First, "unable to write," then "unable to open the summary file"
I'm dealing with a properly updated 'bird: 140.5.0 (32-bit) running on an equally updated Windows 10 desktop. First thing this morning, out of nowhere, I started getting an "unable to write the email to the mailbox..." message when sending, thus I could send but not save. And then I realized I wasn't receiving either, on all three accounts in my Thunderbird. I stopped everything and focused on trying to fix this. It's been an all-day, losing effort. So far.
I tried the various quick checks and fixes recommended here and there: I'm running the program as an administrator. I restarted the program. I rebooted the computer. I think I have enough disk space, but to be sure I deleted some bloat from possibly overly large files. I compacted, even though the program is configured to do that regularly. I temporarily disabled my antivirus program. I went into my webmail and deleted all messages that have arrived since my Thunderbird stopped receiving, in case one of them was corrupted. And probably some other attempts as well. Nothing has helped.
And now a second, even worse issue has fallen from the sky. Thunderbird opens. The folder list is where it always has been. The number of unopened messages in each folder is there in boldface, as always, but...the folders are all blank and I get the dreaded popup: "unable to open the summary file...." Have I lost my years' worth of carefully curated emails?
I've tried folder repair. I've deleted parent.lock. Etc. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.
I will be super-grateful for any wisdom sent my way.
All Replies (6)
Thanks a lot for jumping in.
> I think that you should first try starting Windows in safe mode with networking, then start Thunderbird in troubleshooting mode (I know that you have done that step by itself), and see what happens.
I'm not sure what that might show given that two of the three accounts are fine, but I'll try it later and report back.
> Will 64-bit Thunderbird run on your system?
It's a 64-bit system:
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU 750 @ 2.67GHz 2.67 GHz
Installed RAM 8.00 GB
Storage 932 GB WDC WD1001FAES-75W7A0
System Type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Edition Windows 10 Home
Version 22H2
Installed on 11/10/2020
OS Build 19045.6691
I would guess that I have the 32-bit Thunderbird because I downloaded it before I updated the O.S. to Win 10 years ago.
> Have you looked at your profile on disk to check the size of your POP mail folder and other local folders? If they are large enough to have messages in them but you cannot view the messages from within Thunderbird, you might try importing the messages into new folders and see if those folders work better. Use the add-on ImportExportToolsNG.
If, as instructed by Ed above, I rebuild the .msf files (one at a time, for literally hundreds of folders) I can view all the messages; nothing is lost. But I can't write to a folder, so I can't move messages around, and while I can send, the sent messages won't go into the Sent folder. And worst of all, I can't receive anything.
> If you can access those messages, you could try deleting and re-adding your POP account. But I have no confidence that it will make a difference because I do not know what is causing the problems.
I agree.
> Just trying to find a way to make everything operational for you again.
Which I really appreciate.
> If you have not made a back-up copy of your profile during all this work, you should before doing anything else. And put it on an external drive.
Done.
> I'm wondering if it's time for a new computer with 64-bit Thunderbird on it.
I believe the current computer will take the 64-bit Thunderbird. Do you think I should consider installing that? On top of the existing Thunderbird or should I uninstall first? Either way, could I restore the profile with the 64-bit when the profile was made on a 32-bit? And what does restoring from the backup actually do? Would I expect to find all three of my accounts (the POP and the two IMAPs) and all their folders and messages? I wonder if I should take the time to rebuild all the .msf files before taking any drastic action and maybe do another profile backup. (I'd hate to lose things because I restored from an incomplete backup.) Obviously, I wish I knew what is causing the failure. It seems like a very specific, targeted problem, but with nothing pointing to the broken link in the chain that normally keeps everything flowing.
> (By the way, "webmail" refers to a Web-based user interface to e-mail. You mean "server".)
Thank you for the correction. I'm trying to deal above my grade.
NoImprovement said
I would guess that I have the 32-bit Thunderbird because I downloaded it before I updated the O.S. to Win 10 years ago. [...] I believe the current computer will take the 64-bit Thunderbird. Do you think I should consider installing that? On top of the existing Thunderbird or should I uninstall first? Either way, could I restore the profile with the 64-bit when the profile was made on a 32-bit? And what does restoring from the backup actually do? Would I expect to find all three of my accounts (the POP and the two IMAPs) and all their folders and messages? I wonder if I should take the time to rebuild all the .msf files before taking any drastic action and maybe do another profile backup. (I'd hate to lose things because I restored from an incomplete backup.) Obviously, I wish I knew what is causing the failure. It seems like a very specific, targeted problem, but with nothing pointing to the broken link in the chain that normally keeps everything flowing. > (By the way, "webmail" refers to a Web-based user interface to e-mail. You mean "server".) Thank you for the correction. I'm trying to deal above my grade.
