Closed Bug 1517955 Opened 5 years ago Closed 4 years ago

MailTo: doesn't work – Thunderbird 64-bit no standard program choice

Categories

(Thunderbird :: Installer, defect)

Product:
Thunderbird
Component:
Installer
Platform:
Unspecified
Windows 7
Type:
defect
Priority:
Not set
Severity:
normal

Tracking

(Not tracked)

Status:
RESOLVED DUPLICATE of bug 1509918

People

(Reporter: bug, Unassigned)

References

(Depends on 1 open bug)

Details

(Keywords: 64bit) 

User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; Win64; x64; rv:64.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/64.0

Steps to reproduce:

Install Thunderbird ×64 instead of ×86


Actual results:

MailTo: doesn't work for standard users because the ×86 version is deinstalled (but OK for only the administrator account).
Moreover: Thunderbird ×64 cannot be defined as standard program for mail ! On the list of suitable Mail-Software for the MAILTO protocol, there were only Google Chrome and Sea Monkey. Starting Thunderbird and defining it as standard doesn't change anything, there is still no standard at next Thunderbird start.
De- and reinstalling Thunderbird did NOT fix the problem.
Info: Windows 7 Pro ×64 / Thunderbird 60.4.0 (I changed from ×86 to ×64 much earlier, but did not encounter the problem because I very rarely click on MailTo: links).


Expected results:

The Thunderbird ×64 installation is incomplete: it should overwrite everything in the registry which points to the ×86 version. This is not the case: there were still about 30 Registry key names and key values pointing to …\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\… . After editing all this incorrect stuff by deleting " x86", it became possible to set Thunderbird as default mail programm (however, only when starting it with administrator rights and the whole procedure separately for each user), and MailTo: now works fine.
THE INSTALLATION PROCEDURE IS CLEARLY INCOMPLETE !
This reads like a mix of issues. Is there something in your report that isn't covered by one of the following?
Bug 393302 - Can't "send-to" (MAPI) using Seamonkey and Thunderbird X86_64-bit
Bug 1509918 - "use thunderbird as default client" prompt on every startup on WIndows 7 using TB 64bit
Flags: needinfo?(bug)

Yes, I think this will go away with bug 1509918 which is on my to-do list.

Sorry to say, but Thunderbird 64 bit is not a supported platform yet. Yes, you can get the installer, but you run into problems, some are quoted in comment #1. As you found out yourself, a few things can be cleaned up with manual intervention.

We're working on getting TB fit for x64 on Windows, but don't expect miracles.

Depends on: 1509918
Keywords: 64bit
Summary: MailTo: doesn't work – Thunderbird x64 no standard program choice → MailTo: doesn't work – Thunderbird 64-bit no standard program choice

Just wanted to add I have the same problem - (in Windows 7 Pro) I cannot switch the default program from 32bit to 64bit Thunderbird as long as both versions are installed. The system integration check has boxes for using Thunderbird as default for E-Mail / Newsgroups but that doesn't change the fact that mailto: links keep invoking the 32bit version. I guess the only workaround (other than uninstalling Tb32bit) would be to set specific options in the browser via Options > Applications, MailTo > Use Other and then point to the 64bit executable - WORKSFORME...

In this tutorial that is based for the 64 bits users but could be adapted for 32 bits users, I will be attempting to fix your MAPI / Send to -> Mail recipient and send to from external program issue that you may experience in Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10 when you use windows with no other mail client than Thunderbird, and that you may (or not) have installed both x86 and x64 version. This is a blunt straight through tutorial, some steps may or not be necessary, but the goal is to fix it all if possible with one procedure, so read the tutorial completly to understand what we start with, what we end with, etc.

While following the procedure, DO NOT DELETE OR MOVE files located in your profile, these are your settings, emails, etc. Usually located at %appdata%\Thunderbird . Optionally, you could make a copy of that directory to have a backup of your profile before we start.

