Good description. This is what one sees where the update process screwed up and the Lightning addon is causing problems.

- start Thunderbird in safe mode

 https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/safe-mode

- go to tools | addons - remove the lightning addon - restart - start thunderbird - if you need the lightning addon, add it back at tools | addons

Does that help?

New development - Now Thunderbird won't open at all. I click on the icon and nothing happens. I right click and click on open and nothing happens. Same when I try from the start menu. How can I access safe mode if I can't even get Thunderbird to open? Also, what is the lightning addon? As far as I know I've never downloaded any addons for Thunderbird.

surely you see the link I posted?

Yes, I did see the link you posted. Did you see my reply? Thunderbird now will not open at all. I click on the icon and nothing happens. The instructions in the link you provide require opening Thunderbird in order to access Safe Mode. If I can't open Thunderbird in the first place that's a problem. If I'm reading the instructions wrong I apologize, but I don't see the solution I need.

the instructions at https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/safe-mode-thunderbird indicate SHIFT+CLICK

Yes, I read that and I've tried it - repeatedly. Nothing happens. The program won't open.

I think I solved the problem. I checked the Task Mgr. again and although Thunderbird was not listed as running under Applications it WAS showing up under Processes which I had not previously thought to check. I stopped the process and was then finally able to open Thunderbird in safe mode and delete the lightning addon. It appears to be working now although I haven't really tried to use it yet. At least I can see my emails again and my address book and open a new message window. Thanks for the help.

jinb said

Is anyone else having problems with the latest version of Thunderbird? Downloaded it today (1/1/16) and nothing works. I can't access my mail or my address book or write new messages. My computer is running windows7.

I am having the same problem and PC is also Win 7. Here is another symptom for me. T Bird is not running in task manager, but I get a small window notifying me that a new message has arrived. If I click that though, nothing happens to open T bird. Wow!?

Wayne Mery said

Good description. This is what one sees where the update process screwed up and the Lightning addon is causing problems. - start Thunderbird in safe mode https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/safe-mode - go to tools | addons - remove the lightning addon - restart - start thunderbird - if you need the lightning addon, add it back at tools | addons Does that help?

I can not open the tools, then add ons. It simply will not respond to that so I can not remove lightning.

jinb said

I think I solved the problem. I checked the Task Mgr. again and although Thunderbird was not listed as running under Applications it WAS showing up under Processes which I had not previously thought to check. I stopped the process and was then finally able to open Thunderbird in safe mode and delete the lightning addon. It appears to be working now although I haven't really tried to use it yet. At least I can see my emails again and my address book and open a new message window. Thanks for the help.

You are welcome. Thanks for that extra info.

bobshide said

I can not open the tools, then add ons. It simply will not respond to that so I can not remove lightning.

even in safe mode?

Got it finally. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. What I had to do was close out T Bird through Task Manager then it opened in safe mode and then I was able to find and remove lightning. I am curious how it got there and if it might return since it must have auto loaded? Tks again! Bob

I had the same problem with version 38.5 running on Win 10. The above advice re Safe Mode and deleting Add Ons worked perfect first time. Thank you both for pursuing this problem and helping dumb users like me overcome the problem.

I don't think the problem has anything to do with any of us being dumb users. The problem is that the latest update to Thunderbird wasn't ready for prime time. I've been using Thunderbird for years with absolutely no problems until this update and apparently this is true for quite a few other people as well. At least there is a solution (for which I'm grateful). It's just too bad we all had to deal with this headache in the first place. Hopefully, the next time an update is recommended we won't have to cross our fingers and say a prayer before downloading it.

Indeed it has nothing to do with users. But it's also not exactly a Thunderbird issue - it's an update process issue affecting relatively few users.

Unfortunately no solution yet, so if it runs true to form you are likely to see it again.