You have a great attitude. I was on a different forum recently, where I knew much less than the experts, and I did not like how they talked to me.
You can check your version of Thunderbird in settings > general > updates. Help menu > Troubleshooting information too. Maybe in the application menu, "About Thunderbird", too.
I defer to Matt on the question about upgrading to 64-bit. His comments suggest that you should. I have no special knowledge of the issue.
You would install Thunderbird over the existing installation.
Restoring a profile from a back-up copy would mean replacing a profile with the copy of the profile. Yes, you would see everything that was in the copy: accounts, folders, messages, etc. I am not suggesting that you replace your profile. I just wonder about starting fresh: current computer model, 64-bit Thunderbird, create a new profile, re-create accounts, import messages from folders in the old profile to folders in the new profile.
That's much work to do on the hope that the cause of the problem, whatever it is, would be left behind.
My guessing was about the reason why I have the 32-bit. As to whether it's the 32-bit, no guessing involved. It is.
Not sure what you mean by starting fresh. When you say "create a new profile, re-create accounts, import messages from folders in the old profile to folders in the new profile," do you mean one message at a time? Or one folder at a time? Would I not import messages wholesale? I have dozens upon dozens of folders.
Yeah, installing a new Thunderbird and then learning how to restore the backed-up profile from the old would be a lot of work--with risks, considering I'd be in uncharted territory for me, and I really don't want to lose these years' worth of messages and my careful organization of them. It would be so much better to know why I have the problem, if that can ever be. I've looked through this forum, but maybe I ought to look some more.
NoImprovement said
Not sure what you mean by starting fresh. When you say "create a new profile, re-create accounts, import messages from folders in the old profile to folders in the new profile," do you mean one message at a time? Or one folder at a time? Would I not import messages wholesale? I have dozens upon dozens of folders. Yeah, installing a new Thunderbird and then learning how to restore the backed-up profile from the old would be a lot of work--with risks, considering I'd be in uncharted territory for me, and I really don't want to lose these years' worth of messages and my careful organization of them. It would be so much better to know why I have the problem, if that can ever be. I've looked through this forum, but maybe I ought to look some more.
Restoring an old profile is a copy and a paste and then telling Thunderbird to use that profile. It's not complicated or risky. If you wanted to, you would keep all the folders and their hierarchy. No, certainly not one message at a time.
Rick said
NoImprovement said
Not sure what you mean by starting fresh. When you say "create a new profile, re-create accounts, import messages from folders in the old profile to folders in the new profile," do you mean one message at a time? Or one folder at a time? Would I not import messages wholesale? I have dozens upon dozens of folders. Yeah, installing a new Thunderbird and then learning how to restore the backed-up profile from the old would be a lot of work--with risks, considering I'd be in uncharted territory for me, and I really don't want to lose these years' worth of messages and my careful organization of them. It would be so much better to know why I have the problem, if that can ever be. I've looked through this forum, but maybe I ought to look some more.Restoring an old profile is a copy and a paste and then telling Thunderbird to use that profile. It's not complicated or risky. If you wanted to, you would keep all the folders and their hierarchy. No, certainly not one message at a time.
Well, that's a relief to hear.
For what it may mean, I now notice that the two IMAP accounts apparently re-load the messages in any folder I click on. Each time I go to access a folder, I see them counting off "Downloading" in the status bar at the bottom. Maybe this has always been the case on those accounts, but I've never noticed it. That doesn't happen with the POP account, but if I try to Get Messages on that account I get the dreaded "Unable to write the email to the mailbox" popup.
NoImprovement said
Rick said
NoImprovement said
For what it may mean, I now notice that the two IMAP accounts apparently re-load the messages in any folder I click on. Each time I go to access a folder, I see them counting off "Downloading" in the status bar at the bottom. Maybe this has always been the case on those accounts, but I've never noticed it. That doesn't happen with the POP account, but if I try to Get Messages on that account I get the dreaded "Unable to write the email to the mailbox" popup.You can control all that downloading (unless your system is not able to store message permanently). See the settings at the account level (account settings > synchronization & storage) and at the folder level (right click on a folder name and select "Properties" then "Synchronization").
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