Thunderbird does not delete messages...

[dairyman]

Hi,

I am using MS Windows XP SP2 with Mozilla Thunderbird.
Because I wanted to use it to access my Hotmail account, I installed the Webmail extension.

So after that was done, it downloaded all my messages, I did a few tests to see if it could actually send messages.

That worked fine. But now there is a problem. I deleted I message from the Thunderbird program so I can "reclaim" my Inbox. I went to to the Hotmail (which is now Winblows Live Mail) and the messages were still there.

I checked everything and it's all okay, but for no reason at all IT JUST DOESN'T DELETE IT!!!

Can somebody help?

Thank you.

[patio]

Webmail retains the messages on its server until you delete them through Webmail...TBird is deleting the copies of them that are on your hard drive...
Clear as Mud ? ?

 

[WillyW]

Webmail retains the messages on its server until you delete them through Webmail...

Not for me.        Well... mostly.   

Been using T-Bird w/Hotmail for quite a while, and whenever I deleted an email in T-Bird, upon next checking for mail in the Hotmail account, it would delete it from Hotmail's server.

Just checked again to be sure.    Went to Hotmail page and logged in,  found an email to delete.   Went back to T-Bird and deleted it, then checked mail again with T-Bird.   Then checked again with web interface, and it was gone.
However.....
I happened to notice an email, via the web,  that I had deleted a couple days ago.   Still there.        I guess it misses one every now and then.

[WillyW]

....I checked everything and it's all okay,

"everything" is too broad.   Please be more specific, and describe what you mean.

but for no reason at all IT JUST DOESN'T DELETE IT!!!

Can somebody help?

Using Thunderbird v2.0.0.6 here
Webmail v.1.2.5
Hotmail add-on  1.2.10b10       

I am not using the very latest version of the Hotmail extension because I discovered that it was much slower than this beta version.    This works, so I stayed with it.

Here is what I have configured.
In T-Bird,  right click on the Hotmail account name.   Get a pop up menu.
Choose Properties.

Within Properties of that Hotmail account, go to   Server Settings.
On the right side, look for two check boxes.   
One is    "Leave messages on server"
        Below it is "Until I delete them"

I have both checked.

I hope that helps.

[patio]

Nice catch Willy...i was about to say what was happening is not along the laws of physics...or something along those lines.
When i delete TBird e-mails it does not touch anything on the server.
Glad to know it's doable although i quit worrying when storage went to terrabytes...

[WillyW]

It is nice to have the opportunity to share a tidbit of experience.   

.... although i quit worrying when storage went to terrabytes...

What's that email addy again?    I know some sites that sell *censored*, fake Rolex's, and guarantee you won the Nigerian lottery.   
We can fill your void, pronto!
  

[patio]

Sure thing...it's willyw@___________.com...

Fire Away ! !

      

[dairyman]

"everything" is too broad.   Please be more specific, and describe what you mean.

I checked ALL the settings in Thunderbird, both the 'tick boxes' that said 'Leave messages on server' and 'Until I delete them' were ticked.

The SMTP and POP3 servers are correct, it will download my mail, but it won't delete the messages.

I use:
Thunderbird 2.0.0.6 (I just updated from 2.0.0.5).
Webmail 1.2.5
Hotmail 1.2.10

[Broni]

'Leave messages on server'

You have to have this option UN-checked.
If you have it checked, messages stay on serves "until (YOU GO THERE) I delete them" (on server, not in TB)

[dairyman]

Thank you, Broni.

That fixed the problem, but here is another.
Every time I delete some message (spam or any other c*ap), it deletes the entire Inbox.

So if I delete one, it deletes everything. Anyone know what is going on?

[Broni]

Do you keep all your messages in Inbox? If it grows big, it may cause some problems.

