and installing whatever you have has made them visible again?

Note that there was never a Thunderbird version 5.91 released when Thunderbird 5 was current in 2015, so I really have no idea what you have installed or where you got it from.

http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/thunderbird/releases/

Sorry. That was a typo: it's version 52.9.1 and I downloaded it from Thunderbird's list of previous releases. I'm not stupid enough to download from other sources.

Re the email issues: No, reverting has not brought back all the email that was in my Inbox, nor fixed the folders/subfolders in which I can't access any email. But since v60 was installed, there's been a rolling progression of problems with my email. This could be coincidence, but until the problem is resolved, I'll stay with the older version.

Do you have any suggestions for being able to read my mail again? I'm running Windows 10, v1803. When I try to access the problem folders, they show as 0 emails and my mouse pointer shows a small blue circle constantly whirling as though it's trying to access the emails, but can't.

I'll be grateful for any suggestions that may help.

My personal views usually point straight at anti virus products when these sorts of issue arise,

however there is no point trying to fix an old version. So I suggest you update, then actually elucidate what your issues are. "there's been a rolling progression of problems with my email" is actually a non helpful statement as it tells me exactly nothing useful to even start diagnostic steps with. Was the problem that the user interface did not render completely or that your favorite add-on had a blue instead of green button? I am being silly, but I want to be clear. We know only what you tell us.

I suggest you try some of the standard diagnostic steps

• 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 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: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, 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.

If that does not fix the issue please do the following:

1. Open the menu > Help > Troubleshooting Information, then click Copy text to Clipboard.
2. Go to https://pastebin.com and paste the info from your Troubleshooting Information page, then copy the resulting URL.
3. Open a reply to this post, and paste the link to your troubleshooting information.

Next, we'll need you to provide answers to the following question:

• Do you use anti-virus and firewall software? What is the version?
• What is the exact error message, if any?

Hi. The problem is exactly as I described it: "When I try to access the problem folders, they show as containing 0 emails and my mouse pointer shows a small blue circle constantly whirling as though it's trying to access the emails, but can't." I can't open the folders.

The progression to which I referred was a progression in the number of folders that are affected. It started with one, now it's many.

I've tried opening TB in Safe Mode and this made no difference. But I'll try your other suggestions and get back to you.

Thanks.

Usually deleting the MSF files will fix this. Are you sure you got all the MSF files?

midnitdr said

Usually deleting the MSF files will fix this. Are you sure you got all the MSF files?

I am not a fan of deleting MSF files. While we normally consider then expendable, they do contain information on tags where the IMAP server does not "understand" them. When they are to be deleted I do recommend the thunderfix program for most users as it locates and deletes all the MSF files for you. That is all it does as far as I can establish.

Hi guys,

I thought I deleted all the MSF files, but it's always possible I made a mistake. Should I run thunderfix? (BTW, I'm still using POP3 protocol - due to the difficulty of converting everything.)

Re the problem, one thing I forgot is at times messages are in the wrong folder. I know it's possible to move something by accident, but sometimes the moved messages are from folders I haven't accessed for months.

Although Thunderbird claims my Inbox is empty, the Inbox folder in Windows is 218MB in size.

Starting in Safe Mode hasn't fixed anything, so I'm about to try the Troubleshooting step.

Thanks.

Hi again,

The URL is: https://pastebin.com/kZSwjS3R

I use Avast Free Antivirus, v19.2.2364 (build 19.2.4186.436) Virus Definitions Version: 190228-6 Number of Definitions: 5,742,342 UI Version: 1.0.337

Also: ZoneAlarm Free Firewall version: 15.3.060.17669 Vsmon version: 15.3.58.17668 Driver version: 15.1.29.17237

There are no error messages.

I search for msf in a windows search for *.msf This usually finds all the msf files and then I just delete all of them. I have done this many times over the years to fix problems with Thunderbird and it doesn't create any problems except the time it takes to rebuild the msf files manually. My email data is about 40 gigs because I save everything and I have tons of subfolders. You can't rush rebuilding the MSF files so you just click and wait.

There is another fix I wanted to suggest. Did you try going back to an earlier restore point? Back before your Thunderbird program was acting up? Save a back up of the current data folder and try going back to an earlier restore point and see what happens.

Hi midnitdr,

You make me feel better about my email, lol. People have a go at me because I have so many subfolders and about 14GB data.

