frankd783
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Apple Mail: missing plug-in

I keep getting "missing plug-in" messages from Apple Mail in emails that contain actually JPEGs or other common attachments. I don't know when this exactly started (could be installation of 10.8.3 update or a security update). This "feature" occurs only on my Mac Pro. On my Macbook Pro all works fine with the same configuration.

 

Faulty system: Mac Pro Early 2008, Mac OS Mountain Lion 10.8.3, latest Apple Mail.

Working system: MacBook Pro 15" Retina Mid 2012, Mac OS Mountain Lion 10.8.3, latest Apple Mail.

 

I scanned this forum and the usual Google hits for help. I tried the following already:

  • repaired permissions, checked disk
  • all system & software updates done
  • Java preferences "restored to default", Java preferences deleted
  • repaired mailboxes
  • applied combo 10.8.3 updater
  • applied iTunes 10.2 combo installer
  • checked all configurations, nothing unusual.
  • sent an email with photo attachment via iPhoto
  • danced in circles @ midnight & full moon

 

Nothing worked so far. Any useful idea. This keeps annoying me!

 

Kind Regards

Frank

Posted on Mar 31, 2013 6:36 AM

by Linc Davis,Solvedanswer
Linc Davis Linc Davis
Level 10 (208,037 points)
Applications
A:

Back up all data.

 

Boot into Recovery by holding down the key combination command-R at the startup chime. Release the keys when you see a gray screen with a spinning dial.

 

Note: You need an always-on Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection to the Internet to use Recovery. It won’t work with USB or PPPoE modems, or with proxy servers, or with networks that require a certificate for authentication.

 

When the OS X Utilities screen appears, follow the prompts to reinstall the OS. You don't need to erase the boot volume, and you won't need your backup unless something goes wrong. If your Mac was upgraded from an older version of OS X, you’ll need the Apple ID and password you used to upgrade, so make a note of those before you begin.

Posted on Mar 31, 2013 2:45 PM

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frankd783

Q: Apple Mail: missing plug-in

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  • by Romsalik,

    Romsalik Romsalik Apr 10, 2013 12:26 AM in response to frankd783
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 10, 2013 12:26 AM in response to frankd783

    Hi Frank, I am searching the web because I have a identical problem like you. Please keep posting here for any solution, it looks like you are a lot more savvy in computers than Im. I can't open many types of attachments. It's really strange.

  • by frankd783,

    frankd783 frankd783 Apr 10, 2013 9:56 AM in response to Romsalik
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 10, 2013 9:56 AM in response to Romsalik

    Well, if all the possibilties in my original post on top of this thread fail, the only way is to reinstall MacOS completely from scratch.

     

    • Make a backup of all your data or your complete boot drive, just in case (use Time Machine or Carbon Copy Cloner, e.g.).
    • boot into your recovery partition (press Command-R at the startup chime a few seconds)
    • reinstall MacOS (you should not loose any of your data, but the backup from step one makes you feel better ;-)
    • after reboot, apply any OS updates via App Store, if any.

     

    This helped in my case.

     

    My guess is that one of the recent Java Updates of Apple damaged a system file (this is why sometimes resetting Java seems to help). This damaged (or missing) file is now overwritten by a new one - and all is up and working again.

     

    I hope, that helps you too.

     

    Frank

  • by Romsalik,

    Romsalik Romsalik Apr 10, 2013 12:29 PM in response to frankd783
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 10, 2013 12:29 PM in response to frankd783

    Thanks man I will try this.

  • by frankd783,

    frankd783 frankd783 Apr 11, 2013 10:54 AM in response to Romsalik
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 11, 2013 10:54 AM in response to Romsalik

    I found something, which might help as well. Could explain, why resetting Java sometimes halps and sometimes does not:

    http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-57578706-263/fix-permissions-errors-for-san dboxed-applications-in-os-x/

    Mail is a sandboxed application, AFAIK.

    Maybe following the hints at the end of this article helps. If so, please let me know. I cannot check this anymore.

     

    Frank

  • by redbrickstudios,

    redbrickstudios redbrickstudios May 9, 2013 12:32 PM in response to frankd783
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 9, 2013 12:32 PM in response to frankd783

    same issue here.

     

    There has to be an easy fix or update to fix this.

