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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Apple Mail Bug
stockdalesound - May 31, 2005 - 5:45 pm
Apple was not able to figure this problem out and suggested I eliminate my libraries one by one. I'm hoping someone else has some insight:
I have a PowerBook G4 running Panther. All of a sudden a few weeks ago when I would downlaod my messages from my POP server I would sometimes get this message on every plain text and most html messages when I tried to read my mail:
"The message from (sender) concerning “(subject)” has not been downloaded from the server. You need to take this account online in order to download it."
The message is in italics.
The only problem is the account IS online, it is receiving and sending mail just fine, Safari is opening websites perfectly, AND I can go to my mail folders (this only seems to happen in the Inbox) and read mail fine, but when I get back to Inbox, I get this message intermittently and the only thing that fixes it is quitting and re-starting Apple Mail.
It is not, evidently related at all to my POP server nor my outgoinf mail server. It seems to be solely an Apple Mail problem. I made a "Test User" so I could see if it happened to Apple Mail in that identity. It has not happened yet, so it appears to bee a problem with THAT Apple Mail on THAT user (which is me and where all my mail files are stored. I'd rather nt have to copy eveything over to a new user)
My computer tech guy thought it might have something to do with some Secrity update that was making Apple Mail too senstitive to momentary glitches in signal strength on my DSL, but that's just a guess.
Thanks,
Gary Stockdale
http://stockdalesound.com
I have a PowerBook G4 running Panther. All of a sudden a few weeks ago when I would downlaod my messages from my POP server I would sometimes get this message on every plain text and most html messages when I tried to read my mail:
"The message from (sender) concerning “(subject)” has not been downloaded from the server. You need to take this account online in order to download it."
The message is in italics.
The only problem is the account IS online, it is receiving and sending mail just fine, Safari is opening websites perfectly, AND I can go to my mail folders (this only seems to happen in the Inbox) and read mail fine, but when I get back to Inbox, I get this message intermittently and the only thing that fixes it is quitting and re-starting Apple Mail.
It is not, evidently related at all to my POP server nor my outgoinf mail server. It seems to be solely an Apple Mail problem. I made a "Test User" so I could see if it happened to Apple Mail in that identity. It has not happened yet, so it appears to bee a problem with THAT Apple Mail on THAT user (which is me and where all my mail files are stored. I'd rather nt have to copy eveything over to a new user)
My computer tech guy thought it might have something to do with some Secrity update that was making Apple Mail too senstitive to momentary glitches in signal strength on my DSL, but that's just a guess.
Thanks,
Gary Stockdale
http://stockdalesound.com
earthsaver - May 31, 2005 - 7:52 pm
Have you tried putting the account offline and then back online? Have you tried deleting the account (making sure you have your mail backed up) and recreating it?
- Ben
- Ben
stockdalesound - May 31, 2005 - 8:56 pm
Ben,
Yes, I've tried that. Putting it offline, then online again, does not fix the problem.
I'm not sure how I would delete the account and re-create it.
How do I save all my mail, mailboxes and addresses so they can be re-imported? Do I need to uninstall Apple Mail and download a new version, or am I just deleting a user?
Thanks,
Gary
Yes, I've tried that. Putting it offline, then online again, does not fix the problem.
I'm not sure how I would delete the account and re-create it.
How do I save all my mail, mailboxes and addresses so they can be re-imported? Do I need to uninstall Apple Mail and download a new version, or am I just deleting a user?
Thanks,
Gary
earthsaver - May 31, 2005 - 9:13 pm
Curiosity: Have you tried calling your ISP on this?
In your Home/Library folder, you'll find a folder called Mail. Your best bet is to start by making a copy of this folder somewhere else; the Desktop, for example. If you are dragging the folder there, be sure to hold the Option key to copy it.
Now, in Mail>Preferences, select the glitched account and look over its settings. When you have an understanding of them, or have written them down, so you can reenter them in a moment, click the minus at the bottom of the pane, thus to delete it. You should get a warning about deleting the contents of the account. Confirm the warning.
Then, you can re-add the account, filling in the settings as appropriate. When you're done, close preferences and save your changes. Now, in Mail you can select File>Import Mailboxes, and choose to import data from Mail for Mac OS X, and navigate to the folder for the account you just deleted. It'll be inside the Mail folder you copied out of the Library and will have a name related containing the email address of that account.
Also of note, Mail comes as part of Mac OS X. It is not available as a separate download.
- Ben
In your Home/Library folder, you'll find a folder called Mail. Your best bet is to start by making a copy of this folder somewhere else; the Desktop, for example. If you are dragging the folder there, be sure to hold the Option key to copy it.
Now, in Mail>Preferences, select the glitched account and look over its settings. When you have an understanding of them, or have written them down, so you can reenter them in a moment, click the minus at the bottom of the pane, thus to delete it. You should get a warning about deleting the contents of the account. Confirm the warning.
Then, you can re-add the account, filling in the settings as appropriate. When you're done, close preferences and save your changes. Now, in Mail you can select File>Import Mailboxes, and choose to import data from Mail for Mac OS X, and navigate to the folder for the account you just deleted. It'll be inside the Mail folder you copied out of the Library and will have a name related containing the email address of that account.
