Database Corrupted

[HAL KUSHNER]

I¹m running Mac OS X.5.6 with Entourage/Mac Office 2004/ version
11.4.0...Recently got notice that my database was corrupted...I rebuilt
database, and when I reboot machine (IMAC Pentium (2.4 GHz, Intel Core 2 Duo
with 4 GB SDRAM), the Database utility starts and tells me I¹m corrupted
again. I closed it and Entourage seems to work. However, calendar
notifications don¹t come on. When I try to start them, Database tool tells
me Identity is locked and I should use Finder to unlock identity.

I¹m a fairly experienced user but haven¹t encountered this problem, and
don¹t know what to do from here. Would it help to rebuild database again.
Can Time Machine help me to reconstitute this app at an earlier time, though
it¹s not a native Mac App?

Thanks//Hal Kushner

 

[Diane Ross]

When I try to start them, Database tool tells me Identity is locked and I
should use Finder to unlock identity.

First do a Get Info on the database file and/or the Identity folder and be
sure it's not locked.

I¹m a fairly experienced user but haven¹t encountered this problem, and don¹t
know what to do from here. Would it help to rebuild database again. Can Time
Machine help me to reconstitute this app at an earlier time, though it¹s not a
native Mac App?

See these options to get rid of the message.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/troubleshoot/crashes.html#crash9>

It's advised by the developers not to let Time Machine backup your Entourage
database. If the database is copied while being used, the backup could be
corrupt. You can set the Time Machine to exclude the Microsoft User Data
folder and create an iCal event to copy it over at night while not in use so
you get one backup daily in Time Machine.

Alternative method to use Entourage and Time Machine (does a once a day or
whatever time period you select)

<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/2008/01/alternative_method_to_use_entourage_
and_time_machine.html>

Entourage and Time Machine (creates chronological backup of Identity can be
used by both Tiger and Leopard)

<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/2008/01/entourage_and_time_machine.html>

 

[HAL KUSHNER]

Diane Ross3/18/09 7:40
(e-mail address removed)5E6D47B.1BABC%[email protected]

You can set the Time Machine to exclude the Microsoft User Data
folder and create an iCal event to copy it over at night while not in use so
you get one backup daily in Time Machine.

Thank you Diane....Could you elucidate how to do this....ie, create Ical
event to copy it over at night while not in use so you get one backup daily
in Time Machine.
I don't understand the method?? Sorry//hal

 

[HAL KUSHNER]

Diane Ross3/18/09 7:40
(e-mail address removed)5E6D47B.1BABC%[email protected]

First do a Get Info on the database file and/or the Identity folder and be
sure it's not locked.

See these options to get rid of the message.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/troubleshoot/crashes.html#crash9>

It's advised by the developers not to let Time Machine backup your Entourage
database. If the database is copied while being used, the backup could be
corrupt. You can set the Time Machine to exclude the Microsoft User Data
folder and create an iCal event to copy it over at night while not in use so
you get one backup daily in Time Machine.

Alternative method to use Entourage and Time Machine (does a once a day or
whatever time period you select)

<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/2008/01/alternative_method_to_use_entourage_
and_time_machine.html>

Entourage and Time Machine (creates chronological backup of Identity can be
used by both Tiger and Leopard)

<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/2008/01/entourage_and_time_machine.html>

Diane...I checked my Microsoft Identity which is not locked. However, I
noted that the Microsoft Identity folder is 35.33 Gigabytes. Isn't this huge
for a just personal home user? I have about 800 addresses and normal
calendar events...
Further subdividing:

Database = 8.56 GB
Mailing list = 16 Kb
Old Database = 9.82 GB
Old Database 1 =16.95 GB
Rules = 16 Kb
Signature = 24 Kb

Question: Can I archive Old DB and Old DB 1 on another hard disc? Why are
these things so big. Based on a conversation w/ you about 2 yrs ago, I now
have my sent attachments removed.

Also I looked and I have in the remote past isolated MS User Data Folder so
it is not backed up by Time Machine.

Thanks....I'm a fan of yours..particularly your precise and concise phrasing
and your beautiful economy of language. You must be a math major.

