_MX880_series_Printer_WS.print_bgcolor: false
     print.printer_Canon_MX880_series_Printer_WS.print_bgimages: false
     print.printer_Canon_MX880_series_Printer_WS.print_evenpages: true
     print.printer_Canon_MX880_series_Printer_WS.print_footercenter:
     print.printer_Canon_MX880_series_Printer_WS.print_footerleft: &PT
     print.printer_Canon_MX880_series_Printer_WS.print_footerright: &D
     print.printer_Canon_MX880_series_Printer_WS.print_headercenter:
     print.printer_Canon_MX880_series_Printer_WS.print_headerleft: &T
     print.printer_Canon_MX880_series_Printer_WS.print_headerright: &U
     print.printer_Canon_MX880_series_Printer_WS.print_in_color: true
     print.printer_Canon_MX880_series_Printer_WS.print_margin_bottom: 0.5
     print.printer_Canon_MX880_series_Printer_WS.print_margin_left: 0.5
     print.printer_Canon_MX880_series_Printer_WS.print_margin_right: 0.5
     print.printer_Canon_MX880_series_Printer_WS.print_margin_top: 0.5
     print.printer_Canon_MX880_series_Printer_WS.print_oddpages: true
     print.printer_Canon_MX880_series_Printer_WS.print_orientation: 0
     print.printer_Canon_MX880_series_Printer_WS.print_reversed: false
     print.printer_Canon_MX880_series_Printer_WS.print_scaling: 1.00
     print.printer_Canon_MX880_series_Printer_WS.print_shrink_to_fit: false
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_bgcolor: false
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_bgimages: false
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_colorspace:
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_command:
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_downloadfonts: false
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_duplex: 0
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_edge_bottom: 0
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_edge_left: 0
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_edge_right: 0
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_edge_top: 0
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_evenpages: true
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_footercenter:
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_footerleft: &PT
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_footerright: &D
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_headercenter:
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_headerleft: &T
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_headerright: &U
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_in_color: true
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_margin_bottom: 0.5
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_margin_left: 0.5
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_margin_right: 0.5
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_margin_top: 0.5
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_oddpages: true
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_orientation: 0
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_page_delay: 50
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_paper_data: 1
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_paper_height: 11.00
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_paper_name:
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_paper_size_type: 0
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_paper_size_unit: 0
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_paper_width: 8.50
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_plex_name:
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_resolution: 0
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_resolution_name:
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_reversed: false
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_scaling: 1.00
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_shrink_to_fit: true
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_to_file: false
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_unwriteable_margin_bottom: 0
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_unwriteable_margin_left: 0
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_unwriteable_margin_right: 0
     print.printer_Canon_MX882_Printer.print_unwriteable_margin_top: 0
     print.printer_Canon_MX882.print_bgcolor: false
     print.printer_Canon_MX882.print_bgimages: false
     print.printer_Canon_MX882.print_colorspace:
     print.printer_Canon_MX882.print_command:
     print.printer_Canon_MX882.print_downloadfonts: false
     print.printer_Canon_MX882.print_duplex: 1515870810
     print.printer_Canon_MX882.print_edge_bottom: 0
     print.p

pending the arrival of the graphic section of the troubleshooting information. Restart Thunderbird with all add-ons disabled. (Hold the shift key while starting the program) and see if you get a better result. That list of add-ons may well have something that interacts badly in the new version.

Ok I disabled (almost all plugins) (still need Lightning and Sogo Connector) and so far it seems ok but will report back after testing a while.

Thanks for all the help so far!

Any update on this issue?

So far the problem hasn't occurred again. I guess its ok to close it unless you want to wait a couple more days.

Hi, its been a few days and the problem hasn't recurred. Therefore it appears that it was in fact related to one of the plugins that were enabled (however the same plugins were enabled on another system which did not experience problems).

Its ok to close the issue and thank you very much for helping!

My money is on the email crawler