It may not be Lightening. But if it is, the option to disable it does exist. However, I wouldn't jump the gun just yet. Could you provide some more information? 1. What message do you get when you try to send? 2. Have you attempted to send an email in safe-mode?

You reply was helpful and encouraging. I can't figure out what to do and appreciate any help you might offer.

I can receive email messages. When I try to send replies or new messages Thunderbird says, "Login to mail server failed. Enter new password." When I enter my password, it isn't recognized. My password still works when I log into my email from Outlook. Last night, before Thunderbird added this new feature, I could send out email messages.

I'm afraid to just disable Lightening because there is a warning that this might make using Thunderbird more difficult in the future.

Well let's rule out the most common things first. Can you double check your smtp server settings? Click on ACCOUNT SETTINGS, and in the left folder window at the very bottom you will see your Outgoing Server (SMTP). Open it up and make certain they are correct (everything including ports_. If you are not sure, get them from your mail service provider. They usually have a page listing all the settings somewhere on their website - or simply call them. Something may have reset, or TB may simply be reading the info incorrectly.

Again thank you for paying attention to my problem. I found the list of "settings" I used to set up Thunderbird to get my email messages. The Outgoing server (SMTP) seems to be the same as the information I entered when it started to work for me. I compared ports, authentication method, authentication method, connection security, etc. and they all seem to be the same as they were when I entered them. Perhaps that means they haven't "reset."

What can I do if Thunderbird is reading the info incorrectly? When I was told to change my email address and learn to use Outlook, I struggled to find someone who would help me connect it to Thunderbird. So when I found someone who identified all of the ports, etc. for me, I printed it all out and kept it. Of course I've shared it with other Thunderbird users, and until today, I had no problems.

Well, your settings don't come from Thunderbird, they come from your mail service provider. And they won't apply to others unless they are using the same provider (and even then not always). But if your previous settings worked, it is unlikely that anything has changed - possible, but unlikely. The fact is, sometimes mail server providers change their server settings. Sometimes it's to increase security, and sometimes it is an upgrade to their system. These changes aren't always communicated to the end user b/c web mail is upgraded automatically. And in the cases where customers use other email clients (like Thunderbird or Outlook), customers usually contact them and they are given the new settings at that point. That's why I wanted you to double check them. Being able to send but not receive (or vice versa) often points to an improper configuration of the servers. As for Thunderbird 'reading incorrectly' I will apologize in advance to the techs who may cringe at my wording. The fact is I've noticed that sometimes when I re-enter info - and I'd swear it is the exact same info - all of a sudden something that didn't work begins to work.

But if you diligently double checked your settings, let's try something else. I asked above if you attempted to send in "Safe Mode" and I do not receive a response. Can you try that please? You can initiate safe mode by going into the Menu's HELP - RESTART WITH ADDONS DISABLED. Or, if TB is not activated, press shift while you start it up. Either method is good. Try and tell me what message (if any) you receive.

Again thanks. Earlier today I tried looking for information on my campus web site about Outlook. It said there were no new changes.

I didn't follow up your "safe mode" suggestions because I didn't know how. Now, however, I have followed your directions, and tried it. I found the "safe mode" item on the "Help" menu. I opened what I assume is that version of Thunderbird, and got the same response that I described previously. It asked for my password. When I entered the password that gets me into Outlook, and allows me to send and received message from that interface (( hope that's the right word), it seems to work. But it won't work with Thunderbird.

I appreciate you patience with my problem.

So your asked for a password, you enter it and outlook opens to send the mail. Is that correct?

Yes, when I access the Outlook interface (if that's the right word). It's a version of Outlook that I access over the internet by logging in through FireFox. On the campus home page, I can choose web mail. Then I can "sign in to your [my] @csulb Exchange employee email account."

From this point, I can receive and send email messages. It's just not as convenient as Thunderbird. And I started using Thunderbird before I was changed to Outlook, so I have old messages that often turn out to still contain useful information.

Again, thank you for your patience and interest in this problem.

Forgive me, kbriegel, if this question seems repetitive. But I am concerned that perhaps I did not make certain directions clear enough for you to understand.

How certain are you that your SMTP settings are correct? To what did you compare them? If you are not certain how to do that exactly, please let us know.

When I first was signed up to use Outlook, I was told how to fill out the boxes on Thunderbird under "Tools" and "Account Settings." Under "Local Folders" I filled out the information about "outgoing server (SMTP)" and also "server settings." Once I'd one that, I printed screen shots and put them away. Today I found those screen shots and used them as a guide to verify that nothing had changed overnight. Last night, this all was working fine.

The message that Thunderbird gives me, as it refuses to send out my email messages, is that I should make sure the outgoing server settings are correct. Yesterday they apparently were. Today they apparently are not.

Again, thanks for your patience with this problem.

Please check the error console. Tools menu > error console.

Clear it and then try to receive mail. What error messages appear.

Thank you. I opened the "error console" under the "Tools" menu, and cleared it. I feel better, but still get the same message. Thunderbird asks me to enter my password. When I do, it tells me to make sure my outgoing server settings are correct.

Last night they were correct. Today they are not.

I started this conversation because, at the same time I began to not be able to send email messages, Thunderbird asked me to install a calendar. And it now adds a second icon at the bottom of the page on my computer. I think I remember that it used to only put one icon there to indicate that I had the Thunderbird program open. These things made me think that there might be something in Thunderbird that was keeping me from sending out email messages.

