Messages Application not opening

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Level 1

115 points

Messages Application not opening

I was having a problem with messages where I could not send or recieve pictures in the desktop application (though pictures sent or recived on my iPhone and iPad would show up as they should). I then restrted the computer and now when I try and start the messages app on my laptop the application seems to open (as I have the Messages menu bar at the top) but the window will not open. I even go to the "Window" menu and try to use the "Messages (command 0) menu" and the Messages window still won't come up. Right now Messages is dead in the water for me. What do I do?

MacBook Pro 13" (10.6), MacMini (for Plex) (10.5), Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on Aug 1, 2012 8:54 AM

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Answer 1

CPTodd Author

Level 1

115 points

Aug 1, 2012 8:55 AM in response to CPTodd

Oh and I have reinstalled Mountain Lion. That still did not fix the problem.

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Answer 2

Aug 1, 2012 3:18 PM in response to CPTodd

Hi,

With the Finder as the "Front" app use the Go menu

Hold down the ALT key.

Select the Library that now appears

Open the Preferences

Find the com.apple.imservice.imessage.plist file

Drag it to the Trash

Restart Messages.

11:18 PM Wednesday; August 1, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

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Answer 3

CPTodd Author

Level 1

115 points

Aug 2, 2012 7:20 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

I should have mentioned that I already did that. 😟

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Answer 4

m.bugbee

Level 1

0 points

Aug 9, 2012 2:47 PM in response to CPTodd

I'm having this exact same problem. Were you able to find a fix?

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Answer 5

Aug 9, 2012 2:49 PM in response to CPTodd

Hi,

Do you have any info on the Download state in the File Transfer Window (See Window Menu) ?

10:49 PM Thursday; August 9, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

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Answer 6

m.bugbee

Level 1

0 points

Aug 9, 2012 2:55 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

I cleared out everything in the Transfer window.

I just got it working again! While I was checking the Transfers, a message came in popping up the notification, clicking the notification caused the app to pop back up.

Hopefully this works for the original guy!

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Answer 7

CPTodd Author

Level 1

115 points

Aug 9, 2012 4:42 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

What happens now is that I am able to get a messages window but NONE of my previous conversations are in it. When I try and send a message I am able to put the address of the person I am trying to send a messge to in it (the name comes up blue) then I go to type in the message. I type the message in and I press return and nothing happens. The message stays in the box where I type it. It does not move into one of the blue bubbles. I am essentialy unable to send any messages EXCEPT if I use the new "share" button. Thus, if I am in safari and I want to share the link via iMessage I can use the share button and a new message pops up and I am able to add text and then send it off via iMessage.

As for the transfer window there is nothing in there anymore. I used to have the problem where I could not send pictures but now I can't even send a message at all.

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Answer 8

m.bugbee

Level 1

0 points

Aug 9, 2012 5:05 PM in response to CPTodd

Have someone send you an iMessage, when the message notification pops up in the top right of your screen, click on it. It should cause the window to pop up with all your old messages. Once that window shows back up you're good to go

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Answer 9

CPTodd Author

Level 1

115 points

Aug 9, 2012 5:15 PM in response to m.bugbee

I tried that too. It didn't work.

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Answer 10

Aug 10, 2012 12:47 PM in response to CPTodd

HI,

The Messages Window (CMD + 0 from the Window menu) will only show "old" messages if they were there when the app was closed.

With iMessages it will show these with the recent "History" with that person as it pulls info from a file called chat.db In Home Folder/Library/Messages (this Library folder is hidden)

My Balloons/Speech bubbles are not Blue as I have set my Messages to use the same Colour as I did in iChat (in Messages > Preferences > Messages)

Uploaded with Skitch!

I would do a Safe Boot and then Restart the computer again afterwards.

8:47 PM Friday; August 10, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Reply

Answer 11

CPTodd Author

Level 1

115 points

Aug 10, 2012 12:50 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Someone in another thread had the same problem and here is what they did. It worked for me:

Re: Why do I not receive pictures in Messages?

created by claunia in OS X Mountain Lion - View the full discussion

Hi,

I've been with the same problem for a couple of days, until finally today Messages simply stopped showing even a the window, so absolute inability to use it.

Considering that reinstalling the operating system is NOT a solution, I searched for something myself.

Pictures are controlled by xpcd, imagent and Messages, and it seems that when the problem arises is because they're using the wrong Apple server.

While this may be solved by Apple in a update (I hope so), in the meantime you can do a workaround (it worked for me on two different machines, and even days old images appeared).

In your Library, there is a folder called Preferences (that is /Users/<your_username>/Library/Preferences). There you should delete com.apple.imagent.plist com.apple.imservice.iMessage.plist and com.apple.imessage.bag.plist, with Messages CLOSED. Then reboot so Messages creates new ones. Also delete all file starting with com.apple.imagent, com.apple.imservice, com.apple.imessage and com.apple.iChat that end in .lock.

If even then it still is not working, deleting all files starting with com.apple.imagent, com.apple.imservice, com.apple.imessage and com.apple.iChat 100% for sure. But when you reboot you'll find you need to input again your login data for iMessage, FaceTime, Yahoo chat, AIM chat, Google Talk and Jabber (if you used them on Messages/iChat).

This is an annoyance, but less than a whole operating system reinstall or losing the functionality.

After all of this is done you should regain the ability to receive photos, send photos and drag&drop photos.

Regards,

Natalia Portillo

Claunia.com

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