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Cannot open thunderbird after updating.

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 27 views
  • Last reply by Matt

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Downloaded and installed the latest update last night. During the update, my norton antivirus put up a flag saying there was a potential problem it was checking for. After a minute or so, norton said it was okay, proceed. Now when I click on the desktop icon for TB I get an error whistle but no pop up or message to say what is wrong. It simply won't open.

I did reboot, with no effect. I tried to open from C:program files/mozilla thunderbird, but clicking TB.exe gets me the same whistle, and clicking updater.exe gets no response at all.

I'm using Windows XP service pack 3 -- yeah, I'm a dinosaur. But I have over 2000 saved messages I can't lose!

Downloaded and installed the latest update last night. During the update, my norton antivirus put up a flag saying there was a potential problem it was checking for. After a minute or so, norton said it was okay, proceed. Now when I click on the desktop icon for TB I get an error whistle but no pop up or message to say what is wrong. It simply won't open. I did reboot, with no effect. I tried to open from C:program files/mozilla thunderbird, but clicking TB.exe gets me the same whistle, and clicking updater.exe gets no response at all. I'm using Windows XP service pack 3 -- yeah, I'm a dinosaur. But I have over 2000 saved messages I can't lose!

Chosen solution

get Thunderbird here getthunderbird.com this sounds like an occasion when a re install is worthwhile.

Mail and settings are not affected by reinstalling.

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All Replies (5)

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As you have just updated Thunderbird, it is possible that your anti-virus product is blocking Thunderbird. Close Thunderbird and check the AV/firewall product settings.

I also use Norton and on occasions (rarely), I have had to access anti-virus/firewall product and reset to 'Allow' Thunderbird. For some unknown reason it did not seem to realise that Thunderbird update is still Thunderbird. Once, I had to set to block and then reset to 'Allow. to get it to work. Then restart Thunderbird.

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Thanks, T-H, I tried what you suggested, even switching to block then allow on both TB and updater. I checked trusted on both as well. Still can't open either one. If I re-download the TB software, is it going to change all my custom settings and addons and lose my 2000 saved messages?

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Chosen Solution

get Thunderbird here getthunderbird.com this sounds like an occasion when a re install is worthwhile.

Mail and settings are not affected by reinstalling.

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Thanks Matt - That did it, and it was pretty painless - nothing lost.

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Hmm, so a reinstall wakes Norton up. That is worth noting. Now if I knew why it needed waking up perhaps we could move forward to locating a permanent solution.