Now let's start by cleaning up the bird cage:

  1. Download the lastest version of Thunderbird x86 and x64 version.
  2. Install Thunderbird 64 bits, with all default, then Uninstall it, using the control panel.
  3. Reboot
  4. Install Thunderbird 32 bits, with all default, then Uninstall it, using the control panel.
  5. Reboot.
  6. Check out C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86), and make sure there is no more Thunderbird directory.
  7. Check out the following registry Key: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Thunderbird\Launcher it will display
    different path to check out for remaining thunderbird files, if it was installed by example, on a local profile instead than inside Program Files directories.
  8. Now we will modify C:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI by running an Notepad as Administrator and then by opening that file. Once the file is open in a notepad running as administrator, add the following section at the end of the file:

[Mail]
MAPI=1
CMC=1
CMCDLLNAME=mapi.dll
CMCDLLNAME32=mapi32.dll
MAPIX=1
MAPIXVER=1.0.0.1
OLEMessaging=1

  1. Reboot.
  2. Install Windows Mail and Calendar from the Microsoft Store.
  3. Set Windows Mail as default Email client in Setting -> Applications -> "Default apps"
  4. Reboot.
  5. Install the Thunderbird x64 version with all defaults in *C:\Program Files*
  6. Reboot.
  7. Let modify your registry, let create a .reg file with the following content:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows Messaging Subsystem]
"MAPI"="1"
"MAPIX"="1"
"MAPIXVER"="1.0.0.1"
"OLEMessaging"="1"
"CMCDLLNAME"="Mapi.dll"
"CMCDLLNAME32"="Mapi32.dll"
"CMC"="1"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Messaging Subsystem]
"MAPI"="1"
"MAPIX"="1"
"MAPIXVER"="1.0.0.1"
"OLEMessaging"="1"
"CMCDLLNAME"="Mapi.dll"
"CMCDLLNAME32"="Mapi32.dll"
"CMC"="1"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Clients\Mail]
@="Mozilla Thunderbird"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird]
@="Mozilla Thunderbird"
"DLLPath"="C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\mozMapi32_InUse.dll"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\Capabilities]
"ApplicationDescription"="Thunderbird is a full-featured email application. Thunderbird supports IMAP and POP mail protocols, as well as HTML mail formatting. Built-in junk mail controls, RSS capabilities, powerful quick search, spell check as you type, global inbox, and advanced message filtering round out Thunderbird's modern feature set."
"ApplicationIcon"="C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe,0"
"ApplicationName"="Thunderbird"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\Capabilities\FileAssociations]
".eml"="ThunderbirdEML"
".wdseml"="ThunderbirdEML"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\Capabilities\StartMenu]
"Mail"="Mozilla Thunderbird"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\Capabilities\URLAssociations]
"mailto"="Thunderbird.Url.mailto"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe,0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\InstallInfo]
"HideIconsCommand"=""C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\uninstall\helper.exe" /HideShortcuts"
"ShowIconsCommand"=""C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\uninstall\helper.exe" /ShowShortcuts"
"ReinstallCommand"=""C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\uninstall\helper.exe" /SetAsDefaultAppGlobal"
"IconsVisible"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\Protocols]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\Protocols\mailto]
@="Thunderbird URL"
"FriendlyTypeName"="Thunderbird URL"
"URL Protocol"=""
"EditFlags"=dword:00000002

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\Protocols\mailto\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe,0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\Protocols\mailto\shell]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\Protocols\mailto\shell\open]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\Protocols\mailto\shell\open\command]
@=""C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -osint -compose "%1""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\shell]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\shell\open]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\shell\open\command]
@=""C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -mail"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\shell\properties]
@="Thunderbird &Options"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\shell\properties\command]
@=""C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -options"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\shell\safemode]
@="Thunderbird &Safe Mode"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\shell\safemode\command]
@=""C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -safe-mode"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird]
@="Mozilla Thunderbird"
"DLLPath"="C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\mozMapi32_InUse.dll"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\Capabilities]
"ApplicationDescription"="Thunderbird is a full-featured email application. Thunderbird supports IMAP and POP mail protocols, as well as HTML mail formatting. Built-in junk mail controls, RSS capabilities, powerful quick search, spell check as you type, global inbox, and advanced message filtering round out Thunderbird's modern feature set."
"ApplicationIcon"="C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe,0"
"ApplicationName"="Thunderbird"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\Capabilities\FileAssociations]
".eml"="ThunderbirdEML"
".wdseml"="ThunderbirdEML"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\Capabilities\StartMenu]
"Mail"="Mozilla Thunderbird"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\Capabilities\URLAssociations]
"mailto"="Thunderbird.Url.mailto"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe,0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\InstallInfo]
"HideIconsCommand"=""C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\uninstall\helper.exe" /HideShortcuts"
"ShowIconsCommand"=""C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\uninstall\helper.exe" /ShowShortcuts"
"ReinstallCommand"=""C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\uninstall\helper.exe" /SetAsDefaultAppGlobal"
"IconsVisible"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\Protocols]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\Protocols\mailto]
@="Thunderbird URL"
"FriendlyTypeName"="Thunderbird URL"
"URL Protocol"=""
"EditFlags"=dword:00000002

