I was able to grab this screenshot from the Error Console, if this helps.

Update: I also now tried the solution suggested to disable graphics acceleration (https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1016711), but that did not help help.

(Also, it took me 5 attempts to finally get to the config editor and make the changes before TB hung/crashed.)

What is your anti-virus software?

My AV software is Avira.

But it is set for "PC Protection" only; I do not use Avira's Internet and mail protection.

For now, I'm back to running Thunderbird 3.0.

Even so, when I first ran 3.0 with my primary profile it hung/crashed just Thunderbird 31.6.0 did - until I deleted all files in that profile and reverted to my backup copies (i.e., copies that had never been opened by 31.6.0).

IOW: I made backup copies of my TB profiles/data before I installed 31.6.0. I had the hang/crash problem. So I reverted to 3.0. I opened my main/primary profile with 3.0 and it hung/crashed (just like it had with 31.6.0). But then I reverted to my backup files for that profile... and TB 3.0 is now running fine.

(BTW: After I had the initial hang/crash problem with 31.6.0 and my primary profile, I tried replacing the profile files with my backup copies. I did that 3 times. But each time I opened that profile with 31.6.0, it hung/crashed.)

Thanks.

I'm back to running Thunderbird 3.0.

You must be kidding.

Try to start *Windows* in safe mode with networking enabled.

- Win8 http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/windows-startup-settings-including-safe-mode

- Win7 http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Start-your-computer-in-safe-mode

- XP http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx

Still in Windows safe mode, start Thunderbird in safe mode.

- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/safe-mode

Does the problem go away?

Thanks.

I'm using TB 3.0 (from 2009) because that's the latest version I have from back around then that I know works.

As for starting Win 7 in safe mode... I don't know why that would make a difference.

Also, please note: With 31.6.0 installed, 4 of my 5 TB profiles run w/o hanging/crashing. It's only my main/primary profile that crashes.

Do you know: If I re-install 31.6.0 into a different/folder directory than 3.0, will 3.0 still operate as is? IOW, does installing 31.6.0 install files outside of its own directory that will then affect how 3.0 will run? And so, can I have 2 different versions working on one Win7 machine?

As for starting Win 7 in safe mode... I don't know why that would make a difference.

Windows safe mode prevents certain applications from running. Anti-virus is one of them, and in many cases it is the problem.

If I re-install 31.6.0 into a different/folder directory than 3.0, will 3.0 still operate as is?

You can certainly install 3.0 into a different directory and run it from there.

can I have 2 different versions working on one Win7 machine?

You certainly can, however, you should use separate profiles for 3.0 and 31.6.0. If you start different versions with the same profile, it will most likely screw up your profile. I still think running 3.0 is a silly idea.

Thanks. Yes, running 3.0 is silly (really). Except, that version works on my PC. And since it's set to block all remote content, I think it's safe to use.

But, I would like to upgrade.

I start TB 3.0 by using different shortcuts for each profile. For example: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -P main-profile"

So if I install the executables for TB 31.6.0 in a different directory (versus TB 3.0), I can craft the shortcut for that as: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird-36\thunderbird.exe" -P main-profile_36"

But: Even if I have two versions of TB installed, and even if I have them set to use different TB profile files, they will still both use the same profiles.ini file in AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird. Right?

Do you know if there's a problem with both of them sharing that ini file?

they will still both use the same profiles.ini file in AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird. Right?

Correct. There's only one profiles.ini file. It includes all your profiles, regardless of which version of Thunderbird is used in connection with the profile.

christ1 said

they will still both use the same profiles.ini file in AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird. Right?

Correct. There's only one profiles.ini file. It includes all your profiles, regardless of which version of Thunderbird is used in connection with the profile.

Thanks. I'll give it a try - running both; one for some profiles, one for the other.

As for what's causing the underlying problem, I still don't know.

Reducing things as best I can: I have a profile that runs fine with TB 3.0, but hangs/crashes with TB 31.6.0.

Plus, if I (a) open that profile in TB 31.6.0; then (b) close that; and then (c) open that profile in TB 3.0 - it hangs/crashes 3.0 just as it hanged/crashed 31.6.0.

IOW, it seems 31.6.0 has a problem with that profile, and it writes something to one of the profile's files such that 3.0 then also apparently has the same problem.

If only, at least, I could figure out which file w/in the profile is causing the problem.

I think an old hand can navigate FTP. So try some newer versions from the FTP site. It starts with the .6 release so scroll to the bottom. http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/thunderbird/releases/

I think that you should delete the file qlobal-messagers.db.sqlite before starting Thunderbird a reindex of 1.4Gb may well be quite slow and hindered by anti virus trying to scan the file all the time. Note that a reindex will have to occur as the scheme for the database has changed from Version 3 to 31, so your just starting with a clean slate

This file is the basis of global search and the feature can be disabled in Tools menu > options > advanced > general if you do not search mail.

Note here if you do not search mail using windows search disabling that feature will save you possible a third of your profile size in duplicated storage. Thus making backup a more viable option.