Apple Mail has disappeared!

[Raven]

Xairbusdriver, This topic is about my MBP which has 10.13.6.
I can't take it any further because I'm still using Adobe CS6 apps.
I have to migrate my files from my old 24" iMac to my new 27" iMac, but that's another topic.

jchuzi,
DU VIEW shows - 1. Kingston, 2. container disk 1, 3. MacIntosh HD.
I did First Aid on # 1 and # 3. No difference in the results.

[Xairbusdriver]

On the second Apple call, we did learn that my email works in my other TEST account. So, I could log in to the TEST account and do my normal email stuff and return to my main account. All previous emails were there and it worked fine. BUT… a week later those emails in my TEST account also disappeared. Same as before, when I open the Mail app, it is visible for a split second and then says “Mail quit unexpectedly”. Very difficult not be able to use email on my laptop, although email on my very old 24” iMac and iPhone 11 work perfectly.

To my thinking, this behavior is pointing to corrupted .plist files, possibly caused by the app itself. Mail writes dozens of .plist files in both the root Library and your home Library (~/Library).

Creating a new user caused it to create a new .plist file in that new user space. But it would continue to use all the .plist files in the root Library. However, if you tried to edit or change your settings while in that new user version of Mail, it could then have corrupted that version of the new user's Mail .plist file.

The only way I can see to correct this behavior is to re-install Mail. Unfortunately, Apple does not usually provide a method of installing individual Apple developed apps. Instead, Apple provides ways to re-install the complete OS while leaving your personal data in place.

Before starting this process, you SHOULD have a written copy of ALL your Account settings (unless you are prepared to re-create them):

• Account Info: (Email addresses, description)
• Server Settings for both incoming (IMAP/POP) and outgoing (SMTP) servers: (user names, passwords, user names, host server names)
• It might also be helpful if you have the Mailbox Behaviors settings

First, make sure you have a current and usable back up of all your personal data files. That is best done by having both a Time Machine and a 'clone' of all your files. If you do not have SuperDuper or CarbonCopyCloner version 5 (my favorite), please consider purchasing either app before doing a re-install of the OS.

Second you can download macOS 10.13 High Sierra from the Mac App Store at this Apple Support page. Or you can create a bootable installer on a flash drive with at least 14GB of space.

[jchuzi]

It may be possible to extract Mail from Apple's installer by using Pacifist. I make no guarantee but it's worth a look.

[Raven]

Xairbusdriver,
This is getting a bit heavy for me to understand, but I appreciate your comments. 
I only back up my MBP every few weeks cause I don't do a lot of important work on it except for emails and viewing photos.
 The second Apple Care person walked me through downloading OS10.13.6 again, after I had backed everything up on Super Duper first. That made no difference at all. She did work on my desktop from her end. Yet, you are explaining things that Apple Care did not mention.

I don't use Time Machine for my MBP. Just Super Duper. Should I add Time Machine?

Not sure how to get all my email account settings if Apple Mail won't stay open? Or do I pull that info from my iMac?

In 3 weeks I will be traveling to where an Apple Store/Genius Bar is located. Can they help me?

Lots of questions! 

[Xairbusdriver]

you are explaining things that Apple Care did not mention

I would doubt any Apple phone "tech" would ever explain anything about what is in your System or Library. And maybe only a passing comment about your ~/Library. They have no incentive to have you know that there are things that can be done in those locations.

Should I add Time Machine?

I cannot think of any reason to not use Time Machine. Although it is too late to get any use from doing that if we can't re-install Mail. Hopefully, when this problem is either fixed or you just end up "moving on", you will definitely rethink your back up strategies. We have been recommending the use of Time Machine ever since it was first available. SuperDuper and or CarbonCopyCloner from their first versions also. It is never too soon to have both a bootable clone and an incremental back up.

Can they help me?

You might get help from an Apple Store, but I think you will need an appointment. Our local store seems to discourage 'walk-ins', especially for a "Genius" (assuming they still have those). They rarely do anything except run various hardware tests and suggest sending the hardware to an Apple Repair provider.

Hopefully, they can get macOS 10.13 High Sierra installed at least on the mini and MBP and get Mail working. They will probably complain, however, that 10.13 is no longer "supported". Just remind them that it is still on the Mac App Store.

If you can get Mail working, you should then be able to get your IMAP mail from the servers. Also remember that any of your Apple-domain email (.me, .icloud, .mac) can be accessed on iCloud Mail via Safari.

Has your iMac (or MPB) had a new drive installed? If not, you are trusting a ~12 year old mechanical hard drive in the iMac. That's around 99 dog years! Your MBP's original hard drive could be ~9 years old. That's also very old for a mechanical drive. If you didn't buy the mini in the last couple of years before the M1, it is likely one that was actually built in 2014. Still not a youngster at ~7 years. I'm not sure how you are getting AppleCare on any of those nachines.

[Raven]

Xairbusdriver, some clarification needed here...
The mini is my wife's and no changes needed for a while. 

