mail 4.5 does not open

Some users have reported this problem if the Mail Application has been moved out of the top-level /Applications folder, or duplicated in another location.

When the Security Update is done, the old version of Mail is disabled.

The solution has been to:

1) make certain Mail is in the /Applications folder

2) There is no other copy anywhere else.

3) Once steps 1 and 2 have been done, Manually download and re-apply the Security Update (2012-004) by hand.

Security Update 2012-004 (Snow Leopard)

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If the Mail.app has been LOST, it can be re-installed by applying the 10.6.8 version 1.1 combo update. But this update is quite large and it is usually not necessary:

Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1

If you already deleted(or lost if you like to call it that) the old mail.app the correct procedure is to:

1. Install Mail from your OS X install DVD

- You find it from Optional installs installer package in Additional installs folder

2. Install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1 package

3. Install Security Update 2012-004 (Snow Leopard)

This procedure was tested on MacBook (Late 2006) after failed Security Update 2012-004.

Thanks for Grant for providing the links for the updates needed🙂

I have OS 10.6.8 and after a first security update, indeed my email was said to be incompatible.

I followed those 3 steps above, and after a restart, the old email is now accessible

Thank you McSmith

Great!! Thank you Grant Bennet-Alder! That worked for me.

A new article has been issued on this subject:

Mac OS X v10.6: "You can't use this version of Mail…" alert after installing Security Update 2012-004

I just started getting the exact same message this morning after I rebooted. I'm running OS X 10.8.2. I'm also running SpamSieve. Are you guys?

Hi,

I'm running OS X 10.6.8 with the latest security patches.

I too encountered this problem after applying the security patch. I've tried all these suggestions and nothing has worked. The last thing I tried was to delete all remnants of mail; mail is gone from my system. I thought it might get re-installed with the latest security patch, but it doesn't. And, I can't install from the OS X Install CD as all of the apps are dimmed and not selectable.

The problem now is how do i re-install mail that is compatible with the latest security patch... I'm referring to the MacOSXUpdCombo 10.6.8 update.

Any help re-installing Mail is appreciated!

Tom

Re-Apply the 10.6.8 combo Update referenced directly above, or linked in the Apple Article on the subject, and Mail will be re-installed in the process.

DO NOT MOVE IT.

Then re-install the security Update and you should be good to go.

As always, it is prudent to run Disk Utility ( Repair Disk ) before any update.

The simple solution does not work for everyone this is a fact I have personally tested. If you already Spotlighted and trashed all your mail.app packages and dumped the trashcan you may need to do reinstall the old mail 4.5 first. For this you need authentic Snow Leopard DVD a copy or an original. Long version of the procedure goes like this:

Step 1

Insert the Mac OS X DVD that came with your Mac or the installation DVD for the version of Mac OS X that you run. Double-click "Optional Installs" on the window that appears first, DO NOT CLICK INSTALL MAC OS X but the folder bellow it, then double-click the Optional Installs package file within the folder. (If you cannot find the folder nor package check your DVD the version must be Snow Leopard)

Step 2

Click "Continue" twice on the first two steps of the installation wizard. Click "Continue" and then "Agree" to accept the licensing agreement. Select your Mac OS X hard drive on the "Select a destination" step, then click "Continue."

Step 3

Click the triangle icon next to "Applications" on the "Custom Install" screen. Select the check box next to "Mail" and click "Continue." Click "Install" to reinstall Mac Mail.

Thanks McSmith,

I had already tried what you suggested above. However, the problem I encountered is that in step 3, I am not able to select Applications/Mail. At one point I saw a message complaiining that I was trying to install an older version of mail. In fact, I can't select any of the applications, nor all of them.

Tech Support felt my only resort was to re-install the OS, but I encoutered an error and it just hangs. I have an appointment with the apple store tomorrow to hopefully get this resolved.

Thanks

Tom

btw, I also installed the combo package and since Mail was already deleted, it didn't re-install it.

Sounds like hardware failure or corrupt install media if even OS re-install fails. If different install media with external source or cleaning of the heat fan or changing the memories or different harddrive won't help your "dearest" is as good as dead. But these are things that only hardware experts can do. I'm sure you find help from Apple Store.

Btw. even MacBooks needs to be cleaned thoroughly from now and then. Mine had half inches of dust in heat fan after four years of intensive use - year ago my comp did not want cooperate with me and was constantly screaming(fan was on full speed all the time). So I finally opened the keyboard cover and took everything out bit by bit dusting everything clean. After putting it back together it have worked like an angel.

I'm now using new Western Digital Black Scorpio 7200 rpm internal harddrive and fully extended memory. OS is currently Lion and version of comp is Late 2006... Lion is like from different planet when compared to Snow Leopard... Much, much easier to use.