PC Adm: Err Msg: Postoffice Address List Already Has an Alias... (106510)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Mail for PC Networks 2.1e
  • Microsoft Mail for PC Networks 3.0
  • Microsoft Mail for PC Networks 3.0b
  • Microsoft Mail for PC Networks 3.2
This article was previously published under Q106510

SYMPTOMS

With versions 2.1e, 3.0, 3.0b, and 3.2 of Microsoft Mail for PC Networks, when you create a new user using the Mail Administrator program (ADMIN.EXE), the following error message may appear:
Notice 58 Postoffice address list already has an alias with this name

CAUSE

This problem may occur for one or more of the following reasons:
  1. One or more of the following files is locked open, marked as Read Only, or (with Novell networks) ownerless:

    ACCESS.GLB
    ACCESS2.GLB
    ACCESS3.GLB
    ADMIN.NME
    ADMINSHD.NME
    ADMIN.INF
    ADMIN.TPL

    The ADMIN.INF and ADMIN.TPL files will only be present if a template has been defined. By default, these files are not present.
  2. One or more files on the Microsoft Mail postoffice is corrupt. You can determine major corruption of files by checking the file sizes.

    If any of the following calculations results in a remainder, the corresponding file is corrupt:

    (size of ACCESS.GLB) / 586
    (size of ACCESS2.GLB) / 69
    (size of ACCESS3.GLB) / 512
    (size of ADMIN.NME) / 45
    (size of ADMINSHD.NME) / 45

  3. The alias being added exists in the postoffice address list but not in the access files (ACCESS*.GLB), which contain user information.

    You can verify this situation using the ADMIN.EXE program by selecting Local-Admin, Modify. This should display the list of all users defined in the three access files. Selecting Local-Admin, Group, Create displays the postoffice address list.

RESOLUTION

The following are corresponding workarounds for the above causes. These steps are geared for the Mail administrator:
  1. If you find any of the files to be marked read only, use the MS-DOS ATTRIB command to change the attribute on the file to read-write.

    If any of the above files are locked open on the server, close the files. The easiest way to do this is to reboot the server. If rebooting the server is not feasible, the network operating system should provide a means of closing files left open on the server.

    On a Novell network, if any of the above files are ownerless, use the Novell FILER command to assign ownership of the file to SUPERVISOR.
  2. If you find a corrupted file, please contact Microsoft Product Support Services.

    NOTE: Restoring files from backup may have negative repercussions.
  1. If the user alias is present in the Postoffice Address List (POL) but not in the access files, copy the POL to the Personal Address List (PAL), delete the user, and then copy the PAL over the POL.

    The following procedure assumes that the administrator mailbox still exists and the 8-digit hexadecimal ID (hexid) is 00000000. If you are using an account other than 00000000, substitute the 8-digit hexid of that account for 00000000.

    1. Obtain the user's mailbox name. From the Administrator program Config menu, choose Password. Note the postoffice and network names.
    2. At the MS-DOS command prompt, change to the NME subdirectory of the Mail database.
    3. Make a backup of the POL by typing the following command:

      copy admin.nme admin.old

    4. Make a backup of your PAL by typing the following command:

      copy 00000000.nme 00000000.old

      If 00000000.NME is a zero-byte file, copying may not work. You can safely skip this step.
    5. Copy the POL to the PAL by typing the following command:

      copy admin.nme 00000000.nme

    6. Move up one directory level from the NME subdirectory (by typing CD..).
    7. Start the MS-DOS Mail client and sign in using the admin mailbox by typing the following command:

      mail admin -p<password>

    8. From the Address menu, choose Delete. (If you have the version 2.1e MS-DOS client, choose Remove from the Address menu.) This should bring up a list of users. Select the user you want to delete and press the ENTER key. You will now be prompted for confirmation to delete the user. Press the ENTER key again.
    9. Quit out of the Mail client.
    10. At the MS-DOS command prompt, change to the NME directory of the Mail database.
    11. Copy the PAL to the POL by typing the following command:

      copy 00000000.nme admin.nme
      copy 00000000.nme adminshd.nme

    12. Move up one directory level from the NME subdirectory (by typing CD..).
    13. Start the Administrator program. You should now be able to add the problem user account.
    Once you have successfully added the user account, delete the ADMIN.OLD file and copy 00000000.OLD to 00000000.NME. (If you skipped step D above, you do not need to copy 00000000.OLD to 00000000.NME.)
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/31/1999
Keywords:KB106510
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