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Running Windows 7, the newest release of Thunderbird crashes my whole system about 90 seconds after it's launched.

  • 6 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 13 views
  • Last reply by deverick

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The system freezes. Nothing works, Mouse won't move. Control+Alt+Delete does nothing. Only way to proceed is to turn off the computer and restart. I have been using Thunderbird for years with no problems, until the most recent upgrade. I've tried restarting and launching no other programs, but Thunderbird produces the same result. I've also tried launching Thunderbird, opening the address book window and closing the mail email window. It still crashes my computer after about 90 seconds.

The system freezes. Nothing works, Mouse won't move. Control+Alt+Delete does nothing. Only way to proceed is to turn off the computer and restart. I have been using Thunderbird for years with no problems, until the most recent upgrade. I've tried restarting and launching no other programs, but Thunderbird produces the same result. I've also tried launching Thunderbird, opening the address book window and closing the mail email window. It still crashes my computer after about 90 seconds.

Chosen solution

Ok that crash is probably not going to help us much. I have had it once as well. Basically it is a deliberate attempt to crash Thunderbird when a shutdown hang occurs. Unfortunately while we have shut down hangs, no one has identified a single cause which we can hang our hats on.

Now crashing Windows is a very different thing and implies something that has kernel level access to the operating system. That is Drivers and anti virus programs basically.

IF safe mode helped try this in normal mode.

On the toolbar > Options > Advanced General and turn off hardware acceleration.

If that is not a fix, we need more information. Please add the troubleshooting information to your post To find the Troubleshooting information:

  • Open Help (or click on three-line-icon and select Help)
  • Choose Troubleshooting Information
  • Use the button Copy to clipboard to select all. Do not check box "Include account names"!
  • Paste this in your post.

Please also add the result of these troubleshooting steps to your post

  • Do you use anti-virus and firewall software? What is the version?
  • 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 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, OSX
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All Replies (6)

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Is 90 seconds long enough to open the troubleshooting information on the help menu and navigate to the crash reports and copy some links to this forum so we can have a look at what the reports contain?

Also try holding the shift key as Thunderbird starts to place it in safe mode and see if that helps. Not loading add-ons may help as may having a default theme.

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Thank you!

1) Starting Thunderbird in safe mode has kept it running for several minutes, so far!

2) There's only one crash report from 8/9/2015, but it has crashed Windows many times since then.

https://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/7e164502-acc9-499b-af6e-1d3a92150810

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Chosen Solution

Ok that crash is probably not going to help us much. I have had it once as well. Basically it is a deliberate attempt to crash Thunderbird when a shutdown hang occurs. Unfortunately while we have shut down hangs, no one has identified a single cause which we can hang our hats on.

Now crashing Windows is a very different thing and implies something that has kernel level access to the operating system. That is Drivers and anti virus programs basically.

IF safe mode helped try this in normal mode.

On the toolbar > Options > Advanced General and turn off hardware acceleration.

If that is not a fix, we need more information. Please add the troubleshooting information to your post To find the Troubleshooting information:

  • Open Help (or click on three-line-icon and select Help)
  • Choose Troubleshooting Information
  • Use the button Copy to clipboard to select all. Do not check box "Include account names"!
  • Paste this in your post.

Please also add the result of these troubleshooting steps to your post

  • Do you use anti-virus and firewall software? What is the version?
  • 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 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, OSX
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deverick said

The system freezes. Nothing works, Mouse won't move. Control+Alt+Delete does nothing. Only way to proceed is to turn off the computer and restart. I have been using Thunderbird for years with no problems, until the most recent upgrade. I've tried restarting and launching no other programs, but Thunderbird produces the same result. I've also tried launching Thunderbird, opening the address book window and closing the mail email window. It still crashes my computer after about 90 seconds.

Well, after starting Thunderbird once in safe mode, it has been functioning normally since. I did go to the hardware acceleration option and it was already unchecked.

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Ok that crash is probably not going to help us much. I have had it once as well. Basically it is a deliberate attempt to crash Thunderbird when a shutdown hang occurs. Unfortunately while we have shut down hangs, no one has identified a single cause which we can hang our hats on.

Now crashing Windows is a very different thing and implies something that has kernel level access to the operating system. That is Drivers and anti virus programs basically.

IF safe mode helped try this in normal mode.

On the toolbar > Options > Advanced General and turn off hardware acceleration.

If that is not a fix, we need more information. Please add the troubleshooting information to your post To find the Troubleshooting information:

   Open Help (or click on three-line-icon and select Help)
   Choose Troubleshooting Information
   Use the button Copy to clipboard to select all. Do not check box "Include account names"!
   Paste this in your post.

Please also add the result of these troubleshooting steps to your post

   Do you use anti-virus and firewall software? What is the version?
   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 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, OSX
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Thank you, Matt!!!