Missing Headers, Corrupt Inbox Messages & "TB can't update to latest version"
The Problem: Starting around May 27, I started getting daily popups on TB saying: "Thunderbird can't update to the latest version. Download a fresh copy and we'll help you to install it." I Installed TB v. 91.10, but the daily popups continued, so I just kept closing the popup.
Around July 1, I downloaded and installed TB 102.0. However, after this, about 1/4 of incoming mail in all inbox folders have corrupted messages, either: - missing the header entirely (but the Message List Pane still shows the Subject, Correspondents, and Date), - has header from another incoming message, - displays message body as html text, - merges two messages into one message body, - missing message entirely, - or combinations of the above. When I check webmail with Firefox, all emails appear normal. Still getting the "TB can't update..." popups daily.
Attempted Diagnostics & Fixes, so far: After each fix I have to wait a day to see if new emails are affected and if I get the same "TB can't update" popup. Some dates are approximate. - June 6th, changed two Gmail POP3 logins to OAUTH to agree with Google's "less secure apps" policy. - TB Repair Folder (removes corrupted messages from Inbox, but does not re-download them from the server, I have to check them via webmail) - June 20th, Compact Folders - Archive Folders (thousands of emails) - TB Troubleshoot Mode (restarts without extensions, though I have no extensions installed) - Run Malwarebytes scan (clean) - Turned off Avast Mail Shield - Created Avast scan exception for TB profile folder, thunderbird.net & aus.thunderbird.net - July 1st, installed TB 102.0 (see "The Problem" above) - July 5th, uninstalled Avast Free (complete removal with Avast Clear), and reinstalled - July 6th, ran Tweaking.com Windows Repair (All steps: Power Reset, Reboot Safe Mode, Repair Reparse Points, Repair Environment Variables, Check File System, System File Check) - Copied profile folder, then deleted all MSF files in Mail folder so TB would re-index. [I missed the ones in the IMAP Mail folder on this 1st attempt.] - Update to TB 102.1 - Uninstalled TB (Windows/remove program), deleted all MSF files in profile again (including IMAP Mail folder this time), and installed 102.1 - Jul.7th, the day after running Tweaking.com Windows Repair when I started up, Avast "secured" four threats and moved three of them into Quarantine:
- c:\windows\syswow64\sto.exe - c:\windows\syswow64\fflhd.dll - c:\windows\syswow64\server.exe (All for process: c:\program files (x86)\MySQL\bin\mysqld-nt.exe) Submitted to Avast for further analysis. - The fourth item said it was "successfully repaired": C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\Server.exe [L] Win32:Parite [Inf] (0)
- July 8th, disabled two POP OAUTH GMail accounts, and added new IMAP accounts - July 9th, removed two POP Gmail accounts, uninstalled TB (remove program), deleted all MSF files in profile, installed TB 102.1 - July 10th, deleted appdata/local/thunderbird/profiles/xyz.default, restarted TB - July 11th, Avast "secured" three new threats and moved them into Quarantine:
- c:\windows\syswow64\sto.exe (For process: c:\program files (x86)\MySQL\bin\mysqld-nt.exe) - c:\windows\syswow64\fvznj.dll (For process: c:\program files (x86)\MySQL\bin\mysqld-nt.exe) - c:\windows\syswow64\sto.exe (For process: PID 8560)
Corrupt inbox messages (about 1/4) & "TB can't update" popups continue.
My System: - Windows 10 Home, up to date - TB has no extensions or themes installed - running on an older AMD laptop that has always run TB without issue - Avast Free AV
THANK YOU Many thanks to the awesome volunteers who have posted so much helpful advice over the years. I hope you will be able to work this one out too, please. Thank you very much.
Wubrane rozrisanje
AVAST could be part of the problem. The 'Update history' is not being able to get set and is triggering the update, but it cannot and anyway you are up to date. I believe AVAST is causing the block. It has been known to do this.
Exit Thunderbird. Access Firewall which might be controlled by AVAST and set Thunderbird and the Thunderbird Software Updater program as allowed programs.
Then add an exception in AVAST anti-virus. Info at link below: Although it is generally not recommended, you may want to exclude certain files, folders, or websites from being scanned by Avast Antivirus. Add an exception Setting a global exception will exclude individual files, folders, or websites from all scans and shields.
Add as exception: 'aus.thunderbird.net' and also 'www.thunderbird.net' use info at link:
I would also advise you set the Thunderbird profile folder as an exception so not to scan it.
Whilst this might not be an immediate fix on the machine running current version as you'll have to wait for update. When the next update comes through see if this gets added to the history.
