thunderbird help

LibraryLady · 16th August 2008, 05:28 PM

Maybe someone could advise me?

I have Mozilla Thunderbird email and the trash bin refuses to empty. If I click on empty the whole folder disappears and I can delete any mail until a close and open it. Then the whole folder reappears with everything I tried to get rid of. There are close to 5000 items in there now and I'd like to clear them.

Any ideas?

Gagglegnash · 16th August 2008, 09:36 PM

Hi

It's up to v2.0.0.14.

Which version are you using?

shadron · 17th August 2008, 01:28 AM

Do you empty it manually or do you use the empty-on-close option? Have you run a compaction lately?

LibraryLady · 17th August 2008, 03:27 AM

Originally Posted by Gagglegnash

Hi

It's up to v2.0.0.14.

Which version are you using?

2.0.0.16.

Originally Posted by shadron

Do you empty it manually or do you use the empty-on-close option? Have you run a compaction lately?

I empty it manually. I have not run a compaction. Should I?

leonAzul · 17th August 2008, 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by LibraryLady

Maybe someone could advise me?

I have Mozilla Thunderbird email and the trash bin refuses to empty. If I click on empty the whole folder disappears and I can delete any mail until a close and open it. Then the whole folder reappears with everything I tried to get rid of. There are close to 5000 items in there now and I'd like to clear them.

Any ideas?

Please check account settings to be sure the messages are being deleted from the server when you download them, otherwise they may merely be moved to a "trash" folder on the server and reappearing the next time you connect.

LibraryLady · 17th August 2008, 08:35 AM

"Automatically download new messages" is checked and always has been. Is that what you mean?

While I was at it, I checked "Automatically delete trash when exiting" while I was at it. I'm going to exit now and see what happens.

ETA: Yup, that seems to have fixed the problem. Thanks!

shadron · 17th August 2008, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by LibraryLady

2.0.0.16.

I empty it manually. I have not run a compaction. Should I?

That is what they recommend on their forum for almost all ills of the program. I've learned, by hard experience (two instances of lost email) that one should have automatic compaction turned on, and should always empty out the Inbox, placing the mail you want to keep in other folders as soon as it has been read - that also makes compaction fast. The Inbox and the Trash are the two containers that are always expanding, and with compaction, contracting, so they experience the most "violence". I also have automatic delete trash on close turned on. You might try that just to get rid of the junk in there that is causing problems, and then turn it back off.

If things are staring to get hinky, it's time to backup the mail file just in case.

LibraryLady · 17th August 2008, 08:39 AM

I take back the "it worked thing." I deleted one new message and all 5000 old trash messages reappeared.

Going to look for the compaction thing now.

RichardR · 17th August 2008, 01:34 PM

Do you right click on the trash folder and select "empty trash"?

Mongrel · 17th August 2008, 02:05 PM

If nothing else works here's a kludge (for Win XP)

C drive
Documents and Settings
<User Name>
Local Settings
Application Data (You may have to go to Tools > Folder Options > View and put the dot in "Show hidden Files and Folders" first)
Thunderbird
Profiles (there should only be one here)
Mail
Local Folders
Now delete any files with 'Trash' in the name

Next time you start Thunderbird the files will be recreated. If you're a little unsure of a straight up delete then just move the files to your desktop and check Tb does recreate the files before irrecoverably deleting them

bruto · 19th August 2008, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by LibraryLady

"Automatically download new messages" is checked and always has been. Is that what you mean?

While I was at it, I checked "Automatically delete trash when exiting" while I was at it. I'm going to exit now and see what happens.

ETA: Yup, that seems to have fixed the problem. Thanks!

The setting Leon was looking for is the one that I think is just above that, for "leave messages on server." If you uncheck that one, then as soon as you've downloaded a message, it will be erased from your mail server. No real need to leave messages on the server unless you want to get them on another computer later.

LibraryLady · 19th August 2008, 05:05 PM

That wasn't checked in the first place. However, the problem is solved, so I'm a happy camper.

Thanks to all who helped!

16th August 2008, 05:28 PM	#1
LibraryLady ...but not JUST a LibraryLady Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Building a house in the common ground Posts: 13,076	thunderbird help Maybe someone could advise me? I have Mozilla Thunderbird email and the trash bin refuses to empty. If I click on empty the whole folder disappears and I can delete any mail until a close and open it. Then the whole folder reappears with everything I tried to get rid of. There are close to 5000 items in there now and I'd like to clear them. Any ideas?
	__________________ What would Hüsker Dü? I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard’s and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight, seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That’s what Loving, and loving, are all about. Mildred Loving

16th August 2008, 09:36 PM	#2
Gagglegnash Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,447	Hi It's up to v2.0.0.14. Which version are you using?
	__________________ But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg. -----Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782 Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear. -----Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787

