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Apple Mail: missing plug-in

I keep getting "missing plug-in" messages from Apple Mail in emails that contain actually JPEGs or other common attachments. I don't know when this exactly started (could be installation of 10.8.3 update or a security update). This "feature" occurs only on my Mac Pro. On my Macbook Pro all works fine with the same configuration.


Faulty system: Mac Pro Early 2008, Mac OS Mountain Lion 10.8.3, latest Apple Mail.

Working system: MacBook Pro 15" Retina Mid 2012, Mac OS Mountain Lion 10.8.3, latest Apple Mail.


I scanned this forum and the usual Google hits for help. I tried the following already:

  • repaired permissions, checked disk
  • all system & software updates done
  • Java preferences "restored to default", Java preferences deleted
  • repaired mailboxes
  • applied combo 10.8.3 updater
  • applied iTunes 10.2 combo installer
  • checked all configurations, nothing unusual.
  • sent an email with photo attachment via iPhoto
  • danced in circles @ midnight & full moon


Nothing worked so far. Any useful idea. This keeps annoying me!


Kind Regards

Frank

Posted on Mar 31, 2013 6:36 AM

Reply
34 replies

Mar 31, 2013 10:29 AM in response to frankd783

Please follow these directions to delete the Mail "sandbox" folder.

Back up all data.

Quit Mail.

Triple-click the line below to select it:

~/Library/Containers/com.apple.mail

Right-click or control-click the highlighted line and select

Services Reveal

from the contextual menu. A Finder window should open with a folder named "com.apple.mail" selected. If it does, move the selected foldernot just its contents — to the Desktop. Leave the Finder window open for now.

Relaunch Mail and test. If the problem is resolved, you'll have to recreate some of your Mail settings. You can then delete the folder you moved and close the Finder window. If you still have the problem, quit Mail again and put the folder back where it was, overwriting the one that may have been created in its place. Post your results.

Caution: If you change any of the contents of the sandbox, but leave the folder itself in place, Mail may crash or not launch at all. Deleting the whole sandbox will cause it to be rebuilt automatically.

Mar 31, 2013 12:19 PM in response to frankd783

Try setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues. If Back-to-My Mac is selected in System Preferences, the Guest account will not work. You'll need to add your Mail accounts. The intent is to see if it is specific to one account or a system wide problem. This account can be deleted later.


Isolating an issue by using another user account


If the problem is still there, try booting into the Safe Mode. Shut down the computer and then power it back up. Immediately after hearing the startup chime, hold down the shift key and continue to hold it until the gray Apple icon and a progress bar appear. The boot up is significantly slower than normal. This will reset some caches, forces a directory check, and disables all startup and login items, among other things. If the system operates normally, there may be 3rd party applications which are causing a problem. Try deleting/disabling the third party applications after a restart. For each disable/delete, you will need to restart if you don't do them all at once.

Safe Mode


Safe Mode - About


General information.


Isolating issues in Mac OS X


Troubleshooting Permission Issues



Step by Step to Fix Your Mac


Upgrade Nightmares

Mar 31, 2013 2:15 PM in response to Eric Root

Set up another account: same behaviour.

Conclusion: it is a system wide problem indeed.


Then used safe mode - and the problem persisted as well.

Conclusion: it is not a defective plug-in or system extension. It seems that Mail is actually missing something which should be there but isn't. Most probably in a system wide directory.


I compared /Library/Internet Plug-ins to my Macbook (where Mail is working) but found nothing strange.


Hmm, I will continue to compare the two computers tomorrow.


Thanks for your hints. Brought me a little step ahead at least. :-)


Frank

Mar 31, 2013 2:45 PM in response to frankd783

Back up all data.


Boot into Recovery by holding down the key combination command-R at the startup chime. Release the keys when you see a gray screen with a spinning dial.


Note: You need an always-on Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection to the Internet to use Recovery. It won’t work with USB or PPPoE modems, or with proxy servers, or with networks that require a certificate for authentication.


When the OS X Utilities screen appears, follow the prompts to reinstall the OS. You don't need to erase the boot volume, and you won't need your backup unless something goes wrong. If your Mac was upgraded from an older version of OS X, you’ll need the Apple ID and password you used to upgrade, so make a note of those before you begin.

Apr 6, 2013 4:50 AM in response to Linc Davis

I tried that, now with the result, that the computer boots into a grey patterned canvas kind of thing without doing anything else.


Installer is not starting. OS ist not starting, neither form the original boot drive nor from the backup nor from an external boot drive. After the initial boot screen, the monitor is becoming black for an instance, then white and then a blank grey patterned canvas without login input fields is shown.


I reset PRAM, I tried to boot from different disk, nothing helps so far.


I'm stuck and lost.


Apple, your quality is deteriorating massively.


Frank

Apr 6, 2013 4:56 AM in response to frankd783

frankd783 wrote:


Apple, your quality is deteriorating massively.


Frank

You have serious issues here. Most have none. Have you tried repairing your disk from the Command+R boot using DiskUtility? Have you checked the Smart Status of your drive? Sounds like hardware problems. Backup immediately and then do a complete erase and reinstall.


Pete

Apr 6, 2013 6:30 AM in response to Linc Davis

Ok, the fourth (external) drive was bootable and I was able to bring the others back to work again and restarted the installer.


This time, Mountain Lion installed completely and - my original problem ist gone now. no "missing plug-in" errors in mail anymore.


I still have no clue, what actually happend with the first install attempt, but it works now, which is most important.


Thanks for your help!


Frank

Apple Mail: missing plug-in

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