"Thunderbird can't use the profile because it is in use to continue close the running instance of thunderbird"
In relation to the above error message found the only thing to cure this is to restart windows and re-run thunderbird.
The lock file that often gums up a thunderbird session is:
D:\vmshared\PERS\mailstuff\mbg\parent.lock
My other thunderbird hints are at: http://del.icio.us/mbgmbg/Link_ThunderbirdFixes