My MBP died about 5-6 years ago, and I had a 240GB Solid State SATA drive installed. That's the unit where my email has disappeared.

Yet, if I can see my email for a split second each time I open it, does that say it still exists and it's hiding?  Apple Care helped me re-install OS10.13 which did nothing. Which doesn't make sense. Wouldn't those plist files have also been changed?
Is there anything that I can ask the Apple store to do that would help?

As mentioned, I need to transfer my 2009 24" iMac files to a new 27" iMac with OS10.14. Cause that still allows me to use CS6. I am wary because it has several glitches and ALL my files. I will have to post that as a separate topic to get some TS guru advice again!
 

[Xairbusdriver]

"Clarification", indeed! I've been using the info in your profile at the bottom of each post to identify what hardware you are using! So you also have a newer(?) iMac running Mojave macOS 10.14.
A. Is that the computer that is covered by AppleCare?

B. So, you have four Macs, including the mini for your wife?

C. You can no longer run Apple Mail on any of them?

I can see my email for a split second each time I open it, does that say it still exists and it's hiding?

Certainly. Your emails, like files created in other apps, are stored completely separately from the code files of the application.

If you haven't put your home Library folder in the Side Bar of Finder, simply use the "Go Menu" or type shift + command + L. I would suggest using Column View in Finder and just keep clicking the next folder to the right. In your home Library for "Mail", click on "Mail",
  then "V7",
    then one of the folders with a folders with the 32 letters and numbers "name"
    (I have one named: 189FB98D-11AB-4510-8073-B8810130FFAA you are not
    likely to have one with that exact name).

You will probably have several of those useless-to-humans named folders. Click on any of them until you find one that has a bunch of items with ".mbox" suffixes.
  1. Now click one of those ".mbox" files.
      Look for another folder with a horribly long 32 character name. Click on that folder.
        Do you now see a "Data" folder? Great! Click on it.
        If you don't see a "Data" folder, just click on any other incomprehensibley named
        folder until you find one with a "Data" folder in it.

  2. Inside the "Data" folder, you will see that Apple decided to save typing by now naming folders with single digits! If you click on one of those, you will usually find yet another group of single digit-named folders. Guess what you will probably find in the second group of folders? That's right! Another single-digit named folder!

Are you still with me?! For the Grand Prize, what will you see inside one of that 3rd group of folders?
If you guessed another group of single-digit named folders you are to be forgiven. But Apple is not that easy! Instead, you should find a folder called "Messages". Dare you click on the "Messages" folder, you will, at long last, find at least one of your email messages IF ANYTHING HAS A SUFFIX OF ".emix".

Do a Get Info (command + I) on any .emix file and you will see an email.

Such a short question, such a long and involved "answer".

So, the good news is that your messages are probably OK! All you need to do is get Mail to stay open.

[Raven]

Much thanks for taking the time to explain all this. It will take me a while to figure out what you've explained! 

The email issue is ONLY on my MBP which has 10.13.6. It is not covered by Apple Care, but I've called them twice and they did try to help. I didn't expect they would help, but they could not solve my email problem twice.

Aside, I have not done anything with my new 27" iMac OS10.14 as I explained...I need to transfer my 2009 24" iMac files before it dies to my new iMac. That will still allow me to use my Adobe CS6 apps. BUT I am wary because my old iMac has several glitches that I don't want to transfer. I will give that problem in a different post later.

[Xairbusdriver]

Files are completely separate from applications. So transferring "files" you want from one computer to another can be safely via WiFi (on your local network) or Ethernet(?) (wire). There is no need to have any application even running. I would encourage you to get that transfer done ASAP.

Whether you ever get Mail to run on the MBP is a task that can wait. You already have a new iMac that is running Mail, correct? I suspect that the only solution may be erasing the MBP before re-installing the OS. That will, of course, wipe out any files on it, so make sure you have also transferred any you want to keep to the newer iMac.

[Raven]

Xairbusdriver, I'm trying to find the Library/Mail folder you mentioned and try what you suggested.
See my screen shot. I can't find it. Am I looking in the wrong place?
 

[jchuzi]

You are looking in the wrong Library. You need ~/Library/Mail. In other words, Users/yourname/Library/Mail.

[Xairbusdriver]

• Open a Finder window.
• Find the “Go” item in the Menu bar and select that item.
• You should now see the menu expand downward.
• One of the items in that drop down list is “Library”. You can also ‘go to your user Library’ by using the key board shortcut (shown to the right of that item in the drop down list): shift + command + L.

Please set Finder to Column or List View. Icon view is horrible for seeing paths.

[Raven]

This is rather pathetic at my end. I cannot find another Library folder when I try either option. 

[jchuzi]

Read How to Find Your Library Folder on a Mac

[Raven]

Thanks jchuzi!
Found the Library/v5 folder! I opened many sub folders until I found an EMIX file.
The lost email opens for a split second, and then “Mail Quit Unexpectantly”
So, there they are there one email at a time… deep down.
How to bring em all back?