Can't Delete Draft Message with Large Attachment...Can't Send or Receive

Question

Level 1

5 points

Can't Delete Draft Message with Large Attachment...Can't Send or Receive

I tried sending an email yesterday that had a large attachment. It failed. Since then I can't get any email or send any. I can't delete the message out of the drafts folder. It keeps coming back. I tried deleting the drafts box in Library. It still shows up. Moreover, is adding multiple copied to my drafts folder. I use .mac account. I can receive emails on my iPhone and at home (though mail stopped most of the day yesterday at home, then finally came through). I can also access through the web.

Message was edited by: dannymercer

Macbook Pro 2.2 MHZ 4 Gigs Ram "Smokin", Mac OS X (10.4.10), Mac Mini 2 MHZ 2 Gigs Ram; iPhone-8 gb

Posted on May 15, 2009 9:40 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Aug 21, 2009 4:31 AM in response to jencopp

With respect to having tried to send message that were too large, see:

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=10013827#10013827

In addition, open in the Finder to Home/Library/Mail/Mailboxes and look for the Drafts.mbox folder -- control-click on it and choose Get Info. How large is it said to be?

Ernie

Reply

Answer 2

dannymercer Author

Level 1

5 points

May 15, 2009 10:56 AM in response to dannymercer

Finally found an answer from an older post. Here are the instructions:

Well I had this same problem, huge email, won't send, kept showing up in drafts after timeouts on .mac account. Well after some lookin around the ~/Library/Mail folder I figured it out.

To fix it do this:
Quit mail.
Browse to ~/Library/Mail/Mac-<mail accountname>/.OfflineCache (the . means its hidden so you'll have to use "Go to Folder" in finder)
Here is where the unsent file is stored till next time Mail starts as well as a config file to tell Mail what to do. I moved all the files (two in my case) in the folder to my desktop, then launched Mail. Problem solved. You can then delete the files you moved to your desktop.

Reply

Answer 3

Jul 11, 2009 8:21 PM in response to dannymercer

I'm having this problem too and would like to try the solution you outline but I'm not having any luck. I don't quite understand the instructions that need to be typed into "Go to Folder." I am able to browse to ~Library/Mail at which point I have a folder named Account Types and within that a folder called com.apple.builtin.mailaccounts. It is this last folder which I would think has the hidden OfflineCache folder but I cannot not get the machine to reveal it.

I'm also confused by the instruction "/Mac-<mail accountname>". I assume the "<mail accountname>" is my mail account name but the Mac- confuses me. Are you saying it should read "Mac-aoleary1/.OfflineCache"? Obviously that doesn't work or I would be writing. 🙂

Sorry to be dense and I appreciate any help.

Alice

Reply

Answer 4

qmacro

Level 1

0 points

Aug 2, 2009 9:32 AM in response to alice_srq

After trying to send an email with a large attachment I also ended up with a phantom Draft copy; showed up after Mail crashed during the send, also locking up my iMac. When I brought the Mac back to life not only was there a draft of the offending message but two of my three mailboxes had disappeared. Restoring those was fun.

But, back to the ghost email. I couldn't find an OfflineCache folder either, so looking at other posts did find something that worked. I have more than one mailbox, and by highlighting the mailbox that was the home of the ghost message, and then selecting Rebuild under Mailbox the ghost message disappeared. Hope it's that simple for you.

Reply

Answer 5

jencopp

Level 1

0 points

Aug 20, 2009 4:04 AM in response to qmacro

I'm having the same problem. I tried highlighting the mailbox, but rebuild is in grey so that isn't an option in my case. I can't find the OfflineCache folder either. Could someone simplify the instructions for me. When I browse in mail, the last folder I get to is com.apple.builtin.mailaccounts. How do I get to the OfflineCache folder from there?

Reply

Answer 6

Aug 20, 2009 5:07 AM in response to jencopp

If you have more than one account, each account has its own Draft mailbox, and for Rebuild to be available, you must open the Drafts mailbox for one account only. If there is a small black triangle, click it to reveal the separate mailboxes for each account.

Do you have more than one account?

Ernie

Reply

Answer 7

jencopp

Level 1

0 points

Aug 21, 2009 2:22 AM in response to Ernie Stamper

Thank you for that advice. Under drafts I have two separate accounts-On My Mac, and the other with my email address. I highlighted the account On My Mac because that is where the draft is, and keeps reappearing. When I choose rebuild mail quits unexpectedly. Only once has rebuild finished, and instead of one draft reappearing, there were two. (Two days ago I tried to send three separate emails with large attachments). How do I get rid of this, and how do I receive my new messages. Fortunately I have MobileMe and I can still view my mail online, but I would like to get my mail up and working again if possible. Any advice?

Reply

Answer 8

Sep 16, 2009 1:46 PM in response to dannymercer

I know this thread is already answered but my wife and I noticed this on both our MM accounts this week.

A thought of what might be causing this..... is there any chance you have/had Mail open on more than one Mac at the same time? Apparently I had mine open on our iMac and forgot about it--this is when I noticed the problem (intermittently) w/ larger attachments. However, if I only had Mail open on one machine, I couldn't get it to replicate. I don't know if this is a fix or not but thought I'd mention it.

Reply