I have just tried restarting Windows 10 in safe mode, but Thunderbird still cannot be started.

I have tried this in Windows safe mode to no avail: C:\Users\h>"C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -safe-mode

just reinstall and see if that help thing. with these sort of odd ball occurrences it often does.

Thank you for the tip.

I have a vast email archive. Is there any risk in losing it after re-installation?

hongz said

Thank you for the tip. I have a vast email archive. Is there any risk in losing it after re-installation?

It should be totally unaffected. that is not to say backup would not be a wise thing as you are already having issues.

Make sure there is no Thunderbird process in Windows task manager. Press Windows key +R type %appdata% in the run dialog and press enter. Right click the Thunderbird folder shown and select properties. Note the number of files and folders. Backup the Thunderbird folder and all the data it and it's sub folders contain. Right click the backup Thunderbird folder and select properties. Compare the files and folder numbers to make sure you got it all.

Thank you.

I did the following to no avail: 1. Install Thunderbird. 2. Uninstall Thunderbird, then install Thunderbird.

I also did the following to no avail: 1. Uninstall Thunderbird. 2. Renaming folder Thunderbird folder. 3. Restart the Windows 10 PC. 4. Install Thunderbird.

I have had the same problem with Firefox for over half a year - run Firefox, then nothing happens (no error messages).

what anti virus are you using? I have a feeling it might be suppressing the execution because it does not recognize the new software versions. I had hoped reinstalling might poke it into noticing.

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 10,

Thank you for your persistent help. It is greatly appreciated. I have just followed your instructions to reboot Win 10 in Safe Mode with Network, but the problem remains. I have tried to start directly from C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird, from shortcut Mozilla Thunderbird, in safe mode by holding the shift key, and as administrator to no avail. The symptom is strikingly similar to that of Firefox on my computer that of Firefox on my computer.

I am now considering plan B - importing all the emails to another client app (e.g. Microsoft Outlook). Is there a way to do it without opening Thunderbird?

Finally got it going by downloading older version (52.9.0), a version before they started to put out both 86 and 64 versions. I have backed up my profile. How should I restore them?

Hallelujah!!! Everything is back now as far as I know. I uninstalled Thunderbird, restore the Thunderbird folder, then installed V52.9.0 again. How can I prevent Thunderbird from being updated?

hongz said

I have not been able to start Thunderbird since then.

I'd like to better understand what this means, which is to say a) how are you starting Thunderbird and what do you see? b) are you using the en-US locale? c) does firefox have a similar problem? d) did you try thunderbird.exe -P to see if the problem occurs before thunderbird actually accesses thunderbird data?

I know I have posted quite a few threads, probably too many for anyone to read through all of them. To answer your questions, let me summarizes what I posted before I solved the problem by using an older version:

Problem: Nothing happens (no error messages) when running Thunderbird. Same problem with Firefox. I have not tried "thunderbird.exe -P" because I did not know it.

I have tried the following to run Thunderbird: Click the icon, Hold shift while clicking the icon. Double-click thunderbird.exe Hold shift while double-clicking thunderbird.exe Reboot the computer in safe mode and do exactly the above 4 different combinations. All had the same results.

Sorry, but I forgot to mention that I installed and uninstalled Thunderbird quite a few times.

Sorry, but I forgot another answer: My Windows PC's region is set to English(US).

Thanks so much. I know this has been frustrating.

If you can spare the time the following would be very helpful. You can do this without impacting your 52.x install and production data.

With Thunderbird 52 NOT running...

1. download 60. Pick "custom" during the install process. Pick/create a new program directory TB60 into which 60 will be installed. And the end of the install process chose NOT to set thunderbird as default or create a shortcut 2. open DOS command prompt and CD to the TB60 directory 3. thunderbird.exe -P -console 4. startup 4a. Watch the "console" for anything that looks suspicious. 4b. Does Thunderbird load at least to the profile manager described at https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/using-multiple-profiles 4c. If you get the profile manager, does creating a profile, and starting thunderbird in that profile?

Note, after you start in the new profile, that profile becomes the default. So after your test is complete you must start TB52 in the DOS window and use profile manager to pick your production Thunderbird profile

FYI https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Command_Line_Options describes command line options

Hallelujah!!! I have finally been able to use Firefox with the same remedy after missing Firefox for many months - installing the latest version of Firefox 58: https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/58.0.2/win64/en-US/

Give me some time catch up and organize my email and have a break of dealing with this email issue before following your instructions to diagnose the problem. I will report back.

I have finally managed to do the test.

I ran the following a few times:

C:\Program Files (x86)\TB60>thunderbird.exe -P -console

A DOS window pops up showing nothing for 2 or 3 seconds, then disappears every time.

After this test, I can still start TB 52.9.1 normally without doing anything extra.

Wayne Mery said

Thanks so much. I know this has been frustrating. If you can spare the time the following would be very helpful. You can do this without impacting your 52.x install and production data. With Thunderbird 52 NOT running... 1. download 60. Pick "custom" during the install process. Pick/create a new program directory TB60 into which 60 will be installed. And the end of the install process chose NOT to set thunderbird as default or create a shortcut 2. open DOS command prompt and CD to the TB60 directory 3. thunderbird.exe -P -console 4. startup 4a. Watch the "console" for anything that looks suspicious. 4b. Does Thunderbird load at least to the profile manager described at https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/using-multiple-profiles 4c. If you get the profile manager, does creating a profile, and starting thunderbird in that profile? Note, after you start in the new profile, that profile becomes the default. So after your test is complete you must start TB52 in the DOS window and use profile manager to pick your production Thunderbird profile FYI https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Command_Line_Options describes command line options

Just in case it is useful, here are two screenshots showing the status: