mail running at 100% cpu

Question

Level 1

9 points

mail running at 100% cpu

My activity monitor shows that my mac mail runs at 100% cpu -- not continually, but spiking that high every 5 to 10 seconds. What should I do?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Oct 10, 2013 7:42 PM

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Answer 1

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,541 points

Oct 10, 2013 9:04 PM in response to j2zex

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

Back up all data.

Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page 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 folder — not just its contents — to the Desktop. Leave the Finder window open for now.

Log out and log back in. Launch Mail and test. If the problem is resolved, you may 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.

*If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard (command-C). In the Finder, select

Go ▹ Go to Folder...

from the menu bar, paste into the box that opens (command-V). You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.

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Answer 2

j2zex Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 12, 2013 6:14 PM in response to Linc Davis

Thanks for the instructions, which are very clear. I followed them up to and including, "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." The results: same as before I followed your instructions.

I didn't mention this before, but Mail was (and is still) actiing sluggish. It slows down my my other programs (such as Word). When I quit Mail, the other programs run normally. This is Mail on my MBP.

I'd appreciate any suggestions. I'm willing to try anything. I have reached the point where I hate to even open up Mail on my MBP. Instead, I have been getting into the habit now of using screen sharing to check Mail that I keep running on my iMac. I'd much rather check it direcly on my MBP, which is my primary computer.

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Answer 3

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,541 points

Oct 12, 2013 7:11 PM in response to j2zex

Back up all data.

1. Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:

~/Library/Mail/Bundles

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

Services ▹ Open

from the contextual menu. A folder may open, or you may get an error message that the item can't be found. Either result is normal. If the folder does open and has contents, move the contents to the Desktop. Relaunch Mail and test. If there's no change, put the contents of the folder back and quit Mail again.

2. Repeat with this line:

/Library/Mail/Bundles

This time you may be prompted for your login password when you remove the items. Make sure they're removed from the folder and not just copied to the Desktop. If necessary, copy them first and then move the originals to the Trash.

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Answer 4

j2zex Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 14, 2013 10:59 AM in response to Linc Davis

The part of your instructions that say "and select Services ▹ Open from the contextual menu" doesn't work for me. Is there another way to get to the contextual menu?

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Answer 5

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,541 points

Oct 14, 2013 12:39 PM in response to j2zex

If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. In the Finder, select

Go ▹ Go to Folder...

from the menu bar, paste into the box that opens (command-V). You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.

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Answer 6

j2zex Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 14, 2013 5:52 PM in response to Linc Davis

I tried the instruction with "~/Library/Mail/Bundles" and the instruction with "/Library/Mail/Bundles". I did get to ans use "Go ▹ Go to Folder...".

Both times, result was: "The folder can't be found".

Am I doing this wrong?

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Answer 7

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,541 points

Oct 14, 2013 6:17 PM in response to j2zex

Quit Mail. Force quit if necessary.

Back up all data. That means you know you can restore the Mail database, no matter what happens.

Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:

~/Library/Mail/V2/MailData/Envelope Index

Copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. In the Finder, select

Go ▹ Go to Folder

from the menu bar. Paste into the box that opens (command-V), then press return.

A Finder window will open with a file selected. Move the selected file to the Desktop, leaving the window open. Other files in the folder may have names that begin with "Envelope Index". Move those files, if any, to the Trash.

Log out and log back in. Relaunch Mail. It should prompt you to re-import your messages. You may get a warning that the index is damaged and that Mail has to quit. Click OK.

Test. If Mail now works as expected, you can delete the file you moved to the Desktop. Otherwise, post your results.

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Answer 8

j2zex Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 15, 2013 3:56 PM in response to Linc Davis

I followed your instructions. And yes, I was prompted to re-import my messages. Actually, it did it automatically. It even automatically re-imported my old Eudora mail files.

I restarted my MBP.

But the problem did not go away.

In a one-minute time interval, the %cpu fell 8 times in the range of less than 100, 10 times in the range between 100 and 200, and 12 times in the range of over 200.

Mail still runs sluggishly. In the middle of my typing a word, it locks up. The spinning beach ball of death is every present. And the fans are always spinning.

I'm still game for whatever else you'd like to suggest. After all, I can still access Mail on my iMac, using screen sharing. However, I go on a trip on Thursday, and I won't be able to reliably access my iMac from my MBP then.

