Author Topic: Thunderbird probs (Read 11168 times)

kimmer · « **on:** January 18, 2008, 08:27:14 PM »

Well, this is driving Sneakers and I nuts. It's been a once in a while prob over the past couple of years (started before we moved!), and now it's a daily problem. I have no idea how to solve this and I sure hope someone here does.

So, Sneakers keeps a LOT of mail. Lots and lots of it - as in Gigabytes worth!

It often all sits in his IN box (hey it's his mail and his machine and his way and I keep my mouth shut - most of the time).

The problem is:

There are several hundred pieces of email that keep "downloading" from somewhere. The same ol' emails. They go back to 2005! We've trashed them and emptied trash. We've compacted folders. I've verified at our hosting site that these aren't sitting there. Yet, they show up. At first, it was once in a while (as I said) ... now it occurs every time he launches Thunderbird.

He was running a really old version of TB (1.0.something) and I forced him to upgrade to version 2.0.0.9 (20071031). That didn't fix the prob.

Disk Utility shows no issues with his drive -- in fact, now that I think about it -- this drive is new since we moved, so it's not the hardware, it has to be software related.

I figure we could create a new profile and import stuff (we could do that, yes?), but I'm concerned that that would just bring whatever it is over with the import.

I'd trash a file if I knew what to trash.

If standing on my head would fix this, I'd try it.

Sneakers is running a G4, OS 10.4.11 (but this started back in 10.x days), and TB version 2.0.0.9 (20071031).

Anyhow, I said I'd ask for help ... so here I am.

Gregg · « **Reply #1 on:** January 18, 2008, 09:32:32 PM »

Have you contacted the Ford Motor Company directly?

krissel · « **Reply #2 on:** January 19, 2008, 01:22:56 AM »

Sounds like the database that keeps track of the emails is corrupted. I don't know about TB but I found a similar problem that people had with Mail.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=6323630

This was what helped some of them:

http://www.hawkwings.net/2006/02/08/rebuil...eed-up-mailapp/

There must be a similar file in TB.

QUOTE

Envelope Index is a SQLite database that keeps track of the senders, subjects and dates (but not the full text) of all your emails to allow for faster searching than Spotlight can achieve.

Scott Morrison, the developer of MailTags and Mail Act-on, has written some notes on how searching works in Mail.app in the comments on a macOSXHints article.

Deleting this file and allowing Apple Mail to rebuild it can fix a number of odd problems including the infamous “Your Home folder is full” message.

Also try removing MessageRules.plist and MessageSorting.plist from ~/Library/Thunderbird (guessing the path).

kimmer · « **Reply #3 on:** January 19, 2008, 03:10:25 AM »

Thanks, krissel.

I'll have a go at this tomorrow while Sneakers is gone and can't bug me.

Xairbusdriver · « **Reply #4 on:** January 19, 2008, 10:27:11 AM »

If you've verified that the messages have been deleted from the server, there is no way I can think of that they are actually downloading. As a test, log into the server via their web mail function and check the mail box daily for several days. Then, use TB as you normally do and see if there are any extra (old) messages.

I assume you have TB set to delete messages from the server after it downloads them. It might even help to check the server, again, after shutting down TB, just to make sure it did the deleting properly. This is all a shot in the dark but it beats moving files that may even be hard to find...

BTW, love the childhood picture of yourself!

kimmer · « **Reply #5 on:** January 19, 2008, 11:21:23 AM »

Yes, I've verified that the messages aren't left on the server; and yes, I've done this several days in a row, so I know they are not there.

Yes, TB is set to delete from server after download.

Sneakers is gone today and he said to wait because he wants to "watch" (translation: hover over my shoulder asking me goofy questions), so we won't try anything until tomorrow.

I'll let you know how things go: I'll be

if we aren't successful and

if we are.

Mayo · « **Reply #6 on:** January 19, 2008, 11:57:54 AM »

That is a weird problem and heck if I know the answer, but why should that prevent me from offering My Two Cents?!

I think that keeping that much mail in one mailbox or even in the active database is a very bad idea. My experience with other e-mail clients is that when the amount of data reaches a critical mass that all kinds of strange symptoms can occur... One reason I have stuck with Eudora all these years is that messages are stored as individual data files and not in a single large database where one can lose everything if the database becomes corrupted. It is also easy to archive messages outside the Eudora mailboxes and retrieve the data when it is needed.

I would find a way to archive all that mail separately from Thunderbird and start fresh and see if things start working better. You should consider Googling your problem because there is probably a Thunderbird forum out there where your problem is already addressed or you can post a query. It sure sounds like the mail that is being perpetually downloaded is sitting on a server somewhere!

Perhaps Little Snitch would be helpful in this situation... Little Snitch monitors outgoing data transfers and the first time you start-up Thunderbird after installing LS you should see a window asking for your approval to contact the mail server. The window will show the name of the server (it is also available under Window/Rules in the Finder Menu Bar but only after you have approved or denied the connection...) If Thunderbird is connecting to more than one server you will see one or more subsequent windows. Approve one connection and then see if the mail shows up. If another box appears repeat the process... If you OK a connection and then the mail suddenly appears then you will have confirmed that it is still residing on a mail server. (Your options are to never allow the connection, until quit or forever.) You can also configure Little Snitch to monitor local network activity in case Thunderbird is somehow retrieving the mail from an external drive, etc.

Little Snitch can be run in demo mode for up to three hours. It is very easy to set-up and use. Since LS monitors all outgoing traffic you could see additional windows depending on other programs that are running, so be sure that it is Thunderbird that is trying to connect.

