Known Bugs and Issues in Thunderbird

Thunderbird isn't perfect. As we discover issues with using Thunderbird, or with migrating from other mail clients, we'll let you know. Forewarned is forearmed and all that.

Windows 2003 Server

Error while compacting

Message download fails

Filters don't work

Windows 2003 Server

There is a known bug in Windows 2003 Server when using roaming profiles. Under heavy load, the bug will sometimes cause a write error. The impact is that during heavy log on and log off times, it is possible for people to lose messages to a write error.

Microsot has issued a beta patch for the operating system, but it doesn't seem to have fixed the error. They acknowledge that is is a problem with this version of Windows, not with Thunderbird.

 

Error while compacting folders

If Thunderbird gets interrupted while compacting folders (a process that recovers free space from folders where messages have been deleted), messages can be destroyed or corrupted. Be careful not to exit Thunderbird during compacting.

Thunderbird fails to download new mail automatically when using Kerberos and POP

We have been able to reproduce a problem where Thunderbird will not automatically download new messages if you are using POP and Secure Authentication (Kerberos).  This problem has already been reported to Bugzilla (Bug 278227 - Thunderbird doesn't check for new messages).  We know of three work-arounds. Pick one:

• Set up a new account using IMAP instead of POP.
• Switch your authentication to TLS instead of Kerberos.
• If you really want to stay with POP and Kerberos, here's an ugly way to fool Thunderbird.

1. Exit Thunderbird.
2. Change your Kerberos password to something un-characteristic of anything you would normally use.
3. Start Thunderbird.
4. In Account Settings, Server Settings, un-check Use Secure Authentication. When prompted for your password, check the box to have Thunderbird save it. 
5. Go back to Account Settings, Server Settings, and re-check the box to Use Secure Authentication.
6. Exit Thunderbird.
7. Change your Kerberos password back to what it was originally.
8. Restart Thunderbird.

Some filters don't run

If you select Tools->Message Filters and select multiple filters in the list and then click on Run Selected Filter(s) on:, only the first filter gets processed. This problem has been reported to Bugzilla (Bug 276556 - Message Filters Dialog: Run selected filter(s)..Run Now doesn't run all selected filters).  If you want all filters to operate, then select the mailbox and use Tools->Run Filters on Folder.