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Profile forgotten / Not responding

  • 1 reply
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by david

esycip
esycip

I installed Thunderbird 91.5.1 (desktop version; not the portable app) on an external SSD drive so I could access all my emails when I travel. Was hoping it would be a simple "Plug & Play" with Thunderbird residing and running on the external SSD drive exclusively. My notebook computer is running Windows 11 while my desktop is on Windows 10.

Once set up on the SSD drive, I could be running the application for days without any problems. For as long as I am on the same computer, I could exit and restart the application with no problems at all. However, the moment I plug the SSD drive into another computer (ie. from notebook to desktop) the profile is forgotten and TB launches like it is a brand new install.

I launch the application using the usual TB.exe file from within the SSD drive. The application is always shut down from the "exit" drop down menu. The drive letter on both the notebook & desktop remains to be the same (I: drive). The location of the profile folder is specified in the appropriate location within the TB setting. I started this journey using the TB Portable version (using the Portable App launcher) but the results were very disastrous because besides forgetting the profile, although the folder structure remained the same, the data contained in the folders were erased (file size "0"). Using the desktop/notebook version so far seems to be working well; with the exception of the "forgetfulness" when swapping machines.

Could someone please tell me what I might be doing wrong OR which setting I am overlooking. Is there anything in the pref.json file that needs to be updated? Would appreciate any info to help me fix my predicament. I have found nothing in the support pages. Thank you.

OH.......there seems to be one more issue. I am running the latest TB 91.5.1 (64 bit) software on both the desktop and notebook computers, my desktop runs flawlessly. However, on the notebook at random intervals the application would seem to "hang" for a few seconds then resume normally. At times I see a "Not Responding" message displayed at the top of the screen. There was some mention in the blogs about the cause being the antivirus software causing the hang up. However, the same condition ensues even with the anti-virus software shut off. I am running Bit Defender Total Security on both notebook and desktop. The desktop runs flawlessly and the problem is only on the notebook. Any ideas?

I installed Thunderbird 91.5.1 (desktop version; not the portable app) on an external SSD drive so I could access all my emails when I travel. Was hoping it would be a simple "Plug & Play" with Thunderbird residing and running on the external SSD drive exclusively. My notebook computer is running Windows 11 while my desktop is on Windows 10. Once set up on the SSD drive, I could be running the application for days without any problems. For as long as I am on the same computer, I could exit and restart the application with no problems at all. However, the moment I plug the SSD drive into another computer (ie. from notebook to desktop) the profile is forgotten and TB launches like it is a brand new install. I launch the application using the usual TB.exe file from within the SSD drive. The application is always shut down from the "exit" drop down menu. The drive letter on both the notebook & desktop remains to be the same (I: drive). The location of the profile folder is specified in the appropriate location within the TB setting. I started this journey using the TB Portable version (using the Portable App launcher) but the results were very disastrous because besides forgetting the profile, although the folder structure remained the same, the data contained in the folders were erased (file size "0"). Using the desktop/notebook version so far seems to be working well; with the exception of the "forgetfulness" when swapping machines. Could someone please tell me what I might be doing wrong OR which setting I am overlooking. Is there anything in the pref.json file that needs to be updated? Would appreciate any info to help me fix my predicament. I have found nothing in the support pages. Thank you. OH.......there seems to be one more issue. I am running the latest TB 91.5.1 (64 bit) software on both the desktop and notebook computers, my desktop runs flawlessly. However, on the notebook at random intervals the application would seem to "hang" for a few seconds then resume normally. At times I see a "Not Responding" message displayed at the top of the screen. There was some mention in the blogs about the cause being the antivirus software causing the hang up. However, the same condition ensues even with the anti-virus software shut off. I am running Bit Defender Total Security on both notebook and desktop. The desktop runs flawlessly and the problem is only on the notebook. Any ideas?

All Replies (1)

david
david
  • Top 10 Contributor

I hope this info proves useful: TB, when starting, looks at the c:\\(yourname)appdata\roaming\thunderbird folder for the profiles.ini file, which specifies the location of the profile. From your description, it's not seeing it. The next time TB starts with no profile, click the Home tab, then rightclick at top and click to set the menu bar visible. Then, click help>more troubleshooting information and scroll down to Profiles and click about:profile. That will show what profiles it is seeing.