When upgrading from 38.5.0 all dropdown menus shrink to microscopic (unreadable); do latest versions still do this?
Each upgrade has shrunk the menus so I have been forced to go back to 38.5.0 as I had an earlier download. This means I am unable to take advantage of improvements and security fixes etc in later versions.
Am I the only one worldwide who has faced this problem?
I do like to keep up to date but after several attempts to upgrade I have all but given up.
All Replies (11)
Are you using a Mac?
he's Windows NT 6.1
No I use PC with Windows 7. Long time user of Thunderbird, no problems like this before.
geejay said
Am I the only one worldwide who has faced this problem?
Looks like it.
Are you using the Theme Font & Size Changer add-on and it is being disabled in the update? https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/thunderbird/addon/theme-font-size-changer/
If not it will probably cure your problem with user interface size, with setting to scale and fonts and set a Zoom factor to your liking. Note that font size will be about 30% smaller than you expect. So 11points should probably be set to 14 or 15 pixels
Modified by Matt
No I'm using the default settings - no add-ons. The older version doesn't give me any problems When I've tried upgrades the menu headings themselves are OK, it's just the drop down lists that shrink to nano size and can't be read.
Please see if hardware acceration is causing the issue.
'Tools' > 'Options' > 'Advanced' > 'General' tab or 'Menu icon' > 'Options' > 'Options' > 'Advanced' > 'General' tab uncheck: 'Use hardware acceleration when available' click on OK
Restart Thunderbird report back on results.
Please understand I'm not using the latest version of Tbird - because on the occasions I've tried to the problem appears. Hardware acceleration is not enabled on my older version and I don't have the problem with the menus. I'm interested in finding out what causes the problem in later versions. It is not practicable to run two versions at once but I would be prepared to upgrade provided it is possible to undo it if necessary.
I suggest you just install the older version as required. One thing you must consider is non of us has the issue. So we can suggest, probe and ask questions. But we can not reproduce it. The result is you must do the guinea pig work. We can not.
Thank you Matt, I appreciate the work you and other helpers do but I am no further towards solving this issue. I have used Tbird for about 20 years (on numerous PCs) and all my equipment has been pretty much bog standard. I find it incredible that I appear to be the only user facing this particular problem, which has been very frustrating. When I pluck up courage I will try an upgrade once more; if the issue reappears I will have to revert or try something else.
Simple test - start thunderbird in safe mode https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/safe-mode
Uninstalling via Control Panel > Programs and Features, selecting Thunderbird and click on uninstall takes only a few minutes.
Downloading the latest release and installing also only takes a few minutes.
It is the same process to remove the latest version and reinstall an older one. Latest release - choose language and windows OS: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/all/
Older 38.5.0: http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/thunderbird/releases/38.5.0/win32/ choose language.
Obviously you would need to be running the latest in order to test whether the uncheck: 'Use hardware acceleration when available' works or to tell the forum if it is already Not selected.
I would also check your Graphics driver to see if it is up to date.