restore mail

Lmnopc Said:

“restore mail: Thanks for your help. I am not having trouble staying off the network. My issue is how to restore the messages so that gmail recognizes them again and doesn't wipe them out. I need a way to port them back to the gmail server.”

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Exporting & then Importing:

So, first off, export the messages to save them. Next, import the exported eMail messages to Mail, maybe on another Mac. Use this Links: Import or export mailboxes in Mac on Mac - Apple Support.

Screenshot of what it reads:

Lmnopc Said:

“restore mail: That’s what I have been trying. The emails seem complete on my disconnected laptop, but when I export/import using my external drive not all the messages transfer. Very frustrating.”

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How to Avoid Connectivity:

This time, prior to shut down, turn off your router. If you do not have auto connect enabled. It should just stay unconnected upon boot. Also, disable Bluetooth and disconnect the CAT cable.

Have you run Dusk Utility's 1st aid on both of the Macs?

Yes, all good ideas! :)

Repair a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac

Disk Utility can fix certain disk problems—for example, multiple apps quit unexpectedly, a file is corrupted, an external device doesn’t work properly, or your computer won’t start up. Disk Utility can’t detect or repair all problems that a disk may have.

If you run First Aid on a disk, Disk Utility checks the partition maps on the disk and performs some additional checks, and then checks each volume. If you run First Aid on a volume, Disk Utility verifies all the contents of that volume only.

1. In the Disk Utility app  on your Mac, choose View > Show All Devices.
2. Note: If you’re checking your startup disk or startup volume, restart your computer in macOS Recovery, select Disk Utility in the macOS Utilities window, then click Continue. If you check your startup volume (Macintosh HD), make sure you also check your data volume (Macintosh HD - Data).
3. 
   
4. In the sidebar, select a disk or volume, then click the First Aid button .
5. If Disk Utility tells you the disk is about to fail, back up your data and replace the disk—you can’t repair it. Otherwise, continue to the next step.
6. Click Run, then click Continue.
7. If Disk Utility reports that the disk appears to be OK or has been repaired, you’re done. You can click Show Details to see more information about the repairs. Otherwise, you may need to do one of the following.

• • If Disk Utility reports “overlapped extent allocation” errors, two or more files occupy the same space on your disk, and at least one of them is likely to be corrupted. You need to check each file in the list of affected files. Most of the files in the list have aliases in a DamagedFiles folder at the top level of your disk.
    • If you can replace a file or re-create it, delete it.
    • If it contains information you need, open it and examine its data to make sure it hasn’t been corrupted.
  • If Disk Utility can’t repair your disk, or you receive a report that the First Aid process failed, try to repair the disk or partition again. If that doesn’t work, back up as much of your data as possible, reformat the disk, reinstall macOS, then restore your backed-up data.

If your Mac has a Fusion Drive and you see a flashing question mark or alert, see the troubleshooting section of the Apple Support article About Fusion Drive, a storage option for some Mac computers.

If you continue to have problems with your disk or it can’t be repaired, it may be physically damaged and need to be replaced. For information about servicing your Mac, see Find out how to service or repair your Mac.

Lmnopc Said:

“restore mail: My only hope is a Macbook Pro laptop that I shelved in June when I got my iMac. All the messages are still on that as I have not connected it to the network since June: Well, I ran the scans on both machines with no change to the situation. At a bit of a loss for what to do next. Someone suggested that the FBI could do it, no problem. LOL I wish.”

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Avoid Internet Connection After Login:

Any devices that may have these eMails? If so, when you log in, try to avoid connecting to the Internet. That way, nothing syncs with the eMail provider’s server. And then export what is on there. Once done, try importing them back.

Lmnopc Said:

“restore mail: [...]the messages are not importing fully. For example, one mailbox should contain 36 messages but none imported; file size is zero. Another should have 158 but only 75 came through. They are randomly imported, not seeming to be tied to any specific criteria like a date range. When I look at these messages on the laptop they are all there, and fully readable.[...]”

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Use a Large Hard Drive:

With hundreds of thousands of eMails, I’d be a little concerned about how much space that would take up on your storage. So, keep that in mind when exporting them.

Using Another Mail App:

I’m not aware of any setting on the Mail app that conserves space such as ridding of the original eMail’s replies. So, try using their own app (i.e. Gmail app for Google’s Gmail).

Contact eMail Provider and Use Forums:

Also, contact your eMail provider, and use any forums they have on their site. Perhaps a fellow user has some solution(s) as a result of prior experiences.