Cannot reply to email - Reply not working

Question

I have a new computer and I cannot figure out why the reply function in Mail does not work. I've tried clicking on the icon and apple-R, as well as the menu command, but none will work. Everything else seems to work okay. I can send and receive mail, just can't reply to any email.
Ideas?

Answer 1

If you’re running Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger), as your profile indicated at first, you posted in the wrong forum. It would have been more appropriate to discuss this in the Mail & Address Book - Tiger forum. Actually, your profile doesn’t show now the version of Mac OS X you’re running, so please update the Computer Model and Operating System fields on your My Settings’s profile (and click Save), so that this essential information automatically appears in all your posts.
The problem you’ve described is usually caused by some Launch Services cache or preferences corruption that affects the built-in spell checker. The following article describes how to manually reset Launch Services -- the notes at the bottom of the article also provide information about the side effects of deleting each of the files involved:
Resetting Launch Services
If you prefer using a cache cleaning utility instead of following the manual procedure described in the previous article, take a look at this other article for general troubleshooting and cache-cleaning procedures. Actually, you should also verify/repair the startup disk (not just permissions), as described there:
Resolving Disk, Permission, and Cache Corruption
The most appropriate utility for this particular problem probably is Tiger Cache Cleaner, but you may also want to consider other utilities, such as OnyX, or Cache Out X, which are free. Whatever utility you choose, be sure to read this first:
Side effects of System cache cleaning
As an example, this is how you should proceed with OnyX:
1. Quit all applications.
2. Launch OnyX and enter your administrator password.
3. Click Maintenance. In the Reset section, check LaunchServices database.
4. You may uncheck any other pre-checked options if you wish.
5. Click the Execute button.
6. Restart the computer.