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mail downloads 25,0000+ messages

Please can someone tell me why my MAC keeps downloading messages I already have on my system.

Using Apple Mail 5.2 (1278)


I thought I had set it to not do that. and I have not changed anything as far as I know. so would appreciate this.

sometimes it only 'says' downloading 300( approx) messages!


If anyone can enlighten me Thank you

I bet it is something simple!

MBP 17, Mac OS X (10.7.2), Buffalo 1TB EHD iPad original 16gb

Posted on Jun 3, 2012 6:30 AM

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Posted on Jun 3, 2012 7:00 AM

Try a different Email program. Something like Mozilla Thunderbird. Apple Mac mail stinks, IMHO.

17 replies

Jun 3, 2012 7:24 AM in response to Shootist007

I use Firefox so will give it a go! are there any set up points I will need to do?Is it self explanatory?

have only used Applemail since 2002 apart from reading on the web of course.

Thanks
Also perhaps you can just tell me the differences while it is downloading( right now!


Cheers and Happy Jubillee to our Glrious Queen Elizabeth, the pageant is wonderful, wishing I could be there!

Jun 3, 2012 7:33 AM in response to Shirley Drabble1

Thunderbird is fairly simple to setup. No really glitches that I have encountered. I use on bot Mac and PC. If you are using iCloud Apple has posted the server settings for use with other email programs (Sorry I don't have a link to them). As for other mail servers it is the same as any other mail program. If you use Google mail you can import all your contacts with an Extension, Google Contacts 0.6.40, and there are some other extension for different things (actual tons of extensions).


Good Luck and I hope this works out for you.

Jun 3, 2012 8:08 AM in response to Shootist007

It's a shame given that you generally give excellent advice that whenever anyone has a Apple Mail problem you don't address their problem but tell them that Mail stinks and recommend other apps. You are entitled to your opinion about Apple Mail but in the spirit of this forum you should try to help poster's solve their current problem or just move on to other post's you can address constructively.

Jun 3, 2012 9:19 AM in response to hpr3

hpr3 wrote:


It's a shame given that you generally give excellent advice that whenever anyone has a Apple Mail problem you don't address their problem but tell them that Mail stinks and recommend other apps. You are entitled to your opinion about Apple Mail but in the spirit of this forum you should try to help poster's solve their current problem or just move on to other post's you can address constructively.

Thank you for the kind words about my knowledge and the helpfullness of my posts. But in this case I feel my post is also helpfull.


The reason I do not give any advice on Apple Mac Mail is the few times I have tried to use it I found it completely lacking. A few times I have tried to help people out with this program but to actually use it, To even open the program to find setting you have to actually set up an Email account. I have done that a few times. I have also tried to use it as my main Mac mail program and it either does stuff I do not want it to do or does not include features I need and want in a Email program. Simply it is an Apple program and as I have found out Apple has one way of doing things. If you don't like that then that is to bad, as far as Apple is concerned (Read that NO real user options to change the way a program actually works).


I suggest you do all the leg work, Searches for setting changes and the like, and you jump in with the correct answers for problems like this. Which in my honest opinion there is no correct answer. The program is FUBAR.


This is a user to user forum. There are no Apple staff here to answer questions. Everyone here does the best they can. That is what I have done in this thread. If this specific problem was easily fixed why hasn't someone else jumped in to give the correct answer. Why the Program is SNAFU.

Jun 3, 2012 9:24 AM in response to Shirley Drabble1

Shirley Drabble1 wrote:


might be cos I downloaded from US site and I am in UK will try again

Not sure but I wouldn't think it would make a difference. You aren't using any Download managers or anything like that are you.


If the UK download give you the same response, IE Not recognised then right click on it select Get Info and make sure the default program to handle DMG files is DiskImageMounter.app in the Open With area.


Then again it could just be a corrupted download. Which could be on your end, your ISPs end or Mozilla's end (the file is corrupt on the server).

Jun 3, 2012 1:10 PM in response to Shootist007

While you have made a few salient points about Apple Mail I would still contend that it is an adequate app for the "average" user. Admitedly it still has a few quirks and limitations. The fact no one has come along with a fix might be explained by the weekend lull and lack of regular helper's. It doesn't mean there is no solution to the op's problem.

Thunderbird is an excellent program and open source with lots of add-ons but isn't particularly intuitive and also has it's limitations.

The fact is that all email programs are less than trouble free but if the op is happy then that's great! 🙂

I was just pointing out that hyperbole isn't always helpful but I respect your opinon nevertheless.

Jun 3, 2012 1:51 PM in response to hpr3

hmm well I didn;t like Thunderbird too much. couldn;t find anyway to set prefs to reply at top instead of underneath a post...

so sorry can;t be bothered with it. Didn;t see how it was any bettter than AppleMail

not really intuitive, like replying etc. couldn't find how to set as spam. Perhaps I didn;t give it long enough but I just want to tell Apple to stop downloading all the messages. Guess I should og to web mail and archive everything. that would probably fix it.

Or would it?

Jun 3, 2012 3:23 PM in response to Shirley Drabble1

Tools, menu bar, Account Settings, in each account select Composition and Addressing. Right at the top "Composition" check Automatically quote the original message when Replying, then just below that you have "Then" select Start my reply above the quote. And then you can place your signature either below your reply or below the quote.


Yes I believe you did not give it, thunderbird, much of a chance.


Not sure if Archiving your mail will help. If you are using IMAP then that Archive folder will be included in your mail program.


Wish I could help with Mac mail but as I don't use it I can't. Although I do remember from when I did use it there is no setting that would stop this. As IIRC the program should automatically see what mail has already been downloaded and only download new messages. To me that means your install of Mac mail is somehow damaged as it is not keeping a record of what has and hasn't already been downloaded. I don't know how to fix that as Mac mail is part of the OS install and I don't know of a way to remove it and or reinstall it without reinstalling the OS.


Sorry if I waisted your time.


Good Luck.

Jun 4, 2012 12:38 AM in response to Shootist007

first may I say you didn't waste my time. so don't worry about that.

2nd I may try again as you say it may want to download all my imap files so First I will o archive everything and sort ito ut. The annoying hting that was happeneing with Applemail was reloading junk and other messages that I had thought I had deleted. I beleived my settings in apple mail were to prevent that happening.


I don't see extra copies of the emssages so it must just be ...I don't know.. but whenI see downloaidng 24,000 messages I panicked a little.

I will try Thunderbird again ,

At the moment I have a few projects to get on with so when I have some free time( I am retired I should have plenty but somehow manage to fill my hours when not resting( ill heatlh besets me BUT I try to do what I can within my physical limitations..


SO please don;t take it that you were giving the wrong advice.

At least you responsded to my question positively which no-one else did

All the other respondent did was ' try to put you down'( NO Offence HPR3 but you did not give an answer at all.)


(ℹJust an aside

I have just seen your location. I will be in Athens and Acworth GA later this month to see my Grandson wed his high school sweetheart :-) I know of Decatur, my DIL is American and used to work in the library there!) Grandson is a graduate of UGA with a BSA and studying VET science now 🙂 I am so proud of him) will travel on to Conifer in CO after the wedding to stay with said DIL and my son)

mail downloads 25,0000+ messages

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