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More info
Windows Apps & Features shows an app installed just before the first signs of trouble: "Microsoft Corporation, Mail and Calendar, 8.15MB, 5/20/2022" July 11, Disabled all App Permissions and Terminated app.
Another unusual symptom is that sometimes email will arrive as normal, but if I leave it in the inbox and try to read it again later it has been corrupted, with the message body replaced with another email. The original email is lost.
July 11, deleted popstate.dat for primary account.
July 13, Avast "secured" three new threats and moved them into Quarantine:
- Win32:Parite [Inf], c:\windows\syswow64\WiFiService.exe, Process: PID 1864 - Win32:Parite [Inf], c:\windows\syswow64\WiFiService.exe, Process: c:\Program Files (x86)\MySQL\bin\mysqld-nt.exe - Win32:Malware-gen, c:\windows\syswow64\lpjro.dll, Process: c:\Program Files (x86)\MySQL\bin\mysqld-nt.exe
Thank you for any help and advice you are willing to share.
July 15th, An observation.... It seems that if I move Inbox emails to subfolders as they arrive, new emails are not getting corrupted on arrival. Will continue to test this further. Still getting daily popups "TB can't update..." Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
re:Still getting daily popups "TB can't update..."
The update history tells you the last properly logged update. It does not mean that is the version you are actually using. You are probably getting that error because the history has not recorded the last update.
You can find out what version is being used in either of the following locations:
- Menu icon > Help > About Thunderbird
OR
- Menu icon > Help > More Troubleshooting Information
- Under 'Application Basics'
- Second line 'Version'
See if clearing all the old cache helps.
- Exit Thunderbird.
Access this location.
- C:/Users/User Account/Appdata/Local/Thunderbird/Profiles/
In the 'Profiles' folder - Delete the 'profile name' folder.
Please note you must be in the Appdata 'Local' folder - not the 'Roaming' folder as that contains your profile and emails. You do not want to delete anything in the 'Roaming' folder.
You can get to the Appdata folder by doing the following:
- In bottom search type : %Appdata% and select the 'Appdata' app option
- Then you can click on 'Local', then 'Then 'Thunderbird' and finally 'Profiles'
See image below as guide.
Then restart Thunderbird.
Hi Toad-Hall, Thank you very much for your reply and suggestions. I have read many of your previous posts while troubleshooting this issue and appreciate your time & expert advice.
Troubleshooting Information says I'm running 102.0.1. About Thunderbird says "Thunderbird is up to date". I just checked the TB site and see that 102.0.2 is now released (so it is not up to date).
On your advice, I deleted the old cache and restarted TB.
Then I downloaded and installed TB 102.0.2, but the three problems still remain.
Corrupted messages.
Update history still says "No updates installed yet." Received same popup "TB can't update..."
Advanced Account Settings is still greyed out, still not checking primary account when I click "Get Messages".
I emailed 20 test messages to various accounts. The first 15 arrived properly, but by the time all 20 arrived, messages 8 & 9 were both corrupted. This fits with my observation that if I keep the inbox cleared as emails arrive (by moving messages to subfolders), the messages are not corrupted. I have a variety of subfolders in the Inbox, but none of the messages in these are corrupted.
Thanks again for helping to sort out this weird problem. Any other suggestions are eagerly welcome! :) Thank you very much!
Wot pppcrn010
Wubrane rozrisanje
AVAST could be part of the problem. The 'Update history' is not being able to get set and is triggering the update, but it cannot and anyway you are up to date. I believe AVAST is causing the block. It has been known to do this.
Exit Thunderbird. Access Firewall which might be controlled by AVAST and set Thunderbird and the Thunderbird Software Updater program as allowed programs.
Then add an exception in AVAST anti-virus. Info at link below: Although it is generally not recommended, you may want to exclude certain files, folders, or websites from being scanned by Avast Antivirus. Add an exception Setting a global exception will exclude individual files, folders, or websites from all scans and shields.
Add as exception: 'aus.thunderbird.net' and also 'www.thunderbird.net' use info at link:
I would also advise you set the Thunderbird profile folder as an exception so not to scan it.
Whilst this might not be an immediate fix on the machine running current version as you'll have to wait for update. When the next update comes through see if this gets added to the history.
Wot Toad-Hall
Hi Toad-Hall, Thank you for these suggestions. A few weeks ago, I disabled the Avast Mail Shield, and added these three exclusions. But to follow up on your suspicion, I removed Avast Free Antivirus with avastclear.exe, uninstalled TB, and installed TB 102.0.2. Next I planned to reinstall Avast Free Antivirus, but instead found a similar product called Avast One Essential, so I installed it instead. So far out of about 60 messages, none are corrupted, and the "TB can't update" popup has not returned. Problem solved! Thank you very much for your assistance!