Installing Mozilla Thunderbird 

Thunderbird - Link to Download Website

Thunderbird is a free, 'open-source' and cross-platform email program for most operating systems including Windows, Linux and Macintosh OSX.

Introduction to Mozilla Thunderbird

Thunderbird is a robust and easy to use program, similar to competing products like Outlook Express, but with some major advantages such as junk mail filtering. This web page provides instructions for installing and configuring the Windows version of Thunderbird for users of Lancaster University systems.

What You Need Before You Start

To install Thunderbird using these instructions, members of Lancaster University need:

  • a PC with an Internet connection. You can also use an OS X Mac or Linux box.
  • your standard email address (i.surname)@lancaster.ac.uk e.g. j.bloggs@lancaster.ac.uk
  • your email server name e.g. exchange.lancs.ac.uk (for Exchange) or imap.lancs.ac.uk (for Webmail/Unix).
  • your SMTP address (send mail server) - on-campus this is smtp.lancs.ac.uk, but if you are at home it is the address of the SMTP server supplied by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). If you don't know it, go online and look through the help on your ISP's home page.

Installing Thunderbird From The Internet

Downloading Thunderbird

  1. start Internet Explorer (or Firefox).
  2. browse to: http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird/
  3. click on the 'Free Download' link*.
  4. save the 'Thunderbird Setup x.x' file to your desktop.

*Mozilla may vary the location of the 'download' link. The last time (13/07/2009) I downloaded Thunderbird on a Mac the website detected that I was using a Mac and provided the correct download.

Installing Thunderbird (PC)

  1. click on 'Open' to run the setup file - see the file 'Extract'.
  2. click 'Next' button.
  3. click 'I accept the terms of the Licence agreement' then click 'Next' button.
  4. click 'Next' (to accept the 'Standard' install set.
  5. click 'Next' to confirm - see Thunderbird install.
  6. click on the 'Finish' button - see Import Wizard.

Setting-up Thunderbird

  1. click on the system you used previously or 'don't import anything' (for a clean install) then click 'Next'.
  2. ensure 'Email account is selected then click 'Next'.
  3. against 'Your Name' type in your name e.g. Jo Bloggs.
  4. against email address, type in your standard email address e.g. j.bloggs@lancaster.ac.uk
  5. click 'Next'.
  6. Warning, this is IMPORTANT - click on 'IMAP' option.
  7. against 'Incoming Server' type either:
    - for Exchange email, type: exchange.lancs.ac.uk
    - for Webmail/Unix email, type: imap.lancs.ac.uk
    - for other external email accounts, type: smtp.(isp name).com or variations.
  8. against 'Outgoing Server' do one of the following:
    - for University LAN/VPN PCs type: smtp.lancs.ac.uk
    - for home PCs on ISPs type: smtp.(ISP name).com OR mail.(ISP name).net OR a combination thereof e.g. smtp.bt.com
  9. click 'Next'
  10. against 'Incoming User Name' type your University Windows network username e.g. bloggsj
  11. against 'Outgoing User Name' type one of the following:
    - for University LAN/VPN PCs type: (the same as above)
    - for home PCs on ISPs type: your username that you access your ISP with.
  12. against 'Account Name', type a screen name for the account e.g. Exchange
  13. click 'Finish' - see Thunderbird open.

Configuring Thunderbird

  1. answer the question about using Thunderbird as the default (standard) email application as you wish.
  2. type in your Windows network password (choose Use password Manager to remember this password' is you wish) then click OK.
  3. wait...
  4. when mail visible press F8 key to remove view pane (press again to replace if you wish).

Important Configuration for Exchange Users

  1. click 'Tools' then 'Account Settings' option - see dialog.
  2. click on 'Copies & Folders' option.
  3. under 'Place a copy in:' click on the 'Other' option.
  4. drop the list next to the 'Other' option and choose 'Exchange' then 'Sent Items'.
  5. click on 'Composition & Addressing' option.
  6. drop the 'start my reply below the quote' list and choose 'Start my reply above the quote' option.
  7. click OK.

