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Latest version of TB creates multiple instances when run

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  • Last reply by JosefK

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Hi, A friend asked to have a look at her copy of TB running on Windows 10 as she was having difficulty accessing individual messages and was unable to create a new message. When I switched on her PC today and clicked TB it updated automatically to 78.8.0.7718 but when it started it seemed to be taking a long time to settle down and allow access to individual messages. I checked Windows Task Manager and saw there were 35 instances of TB. I confirmed this by right clicking the TB icon on the taskbar. I could cycle through individual instances of TB. Thinking it might be something to do with the update process I closed all instances and restarted the PC. I started TB and it loaded ok but was very slow in accessing individual messages. After 60-90 seconds (I didn't time it accurately) something started to create additional instances of TB. I checked the Task Manager and again it had created an additional 34 instances and was showing 35 TBs. I killed off the extra 34 instances individually and was then able to use the remaining instance normally. I didn't tale screen shots but I can. Does this sound like a TB or Windows problem? It's a 32-bit Windows running on a 64-bit PC. TIA Joe

Hi, A friend asked to have a look at her copy of TB running on Windows 10 as she was having difficulty accessing individual messages and was unable to create a new message. When I switched on her PC today and clicked TB it updated automatically to 78.8.0.7718 but when it started it seemed to be taking a long time to settle down and allow access to individual messages. I checked Windows Task Manager and saw there were 35 instances of TB. I confirmed this by right clicking the TB icon on the taskbar. I could cycle through individual instances of TB. Thinking it might be something to do with the update process I closed all instances and restarted the PC. I started TB and it loaded ok but was very slow in accessing individual messages. After 60-90 seconds (I didn't time it accurately) something started to create additional instances of TB. I checked the Task Manager and again it had created an additional 34 instances and was showing 35 TBs. I killed off the extra 34 instances individually and was then able to use the remaining instance normally. I didn't tale screen shots but I can. Does this sound like a TB or Windows problem? It's a 32-bit Windows running on a 64-bit PC. TIA Joe

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This is odd. Try to start Thunderbird in safe mode. https://support.mozilla.org/kb/safe-mode-thunderbird

Is there any difference?

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Thanks for your suggestion and sorry for the delay in getting back to you. As I said the problem is on a friend's PC to which I only have occasional access. However ... I loaded TB in safe mode ( starting it with the shift key pressed did not work) using the menu options. She did not have any add-ons or extensions to start with. There was no repeat of the multiple instances problem and I left TB in working order. A few days later my friend called and said she could not send any emails. When I checked TB instead of multiple instances there were multiple tabs open with the same message. I couldn't count just how many but the List all tabs result overflowed the screen. I could not ascertain the exact steps she had gone through to get to this point. I closed TB, restarted it in safe mode and left it in working order. I checked yesterday and today and TB was working as it should do. Therefore, I will close this query and assume there is an intermittent problem I can resolve by restarting TB. Thanks for your help Joe