Apparently a verion is running on Admin login, and also on User login, and update cannot run - how to delete the Admin version?
By accident, I set up as Thunderbird in ADMIN login. But later I realized I wanted it under USER (standard account) instead. I cannot locate anything like an ini file or equivalent which will help me to eliminate the ADMIN version, which, as far as I can tell, is not running, but program update won't accept that - keeps telling me to shut down the other version.
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re : program update will not update:keeps telling me to shut down the other version.
Most people set up the main User Account as Admin for themselves for obvious reasons. Then create other standard User Accounts for other people using that computer. Usually to update or install programs etc, this is done via Admin User Account, after all you would not want control left to anyone using the computer.
Thunderbird is installed on the computer and can be made available to all User Accounts, but it should be only installed in one location.
If you are currently in the standard user account:
- Exit Thunderbird.
- Allow a little time for background processes to complete.
- Exit/ Log off from the standard User Account.
- Logon to Admin User Account.
- Start Thunderbird
- 'Help' > 'About Thunderbird'
- it will check for updates.
- Do updates from Admin User account.
Once done, it should ask if you want to restart Thunderbird.
- Restart so you can check it has updated correctly.
- Exit Thunderbird and allow time for background processes to complete.
- Log off Admin User Account.
- Log on to Standard User Account.
- Start Thunderbird and it should auto use the updated version.
Did updating via Admin User Account fix the issue ? Did you still get the error when updating in Admin ?
Unfortunately not - when I start T-bird, it says: The update could not be installed. Please make sure there are no other copies of Thunderbird running on your computer, and then restart Thunderbird to try again.
... and which I have done many times ...
Going to Admin, before the above, T-bird is no longer "installed" there -
So, something somewhere, when it was able to be run there, is still tricking the program ..
Thanks . but hopefully another option ... ... as I have a few email addresses, I really do not want to uninstall in USER and reinstall - I LOVE T-bird, but the setup takes a lot of time, which all has to be done when the program is online. .. .... and of course, we all need latest updates ...
Everything is available via Admin, that's the point of an Admin account.
Thunderbird is not installed in a User Account. Thunderbird is installed here: If windows 32bit: C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\
If windows 64bit: C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\
The program is available to use in any User Account by a shortcut icon. This could be on the desktop or via Start > All Programs Uninstalling the program and reinstalling the program has no effect on your profile which is stored in the 'User Account' Appdata\Roaming\Thunderbird location.
Logon to standard non admin User Account Make hidden files and folders visible:
Confirm Thunderbird is not running by checking Task Manager > Applications tab
Access this location: C:\Users\< Standard User Account >\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\ 'profile name' folder is usually 'xxxxxxxx.default' where the x's are letters and numbers. Look for a 'parent.lock' file. If you can see 'parent.lock' file then delete it.
Logon to Admin User Account. If you cannot see 'Mozilla Thunderbird' under Start > All Programs then you must have removed the shortcut icon. You can put it back: Access this location C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\ thunderbird.exe right click on 'thunderbird.exe' file and select 'Create Shortcut' It will say something like : you cannot create it there, do you want to put it on desktop? yes.
But I'm assuming Thunderbird was run at least once within the 'Admin User Account'.
Check Task Manager is not showing anything running.
Access this location: C:\Users\< The Admin User Account >\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\<Profile name>\ If you can see 'parent.lock' file then delete it.
Log out of Admin.
Login to standard User account. Start Thunderbird. The installation should finish updating and then open Thunderbird.
Did this occur?
I said NO to the above answers, but that's only partially correct. Or maybe fully. 1. Found the parent.lock file and deleted it ... went into both AdMIN and USER to check, and gone from both (though the same files, no doubt). 2. Started T-bird - same message - but the program had been updated, either before or now .. The message is perhaps just an annoyance now (but will see at a later time ..) SO: thank you .. needed to know about "parent.lock". However, my installation is very different from what you describe, for many reasons ... but won't get into that now .. BUT, the big one is: I NEVER add programs to C: drive - that drive is left for M/S to muck around in, which it does. All programs I install, and all data, go onto other partitions, etc etc ...