Thunderbird passwords not saving

In the time of the Thunderbird version 60 release cycle.  Actually commencing with the Version 58 beta and Version 60 release.  Thunderbird implemented a migration of password storage and encryption to a new file name and system.  This migration continued into the Version 68 release cycle, but code to clean up the migration was not introduced until Version 68.5 and was removed in the version 72 beta,   so this process needs the profile to go through the Version 68.5 to get the migration to the new formats and the cleanup.

Those who have directly update since then from a version prior to V58 to a version after71 will simply not get the conversion run on their profile.  This means that in some cases the relevant file simply do not exist or that the appropriate cleanup has not occurred, leaving the password storage in an unstable and generally corrupted state.

Anecdotal evidence indicates that everything works as far as reading passwords that are already in the store, but attempt to save changes simply fail.  It is generally accepted that anyone updating from a version prior to 68 to a version after 68 without installing 68 will have issues. If you have a master password you must further enter it in V68 and allow it to get mail in V68 for the update code to run.

 To fix this after the fact open the profile folder as with thunderbird closed and delete the following files if they exist.

• cert8.db - obselete file
• key3.db - obselete file
• pkcs11.txt
• secmod.db - obselete file
• session.json
• xulstore.json

 

Bug reference https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1616495

 

Thunderbird keeps wanting to update and failing

 This is yet another side effect of some of the more popular antivirus products blocking legitimate actions to legitimate websites.  Congratulations to Avast and McAfee for both making a mess of Thunderbird updating with your odd ideas on security.

If you are seeing errors and actually want to keep the defective security software, the following is the generally accepted "fix" which I have blatantly plagiarised from the Thunderbird support forum

Make exceptions in your security software for the following Thunderbird sites using the instructions below: Add as exception: 'aus.thunderbird.net' and also 'www.thunderbird.net'

If using AVG: - under 'Add an advanced exception' https://support.avg.com/SupportArticleView?l=en&urlname=AVG-Antivirus-scan-exclusions

If using AVAST: use info at link: https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/Antivirus-scan-exclusions

If you find they are already added then remove them and add again.

 

Gmail less secure apps.

The following is a response I posted in the Mozilla support site regarding the changes Google have announced revoking the use of "less secure apps"  effective the 30th of may according to the emails they send me.  Hopefully I will have time to codify it in a support article,  but until then this will have to do so I can find it again.

Go to account setting on the menu

 Then select the server settings for the account you wish to change.

 

Change the Authentication method using the drop-down to oAuth2 like shown below

 

Follow that up by selecting the outgoing server SMTP entry on the accounts list.

This will display all configured SMTP servers something like this.

Select your outgoing server, press the edit button on the right. Then edit your authentication to oAuth as shown in the image.

 

Searching in settings/ options/ preferences

 Thunderbird moved it's settings from a dedicated window to a tab in Thunderbird 68.  Along with this change came a search box that was to replace the well defined layout that made describing the location of setting fairly simple.

I am increasingly getting the feeling that people are not using this search option and continue to plow through the options looking for what they want.  This can be helpful if you have no idea what you think will be used as a term to describe what you are looking for, or to familiarise yourself with what options appear to be available.  But when you are looking for things you  know the names of it is a very slow way to do things.  I must emphasise that this is a setting search, not a help search.

One instance is the Thunderbird config editor.  There is a button for this right at the bottom of the general tab,  I know this and can tell you.  But that is a long list under "general" to scroll through

Using the search option, which refines the search on every key stroke is a faster method. The following image is what is displayed when type CO in the search box

 

Then we have the same list following the typing of  config

 

and finally typing the complete term config editor 

 

All three of these searches,  as well as the option of scrolling, would all eventually get you to the config editor button.  Personally, I think typing the whole thing makes it easiest, but it is whatever souit you.

This search really comes into it's own on searches like PDF which does not return a "result" as such but displays only the list box for "content type" actions.  The list has an action for PDF content.  

Another good demonstration of it's ability to find setting is to type "file".  This returns a number of "secondary" results where the search term is in a list that is not visible,  like the list of actions for content types.

This does not help when you type things that you expect to have results and don't like attachments, so sometime the old plow through is the only way to find something. But I do recommend the use of searching to get where you are going, until it lets you down.

 

Logging mail sending in Thunderbird

With the introduction of the rewritten mail send there has been a huge uptick in the number of folk having issues sending mail from Thunderbird. The changes have also brought with them a new way of logging the sending of mail in Thunderbird to provide diagnostic information.

Logging is now done using the error console (Ctrl+Shift+J) in the developer tools,  but for this to occur you need to enable logging using the config editor. Modify/set the preference  mailnews.smtp.loglevel to All using the linked config editor instructions

Now open the Error Console and clear any existing entries by clicking on the trash icon.

Send a mail, debug logs should show up in the Console tab looking something like what is shown below.

 

If you have been asked to supply a log,  or are seeking support somewhere with failures in sending then the following will provide a text file with the log in it.

Right click the console/log window and select all from the menu.

Right click again and select the rather oddly named "copy message"

Open windows notepad.(Windows key+R type notepad and press enter)

Save the file to your documents and either copy and paste or upload the file to provide the log to others. Be aware that the From and To addresses in the email are in the log you are sharing.

----ooo00O00ooo----

This part will certainly not work in versions after 91.

Again using the config editor set the preference mailnews.smtp.jsmodule to false.  This will invoke the old mail sending code that has been replaced and already removed from Thunderbird from V93 onwards.  This will allow the diagnosis of the problems to ensure it is the new send code that is at issue. It will also allow a few months of using the old code while bugs are fixed.  Please file bug in bugzilla if you identify a bug in the new code.