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Email attachment takes forever

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by christ1

JohnsonDW
JohnsonDW
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Trying to attach a file to my email has started taking forever. Sending and receiving works fine. As soon as I hit the attach button, the blue circle spins for a long time. Some times will time out completely. Occasionally, after several minutes, the directory window will pop up but none of the files are accessible until I hit cancel. Then they can be accessed.

I'm running Windows 10 with the latest version of Thunderbird.

I have used Thunderbird for years with no problem until now. I hope someone can help.

Trying to attach a file to my email has started taking forever. Sending and receiving works fine. As soon as I hit the attach button, the blue circle spins for a long time. Some times will time out completely. Occasionally, after several minutes, the directory window will pop up but none of the files are accessible until I hit cancel. Then they can be accessed. I'm running Windows 10 with the latest version of Thunderbird. I have used Thunderbird for years with no problem until now. I hope someone can help.

All Replies (5)

christ1
christ1
  • Top 25 Contributor
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What is your anti-virus software?

JohnsonDW
JohnsonDW Question owner
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McAfee

christ1
christ1
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McAfee has been known to cause problems with Thunderbird for a long time. https://wiki.mozilla.org/Thunderbird:Testing:Antivirus_Related_Performance_Issues#McAfee

These are some generic suggestions to avoid problems with anti-virus software.

Create an exception in your anti-virus software for the Thunderbird profile folder, so that the anti-virus real-time scanner will not scan it. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-thunderbird-stores-user-data#w_how-to-find-your-profile

Don't let your anti-virus software scan incoming and outgoing messages.

Don't let your anti-virus software scan attachments.

Don't let your anti-virus software intercept your secure connection to the server.

Remove any add-ons your anti-virus software may have installed in Thunderbird.

Keep it working. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Keep_it_working_-_Thunderbird

And last but not least, backup your Thunderbird profile on a regular basis. https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profiles-where-thunderbird-stores-user-data#w_backing-up-a-profile

JohnsonDW
JohnsonDW Question owner
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Thanks for the assistance. I don't want to lose all of the scanning benefits for my email.

I am seeing the greatest problem of attachment when trying to attach a file that isn't on my computer but a file in a shared folder on another computer. This is a rather recent occurrence with in the last couple of Thunderbird updates. It used to work without issue. Does that shed any light on my problem?

christ1
christ1
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I don't want to lose all of the scanning benefits for my email.

You don't. When the Real Time Scan is turned on [which it is by default] it will scan all the files and attachments and will alert you if there is any infection.

Does that shed any light on my problem?

No, anti-virus software is still the most likely culprit.

Try to start Windows 10 in safe mode with networking enabled. Does the problem go away?