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empty startup screen TB 68.6.0

  • 19 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 16 views
  • Last reply by sfhowes

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Hi, ran into a problem where TB does not show my mail-folder panes on the left nor the mails in the right pane. stays empty. i can compose and send a new mail. but the main screens stays invisible. account settings looks fine. However clicking the hamburger menu in the top right corner does not work. reinstalled latest version, restore a profile folder from earlier this morning, but problem remains.. TB keeps saying it needes to be restarted in order for the update (see screenshot). ..

Any ideas? Mac is working fine, IMAP folders can be accessed by webmail. But TB won't show me the account/folders, mails en single mail window...

Thx in advance!

Hi, ran into a problem where TB does not show my mail-folder panes on the left nor the mails in the right pane. stays empty. i can compose and send a new mail. but the main screens stays invisible. account settings looks fine. However clicking the hamburger menu in the top right corner does not work. reinstalled latest version, restore a profile folder from earlier this morning, but problem remains.. TB keeps saying it needes to be restarted in order for the update (see screenshot). .. Any ideas? Mac is working fine, IMAP folders can be accessed by webmail. But TB won't show me the account/folders, mails en single mail window... Thx in advance!
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

So glad to hear that you got it working :)

Wish that I knew more about the privacy settings, as I did not have that problem with the install/move. Unfortunately I'm unsure what file one needs for the privacy settings.

The *.mab files had all of my address book (Personal, Collected, etc..) I actually copied over three *.mab files and then the address book looke liked I expected.

Again very glad that main emails are back!

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (19)

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Hello there 1868.


We have read your message. We try to help you.

Try to put out your extensions or add on s. Start up your Thunderbird version type into safe modus. Then look if it’s the add on or extension.

Did you had this before updating or was it after it? It could be also your antivirus that collapse into a update.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/safe-mode-thunderbird

Mail me back after trying.

Modified by День сумо

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Hi thx for replying and trying to help.

i've tried disabling/deleting extensions and safe mode. no help.

i'm on a mac and have no AV installed.

i had this before i tried to fix it by manually download the latest(?) version . i download the latest version to make sure. no idea what caused the problem.

i'm on 68.6.0 (latest for Mac os is it!?!) but in the about panel it keeps saying 'herstart om thunderbird bij te werken ' ( tranlated: restart TB for updating)...

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it basicly the same problem as this topic:

68.6.0 installs, then blank pane where messages etc should be

(sorry, can't find the exact link anymore)

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Hi, i've also tried the latest beta release of TB Mac os. Same problem.. Even this latest version says i need to update.. (see screenshots).

I've restore the back-up profile made before installing the beta and running on 68.6.0 mac os again. but the problem stays the same.

is there some temp file that TB reads and says a update is available? which i might can delete or so?

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Hello there 1868


Yes I have read your messages back. We have to say that it is indeed a problem your type of computer machine in combination with Thunderbird. The most common issue is it with sending messages.


And no it’s your type of Computer software that don t accept parts of Thunderbird. Maybe by type version 70.0 or 74.0 beta The most error s where at 86.0 thunderbird.


For the version 10.15.3 Mac Catalina there is not even an option for it. It will never work because there is not a Thunderbird software available.


We have to disappoint you guys. There will be work for it at the bug department from Firefox/Thunderbird. You can check some times by looking if something is released for Thunderbird Software that will work for your Mac.


http://kb.mozillazine.org/Problematic_extensions

Greetings Firefox Volunteer.

Modified by День сумо

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Delete the global search sqlite file from the profile folder, while TB is closed, as this sometimes fixes the problem of a blank display after an update:

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/rebuilding-global-database

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Hello there 1868

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/rebuilding-global-database

Or

Delete all extensions and add-ons. Try to run Thunderbird in safe modus.

Or read this please.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Inbox_stays_blank






Greetings Firefox volunteer.

Modified by День сумо

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Hi thanks for helping. rebuilding Glodat dit not help. It start rebuilding, but the screen stays blank. I'm runnining on High Sierra, so i guess it is not Catalina specific.

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Using Windows10 I'm having the same blank screen upon startup (picture attached) Tried in safe mode with the same thing

Next deleted global-messages-db.sqlite but no improvement

Now messages do show up, as can see the windows notifications, but just can not see the anything beyond the blank screen.

Then tried the latest 75.0b1 release again with no luck

Also when tried to find emails via search it can find the messages, but they are not displayed

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Hi same, here; search does work correct (even new mail from last days, so after the problem arrived) are found. The search pane does work correctly, but as soon as i click to view a single mail , the newly opened pane stays blank...

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I'm not ready to give up! How to get this issue on the bug-track/fix list?