  • by Graham Parker,

    Graham Parker Graham Parker Jun 10, 2013 12:31 AM in response to frankd783
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 10, 2013 12:31 AM in response to frankd783

    Just in case anyone is interested I had the same problem sending a jpeg so I closed mail then reopened it and the photo was then showing

    Strange!!

  • by gkbs,

    gkbs gkbs Aug 14, 2013 8:08 AM in response to Graham Parker
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 14, 2013 8:08 AM in response to Graham Parker

    ME TOO!!  IT WORKED!!  Thank you for posting this, Graham!  It saved SO much time and work! Just quit Mail and reopen, the pics will be there!  (BTW, the pics were in fact sent via Mail, but I couldn't see them on my end.)

  • by Shlom,

    Shlom Shlom Oct 3, 2013 4:56 AM in response to frankd783
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2013 4:56 AM in response to frankd783

    Hello,

    Just wanted to say that I got the same prolem too.

    I bought a new SSD and installed a whole new OS 10.6.8.

    This problem was in previous system on the previous HD, and it exists again under my new system.

    This problem happens to me too when I use Flickr uploadr, When I drag photos over there, it says the same like when I add photos to a mail message.

     

    I didn't understand which solution worked.

    All the best,

    Shlomit.

  • by gkbs,

    gkbs gkbs Oct 3, 2013 10:34 AM in response to Shlom
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2013 10:34 AM in response to Shlom

    Graham's solution worked:

     

    "...so I closed mail then reopened it and the photo was then showing."

     

    Just close the Mail program and then re-launch it.

     

    g.

  • by redbrickstudios,

    redbrickstudios redbrickstudios Oct 3, 2013 10:41 AM in response to gkbs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2013 10:41 AM in response to gkbs

    Thats what I do to ... hopefully apple fixes this in 10.9 because its really irritating!

  • by RetrieverRG,

    RetrieverRG RetrieverRG Nov 18, 2013 5:19 PM in response to redbrickstudios
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 18, 2013 5:19 PM in response to redbrickstudios

    Identical problem - running System 10.7.5 - "missing plug-in" showing in Apple Mail, where a jpeg image or photo is expected.  Problem appeared recently, don't know why.

     

    Came here to find solutions - found Graham's - and hopefully improved on it:

     

    This works for my case:

     

    Did not need to close (quit) the Mail program and relaunch. 

     

    1. Just a simple click to open another message. Then,

     

    2. Click back to problem message.  jpeg image/photo appears as expected, without "missing plug-in" message.

        (in other words, close the problem message and re-open it.) no need to quit entire Mail app.

     

    did not need to mess with Safe Boot, System re-install, Java Preferences, Time Machine, Carbon Copy cloning, switching out hard drives, messing with System files, etc., etc.

     

    again, works for my case - hopefully works for a few others, too.  yes, very irritating.

     

    very grateful for postings here. 

     

    //jgd

  • by macreparations.com,

    macreparations.com macreparations.com Nov 26, 2013 5:24 AM in response to RetrieverRG
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 26, 2013 5:24 AM in response to RetrieverRG

    My strange story: I'm on 10.6.8 for a while on Mac Pro. I never had any problem with Mail. (I always could see attachemnts displayed, either JPEG, PDF or any..)

     

    Today I sent an email, and saw in my sent emails folder that "missing plug-in" ..  and after a few clicks ran onto this thread here.

     

    I just wanted to say that this is a bug in OSX, and a simple way to solve it: just search into your sent emails any email with an attachment that is an image; it will be displayed !!  Then go back to the "missing plug-in" bug and you will see the bug is gone.

     

    Cheers

  • by jen587,

    jen587 jen587 Nov 27, 2013 11:35 PM in response to frankd783
    Level 1 (0 points)
    iTunes
    Nov 27, 2013 11:35 PM in response to frankd783

    I was searching for something else and found this.  Just so you know - this is a java error.  Open up Java preferences and clear the cache.  Should fix your problem.  Doesn't fix it permanently but it's an easy fix and you can keep doing it every time it happens.  The newer versions of OSX don't have this problem anymore.  I'm on 10.9 now and haven't had this issue in months. 

     

    Good luck!

  • by ktcucumber,

    ktcucumber ktcucumber Nov 29, 2013 11:14 AM in response to Graham Parker
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 29, 2013 11:14 AM in response to Graham Parker

    Closing Mail and reopening it worked for me - no more missing plug in message just proper openable attachments. Thanks guys

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