Mac Messages Problem

Question

My messages won't work. Here are the problems:
My contacts don't show in the messages apps, just phone numbers.
I can send iMessages to and from myself, but no one else.
All of the iMessage conversations that were previously viewable are now not.
Here's what I've tried:
Restarting the Messages app on the Mac and my iPhone
Signed out of my apple ID and signed in again on both my Mac and iPhone.
Updated to the latest software on my Mac and near latest software on my iPhone
Tried a hard restart on my iPhone and a PRAM restart on my Mac (althought idk what that is)
Made sure that all my accounts are signed in properly
Changed wifi connections (both wifi connections are working properly, or at least everything else is working properly on both connections)
My other e-mail addressess say they are a "Jabber" account, which I've never heard of before, but I do not want whatever it is, especially if it's screwing up everything. Regardless of what it does, I DO NOT want it. How can I remove this?
What can I try to make my Mac send iMessages again?
This is really irritating, especially since it was working 24 hours ago, and to my knowledge, there is nothing different about any preferences and it seemed to have randomly ****** itself up.
Does anyone know how to fix this??

Answer 1

HI,
Messages can join several Messeging services, namely AIM, Jabber (includes Google Talk and Facebook chat), Yahoo and now iMessages from Apple - not to mention Bonjour chats between Macs on the same LAN.
Therefore the List in Messages menu > Preferences > Accounts you should see the iMessage account (on first set up it will prompt you for an Apple ID and this is likely then to be the top Account)
You will also have at least the Bonjour account everyone gets one) and it may not be active.
Any email in System Preferences > Mail, Contact and Calendars that is active for Messages is also likely to be in the list.
As has been said Messages calls on the info from other palces such as Contacts  to show names and other contact info in the various places they are used in the App.
Some of this needs you to Own the file the detail are held in so that they can be displayed.
Not only do you have to own a file in some cases but you also have to have Read and Write permissons as well.
Do this first.
IN the Finder > GO Menu > Go to Folder type in ~/Library/Preferences in to thre dialogue box that appears.
In the Preferences Folder find those items that start com.apple.ichat......  and end with .plist
Highlight one and then do a Get Info (CMD An i Keys together).
You will see an Info Panel
Your shortname followed be (me) should be in the list
Highlight this name and then use the cogwheel type icon under the list.
Does this say Make yourshortname (Me) the Owner and is it greyed out ?
If it is then you Own the file.
Does the list read that you have Read and Write permissions ?
Example pic with cogwheeel drop down open
Concentrate on the one in the pic and the ones with AIM, Jabber and Yahoo in the file name.
Also do the same for com.apple.imagent.plist, com.apple.imservice.iMessages.plist and com.apple.imessages.bag.plist
Post back with what you find.
9:09 PM      Tuesday; March 19, 2013
  iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.3)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously