Thunderbird Not Responding
I've used Thunderbird with the same profile since 2010. When getting a new computer I've reinstalled Thunderbird, added Lightning, Provider for Google Calendar, gContactSync, and pointed the INI file to my propagated profile. This worked wonderfully and all came back to my desired functionality. Though over the years and after Thunderbird re-installs (about 4 or so) for new/different computers, Thunderbird began to get a bit buggy. My calendar worked to see events yet I would get messages like, "you have no writable calendars configured for writing" (or something to that effect). Two factor authentication on Google based Email also created a configuration nightmare that was eventually cleaned up (though many configuration changes took place and many had nothing to do with the fix for two factor authentication, and may have messed up many other things). The "Junk" folders seemed to stop functioning correctly. I decided to completely delete Thunderbird and all its relations and re-install the latest version 52 (which now includes Lightning), add Provider for Google Calendar, gContactSync, and reconfigure from scratch all my accounts (6 of them). That all went just fine, BUT NOW, when I click on "Inbox" in the unified folders view, Thunderbird displays its "wait spinner" in the upper left on the tab heading (the blue circle indicating Thunderbird is performing an activity) and the spinner stops moving for an extended amount of time (about 6-8 seconds) then a message (which I think is from Windows 10) goes across the top of the Thunderbird window saying, "Inbox - Unified Folders - Mozilla Thunderbird (Not Responding)" and the windows grays out for another 3-4 seconds before Thunderbird returns to functionality. What can this be and how do I stop it?
All Replies (10)
What is your anti-virus software?
Just using the Windows 10 built in Windows Defender.
Try to start Windows in safe mode with networking enabled. - Win10 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12376/windows-10-start-your-pc-in-safe-mode
Still in Windows safe mode, start Thunderbird in safe mode. - https://support.mozilla.org/kb/safe-mode
Does the problem go away?
Tested in safe mode and problem still exists. It takes about 15 seconds total in safe mode (seems slower and not sure if Win10 can slow the processor when in safe mode).
You can try to create a new profile and start Thunderbird with the new profile. https://support.mozilla.org/kb/using-multiple-profiles
Then set up your account(s) in the new profile.
Does the problem go away?
This is basically what I did this last time I set up Thunderbird. I will need several days for this and I'll eventually report back. I will try to watch as I set up each account and see if the problem is tied to a specific account. Should I uninstall/reinstall Thunderbird or just simply create a new profile?
Since you've already recently been through most of the proposed process I wouldn't be so hasty to do all that. And if safe mode made no difference there is little point to reinstalling.
Is in mostly, or only when you click on a unified folder?
Does it happen with beta http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/channel/ ?
When it goes not responding, what is memory usage, CPU usage, disk activity (eg light)?
Wayne, The problem occurs only when I click on the common "Inbox" at the top. If I click on the individual account inboxes they react to refresh speedily. You can see the delay based on the sizes on by mailbox. The largest is 6GB, then 2GB, 345M, 232M, 895k, and 517kbytes. The longest delay on individual inboxes is about 1sec (at most).
Watching Task Manager during the hangup the CPU only pops 1 core of 8 (8 virtual cores on 4 core CPU) to 100 then that 100% seems to move around between cores (see pix). Ethernet shows the app querying the server. The memory has no visible "bump" in activity (32G on this machine). There's no disk light on this machine to show activity. >:-( It's an Intel NUC6i7KYK.
I have not tried the beta.
A new input... After taking my profile to a new machine the problem still exists when using the current V52.8.0(32-bit). I've eliminated the 6GB account and the problem remains.
When the application stalls it seems to be "Searching Folder..." on a Gmail account. Could there be a damaged/corrupt file or attachment in that account? Again this problem does not occur if I select specifically any one of the 5 remaining accounts including the account that seems to be stalling the "Unified InBox." I will attempt to remove that Gmail account next. Then I'll try the beta version with this profile and all accounts.
Wayne, an update... Moved my profile to another machine and freshly installed TB v52.8.0 and pointed that to this 5 account profile. Still hangs (delay is longer since this is a slower machine). Tried the Beta and it still hangs (though not as visible since it does not show the "not responding banner"). My add-ons gContactSync and Provider for Google Calendar disabled themselves. Went back to v52.8.0 and all came back. Now I'm fighting a new issue... gContactSync appears to have stopped syncing (that was not syncing for about a week or so before this version upgrade/downgrade, Google may have changed something). Tried a new TB installation/new profile with my 2GB mailbox and it seems it is not hanging (at least not obviously) but I need to complicate that profile with the other 4 email addresses to see if that has any effect.