Please can you stop updating Thunderbird, or at least give us poor users the option of whether to accept them? Every time you update it I like Thunderbird less. I was guided to use Thunderbird by my computer repair man when Outlook Express became unavailable to me. Gods, I miss good old Outlook Express; I could do anything I wanted with that.

I remember Outlook Express with a certain nostalgic fondness. A very simple easy to use program which got dropped because there were lots of security issues and it did not offer what people required. It became too outdated in so many ways.

The option to not update has always been available.

You must first realise that you might have a Software Update program running on your computer and it might be forcing updates. Some Anti-Virus products also have the ability to check for updates and just install them. Over the uears I've had many people complaining about updates only to discover it was not Thunderbird who was doing the update.

In Thunderbird there are some settings you can check out:

• Settings > General
• scroll down to 'Updates' section
• Select 'Check for updates, but let me choose whether to install them'

This means Thunderbird will check and let you know, but it will not install unless you say so.

• Uncheck 'Use a background service to install updates'

Windows UAC control system normally will not allow any updates to the computer unless you have said it's OK. If this option is selected then the Mozilla Maintenance Service gets permission from Windows to allow the update to be applied, without requiring you to click Yes in the Windows User Account Control (UAC) dialog. So, uncheck this option and you will get Windows UAC pop up asking you to allow an update. It can act like a double check meaning if you initially click on do update and get the UAC - you can cancel it.

Please remember this forum can help you with all sorts of issues.

What version are you currently using ? There's a few ways of finding that sort of info: In Thunderbird

• Help > About thunderbird

This will tell you the current version. OR

• Help > Troubleshooting Information
• It opens in a new tab
• Under 'Application Basics' at the top it will say 'Version' and display a version number.

OR

• Settings > General
• scroll down to 'Updates' section

It will tell what version you are currently using as well as allowing you see history of updates etc.

I've been helping people of all ages and abilities get to grips with Thunderbird. Sometimes people need to modify the font or increase spacing or simply have lost a toolbar and want it back. Ask about anything no matter what it is. Sometimes people feel they should know something, but until someone shows you, how are you supposed to know. Many changes can occur because security has to keep up to date or some server demand alterations to allow third parties access to severs. Sometimes things change because a lot of people are demanding the changes. Sometimes the code has been mofified for too many years and is now so untidy it's getting too many errors and it needs a complete rewrite, so better mechanisms are incorporatated. Change is often necessary and important.

OK, thank you, it's nice to know I can theoretically not accept an update - I must get my Computer Repair Man to show me how - but how can I tell what's been done to it until after I have it installed and have seen it working? Is it possible to uninstall it again?

Unfortunately we aren't all thoroughly computer literate. I can do the basics but not the clever stuff.

Is Thunderbird currently installed on your computer ? If yes, what version are you currently using ? You can find info under 'Help' > 'About Thunderbird'

If you are using current version 115.2.2 and need some guidance to sort out things then I can give some pointers. It's really worth getting to grips with this version because it is going to be the same for along time and it's not really a good idea to keep using stuff that just going to get more and more outdated. Version 102* will no longer get any updates to another 102 version. Developers stop fixing bugs on the older versions.

I'm not exactly a spring chicken any more myself. I've been using it for a few weeks and finding it's actually ok after the initial wow what on earth is going on here moment! In fact, in certain ways it better. There are still a few gremlins, but that's to be expected when there has been a huge rewrite.

Yes, I'm using it ATM. I've no idea what version it is. I looked under 'Help' but there's nothing headed 'About Thunderbird'. Oh - hang on, I've just tried again, and yes, I have 115.2.2

I've been using it for several years and I like it less all the time :( A while back it had a spell of refusing to retain the 'replied to' marker against messages for more than a few minutes, and I had to resort to using the Tab key to identify what I'd replied to. Then it went back to normal, for no apparent reason.

Is there a particular part of the new Thunderbird that you find you would like to change ? For example: The new Thunderbird has different ways of showing the Message List and the Address Book contact list, but the original is still available.

In 'Message List Header' toolbar

• Far right is the icon 'Message List display options'
• Click on 'Message List display options' icon

there are two options:

1. Table View - this is the classic old style using column headers.
2. Cards View - a new option

• Choose preferred option.

See image below as a guide. If image is too small - in this forum click on the thumbnail image and it becomes much larger.