Mail is using 100% CPU processes - wondering if I possibly have the answer?

Question

Hi...
I have a big problem with Mail using all the CPU processes but may just have found a possible solution. I'm posting to see if anyone else shares this problem or can shed some light on whether or not this is a possible solution.
_*The Problem*_
Over the past couple of weeks, I've noticed that Mail is using on average 100% of the processes and sometimes up to 168% (I have screenshots to prove it). My 17" MacBookPro gets very, very hot and the fans spin up to cool it down so it's obviously not right as it's never done this before. I can only use Mail intermittently now as the machine overheats quickly soon after Mail starts up. As a result, the CPU is being hammered so I can't now use Mail or other CPU intensive applications properly, which is a big problem.
I've used the iStatPro widget to verify that Mail is constantly using 100% of the CPU processes. I've also verified this using Utilities / Activity Monitor. When the Activity Monitor application loads, I've selected Mail from the list of Process Names and then clicked Inspect. I've managed to identify the parent process as being launchd (110) which is using all the CPU power. Here are some other stats for this parent process:
%CPU 95.56 (at that specific instance)
Threads 15
Ports 275
CPU Time 3:30.55
Context Switches 310968
Faults 65795
Page Ins 1
Mach Messages In 272627
Mach Messages Out 65025
Mach System Calls 1459878
Unix System Calls 103120
I guess the important bit is the first bit that says 95.56%.
I have screenshots to back this up but no way of posting them here. I have also managed to use Activity Monitor to generate sample data that the process is creating and again there is no way of posting an attachment here but there is lots of sample data from the process to look at. I've compared the sample data from my MacBookPro to a colleagues machine and the difference between the sample data is enormous. There is obviously something very wrong happening.
Here's some basic info about my machine, with the serial number removed:
Hardware Overview:
Model Name: MacBook Pro 17"
Model Identifier: MacBookPro2,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.33 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP21.00A5.B08
SMC Version: 1.14f5
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State: Enabled
System Software Overview:
System Version: Mac OS X 10.5.6 (9G55)
Kernel Version: Darwin 9.6.0
Boot Mode: Normal
Time since boot: 1:44
_*The Possible Solution??*_
I recently installed a Beta version of Daylite 3 as I was interested in the application and remembered that it integrates closely with Mail. I wondered if Daylite was constantly trying to communicate with Mail and having problems. Having uninstalled Daylite 3, the problem of Mail using all the processes has so far not reappeared. Mail is now using very little of the CPU processes as is usual. However, I'm currently at home instead of on my network at the office so I'll wait to see if the problem still fails to appear when at work.
I know other people have had problems with Mail using 100% of the processes. Have you also installed Daylite 3? There has been some talk of Flip4Mac being a possible culprit but I use Flip4Mac and haven't previously had the problem. The only recent change and connection I can think of is an install of Daylite 3.
I don't want to talk down Daylite 3 but it's the only thing I can think of and having uninstalled it, the problem hasn't occurred. I hope I have stumbled across the solution but any thoughts, shared experiences or feedback would be greatly appreciated...
Many Thanks,
Nigel

Answer 1

Hi...
Thanks for the post. Not sure what you mean when you say "What does Mail say it's doing?" Can you be more specific and supply specific instructions to follow so that I can give you the information you need?
I've sampled the process but can't post any attachments on the forum. I've listed what the Activity Monitor stats are saying at the top level in the post above.
This is a serious problem that's hammering my machine and making it overheat and almost making it unusable. Any feedback or instructions anyone can give me for what info to supply to help you determine what the issue is would be greatly appreciated. I'm hoping to find a solution here rather than have the machine overheat permanently and eventually fail, leaving me to sort it out with AppleCare.
Help!
Clown Guy