You could try 64 bit builds and a Google search returns www. mozilla64bit .com/index.php /thunderbird-64-bit-download mozilla64bit. com which is not affiliated to Mozilla as far as I know.

Thanks...You found what I couldn't...unfortunately I can't find anything anywhere else about these 64 bit versions...makes me more than a little gunshy.

Those so called 64-bit versions listed on that site are NOT releases but are random builds taken from the Nightly development channel at time. For Thunderbird it has been at version 32.0a1 on Nightly channel since April 30 for example.

There are four main development channels as in Release, Beta, Aurora and Nightly.

These Win64 builds of Thunderbird and Firefox on Nightly channel are more for to catch breakage/regressions and are not supported like the Win32, 32/64-bit combine Mac OSX and the 32-bit/64-bit Linux builds are.

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Supported_build_configurations

Thanks for confirming that those weren't reliable builds. So what would be a reasonably stable version that you might recommend to your tech challenged Aunt Harriet if she, like me, couldn't do 32bit? When traveling, I don't have the the time or additional PC's to deal with a problem. I don't mind some minor glitches...something not displaying quite right, but epic failure is not something I'm up for.

I would use the nightly 64bit builds. They may not be supported, but they are built from the same source and have been reliable for me. Although I am currently using the 32bit nightly. I would however disable the automatic update.. In your case you do not want to be updating each day to the new version.

A Mozilla download source here http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/thunderbird/nightly/latest-comm-central/

Unfortunately, due to this very issue of no 64bit Thunderbird available, after many years of faithfully supporting Thunderbird (and Firefox) on different 32bit machines, I had migrate after detailed research to a different email client.

I want to let you know it wasn't a difficult process: there is an email client on the market, which had its roots in Thunderbird, and even the vast majority of add-ons are also working with it. The client is called: Postbox at http://postbox-inc.com/ and only costs $9.95. Feature rich software, yes with 64bit version, easy to use and works like a dream.

I highly recommend switching to Postbox 64bit if Thunderbird issues cause communication problems (did for me).

Hoping to help you and others with this info, as something like this can become a really serious work problem.

Switch to Postbox 64bit , you won't regret it, I assure you all!

Well Steve I have spent a long time on their web sire and I can not find a 64bit version for anything but a mac and you are not using a Mac.

Their site does say "Windows Windows Vista, and Windows 7 1.5 Ghz Pentium 4 or comparable At least 2 GB of RAM At least 200 MB of available space on your hard drive (large email accounts may require more space for indexing) Note: only 32-bit versions of Postbox are supported on Windows at this time. http://support.postbox-inc.com/hc/en-us/articles/202197710-Frequently-Asked-Questions

I tried to download the try before you buy, all I can get is a win32 file which is the same win32 executable style Thunderbird runs on windows 64bit.

So perhaps you could provide a link to this 64bit build.

steved54, you have not said what OS you are referring to for 64-bit builds of Postbox. It appears they have 64-bit builds for Mac OSX but not for Windows.

Mozilla has 64-bit builds of Thunderbird for 64-bit Linux (need to get on ftp) and combined 32-bit/64-bit for Mac OSX just like for Firefox.

Actually, at http://www.mozilla64bit.com/index.php/thunderbird-64-bit-download there are both some beta and release version 64bit builds - not official mozilla of course.: Thunderbird 64-bit versions (unofficial) Version Filename and Download Size Date 17.0.5 thunderbird-17.0.5.en-US.win64-x86_64.installer.exe 19.55 MB 2013-03-30 21.0b1 thunderbird-21.0b1.en-US.win64-x86_64.installer.exe 22.46 MB 2013-04-11

Like Matt, I would try a nightly 64bit build (I run the 32bit all the time) and turn off automatic updates. There are currently no notable dataloss bug reports, and if it stays solid for you then I'd continue using it.

That said, I find it very odd that a 32bit app causes you problems.

MrToad, does that help??

FossaMail is another source of 64-bit builds (with Lightning add-on), based on the current TB 24.6 (English) release.

Wayne Mery, that mozilla64bit site is just hosting random Nightly channel builds hence the a1 on end of version.

And if a user were to be a Tester and try the Nightly development channel builds they should not get any from a unofficial site as they are on the ftp like say http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/thunderbird/nightly/latest-comm-central/

Nightly builds (along with Aurora) for those who are not aware get checkins almost every day (especially with Firefox Nightly) so therefore they get a updates each of those days.

sfhowes, Thunderbird has not been ESR since 17.0 as they are just being released in ESR fashion now as of 24.0 and on

> mozilla64bit site is just hosting random Nightly channel builds hence the a1 on end of version.

Hi James. I run nightly builds 24x7, so I'm quite aware of their status, advantages and disadvantages.

As I pointed, out, there are two builds listed (near the bottom) that are not nightly builds thunderbird-17.0.5 and thunderbird-21.0b1. (I haven't started them, but I have attempted to install them and they do appear to be 64bit)

> user ... should not get any [nightly build] from a unofficial site

agreed

> Nightly builds ... get checkins almost every day

Which is why I suggested to turn off updates - which I have.

>>(sfhowes) FossaMail is another source of 64-bit builds (with Lightning add-on), based on the current TB ESR release. > (James) Thunderbird has not been ESR since 17.0 as they are just being released in ESR fashion now as of 24.0 and on.

True - but , as someone who has been involved in the Thunderbird release process, I can tell you there was effectively no major difference between version 17.x ESR and 17.x "mainstream" builds. So in version 24 we did away with one of the build streams.

> These Win64 builds of Thunderbird and Firefox on Nightly channel are more for to catch breakage/regressions and are not supported like the Win32, 32/64-bit combine Mac OSX and the 32-bit/64-bit Linux builds are. > https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Supported_build_configurations

On paper it is true that Win64 are officially Tier 3, and bugs that are 64bit specific (which are extremely rare) may receive less development attention. However, in practice 99.something% of the time these are just as good as win-x86 builds.

I definitely don't recommend every user go out and run a 64bit nightly build, but given MrToad's situation and my deep understanding of nightly builds, I have no trouble recommending (with appropriate precautions of backups, etc) to run a nightly build with updates turned OFF. If one were to be picky, perhaps the best build to download would be the one just before Thunderbird changes the version branch from a1 to a2.

Thanks for all the helpful input. I used V10 earlybird 64bit Thunderbird for nearly a month while traveling with my 64bit only laptop. While I missed the calendar, Lightning, I found it generally satisfactory. I'm sure a critical observer would have found bugs, but I wasn't bit by any worthy of recall. Since I just bought a new Win 7 laptop [An Acer...it's getting hard to find value priced laptops Win7 with 17" screen and Intel processor], my future travels will be using the 32bit Thunderbird. To reiterate...my reason for seeking the 64bit version was not about speed...I didn't notice a bit of difference, it was about offsetting a hopefully rare impairment that blocked 32bit apps from net access. Thanks again for all the input MrToad

Re: Fossamail http://www.fossamail.org/ Had I found this, I definitely would have tried it...I've been pleased with the Palemoon browser...same guy, and the availability of a 64bit lightning would have sealed the deal.

Wayne Mery, As I pointed, out, there are two builds listed (near the bottom) that are not nightly builds thunderbird-17.0.5 and thunderbird-21.0b1. (I haven't started them, but I have attempted to install them and they do appear to be 64bit) Those are old random build from a unknown party. Also are vulnerable. Which is why I suggested to turn off updates - which I have. Not a good idea and random builds from Nightly channel are not meant to be be used like a Release build.