233784 - message contents do not display if mail folder on network share or usb drive

Status: RESOLVED DUPLICATE of bug 133153

(Thunderbird :: Mail Window Front End, defect)

Description

[Mishkin Berteig]

User-Agent:       
Build Identifier: Mozilla Thunderbird 0.5 (20040207)

Clicking on a message in the three pane view or double-clicking a message to 
display it in a separate window both fail to display the message regardless of 
content type (text, html, etc.) IF the mail folder is on a network share, a 
mapped drive (even if mapped to a local shared drive) or a mounted usb drive.  
The mail folder was changed by editing the server preferences for a mail 
account before downloading any messages to point the mail directory at a 
folder on a network, mapped or usb drive.

Reproducible: Always
Steps to Reproduce:
1.  Install Thunderbird by unpacking and putting in a directory
2.  Launch Thunderbird
3.  Create a valid email account but do not immediately download messages
4.  Click on the account created in the three-pane view
5.  Click on the "View Settings for this Account" link
6.  Select "Server Settings"
7.  Type in a valid directory on a network share, or mapped or usb drive
8.  Click okay
9.  Get email

Actual Results:  
10.  Click on an email in the list - message body is not displayed
11.  Double-click on an email in the list - separate message window opens, but 
message body is not displayed

Expected Results:  
Displayed the message body.

Windows XP Professional SP1
Duplicated on Pentium 4, Pentium 4 HT, and Pentium M machines with various 
hardware configurations.

This bug prevents sharing an email repository among machines either through 
network shares or removable media.

Comment 1

[Mishkin Berteig]

After reading a bunch of stuff on MozillaZine forums (e.g.
http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=79758).  I modified my
registry.dat in a brand new Thunderbird version 0.6 (20040502) install so that
the profile points at \\MyWin2003Server\myprofilepath\********.slt.  Then I
started Thunderbird and as in my previous description modified the file paths
for Local Folders and my email account so that they point to the appropriate
spots.  As before, my mail folders and all my mail header information shows up
properly (with obvious network activity as it loads the information), but it
still fails to display the message bodies.

This is a serious problem since I now work exclusively with networked profile
data since I have several computers in my office any of which I may need to
access my email at.  If this isn't fixed ASAP, I'll have to abandon mozilla
applications - which would REALLY REALLY SUCK!!!!

Is there any workaround for this?  Is there any patch I can apply if I build
from source?  I'm a software developer and I would love to help fix this
(unfortunately only a little C++, but lots of java and C#)!  Please let me know
what I can do!!!!

Comment 2

[Alistair Young]

I can confirm that this problem still exists exactly as described (I have
reproduced on network share, via both UNC path and mapped drive, as per the
given steps) as of 0.7.3 (20040803).

Comment 3

[Eliot Landrum]

User-Agent: Mozilla Thunderbird 0.6+ (Windows/20040907)

I tested with a USB drive, everything occurs exactly like the reporter said. I
agree that this is a pretty severe problem. 

Confirming and marking NEW.

Comment 4

[Matt]

(In reply to comment #2)
> I can confirm that this problem still exists exactly as described (I have
> reproduced on network share, via both UNC path and mapped drive, as per the
> given steps) as of 0.7.3 (20040803).
> 

I have confirmed this as well in version .8 on XP Pro machines on a network
managed by a domain controller.  Any profile stored in a \\SERVER\USERDATA path
will make Thunderbird behave strangely with regares to viewing messages, moving
them, or manipulating them in any fashion.

Comment 5

[David :Bienvenu]

this is fixed on the trunk and the .8 branch - dup'ing

*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of 133153 ***