thunderbird freezes up when writing an email

[jimstep]

Thunderbird freezes up often when writing an email. Window searchs for solution, but cannot fix it. Have to close program and wait. Can this be fixed?

[DanRaisch]

Does the same thing occur if you launch the application in Mozilla Safe Mode? http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_mode

[jimstep]

I don't know about "safe mode"

[DanRaisch]

See the link I posted in my previous reply for information on testing in that environment.

[tanstaafl]

http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic ... #p14609987

This is a known problem that Mozilla QA describes as a performance regression bug (which I think is disingenuous) - https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=929281 . I ran into it regularly for over a month (starting with version 45.1), it almost made using Thunderbird unusable. Now it just occurs now and then. If you don't click on the program again and wait several minutes it will recover.

[DanRaisch]

I ran into it regularly for over a month (starting with version 45.1),

Hmm. I've never see that happen under Win Vista or Win 10.

[tanstaafl]

My impression is that its not a common problem.

[jimstep]

I am trying safe mode to seee if it reduces freeze ups- I sure hope so.

[jimstep]

In safe mode it still froze up. What is next best email program to use when having gmail accounts?

[tanstaafl]

Depends upon your criteria (whats important to you). The free version of the em client is a good email client with built-in support for Gmail specific features. That includes OAuth2 and synchronizing your contacts and calendar with Google services. I use that email client with Gmail and Outlook.com to help troubleshoot whether Thunderbird or the mail server is to blame when I run into certain problems. It works well. However, you'd have to give up having add-ons (all they let you do is create themes with different colors, you can't even change the font/font size) and it supports almost no customization. The free version is limited to two accounts.

Don't overlook the possibility of using an older version of Thunderbird for a while while waiting to see if this bug gets fixed. It is supposedly a regression bug, and later versions made a big difference to me. See http://kb.mozillazine.org/Go_back_to_an ... hunderbird . Another possibility would be to try a "earlybird" build from https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/channel/ . In both cases you could install that version of Thunderbird in a different directory, and use the same profile. If you use an older version, disable automatic updating in tools -> options -> advanced -> update.

[jimstep]

Could not download an older Thunderbird version. But download Beta new program and set it so it would not update without my permission. I'll see how that works without freezing up. Thanks - Jim Step

[kronckew]

I ran into it regularly for over a month (starting with version 45.1),

Hmm. I've never see that happen under Win Vista or Win 10.

it's happening to me in win10 14935.1000 fast track insider build, waiting on it's (hopefull) recovery in a few minutes. has been for a while...current x64 'daily'.

[wsmwk]

Lately, the most common cause is McAfee.

A comprehensive test to determine if cause is in Thunderbird ... start *Windows'* safe mode with networking enabled
- win10 http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... windows-10
- win8 http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... -safe-mode
- win7 http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... =windows-7
Still In Windows safe mode, start thunderbird in safe mode
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/safe-mode-thunderbird

If problem goes away then 99% certain it's not caused by Thunderbird

[sagan.gangadharan]

I have faced a similar problem of Thunderbird freezing every time I am changing the folder or moving from one email account to another.
Since the problem was with negotiation between mail folders it was suspected to be something with the mail index of thunderbird.
Deleted all the msf file and restarted Thunderbird, The problem got resolved.

[jimstep]

I downloaded a new Beta version, and so far it has NOT crashed.
Thanks for suggestion
Jim Step