What anti virus are you using? To diagnose problems with Thunderbird, try one of the following: *Restart Thunderbird with add-ons disabled (Thunderbird Safe Mode). On the Help menu, click on "Restart with Add-ons Disabled". If Thunderbird works like normal, there is an Add-on or Theme interfering with normal operations. You will need to re-enable add-ons one at a time until you locate the offender. *Restart the operating system in '''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safe_mode safe mode with Networking]'''. This loads only the very basics needed to start your computer while enabling an Internet connection. Click on your operating system for instructions on how to start in safe mode: [https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12376/windows-10-start-your-pc-in-safe-mode Windows 10], [http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/windows-startup-settings-safe-mode Windows 8], [http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/start-computer-safe-mode#start-computer-safe-mode=windows-7 Windows 7], [http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/start-computer-safe-mode#start-computer-safe-mode=windows-vista Windows Vista], [http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx?mfr=true" Windows XP], [http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1564 OSX] ; If safe mode for the operating system fixes the issue, there's other software in your computer that's causing problems. Possibilities include but not limited to: AV scanning, virus/malware, background downloads such as program updates.

I think this is the problem: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1497819

So you are using virtual box are you?

Yes, using VirtualBox and shared folder feature. .json.tmp files will be created. Workaround: I close Thunderbird. I rename files to *.json Also finding problems with Addons. They won't install using VirtualBox shared folders. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1497819

Then I will leave you with the bug report. There is nothing I can add.