Do you have global search and indexer enabled under Tools /options /advanced /general ? This indexer allow Windows to find mail. but its not always up to date.

testing

Gnospen said

Do you have global search and indexer enabled under Tools /options /advanced /general ? This indexer allow Windows to find mail. but its not always up to date.

The problem is not finding the message. The problem is why it's not in the Inbox.

Maybe the messages are there but hidden.

Check:

View|Folders|All View|Messages|All

All buttons in the QuickFilter Bar released?

Zenos said

Maybe the messages are there but hidden. Check: View|Folders|All View|Messages|All All buttons in the QuickFilter Bar released?

I've got "All" there.

@Zenos Do you search in .msf or mbox-file? Can search find deleted messages? Do you display from .msf or mbox-file?

I apparently didn't make my problem clear. A friend sent me a message that I didn't see. I had no trouble finding it with a simple search. But the Search page claimed it was in the Inbox, and it wasn't listed in the Inbox.

Something similar happened once before, and I'm wondering what causes this.

Don't understant Gnospen's questions to Zenos.

If it is in the Inbox but you can't see it then maybe it is hidden. My queries to you were about three possible settings that might hide the message.

1. View|Folders|All
2. View|Messages|All
3. All buttons in the QuickFilter Bar released?

"I've got "All" there" isn't a particularly illuminating answer to three separate questions.

Gnospen was, I think, trying to clarify what search method you used. I assumed you simply used Thunderbird's own search tools.

Yes, I used Thunderbird's search tool and found the message there.

To break down response:

1. My setting is "All" 2. My setting is "All" 3. All buttons on QuickFilter Bar are released

See if the indexing needs refreshing. Right click on Inbox and select 'properties' click on 'Repair Folder' button click on OK

select another folder and then reselect 'Inbox'.

Thanks, Toad-Hall. That's the sort of thing I was looking for. But just did a Repair and message still doesn't show. I guess I'll just have to assume things sometimes get corrupted.

when you do your search and find it.... does it actually display in a new tab or window or is the search text all that can be displayed?

Displays in a new tab.

It just happened again. I saw a message "Media Proposal" in that temporary gray box that appears when you log on. The message wasn't in my Inbox. By searching on "Media" as title, I found the message, which again was supposed to be in my Inbox, but wasn't.

More weirdness. I replied to the message, figuring that would save contact information. But it's not in my Sent folder. It's as if it's somehow tagged to be invisible.

View menu (alt+V) > Folders

What is hat set to? I think it maybe unified. Is it?

I'm wondering if the message was sent as a 'reply' to another email. Some people do not start a new message for a new email, they reuse an older received email because it saves them from entering the TO, but it can have some repercussions.

So could this email be lurking in a thread ? Select the Inbox. check you have these settings. 'View' > 'Threads' > 'All' 'View' > 'Sort by' and make sure 'unthreaded' is one of those selected'

But I was able to *move * it to the Drafts or Sent folder.

And the same thing just happened again. Saw an email about possible work but it wasn't in Inbox. This was a new email, not a Reply To. If I'm missing offers of editing work, this is serious.

Alt V Folders is set to All.

I'm starting to think maybe a filter is the cause either on your pc or at the server.