I managed to locate a fix and have done what it says in here and it is now sorted. Seems to be a bug confined to El Capitan.
http://solutionowl.com/mac-mail-account-already-exists-capitan/ Regards Pete > On 13 Sep 2017, at 5:07 pm, Peter Crisp <petercr...@westnet.com.au> wrote: > > Hi there, my wife finally got around to rationalizing her Inbox down to <2000 > unread emails and so given my frequent hassling to get her to migrate to > IMAP, she gave the all clear for me to convert her from POP to IMAP Mail > account. I had created her IMAP account (but not enabled) some years ago when > I made the change myself but these things take time. When given the all > clear, I followed the instructions below. Before starting I had deleted the > IMAP account created some years ago (the one that had never been enabled) as > I was unsure if this would in fact be ok but figured I would be creating an > account per step 5 in the instructions below, so should be ok I thought. So I > went through Steps 1-4 no problem though it took quite some time to Move the > Sent items (~20,000) to a temp folder in the "On My Mac" space. Anyway when > the Inbox and Sent items move was completed, I tried to create the IMAP > account - I get a message which says "the account already exists". Which I > think is Mail's way of saying, "I checked the Server (Westnet) and there is > already an account there with those details". The POP account is certainly > still available though unticked the "Enabled" button. I suspect the server > still has the remnant stub of the IMAP account I created years ago and had > subsequently deleted. So my issue is how do I re-create the IMAP account on > the MacBook (El Capitan 10.11.5). Any tips welcomed. I rang Westnet who > didn't really offer any help but I am surprised and think the issue is at the > Westnet server. > > Regards > > > Pete > > Begin forwarded message: > >> From: Peter Crisp <petercr...@westnet.com.au> >> Date: 11 September 2017 at 12:54:51 pm AWST >> To: Peter Crisp <petercr...@westnet.com.au> >> Subject: Fwd: How to convert a POP email account to IMAP >> >> >> >> Regards >> >> >> Pete >> >> Begin forwarded message: >> >>> From: Peter Crisp <petercr...@westnet.com.au> >>> Date: 15 October 2015 at 9:58:27 pm AWST >>> To: Tim Mills <timsph...@westnet.com.au> >>> Subject: Fwd: How to convert a POP email account to IMAP >>> >>> I think it was this one. >>> >>> Regards >>> >>> >>> Pete >>> >>> Begin forwarded message: >>> >>>> From: Peter Crisp <petercr...@westnet.com> >>>> Date: 15 October 2015 at 8:07:07 AM AWST >>>> To: Tim Mills <timsph...@westnet.com.au> >>>> Subject: Fwd: How to convert a POP email account to IMAP >>>> >>>> Hi Tiffy, what email account type do you operate with? >>>> >>>> See below thread. >>>> >>>> Regards >>>> >>>> Pete >>>> >>>> >>>> Begin forwarded message: >>>> >>>>> From: Peter Crisp <petercr...@westnet.com.au> >>>>> Date: 14 October 2015 at 9:20:38 PM AWST >>>>> To: WAMUG <wamug@wamug.org.au> >>>>> Subject: Re: How to convert a POP email account to IMAP >>>>> >>>>> Hi Rob, Neil and Daniel et al, the ‘Option’ key did the trick. the >>>>> IMAP/POP option presents when you hold the Option key down at the >>>>> ‘create’ stage. It went very smoothly from there. Once created it >>>>> immediately synchronised around 3,500 emails from the server (mostly Sent >>>>> items) - it took just a few minutes. I dragged back the temporarily >>>>> created ‘Inbox’ to the real Inbox. >>>>> >>>>> Then I deleted the accounts on my iPhone and iPad and then recreated >>>>> there, again straightforward update. >>>>> >>>>> It seems all good now. >>>>> >>>>> I will see how it behaves over the next few days and then recommend to my >>>>> wife potentially. >>>>> >>>>> Thanks for the help here folks. >>>>> >>>>> Regards. >>>>> >>>>> Pete... >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> On 14 Oct 2015, at 7:10 pm, Rob Phillips <r.phill...