Also of note, Mail comes as part of Mac OS X. It is not available as a separate download.
- Ben
stockdalesound - Jun 1, 2005 - 12:06 am
Ben,
In extensive session with the AppleCare guy, we narrowed it down that it couldn;t be the ISP{ since
a. it wasn;t doing this when I switched to a "test" user, and
b. This behavior of Apple Mail "thinking" it was offline and the message was unreadable occurred, in many cases AFTER the messages had been downloaded from my POP server and read. In other words, I can read messages, then go to one of my other mail folders, come back to the Inbox and all of a sudden it's saying the same messages I'd just read are not downloaded and that the program is not online.
I guess I will go through the hassle of re-making my Apple Mail account. However, I wonder if the whole thing would right itslef if I went to Tiger.
Thanks,
Gary
In extensive session with the AppleCare guy, we narrowed it down that it couldn;t be the ISP{ since
a. it wasn;t doing this when I switched to a "test" user, and
b. This behavior of Apple Mail "thinking" it was offline and the message was unreadable occurred, in many cases AFTER the messages had been downloaded from my POP server and read. In other words, I can read messages, then go to one of my other mail folders, come back to the Inbox and all of a sudden it's saying the same messages I'd just read are not downloaded and that the program is not online.
I guess I will go through the hassle of re-making my Apple Mail account. However, I wonder if the whole thing would right itslef if I went to Tiger.
Thanks,
Gary
earthsaver - Jun 1, 2005 - 12:12 am
Perhaps so. Tiger handles email significantly differently. No more traditional UNIX mbox files containing all messages and attachments in a single file. Now messages are stored individually. This is done partially because of Spotlight's need to be able to read files easily and to differentiate among them.
- Ben
- Ben
earthsaver - Jun 7, 2005 - 2:24 pm
Regarding your feedback: Apple techs are more knowledgeable than me most of the time, however they're not geniuses. Even their supervisors might be more knowledgeable, and "escalating" to one of them is sometimes a good idea.
In any case, neither are the developers who created the software and they might not know about every error in the application. Not every tech has spoken to a user with every problematic condition. Therefore, finding a solution requires the collective resources of them and perhaps people like me, too.
- Ben
In any case, neither are the developers who created the software and they might not know about every error in the application. Not every tech has spoken to a user with every problematic condition. Therefore, finding a solution requires the collective resources of them and perhaps people like me, too.
- Ben
stockdalesound - Jun 7, 2005 - 2:48 pm
Ben,
Right. I agree. What I'm bothered by is the fact that, since this error message is built into the program, there should be SOMEONE else who's experienced Apple Mail "thinking" it's offline when it's not.
Can our exchange be "forum-ized" so that more users can be included in the discussion?
Thanks again for your help.
Gary Stockdale
Right. I agree. What I'm bothered by is the fact that, since this error message is built into the program, there should be SOMEONE else who's experienced Apple Mail "thinking" it's offline when it's not.
Can our exchange be "forum-ized" so that more users can be included in the discussion?
Thanks again for your help.
Gary Stockdale
earthsaver - Jun 17, 2005 - 2:28 pm
I thought I responded to this before, but two things:
- Did you ask to be transferred to a supervisor? If you're frustrated with one first-level AppleCare, I recommend escalating your request. I agree there's got to be someone who's experienced that situation.
- There is a forum on macosx.com. Individualized discussions like ours are designed to be one-on-one with the opportunity for other techs to comment. If you want more user inclusion, you can start a thread in the forum.
- Ben
- Did you ask to be transferred to a supervisor? If you're frustrated with one first-level AppleCare, I recommend escalating your request. I agree there's got to be someone who's experienced that situation.
- There is a forum on macosx.com. Individualized discussions like ours are designed to be one-on-one with the opportunity for other techs to comment. If you want more user inclusion, you can start a thread in the forum.
- Ben
stockdalesound - Jun 17, 2005 - 4:36 pm
Ben,
Yes, I'd like to see if anyone else has had this problem. Being as I will soon be switching to Tiger, I doubt if I'll get much help from Apple on a System they're moving away from (Panther).
But I always try to escalate myself to the highest-level tech guy posssible. A good suggestion, though.
What particular forum should I post this issuee on?
Thanks,
Gary Stockdale
http://stockdalesound.com
Yes, I'd like to see if anyone else has had this problem. Being as I will soon be switching to Tiger, I doubt if I'll get much help from Apple on a System they're moving away from (Panther).
But I always try to escalate myself to the highest-level tech guy posssible. A good suggestion, though.
What particular forum should I post this issuee on?
Thanks,
Gary Stockdale
http://stockdalesound.com
earthsaver - Jun 17, 2005 - 4:49 pm
There's the Mac OS X System and Software here on macosx.com - http://www.macosx.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=5
and I'm sure you can find an appropriate section at Apple Discussions - http://discussions.info.apple.com/
- Ben
and I'm sure you can find an appropriate section at Apple Discussions - http://discussions.info.apple.com/
- Ben
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