My operating system is Windows Pro 10 64-bit operating system and until earlier this year Thunderbird had always launched the x86, 32-bit version. I have always allowed any updates to be installed when prompted.
However, I choose to install product version 102.0 file version 102.0.0.0 when it became available in about June 2022.
Question 1. Why do the updates NOT download when available? I have to download the newer update and manually re-install it.
Question 2. What should I do with the x86, 32-bit version? Thunderbird is not offering updates after I installed product 102.0. Should I delete the 32-bit version, or leave it as is, just in case it could be required sometime in the future?
Thanks.
Thunderbird v102 fails to auto update
- tanstaafl
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Re: Thunderbird v102 fails to auto update
What is tools -> settings -> general -> Thunderbird updates -> "allow Thunderbird to" set to?
I've automatically updated so far to 102.1.1.
Try using help -> about Thunderbird. In the past that updated Thunderbird if a update was available regardless of your update settings.
You could download the latest setup program from thunderbird.net and install 102.1.1 over the existing 32-bit installation. AFAIK there is no benefit to having the 32-bit version nowadays if you have a x64 version of Windows. There were some bugs that were triggered by whether Thunderbird was installed in Program Files or Program Files (x86) but AFAIK they've been fixed for a good while. By installing in the current installation directory you avoid problems using your existing profile due to the "dedicated profile per installation" feature they added in version 78.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/de ... stallation
The only reason I know of for 102 not to at least ask you if you want to update is if you disabled checking for updates using either the windows registry, a policies.json file, or deleted the updater.exe utility in the installation directory. It doesn't sound like you did any of those.
I've automatically updated so far to 102.1.1.
Try using help -> about Thunderbird. In the past that updated Thunderbird if a update was available regardless of your update settings.
You could download the latest setup program from thunderbird.net and install 102.1.1 over the existing 32-bit installation. AFAIK there is no benefit to having the 32-bit version nowadays if you have a x64 version of Windows. There were some bugs that were triggered by whether Thunderbird was installed in Program Files or Program Files (x86) but AFAIK they've been fixed for a good while. By installing in the current installation directory you avoid problems using your existing profile due to the "dedicated profile per installation" feature they added in version 78.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/de ... stallation
The only reason I know of for 102 not to at least ask you if you want to update is if you disabled checking for updates using either the windows registry, a policies.json file, or deleted the updater.exe utility in the installation directory. It doesn't sound like you did any of those.
- tanstaafl
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Re: Thunderbird v102 fails to auto update
Moved from Thunderbird General to Thunderbird Support.
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Re: Thunderbird v102 fails to auto update
Here is how to check for active policies like DisableAppUpdate or ManualAppUpdateOnly in the about:policies page.
Menu Bar > Help > More Troubleshooting Information
Click "Active" or "Inactive" or "Error" link next to "Enterprise Policies" to open the about:policies page.
Menu Bar > Help > More Troubleshooting Information
Click "Active" or "Inactive" or "Error" link next to "Enterprise Policies" to open the about:policies page.
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- Posts: 130
- Joined: March 11th, 2003, 1:07 pm
Re: Thunderbird v102 fails to auto update
102.1.2
Tried clicking "Inactive" (in my case) next to "Enterprise Policies" as suggested. Nothing happens.
Tried clicking "Inactive" (in my case) next to "Enterprise Policies" as suggested. Nothing happens.
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- Posts: 6432
- Joined: February 3rd, 2009, 6:29 pm
Re: Thunderbird v102 fails to auto update
Okay. The link is enabled for "Active", but not for "Inactive".
Use the Error Console utility to open the about:policies page.
Menu Bar > Tools > Developer Tools > Error Console (ctrl+shift+j)
More info: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic ... &t=3075977
Use the Error Console utility to open the about:policies page.
Menu Bar > Tools > Developer Tools > Error Console (ctrl+shift+j)
Code: Select all
openContentTab("about:policies", "tab");
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Re: Thunderbird v102 fails to auto update
I don't know what I am supposed to do once I have done Menu Bar > Tools > Developer Tools > Error Console (ctrl+shift+j). What do I do with the quoted code? Thanks.
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- Joined: February 3rd, 2009, 6:29 pm
Re: Thunderbird v102 fails to auto update
Instructions:
* open error console
* paste code into error console
* press enter
You can also add numbers. Type 1+2, then press enter to show 3.
* open error console
* paste code into error console
* press enter
You can also add numbers. Type 1+2, then press enter to show 3.
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- Posts: 130
- Joined: March 11th, 2003, 1:07 pm
Re: Thunderbird v102 fails to auto update
Okay done that. I get a load of output. I am not a developer. I don't know what this means or what I'm supposed to do with it. I can't see anything mentioning DisableAppUpdate or ManualAppUpdateOnly.
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Re: Thunderbird v102 fails to auto update
If the policies are inactive, then there are no active policies that could cause the failure to auto update.
P.S.
I can see a list of policies in the documentation vertical tab.
Screenshot
http://imgur.com/a/pFYFqZa
P.S.
I can see a list of policies in the documentation vertical tab.
Screenshot
http://imgur.com/a/pFYFqZa
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- Posts: 6432
- Joined: February 3rd, 2009, 6:29 pm
Re: Thunderbird v102 fails to auto update
You can also set the app.update.channel preference to a nonexistent channel in one of the following files.tanstaafl wrote:The only reason I know of for 102 not to at least ask you if you want to update is if you disabled checking for updates using either the windows registry, a policies.json file, or deleted the updater.exe utility in the installation directory.
* <profile folder>\prefs.js
* <profile folder>\user.js
* <installation folder>\defaults\pref\channel-prefs.js
More info: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic ... #p14936864
LIMPET235 says the app.update.channel method still works in Firefox 99.
Personally, I don't recommend unofficial methods to turn off auto update since users often forgot how to undo the unofficial methods. The official method has a "Updates disabled by the system administrator" message in the Thunderbird Updates settings and About Thunderbird window. The unofficial methods don't change the UI.
Help articles written by Mozilla:
Best practices for installing and updating Firefox
http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/bes ... ng-firefox
Managing Firefox Updates
http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/man ... ox-updates