Main IMAP inbox stops responding, Thunderbird 68.2.2. SOLVED caused by Microsoft Security Essentials
Background: I'm running Tbird 68.2.2 on Windows 7. OS is 64-bit but only the 32-bit version of Thunderbird was available for me to download, so that is installed. My profile folder is located in a OneDrive folder, which is synced to my local system (I've used this process for a long while without issue). I created a new profile when I upgraded to 68, because trying to upgrade internally caused problems that I couldn't rectify, so I started over and moved my folders one at a time to the new profile location.
The problem: After I've been reading/replying to/deleting emails in my primary IMAP inbox for a little while, Thunderbird will stop responding. The delete button/key stops working, when I switch from one email to another the reading pane does not update, etc. If I switch to another inbox/IMAP account, all is well. It only happens in my primary inbox. I've tried compacting the main inbox, but nothing happens. I have to close and reopen Thunderbird for it to start working again. I keep the inbox clean, either deleting or storing messages into folders, so it's not that the inbox is overloaded with many emails.
I'd appreciate any ideas you might have as to why this is occurring, and suggestions on how to eliminate the issue. It's not a huge deal to have to reboot the program periodically, but it is a minor annoyance that indicates something is amiss.
Thank you!
Modified by Wayne Mery
Chosen solution
I would have said "no," if your question about the second antivirus program hadn't made me think twice. This laptop was given to me by a friend, and though I didn't think anything else was active, you gave me a moment of "what if."
Sure enough, Microsoft Security Essentials was running in the background. I created an exception for my profile folder, and it so far has not exhibited the issue since.
Of course, it's so intermittent, that this may be a coincidence. I'll let things go for a couple of days and see what happens.
Thank you!
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What is your anti-virus software?
I use Malwarebytes Premium.
Try to start Windows in safe mode with networking enabled. - Win7 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17419/windows-7-advanced-startup-options-safe-mode#start-computer-safe-mode=windows-7
Still in Windows safe mode, start Thunderbird in safe mode. - https://support.mozilla.org/kb/safe-mode
Does the problem go away?
The problem is intermittent, but I'll give this a try a bit later today, and run the program long enough to see if I can trigger the issue. Thank you for the suggestion.
I would suggest you move the profile off the one drive synchronized location and see if it still occurs. As a general rule Thunderbird does not do well on the shifting sands of a synchronized location on your drive.
If you want your mail synchronized across devices use IMAP. That is what it is designed for.
Thanks, Matt, for your reply.
This is already an IMAP setup, as I mentioned. I do use IMAP for all of my inboxes, but I store quite a bit of information for the primary account in local folders that would push the limits of what can be kept on the mail server. I've used OneDrive to host my profile for quite a while without any problems at all until the last couple of weeks, since upgrading to v.68.
As I mentioned, this doesn't occur in any of my other accounts (I have four, all IMAP, and all located in the same profile on OneDrive). It's only my primary inbox/account that experiences it, and it's very intermittent. It can go a full day without it happening, and then the next day I'll experience the issue numerous times.
It's really not a major issue as it stands. All it takes is to close Thunderbird and open it again, and things progress normally. I was just curious if it's been seen by anyone but me, and if there is a fix.
Again, thank you for taking the time to respond.
Brief follow up: Thunderbird went from just before I posted the original entry, until just a little while ago, without exhibiting the problem behavior. (Over two days.) It did it again just this afternoon, and after restarting the program, has been fine again since.
I wasn't doing anything unusual before it happened this afternoon. I was just reading and deleting email from the inbox, as I've done dozens of times before and since.
It did not happen in safe mode, but then again, it hasn't happened when Windows is booted normally for two days, either.
It's an interesting little puzzle, but not something that it looks like I'm going to pin down, with it being so sporadic.
Thanks again for taking the time to respond.
It did not happen in safe mode
Windows safe mode disables anti-virus software, which is most likely the culprit. These are some generic suggestions to avoid problems with anti-virus software.
Create an exception in your anti-virus software for the Thunderbird profile folder, so that the anti-virus real-time scanner will not scan it. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Thunderbird
Don't let your anti-virus software scan incoming and outgoing messages.
Don't let your anti-virus software scan attachments.
Don't let your anti-virus software intercept your secure connection to the server.
Remove any add-ons your anti-virus software may have installed in Thunderbird.
Keep it working. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Keep_it_working_-_Thunderbird
And last but not least, backup your Thunderbird profile on a regular basis. https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profiles-where-thunderbird-stores-user-data#w_backing-up-a-profile
It hasn't occurred at all today, and only the once yesterday. I do back up my profile regularly, thanks.
Thank you for the suggestion. I'll give it a try.
christ1, I tried creating an exception in Malwarebytes for the profile folder as you suggested. The problem occurred several times since doing so. Apparently it wasn't my virus scanner.
Thank you for trying, though. I do appreciate that.
Please post the full path to your profile as well as the profile folder name.
Are you running any anti-virus/security software other than Malwarebytes?
You may also try to ask in a Malwarebytes support forum for help.
Chosen Solution
I would have said "no," if your question about the second antivirus program hadn't made me think twice. This laptop was given to me by a friend, and though I didn't think anything else was active, you gave me a moment of "what if."
Sure enough, Microsoft Security Essentials was running in the background. I created an exception for my profile folder, and it so far has not exhibited the issue since.
Of course, it's so intermittent, that this may be a coincidence. I'll let things go for a couple of days and see what happens.
Thank you!