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Emails are mistakingly being flagged as Junk...repeatedly

  • 52 ŋuɖoɖowo
  • 13 masɔmasɔ sia le wosi
  • 1 view
  • Nuɖoɖo mlɔetɔ BlackGW

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Only recently (over the last week or so) have I noticed that emails from one particular sender are consistently marked as Junk, with that orange symbol in the junk column. Even when I click on it to remove it, and/or click on "Not junk", the email becomes marked again as Junk within a few seconds/minute. I find this so strange. The sender is my mother, who has been emailing me for years! I just closed Thunderbird down after removing all the junk tags and have just re-opened it and all my emails from my mother since mid-May are all marked as junk.....this is ridiculous. How do I permanently remove the orange marker next to each email?

I am using Version 31.7.0

Just to add: the emails remain in the folder I created for my mother's mail-they aren't being moved to the Junk folder (Thunderbird is not moving them there)....and so I don't understand why they are arriving in my "mum's" folder and being marked by Tbird as junk.

Many thanks!

Only recently (over the last week or so) have I noticed that emails from one particular sender are consistently marked as Junk, with that orange symbol in the junk column. Even when I click on it to remove it, and/or click on "Not junk", the email becomes marked again as Junk within a few seconds/minute. I find this so strange. The sender is my mother, who has been emailing me for years! I just closed Thunderbird down after removing all the junk tags and have just re-opened it and all my emails from my mother since mid-May are all marked as junk.....this is ridiculous. How do I permanently remove the orange marker next to each email? I am using Version 31.7.0 Just to add: the emails remain in the folder I created for my mother's mail-they aren't being moved to the Junk folder (Thunderbird is not moving them there)....and so I don't understand why they are arriving in my "mum's" folder and being marked by Tbird as junk. Many thanks!

Marla13 trɔe

All Replies (20)

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Ok, I have little time tonight. But I am also at something of a loss here.

What I suggest is starting a new profile, adding your BT account and seeing if the IMAP synchronizes the same as it is now.

New profile carries none of the baggage of the old so if it is in settings this will get rid of it.

First download this add-on to your desktop (you need to install it twice) Follow the instructions to install here http://chrisramsden.vfast.co.uk/3_How_to_install_Add-ons_in_Thunderbird.html

Use the File menu (alt+T) to restart with the profile manager in normal mode. Create a new profile. Add you account and install the profile switcher add-on again in the new profile. (this make switching back and forth simple. Otherwise it is a royal PITA)

Do your messages keep getting marked as SPAM?

If this is a cure... I will get you to email me the two config files in the hope I can find a difference.

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Matt-thanks a million for this suggestion; it makes much sense to do this as a test and way of identifying the source of my problem. I may not have time to do this until early next week, but if I can do this tomorow, I will and will update you here.

I really appreciate your interest in helping me resolve the problem....

Just two questions:

1. Does it matter if the emails in my current/original profile/account are marked as Junk, before I create the new profile? Do i need to mark them all as "not junk"? Presumably not as any emails will be downloaded to my new profile from the Server (where they are not marked as junk) but thought I'd ask as I don't want my current/original profile/account to effect the way my new one operates. I hope I'm making sense? To be honest, it's a waste of time to mark my mail as not junk in my current profile because they revert back to junk ASAP.

2. What the Add-on is for? I clicked on the link, and then clicked on the only link on that page but it just takes me to an entire page of Add-On's; which one am I wanting?

Marla13 trɔe

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Part 2 of my reply:


I do have an Add on for signature switch, so I know a little bit about switching from one to the other but re-the Profile switch you refer to above...out of curiosity, I hit Alt-T but only saw the File menu options but wasn't sure what I was meant to be looking for:). How does Alt T restart profile manager in normal mode? I'm a little lost.

Best regards, Marla

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Install the add-on and it adds profile options to the File menu.

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Thanks Matt, but when I click on the link it just takes me to page on "How to install add-ons in Tbird" with only one other link on that page; when I click on that link, it takes me here: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/

to a page with a lot of Add-On's. Which one am I wanting? I just searched for Profile and found this:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/profileswitcher/?src=search

Is that what I am wanting?

I'm leaving work for the day but will be back tomorrow AM (UK time).

Best regards, Marla

Marla13 trɔe

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sorry about that... must have missed the link. Sleep is the answer :) Here you go. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/profileswitcher/?src=search

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Super! Many thanks...

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Matt-I haven't left work yet:). It's no hurry because I *am* leaving now, but quick Q: is creating a new profile, the same thing as creating a new email account? Is that what you mean?

Add-on is installed so I'm ready to create a new profile.

I can see under File.."launch another profile" or "open profile manager" but can't see how to create another profile. I presume that's the same thing as creating a new email account (basically a 2nd version of my existing email account....correct)?


