Thunderbird is already running
This problem has been raised many times. For each of them, the thread has been archived. I have a solution which I haven't seen described (none of the ones I have seen works for me): 1. Create a new profile according to the instruction under Starting the Profile Manager here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/using-multiple-profiles. 2. Go to C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\ and locate the folder which contains the folders ImapMail and Mail. If there are more than one, select the one with the latest dates for those folders. 3. Copy ImapMail, Mail and all the single files in that same folder to the folder with new profile you just created. Start Thunderbird in the usual manner. It will identify the necessary settings automatically.
Also I think you should have managed to get rid of this rerererecurring problem by now.
All Replies (2)
That is one solution and thanks for posting it. Some people may find it useful. Basically, you chose to create a new profile.
If anyone uses that method and already only uses IMAP accounts, then they would not need to copy the ImapMail folder. Simply create the mail account, set up as imap - all emails are stored on the server anyway. Without the 'prefs.js file and other files that store passwords, you would still need to create the mail accounts. Just having the files is not enough, the mail accounts need to exist. Pop accounts or people who store emails in 'Local Folders' mail account may need to copy the 'Mail' folder. But it is advised you delete the 'Mail' folder from new profile and then paste in the copied 'Mail' from old profile. Then create a new pop account and check it's local directory is pointing to the old copied over pop account as not everyone will have previously downloaded emails still stored on a pop server.
But the usual reason for a 'thunderbird is already running' is the 'parent.lock' file. Thunderbird thinks the profile is already running because the 'profile.lock' file has been registered as already open. It may be corrupt - computer may have been shut down or user logged out of user account before Thunderbird had completed all background updates of session data and closures of files. Sometimes Anti-Virus programs check files that get opened, so causing a slight delay before Thunderbird gets control back to close them. So the problem is not always a problem caused by Thunderbird. Hence why it cannot be fixed by Thunderbird.
Standard fix for those who would like to know: Exit Thunderbird - check Thunderbird is not running via Task Manager. Access profile name folder which by default in Windows is in this location.
- C:\\Users\Username\Appdata\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\xxxxxxxx.default
profile name folder tends to be called 'xxxxxxxx.default' or 'xxxxxxxx.default-release' where the x's are various letters and numbers.
Locate the 'parent.lock' file and delete it. then start Thunderbird.
Thanks for this information. However, I am having some problems with your method:
> If anyone uses that method and already only uses IMAP accounts, > then they would not need to copy the ImapMail folder. Simply create > the mail account, set up as imap - all emails are stored on the > server anyway. Without the 'prefs.js file and other files that > store passwords, you would still need to create the mail accounts. > Just having the files is not enough, the mail accounts need to > exist. Pop accounts or people who store emails in 'Local Folders' > mail account may need to copy the 'Mail' folder. > But it is advised > you delete the 'Mail' folder from new profile and then paste in the > copied 'Mail' from old profile.
There is no Mail folder in the new profile.
> Then create a new pop account and > check it's local directory is pointing to the old copied over pop > account as not everyone will have previously downloaded emails > still stored on a pop server.
Not being used to creating pop accounts more than absolutely necessary (i.e. very seldom), I find this suggestion not as straightforward as you do. (This remark also concerns your inital advice on "simply create the mail account" etc.
> But the usual reason for a 'thunderbird is already running' is the > 'parent.lock' file. Thunderbird thinks the profile is already > running because the 'profile.lock' file has been registered as > already open. It may be corrupt - computer may have been shut down > or user logged out of user account before Thunderbird had completed > all background updates of session data and closures of files. > Sometimes Anti-Virus programs check files that get opened, so > causing a slight delay before Thunderbird gets control back to > close them. So the problem is not always a problem caused by > Thunderbird. Hence why it cannot be fixed by Thunderbird. > > Standard fix for those who would like to know: Exit Thunderbird - > check Thunderbird is not running via Task Manager. Access profile > name folder which by default in Windows is in this location. > > C:\\Users\Username\Appdata\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\xxxxxxxx.defau > lt profile name folder tends to be called 'xxxxxxxx.default' or > 'xxxxxxxx.default-release' where the x's are various letters and > numbers.
> Locate the 'parent.lock' file and delete it. then start Thunderbird.
No parent.lock file in any of the .default or .default-release folders.
When I had this problem today, I checked all Profile folders. Only one of them contained a parent.lock file, which however was empty (size 0). I remember an occasion a month ago or so when deleting this file did not do anything at all.
Conclusion: So far, the only method that helps at least me is still the one I describe. Possibly I copy more files than necessary to the new user account, but as long as it works I am happy. Except that it is very annoying every time I have to do this (nowadays once every 1 or 2 months; until about a year ago it never happened).
Best regards, Mats