Viewing new e-mail messages

I'll try to be as simple as I can with this. The problem is that when I download new mail messages I can't read them. When I click on the new message, the welcome to Netscape message shows up. I believe that if I could get the system to "reload" the mail messages (you know, update the registry) that my problem will go away.

On another note, I've had problems with an error message when opening the mail inbox. The only way I can successfully open the mail inbox is only after it reloads the registry (or mail messages). Does anyone know how to force Netscape to reload the mail messages in my inbox??

Harland

 

harland Welcome to WindowsBBS

Go to C:\Windows and delete the file named nsreg.dat, reboot and start Netscape. When prompted to create a profile, enter the exact name(s) of the profiles having problems, click yes when prompted to use a profile which already exists. You will have a rebuilt Netscape registry using the profile(s) originally created.

 

hmmmmmmmmm

In reading your response, I am not quite clear how this will eliminate the problem. There are two things that come to mind here. First, there is a lot of important company e-mails in the inbox that I don't want to end up loosing by a fat fingered mistake on my end. Second, I am having problems reading only the new messages in the inbox and not all the other messages that have already been read. Will the solution that you provided take care of my second problem?

Harland

 

Hi harland
You say you've had problems with an error message when opening the mail inbox? Can you tell us what that exact error message is?

Daizy

 

Error Message

Well, I can't tell you the specific error message. I think it just said error opening inbox or something like that. I am dealing with two separate problems in my original posting. The problem with reading the new messages is currently a problem with the profile that is used for where I work. The problem with the error message when opening the inbox is a problem that I've had several times with Netscape while at home.

I am trying to find the answer on how to manually force the e-mail system to relog, or reload every message in a particular folder. When I've had the problem opening the mail inbox at home, I keep ******** with Netscape until one time I open up the mail program and instead of flashing all the mail messages up in the window, it starts to log each message. That usually take approximately 2-3 minutes depending on how many messages are in the inbox. If I knew how to manually force the system to reload a particular folder, that would most likely solve my current problem. Does this make things sound more clear?

Harland

 

Welcome!

Hi Harland,

First, could you clarify which version of Netscape you are using: Communicator 4.7x or Netscape 6.x? That would be most helpful.

Before you do another thing with your Mail, please back up your Users folder. Then you can edit to your heart's content without fear of losing any of your Company mail. Copy the Users folder and then paste it into another folder on your HD.

You can be rid of the "Welcome to Netscape" when you open Messenger. First though we should determine what version you are running, and get your problems solved.

You may have a corrupt Inbox, or your Mail file may be set to "Read Only ".

If the error you receive is:
"Cannot open Inbox. You may not have permission to write to this file. Check the permissions and try again "

With Netscape closed:
Navigate to C:\Program Files\Netscape\Users\yourusername\Mail
Right click on the Inbox file (not with .SNM)
Select Properties
Disable "Read Only "
Open Messenger and see if you can access your Mail.

If that isn't the problem, then let's try this:
With Netscape closed:
Navigate to C:\Program Files\Netscape\Users\yourusername\Mail
Delete the Inbox.snm file
Open Messenger and see if you can access your Mail.

Post back and let us know what happens.

Ramona

 

Thanks

Ramona, thanks for the information. I am using Netscape 4.78 at home. The problem that you are assisting me with is a problem that I have once in a while only on my machine at home. I know that the inbox isn't set to a read only file as the problem appears (I think) after there was an error with Netscape. I can't re-create the problem and when it happens, it usually isn't a problem for very long. I can solve the "can't open inbox" problem when I get Netscape to relog the summary (registry) file. I just keep opening and closing Netscape until it automatically relogs the summary file. This brings me to the current problem at work. I need to force Netscape to relog the summary file. Anyone out there know how to do that?

Harland

 

More info on problem viewing new e-mail messages in 4.78

Ok, here's what I just did and found out. First, I can't copy the inbox file. I get the error "cannot create or replace inbox. The parameter is incorrect" in windows when I try to copy the file. And no, I am not in Netscape when I try to copy the files. I deleted the inbox.snm file. This appears to be the summary file as when I opened up Messenger it started to relog the summary file. Once the summary file finished relogging, all the mail messages showed up. I clicked on an unread new mail message and it still won't open that particular mail message. When I click on the new mail message, that particular mail message doesn't show up highlighted and I get the "welcome to Netscape" message.

