Q: "Mail index is damaged"

I am getting the same issue

I don't see why it won't fix it, but you can do it manually. Open Terminal.app, and do:

*sqlite3 ~/Library/Mail/Envelope\ Index vacuum*

... and if that doesn't work, then do.

*mv ~/Library/Mail/Envelope\ Index ~/Library/Mail/Envelope\ Index.old*

... and that will rename the index, forcing it to be recreated next time you start Mail.app

This yields two separate errors and does not fix the problem:(

kenneth-computer:~ Kenneth$ sqlite3 ~/Library/Mail/Envelope\ Index vacuum
SQL error: database disk image is malformed

kenneth-computer:~ Kenneth$ mv ~/Library/Mail/Envelope\ Index ~/Library/Mail/Envelope\ Index.old
mv: rename /Users/Kenneth/Library/Mail/Envelope Index to /Users/Kenneth/Library/Mail/Envelope Index.old: Permission denied

This worked for me . . . it takes a little while but it puts everything back to normal:
http://jimmitchell.org/2008/02/20/rebuilding-the-mail-envelope-index/

Curious that the second instruction didn't work, since it's the same as what's at the site you mention (save for I added '.old' rather than ' Backup' to the end).

Anyway, the gist is that something scrambled the index file (generally, the machine being forcibly turned of/powered down while the file's being written to). If vacuuming it works, great, if not, simply removing it will cause it to be rebuilt.

Hello,

Can't one simply delete the "envelope index" file from ~library/mail ?

Thanks,

Michael Morrison

Michael,

Are you using anything other than POP accounts? If using any IMAP, .mac or Exchange accounts, the recommended procedure is remove the account folders for those accounts before removing the Envelope Index file. Then the accounts are again set up, Mail will index from the server for those accounts.

Ernie

Hello Ernie,

Thanks!

Michael