Howto install thunderbird-2.0.0.0.tar.gz in Linux

Posted on in Categories , , , , , last updated April 25, 2008

Q. I would like to install latest and greatest Mozilla thunderbird mail client under Linux.

How do I download and install the same to read emails?

A. Mozilla’s Thunderbird 2 email application is more powerful than ever. Thunderbird 2 features many new enhancements to help you better manage your unruly inbox, and stay informed. Thunderbird 2 scales to the most sophisticated organizational needs while making it easy to find what you need. It is the best mail/news client with RSS and integrated spam filter support.

Download Thunderbird to your Linux desktop

=> Visit this site to download Thunderbird

Thunderbird 2.0 installation – Just untar file and install it

Let us say you would like to install thunderbird in your own home directory called /home/jerry/. Open X terminal and type following command.

Copy your downloaded file to /home/tom/ and untar it:
$ cp /home/tom/Desktop/thunderbird-2.0.0.0.tar.gz .
$ tar -zxvf thunderbird-2.0.0.0.tar.gz

Now software was installed. To start Thunderbird mail client, enter:
$ cd thunderbird
$ ./thunderbird

How do I install thunderbird for everyone?

Install thunderbird in /opt directory. Login as root user:
# cd /opt
# mkdir thunderbird
# cd thunderbird
# cp /home/tom/Desktop/thunderbird-2.0.0.0.tar.gz .
# tar -zxvf thunderbird-2.0.0.0.tar.gz

To start thunderbird, enter:
$ /opt/thunderbird/thunderbird &

How do I create thunderbird icon on my desktop?

Right click on your Linux desktop
Select Create Launcher
Fill the details as follows:

  • Set name to : Thunderbird
  • Set command to : /opt/thunderbird/thunderbird
  • Set comment to : My Email Client
  • Hit OK to create an ICON

Howto install thunderbird-2.0.0.0.tar.gz and create an ICON in Linux

A note about Ubuntu / Debian Linux user

If you are using Ubuntu / Debian Linux, open terminal and type the following command to install thunderbird:
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install thunderbird

Posted by: Vivek Gite

The author is the creator of nixCraft and a seasoned sysadmin and a trainer for the Linux operating system/Unix shell scripting. He has worked with global clients and in various industries, including IT, education, defense and space research, and the nonprofit sector. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+.

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25 comment

  1. This is the first time I have installed new software
    on my Linux machine in 10 months.
    I am thrilled to bits.
    Thank you

  2. Excellent instructions, thank you so much. Just a note: I noticed that right before your first code section, you have:
    “Copy your downloaded file to /home/tom/ and untar it:”

    And right below it you have:
    $ cp /home/jerry/Desktop/thunderbird-2.0.0.0.tar.gz .

    So, is it Tom, or Jerry? :)

    Thanks again and best regards

  4. After unpacking the tar, ./thunderbird does nothing at all??

    I am running Acer Aspire One under their Linux (Lipsus).

    All files are present, the unpack worked fine and I am in the correct directory.

    Any ideas??

    Thanks

  7. I’ve extracted the thunderbird directory… im getting an error
    $cd thunderbird
    $./thunderbird
    ./thunderbird-bin: error while loading shared libraries: libstdc++.so.5: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

    Anyone help?

  9. very nice informations, i am using this from 2 yrs in windows and now i shifted to ubuntu 8.10 it working fine.. hearty thanks to team.

  12. Hahaha … that’s was a good one (Tom or Jerry) :-D
    So, why not change better to Itchy and Scratchy ? … For the new generations :-P

  13. Hi, my Windows ME PC finally died, so decided to move to Thunderbird under Debian for all my email etc. QUESTION how can I import/read in all existing emails, contacts list, etc. from a full backup of data files I have on CD to my new empty Thunderbird? Is the file structure under Debian compatible for straight copy? Any help appreciated, Thanks.

  14. I followed the “install so everyone can use Thunderbird” instructions, but was logged in as root. I then ran Thunderbird as root, and brought in my (gtennant’s) email and address book from outlook, as directed. Though not seamless, I got the data to where it needed to be, apparently. Question is: though I can, as gtennant, launch Thunderbird, it doesn’t see the Local Files and all its contents as it appears when running Thunderbird as root. Same happens when I log in as gtennant, then go to a terminal window, su – in, then launch Thunderbird — it then works. I don’t want to operate routinely as root, so what to do?
    Thx,
    gtennant

  15. Simply super instructions………………….Sir i have created the launcher but the icon is like shell
    script…………..how to change the icon to default Thunderbird logo…….

  19. I’ve extracted the thunderbird directory… im getting an error
    $cd thunderbird
    $./thunderbird
    ./thunderbird-bin: error while loading shared libraries: libstdc++.so.5: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

  21. I’ve extracted the thunderbird directory… im getting an error
    $cd thunderbird
    $./thunderbird
    ./thunderbird-bin: error while loading shared libraries: libstdc++.so.5: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

    I’ve installed libstdc++6-4.1, but it hasn’t solved problem. What should do I next?

  23. I’m having the same problem as hladki:

    $./thunderbird
    ./thunderbird-bin: error while loading shared libraries: libstdc++.so.5: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

    The yum installer does the job right, but it asks me to download and install version 3.1.11. I Negative, I choose for version 2.0.0.24, so I hit “n”. Below I copied the most important messages:

    $ yum install thunderbird
    –> Package thunderbird.i686 0:3.1.11-1.fc14 set to be installed
    Is this ok [y/N]: n

    Can anyone give us a hint?

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