It knows mail is on the server, but won't download

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It knows mail is on the server, but won't download

Mail will not update by downloading new mail from my POP server (mail.netriver.net) however it knows it is there. I was frustrated and called my email and domain host (Netriver) and we dicerned that it wasn't anything on thier end.

Together we checked the settings on Mail, and everything appears fine.

Finally I was looking in Account Information (for my POP account) and it has a tab for "Mail On Server." Much to my suprise all the new mail it hadn't downloaded was sitting right there on a list. I can even delete it! Just not view it.

I can't seem to get it to download onto my computer, and I am postive all my settings are correct. (I've even rebuilt my mailbox). Any suggestions?

Thanks,

matt

G4 Powerbook, Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on Sep 7, 2006 11:33 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 7, 2006 11:46 AM in response to _meat_

First thing to try.

Quit the Mail.app first and using the Finder, go to Home > Library > Mail > this POP account named folder (named by the user name and incoming mail server for the account) > MessageUidsAlreadyDownloaded2.

Delete the MessageUidsAlreadyDownloaded2 file and empty the Trash.

Launch Mail and if successful, any previously downloaded messages that remain on the server will be downloaded again along with any new messages on the server not yet downloaded. A new MessageUidsAlreadyDownloaded2 file will be created automatically by Mail within the account named folder.

If this isn't successful, locate the first message available on the server not yet downloaded by Mail. Assuming you have webmail access for this account, view this message via webmail. If you don't need to save it, delete it from the server via webmail access or via the Mail.app "Mail on Server" option. If you need to save this message and your are able to create folders on the server via webmail access to save messages, do so and transfer this message to the created folder or mailbox and then check if this resolves the problem with Mail downloading the remaining messages available on the server.

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Answer 2

_meat_ Author

Level 1

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Sep 7, 2006 12:43 PM in response to Allan Sampson

It worked! At first deleting the file in the mailbox folder didn't. But then I followed the second suggestion of deleting the first message (and combined it with deleting the MessageUidsAlreadyDownloaded2 file) and the messages flowed on in.

Thanks Allan, I appreciate the help.

-Matt

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Answer 3

Sep 23, 2006 11:17 PM in response to Allan Sampson

I was having the same trouble with my Apple Mail program. No E-mail downloaded from the server for four days. I did what you suggested. I accessed Webmail and deleted several last messages right before they stopped downloading to my mail program. Voila! The rest of the messages downloaded as soon as I hit "get mail." I'm so glad this worked, because I really didn't want to get rid of all my saved E-mail by discarding the file in Library. Thanks so much!

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Answer 4

Sep 24, 2006 2:58 AM in response to brightideas

I'm so glad this worked, because I really didn't want to get rid of
all my saved E-mail by discarding the file in Library. Thanks so much!

You're welcome but deleting the MessageUidsAlreadyDownloaded2 file for a POP type account has no effect on any messages previously downloaded by the Mail.app - doing so does not get rid of all your saved e-mail.

Any previously downloaded messages that remain on the server will be downloaded again when deleting this file.

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