Are those emails still on server - logon to webmail account and check that you can see and read those 'Sent' emails. Confirm - Are emails on server?

In Thunderbird, check account settings:

'Tools > ' Account Settings' > 'Copies & Folders' for the imap mail account or Right click on mail account name in Folder Pane and select 'Settings' then select; Copies & Folders' for the imap mail account

• select : Place a copy in'
• Select 'Other' and 'Sent folder on the imap mail account'
• click on OK

Confirm - your settings are as described above.

The emails are still on the server and the settings are the same as described above.

As emails are good on the server, try unsubscribing to see Sent, then delete the sent files from profile folder and reselecting to subscribe. Do it by this process;

• Right click on imap mail account name and select 'Subscribe'.
• Select the 'Sent' folder and click on 'Unsubscribe'.
• click on OK

Make hidden files and folders visible:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Show_hidden_files_and_folders

In thunderbird

• Help > Troubleshooting Information
• Click on 'Show Folder'

A new window opens showing profile folder contents.

• Close Thunderbird now - this is important.

• Double Click on 'ImapMail' folder to open
• Double Click on imap mail account name folder to open

you should see a load of files that have the same names as your folders.

• Look for 'Sent' and 'Sent.msf' - delete both files.

if you can only see 'Sent.msf', then it means you do not save locally - do not worry, just delete the 'Sent.msf' file.

• close window - top right X

Start Thunderbird.

• Right click on imap mail account name and select 'Subscribe'.
• Select the 'Sent' folder and click on 'Subscribe'.
• click on OK

If 'Sent' folder does not appear: Restart Thunderbird.

Did this work? Did Sent folder repopulate and can you select an email to read?

Followed those instructions. Sent emails repopulated but still unable to read message. if I send an email out I can go back and pull it up but after a days or two I am unable to access it. Don't know if that might help. I've tried disabling anti-virus also.

Rather than 'disabling' anti-virus, I would suggest you make Thunderbird profile folders exempt from scanning. Also, disable incoming email scans.

Did you locate both sent and sent.msf ? Do you synchronise those subscribed folders to get a copy into Thunderbird for offline use? What happens if you use: File > Offline > download/synch now

Yeah, I just temporarily disabled it to see if that might have been the problem. I found both sent and sent.msf in the process earlier. Went to File>Offline>download sync now. I went to select and sent is set for offline use.

Any other ideas or suggestions?

Do you need to store sent emails on the server ?

You could try storing them in 'Local Folders', but they would only be accessible on the computer.

I would try this to see if the problem stops.

'Tools > ' Account Settings' > 'Copies & Folders' for the imap mail account or Right click on mail account name in Folder Pane and select 'Settings' then select; Copies & Folders' for the imap mail account

• select : Place a copy in'
• Select 'Other' and 'Sent folder on Local Folders mail account'
• click on OK

It was already set up that way. Also noticed that I have been getting time out errors and gives me the box where you put a new password in or hit retry. Think maybe a reinstall would help at this point?

re :It was already set up that way.

Now I'm confused. In a previous comment you said the settings were set to Select 'Other' and 'Sent folder on the imap mail account' The emails are still on the server and the settings are the same as described above.

now you say the settings were: Select 'Other' and 'Sent folder on Local Folders mail account' It was already set up that way.

So are the Sent emails stored on the server in the imap Sent folder or are they stored in Sent folder in Local Folders mail account?

I'm sorry I was confused myself because the wording sounded so similar imap and local didn't register in my mind. It is set with imap. I'll try the local folders. Sorry for the mix up and thanks for your help on this.