Harland

 

Hi Harland,
If at all possible, please stick to your original thread so that those of us following along, will know what's already been suggested, and tried?

Daizy

 

Sorry

Well, I had mistakenly hit the new thread instead of the reply button but didn't know until after it was posted. Sorry.


Harland

 

Here's what I did to fix it

Ok, here is what I've done so far to correct the problem. Since I couldn't copy or move the inbox file in windows, I rebooted and went into command prompt mode. I renamed the inbox file to a temp file, restarted the computer and went into Netscape. I then copied all the read mail messages from the temp inbox to the new inbox. The new unread mail messages that I couldn't read I left in the temp inbox file. I went back into command prompt mode, deleted the temp inbox file, rebooted the machine and am now back in business. The only information that was lost was the new unread files that I couldn't read anyways.

The problem is fixed, but I would like to see if anyone knows another way to solve this problem and actually read the new messages if this ever happens in the future. Let me know if anyone has any thoughts on this issue.

Harland

 

Strange goings on!

Hi harland,

To answer your question:
I need to force Netscape to relog the summary file. Anyone out there know how to do that?

You did that very thing by deleting the .SNM files, or summary files.

First, I can't copy the inbox file. I get the error "cannot create or replace inbox. The parameter is incorrect" in windows when I try to copy the file. And no, I am not in Netscape when I try to copy the files.

You should be able to "copy" the file whether or not Netscape is open. You definitely have corrupt files somewhere.

Even though you are able to read your mail now, the problem isn't fixed, as you were unable to open your new messages. There are two fixes to try:

You can rebuild your Mail folder, or you can create a new Profile.

Rebuilding the Mail Folder

FIRST: Back up/make a copy of your Users Folder!

1. Close Communicator.
2. Go to your User directory:
C:\Program Files\Netscape\Users\yourusername.
3. Rename the Mail folder to Oldmail.
4. In the same folder:
create a new folder named "Mail" by choosing New, Folder from the Windows Explorer File menu (or right clicking on the background and choosing New, Folder from the popup menu).
5. Restart Communicator.
6. Check to make sure that this new folder is working. Once you've determined that it's ok, you should then shut down Netscape, go to the Oldmail folder, and copy any of the mail folders you wish to keep (ie. Inbox, Sent) into your new mail folder. Make sure to copy only the Inbox, Sent, etc. files, and NOT the .snm files.
---

Creating a New User Profile

Create a new user profile with the User Profile Manager. Pick another name, it has nothing to do with anything. (Start|Programs|Netscape Communicator|Utilities|User Profile Manager)

In the NEW user profile directory:
(NOTE: If it asks to overwrite the files say yes.)

Delete the files in the news folder and copy all the files from the old user profile news folder to the new news folder.

Delete the mail folder files and copy all the files from the old user profile mail folder to the new mail folder.

Copy your old bookmarks.htm to the new one.

Copy cookies.txt to the new one.

Copy all files with an extension of .NA2 to the new user profile directory. (This is your address book.)

Copy custom.dic to the new user profile directory. (This is your dictionary.)

In the new user profile directory, add the following line to both of these files, LIPREFS.JS AND PREFS.JS.

This will prevent the Netscape advertisement from coming up when you click on get mail: (The following should be all on one line, it might not be all on one line here.) Put it anywhere down in the data, just be sure it's on a line all by itself.

user_pref( "mailnews.start_page.enabled ", false);

That should do it. Now the data written in your user profile directory matches the version of Netscape that you currently have installed.

When you run Netscape, a menu will come up with your old and new profiles listed. Run the new profile. Remember to set up all the things in EDIT/PREFERENCES. The first time you run mail it will ask for your password.

After everything is running OK, (a few days or a couple of weeks) you can run the User Profile Manager again and delete the old profile. Then when you run Netscape it will start right up with your new profile without displaying a menu. (Assuming that you only had one to start with.)

Ramona