I'll look into this more tomorrow if I can...I'm keen to resolve this but also know that it can take *hours* to download all my emails from the Server which I am not looking forward to:).

Best regards, Marla

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It's a mystery. I really don't have a clue, but Just to clarify Are your mums folder on sever or local? Are you using SpamAssassin? Have you tried to reset Training data?

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Not the same as a new account at all.

Launch profile manger > normal mode.

This recreates everything. Even leaves your address book behind. (which is why we have two profiles and delete nothing. I hope you get to keep using your old profile.

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Got it! OK Matt-not good news. I'm still at work:). I created the new profile, and started downloading emails....the same emails that are marked as Junk in my original profile are being marked as Junk in the new one. It was worth a try, but where does that leave us? What cause/explanation can you rule out now?

I'm leaving work (for real)! but will be back tomorrow....

Best regards, Marla

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I can rule out Gnospens resetting the training data. I can rule out a setting in Thunderbird. Just check this last one. Right click the account. Select settings and in the junk settings for the account make sure the "trust junk mail headers set by" is NOT set I think it will not be,

While there disable the junk mail controls completely. Does it still reset?

I really think we are looking for an external source. But turning off the junk controls will be fairly definitive I think.

Matt trɔe

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Thanks Matt-I'll check these settings in the AM.

Sleep well!

Best, Marla

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Morning Matt!

OK-so I checked my Junk Settings: "Trust Junk Mail Headers" was *not* checked/ticked, as you predicted so I've left it as is.

Under Destination and Retention: I unchecked the box that was ticked "Move new Junk messages to".

Re: Global Junk Preferences: the box "When I mark messages as Junk"...is ticked...should I leave it as is?

I've got it set to "Move to Account's Junk folder".

The one thing I haven't tried is to Reset Training Data-is it worth a try? What are the implications for future incoming mail if I do so?

Best regards, Marla

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Hi Matt,

I hope you are well?

Same old, same old over here but since I discovered how to take a screen shot on my very old PC, I thought I'd attach a sample screen shot of what a my mother's email folder looks like. This is only a sample:).

Best regards, Marla

Marla13 trɔe

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Ok I think it is time to look at a mail or two and see if I can see anything with the benefit of the whole mail. (and without this forum getting in the way)

Could you please email me at the address shown in my profile (click the picture of me).

Hold the Ctrl key and click on a couple of your mothers mails that are junk. Right click and select forward as > Attachment. Stick a link to this thread in the body of the mail so I actually know what it is( and send then to me.

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Thanks Matt-I really appreciate this. I have an update though: I spoke to my Internet Provider people (again)! They were helping me with my Server Error problems which seem to now be fixed (thanks to my Mac specialist who advised me to update my Outlook programme); I now don't get Server problems as frequently as before, if at all, however, whilst BT were trying to help me with the Server problems they suggested I set up an Account in Mac Mail and see if I have the same server errors....I didn't. But what I did notice in Mac Mail (but not in Outlook) is that I do get all the same emails marked as Junk! So the BT guy advised me to reset the Junk settings/filter (whatever you call it) and this seems to have worked for my Mac Mail....emails are still being marked as Junk but when I click on "to Junk" they stay as Not Junk whereas in Tbird, even when I mark as Not Junk, they go back to being Junk when I leave that folder and then come back to it.

So before I email you off this forum, I am going to try one more time to reset the training data in TBird and then mark several emails as Not Junk and see what happens. Give me a few hours...I have a busy day work-wise but will get back to you later or tomorrow.

Best regards, and thanks once again, Marla

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Hi Matt-just a quick update; spoke to BT again and they are looking into the issue and will phone me back tomorrow to remotely access my computer. They seem to be implying that it may be on their end; either that, or they just want more time to familiarise themselves with Tbird. Somehow, they did help and resolve the Junk mail issue in Mac Mail; resetting the data/Junk filters worked in Mail but for some reason, resetting the training data in Tbird hasn't worked.

I'll update you after I speak to them (I'm actually away at a conference Thurs-Sat) so if I don't get back to you tomorrow, it will be early next week.

Best regards, Marla

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Is there a way to ignore the X-YahooFilteredBulk header?

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Hi Reubot, thanks for your message. I'm not sure I understand what you mean by ignore the header; I only see the header when I click CTL-U on a message; is that the header you are referring to?

After a few phone calls with my internet service provider this week, they have deemed the issue a Thunderbird issue, a "glitch" with Thunderbird to be precise, since I am not seeing these same emails marked as Junk in my web based mail; we looked at all of the Junk/filter settings and nothing seems to make a difference. I've decided I can live with this problem but it is annoying. I'm away at a conference shortly, until Sunday so I may take a look again next week and try further possible solutions but this has taken up so much of my time, frankly, I am tempted to just put it to bed for now.

Best regards...

Marla13 trɔe

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