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Answer 9

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,541 points

Oct 15, 2013 4:02 PM in response to j2zex

When you next have the problem, note the exact time: hour, minute, second.

If you have more than one user account, these instructions must be carried out as an administrator.

Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:

☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)

☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.

☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the icon grid.

Make sure the title of the Console window is All Messages. If it isn't, select All Messages from the SYSTEM LOG QUERIES menu on the left. If you don't see that menu, select

View ▹ Show Log List

from the menu bar.

Scroll back in the log to the time you noted above. Select any messages timestamped from then until the end of the episode, or until they start to repeat, whichever comes first. Copy the messages to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. Paste into a reply to this message (command-V).

When posting a log extract, be selective. In most cases, a few dozen lines are more than enough.

Please do not indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.

Important: Some private information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Anonymize before posting.

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Answer 10

j2zex Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 15, 2013 9:12 PM in response to Linc Davis

You said to post just a few dozen lines, so here are about 6 dozen. My e-mail address appeared in it, so I altered it whenever it appeared.

10/15/13 11:56:27.887 PM apsd[60]: Certificate doesn't match host

10/15/13 11:56:28.654 PM AddressBookSourceSync[3488]: AOSKit ERROR: ➖ RAF: Invalid url -- https://jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40 gmail.com///jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40gmail.com/

10/15/13 11:56:28.707 PM AddressBookSourceSync[3488]: AOSKit ERROR: ➖ RAF: Invalid url -- https://jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40 gmail.com///jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40gmail.com/

10/15/13 11:56:28.849 PM AddressBookSourceSync[3488]: *** -[IADomainCache init]: IA domains cache couldn't be read.

10/15/13 11:56:31.050 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[3483]) Exited: Killed: 9

10/15/13 11:56:31.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3483 [SleepServicesD]

10/15/13 11:56:32.127 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[163]: ([0x0-0xca0ca].com.apple.inputmethod.ironwood[3481]) Exited: Killed: 9

10/15/13 11:56:32.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3481 [DictationIM]

10/15/13 11:56:37.825 PM AddressBookSourceSync[3488]: AOSKit ERROR: ➖ RAF: Invalid url -- https://jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40 gmail.com///jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40gmail.com/

10/15/13 11:56:37.925 PM AddressBookSourceSync[3488]: AOSKit ERROR: ➖ RAF: Invalid url -- https://jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40 gmail.com/lists///jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40gmail.com/lists/

10/15/13 11:56:38.168 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[163]: (com.apple.tccd[3486]) Exited: Killed: 9

10/15/13 11:56:38.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3486 [tccd]

10/15/13 11:56:38.922 PM AddressBookSourceSync[3488]: AOSKit ERROR: ➖ RAF: Invalid url -- https://jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40 gmail.com/lists/default///jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40gmail.com/lists/default/

10/15/13 11:56:39.392 PM AddressBookManager[3489]: Validate metadata timed out, cancelling

10/15/13 11:56:47.018 PM apsd[60]: Certificate doesn't match host

10/15/13 11:57:15.669 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[163]: ([0x0-0xcc0cc].com.apple.inputmethod.ironwood[3493]) Exited: Killed: 9

10/15/13 11:57:15.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3493 [DictationIM]

10/15/13 11:57:16.463 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[3490]) Exited: Killed: 9

10/15/13 11:57:16.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3490 [SleepServicesD]

10/15/13 11:57:18.365 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.iCloudHelper[3482]) Exited: Killed: 9

10/15/13 11:57:18.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3482 [com.apple.iCloud]

10/15/13 11:57:18.996 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.xpcd.F7010000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000[3466]) Exited: Killed: 9

10/15/13 11:57:19.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3466 [xpcd]

10/15/13 11:57:27.479 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[3501]) Exited: Killed: 9

10/15/13 11:57:27.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3501 [SleepServicesD]

10/15/13 11:57:34.512 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[163]: (com.apple.tccd[3495]) Exited: Killed: 9

10/15/13 11:57:34.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3495 [tccd]

10/15/13 11:57:35.102 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.daemon[3141]) Exited: Killed: 9

10/15/13 11:57:35.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3141 [cfprefsd]

10/15/13 11:57:36.404 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[163]: (com.apple.cfprefsd.xpc.agent[3052]) Exited: Killed: 9

10/15/13 11:57:36.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3052 [cfprefsd]

