Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Strange random AND inconsistent THUNDERBIRD 38.3 behavior!

  • 8 majibu
  • 1 ana tatizo hili
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Matt

more options

After my Vaio SVE17122CXB CRASHED I reinstalled Thunderbird (Ver 38.3). Given my YEARS of experience with originally Netscape Thunderbird, I suspect the problem(s) may be an operator head space - user settings issue, Thunderbird is behaving RANDOMLY and is much more inconsistent than I EVER remember in the past 20+ years!

Now when I click 'Get Mail' there's a momentary flash of info in the lower L corner then usually nothing happens until unless I do something else such as open a message in the3 'In Box'. Then new messages often start coming in some marked new, some not?

For whatever reason new mail randomly displays NEW for some messages and NOT for others plus once I've read the message sometimes it remains marked NEW, but other times NEW goes away.

When I installed Thunderbird, I turned OFF the 'get mail every ___ ' & 'get mail when Thunderbird starts' options, BUT sometimes when Thunderbird starts new mail appears as soon as I open Thunderbird EVEN though the option is set to OFF!

Why is 38.3 so UNPREDICTABLE? What am I doing WRONG? What can I do to obtain the stability and consistency I am used to? I am already considering checking out some other e-mail software. BTW Using Win 8.0 64 bit, haven't been able to get Win 8.1! grrr

THANKS

Mrs. RA

After my Vaio SVE17122CXB CRASHED I reinstalled Thunderbird (Ver 38.3). Given my YEARS of experience with originally Netscape Thunderbird, I suspect the problem(s) may be an operator head space - user settings issue, Thunderbird is behaving RANDOMLY and is much more inconsistent than I EVER remember in the past 20+ years! Now when I click 'Get Mail' there's a momentary flash of info in the lower L corner then usually nothing happens until unless I do something else such as open a message in the3 'In Box'. Then new messages often start coming in some marked new, some not? For whatever reason new mail randomly displays NEW for some messages and NOT for others plus once I've read the message sometimes it remains marked NEW, but other times NEW goes away. When I installed Thunderbird, I turned OFF the 'get mail every ___ ' & 'get mail when Thunderbird starts' options, BUT sometimes when Thunderbird starts new mail appears as soon as I open Thunderbird EVEN though the option is set to OFF! Why is 38.3 so UNPREDICTABLE? What am I doing WRONG? What can I do to obtain the stability and consistency I am used to? I am already considering checking out some other e-mail software. BTW Using Win 8.0 64 bit, haven't been able to get Win 8.1! grrr THANKS Mrs. RA

All Replies (8)

more options

Did you perhaps convert from POP to IMAP in the process?

more options

Matt,

THANK you! I looked/checked under server type it says: IMAP.

I do NOT know how to change/reset. Especially without losing folders, messages etc. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr

Looked for a way to do it, didn't see/couldn't find a way.

Be WELL 'n be SAFE!

Mrs. RA

more options

Do you ever use webmail via a browser to view emails or via a phone or another computer?

I was wondering if you used anything other than Thunderbid to view the emails, then they may be considered as no longer 'New'. Or perhaps have those emails been moved or filtered to a folder other than Inbox ?

more options

Toad-Hall,

THANKS for trying to HELP!

I 'think' so. If I 'remember' successfully / accurately I use Magic Mail and my Android cell phone.

Please EXPLAIN and let me what I need to do to SOLVE the problem(s).

Be WELL 'n be SAFE!

Mrs. RA

more options

re :I turned OFF the 'get mail every ___ ' & 'get mail when Thunderbird starts' options, BUT sometimes when Thunderbird starts new mail appears as soon as I open Thunderbird

for IMAP mail accounts: 'Tools' > Account Settings' > Server Settings' If you have these unchecked: 'check for new messages at startup' 'check for new messages every xx minutes'

but you are discovering the imap account is still showing new messages, then this is probably because of an Idle command.

The IDLE command is a extension to the IMAP protocol that lets the IMAP server notify Thunderbird when there is new mail by sending a command over the existing TCP-IP connection. If your IMAP server supports that you don't have to manually check for new mail or have Thunderbird poll for new mail every x minutes.

This would explain why you still get new messages.

Try this to see if it switchs it off: 'Tools' > Account Settings' > Server Settings' click on 'Advanced' button uncheck 'Use IDLE command if the server supports it'. click on OK click on OK

more options

re: If I 'remember' successfully / accurately I use Magic Mail and my Android cell phone.

IMAP mail accounts see a remote view of emails on the server. So, Thunderbird will show what the status is for emails on the server. If you use eg: Andriod cell phone to access the same server emails and choose to read a New message, then the status of the message on the server will change. When Thunderbird synchronises with the server, it will update Thunderbird to show exactly what is on the server. So, those messages read via Andriod cell phone will appear as a read message. 'New' means new unread on server, not necessarilly newly downloaded to Thunderbird. You have to think of your mail account folders viewed via Thunderbird, Magic Mail and Android cell phone, as one and the same as the webmail server folders.

more options

Toad-Hall,

THANKS, but >SmileS< > click on 'Advanced' button uncheck 'Use IDLE command if the server supports it'. It is (was) already unchecked.

So, how do I revert to POP 3 without losing folders - messages, etc.?

I do not see / find any option to change.  ?Apparently? one must DELETE the IMAP account? and create a new ? POP 3?

APPRECIATE your time 'n effort to HELP!

Be WELL 'n be SAFE!

Mrs. RA

more options

The simple fact is you can not change" the account type. They are just to different in the way they operate. All you can do is add the accounts again as POP and remove the IMAP ones.

I would suggest however that you persevere with the IMAP. It is strange and somewhat weird having things synchronize across devices when you first start with it. and as you say "unpredictable" compared to POP mail.

If is however safer in the long run unless you close the mail account with the provider as your mail is on the server and is backed up from there by your provider. It is also nice to have replies you do on your computer reflect on your tablet or phone.

Once your used to the "new way" you might actually prefer it. as your new mail is not really new if you already read it. Sasves that whole "I already read that one"' thing.