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\Protocols\mailto\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe,0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\Protocols\mailto\shell]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\Protocols\mailto\shell\open]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\Protocols\mailto\shell\open\command]
@=""C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -osint -compose "%1""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\shell]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\shell\open]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\shell\open\command]
@=""C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -mail"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\shell\properties]
@="Thunderbird &Options"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\shell\properties\command]
@=""C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -options"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\shell\safemode]
@="Thunderbird &Safe Mode"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Clients\Mail\Mozilla Thunderbird\shell\safemode\command]
@=""C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" -safe-mode"

  1. Execute the .reg file that you have just created and answer yes for the confirmation so that registry entries are added/updated
  2. Reboot.
  3. Go in "Default Apps" and under EMAIL we will set Thunderbird as the default Mail Client.
  4. Go in "Set Default by App", find Thunderbird and apply all of it default.
  5. Reboot.
  6. Now setup a test account in Thunderbird, make sure that send and receive work fine.
  7. Test to right click on a file in windows explorer and do Send to -> Mail recipient
  8. It should also work in others program such as Adobe Acrobat Reader or Accounting applications by example.
  9. You can uninstall Windows Mail and Calendar
  10. Reboot and make sure everything still work.

Please note that it is possible that after all this is done, you may have to re-add your old profile, usually done by adding the options -P to your thunderbird shortcut on the desktop by example, so that it launch the profile manager before actually starting thunderbird, letting you create a new default profile, and pointing it to the right profile directory, that we had before we started all this, if that was the case.

If this helped you and saved lots of headaches, please share it to at least one other place or something so we can help others with this ... issue, and if you had to add something or do something else, that is not written here, please let me know. I have to say that I am a bit surprised than this problem is still there, 10 years down the road. We used to have this problem back at the beginning of Windows 7... We used to have this in various setup, either without Office/Outlook, or light/stripped version of windows and , It is really the type of problem that you feel like a ping pong ball between Microsoft and Mozilla because of SimpleMAPI and MAPI, etc.... while all you need, is an immediate help and getting things to works.

Best Regards,

(In reply to Jorg K (CEST = GMT+2) from comment #2)

Yes, I think this will go away with bug 1509918 which is on my to-do list.

(In reply to Jorg K (CEST = GMT+2) from comment #3)

Sorry to say, but Thunderbird 64 bit is not a supported platform yet. Yes, you can get the installer, but you run into problems, some are quoted in comment #1. As you found out yourself, a few things can be cleaned up with manual intervention.

We're working on getting TB fit for x64 on Windows, but don't expect miracles.

Any chances of this happening?

Sorry: for a long time I didn't get any mail from uproad because of a hidden bug on my provider's mail server (forwarding fail).
I resolved the bug the way I had explained in my first input and just opened this thread to make it available to other users and developers.
Recently my mainboard had to be replaced and I had to reinstall everything from scratch (>200 programs ! – fresh W10-2004, now W10-20H2 build 19042). No problem with installing, configuring and using Thunderbird ×64.

-> WFM per comment 8.

Status: UNCONFIRMED → RESOLVED
Closed: 4 years ago
Flags: needinfo?(bug)
Resolution: --- → WORKSFORME

The original report is against win7, so this more a dup against bug 1509918

OS: Unspecified → Windows 7
Resolution: WORKSFORME → DUPLICATE
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