@iinet.net.au> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Hi Pete >>>>>> >>>>>> Daniel's suggestion is the best way to go. >>>>>> >>>>>> However, note that I suggested (perhaps not very clearly) that you >>>>>> recreate your old email 'account' in mail. The important thing to >>>>>> recognise is that your email account with Westnet still exists. It's >>>>>> just that the connection to that account in the Mail email browser is >>>>>> being changed. Unfortunately, Mail calls this an 'account', so it gets >>>>>> confusing. >>>>>> >>>>>> Good luck >>>>>> Rob >>>>>> >>>>>>> On 14/10/2015 6:02 pm, Peter Crisp wrote: >>>>>>> Hi Rob, the issue is I want to retain my existing email address. To >>>>>>> change that means a massive undertaking in alerting the many places >>>>>>> where my email address is embedded - Apple store, wine sellers just to >>>>>>> name a couple. So the point being I only want to change the account >>>>>>> type but keep the rest unchanged. Daniel has chimed in with a >>>>>>> suggestion which I will try tonight. I'll advise the group of success >>>>>>> (hopefully). >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Regards >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Pete >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On 14 Oct 2015, at 2:54 PM, Rob Phillips <r.phill...@iinet.net.au> >>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Hi Pete >>>>>>>> I think the problem might be in trying to use the same email address. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> A possible way forward is (with lots of backups and care - including >>>>>>>> downloading recent emails onto a second device) >>>>>>>> create a new email address - gmail - or even better a second westnet >>>>>>>> address associated with your account >>>>>>>> try to create an IMAP account for this >>>>>>>> Move your old messages into new new mailbox >>>>>>>> try the disable/ enable thing again. Maybe you can change the server >>>>>>>> settings now. Failing this, delete that old mailbox and create a new >>>>>>>> IMAP one. >>>>>>>> Copy your old messages back. >>>>>>>> I hope this helps >>>>>>>> Rob >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On 14/10/2015 7:55 am, petercr...@westnet.com.au wrote: >>>>>>>>> Hi Rob, thanks for the suggestion. The process in Mail to go from POP >>>>>>>>> to IMAP requires establishment of a new account, you;re unable to >>>>>>>>> just change the server address as the Account Type (POP) is superior >>>>>>>>> to that. Unfortunately I am unable to get past the first dialogue >>>>>>>>> where entry of the account detail (Name, email address and password) >>>>>>>>> are required before getting to selecting IMAP/POP and server details. >>>>>>>>> That is the problem I have. I have altered the Name and password of >>>>>>>>> the account from the disabled account detail (no point changing the >>>>>>>>> email address as the old address is MY address) and still no joy. >>>>>>>>> Might have to ring Apple or chat. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Thanks. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Pete. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>>>>>> From: >>>>>>>>> wamug@wamug.org.au >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> To: >>>>>>>>> <wamug@wamug.org.au> >>>>>>>>> Cc: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Sent: >>>>>>>>> Tue, 13 Oct 2015 22:03:09 +0800 >>>>>>>>> Subject: >>>>>>>>> Re: How to convert a POP email account to IMAP >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I use Thunderbird not Mail, but have you changed the mail server >>>>>>>>> address? It should be something like imap.westnet.com.au, instead of >>>>>>>>> pop.westnet.comau. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Hope this helps. >>>>>>>>> Rob >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On 13/10/2015 8:13 pm, Peter Crisp wrote: >>>>>>>>> Hi, have any of you done the below process of moving from a POP Mail >>>>>>>>> account to an IMAP account? I tried again and I get the same result >>>>>>>>> as below here. Not able to Create a new account as Mail simple >>>>>>>>> re-enables the account I disabled. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Regards >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Pete... >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On 12 Oct 2015, at 9:16 pm, Peter Crisp <petercr...@westnet.com.au> >>>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Hi folks, I am getting a moment to make this change to my westnet >>>>>>>>> account from POP to IMAP. The text (in different font) below is that >>>>>>>>> from a previous thread on the topic back in Feb 2014. I am running >>>>>>>>> V8.2 Mail and OS X 10.10.5. Maybe Mail is a little different now and >>>>>>>>> the instructions altered or maybe I am doing something wrong. I’ve >>>>>>>>> made the copy of Inbox and Sent items into temp folders “On My MAC”. >>>>>>>>> Then I uncheck the Enable button in my current account. No problem to >>>>>>>>> here. