Thunderbird disappears each time I shut down the computer -- Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
 

I recently installed Ubuntu 12.04 LTS. Thunderbird showed up on my screen, so I set up a new account. I managed to download messages from the server, but the next time I turned on the computer I couldn't find Tb. The first time this happened, I finally found it on my dashboard -- I'm so new that I didn't realize it wouldn't stay on the list at the left side of the screen. I locked it (I thought) to that vertical list -- along with the Help icon -- and now both of those are gone from that list, and I can't find them anywhere.

As I've been trying to get going with the Ubuntu, I found myself setting up the account three times, because each time I retrieved it from wherever, it seemed to have lost all trace of the account I had set up (except for the first time, when it still had the address book I'd managed to import -- that's part of another long story).

I don't see anything about this in any of the forums. I'd think that if someone else were having this problem, there would be a thread on it.

Can anyone help? I'm using a home-assembled Shuttle desktop.

P.S. Here I am in Edit Post. I inadvertently submitted before finishing with tags, and Edit doesn't seem to allow for adding tags. So that's a lesser problem with which I would appreciate help as well.

The behavior you're reporting would be what one would expect when using a Live CD or flash drive as nothing is saved on reboot. How exactly did you install Ubuntu? Did you download the iso, burn it as an image to a CD/DVD and boot the computer and install? Did you use a LiveCD on a flash drive to boot?. Post your drive/partition information. Open a terminal by either going to the dash home (the Ubuntu icon in the upper left of the Desktop) and typing terminal in the Search box or by holding down the Ctrl+Alt+t keys simultaneously to open a terminal. Post the output here.

Hi, yancek. What you wrote made extra sense, since none of my Firefox settings were being saved either.

I installed Linux by making a bootable USB stick, per the directions on ubuntu.com. I did forget to either remove the stick or change the boot order before restarting; each time, the "Would you like to install or just run from the stick?" window would appear. I was bemused, but thought I'd better just close the window, and when I did, I'd have the regular screen.

With your help, I finally figured out to (both) remove the USB stick and change the boot order so that the hard drive comes first. The problem seems solved!

I feel foolish, but grateful and triumphant. Thank you very much for your astute questions and observations!

Kirsten