want to view thunderbird emails without thunderbird client

The problem is that you're not trying to view .eml files, but the actualy TB message database. Youdefinitely need a specialized program that can do it, and here's a free one that shoudl do the trick: www.mitec.cz/mailview.html

i downloaded and ran the .exe file

I think mailview is a mail client (like thunderbird)

I want to open my .eml files in textpad, or notepad, or microsoft word

thanks