10/15/13 11:57:40.261 PM apsd[60]: Certificate doesn't match host

10/15/13 11:57:41.208 PM AddressBookManager[3503]: Validate metadata timed out, cancelling

10/15/13 11:57:41.325 PM AddressBookSourceSync[3500]: AOSKit ERROR: ➖ RAF: Invalid url -- https://jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40 gmail.com///jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40gmail.com/

10/15/13 11:57:41.435 PM AddressBookSourceSync[3500]: AOSKit ERROR: ➖ RAF: Invalid url -- https://jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40 gmail.com///jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40gmail.com/

10/15/13 11:57:41.565 PM AddressBookSourceSync[3500]: *** -[IADomainCache init]: IA domains cache couldn't be read.

10/15/13 11:57:47.683 PM racoon[159]: IPSec Phase2 started (Initiated by me).

10/15/13 11:57:47.686 PM racoon[159]: IKE Packet: transmit success. (Initiator, Quick-Mode message 1).

10/15/13 11:57:47.720 PM racoon[159]: IKE Packet: receive success. (Initiator, Quick-Mode message 2).

10/15/13 11:57:47.720 PM racoon[159]: IKE Packet: transmit success. (Initiator, Quick-Mode message 3).

10/15/13 11:57:47.723 PM racoon[159]: IKEv1 Phase2 Initiator: success. (Initiator, Quick-Mode).

10/15/13 11:57:47.723 PM racoon[159]: IPSec Phase2 established (Initiated by me).

10/15/13 11:57:48.003 PM AddressBookSourceSync[3500]: AOSKit ERROR: ➖ RAF: Invalid url -- https://jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40 gmail.com///jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40gmail.com/

10/15/13 11:57:48.092 PM AddressBookSourceSync[3500]: AOSKit ERROR: ➖ RAF: Invalid url -- https://jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40 gmail.com/lists///jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40gmail.com/lists/

10/15/13 11:57:48.364 PM apsd[60]: Certificate doesn't match host

10/15/13 11:57:49.152 PM AddressBookSourceSync[3500]: AOSKit ERROR: ➖ RAF: Invalid url -- https://jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40 gmail.com/lists/default///jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40gmail.com/lists/default/

10/15/13 11:57:49.245 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[3504]) Exited: Killed: 9

10/15/13 11:57:49.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3504 [SleepServicesD]

10/15/13 11:57:50.442 PM apsd[60]: Certificate doesn't match host

10/15/13 11:57:58.991 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.iCloudHelper[3505]) Exited: Killed: 9

10/15/13 11:57:58.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3505 [com.apple.iCloud]

10/15/13 11:58:10.148 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[3508]) Exited: Killed: 9

10/15/13 11:58:10.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3508 [SleepServicesD]

10/15/13 11:58:14.733 PM apsd[60]: Certificate doesn't match host

10/15/13 11:58:19.436 PM AddressBookSourceSync[3515]: AOSKit ERROR: ➖ RAF: Invalid url -- https://jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40 gmail.com///jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40gmail.com/

10/15/13 11:58:19.498 PM AddressBookSourceSync[3515]: AOSKit ERROR: ➖ RAF: Invalid url -- https://jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40 gmail.com///jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40gmail.com/

10/15/13 11:58:19.632 PM AddressBookSourceSync[3515]: *** -[IADomainCache init]: IA domains cache couldn't be read.

10/15/13 11:58:25.545 PM AddressBookSourceSync[3515]: AOSKit ERROR: ➖ RAF: Invalid url -- https://jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40 gmail.com///jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40gmail.com/

10/15/13 11:58:25.657 PM AddressBookSourceSync[3515]: AOSKit ERROR: ➖ RAF: Invalid url -- https://jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40 gmail.com/lists///jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40gmail.com/lists/

10/15/13 11:58:26.466 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[3516]) Exited: Killed: 9

10/15/13 11:58:26.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3516 [SleepServicesD]

10/15/13 11:58:26.689 PM AddressBookSourceSync[3515]: AOSKit ERROR: ➖ RAF: Invalid url -- https://jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40 gmail.com/lists/default///jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40gmail.com/lists/default/

10/15/13 11:58:27.988 PM com.apple.launchd.peruser.503[163]: (com.apple.tccd[3511]) Exited: Killed: 9

10/15/13 11:58:27.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3511 [tccd]

10/15/13 11:58:28.988 PM apsd[60]: Certificate doesn't match host

10/15/13 11:58:29.972 PM AddressBookManager[3518]: Validate metadata timed out, cancelling