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Hello there Info1868



we have read your messages

maybe this document works with regards to the panel that does not degrade after attempting several times to fix it?


Try to read this please http://kb.mozillazine.org/Folder_pane_not_shown

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Empty_folder_pane

A addon to try

https://addons.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/addon/maximize-message-pane/

Greetings Firefox Volunteer.

Modified by День сумо

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Earlier 3/20/20, 7:59 AM I had mentioned everything was blank upon startup & the search didn't work. The suggested (1) safe mode ,(2) deleting global-messages-db.sqlite, and (3) trying the latest 75.0b1 release all did not work.

Ultimately to get my emails back one needs access to the profile folder that is not working. Basically the files in '...Thunderbird\Profiles\ProfileFolder\Mail' where 'ProfileFolder' is the name of the profile folder. {Note: this is a 'hack' that worked for myself and would recommend making a backup copy of your current profile folder before continuing as an extra backup never hurts eh)

1) completely uninstalled TB, and conducted a new install with a setting up a new profile (note one doesn't have previous emails) 2) Exit TB

   2.a Delete everything in current profile folder 'Mail' folder that points to the currennt server.  (note in this example I had setup "mail.dreamhost.com") as my email server and '5feuing1' was the newly setup profile folder.  There were folders/files in there 

...Thunderbird\Profiles\5feuing1\Mail\mail.dreamhost.com

   2.b Copy everything from original  '...Thunderbird\Profiles\ProfileFolder\Mail\mail.dreamhost.com' into the new created folder.  {Basically I'm just copying the Emails and nothing else}
  2.c Now this gets your email back, but do not have address book.  

To obtain the addresses, Copy the all of the *.mab files (example abook.mab) from '...Thunderbird\Profiles\ProfileFolder\ to '...Thunderbird\Profiles\5feuing1' Remember ProfileFolder was the original folder that you could not access and in this example '5feuing1' is the newly created profile folder

This then get one back to having all emails, and address book. Note when it restarted it did download several already received emails from server(my server was setup to keep for 2 weeks) and I just had to delete the "duplicate" inbox downloaded emails.

I also had to setup the buttons in the toolbars to how I liked them before. Basically this got me ALL emails back and in the same folders as before.

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Hi, i tried al the above (except new install). and non worked. i can't installed new Add-ons (however i can uninstall them). So next thing is i'm going to do a new install....

For al who try to help; thank you very much!! much appreciated !

Keep you posted!

D.

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Does it make any difference if i install the Dutch or Englisch version? I used to use the Dutch version, but have no problems with installing the English version.

Advantages / Disadvantages ?

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I have only tried the English version, but think that the procedures I outlined in "3/21/20, 7:50 PM" post should work just fine with the Dutch version.

Also the reason I conducted the fresh install as think that there is some other corrupted file in the Profiles folder that is creating this problem. Thus I started fresh with a new install/profile folder and only copied over the "Mail" and address book. Hope this helps.

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Hi,

YES! Finally ;-) After doing a uninstall (using Appcleaner App Mac OS), installing the latest TB Dutch, the panes where all there again.

I managed to restore the most important (Local Folder) profile, containing 37Gb and 15 years of archive mail. I've been an long time TB users (coming from Windows, moved to a Mac). So the DB has been thru a lot ;-).

Adding 2 IMAP folders was not a problem, since they held a copy of all the mail on the server.

After everything looked OK, i moved the profile folders to a different HDD, which holds all working files, including mail (makes backuping easier). Changed installs.ini and profiles.ini to set it to the new locating. No problems there.

After struggling with MacOS Mail for a week, i am SO HAPPY to see my beloved TB been running up again! Thank you! to all in this community for helping me out!

Some fine questions;

- which files could/should i copy/move from the back-up? Things like Personal Address Book, Collected mail addresses, and is there a single file which contains the privacy settings (now every mail i open TB ask me what to do with showing (to protect your privacy... external ..is blocked).

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Chosen Solution

So glad to hear that you got it working :)

Wish that I knew more about the privacy settings, as I did not have that problem with the install/move. Unfortunately I'm unsure what file one needs for the privacy settings.

The *.mab files had all of my address book (Personal, Collected, etc..) I actually copied over three *.mab files and then the address book looke liked I expected.

Again very glad that main emails are back!

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info1868 said

- which files could/should i copy/move from the back-up? Things like Personal Address Book, Collected mail addresses, and is there a single file which contains the privacy settings (now every mail i open TB ask me what to do with showing (to protect your privacy... external ..is blocked).

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Files_and_folders_in_the_profile_-_Thunderbird

"The permissions.sqlite and content-prefs.sqlite files store the permissions for what remote content can be displayed. Lightning also uses that file."