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Can send but unable to receive. Error "Unable to write the email to the mailbox. Make sure the file system allows you write privileges, and you have enough disk space to copy the mailbox." (win10)

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  • Last reply by KaufmanM

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I keep getting this message "Unable to write the email to the mailbox. Make sure the file system allows you write privileges, and you have enough disk space to copy the mailbox." every time I log in, try to delete an email that has already downloaded, and every time I click get messages to download messages.

No messages have been downloaded since two days ago. I did go on the web version of my email and deleted all emails from that time period in case there was a virus so it's not that. I strangely started when I ignored the compact folder message sever times. I did however try to compact the folder from the file menu, as well as cleared the cash and emptied the trash.

I made sure I had the latest update as well. I am thinking the software is corrupt at this point.

I keep getting this message "Unable to write the email to the mailbox. Make sure the file system allows you write privileges, and you have enough disk space to copy the mailbox." every time I log in, try to delete an email that has already downloaded, and every time I click get messages to download messages. No messages have been downloaded since two days ago. I did go on the web version of my email and deleted all emails from that time period in case there was a virus so it's not that. I strangely started when I ignored the compact folder message sever times. I did however try to compact the folder from the file menu, as well as cleared the cash and emptied the trash. I made sure I had the latest update as well. I am thinking the software is corrupt at this point.

Modified by Wayne Mery

All Replies (16)

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Don't all answer at once. I realize this has been asked before and I've read those threads. None of the suggested solutions worked, thus why I posted this question. Ironic the problem happened the day the donation message hijacked my screen. Is that the solution?

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I think this is a bug.

It happens to me from time to time. But the problem went away by itself in a few seconds. Even I took no action.

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thanks. But this has been going on for days with me and I tired everything. I may have to bite the bullet and get outlook.

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1) No offense intended : did you verify to see if you can write to the filesystem or disk where thunderbird profile reside.

2) Maybe you should delete the account and re-create it to see.

3) Or delete the profile completely and retry from scratch.

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Michel I've never been more offended in my life! -:) seriously I did try that (#1). Maybe I didn't do it correctly. I"m not the most IT savvy.

If I delete the account how can I ensure that when I recreate it that all the old email will appear in the inbox and sent folders, etc? Some of that stuff is pretty important.

Thanks for you help.

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1) To test if you can write to your filesystem or disk : create a file or copy a file from another director to that directory


2) Delete an account  :

- if your account is configured as IMAP then emails are not deleted.

- if your account is configured as Pop then :

 +  if it's configured to keep a copy  on server then you can again download them
 + otherwise you will loose all your emails downloaded locally.


- If you're not sure then you should create a NEW profile (so your current profile is not touched) and reconfigure your account in this NEW profile.

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Thanks so much Michel. this is very helpful. I will try both and report back.

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If the only issue you have is the error message, then it's being incorrectly given to you and there is nothing wrong with your system and nothing to test.

You are likely seeing Bug 1959858 - Error message compacting non-empty folder - "The folder 'Inbox on something@xxxx.yyy' could not be compacted because writing to folder failed. Verify that you have enough disk space, and that you have write privileges to the file system, then try again." We are waiting for this fix to be put into production.

Until then disable automatic compact in Settings

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Thank you . I will wait for the bug fix. I assume unchecking this box "Compact all folders when it will save over xx" was what you meant.

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Wayne Mery said

If the only issue you have is the error message, then it's being incorrectly given to you and there is nothing wrong with your system and nothing to test. You are likely seeing Bug 1959858 - Error message compacting non-empty folder - "The folder 'Inbox on something@xxxx.yyy' could not be compacted because writing to folder failed. Verify that you have enough disk space, and that you have write privileges to the file system, then try again." We are waiting for this fix to be put into production. Until then disable automatic compact in Settings

ANy luck on fixing this bug? I still can't delete or receive emails. I can send though, oddly.

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awm33 said

No messages have been downloaded since two days ago.

So. you have no email since 8/10? If so, that should be our focus, not the error message

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Yes. No email since the 10th. I can send but not receive. I also can't delete messages in my inbox that were downloaded by the 10th. And I checked, I have the ability to write and save files to the folders. Its not a permissions or disk space thing. It happened while I was trying to ignore the compact message box when it popped up. I have tried everything g to no avail. I don't want to delete the profile as I don't want to risk losing emails I need.

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Who is the mail provider(s)? Account(s) set up as imap? Or pop?

Is the Inbox folder name in italics and greyed out like "jobs" in the following screen shot? Or "normal" font like "join"?

Right+click on Inbox and pick Properties. What values are there for number of messages and size? Now pick "Repair folder". Restart Thunderbird.

If still a problem:

Does problem change?

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Note to self ... If we are still in trouble, 140.2.1esr comes later next week.

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HI Wayne and thanks. It sounds like worse case the fix comes out next week.

In an answer to your questions, it is a POP. The inbox folder name is normal. I also created a profile on another PC the other day and it is working fine. It strictly the version on my PC.

I says number of files 304 and size on disk 85.0 MB. I checked what is in the folder and it's about 52.5kb so I think I'm okay there. However, if you add the pop folder and the incoming folder up, which I'm not sure if it matters, you get a bit over 85.0MB. If it's only one folder that matters than I'm well below 85MB.

I have also hit the repair folder button numbers times and it nothing.

I'll go start in safe mode now and try that troubleshoot. I will get back with the results.

Thanks again

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It's not so much that there is a bug that can[t write to the disk, it's that the error message does not time out, and being on top of everything hangs the computer. I went away for a week and the message was still there, nothing had been downloaded, and background programs were hung. Thunderbird quality has gone downhill lately.

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