Thunderbird won't work. How can I reinstall everything or change my password?

January 5, 2008 3:16 PM

How do I completely uninstall thunderbird from a computer running xp? Or, better, how do I change my password for SMTP authentication?

I am trying to switch from Outlook Express to Thunderbird on a computer running XP home.

I installed Thunderbird and the first time I sent mail Thunderbird asked me for my password for SMTP Authentication for outgoing mail. I think I put the password in incorrectly and I cannot figure out how to change it.

I have followed the directions below exactly (and permutations of...) from the TB knowledge base but I am never asked for a new password as it says I will be.

ALSO, since I have been trying to make it work for like two weeks, now Thunderbird is out of sync with Outlook express. I see I can use the import function to re-sync everything, but I wonder if it is just better to delete and re-install. But (arggg!!!) when I try that Thunderbird uninstalls but the data all stays, for when I re-install it no longer asks for the password (like it did the very first time) and it has all my outlook data still there. From reading other askmefi posts I see I need to delete some mysterious thing called a "profile" but I cannot find it anywhere.

So, how can I get it to work-- either just fixing the smtp password (in which case I'll import the stuff from outlook) or deleting *everything* and starting fresh (which would also allow me to fix the password problem.)

Thanks.

Below is from the Thunderbird help, but it doesn't work! Argg! --->
To set up Thunderbird (or SeaMonkey) to use authentication with your SMTP server:
* Go to "Tools -> Account Settings -> Outgoing Server (SMTP)".
* Select the server and press the Edit... button.
* Check the "Use name and password" option.
* Add your username. Your username might be your full e-mail address (e.g., "[e-mail]") or only the part before the "@" ("johndoe"), depending on your service provider; check with them which is correct.
* Click "OK".

Thunderbird will ask you for your password the first time you send email and you can optionally save it at that time. [<----- This never happens even when I delete and add a new username/outgoing mail server.]

posted by tangyraspberry to computers & internet (3 comments total)

Try following these instructions to find the profile folder and then erase it.
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Thunderbird#Windows_2000_and_XP
posted by Memo at 3:32 PM on January 5, 2008

That worked perfectly! Thanks!!
posted by tangyraspberry at 5:31 PM on January 5, 2008

For future reference, you should use Tools > Options > click on Privacy at the top > select the Passwords tab > and click on the Edit Saved Passwords button.
posted by anaelith at 5:47 PM on January 5, 2008