Macworld: Can't Delete Email Message ...

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12 Replies Last post: Oct 25, 2005 6:08 PM by Nobody

Jimlipp

61 posts since
Apr 8, 2001

Oct 10, 2005 7:04 PM

Can't Delete Email Message

I have two email messages that I can't delete. They are marked as junk and each time I click on delete and then erase the deleted messages, they show up again in the inbox when I restart Mail or go from one mailbox to another. They just keep coming back to the inbox.
I'm using the latest version of Tiger (10.4.2) and the latest version of Mail.
How can I get rid of these messages?

Jim

MacSis

235 posts since
Apr 19, 2004

1. Oct 11, 2005 8:46 AM

in response to: Jimlipp

Re: Can't Delete Email Message

A friend of mine had a similar problem and what we did (she was using a G5 with Panther 10.3.9) was to have her go into her home directory and locate her mail folder and trash her inbox.

You might want to make sure that any mail you wish to save in the inbox is removed to another location, if not, you will lose mail.

Once you drag that folder to the trash, make sure the mail application is closed and empty the trash. When you reopen mail, it shouldn't have anything in that inbox.

Hope this helps.

Jimlipp

61 posts since
Apr 8, 2001

2. Oct 22, 2005 5:46 PM

in response to: MacSis

Re: Can't Delete Email Message

MacSis,
Thanks for replying and I'm sorry that I didn't respond sooner (I've been a bit sick).
Anyway, I tried what you suggested, but it didn't work. When the new inbox (for my Earthlink account) was created, the messages showed up again.
I don't know how to get rid of the emails and I'm worried that they might cause some problems. Nothing to indicate that now, though.

Jim

Nobody

58,347 posts since
Oct 18, 2007

3. Oct 22, 2005 8:49 PM

in response to: Jimlipp

Re: Can't Delete Email Message

Have you tried emptying your mailbox trash? You didn't mention it. You can empty mailbox trash by clicking on the Mailboxes at Toolbar and the drawer opens and click on Trash can to empty by using Delete from the Toolbar; or thru Mail Edit menu and select by clicking on each email or select All and Delete. Deleted mail ends here and piles up. You should remember to empty the Trash can because all of your deleted mail ends there and would start causing responsive issues to your Mail. It like an actual trash can, crap builts up and starts to stink!!!!

Reboot

1,111 posts since
Sep 6, 2003

4. Oct 22, 2005 9:12 PM

in response to: Jimlipp

Re: Can't Delete Email Message

Did you try a mailbox rebuild?

Jimlipp

61 posts since
Apr 8, 2001

5. Oct 23, 2005 1:04 PM

in response to: Nobody

Re: Can't Delete Email Message

teckman,
I empty the mailbox trash regularly. I don't let it build up.
I even tried listing the two emails as junk mail and then I emptied the junk mailbox.
As you said, it is a good idea to empty the mailbox trash regularly -- it does start to stink.

Thanks,

Jim

Jimlipp

61 posts since
Apr 8, 2001

6. Oct 23, 2005 1:07 PM

in response to: Reboot

Re: Can't Delete Email Message

Reboot,

Rebuilding the mailbox is something that I didn't try yet. Sounds like a good thing to try.
I'll let you know what happens.

Thanks,

Jim

Jimlipp

61 posts since
Apr 8, 2001

7. Oct 23, 2005 1:17 PM

in response to: Jimlipp

Re: Can't Delete Email Message

I emptied the trash and then I rebuilt the mailboxes, and now, the two emails are gone (and they stay gone after I restart the program).

Thanks to all of you for your help.

Jim

Nobody

58,347 posts since
Oct 18, 2007

8. Oct 23, 2005 2:47 PM

in response to: Jimlipp

Re: Can't Delete Email Message

Good thing I decided to reply from the forum instead from post reply email. You have already solve the problem.
I was going to add that the Advanced button setting of "Remove copy from server after retrieving message" should be check to keep from getting the same message(s) from your ISP mail server. It doesn't actually removes messages from your ISP mail server but it won't retrieve the same message(s). At least that is what happens with my ISP mail server. I need to go there and delete the mail.
You can opt for when the Trash can is emptied in the Special Mailboxes button settings.

Edit: you do this from the Mail menu bar Preferences option

Jimlipp

61 posts since
Apr 8, 2001

9. Oct 23, 2005 3:54 PM

in response to: Nobody

Re: Can't Delete Email Message

teckman,

When this started happening, I went to my Eathlink webmail site and made sure that the emails were not still on the server. They were not. I have Mail set to remove my email from the server after it is retrieved. It seems this was a "local" problem and not a server problem. They were reappearing even though I had my Earthlink account offline.
Both emails were identical except for their dates.
If anybody has any thoughts as to how or why this was happening, I would be interested in hearing them.

Again, I appreciate your help.

Jim

Reboot

1,111 posts since
Sep 6, 2003

10. Oct 23, 2005 10:24 PM

in response to: Jimlipp

Re: Can't Delete Email Message

It's a bug in Apple's Mail, it's done similar things through numerous versions, it's nothing you can prevent. Somehow the database is getting corrupt. Mail is still a work in progress IMO. At least they put in the Rebuild option now.

Nobody

58,347 posts since
Oct 18, 2007

11. Oct 24, 2005 6:44 PM

in response to: Jimlipp

Re: Can't Delete Email Message

You could note your opinion with this link to Apple Feedback or just use the bug button on the right corner of Safari.You might add that link to your Bookmark if you like. My Mac Mail is pretty much squared away. But I think the bug I noticed is Mac Mail does not clear the mail from my ISP email server. Maybe it does just local server. I don't really know. Like I mention before the Advanced button option setting "Remove copy from server after retrieving" does not remove copy from my ISP server. It just does not retrieve the same email. I have to go back to my ISP email server and delete the email(s) before they pile up. I get about a dozen bounces with Safari opening my home page as well as Mac Mail when emails pile up.

Nobody

58,347 posts since
Oct 18, 2007

12. Oct 25, 2005 6:08 PM

in response to: Nobody

Re: Can't Delete Email Message

Just to put correction to my errors, I have no bugs!!!! Just a mind cramp. I left "Remove copy from server after retrieving" setting for "after one week". Not for instaneous.

---This option really does work. This is good if you want to reduce your bounce time of your browser. Launch Mail, got mail, launch broswer---Oh! one bounce.

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Oct 10, 2005 7:04 PM

Can't Delete Email Message

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