Mail.app problem--help!
 

Earlier today my Mail.app crashed. At first I got the message saying it had "quit unexpectedly." This happened each time I'd try to launch it. I tossed the mail preferences as suggested online, which didn't help. At some point, after looking in the Library and trying to at least learn where my folders were (they are still there), the launch message changed, now informing me that I don't have any email accounts configured. I read about a similar case on this site, but in that one the victim had renamed a folder. I don't think I did anything like that, but who knows?

I'm slightly panicked, as we have emails pertaining to our jobs that we need to access. Any help will be appreciated with one caveat: I have only basic Mac knowledge, but can find my way around pretty well, just go slow and careful with the technical terms! Thanks so much.

If Mail.app is crashing, there is likely useful info in a crash log.
Launch the "Console" application (under /Applications/Utilities) and look for relevant error messages. Note that messages are labeled with the date & time so you can use that to locate the part of the log to look at. Copy & paste the relevant messages back here so we can see them.
If the log refers to a crash log, press the "Logs" button (top-left) and go into the ~/Library/Logs section to find that particular crash log. Copy & paste back here the last portion of that crash log - the part that gives details about the last crash (or preferably attach it as a plain text file, using the "Manage Attachments" button at the bottom when you reply).

You should also try the standard troubleshooting suggestions:
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.p...04011205473937
http://forums.osxfaq.com/viewtopic.php?t=7269
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/faqs.html

In particular, be sure to try logging in as a different user to see if the problem exists there. (Create a new user via the Accounts preference panel if you only have the one user account so far.) You will of course need to set up the Mail accounts for that new user so you can test it out (to see if it is crashing)

console log
 

Here's the Console Log; I wasn't sure what to include, so it's all here. I don't see anything about a Crash Log though.

Mac OS X Version 10.2.8 (Build 6R73)
Jun 21 22:15:04 localhost WindowServer[216]: CGXDisableUpdate: Updates disabled by connection 0x620f for over 1.000000 seconds

Jun 21 22:15:13 localhost WindowServer[216]: CGXDisableUpdate: Updates disabled by connection 0x6703 for over 1.000000 seconds

Jun 21 22:15:16 localhost /sbin/autodiskmount[245]: disk1s4 hfs no yes Zip 100 [not mounted]

Jun 21 22:15:18 localhost /sbin/autodiskmount[245]: disk1s4 hfs no yes Zip 100 /Volumes/Zip 100

2005-06-21 22:17:06.001 Mail[464] Can't cache image
2005-06-21 22:17:52.563 Mail[467] Can't cache image
2005-06-21 22:26:31.702 Mail[468] Can't cache image
2005-06-21 22:28:13.064 Safari[469] Can't cache image
Jun 22 03:15:02 localhost sendmail[511]: NOQUEUE: SYSERR(root): /etc/mail/sendmail.cf: line 93: fileclass: cannot open '/etc/mail/local-host-names': Group writable directory

Jun 22 07:32:45 localhost WindowServer[216]: CGXRemoveTrackingArea : Invalid tracking area

Jun 22 07:32:50 localhost last message repeated 2 times

Jun 22 07:55:18 localhost WindowServer[216]: CGXRemoveTrackingArea : Invalid tracking area

2005-06-22 15:24:23.696 Mail[539] Can't cache image
Jun 22 15:26:11 localhost WindowServer[216]: CGXRemoveTrackingArea : Invalid tracking area


I'll try the other suggestions you've made while I'm waiting for your interpretation of the log.

Thank you so much!

Does this section of the console log include the times when Mail.app crashed?
You should also look at system.log (use the Logs button at top left of the Console application)

Have you done something with 'sendmail' ? E.g. following instructions in a macosxhints article to enable it, or used a utility program like SendmailEnabler,, etc?

This may be what you're looking for. There are a bunch of logs under the Mail crash log that start with the following:

Date/Time: 2005-06-21 08:49:09 -0400
OS Version: 10.2.8 (Build 6R73)
Host: [my name]-Computer.local.

Command: Mail
PID: 436

Exception: EXC_BAD_ACCESS (0x0001)
Codes: KERN_PROTECTION_FAILURE (0x0002) at 0x00000014

Let me know if I should send one entry in its entirety.

I have not done anything like you described to the "send mail." I wouldn't know how!

I also see, in the console log, something about "can't cache image." That's what's now added to the console each time I try to open Mail.

When you say to try logging on as a new user, do you mean to the Mac in general, or to Mail specifically? I have four accounts on Mail, but we don't log on, they're all visible at once. Please forgive me for being so ignorant! I've had this blue G3 since 1999 and haven't had a problem...

