message filters are actually stored in a text file called msgFilterRules.dat there is one file for each account.

if you go to the help menu and select troubleshooting information then press the show profile button windows explorer will open in your Thunderbird profile folder.

Close Thunderbird. open the mail folder. (if you accou8nt is POP) or the IMAPmail folder if your account is IMAP. open the folder with your accounts server name (or local folders if you use the global inbox) open the msgFilterRules.dat in notepad and make sure it looks like a text file, no corruption or the like. Rename the file and restart Thunderbird. Can you create a filter now? If yes your filters file was corrupt. If no we need to look further.

still need help repairing message filters, tried doing what you said to try and it didn't work, adding new filters still freezes as soon as I click the button.

What happens if you start windows AND thunderbird in safe mode

How do I run in safe mode? and will I have to always run in safe mode?

It's just a test

Start *Windows'* safe mode with networking enabled - win8 http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/windows-startup-settings-safe-mode - win7 http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/start-computer-safe-mode#start-computer-safe-mode=windows-7 - XP http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx

Still In Windows safe mode, start thunderbird in safe mode - http://support.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/kb/safe-mode

Does problem go away?

when i entered safe mode and ran thunderbird I was able to click new message filter and it didn't freeze. what do I do now?

What addons/extensions do you have installed?

color folders lightning calendars TT Deep dark package

Ah, I recently became a fan of Deep Dark. I doubt that's the problem.

Next step, start *Windows'* safe mode with networking enabled and start thunderbird normally (not in safe mode). If still slow, then problem is an add - like color folders. If not slow, then because we know the problem does not occur in Windows safe mode then the problem is some software that is started at Windows boot time - like antivirus software.

Let us know your findings

I can run safe mode for windows, and not run it for thunderbird at the same time? should i just disable all the settings I've added and see if the problem is still there?

We are talking about two independent kinds of safe mode - Windows has a safe mode, and thunderbird has one - so there are 4 possible combinations. I'm asking you to start Windows in safe mode, and with Windows in safe mode then start Thunderbird as you normally do.

Oh, I believe thats what I did last time. I started windows in safe mode and opened thunderbird like I normally do.

> when i entered safe mode and ran thunderbird I was able to click new message filter and it didn't freeze. what do I do now?

Assuming you mean WINDOWS safe mode, then your problem is caused by software other than Thunderbird. Most likely antivirus software. see https://wiki.mozilla.org/Thunderbird:Testing:Antivirus_Related_Performance_Issues

yes windows safe mode, I have AVG on my computer, is there anything i can do to restore this feature in thunderbird? let me know thanks

should I just create my filters in safe mode??

You'll want to find in AVG how to exclude the thunderbird profile described at https://wiki.mozilla.org/Thunderbird:Testing:Antivirus_Related_Performance_Issues#Problem_Antivirus_and_Anti-Malware_Packages

I read that and applied the settings in the link you provided. Still didn't change anything with my message filters....any more solutions to this problem?? I appreciate the help but this is the 2nd week of this problem and I'm literally not getting anywhere and I need message filters for my job.

You'll need to use process of elimination. If totally disabling avg does not help (as a test) the you need to find what is loading during windows boot that is causing problems

You'll need to use process of elimination. If totally disabling avg does not help (as a test) the you need to find what is loading during windows boot that is causing problems