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Then I choose Mail > Add Account and select “Add other Mail account”. >>>>>>>>> This is where I am unsure. I used the same account name, email >>>>>>>>> address and password (as I am trying to change to IMAP) as current >>>>>>>>> account and once I select Create, it simply enables the existing >>>>>>>>> account which I just disabled. Perhaps this is not unexpected. I >>>>>>>>> tried a different password and account name (same email address) - >>>>>>>>> same thing - re-enables the existing disabled account. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> What am I doing wrong or is the procedure different in 8.2? >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> For the moment I have re-enabled my Mail so I can still use it for >>>>>>>>> this. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Regards >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Pete. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Hi Laura, >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I have cc'd your iinet & Laura Webb <elja...@me.com> addresses, so >>>>>>>>> hopefully >>>>>>>>> you receive at least one of them. >>>>>>>>> Step 2. is VERY IMPORTANT: >>>>>>>>> To avoid any potential disasters, save all the messages you have on >>>>>>>>> your Mac to >>>>>>>>> a different mailbox before you convert to IMAP. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> How to convert a POP email account to IMAP >>>>>>>>> Most email providers let you choose between two ways to get your >>>>>>>>> messages. You >>>>>>>>> can have a POP (Post Office Protocol) account that downloads all your >>>>>>>>> messages >>>>>>>>> to your Mac, iPhone or iPad. Or, you can have an IMAP (Internet >>>>>>>>> Message Access >>>>>>>>> Protocol) account that leaves some or all of your messages up on the >>>>>>>>> mail >>>>>>>>> server so you can access them from any device. For example, with a >>>>>>>>> POP account, >>>>>>>>> if you check email on your iPhone, the messages downloaded there will >>>>>>>>> only be >>>>>>>>> there; when you get back to your Mac, you won’t see them in your >>>>>>>>> inbox. With >>>>>>>>> IMAP, they’ll be on all your devices. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> If you’ve been using a POP account, but have grown frustrated with >>>>>>>>> inaccessible >>>>>>>>> messages, you can usually convert your account to IMAP. Most hosting >>>>>>>>> companies >>>>>>>>> and providers offer both options. However, making this conversion >>>>>>>>> requires that >>>>>>>>> you take precautions so you don’t lose any messages. Here’s how to >>>>>>>>> make the >>>>>>>>> switch safely: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> 1. Check with your email host >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> If you manage your email account yourself, check on your hosting >>>>>>>>> company’s >>>>>>>>> dashboard to make sure you can use IMAP. (It’s very rare that this is >>>>>>>>> not >>>>>>>>> available.) If you get email through your business or school, check >>>>>>>>> with the IT >>>>>>>>> department. Find out what settings you will need to access your email >>>>>>>>> as an >>>>>>>>> IMAP account, and whether anything needs to be changed on the server >>>>>>>>> side. If >>>>>>>>> you use Gmail, this help page will tell you how to change your Gmail >>>>>>>>> account >>>>>>>>> from POP to IMAP. (You have to enable IMAP on the Gmail website.) >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> 2. Protect the message you’ve already downloaded >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> To avoid any potential disasters, save all the messages you have on >>>>>>>>> your Mac to >>>>>>>>> a different mailbox before you convert to IMAP. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> IMAP stores some or all of your email on the mail server. The problem >>>>>>>>> is, this >>>>>>>>> means that any folders that are on your Mac may get overwritten, or >>>>>>>>> deleted, if >>>>>>>>> you don’t save their messages before making the switch. So, in Mail, >>>>>>>>> choose >>>>>>>>> Mailbox -> New Mailbox, and, with the location as On My Mac, create a >>>>>>>>> new >>>>>>>>> mailbox. Call it something like My Old Inbox. When you’ve done this, >>>>>>>>> move all >>>>>>>>> the messages currently in your Inbox to this folder. Do the same for >>>>>>>>> your Sent >>>>>>>>> Mail folder, and any Drafts you may have. Once this is done, you can >>>>>>>>> change the >>>>>>>>> settings for your email account. