Correct Version of TB, or why is TB stuck on using my ISP's email?
Hello and thank you for your article on installing Thunderbird. I read it and saw that it loaded and installed as said but did not cover this issue. I was also on the Thunderbird support chat room yesterday for over 2 hours. There was no one there who could answer this question. I want to use Thunderbird for my domain, its webserver host IVC Hosting. They recommend your program. I used to use Eudora for my domain. When I downloaded Thunderbird yesterday it immediately asked me for my password to my ISP's email account of AT&T.net. I do not want to use AT&T. I have a webhost. I have an address for it and pop and imap servers and their port numbers. I do not see anywhere on this inbox page it first takes you to after downloading the program where you can put in your servers address or port numbers etc. In order to do anything it just keeps asking for your AT&T mail password. First of all, I don't even have a password because I've never used ATT's mail. Plus I see no place where you can delete it OR enter another server. It has locked itself into believing it has to lock on to the ISP it sees, so there is nothing I can do to get started. Have I downloaded the wrong version of Thunderbird? This version seems like a simplified one that just adds to your ISP's email or Gmail, Yahoomail etc. I am hoping you can direct me to downloading and installing another version of Thunderbird that is made for domain webhosting services. Also upon downloading your program I was under my VPN (always), how does it know my AT&T user name??? I didn't even know it. I did use Thunderbird about 12 years ago for this same domain and I did not have this problem then. Thank you for your help, It will help many people who write in if I can get this problem sorted out.
All Replies (2)
re : I was also on the Thunderbird support chat room yesterday for over 2 hours.
As far as I'm aware, this forum is the official Support Forum which I've been involved with for over a decade. What 'Chat room' are you talking about ?
Your issue is so simple you must have been chatting with a load of people who have never used Thunderbird in their lives.
re :When I downloaded Thunderbird yesterday it immediately asked me for my password to my ISP's email account of AT&T.net. how does it know my AT&T user name??? I didn't even know it. I did use Thunderbird about 12 years ago for this same domain
That explains everything - you added the mail account 12 years ago and it was stored on your computer. When you reinstalled Thunderbird program, it discovered you had not get rid of your original profile and it's contents. All that data was still in the default location. So Thunderbird started up and used the profile you created all those years ago. Because that old profile contained a AT&T mail account, it tries to hook up to server, but obviously the current stored password is no good so it ask you to enter whatever password you use to access that email address via webmail.
I have several email addresses. One provided by my ISP, one free gmail and a couple which are mine - I have a website, I own the domain name which is hosted and I have mail accounts in Thunderbird for those email address, so yes Thunderbird can do any existing email address.
Let's start at the begining:
Did you download Thunderbird from the following location: Either : https://www.thunderbird.net/ OR: https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/all/
If yes, then you got a download fromt he official website.
re :Also upon downloading your program I was under my VPN Please note you will find that a lot of servers do not like operating in a VPN because it hides the IP address and any good server could assume someone was trying to hack your account. So either you will need to switch that off or create a tunnel for Thunderbird to by-pass it.
You will also need to make sure your Firewall (which may be controlled by your Anti-Virus) has Thunderbird set up as an allowed program otherwise, it might block access to the internet for various protocols. As an example - I use Norton so Thunderbird program and the Thunderbird updater program have been set up as allowed programs. See image below.
If you want to add a mail account:
- Click on the 'Menu icon' ( it has 3 horizontal lines)
- select 'New'
- click on 'Existing Mail Account'
- Enter your name, enter your email address, enter your password.
- cselect the checkbox to remember password
- click on 'Continue'
Thunderbird will attempt to locate Configuration settings for the email address. As this email address may be for your own domain it will not know it, click on 'Stop' Then you will see where you can enter the details for the incoming server and the outgoing server You must set everything up correctly. Please note 'Username' is usually the full email address.
- click on 'Retest' button
- when all is ok click on 'Done' to create the mail account.
At this point, because the old AT&T account was in Thunderbird, it might still be set up as the default account. Let's say you have added your new main account email address as a mail account.
- Menu icon > Account settings
- Select the name of the new email address account in left pane
- Click on 'Account Actions'
- Select 'set as Default'
At this point if you want to get rid of that old AT&T account from Thunderbird. Select the name of the At&T account in left pane
- Click on 'Account Actions'
- Select 'Remove account'
Exit Thunderbird and restart it. It will no longer ask for the AT&T password.
Thank you very much Toad-Hall, you are a God send! That was a lot of time you took to answer that and very much needed here. Yes, it will now take time for my webhost to get the details straight with SSL's port #s etc. Thunderbird to server rejected the first couple of attempts, but I think it will go through eventually. But for sure I am on the right track now. Stone wall before. Thank you