1093558 - Thunderbird freezing when writing an e-mail after attaching files

Status: RESOLVED WORKSFORME

(Thunderbird :: Message Compose Window, defect)

Description

[v1tesse]

User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.3; WOW64; rv:34.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/34.0
Build ID: 20141030172027

Steps to reproduce:

-opened Thunderbird
-clicked write mail
-filled in the to and subject lines
-attached some files (it doesn't matter how many - I tried different variations)
-started to write the e-mail


Actual results:

Thunderbird froze and had (not responding) written at the top. It didn't crash, mind you, it just froze, staying like that for a few minutes until it became usable again.


Expected results:

It should have allowed me to write the message normally without freezing.

Comment 1

[v1tesse]

To elaborate on this a little:
I am using Thunderbird version 31.2.0 on Windows 8.1 Update.

Things I have tried:
First, after reading what issues other people had, I checked my anti-virus program (ESET Smart Security) and first I unchecked (under Email clients - Email client protection), after which (under Email client integration) I even unchecked Thunderbird so it would have nothing to do with it.
Shortly after, I started Thunderbird in safe mode (I only had 1 add-on installed - Personal Level Indicator - which I seriously doubt was causing any issues, to retest and see if the issue was resolved.

Afterwards, I proceeded to following the same steps, to, subject, attach a few files and start writing. Now, it seemed that Thunderbird started freezing even sooner.

I changed the severity to critical because I use Thunderbird for multiple e-mail accounts, one of which is used for our company. Delays due to e-mails not being sent on time can cost and if I can't find a solution I may be forced to find alternatives.

Thank you in advance.

Comment 2

[v1tesse]

OK. I don't think I can try anything else.

I disabled my anti-virus, switched to the default theme, disabled my only extension, set all the plug-ins to not run, disabled the dictionary I was using (Romanian) and even disabled my signature.

Basically, Thunderbird is as clean as I could get it to be.

Unfortunately, this issue persists. Windows is updated, Thunderbird is installed and not portable and my computer is and i5-4440 with 4gb ddr3 and a 1tb hdd, which, by the way I can hear making noise intermittently, almost like a clock - every second, while Thunderbird is frozen.

I'm out of ideas.

Comment 3

[v1tesse]

I would have edited another comment to say this but since I can't, here goes.

If it might be of help, I had this issue before, using Thunderbird 24. Thinking it would solve it, I updated (apparently it didn't update on it's own, even though it was set to automatic) to the latest version, 31.2.0.

Let me know if any other information could help.

Comment 4

[v1tesse]

Updated to TB 33.0b1, but the issue remained, just seems to take a little longer to happen.

Comment 5

[rsx11m]

Just some hints:

 - Are you attaching the file from a network or local drive?
   (there have been issues with accessing remote folders.)

 - If you disable in the [Tools >] Options > Composition preferences
   "Save every ... minutes" does freezing while writing still occur?
   - If not, does it freeze as soon as you send the message?

Anti-virus software and issues with the spell checker have been identified as causes for freezing during composition before, but it appears that you've excluded those already.

Comment 6

[v1tesse]

(In reply to rsx11m from comment #5)

- Local drive. Random number of files ranging from 3 to over 10, always the same behavior.

- It seems that disabling the auto-save feature is indeed a temporary workaround for the hangs, but now another issue arose, which I'm not 100% sure if it's linked to the beta version. As you asked, it does freeze as soon as I send the message. 

I'm sending from my corporate account (in TB) to Gmail where I get notified of having received a message right away, but the small window pops up and says "Sending Message - ... (Not Resp...)" in its title bar. After a couple of minutes that disappears and it becomes usable again.

Comment 7

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

Kevin, 
Have you learned anything more since comment 6?
And do you still see this problem when using a newer version?

Comment 8

[v1tesse]

(In reply to Wayne Mery (:wsmwk, use Needinfo for questions) from comment #7)

Since then I've been using the program normally and every time it froze I just waited or force closed it (a few times).
It's been almost a year since I wrote my last comment, though and it has kept updating (especially since I use the beta version). After a while it just stopped freezing.

I noticed a couple of hangs here and there when sending an e-mail, but I'd characterize them as very minor.

With TB 41 beta everything seems OK (still Win 8.1 x64).

Also, on another computer running Win 7 x64, TB 38.3.0, everything is also alright.

So, I guess this would mean the problem was resolved?

Comment 9

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

(In reply to kevinberaca from comment #8)
> ...
> With TB 41 beta everything seems OK (still Win 8.1 x64). 
> Also, on another computer running Win 7 x64, TB 38.3.0, everything is also
> alright.
> So, I guess this would mean the problem was resolved?

Or at least, "WORKSFORME" :)