How can I reset messages.app?

Question

I'm going to be completely honest here, a while ago I spammed a friend to the point where I froze my own messages app on my mac and now when I try to re-open it the spinning colorful pinwheel just pops up and never stops. Yes I learned a lesson but I'd like to obviously use the app again so I was wondering how I can reset the app. Thanks for everyones support! 

Answer 1

HI,
I have never come across a situation like this.
If you try to send a Super IM over the AIM service it normally will take a few minutes (literally) to come back with a  response that it has messed up
I have not tried it with a Jabber service.
There are ways of deleting one or some of the .plists involved that can cause a reset of sorts but these are normally used for other things.
I have never had a Message "Stuck" in such a way that the App Hangs so that a .plist might have details of the IM it is sending.
With Messages shut down open the Console app (In Applications/Utilities)
In the System Diagnostic Reports do you have anything for Messages
It may look like this
Date/Time:  
2012-08-09 22:56:48 +0100
OS Version: 
10.8 (Build 12A269)
Architecture:
x86_64
Report Version:  11
Command:    
Messages
Path:       
/Applications/Messages.app/Contents/MacOS/Messages
Version:    
7.0 (3103)
Build Version:   2
Project Name:
iChat
Source Version:  3158000000000000
Parent:     
launchd [139]
PID:        
8786
Event:      
hang
Duration:   
3.14s
Steps:      
32 (100ms sampling interval)
Hardware model:  iMac12,1
Active cpus:
4
Free pages: 
34044 pages (-990)
Pageins:    
11 pages
Pageouts:   
0 pages
Process:    
Messages [8786]
Path:       
/Applications/Messages.app/Contents/MacOS/Messages
Architecture:
x86_64
Parent:     
launchd [139]
UID:        
503
Task size:  
63716 pages
CPU Time:   
1.925s
This Hang was for only 3 and a bit secs  (yours will probably list a longer period).
Now go to the All Messages section of Console and try starting Messages.
Do you get additional info (there may be a reveal triangle to open) ?
Things to try.  (one at a time)
Use the Finder > Go Menu > Hold ALT key > Select Library method to open the Home Folder/Library (That is normally invisible)
Open Preferences.
In here find the following .plists
com.apple.ichat.AIM.plist
com.apple.ichat.Jabber.plist
com.apple.imagent.plist
If it was an AIM Message try deleting (Drag to Trash) the AIM one.
If Jabber (GoogleTalk or Facebook or other) they try the Jabber one.
After the deletion restart Messages.
If deleting the service .plist did not work try deleting com.apple.imagent.plist
If it happens to be an iMessages IM then delete both of these
com.apple.imessage.bag.plist
com.apple.imservice.iMessage.plist
You will need to restart Messages again.  The second of these is likely to need you to re-enter your Apple ID.
To be clear.
Qith Messages shut down then Delete one .plist (AIM or Jabber)
Restart Messages.
If it does not work shut down (force Quit) Mesages
Remove the  imagent .plist
Restart Messages.
If a iMessages conversation then delete both .plists and restart Messages (you may need to re-enter your Apple ID)
7:38 PM      Sunday; September 16, 2012
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