Can't use mail after restore from backup
 

I had a functional computer with no mail problems prior to demonstrating how to restore a hard drive from a Superduper backup. I have done this a couple of times in the past with no problem. However, this time I lost the ability to use either MS Entourage or Mac Mail. When I try to run Entourage I get an error (-5000) saying it can't change to this identity. It then presents a window allowing me to choose an identity. The only identity present is the one I've always used and the one it now says it cannot change to. If I try to create a new identity it says it cannot change to that one. I then have to quit.

Mail will run but no Viewer Window appears and in the preferences window there are no accounts, nor can I create new accounts.

I have tried fixing permissions and updated prebinding but neither has done anything. I trashed the preference files to no effect.

Just tried adding a new account on the computer. Everything works fine so the problem is with the original account. Really don't want to have to migrate everything to the new account.

It does sound like your own files aren't owned by this account. How, exactly, did you restore this particular backup? Does mail work on the original backup if you start up from it?

I booted from the Superduper clone and then copied the clone to the macbook harddrive. Mail does not work on the clone either.

Manually check the permissions for the folder Entourage is using, and your Preferences folder. Something seems wrong here...

I checked the folders you suggested. I have read and write privileges on all the folders.

Are there any diagnostics in the console that might indicate why these two applications aren't letting you do what you want?

Dave,

Thanks for mentioning the console, hadn't thought to look there. Below is a listing of the messages I got when I tried to run Mail. It shows a problem with the Address Book so I tried to run Address Book. It would not launch at all as you can see from the messages. Last I tried to run Entourage and got some more messages. Thanks for your help.

9/8/08 8:39:30 PM Mail[319] -[ABAddressBook sharedAddressBook] Can't ABACQUIRE_FILE_LOCK /SourceCache/AddressBook/AddressBook-695/Framework/AddressBook/ABAddressBook.m:3165
9/8/08 8:39:30 PM Mail[319] *** Assertion failure in -[ABPerson nts_initWithUniqueId:addressBook:], /SourceCache/AddressBook/AddressBook-695/Framework/AddressBook/ABRecord.m:195
9/8/08 8:39:30 PM Mail[319] this method is not thread safe. AddressBook must not be nil.
Stack Trace: (
(
2507697644,
2418980716,
2507697404,
2513750324,
2508214612,
2508213872,
5655400,
5655900,
1531428,
19176,
2512961216,
2507250160,
2420074288,
2420073812,
2420073364,
2454532188,
2454530580,
2454505168,
2454311124,
996940
))
9/8/08 8:39:40 PM com.apple.launchd[150] ([0x0-0x36036].com.apple.mail[319]) Exited: Terminated
9/8/08 8:40:06 PM Address Book[321] -[ABAddressBook sharedAddressBook] Can't ABACQUIRE_FILE_LOCK /SourceCache/AddressBook/AddressBook-695/Framework/AddressBook/ABAddressBook.m:3165
9/8/08 8:40:06 PM Address Book[321] Invalid parameter not satisfying 'addressBook != nil'
9/8/08 8:40:35 PM Microsoft Entourage[324] *** -[NSKeyedUnarchiver initForReadingWithData:]: data is NULL
9/8/08 8:40:51 PM com.apple.launchd[150] ([0x0-0x39039].com.microsoft.Entourage[324]) Stray process with PGID equal to this dead job: PID 327 PPID 1 Microsoft Error
9/8/08 8:40:51 PM com.apple.launchd[150] ([0x0-0x39039].com.microsoft.Entourage[324]) Exited: Killed

I moved the Address Book data folder to the desktop and tried to run Address Book. It ran fine now but, of course, all old data is missing. I then tried to run Mail and it ran also with all old data missing. Entourage still has a problem but I can live without it. Worst case: I have to input all the addresses and kiss old emails goodbye.

Hm. Are you syncing with Mobile Me?