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Thunderbird freezes and lags constantly

  • 16 replies
  • 53 have this problem
  • 97 views
  • Last reply by christ1

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I have been using Firefox for years and loved it above any other email client - until it started lagging a few months back. I don't know what caused it, it just started happening one day and never stopped after several updates and a few un-installs, it always returns.

The problem is pretty simple, every few minutes, at random periods of time (can be 10 seconds, can be 5 minutes) the program freezes and doesn't allow me to do anything at all. Sometimes, especially if I insist and keep clicking or typing, the screen whitens out a bit and I get a "non responding" message next to the program name. This lag can last anywhere between 10 seconds and 1-2 minutes.

I use it with Gmail and I should tell you that I have 100s of folders, but my inbox is clean. I never go over 100 emails in it at right now I have 4. I can't avoid the use of so many folders because of my work dynamic, I need to assign a new folder to every new client and several sub-folders for every provider associated with such client (I'm a travel agent).

I used to have Lightning installed but I removed it thinking it might be the cause of the problem - it wasn't.

I hope I can find a solution to it, I don't want to switch back to Outlook :(

Thanks!

I have been using Firefox for years and loved it above any other email client - until it started lagging a few months back. I don't know what caused it, it just started happening one day and never stopped after several updates and a few un-installs, it always returns. The problem is pretty simple, every few minutes, at random periods of time (can be 10 seconds, can be 5 minutes) the program freezes and doesn't allow me to do anything at all. Sometimes, especially if I insist and keep clicking or typing, the screen whitens out a bit and I get a "non responding" message next to the program name. This lag can last anywhere between 10 seconds and 1-2 minutes. I use it with Gmail and I should tell you that I have 100s of folders, but my inbox is clean. I never go over 100 emails in it at right now I have 4. I can't avoid the use of so many folders because of my work dynamic, I need to assign a new folder to every new client and several sub-folders for every provider associated with such client (I'm a travel agent). I used to have Lightning installed but I removed it thinking it might be the cause of the problem - it wasn't. I hope I can find a solution to it, I don't want to switch back to Outlook :( Thanks!

Chosen solution

There is no risk doing this. Why would you think there is?

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All Replies (16)

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What is your anti-virus s/w?

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AVG Free Edition 2014

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The number of folders is less relevant. You might want to check how big a mailprofile you have. If you have lots of emails with attachments, that might be a cause.

WHY that is an issue, might be one or more of the following: - Thunderbird trying to handle the masses - Thunderbirdprofile indexfiles beeing messed up Try cleaning up your mails, maybe moving files into a local archive folder (one for each year, I would suggest), compacting the database afterwards.

- Your operatingsystem (e.g. Windows) trying to index your files. Check your TaskManager for active processes that use 100% CPU during this time

- Your AntiVirustool working on the data (for a test, deactivate the virustool for a while and work with old mails - dont fetch new ones or at least open new attachments, if you fear getting caught unprotected.

How to find your profile : http://email.about.com/od/mozillathunderbirdtips/qt/Find_Thunderbird_Profile_Dir.htm

Good luck hunting.

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Hi guys, thanks a lot to you both for trying to help me. I'm sorry I'm so slow to reply, but I have to make time at work to check your suggestions and it's not always doable (I'm having this problem with my work computer).

joshua8hh: I guess my mailprofile is pretty big indeed? It is 14.4 Gb...

I checked the task manager when the problem occurs and the only value that looks affected is CPU usage. A "not responding" message appears next to the TB app and CPU spikes up to about 50%, but the other values are as calm as always. I can use the rest of my computer normally while I wait for TB to unfreeze.

I also tried uninstalling AVG and downloading Bitdefender instead. I got my hopes high when it worked for 30 minutes straight without lagging, but then it started happening again. I tried deactivating Bitdefender for a while but it kept happening.

I'm not intelligent or technically savvy enough to follow your first suggestion I'm afraid =/. How do I "move files into a local archive folder (one for each year, I would suggest), compacting the database afterwards"?

christ1: man, Windows 8 really made it hard to start up in Safe Mode! So thanks for the links! :) I did what you suggest and with Windows in Safe Mode (with networking) and TB in Safe Mode the problem doesn't appear. I played with my emails for about 10-15 minutes and it didn't lag not even once. How can this help?

EDIT: Windows "8" made it hard, that's what I mean.

Modified by Seleuco

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Do not let your anti-virus s/w scan your Thunderbird profile folder. Do not let your anti-virus s/w scan incoming and outgoing messages.

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Then I guess I should go back to AVG because I can't seen to find how to do this on Bitdefender (and considering its reputation I imagine it's not possible).

Is this not dangerous though?

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Chosen Solution

There is no risk doing this. Why would you think there is?

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I thought...antiviruses scan through emails to search for viruses?

Anyway I'll try what you say, but won't be ably to test it until tomorrow. I will post the results and mark it as solved it if fixes my problem.

Thanks a lot.

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Even with disabling the scanning of the profile folder you are still protected from viruses by the other protection features of your anti-virus s/w. The real-time scan is still turned on and will catch malicious attachments should you decide to open or run them (which you shouldn't). It will alert you if there is any infection.
Malicious attachments won't do any harm by just sitting in your Inbox.

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If all of the above does not help, try what I did. Windows explorer to C:\USERS RIGHT click on your account and choose "Properties" In the General tab, select the Advanced button Uncheck the box "Allow files in this folder to have contents indexed in addition to file properties" Select OK, and then select APPLY When asked, allow this to apply this to all sub-folders. Click OK to close this window. THIS WILL STOP THE HIDDEN APPS FOLDER FROM BEING INDEXED, WHICH WILL STOP WINDOWS FROM INDEXING YOUR EMAILS (which is the cause of the problem). Next, go into your account folder and select just the folders you want indexed. Repeat the above process of those folders (this time choosing to index the the folder and its sub-folders). Ta da. Worked like a charm for me.

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I've been having the same issue. It seemed to happen after an update a few months ago. I disabled my McAfee email scanner and emptied my trash folder and still lags. I also tried not allowing the user folder to be indexed. hopefully someone comes up with a solution.

Modified by edwardnizz

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I am a one trick pony here, but I just want to ensure you actually stopped indexing. Make sure that you have Administrator rights when trying the above step. If so, lets try turning off all Windows indexing for a few days just to ensure that it is not the cause. Search for "services.msc" and launch it. Right click on "Windows Search" and choose Properties. In the General tab change the Startup type to "Disabled", choose "Apply" and then exit the Services application. Hope this helps. Post here if it worked.

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I don't think this is a Windows problem --- this happens to me constantly on Linux. It is incredibly annoying. I'm using IMAP, my .thunderbird directly is about 5.5GB, and it will freeze solid every few minutes for about 15-30 seconds, with one core at 100%.

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Dear Experts

Having same problem,,,,,TB profile size is 15 GB and I am using windows 7 64 bit. Account is GMAIL IMAP (not POP3),,,and i am having the same problem on my emails on my laptop and desktop.

Laptop using AVAST AV and desktop using Trend Micro Titanium

What troubleshoot should start first ?

Regards

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zillah, please start your own thread and describe your problem as detailed as possible. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/ask-tb#w_how-to-ask-your-question