Hal

 

[Diane Ross]

Database = 8.56 GB <----this is large
Mailing list = 16 Kb
Old Database = 9.82 GB <----remove the old ones
Old Database 1 =16.95 GB <----remove the old ones
Rules = 16 Kb
Signature = 24 Kb

Question: Can I archive Old DB and Old DB 1 on another hard disc? Why are
these things so big. Based on a conversation w/ you about 2 yrs ago, I now
have my sent attachments removed.

Do you get a lot of HTML mail that you keep? These contain a lot of images
that are large, but I'm not sure this is the entire story. Do this for me...

Export as Entourage archive (.rge) file all of your items. What size is it?
The difference between the size of this file and your database that is 8.56
GB is wasted space. You can compact your Identity to get rid of it.

Thanks....I'm a fan of yours..particularly your precise and concise phrasing
and your beautiful economy of language. You must be a math major.

I'm not flowery that's for sure. Yes, I did minor in math. When it comes
to poetry, it falls on deaf ears. It must skip a generation. My mom and my
son both love poetry.

 

[Diane Ross]

I don't understand the method?? Sorry//hal

You can download the workflow or follow the steps outlined. There are 8
steps or 9 if you include a growl notification.

<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/2009/02/backup_entourage.html>

If you need some one on one, send me an email for free help.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/support_options/email.html>

Note: free personal help is only at my request. I don't have the time to do
this for everyone. Sorry!

 

[HAL KUSHNER]

Diane Ross3/18/09 10:44
(e-mail address removed)5E6FFB9.1BB0F%[email protected]

You can download the workflow or follow the steps outlined. There are 8
steps or 9 if you include a growl notification.

<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/2009/02/backup_entourage.html>

If you need some one on one, send me an email for free help.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/support_options/email.html>

Note: free personal help is only at my request. I don't have the time to do
this for everyone. Sorry!

I just got home after a tough day and will try it tomorrow. If I can't
complete it, will ask you via link provided. Thanks so much. I appreciate
you./hal

 

[HAL KUSHNER]

Diane Ross3/18/09 10:38
(e-mail address removed)5E6FE26.1BB0C%[email protected]


Export as Entourage archive (.rge) file all of your items. What size is it?

The difference between the size of this file and your database that is 8.56
GB is wasted space. You can compact your Identity to get rid of it.

I tried it and got an error message..."There was problem saving one of your
messages. Your office DB may be damaged. Start DB utility to verify your
DB."

I did and it verifies???
The Main Identity.rge is only 17 MB, but it didn't complete.

Thanks/hal

 

[Diane Ross]

I tried it and got an error message..."There was problem saving one of your
messages. Your office DB may be damaged. Start DB utility to verify your
DB."

I did and it verifies???
The Main Identity.rge is only 17 MB, but it didn't complete.

You have corruption regardless of the OK from the utility. Next step is to
export as MBOX files. Try this script. It will get them all for you in one
step. It might fail on the folder with corruption, but that will tell you
where to start looking for the problem message(s).

Export folders as MBOX files using a script (use the script by Jolly Roger)
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/database/export_mbox.html>

You could be lucky and the MBOX export and complete. If not, you find the
folder and start dividing the folder into parts and drag each part to the
desktop as MBOX files until you eventually find the problem message(s).

Once we get out all of your data, we move it into a new Identity.

 

[HAL KUSHNER]

Diane Ross3/19/09 7:47
(e-mail address removed)5E8278A.1BC4A%[email protected]

Export folders as MBOX files using a script (use the script by Jolly Roger)
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/database/export_mbox.html>

You could be lucky and the MBOX export and complete. If not, you find the
folder and start dividing the folder into parts and drag each part to the
desktop as MBOX files until you eventually find the problem message(s).

It didn't complete: I got Entourage error message: 4362

Thanks/Hal

 

[HAL KUSHNER]

Diane Ross3/19/09 7:47
(e-mail address removed)5E8278A.1BC4A%[email protected]

Export folders as MBOX files using a script (use the script by Jolly Roger)
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/database/export_mbox.html>

You could be lucky and the MBOX export and complete. If not, you find the
folder and start dividing the folder into parts and drag each part to the
desktop as MBOX files until you eventually find the problem message(s).

Once we get out all of your data, we move it into a new Identity.

It didn't complete...Entourage error : 4362..thanks//hal

 

[Diane Ross]

It didn't complete: I got Entourage error message: 4362

That's the dreaded error to rebuild your database. We've got to get your
data into a new Identity pronto.

Where did the process stop with export MBOX files?

