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TICKET ARCHIVE -> OS X Mail: How to reinstall?

RobinS - Jul 28, 2006 - 11:08 am

Mail still won't let me paste more than a couple of lines or add any attachments. Can I just delete Mail and all its associated files then replace it through OS X Software Update or do I need to use the install DVD?

gsahli - Jul 31, 2006 - 9:37 am

I suspect you had a bad "Update" at some point. Download (from Apple downloads) the Combination (COMBO) Updater for your system version (10.4.7 or 10.3.9, for example) and use that to re-Update your system.

If that doesn't help, you will need to reinstall OS X using the Archive & Install option in the installer, which preserves user/application files. Some applications may need reinstalling, because they put files into system folders (Quark is an example).

RobinS - Aug 2, 2006 - 12:32 am

OK - so I'm installing an update - but it tells me that no hard drive partition is ok yet I have lots of space on all of them. Even the OS X partition - has a red ! on it. I've never seen that before.

gsahli - Aug 2, 2006 - 9:35 am

Maybe your hard drive got messed up by the bad update.

Please put the install DVD/CD in and restart using the DVD/CD as startup drive (or hold down C key during startup). Don't install. Instead, go to the Utilities menu and start Disk Utility. Select the hard drive (by name) and Repair the disk.

Then restart and try that Combo updater.
Good luck.

RobinS - Aug 2, 2006 - 10:51 am

I did the Combo updater - but there was several. I just did one. I think it was the 10.4.7. Anyway, Mail now works normally! Many thanks.

gsahli - Aug 2, 2006 - 11:32 am

Glad it's working.

RobinS - Aug 2, 2006 - 2:06 pm

I've got a 1.25 ghz Mini. I got the SMC Firmware Update but it says it "cannot be installed on this computer".

??

gsahli - Aug 2, 2006 - 3:23 pm

Yes, that update is for macbook laptops only.

RobinS - Aug 2, 2006 - 5:27 pm

It says:
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Mac mini (early 2006) Mac (early 2006) SMC Firmware Update
The SMC Firmware Update addresses intermittent boot issues with the Intel-based iMac (Early 2006).
------------
Clearly this is for Mac Mini. Perhaps its only for an Intel Mini? Strange that they could have forgotten to put the type of hardware its for on the website. I have the PPC 1.25 ghz version.

gsahli - Aug 2, 2006 - 6:57 pm

Oh, sorry, I read the first one on the page and quit...
Mac mini (early 2006) appears to mean an intel Mac mini. It still looks to me that the update is for intel macs.

RobinS - Aug 3, 2006 - 6:19 pm

Yeah - that makes sense since the PPC Minis weren't being made at that time. I wonder why Apple doesn't capitalize the name of their computer: Mini. Maybe a legal issue?

Anyway thanks for the clarification.