Database crash - 2nd call for HELP

[zozo]

I posted the details about a week ago but never got any response. I am
pretty much planning to move to
Thunderbird at this point, but I'd love to make Entourage work again if
possible.

One question first. When I started using Entourage, I imported from
Eudora, but Entourage doesn't seem to export emails as (I believe)
other programs do and other email programs don't seem to be able to
import Entourage's user data files. Is this a way to get people stuck
in Microsoft, something I've heard before, or am I missing something?

Basically, my database crashed every other day for a week, and then
last Friday it was gone for good. When I tried to import my files a
few strange things happened. (I ran the utility to verify, and then
did a backup/compression twice). First no email at all, then about 400
of the 10K or more emails I have archived.

I tried to import the same files, but there is no option for importing
Entourage 2004, only Entourage 2000. Then for awhile I had two account
listing for each single account and tons of email (almost everything.
Some of my directories were missing but a lot seemed to come back). In
deleting some of the duplicates and clearing them off the server, then
going into Tool accounts and clearing the duplicates of each account,
then I suddenly had almost nothing again.

Can anyone tell me where to start? As far as backups, I don't backup
per se. When I got a laptop a year ago, I set up Entourage on the
laptop and copied the User Data file (I got all received mail, but none
of the sent mail.) I just leave everything on the server until both
sets have been downloaded. A few times later I tried replacing the
user data file with the one from my main computer, but it didn't seem
to make a difference (still no sent mail, etc.) So I'm a little
confused about how the User Data files worked.

I've looked on this support site and see lots of this type of problem,
usually caused by moving the User Data folder out of documents, which
is something I've never done. So the solutions don't realy relate to
my problem.

I see some other people have been "saved", and I would love to be among
them.

thanks again,
enzosf

 

[Nathan Herring]

I posted the details about a week ago but never got any response. I am
pretty much planning to move to
Thunderbird at this point, but I'd love to make Entourage work again if
possible.

One question first. When I started using Entourage, I imported from
Eudora, but Entourage doesn't seem to export emails as (I believe)
other programs do and other email programs don't seem to be able to
import Entourage's user data files. Is this a way to get people stuck
in Microsoft, something I've heard before, or am I missing something?

Entourage 2004 introduces exporting into an archive, and the archive format
is just a bundle with individual message files, vCard files, and iCal files.
All of these are public formats, and can be imported into whatever you like.

Basically, my database crashed every other day for a week, and then
last Friday it was gone for good. When I tried to import my files a
few strange things happened. (I ran the utility to verify, and then
did a backup/compression twice). First no email at all, then about 400
of the 10K or more emails I have archived.

If your database is crashing, it is a good idea to immediately go to the
Database Utility (under the Office folder, or hold down the Option key when
booting Entourage), and verify your identity. If it reports as OK, then it's
still a good idea to compress it (and save the backed up copy in case it
does eventually get corrupted). Otherwise, a rebuild should have you up and
going. I realize this is a little late for this kind of advice, but it'll be
good for the future.

I tried to import the same files, but there is no option for importing
Entourage 2004, only Entourage 2000. Then for awhile I had two account
listing for each single account and tons of email (almost everything.
Some of my directories were missing but a lot seemed to come back). In
deleting some of the duplicates and clearing them off the server, then
going into Tool accounts and clearing the duplicates of each account,
then I suddenly had almost nothing again.

You can export from one 2004 identity and import into another, if you'd
like. Recovering data using a rebuild is not guaranteed to leave everything
as you had it (otherwise we wouldn't be warning you that your database has
problems). If some of your mail is associated with IMAP or Exchange accounts
and you delete those accounts, then the associated mail will be removed. If
you have a copy of the identity at the point where you had two accounts
listed, I would keep that as a backup and try and export the data you care
about. Then, after you clean up the identity, or decide to start afresh, you
can re-import that data.

Can anyone tell me where to start? As far as backups, I don't backup
per se. When I got a laptop a year ago, I set up Entourage on the
laptop and copied the User Data file (I got all received mail, but none
of the sent mail.) I just leave everything on the server until both
sets have been downloaded. A few times later I tried replacing the
user data file with the one from my main computer, but it didn't seem
to make a difference (still no sent mail, etc.) So I'm a little
confused about how the User Data files worked.

If you run the Database Utility's compress option, it will rename your
current identity with the backup time, and compress it into a new identity
with the old name. This has the byproduct of leaving a backup of your
identity. Leave it around, or put it on a CD or however you like to back
things up.

I've looked on this support site and see lots of this type of problem,
usually caused by moving the User Data folder out of documents, which
is something I've never done. So the solutions don't realy relate to
my problem.

I see some other people have been "saved", and I would love to be among
them.

thanks again,
enzosf

Hope this gets you on your way!

-nh