BS: Cannot Delete Spam- Why? [Gmail]

Subject: BS: Cannot Delete Spam- Why?
From: Ebbie
Date: 16 Nov 13 - 09:40 PM

I have a problem I have never heard addressed: Gmail won't let me delete my email(most of it Spam).

This is the second day and I now have 43 items I'd like to get rid of.

I use Firefox. I use Super Adblock Plus, which has 'run out', it says- could that be the reason? My Yahoo account is acting normally.

Any ideas?

Subject: RE: BS: Cannot Delete Spam- Why?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 17 Nov 13 - 03:50 AM

gmail help is the most frustrating page - but I managed to query - delete spam & found these - but the few I looked at weren't very helpful

I've had no trouble deleting spam in my account.

I guess we just wait for the techy Catters to see this thread!

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Cannot Delete Spam- Why? [Gmail]
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Nov 13 - 04:27 AM

What browser are you using, Ebbie?

E-mail programs depend on scripts that run in your browser, and sometimes those scripts get cranky. Cleaning out the cache of your browser may solve the problem (generally, you'll find it on the "tools" menu). It may also delete cookies for sites you have to log into like Mudcat, so look up the passwords for those Websites.

Cleaning your browser cache can solve or prevent all sorts of problems. I'd recommend doing it once a month or more.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Cannot Delete Spam- Why? [Gmail]
From: Ebbie
Date: 17 Nov 13 - 01:51 PM

I use Firefox, Joe. I disabled Super Adblock (for that page).

Today I cleared the caches and cookies for all of Firefox.

Today Gmail email won't load or open. Or delete.

I'm not too concerned; it can't be too big a problem and I don't use the account often.

Subject: RE: BS: Cannot Delete Spam- Why? [Gmail]
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 17 Nov 13 - 01:56 PM

To follow on from Joe: do you use No Script?

Subject: RE: BS: Cannot Delete Spam- Why? [Gmail]
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 17 Nov 13 - 02:16 PM

The cleanup in your browser that Joe suggests should do a pretty good job, but you can't delete a file that's "in use," so the browser can't remove any files that the browser has open when you run it , and the browser cleanup only cleans up junk files your browser has accumulated.

About once per month, the recommendation is that you close all programs except Windows Explorer. (Or do this after a Restart, before opening anything else.) In Windows Explorer, Right click on your system drive (usually C:\), and select "Properties." Click on "Disk Cleanup" on the "General" tab.

Your (Windows) computer will search for files that it can remove and will show you a list of kinds of files it can get rid of. (It may take a minute of two for the computer to make the list.) You can pick what you want cleaned by putting "check marks" in the boxes for each type, or leave things by removing the "checks." Once you've picked which things to remove, the selections should stay the same the next time you do a cleanup, but it doesn't hurt to look at what's checked for removal occasionally.

The difference between doing the cleanup in your browser or using the Disk Cleanup isn't usually too great, but Disk Cleanup is a little more thorough and sometimes helps programs other than the browser that have accumulated some trash while it's cleaning up the browser junk.

Some programs, especially scanner control and image editing programs, accumulate lots of temp files, and Disk Cleanup should get them, while "browser cleanup" won't. The "temp trash" from any program can reduce the space available for all your other programs, including the space for your "browser trash," so cleaning the whole machine is a little more reliable.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Cannot Delete Spam- Why? [Gmail]
From: Ebbie
Date: 17 Nov 13 - 03:33 PM

The mystery deepens.

I have now cleared all caches, done a Disk Cleanup and gotten rid of programs I don't use.

No change so far.

I think I'll now go do a System Restore. If that doesn't do it, I think I'll uninstall Gmail and then re-install. (??)

Subject: RE: BS: Cannot Delete Spam- Why? [Gmail]
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Nov 13 - 04:28 PM

Ebbie, you can open another gmail account while keeping the one that's on your machine now. Try that and send yourself an email from your old address, send that to spam and delete it. At least then you know whether it's gmail and your machine or your first account and your machine.

Subject: RE: BS: Cannot Delete Spam- Why? [Gmail]
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Nov 13 - 04:49 PM

Ebbie, I admit to being a bit distracted trying to learn what 'Super AdBock' is, although I doubt it matters.

Are the messages in your in-box or your spam folder?
If they aren't in your spam folder, can you move them there and just empty it? (When you delete spam, GMail 'learns' what your spam looks like and moves it automatically.) It still leave the problem of the non-spam messages you want to delete, which you should NOT move to the spam folder.

I don't think you can un-install GMail, as it's not on your computer.

Subject: RE: BS: Cannot Delete Spam- Why? [Gmail]
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 17 Nov 13 - 06:14 PM

Gmail recently upgraded = does stuff users don't really want.

I've had trouble with different aspects, as have other users - maybe Ebbie needs to post on the gmail forums to see if someone can help her.

(alleged) help page Gmail's very own help page, which I haven't always found helpful but I keep it bookmarked just in case it might have the answer I need.

Google search on 'forums about gmail' I often find the non-gmail forums more help.

Google search on "spam won't delete in gmail"

good luck!

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Cannot Delete Spam- Why? [Gmail]
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Nov 13 - 06:26 PM

I used Windows Update on an employee's computer last week, and then her Comcast e-mail didn't work like she was used to having it. None of the usual solutions worked, so I had her switch from Internet Explorer to Google Chrome, and then the e-mail worked the way she wanted it to.
So, changing browsers may do the trick for you, Ebbie.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Cannot Delete Spam- Why? [Gmail]
From: GUEST,Eb
Date: 18 Nov 13 - 02:38 AM

Thanks, Joe. I closed Firefox and opened IE. (I'm still on it) Sure enough, I was able to delete all the Gmail emails. I don't understand WHY?

In the meantime, thanks for all your suggestions, everybody. I'm tracing this thread for future reference.

Jeri, Super Adblock Plus is a popup control. I think it works very well- at least, I haven't seen any since I installed it. It offered a free trial period before one has to purchase it- for the last couple of days it says that my free trial has expired, although the logo has not disappeared. Think I'll wait and see if ads start popping up. If they do, it means that it has been disabled and it may well be worth purchasing. Otherwise, maybe I'm just not getting ads. (?)