Can't delete an account in Mail

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Can't delete an account in Mail

I think I have one and maybe two corrupt email accounts in my Mac Mail program. I think I need to delete these accounts and start over. Mail won't let me delete the accounts. Can anyone help me with this?

It all started by not receiving email through the "suspect" account. I contacted my ISP and the company that hosts my website and neither of them reported any problems. I decided I needed to delete the offending account and just start over. Mail won't let me delete it and now my other account that was doing fine is receiving all kinds of bizarre messages (some in chinese) that it never received before. It's as if the spam filter provided by my ISP is no longer working. It's very weird. Do I need to reinstall Mail or what? I'm using Version 2.1.1 (752.3). Thanks. Amy

Powerbook, Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on Jun 13, 2007 4:16 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 13, 2007 4:28 AM in response to amynewglarus

Amy,

If no problem starting from scratch, then we can wipe out both the preferences list and the Mail folder. If you have some On My Mac mailboxes where you have stored some messages, then a less drastic approach is recommended, so post back for that. But if you want to start as though totally new, then Quit Mail, and in the Finder, open Home/Library, and locate the Mail folder and delete it. Next at Home/Library locate the Preferences folder, open it and find the file named com.apple.mail.plist and delete it. Launch Mail and proceed as new.

If you need to save some mailboxes of your create, wait until you post back for further information.

Ernie

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Answer 2

amynewglarus Author

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Jun 13, 2007 6:02 AM in response to Ernie Stamper

Ernie,

Thanks for your reply. I do have some messages that I have saved in other folders within my Mail program that I'd rather not lose. However my "On MY Mac" folder which is in the trash folder is empty. I can't find the " file named com.apple.mail.plist" in my preferences folder.

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Answer 3

Jun 13, 2007 6:18 AM in response to amynewglarus

Amy,

On My Mac is a terminology for any mailbox you create to be stored on your Mac's hard, but you no longer see that Icon, normally, in the Sidebar. The On My Mac mailbox you see in Trash has been created by Mail when you deleted a message from one of your "On My Mac" mailboxes.

Double click on your hard drive Icon, and in the resulting Finder window, click on the Icon of a House in the Sidebar -- this opens your Home folder. The double click on the Library in this Home folder, and find the Preferences folder in it. This Preferences must have the com.apple.mail.plist file -- do you find it?

Once you find the plist file, but before taking any action do the following:

Be sure to Quit Mail, and in the Finder open Home/Library and locate the Mail folder. Control-click over the Mail folder, and choose Duplicate -- then drag the resulting copy to the Desktop for temporary backup. Next, open Home/Library/Preferences and find the com.apple.mail.plist file and drag it to the desktop.

Relaunch Mail, which will open as though new, and when prompted to import anything say Yes or whatever affirms. Next re-enter your account info, and Mail will set up new account folders, but will keep your other mailboxes, but we have the backup sitting on the Desktop if all does not go as expected.

Ask any needed questions, and keep us posted.

Ernie

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Answer 4

amynewglarus Author

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Jun 13, 2007 12:33 PM in response to Ernie Stamper

Ernie,
You are a wonderful person, but enough of the PDA. Your directions worked perfectly. I still have the old saved messages that I needed. I have restored (rebuilt) both email accounts and they are working like a charm! I would not have figured this out on my own and I can't tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to help a total stranger.

Sincerely, Amy

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