Hello there

If it’s possible to start up in troubleshooting mode to fix these issues with having problems with adding and add ons. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-mode-thunderbird does or was it not the subject that was solving this issue then try to clear the Thunderbird cache and you can go for that refreshing that thunderbird profile again if trouble is staying and the installation is damaged. No there is no system safe or save button in thunderbird itself so far.

Greetings googlethunderbird.

Hello there

Refreshing msf.files in the profile map can be useful before deleting the complete program . Close Thunderbird and go to your profile map. Delete or rename all these msf.files and also that json.files in that profile map there and restart the program again then to see there if the problem is gone and retained now.

Strong software that can interrupt thunderbird of having some normal process on that desktop screen of normally closing the program can be that problem there , software tools like cc cleaner or others can be those bully s so delete them for a while . You can use the profile manager to create that new profile if is needed there close thunderbird and open that profile manager it and click on create new profile there. To getting to the profile manager

Open windows go to the search option for system. Or press that window logo together with the letter r. Type thunderbird.exe -p

If that profile works correctly you can transfer that data into that profile now.

Greetings googlethunderbird.

Thanks. The older installation was just fine until this update. Perhaps that may be why I'm having such trouble with the profile in the brand new installation on the other computer. And I have different browsers on each machine, so I can't blame anything but Bird. Do you have a site with the older versions on it to download?

Is it possible to roll back the new version?   Either I can retrieve the old version, or it's bye bye Birdie. 

Stacy

If you make changes and, on restarting, the changes aren't there, that is generally an indication that an antivirus or VPN may be interrupting the proper shut down of thunderbird.

On Both machines? They both have anti-virus scanning, and the VPN is not on. Moreover the older machine was working fine until the update; so far as I could tell the newer machine was okay until the profile business. I'll run a virus full scan, but I don't think it's that. Oh and the older one's browser has been changed to DuckDuckGo, eliminating all the problems I had with FB while running FF. The newer one is still running FF. this is all way beyond my pay grade and I'm physically exhausted. I'll start the virus scan. Stacy

I've finished checking the old desk top. Definitely no virus problems, and VPN definitely off. Had left TBird inbox open when I closed out to run the scan. When I opened it just now, it had changed from table to card again. I'll have to check the laptop later, but it's bigger problem on that machine because if I can't have the horizontal scrolling on, I can't get to the rest of the Appearance to check things off. And that machine needs the wider view. I'll check it later and let you know what, if anything, I see.

Verify modified date of file prefs.js in your profile. It should be very closed to the date and time when you exit Thunderbird. This file is located in your profile directory. If modified date and time is not closed to the time you turn exit Thunderbird, verify if it's set to Read only. If you can not find it in your profile, verify if you Antivirus has quarantined it.

Can I get there from Explorer?

- click help>troubleshootinginformation - scroll down to 'profile folder' and click 'open folder' - exit thunderbird - you are now in the profile and the prefs.js is in that folder. If you do NOT have Explorer set to show suffixes, it will appear as just prefs.

To locate your profile : click on Help and then click on Troubleshooting Information, scroll down a bit and you'll see Profile folder ( on the left side - Blue column ), on the right column you'll see Open Folder in bold, click on it .

Can I get there from Explorer?

Hi Annette. You can get there with File Exlorer. Or just use Help > Troubleshooting information > Profile folder > Show ...

Then look in that profile folder for the prefs.js file that Michel mentioned.

The concern was about the presence of anti-virus software, not the presence of a virus. A common trouble-shooting step in these situations is to start Windows in safe mode with networking, start Thunderbird in troubleshooting mode (help menu), and see if the problem still occurs. That will tell you if your anti-virus software or something else is interering with Thunderbird.

I find two files per the snapshot attached. Which one am I opening? I'm terrified of screwing up and losing my whole app Btw this is my original Bird on old desktop win 10, just updated.

Stacy

Thank you Rick. I've just replied to Michael - there are 2 files - 1 that is default and I forgot what the other is called. I sent an image so you can tell me which one(s) to open. Btw, I did not close TBird because I'm still in it, aren't I?

Stacy

Michael - The time was precisely the time I closed Bird. Anything else while I'm in there?

Open the active profile in the root directory.

Do you know why you have two profiles? Did you change release channel?

Rick I do not know why I have two profiles (it says one is not working), I don't Think I changed release channels, if I understand what that means. I've only updated thru Bird when it alerted me to a new release. The active profile in the root directory is opened. There is a Lot of stuff in it. What am I looking for?

Oh my goodness! It says there are 145 prefs since 2023 (I think I installed it earlier than that, during covid, but I can't recall for sure. Is that normal to have that many prefs?

Okay, this sometimes works - delete all but the one with highest number - rename it to prefs.js as it is most likely to be the updated one. And there should never be more than one. those extra ones are happening each time thunderbird closes, windows can't save it so it creates a new one. If the oriignal prefs.js isn't visible, tick to show hidden files.

All the more reason to try that troubleshooting step described above.

1) David: Hidden was already ticked. The earliest file was 6-2023.

2) Rick: Can I get a consensus here, delete per David's post, or follow (I have to go back and find your post) what you suggested earlier. I have several different windows open at once here, so I don't have those directions immediately in front of me.

I do not have a current b/u. It's an incremental backup at best, so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed.

So which is it 1) or 2).??