 

[HAL KUSHNER]

Diane Ross3/20/09 7:09
(e-mail address removed)5E97033.1BD30%[email protected]

That's the dreaded error to rebuild your database. We've got to get your
data into a new Identity pronto.

Where did the process stop with export MBOX files?

Almost instantly....I used the jolly roger script and it just resulted in an
mbox icon on the desktop...perhaps one second and then the error message.
I'm really confused now, as I'm using Entourage, and it seems to work fine;
however, each time I reboot my computer, database utility comes on and tells
me it's corrupted. Then when I verify it's integrity, it verifies....so can
it be lying with verifiable integrity? It's passing the lie detector test
and lying, thus it's sociopathic.

I even rebuilt it with the same identity, and despite it taking a couple of
hours, didn't seem to help. Obviously, there's no direct relationship
between speed and lack of it, and success.

 

[Diane Ross]

Almost instantly....I used the jolly roger script and it just resulted in an
mbox icon on the desktop...perhaps one second and then the error message.
I'm really confused now, as I'm using Entourage, and it seems to work fine;
however, each time I reboot my computer, database utility comes on and tells
me it's corrupted. Then when I verify it's integrity, it verifies....so can
it be lying with verifiable integrity? It's passing the lie detector test
and lying, thus it's sociopathic.

I even rebuilt it with the same identity, and despite it taking a couple of
hours, didn't seem to help. Obviously, there's no direct relationship
between speed and lack of it, and success.

Before we go further. Let's be sure it's not a hardware problem. How much
free space on your drive and how much total space. Run Disk Utility repair.

Try manually dragging each folder to the desktop. Don't start at the top. It
could be your first folder that's the one that's corrupted.

Yes, the verify does lie. Just be glad you have an Identity that will open.

Go ahead and export as Entourage archive (.rge) files your contacts, tasks,
notes and events.

Messages of course, are the most important. Let me know how the manual
process goes.

 

[HAL KUSHNER]

Diane Ross3/21/09 6:06
(e-mail address removed)5EAB30D.1BE0B%[email protected]

Before we go further. Let's be sure it's not a hardware problem. How much
free space on your drive and how much total space. Run Disk Utility repair.
Total = 297.7 GB Free = 182.77 GB
Try manually dragging each folder to the desktop. Don't start at the top. It
could be your first folder that's the one that's corrupted.

Are you referring to : Microsoft User Data/Main Identity (and there are ten
offspring which are Main Identity Backups at different dates which only
enclose a file named rules...they seem identical).

Yes, the verify does lie. Just be glad you have an Identity that will open.

Go ahead and export as Entourage archive (.rge) files your contacts, tasks,
notes and events.

OK..I'm ignorant here...it's beyond my experience.....are you referring to
folder Microsoft User Data/Export Contacts & Calendar?

Messages of course, are the most important. Let me know how the manual
process goes.

Or are you referring to Message folders Inbox, Outbox, Sent, etc...?

Sorry to be so dumb; need more explicit instructions.....//hal

 

[Diane Ross]

Are you referring to : Microsoft User Data/Main Identity (and there are ten
offspring which are Main Identity Backups at different dates which only
enclose a file named rules...they seem identical).

Nope....Open Entourage, in the folder list drag each folder to the desktop.
Inbox, sent, drafts any custom folder and subfolders.

OK..I'm ignorant here...it's beyond my experience.....are you referring to
folder Microsoft User Data/Export Contacts & Calendar?

Under File export select as Entourage archive (.rge) file. All items is
going to fail. Deselect Mail and see if all the others export as one file.
If not, you'll need to do it for each type one at a time.

See these movies for dealing with MBOX and .rge files.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/video/index.html>

 

[HAL KUSHNER]

Diane Ross3/21/09 8:47
(e-mail address removed)5EAD8B0.1BECA%[email protected]

Nope....Open Entourage, in the folder list drag each folder to the desktop.
Inbox, sent, drafts any custom folder and subfolders.
OK...done!

Under File export select as Entourage archive (.rge) file. All items is
going to fail. Deselect Mail and see if all the others export as one file.
If not, you'll need to do it for each type one at a time.

OK...I deselected 'mail' and everything else (contacts, calendar, notes,
tasks) exported to desktop as Main Identity.rge. It's only 21.6 megabytes.
Ready for our call tomorrow.