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I've just got the new (used) iMac online, transferred data from MDD via Migration Ass't, all looks good except Mail, which has me totally stumped.
Mail app shows in the dock (v 3.5), but when I click on it, it shows Mail stuff on the menu bar but does not open a window. Opening a New viewer window shows none of my old mail in it, and when I send new messages -both to me at the same address, and one to another address, they do not arrive anywhere, and don't even show in my Sent mailbox. Then have to force quit, to quit Mail.
The data in Mail prefs looks right, and it shows the address choices I'd expect when I start to type one to send.
On a clean install of Leopard, and already ran software update/repaired perms prior to trying Mail. I migrated from the MDD on 10.3
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Edit: I saw you said 10.3. Something in 10.5.x messed up the mail import from 10.3 machines. You need to blow out mail and set it up from scractch and then it will work correctly. Redownload your mail from the IMAP server.
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Migration Assistant sure does a crappy job with Mail. And so does doing an Upgrade Install / Archive Install of Leopard over Tiger.
You need to delete your com.apple.mail.plist preference file, re-launch Mail, re-enter your mail server account info, and your mail should all be there.
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The above advice depends on whether the OP keeps mail on the server, whether we're talking about years of archived mail, etc.
I would try using some of the import commands to navigate to the Mail folder in user/library/Mail on the MDD (however it was connected before) first-- maybe you'll be in business. Otherwise I'd trash Mail and its associated folders, install fresh, and then try the import features.
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Still nothing.
As Silencio suggested, I deleted the com.apple.mail.plist preference file. Corrected the incoming mail server address in the Welcome to Mail set-up thing. It then spent many minutes "checking...". So I cancelled, used the go back button to try again, this time it presented me w/the Outgoing mail server info I had to change, then it spent another many minutes "checking connection to mail server..."
Finally prompted me to create the account w/info I had entered, but still get an empty inbox. -"Unable to receive mail". I've re-checked the acct info, to duplicate that entered on the old MDD (which still has functioning Mail). Quit and re-opened Mail a few times.
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Black, my mail is supposedly kept on the server just for 1 week after retrieval. Do I import from the MDD in FW target mode, via the Mail import mailboxes command (under mail file menu)?
-Thanks. I'll check back w/this thread tomorrow; I'm bushed.
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The format of the mailbox changed between 10.3 and 10.4, so in 10.4 there was a fairly lengthy conversion process that took place when you first started up mail after upgrading to create the new format mailbox. I had systems where an error occurred during that conversion, and from looking at the console log I could find which message it was, and I had to go back to 10.3, delete that message and start the whole process over again.
Not sure if any of this relates to your situation, but just wanted to throw out some experience from a mail conversion coming from 10.3.
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You should look into getting IMAP or exchange for your email account. POP really shouldn't be around anymore. A gmail account will get you IMAP for free. Most webhosts also will give you IMAP mail with your hosting plan. ISPs are about the only ones who won't, and you really shouldn't tie your email with your ISP.
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Don't remember why my wife lost hers but I had to choose one mailbox at a time and hit rebuild under the mailbox menu item.It found everything.