10/15/13 11:58:36.147 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.iCloudHelper[3519]) Exited: Killed: 9

10/15/13 11:58:36.000 PM kernel[0]: memorystatus_thread: idle exiting pid 3519 [com.apple.iCloud]

10/15/13 11:58:46.009 PM apsd[60]: Certificate doesn't match host

10/15/13 11:58:51.022 PM AddressBookSourceSync[3526]: AOSKit ERROR: ➖ RAF: Invalid url -- https://jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40 gmail.com///jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40gmail.com/

10/15/13 11:58:51.084 PM AddressBookSourceSync[3526]: AOSKit ERROR: ➖ RAF: Invalid url -- https://jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40 gmail.com///jfadswueroiu%40gmail.com@google.com/carddav/v1/principals/aslee.aslee%40gmail.com/

10/15/13 11:58:51.127 PM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.apple.sleepservicesd[3520]) Exited: Killed: 9

10/15/13 11:58:51.315 PM AddressBookSourceSync[3526]: *** -[IADomainCache init]: IA domains cache couldn't be read.

Reply

Answer 11

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,541 points

Oct 15, 2013 10:15 PM in response to j2zex

Back up all data.

Triple-click anywhere in the line of text below on this page to select it:

~/Library/Caches/com.apple.AddressBookSourceSync

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

Services ▹ Reveal

from the contextual menu.* A folder should open with an item selected. Move the selected item to the Trash.

Log out, log back in, and test. If there's no change, go to the next step.

*If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. In the Finder, select

Go ▹ Go to Folder...

from the menu bar, paste into the box that opens (command-V). You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.

Log out and log back in. Test.

Reply

Answer 12

j2zex Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 15, 2013 10:24 PM in response to Linc Davis

I just tried it. In response to your instruction, "A folder should open with an item selected," yes, a folder opened, with three items, but none was selected. The three items are: Cache.db, Cache.db-shm, and Cache.db-wal.

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Answer 13

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,541 points

Oct 15, 2013 11:52 PM in response to j2zex

The selected item is "com.apple.AddressBookSourceSync."

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Answer 14

j2zex Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 19, 2013 9:38 PM in response to Linc Davis

I could not find "com.apple.AddressBookSourceSync," but I tried something else and it solved the problem.

When you identified "com.apple.AddressBookSourceSync," you gave me an idea. I had recently set up my MBP address book (Contacts) to synch with Google. So I checked it again. Then I noticed it was also set up to synch with my iCloud address book. I then guessed that maybe they were all trying to sych with each other, perpetually and forever. So I unlinked the iCloud synching in my MBP address book.

Then magically my MBP Mail program stopped running 100% cpu and was normal. My guess is that the Mail program on my MBP is somehow integrated with my Address book on my MBP. I realize now that they have to be.

I have no idea if this was really the mechanism, but all is fine now. And I couldn't have done it without you.

Thank you.

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Answer 15

phlexa

Level 1

5 points

Dec 13, 2013 11:44 AM in response to j2zex

This helped me too, however there is yet another process in the Activity monitor running, called mail.content, the same as the last, so to be clear, I had 2 processes called mail.content in the Activity monitor using 98-102% of the CPU at any given time whilst the mail application was open, just so you know, no other applications were open simultaneously.

I could find no further informtation but did have a look at the activity window from within Mail and noticed it cahcing and so on back and forth, so I did a mail check, this opened additional proceses in the activity window, once the mail check had completed and synchronised, I then stopped the other 3 processes, by selecting the 'Stop' sign, each one for one of my mail accounts, I just did it, I couldn't care less, my system is backed up to the minute and I have had enough of this, it has happened since Mavericks install, no change, I have not edited the mailboxes or anything such like since maverick update. Maverick has sent numerous updates..

This solved the issue, the mail app is way down the list on as you can in the picture attached, I am not sure what additional effects this may have, if so I will post back here, however I simply could not wait any longer problem finding the, mail is synched and updated as I type and I did a check to make sure it did not change the CPU usage incase it got linked into a check/update/sync cycle.

Not sure if this helps, but it was through all these mail's I came to my decisions, that the activity was in a cyclic position of not letting go for whatever reason, I have 2 IMAP accounts and 1 POP account, upgraded from Lion recently, on a MBP, my iMac is yet to have these issues.

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