Thunderbird updates when i don't want to update?
I have a workstation running XP (a perfectly good O/S - regardless of what Microsoft says) and on which I installed Thunderbird (v2.0.0.24)
For some reason, despite selecting to NOT have automatic updates, Thunderbird keeps automatically upgrading to the latest version (currently 24.4)
I have been using Firefox since the second public offering of v1, and been using Thunderbird since about 5 days after public release. When V3 of Thunderbird was released, i found it caused problems and could not forward or re-send emails in which someone had included emoticons (I don't use them myself, but some friends do). If your forums go back far enough, you may find my complaints I raised at the time. (the problem occurred on every computer I tried it on, so it wasn't that 'my' computer, O/s or whatever was the problem)
Unable to get anyone at Mozilla to address the actual issue, I reverted to using v2.0.0.24, and to the best of my knowledge, the issue is still a problem on new versions. Sometime since then, the whole look of Thunderbird has been changed from the nice 'clean' look of V2, to its current look, which I believe is an absolute mess. Tabs are a great idea on Firefox, but on Thunderbird they are as useful as Microsoft's idea of 'grouping' toolbar icons. It might make it look pretty, but it's bloody annoying for those of us who actually need to do work.
On at least 12 occasions, I have deleted the 'latest' version from my computer and reinstalled v2.0.0.24. Every time, I carefully ensure that automatic updates are disabled. Then, as if by magic, and usually within a week or two, I open Thunderbird to find the latest version staring back at me.
Folks, I am a great fan of Mozilla, and over the years, have encouraged probably hundreds of people to use Mozilla software over the pap offered by Microsoft. Unwanted updates on my computer ranks up there with unwanted bloatware, unwanted spyware and unwanted viruses.
Can anyone offer a solution to this problem? If I am unable to resolve it once and for all, I'll be 'firing' Thunderbird from my life.
All Replies (7)
check this:
- Tools > Options > Advanced > Update tab
- Automatically check for updates to:
- remove/deselect Thunderbird
- When updates to Thunderbird are found options will become greyed out.
- click on OK to save changes.
Hi Toad-Hall,
Thank you for your ideas. Yes, deselecting Automatic Updates would seem the obvious solution; have done that each and every time after re-installing v 2.0.0.24, yet the latest version still magically appears a week or so later.
I have noticed recently that after the latest version has installed, that even though Automatic Updates is also deselected, there is another button (not on v2.0.0.24) 'Use a background service to Instal updates' which IS selected. This does not however explain why 2.0.0.24 updates against my wishes.
Anyone else out there able to assist?
If you open the profile folder (Help/Troubleshooting Information, Show Folder) and open prefs.js in a text editor, do you see this line near the top?
user_pref("app.update.auto", false);
Hi sfhowes,
I thought this may have been on the right track.
I did look through the jprefs some months ago, and didn't see anything that was obviously wrong, but I did suspect there may be a chance of one of the settings causing the problem. Incidentally, my prefs.js file is C:\Documents and Settings\user\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\userprofile - which I assume was the default location for the early versions of thunderbird.
I have just re-checked the prefs.js. The line you suggested and the ones immediately below all appear normal, but i have listed them anyway:
"user_pref("app.update.auto", false); user_pref("app.update.disable_button.showUpdateHistory", false); user_pref("app.update.enabled", false); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.addon-background-update-timer", 1396251590); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.background-update-timer", 1396251710); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.blocklist-background-update-timer", 1396251469); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.restart-nag-timer", 1336459550); user_pref("app.update.lastUpdateTime.search-engine-update-timer", 1396277263); user_pref("app.update.never.3.1.10", true);"
Have I missed something, or is there another pref buried in the file which is causing the problem, or is it something else altogether?
I should clarify that I have done a fresh re-install of 2.0.0.24 this evening (UK time).
Re my previous post, the lines from the jprefs were copied from tonight's installation.
I don't know if this matters, but are you running TB in an administrator's account? There have been problems, of the opposite kind, where TB is set to auto-update, but it doesn't when the user is running in a non-admin. account.
Few problems are resolved by reinstalling TB, as this doesn't affect the profile folder where settings are stored. A more effective approach might be to create a new profile with Profile Manager (in an admin. account), set up a mail account, and see if it works properly, including update settings. If it does, mail and contacts from the old profile can be transferred to the new profile.
To start PM, Winkey-R and type thunderbird.exe -p
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_manager#Creating_a_new_profile
Hi again,
yes, my account does have admin privileges - saves time. Your idea makes as much sense as anything else, so it's worth a try
It's late at night here in UK, so I'll try this in the morning and see if it makes any difference. I'll let you know how I get on.