Thunderbird keeps its folder in Application Data>TB>profile>mail
Whenever some folder gives you problems, you can try simple trick.
Let's say, Inbox.
First, if you have any messages in Inbox, save them somewhere else (I have an extra folder, named Temp, just for this kind of needs).
Close TB. Open Windows Explorer.
Then, you'll see two folders:
- Inbox
- Inbox.msf
Delete "Inbox" (don't touch "Inbox.msf).
Start TB. Inbox will be automatically rebuilt.

[WillyW]

I checked ALL the settings in Thunderbird, both the 'tick boxes' that said 'Leave messages on server' and 'Until I delete them' were ticked.

The SMTP and POP3 servers are correct, it will download my mail, but it won't delete the messages.

I use:
Thunderbird 2.0.0.6 (I just updated from 2.0.0.5).
Webmail 1.2.5
Hotmail 1.2.10

It should.  I say that because mine does, and always has.

See:
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Using_webmail_with_your_email_client
Where it says, 
"If you check "Tools -> Account Settings -> Server Settings -> Leave messages on server" you can access your mail both from Thunderbird and from a browser."



You might like to read:

This  thread on the mozillaZine forum.    Note carefully that the first post does not describe your problem exactly.  It is related though.  So you might find something in that thread that helps.
One poster notes some change in the options from older T-Bird to the current version, and goes into how to work with it now.
But do read it carefully!


Just to sure there is no confusion,  attached is a screen capture of my Hotmail account setting in Thunderbird.



[Saving disk space - attachment deleted by admin]

[WillyW]

'Leave messages on server'

You have to have this option UN-checked.

That depends on what he wants to do. 
In his post above, he said

I deleted I message from the Thunderbird program so I can "reclaim" my Inbox. I went to to the Hotmail (which is now Winblows Live Mail) and the messages were still there.

which indicates to me that he expects messages to be deleted when he deletes them in T-Bird, and not before.

If he leaves it unchecked,  I believe that is telling T-Bird to delete messages from the server immediately upon downloading.

If you have it checked, messages stay on serves "until (YOU GO THERE) I delete them" (on server, not in TB)

Not quite.
That's what the other checkbox covers.   If it too is on,  then upon his next 'Get mail' with T-Bird of Hotmail,  any messages that he has already deleted within T-Bird should be deleted on the server.

[WillyW]

Thank you, Broni.

That fixed the problem,

Did it?   

What should be happening, is that now whenever you 'Get Mail' your Hotmail with T-Bird,  it should download the messages and delete them from  your Hotmail server account.

If you are satisfied with this,  all well and good.

Personally,  I see no reason not to leave them on the server.   That way, should I ever wish to access them from some other computer via the web, they are available.   Until I delete them within T-Bird.... just as the config option we've been talking about allows me to do.

but here is another.
Every time I delete some message (spam or any other c*ap), it deletes the entire Inbox.

Where?  which Inbox?     on the Hotmail server that you can view via the web?
Or within T-Bird?

So if I delete one, it deletes everything. Anyone know what is going on?

If it is the Hotmail server inbox,  then yes... that's what you've told it to do when you unchecked that box.

If you are referring to your T-Bird inbox,  then that is a different problem.

[WillyW]

...
Thunderbird keeps its folder in Application Data>TB>profile>mail
Whenever some folder gives you problems, you can try simple trick.
Let's say, Inbox.
First, if you have any messages in Inbox, save them somewhere else (I have an extra folder, named Temp, just for this kind of needs).
Close TB. Open Windows Explorer.
Then, you'll see two folders:
- Inbox
- Inbox.msf
Delete "Inbox" (don't touch "Inbox.msf).
Start TB. Inbox will be automatically rebuilt.

Wouldn't it be easier to just use T-Bird only?

To make my Inboxs more manageable, all I do is create a sub-folder below Inbox for old mail.   A couple clicks, and I can simply move anything I want out of the given Inbox to its 'Old mail' box.   The compact.

Perhaps I didn't understand what you were trying to accomplish.....