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> 3. Find your IMAP settings >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Either your hosting company, your IT department, or your email >>>>>>>>> provider will >>>>>>>>> provide the settings you need to switch your account over to IMAP. >>>>>>>>> For example, >>>>>>>>> for Gmail, you will need to know the new Incoming Mail Server >>>>>>>>> (imap.gmail.com), >>>>>>>>> but your outgoing mail server won’t change. In most cases, you will >>>>>>>>> just need >>>>>>>>> to change the prefix in the Incoming Mail Server setting from pop to >>>>>>>>> imap. >>>>>>>>> Write these down. You'll need them in Step 5. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> 4. Disable your POP account >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> In Mail, choose Preferences -> Accounts, click on the name of your >>>>>>>>> POP account, >>>>>>>>> then on Advanced, then uncheck Enable this account. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> 5. Create a new IMAP email account >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> In Mail, you can’t change an email account from POP to IMAP. Instead, >>>>>>>>> you need >>>>>>>>> to create a new account. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Choose File -> Add Account, and enter the information that you >>>>>>>>> obtained in step >>>>>>>>> 3 above. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> 6. Check your email >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> If you entered the correct information, your new IMAP account should >>>>>>>>> work right >>>>>>>>> away. You will see an Inbox folder that is on the email server. Copy >>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>>> messages you stored in your old inbox folder in step 2 to that >>>>>>>>> folder, and they >>>>>>>>> will be copied to your email server, so they will now be accessible >>>>>>>>> from all >>>>>>>>> your devices. Do the same for any sent messages or drafts. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Now that you have an IMAP account on your Mac, use the same settings >>>>>>>>> to access >>>>>>>>> your messages on another Mac, or on your iOS device(s). On your iPad >>>>>>>>> or >>>>>>>>> iPhone, enter the necessary information in the Settings app, in the >>>>>>>>> Mail, >>>>>>>>> Contacts, Calendars section. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> If you create more folders to store messages you’ll see them on all >>>>>>>>> your >>>>>>>>> devices. To do this, choose Mailbox -> New Mailbox, then in the popup >>>>>>>>> menu at >>>>>>>>> the top of the dialog box, choose the name of your email account. The >>>>>>>>> folder >>>>>>>>> will be created on your mail server, and any messages you store in >>>>>>>>> that folder >>>>>>>>> will sync to all your devices. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> IMAP is much better for managing email across multiple devices. >>>>>>>>> Change your old >>>>>>>>> POP accounts to IMAP now so you can have access to your email at all >>>>>>>>> times. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Cheers, >>>>>>>>> Ronni >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> 17" MacBook Pro 2.3GHz Quad-Core i7 “Thunderbolt" >>>>>>>>> 2.3GHz / 8GB / 750GB @ 7200rpm HD >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> OS X 10.9.1 Mavericks >>>>>>>>> Windows 7 Ultimate (under sufferance) >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >>>>>>>> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >>>>>>>> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >>>>>>>> Settings & Unsubscribe - >>>>>>>> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >>>>>>> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >>>>>>> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >>>>>>> Settings & Unsubscribe - >>>>>>> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >>>>>> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >>>>>> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >>>>>> Settings & Unsubscribe - >>>>>> <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug> >>>>> > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- > Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> > Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> > Settings & Unsubscribe - > <http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug>
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