The NEXTSTEP/OpenStep FAQ

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4.13 Mail.app suddenly stopped working!

Mail, doesn't start

When I double-click the Mail.app icon it loads and seems to start but then just terminates. How can I fix this ?

Usually the problem is caused by Mail.app being terminated with extreme prejudice such as by a power outage or kill -9. Under those circumstances Mail.app may leave a lock file in your active mailbox. Due to a bug 3.0 Mail.app doesn't ask for permission to override this lock when started up again but just dies. Open a shell and look in /Mailboxes/Active.mbox. If this directory contains a file called .lock you have found the culprit. You can safely remove this file.



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