17th August 2008, 03:27 AM	#4
LibraryLady ...but not JUST a LibraryLady Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Building a house in the common ground Posts: 13,076	Originally Posted by Gagglegnash Hi It's up to v2.0.0.14. Which version are you using? 2.0.0.16. Originally Posted by shadron Do you empty it manually or do you use the empty-on-close option? Have you run a compaction lately? I empty it manually. I have not run a compaction. Should I?
	__________________ What would Hüsker Dü? I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard’s and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight, seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That’s what Loving, and loving, are all about. Mildred Loving

17th August 2008, 07:50 AM	#5
leonAzul Illuminator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Nowhere Land Posts: 3,734	Originally Posted by LibraryLady Maybe someone could advise me? I have Mozilla Thunderbird email and the trash bin refuses to empty. If I click on empty the whole folder disappears and I can delete any mail until a close and open it. Then the whole folder reappears with everything I tried to get rid of. There are close to 5000 items in there now and I'd like to clear them. Any ideas? Please check account settings to be sure the messages are being deleted from the server when you download them, otherwise they may merely be moved to a "trash" folder on the server and reappearing the next time you connect.
	__________________ "Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits." - Satchel Paige

17th August 2008, 08:35 AM	#6
LibraryLady ...but not JUST a LibraryLady Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Building a house in the common ground Posts: 13,076	"Automatically download new messages" is checked and always has been. Is that what you mean? While I was at it, I checked "Automatically delete trash when exiting" while I was at it. I'm going to exit now and see what happens. ETA: Yup, that seems to have fixed the problem. Thanks!
	__________________ What would Hüsker Dü? I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard’s and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight, seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That’s what Loving, and loving, are all about. Mildred Loving Last edited by LibraryLady; 17th August 2008 at 08:37 AM.

17th August 2008, 01:28 AM	#3
shadron Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 5,719	Do you empty it manually or do you use the empty-on-close option? Have you run a compaction lately?

17th August 2008, 08:37 AM	#7
shadron Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 5,719	Originally Posted by LibraryLady 2.0.0.16. I empty it manually. I have not run a compaction. Should I? That is what they recommend on their forum for almost all ills of the program. I've learned, by hard experience (two instances of lost email) that one should have automatic compaction turned on, and should always empty out the Inbox, placing the mail you want to keep in other folders as soon as it has been read - that also makes compaction fast. The Inbox and the Trash are the two containers that are always expanding, and with compaction, contracting, so they experience the most "violence". I also have automatic delete trash on close turned on. You might try that just to get rid of the junk in there that is causing problems, and then turn it back off. If things are staring to get hinky, it's time to backup the mail file just in case.

17th August 2008, 08:39 AM	#8
LibraryLady ...but not JUST a LibraryLady Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Building a house in the common ground Posts: 13,076	I take back the "it worked thing." I deleted one new message and all 5000 old trash messages reappeared. Going to look for the compaction thing now.
	__________________ What would Hüsker Dü? I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard’s and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight, seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That’s what Loving, and loving, are all about. Mildred Loving

17th August 2008, 01:34 PM	#9
RichardR Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 2,281	Do you right click on the trash folder and select "empty trash"?
RichardR Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 2,281	__________________ Read: Skeptico - Critical thinking for an irrational world

17th August 2008, 02:05 PM	#10
Mongrel Begging for Scraps Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: 20 minutes in the future Posts: 1,640	If nothing else works here's a kludge (for Win XP) C drive Documents and Settings <User Name> Local Settings Application Data (You may have to go to Tools > Folder Options > View and put the dot in "Show hidden Files and Folders" first) Thunderbird Profiles (there should only be one here) Mail Local Folders Now delete any files with 'Trash' in the name Next time you start Thunderbird the files will be recreated. If you're a little unsure of a straight up delete then just move the files to your desktop and check Tb does recreate the files before irrecoverably deleting them
	__________________ “Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science.” - Charles Darwin ...like so many contemporary philosophers he especially enjoyed giving helpful advice to people who were happier than he was. - Tom Lehrer

19th August 2008, 04:36 PM	#11
bruto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: way way north of Diddy Wah Diddy Posts: 11,190	Originally Posted by LibraryLady "Automatically download new messages" is checked and always has been. Is that what you mean? While I was at it, I checked "Automatically delete trash when exiting" while I was at it. I'm going to exit now and see what happens. ETA: Yup, that seems to have fixed the problem. Thanks! The setting Leon was looking for is the one that I think is just above that, for "leave messages on server." If you uncheck that one, then as soon as you've downloaded a message, it will be erased from your mail server. No real need to leave messages on the server unless you want to get them on another computer later.
	__________________ "Sir, I have found you an argument; but I am not obliged to find you an understanding.(Samuel Johnson) The gods are less for their love of praise....(Wendell Berry)

19th August 2008, 05:05 PM	#12
LibraryLady ...but not JUST a LibraryLady Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Building a house in the common ground Posts: 13,076	That wasn't checked in the first place. However, the problem is solved, so I'm a happy camper. Thanks to all who helped!
	__________________ What would Hüsker Dü? I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard’s and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness, and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight, seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That’s what Loving, and loving, are all about. Mildred Loving