You can download and install 38.2.0 from http://getthunderbird.com/

Also, it would be great if you could provide a screen shot of your issue, per https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-create-screenshot-my-problem

here's the error message, if that helps...I will try to d/l and install 38.2.0. But will installing 38.2.0 retain my messages and address book or will they be overwritten?

I reread you posting, and may I have given you bad advice about doing version 38.

iirc, the typical update process coming from version 10 would take you first to version 17 and from there to 24 or 38. To update, do Help | About | Check for updates.

And it's a good idea to backup your data before updating. See https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-tb

when I go to Help, about---there's no "Check for Updates". Instead I see this screen, which puts me in an update "loop" and displays the error message I previously sent to you.

i wonder how to get to 17, then 24, then 38. what is the iirc?

still unclear on this---I will try to d/l and install 38.2.0. '''But will installing 38.2.0 retain my messages and address book or will they be overwritten?'''

> But will installing 38.2.0 retain my messages and address book or will they be overwritten?'

No, they are retained. But it is also smart to backup first https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-tb#w_backing-up-a-profile

You should first install and run version 12 from http://archive.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/thunderbird/releases/12.0.1/win32/en-US/Thunderbird%20Setup%2012.0.1.exe

Then try help | about | check for updates to pick up version 38. Let us know how it goes

so just to be clear, when you say: But it is also smart to backup first https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-tb#w_backing-up-a-profile

that is just to backup the profile(s).

The address book and all of my messages dont need to be backed up because they are not touched or overwritten in these progressive upgrades?

BTW thanks for taking the time!

jm1991 said

so just to be clear, when you say: But it is also smart to backup first https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-tb#w_backing-up-a-profile that is just to backup the profile(s). The address book and all of my messages dont need to be backed up because they are not touched or overwritten in these progressive upgrades? BTW thanks for taking the time!

Address book and message are part of the profile. The profile should not be harmed by an update. But whether you think it's a good idea to protect your data with a backup on a regular basis, or at a particular stage of use, is entirely up to you.

Sorry it took so long to work on this, but I can't see how to migrate from v12, then to v17, then to v24 then to v38. Would it make more sense to backup the profile, and then just uninstall v10 and download/install v38 as new, then copy the old profile into the new v 38?