Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Error sometimes when sending a message

  • 8 replies
  • 31 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Matt

more options

When I hit the 'send' button after composing a message, I often get an error:

Sending of message failed. Unable to open the temporary file C:\Users\[myname]\AppData\Local\Temp\nsmail.tmp. Check your 'Temporary Directory' setting.

Dismissing the error message and clicking on 'send' again is usually successful.

I've noticed this error seems to occur most commonly when I have spent considerable time writing a longer than normal message.

Version: Thunderbird 24.3 under Windows 7 64-bit.

When I hit the 'send' button after composing a message, I often get an error: Sending of message failed. Unable to open the temporary file C:\Users\[myname]\AppData\Local\Temp\nsmail.tmp. Check your 'Temporary Directory' setting. Dismissing the error message and clicking on 'send' again is usually successful. I've noticed this error seems to occur most commonly when I have spent considerable time writing a longer than normal message. Version: Thunderbird 24.3 under Windows 7 64-bit.

Modified by Gene1940

All Replies (8)

more options

What is your anti-virus s/w?

more options

MacAfee, but considering how prevalent that anti-virus is, I wouldn't think that's the problem or this place would be deluged with complaints.

more options
more options

Thanks anyway, but I don't have *any* of the problems mentioned on that page. The only problem I have is the intermittent one mentioned above and it's existed since I first installed Thunderbird several months ago, and I had no problem with Eudora for several years prior to that.

I refuse to disable half my MacAfee to run Thunderbird. I'll just live with an occasional error message that causes no harm.

Why is it that whenever someone complains about a problem like this, it seems to be fault of other software or the user isn't jumping through enough hoops, never a problem with Thunderbird code.

more options

I should add that the number anti-virus products which Thunderbird has a problem with does not indicate that the fault is elsewhere.

more options

There have been plenty of reports about this problem in other forums as well. Following the instructions in the article mentioned above will solve it. Here is an example.

https://getsatisfaction.com/mozilla_messaging/topics/sending_of_message_failed_unable_to_open_the_temporary_file_c_users_user_appdata_local_temp_nsmail_tmp_check_your?page=1

Following the instructions will not expose you to a greater risk as explained in the article.

It's up to you to follow the instructions. If you choose not to, you'll have to live with it, it's not gonna go away by itself.

more options

My point, which somehow seems to escape you, is that it's Thunderbird's responsibility to run on existing systems with other common software. If workarounds are required it is up to Thunderbird to implement them.

It is unbelievably arrogant for the Thunderbird programmers to think that when they make changes, the other software venders are responsible to change their code to accommodate Thunderbird.

I've spent 35 years in IT, and the arrogance of that kind of attitude is inexcusable. Thunderbird would last about an hour in a major business environment.

more options

My point to you Gene is you have a defective product from McAfee. It is not Thunderbirds' or any other products responsibility. The need for a fix resides solely with McAfee, they have acknowledged that their software is at fault, so it is not for you to lecture on who fixes what.

If you disable the attachment scanning thing in McAfee your problem will disappear.

While you at it, think about this. Where is the virus this scanner is looking for going to come from to infect the attachment? McAfee have certified you computer virus free, they have had access to every file that comes in and every data packet. For the life of me I do not know what it is these virus people are looking for. They do not just materialize fully formed in memory!