As I reported earlier, I can receive email messages through Thunderbird. And I can send and received messages through Outlook. And I can log into Outlook using the password that Thunderbird no longer accepts.

Thank you for your patience in thinking about this problem.

There is something of an issue here. The outlook OWA is a web page. so it is nothing like a connection to Thunderbird. So unfortunately it accepting your password only indicates you know your correct password. It has basically no other diagnostic value.

Having two icons on the bottom is not normal. Do you get to see something different if you click on each of those icons separately?

No. I do not see a different screen when I click on the second icon. They each give me access to the same page.

Clearly I don't really know how to think about finding a solution to this problem. I appreciate your patience in trying to help me.

if you do not have the menu turned on, right click the toolbar and select Menu bar from the menu that appears. Now from the File menu, chose close.(This must be done from that menu entry) Does one or both icons disappear. If one repeat. When you reopen Thunderbird do you get one or two?

Please try the following:

• Restart Thunderbird with add-ons disabled (Thunderbird Safe Mode). On the Help menu, click on "Restart with Add-ons Disabled". If Thunderbird works like normal, there is an Add-on or Theme interfering with normal operations. You will need to re-enable add-ons one at a time until you locate the offender.
• Restart the operating system in safe mode with Networking. This loads only the very basics needed to start your computer while enabling an Internet connection. Click on your operating system for instructions on how to start in safe mode: Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, OSX

If safe mode for the operating system fixes the issue, there's other software in your computer that's causing problems. Possibilities include but not limited to: AV scanning, virus/malware, background downloads such as program updates.

if that did not work. Please add the troubleshooting information to your post To find the Troubleshooting information:

• Open Help (or click on three-line-icon and select Help)
• Choose Troubleshooting Information
• Use the button Copy to clipboard to select all. Do not check box "Include account names"!
• Paste this in your post.

Dear Matt,

Thank your for your help and patience. I right clicked on the Tool Bar and was surprised to find choices. Both Tool Bar and Menu Bar were checked. I then chose Close on the Tool Bar, and Thunderbird closed. After it closed, there was a Thunderbird icon on the Tool Bar (at the bottom of my Windows opening screen) and in a list along the left side of the Windows opening screen. I assumed that I could click on either one to start Thunderbird. When I open Thunderbird, an additional icon appears along the bottom of the screen on what I think is a Tool Bar.

Once Thunderbird was open (and it delivered new message to me this morning), I chose Restart with Add-ons Disabled, and followed the directions to do that. After I'd done that I still couldn't send email messages. I think I tried this yesterday, and it led to the same result.

Your next suggestion, that i figure out how to restart my operating system in a safe mode seems really intimidating and scary to me. I have other things I need to get done this morning. I will try to figure out how to do this step later today.

In the meantime, I opened the Trouble Shooting choice on the Help menu, and looked at all of the information listed there. Clearly I don't know how to figure out what this means.

But, again, thanks for your help and patience. I will try to figure out how to open the operating system in safe mode with networking later today.

Dear Matt,

The problem with not being able to send out email messages from Thunderbird still persists. I again thank you for your interest. I apologize for not trying to figure out how to start the operating system of my computer in safe mode and doing the things you suggested today. I have been busy with other things, and using a sort of "work around" to send messages using Outlook after copying and pasting addresses from Thunderbird. It is neither efficient nor elegant, but seems to be working for now. I will try to find time to implement your suggestions soon.

Again, thanks for your help.

I have issues myself at work sending via an outlook.com account. The IT guys at work switched us over to Office 365 where we essentially use an Internet hosted server. The vast majority of my colleagues use the Outlook email client, and have no worries. My use of Thunderbird requires IMAP and SMTP to be enabled, and also the relevant firewall settings. I'm fortunate in being able to use the SMTP of a Google hosted alternative work account, so I haven't pursued this further.

I take it that your support people do anticipate and support the use of Thunderbird?

Note that as has long been the case with Microsoft's email offerings, their naming policy yet again creates confusion. We have had Hotmail, Live Mail, Windows Live Mail, Outlook (the email client) and outlook.com the email service. Outlook.com also masquerades as OWA and Office 365. All of these email services are to some extent interchangeable, yet present multiple opportunities for confusion and ambiguity.

@Zenos I do not think the confusion and ambiguity is an accident either Zenos. If they make it confusing enough people will just fork out the $150 for Outlook.

@kbriegel All I am asking you to do with that troubleshooting information is click the copy to clipboard button. Come to this message thread and press paste into a message reply. You do not have to understand any of it. I am pretty sure I do not understand all of it.

Dear Zenos,

When I retired (became an emerita), I was using Thunderbird, as some tech staff suggested. I ran, I think, on my own computer and was more user-friendly than another program everyone on our campus could access, I think I remember it was called Webmail.

After I retired, the campus switched to Outlook and even made me change my email address. I wanted to continue using Thunderbird. I had years of old and still interesting and useful email messages stored there. So I searched around for someone who would take the time to show me how to set it up. It was sort of a struggle, but once it was figured out, it has worked fine.

That is, it worked fine until Thunderbird added a calendar. At the same time, something changed, I could no longer send email through Thunderbird, although I was still receiving them. I don't know if the changes in Thunderbird led to my problem, or if something else changed and it just happened to be at the same time that Thunderbird added a calendar.

I agree that there are multiple opportunities for confusion and ambiguity.