I actually haven't tried a restore point. I don't use them much these days after problems with them in the past. But I'll give this a try. However, strangely the earliest restore point available is 28.1.19. Windows must have deleted them when updating.

Thanks.

Before you do anything back up the current data file you have on an external drive and disconnect the drive.

Also check the size of the current data file against your last (albeit old) back up. If the current data file is the same size or bigger that tells you that you didn't lose any emails. The problem is that Thunderbird just isn't showing you the emails.

The recent update to Thunderbird messed up the connection I have with windows and Thunderbird. I could no longer import documents into emails by right clicking on them.

The fix it turns out is to download the lastest version of Thunderbird and install it over the version you have which just got updated. I don't know that your problem is related to the update but just thought I would mention this.

As for updating your MSF files, you literally have to click on each and every folder you have and at the bottom of Thunderbird you will see a message telling you that it is rebuilding (the MSF file.) You won't see email and your filters can't see the folders until you rebuild the MSF files.

So before you try the restore point fix, try deleting all the MSF files and then rebuilding them by clicking on every single folder. That includes opening the sub-folders and clicking on them separately.

Also if you go the route of going back to a restore point, make a restore point for today first. Also copy your email data on a separate external drive before you do anything.

Thanks a lot, midnitdr. I'll try all this.

I can't swear to the message - I believe I did see it. But not recently. Don't sweat it. It's not an issue. What you will see is a little line growing from left to right at the bottom of the program view (where the message about compacting normally displays - come to think of it that may be the message I am thinking of). The point is that you need to click on each folder and wait until all your emails show up in the view and watch the little bar down below in the message line. It will pulse while the MSF files rebuild. You can't screw this up so don't wory about it. Just do it.

I've been using Thunderbird for YEARS. I have never "lost" my emails. They are always there even then not displaying properly. But to be safe, make a frequent back up of your email data folder.

Hi,

Hopefully I'm in the process of rebuilding all my msf files. But Thunderbird isn't displaying any message that it's doing this. How will I know when it's finished? If I click on folders while this is in progress, will this disrupt the process?

Thunderbird hasn't rebuilt the msf files. Now I can't access ANY email folders. Instead of displaying emails, TB just displays Windows small blue circle constantly revolving and the message it's searching. So I'm reverting to the backup.

Unless someone has a better idea, I'll go back to the January backup, then try something like MBOX Viewer to find any emails I really need.

This still leaves the problem of the other folders that became corrupted mid 2018. Will creating another profile help? Can I move Mail folders into a new profile?

I really need to get this email functioning. Using webmail just isn't satisfactory. I like to have everything on my HDD where I can back it up and I'll have so many messages to forward to myself (including my Sent messages).

First - did you find the folder that is in the Thunderbird profile where your emails are? (under appdata, under roaming) Did you right click on it and click properties to see how big it is? If it's bigger than you January backup it has more recent emails and you want to save it.

Did you download the new version of Thunderbird (complete install) and run it over your current installation? This fixed all the issues that the update created for me. Just run it over the current install. (But copy the folder with your emails for the current install on a backupdrive. Running the new install should not mess with the email folder at all but it never hurts to be safe.)

Did you close Thunderbird and reboot your computer since you deleted the MSF files? That might also help.

PS look in your recycle folder and make sure you only deleted *.msf files and not something else that had email in it.

I know that mail folder has more recent emails and I definitely want to save it. I just can't find a way.

Yes, I downloaded the latest version and installed it over the top.

I haven't rebooted but I'll do that now.

lets simply this a bit.

Instead of upgrading, downgrade. Install V52 for here http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/thunderbird/releases/52.9.1/win32/ Pick your locale, to locate the installer.

Download and install the recover deleted massages add-on from https://freeshell.de//~kaosmos/index-en.html#recDelMsg

Instruction to install an XPI. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/installing-addon-thunderbird

I know a lot of futzing around, but the author will not be updating it to work with Thunderbird 60 or latter. He might change his mind, but I doubt it as the basis of add-ons is in a bit of a state of flux.

Right click the folder that previously held your emails (Inbox) and select undelete. Anything that can be undeleted in the folder will be added to a sub folder so you do not have to clean up a mes in the original folder. Sometime thousands of messages are recovered. It depends on how long it is since a compact was run on the folder.

Once you have recovered it update to V60 again, otherwise he calendar will be funny (either not work, or not work correctly.) It is not updated by the downgrade and only works with a single Thunderbird version, hence the need to return to your starting point.