(I don't understand folks who allow all of their mail to go to their "In" box... It is a very inefficient way to deal with e-mail. The only messages that make it to my In box are my daily Pobox.com SPAM discard notices. Everything else is automatically filtered to specific folders/mailboxes. This system makes it very easy to keep track of what is coming in and to prioritize responses, not to mention making archiving easier.)

kimmer · « **Reply #7 on:** January 19, 2008, 02:11:12 PM »

QUOTE(Mayo @ Jan 19 2008, 09:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That is a weird problem and heck if I know the answer, but why should that prevent me from offering My Two Cents?!

LOL! It shouldn't.

QUOTE

I think that keeping that much mail in one mailbox or even in the active database is a very bad idea.

I agree with you, but Sneakers doesn't agree with either one of us.

QUOTE

One reason I have stuck with Eudora all these years is that messages are stored as individual data files...

Same here, but ... Sneakers be different.

QUOTE

You should consider Googling your problem because there is probably a Thunderbird forum

I did google, but I must not have used the correct terms because I kept coming up empty. Hence I pestered all of you.

I'll take a look at Little Snitch. Sneakers does have an external drive that he uses to back up TB.

QUOTE

(I don't understand folks who allow all of their mail to go to their "In" box... It is a very inefficient way to deal with e-mail.

It's the artist in Sneakers. Or his left-handedness. Or just because he is a different thinker. *shrug* I long ago gave up trying to understand why he does his email this way. In all other areas he's an organized, sharp, intelligent guy; but I guess everyone has to have a flaw and this is his. *huge grins*

I'm happier not thinking about why he does this (unless he has probs and I have to help fix them because he seems to be clueless about setting up and fixing email - and that's maybe my fault for originally setting up our stuff and not insisting that he learn along with me). LOL! He's happier not having me nag at him to do it "this way". ROFL!

Thanks for the tip on Little Snitch.

Mayo · « **Reply #8 on:** January 19, 2008, 02:23:56 PM »

I have a large place in my heart for eccentrics of all stripes being one myself... Just keep in mind during your trouble-shooting that all that data in the in box may be the source of the problem.

Kim, I just did a bit of Googling... Here is a page describing duplicate messages being downloaded even though the messages are already in the in box and some possible fixes.

And here is the MozillaZine Thunderbird Issues links page. LOTS of info!

Xairbusdriver · « **Reply #9 on:** January 19, 2008, 03:01:26 PM »

Hope those links solve the email problem.

I've found that typing too many words into the search field can sometimes give you "Nothing found" warning. Guessing the key words is the problem and they don't need to be as "key" as you might think. It's just faster, some times to make several searches with no more than 3 different key words at a time. YMMV.

kimmer · « **Reply #10 on:** January 19, 2008, 03:24:39 PM »

Thanks, Mayo and xABD.

I likely was searching too specifically -- mainly because my more general search wasn't even close. Search Queen I'm not.

QUOTE

I have a large place in my heart for eccentrics of all stripes being one myself...

“Well, I can understand a man perhaps being eccentric enough to want to own a silk hat.” ~Will Rogers

QUOTE

Just keep in mind during your trouble-shooting that all that data in the in box may be the source of the problem.

I agree, and last night I had him move it all to a new folder. I wish he'd hurry home so I could dig in to fixing this.

Gregg · « **Reply #11 on:** January 19, 2008, 03:43:36 PM »

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Jan 19 2008, 03:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Oicking the key words is the problem and they don't need to be as "key" as you might think.

So that's it! I haven't oicked correctly. Thanks!

Mayo · « **Reply #12 on:** January 19, 2008, 04:22:48 PM »

I did two searches: the first keywords were "Thunderbird downloads same mail" which got me this page about the Thunderbird profiles folder. My second search was simply "Thunderbird." The second link in the results list was the general Thunderbird knowledge base at MozillaZine, where I quickly located the link about duplicate downloads.

My approach with Google is to simply state what I am looking for; I have found that the number of words do not necessarily hamper the search and may actually turn up more appropriate hits. Of course, using words like "the" or "and" can muddy the water just a bit... I also alter the terminology while trying to figure out what jargon folks tend to use in a specific situation.

"Power searchers" such as Yours Truly swear by a pricey little app called DEVONagent. At $50 a pop it isn't for everyone, but if you like to mine the far reaches of the Internet like I do and actually turn up useful information it is worth every penny. The real power of DEVONagent is the ability to fine-tune the search parameters and explore online search engines and databases that most people have never even heard of... DEVONagent is also Very Smart and sifts through the zillions of links to serve up only the most relevant hits.

kimmer · « **Reply #13 on:** January 19, 2008, 04:48:07 PM »

Well drats. Had a nice answer typed up and I closed the window.

My searches were along the lines of ... now I have to remember again ... deleted mail reappears and other things that I can't remember now -- and the pages have vanished from my browser history. :annoyed:

I added Thunderbird as my secondary search.

$50 for a search tool!

I've been married to a Scotsman for too long to spend that much.

But thanks for the heads up.

I'm off to finish this stupid book I'm reading. Then I'm gonna work on a scathing review.

Mayo · « **Reply #14 on:** January 19, 2008, 05:17:40 PM »

DEVON agent is for serious research. Looking under Tools/Search Sets/Plugins you will find many different databases that are difficult or impossible to locate if you don't know where to look online. They include medical, legal and government databases, to name but a few... There are more than 130 plugins. You can create customized "search sets" that look at specific databases, set-up automated searches that run on a schedule and e-mail the results to you and even create filtering rules so you get very specific results.

The main problem with search engines such as Google is the huge number of hits that are returned and the limited relevancy of most of the results. DEVONagent is a lot smarter than Google when it comes to compiling the results and the way results are presented are much more usable than Google too.

DEVONagent is available as a demo so you can try before you buy...

News:

Author Topic: Thunderbird probs (Read 11168 times)