Messages are downloaded repeatedly, at random
This question has been asked several times, but none of the answers solves my problem.
I am having old messages downloaded a second time. This occurs several times per day, and has been going on for some months. Some notes:
- I am using Bell Canada's Sympatico service, which is re-branded Hotmail. - the duplicates are, by all appearances, actually downloaded a second time. The "new mail arrived" sound and popup appear, etc. - there is no obvious pattern to the duplicates. They are typically 3-7 days old. The messages that were originally downloaded may or may not have been read, may or may not have been deleted, may or may not have been moved to other folders. There is no apparent pattern in the senders, etc. - I do not delete messages on downloading. I have two other devices on which I download all my email (e.g. an iPad). No duplicates appear on those devices. - my version of Thunderbird is, I believe, up to date (38.6.0). OS is Windows 10 (updated, of course). My computer is essentially always on, and always downloading e-mail periodically.
All Replies (9)
IMAP I guess?
- Do you keep copy on that pc? (settings / copy & folders)
- Do you empty your trash?
- Do you compact your INBOX? (right-click inbox / compact)
- Have you repaired your INBOX? (right-click inbox / properties /repair folder)
- When you move them to other folders are they local or on Sympatico?
Thanks for your response.
Yes, IMAP.
I had not emptied the trash for a few days, but have several times since the duplication started. I have repaired the inbox, and compacted it (just did it again - it will take a while to know if it made any difference, but it hasn't in the past). Everything is on the PC - settings, folders, etc.
FWIW - Within about an hour of deleting trash, running "repair folder" and compacting my inbox, I received another old message, dated Feb. 14. The original download of this message still exists, in a subfolder.
An IMAP- account is like a window showing whats on the server-folders.
Your subfolder was it created in Local Folders or under the account?4 When you move mail to other folders are they in Local Folders.
Sorry - I was confused. It is POP3, not IMAP.
What is your settings at account settings /server settings
- Check for new messages at startup - Check for new messages every 10 minutes - Automatically download new messages - Leave messages on server
- for at most 14 days
Somehow you, and a lot of us, try to make POP3 work like IMAP You keep messages on server, so you can access them from elsewhere or as a precaution. POP3 is meant to download and delete.
Its' Inbox that keep track of whats downloaded. It should do its job. But if you move mails somewhere else, are they marked as downloaded or deleted in inbox? They are still on server.
I suggest you either don't leave them on server or keep Until I delete them
This doesn't explain why I only seem to have the problem with Thunderbird.
However, I can live with it. Thanks for your help - I appreciate it.