Yes - please show us the latest crash log - I think there may be several logs in one file with the latest one at the end - so just copy & paste the full crash log from the latest crash, starting with the part you posted above, and continuing right to the end of the file.

I meant logging in to the Mac in general. The idea is to get away from whatever stuff you might have installed that might be interfering with Mail. Of course you will need to set up your email accounts (at least one) for this new user account.

I've done that and, after entering all the settings from verizon, I was able to open a new Mail account in the new Mac account.

Here's the latest log:

Date/Time: 2005-06-21 21:49:02 -0400
OS Version: 10.2.8 (Build 6R73)
Host: [my name's]-Computer.local.

Command: Mail
PID: 546

Exception: EXC_BAD_ACCESS (0x0001)
Codes: KERN_PROTECTION_FAILURE (0x0002) at 0x00000014

Thread 0 Crashed:
#0 0x930ce880 in __NSCalculateWidthInRange
#1 0x9307cd0c in -[NSATSTypesetter layoutGlyphsInLayoutManager:startingAtGlyphIndex:maxNumberOfLineFragments:nextGlyphIndex:]
#2 0x93086754 in -[NSLayoutManager(NSPrivate) _fillLayoutHoleAtIndex:desiredNumberOfLines:]
#3 0x93082aec in _NSFastFillAllLayoutHolesUpToGlyphIndex
#4 0x93087304 in -[NSLayoutManager textContainerForGlyphAtIndex:effectiveRange:]
#5 0x930c780c in -[NSTextView(NSPrivate) _scrollRangeToVisible:forceCenter:]
#6 0x930fd1cc in -[NSTextView(NSSharing) didChangeText]
#7 0x000672c4 in 0x672c4
#8 0x930dc3dc in -[NSTextView insertText:]
#9 0x0001ecc8 in 0x1ecc8
#10 0x0001dcf0 in 0x1dcf0
#11 0x00029400 in 0x29400
#12 0x000296e4 in 0x296e4
#13 0x9068c258 in objc_msgSendv
#14 0x97dfcd44 in -[NSInvocation invoke]
#15 0x941f99fc in _invokeInvocationRequest
#16 0x941fc788 in _handleInvocationRequest
#17 0x941f5344 in -[MainThread handlePortMessage:]
#18 0x97e00438 in __NSFireMachPort
#19 0x9015bd38 in __CFMachPortPerform
#20 0x9015bba4 in __CFRunLoopDoSource1
#21 0x90148be4 in __CFRunLoopRun
#22 0x90180f04 in CFRunLoopRunSpecific
#23 0x969a3b70 in RunCurrentEventLoopInMode
#24 0x969b3a78 in ReceiveNextEventCommon
#25 0x969dabbc in BlockUntilNextEventMatchingListInMode
#26 0x9308e4cc in _DPSNextEvent
#27 0x930a0824 in -[NSApplication nextEventMatchingMask:untilDate:inMode:dequeue:]
#28 0x930b23f4 in -[NSApplication run]
#29 0x931605cc in NSApplicationMain
#30 0x000043cc in 0x43cc
#31 0x0000424c in 0x424c

Thread 1:
#0 0x90073ba8 in mach_msg_trap
#1 0x90005ed0 in mach_msg
#2 0x90148938 in __CFRunLoopRun
#3 0x90180f04 in CFRunLoopRunSpecific
#4 0x941f579c in -[MainThread performOneway:result:withTarget:selector:]
#5 0x0002978c in 0x2978c
#6 0x9068c258 in objc_msgSendv
#7 0x97dfcd44 in -[NSInvocation invoke]
#8 0x941f8428 in -[MonitoredInvocation invoke]
#9 0x9420f4e4 in +[WorkerThread _execute:]
#10 0x97e2cc38 in forkThreadForFunction
#11 0x90020c28 in _pthread_body

Thread 2:
#0 0x90014c08 in syscall_thread_switch
#1 0x97e03edc in +[NSThread sleepUntilDate:]
#2 0x9308229c in -[NSUIHeartBeat _heartBeatThread:]
#3 0x97e2cc38 in forkThreadForFunction
#4 0x90020c28 in _pthread_body

