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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Apple Mail Quits Unexpectedly

Robert12345 - Jun 25, 2005 - 4:02 pm

Hello,

I am using Mac OS 10.2.8 and Mail 1.2.5 (v 553).

Under "preferences" and "composing," I have "Automatically complete addresses" selected.

Whenever I am composing an e-mail and begin typing in the e-mail address in the To box, the program unexpectedly quits. I have been able to isolate the problem because it only occurs when the mail program begins to access my address book (LDAP) to fill in the rest of the address I have begun typing. When the "Automatically complete addresses box" is not selected, I don't run into that problem.

To fix this issue, I've tried using the Disk first aid and then I tried trashing my preferences (com.apple.Mail.plist). Hasn't solved the issue.

Have you heard of this bug before? Any suggestions to fix this?

Thank you very much for your help.

-Robert

Cheryl - Jun 26, 2005 - 3:21 pm

Robert,

My name is Cheryl and I will be assisting you.

First, go to Home>Library>Preferences. Trash the com.apple.AddressBook.plist

Now go to Applications>Utilities and open Disk Utility. Have it repair permissions.

Make sure Address Book has entries and the short names or Nicknames you are using.
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Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !

Cheryl

Robert12345 - Jun 26, 2005 - 9:19 pm

Hi Cheryl,

Thanks for your prompt reply.

I followed all your instructions and the problem persists. Other suggestions?

Thank you,

Robert

Cheryl - Jun 27, 2005 - 8:03 am

Robert,

The problem could be one of two things. A corrupt Address Book data file - or a corrupt font.

1.
First: go to Home>Library>Application Support>AddressBook.

Trash the AddressBook.data file.
Now rename AddressBook.data.beforesave to AddressBook.data

If you do not have the beforesave file, use the .data.previous file.

Empty the trash.. now give it a try.

2.
Do you have OS 9 installed on the hard drive? Go to Hard Drive>System Folder - with the 9 on the folder icon)>Fonts. Move the Helvetica font to the desktop. Close the windows, now give Mail a try.

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Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !

Cheryl

Robert12345 - Jun 27, 2005 - 5:34 pm

Hi,

I tried those suggestions and it didn't seem to help.

Looking a bit further into the problem, I noticed that when I type the single characters a, i, o, q, v, x, and y, the tool works and provides me with a list of names from my address book. Any other first character causes it to quit.

-Robert

Cheryl - Jun 27, 2005 - 5:50 pm

Robert,

Go to Home>Library>Caches. Open the com.apple.AddressBook folder and trash the individual files in there. (not any folders)
Now open the MetaData folder
Trash all the files in there.

Now give it a try.
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Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !

Cheryl

Robert12345 - Jun 27, 2005 - 6:39 pm

There is no folder under Caches called com.apple.AddressBook. However, there is a com.apple.addressservices. When opened, this has a file called "Photos" but there is nothing in it. Am I missing a file?

Cheryl - Jun 27, 2005 - 6:57 pm

Robert,

Because you are using 10.2 it is probably in a different place or not needed.

I thought of something else.

Go to Home>Library>Addressbook Plugins
Make sure that is empty.

Now go to Hard Drive>Library>AddressBook Plugins.
Make sure that is empty.

Now go to Hard drive>Library>Scripts>AddressBook Scripts. Move everything out of that folder and place it on the desktop.

Now give it a try.

You have a unique problem and I will stick with you until we get this solved.

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Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !

Cheryl

Robert12345 - Jun 27, 2005 - 8:17 pm

Cheryl,

Thank you for your patience. I'm finding out some interesting things about how this system is organized. I've considered upgrading the OS, but heard the new one is sluggish. Plus I would lose Classic which I use all the time. FYI - I'm running a G4 with dual 1.25 GHz and 768 MB.

I checked those file paths there were no addressbook folders nor addressbook scripts. Although there plenty of mail scripts.. perhaps an error lies in one of those?

-Robert

Cheryl - Jun 27, 2005 - 8:41 pm

Robert,

First, the latest OS - 10.4 - Tiger - is not sluggish. The first few days Spotlight - the find component will index your machine which may slow things down, but afterward it will be smooth and speedy. Your machine can indeed handle it. And you will not lose Classic !!! I am running Tiger and still have Classic working for my scanner that still does not have an OS X driver (probably never will).

In the meantime... I am concerned that you do not have those files. That could be the reason for your problems.

Find that 10.2 CD Disk 1. It is time for an archive and preserve install. This will not touch the programs you have installed - nor your Home folder. It will install all the important folders and files for the OS as well as a new installation of Safari, Mail and Address Book.

Start up from your Mac OS X Install Disc 1
Before clicking on the installer screen, go to the Installer Menu and select Disk Utility.
Click on the second icon at the top left.
Click on Repair Drive. If it does any repairs, click on it again when done with the first pass. You want it to find all the problems and repair them. You want no references to repairs done.
Now quit Disk Utility.
Select your language. The Welcome to the Mac OS X Installer window appears.
Click Continue. The Important Information window appears.
After reading or printing the information, click Continue. The Software License Agreement window appears.
After reading or printing the information, click Continue.
An agreement sheet appears. If you agree with the license agreement, click Agree. The Select a Destination window appears.
Click the volume that you wish to install to.
Click Options. The installation options sheet appears.
Select Archive and Install.
Select the volume which already has Mac OS X installed.
You should also select Preserve Users and Network Settings, to preserve network and Home directory settings.
Remember your printer drivers.
Click OK.
Click Continue to begin the installation.

At restart, go to the Utility folder and use Disk Utility to repair permissions.

Now you can go here to get the 10.2.8 combo update.
http://www.apple.com/support/downloa...bo_10_2_8.html

When done, repair permissions again, then use Software Update for the security updates. Repair permissions after those have been installed.

Now you will need to reinstall Stuffit Expander and your anti virus if you use it.

Now give Mail and AddressBook a test run.
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Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !

Cheryl

Robert12345 - Jun 27, 2005 - 8:50 pm

Okay, before I go through such lengths, am I able to save the Safari bookmarks, e-mails and address book contacts?

Cheryl - Jun 27, 2005 - 9:08 pm

Robert,

All your bookmarks, emails, addresses, etc will not be touched. The archive and preserve will not touch anything in your Home folder where these are stored.

It will also not touch any programs that you have installed - except for anti virus and Stuffit Expander which installs files in the system.
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Let me know if you need further assistance and thank you for using MacOSX.com !

Cheryl