Junk Mail Filter

  1. click 'Tools' option then 'Junk Mail Filter' option.
  2. drop the 'Configure Junk Settings for: list and choose Exchange or Unix (Webmail) as appropriate.
  3. select 'Do not mark messages as junk etc....' and drop list and select 'Personal address list'.
  4. select 'Move incoming messages etc....'
  5. (for Exchange) select other a drop the list and select 'Junk E-mail on Exchange' option.
  6. select 'When I manually mark messages as Junk' and choose the option as you wish.
  7. click OK

Marking messages as 'Junk'

In the main window - see the fourth column - it after 'Sender' and has a no entry sign at the top.

  1. click on the small dot in the column see the image change and then the message moved to the junk folder (if configured to do so).

Configuring an Existing Copy Thunderbird to read University Exchange Email

Use these instructions if you have an existing copy of Thunderbird.

  1. click 'Tools' menu the 'Account Settings' option.
  2. fill out the 'Exchange Mail' dialog as follows:
    • Account Name: Exchange Mail (or whatever you like)
    • Your Name: (your name e.g. Jo Bloggs)
    • Email Address: (your standard email address e.g. j.bloggs@lancaster.ac.uk)
    • Reply-to Address: (blank)
    • Organization: (blank or Lancaster University)
    • Attach this signature: (optional)
    • Attach my vcard to messages: (optional)
  3. click on the 'Server Settings' option - see dialog:
    • Server Name: exchange.lancs.ac.uk
    • Port: 143
    • Username: (your University Windows username e.g. bloggsj)
    • Use secure connection (SSL): (blank)
    • Use secure authentication: (blank)
    • Check for new messages at startup: (optional)
    • Check for new messages every X minutes: (selected) and (10) minutes
    • Clean up ("Expunge") Inbox on Exit: (optional)
    • Empty Trash on Exit: (optional)
    • Local directory: (as default)
  4. click 'Copies & Folders' option:
    • When sending messages, automatically:
    • Place copy in: Other: Exchange Mail > Sent Items option.
    • Bcc these email addresses: (blank)
    • Drafts and Templates
    • "Drafts" Folder on: Exchange mail
    • Other: (not selected)
    • Keep message templates in:
    • "templates" Folder on: Exchange mail
    • Other: (not selected)
    • Show confirmation dialog when messages are saved: (not selected)
  5. click on 'Composition & Addressing Composition' option:
    • Compose messages in HTML format: (not recommended)
    • Automatically quote the original message when replying: (selected)
    • Then select: 'Start my reply above the quote'
    • Addressing
    • When looking up addresses:
    • Use my global LDAP server preferences for this account: (selected)
    • Use different LDAP server: (not selected)
  6. click Offline and Disk Space:
    • Make the messages in my Inbox available when I am working offline: (optional - good for remote access)
    • When I create new folders, select them for offline use: (not investigated yet)
    • Messages larger than: (not selected - unless you have a problem with disk space)

Subscribing To Folders

Apart from the basic folders e.g. Inbox, Deleted Items, etc., you need to 'subscribe' to the extra folders that you may have created. Subscribed folders are downloaded and 'unsubscribed' folders are not downloaded. This system allows you to run a fast basic email system or a slower 'full' system.

To subscribe' and/or unsubscribe to folders while Thunderbird is up and running:

  1. right-click on the appropriate 'Inbox' folder - see drop down menu.
  2. click on the 'Subscribe' option - see 'Subscribe' folder and, after a few seconds, a list of folders in your email account.
  3. select the folders you want and unselect the folders that you don't want to download.
  4. click OK - see folder appear.
  5. click on the folder and wait - see mail download.

FAQ

Problem - My Forwarded Mail is Getting Rejected

You are probably knowingly or unknowingly forwarding the messages as attachments. Thunderbird uses the .eml file format for forwarded attachments. The .eml file format is banned on many systems because it has been used by viruses to attack systems.

Solution

You can either:

  • forward messages specifically inline:
    1. to forward a message, click 'Message' menu then 'Forward as' option then 'Inline' option.
    2. add address and click 'Send' button.
  • configure Thunderbird to send forwarded messages 'inline' by default:
    1. from the main window, click 'Tools' menu then 'Options' option.
    2. ensure the 'General' tab is selected.
    3. drop the 'Forward messages:' option and choose 'Inline' option.
    4. click OK - the 'Forward' button should now send 'inline'.

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