PPC Thread State:
srr0: 0x930ce880 srr1: 0x0000f030 vrsave: 0x00000000
xer: 0x00000000 lr: 0x9307cd0c ctr: 0x97df46d0 mq: 0x00000000
r0: 0x00000444 r1: 0xbfffdb70 r2: 0x00000000 r3: 0x00000000
r4: 0x01275e98 r5: 0x00000000 r6: 0x00000014 r7: 0x01255fd0
r8: 0x00000000 r9: 0x00000000 r10: 0x00000000 r11: 0x00000001
r12: 0x011186f0 r13: 0x00000001 r14: 0x0000002e r15: 0x000000f5
r16: 0x00000000 r17: 0x00000000 r18: 0x01118758 r19: 0x480ac000
r20: 0x00000000 r21: 0x00000000 r22: 0x01255fd0 r23: 0x50440000
r24: 0x011186f0 r25: 0x012746ec r26: 0x01118550 r27: 0x00000000
r28: 0xa3099d50 r29: 0x0000012e r30: 0x00000185 r31: 0x930ce730

So do you get the problem with this new user?
If not, the cause is almost certainly some file that is under the home folder of your usual user. Did you install any enhancements to Mail etc?

This seems to show that the crash is likely something to do with a font - it is crashing in doing some text layout.
Have you installed any new fonts?
Look under ~/Library/Fonts
( ~ = your home folder)

[QUOTE=hayne]This seems to show that the crash is likely something to do with a font - it is crashing in doing some text layout.
Have you installed any new fonts?


The last time I installed fonts was 2/21/05.

No. Mail set up fine and opens fine.

What are enhancements? I don't think I've installed any; not intentionally anyway.

So if you have determined that Mail.app works fine with the new user account, then you need to find out what it is about the old user that is causing the problem.

The problem almost certainly is due to something under your home folder.
And it likely is something under ~/Library
( ~ = your home folder)

The most likely thing is a bad preference file under ~/Library/Preferences
You could start by removing the preference files for the apps you are having trouble with.
If the problem persists, you need to narrow the problem down - you could start by moving (via drag & drop) the whole "Preferences" folder that is under ~/Library to the Desktop, then log out and log in again. A default copy of the Preferences folder will have been recreated. Does that improve things? If so, you could use a divide & conquer approach to figure out which of the preference files is causing the problem - move half of the preference files back into the Preferences folder, log out & in again, etc.

If the problem persists, try the same thing with the other sub-folders of ~/Library. E.g. with ~/Library/Fonts, ~/Library/Caches, ~/Library/Application Support, ~/Library/InputManagers, etc, etc

There is a file, "DefaultCounts," located in the main user's ~Library/Mail/ It is dated yesterday at 5:02 pm. When I click on it (as if to open), it loads QuarkXPress, but a document doesn't open. Is that suppose to be there? I dragged it to the Desktop and tried opening Mail, got the sign up for an account menu again.

Yes - I think so - it is present in my ~/Library/Mail folder.
Best not to fiddle with the files under this folder - you may accidentally lose mail messages. Make sure you have a backup before doing anything with it.

I had already tried removing the Mail preference, even one for Address Book (which didn't get recreated so I put it back). I have moved the entire Preference folder to the desktop as you suggested and logged out. When I logged back in I still got the "Welcome to Mail" box that asks for Verizon's info, my user name etc., as if I'm opening an email account for the first time. If I fill in all of the info they ask for, will it link to my old folders/emails etc., or will it start from scratch and I'll lose everything? I can't see if moving the Preferences folder to the desktop helps if I can't get past the "Welcome" screen. Or does that indicate the problem isn't in Preferences?

1) You just moved your preferences somewhere else - so you can always move it back if things seem to get worse. But you should make sure you have a backup copy of the ~/Library/Mail folder (which is where your messages are stored) before you go much further.

2) You need to try using the Mail program and see if it crashes. If it doesn't crash then you can probably conclude that the problem is somewhere inside the sub-folder of ~/Library that you moved away.

Okay, I reentered all the info at the "Welcome to Mail" box. I now have email. This worked without dragging Preferences or anything else to the Desktop. I've no idea why. Initially, the crash gave me the "quit unexpectedly" box; but sometime last evening it switched to the "Welcome to Mail" (sign up for Mail) menu.

New problem: while I was able to import my Mail folders (so didn't lose old emails), I don't have the more current emails that had been in my Inbox. Also, I'll have to set up the other Mail subaccounts and have no idea how to retrieve their Inboxes. Is it possible?

Almost certainly.
But I'm not sure of how.
Maybe try just dragging the messages from that folder onto the Mail.app window?
Or find an AppleScript that will import mail messages?

I don't know where the Inbox messages are. The Mail/Mailboxes folder only has the folders and emails that I kept in separate folders--the Inbox isn't there.

Thank you for all your help. Just going through this process has taught me a lot, even if I still lack for complete answers! I appreciate all the time/effort you put forth.

The Inboxes are folders that are directly under ~/Library/Mail/
and are named according to the name of your email accounts (e.g. "POP-fred@foo.org")