Duplicate messages in inbox in Entourage 2004

[Monte]

I'm using Entourage that was installed as part of Office for Mac 2004. I'm on
a 24" Intel iMac, running Leopard 10.5.6.

I've applied all of the Apple OS updates that are available.
I've applied all of the Microsoft updates that are available.

I've cold booted the machine after doing all of the updates.

There are 3 different email accounts configured in Entourage, all POP3, all
on the same hosted provider.

About 2 weeks ago, messages started showing up in the inbox in duplicate and
sometimes in triplicate.
If I use the hosting provider's web-mail interface and look in the inbox;
there's only one copy of the message.
I also have my iPhone set up to check the same 3 accounts. The messages do
NOT show up in duplicate on the iPhone.

The hosting company (ixwebhosting.com) says they've made no changes on the
machine that hosts my domain. Around the time that the duplicate messages
started happening, I'd made no changes to the iMac, nor to Entourage.

It does not seem to matter who/where the messages come from. Sometimes the
messages show up duplicated immediately (I poll the server for new messages
every 5 minutes). Sometimes the copies of the message don't show up until 20
or 30 minutes later.

This machine, and these same 3 accounts has been set up and working for well
over a year with no problems until this started about 2 weeks ago.

It does not *send* duplicates of messages that I write.

If I look at the headers of the messages; they are absolutely identical in
every respect. MessageID, time, date, subject, from...all exactly the same.

I've run out of ideas for what to look at and what to try next.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Diane Ross]

About 2 weeks ago, messages started showing up in the inbox in duplicate and
sometimes in triplicate.
If I use the hosting provider's web-mail interface and look in the inbox;
there's only one copy of the message.
I also have my iPhone set up to check the same 3 accounts. The messages do
NOT show up in duplicate on the iPhone.

There are many problems with Sync Services and especially when the iPhone is
part of the equation.

To get rid of duplicates use one of the scripts on this page.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/faq_topic/duplicates.html>

Everything you wanted to know about syncing. The Truth, The Whole Truth, and
Nothing But The Truth.

³Why does syncing play Gossip with my contacts?³

<http://tinyurl.com/34qkrv>

 

[Monte]

Hi Diane,

Thank you for the reply and for the links.

Perhaps one of the scripts in the first link will get rid of the duplicate
messages currently in my inbox (now over 6,600 as of about an hour ago).
That'll sure save some time in not having to delete them by hand.

It's disappointing to read that (at least if I interpreted the text on
those pages correctly) there doesn't seem to be a "fix" for the problem.

What I don't understand is why this just started happening recently..

Am I correct in assuming that running one of the scripts from the first
link you sent me is now going to need to be a daily part of my email use
routine??!

 

[Monte]

And just to make sure I wasn't confusing the description of the problem in my
original post..

When I made reference to the iPhone.. It POP's the messages directly from
the same POP3 server that the iMac does. The phone isn't trying to sync
with/to the iMac. It's just another POP3 client as far as I see it.
I mentioned it in the description only as another data point of where email
messages could be read.

The only relation the iPhone and the iMac have is that the iPhone syncs with
iTunes on the same iMac where Entourage runs; but the only thing I have
configured to sync other than music is Contact information.

Just in case this is somehow relevant.

I'm a complete newbie where Mac's are concerned and consider myself only
just slightly above Beginner level...in other words.. I know just enough to
be dangerous.

 

[Diane Ross]

When I made reference to the iPhone.. It POP's the messages directly from
the same POP3 server that the iMac does. The phone isn't trying to sync
with/to the iMac. It's just another POP3 client as far as I see it.
I mentioned it in the description only as another data point of where email
messages could be read.

You might be better off switching from POP to IMAP. This would help with the
duplicate issues.

The only relation the iPhone and the iMac have is that the iPhone syncs with
iTunes on the same iMac where Entourage runs; but the only thing I have
configured to sync other than music is Contact information.

Actually, it syncs to a database called the 'truth'. Most Mac users don't
know this either.

BASICS OF HOW SYNC SERVICES WORKS

I'm a complete newbie where Mac's are concerned and consider myself only
just slightly above Beginner level...in other words.. I know just enough to
be dangerous.

We are all beginners at some time. Since you are a new Mac user, I suggest
joining the Mac-L talk list. It's a great place to get help and learn about
the Mac.

Mac-L <http://www.listmoms.net/lists/#mac-l>

 

[Diane Ross]

I'm a complete newbie where Mac's are concerned

Last message went out before I finished....a slip of the finger over send.

I have a few tips and links posted to help new users here:

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/new2mac/index.html>

The guide, Mac OS X Hints Superguide Leopard Edition by Rob Griffiths $12.95
listed on the page is an excellent way to learn.

 

[Monte]

Great advice all the way around, Diane.

You gave me lots of reading. Hopefully there's an answer to this problem on
some of those pages.

I will once again broach the subject of IMAP over POP3 with my provider.
Last time I asked about that, I was told it "wasn't supported for Entourage
users".

I'll read up on the links you sent me and try and post an update here
sometime this weekend.

Thanks again!

 

[Diane Ross]

I will once again broach the subject of IMAP over POP3 with my provider.
Last time I asked about that, I was told it "wasn't supported for Entourage
users".

There is a big difference in not provided and not supported. Just because
they don't support it doesn't mean you can't use it. Many providers say they
don't support Entourage but do support OE. Are they so behind the times it's
pathetic.

Even if the account setup windows are a bit different in different
applications, it's only the settings that you need.

Just try it.

 

[Monte]

Well. As mysteriously as this problem started; now it has stopped. I'm not
one to look a gift-application in the mouth though.

It was an opportunity to learn more about Sync Services and what goes on
under the covers on a Mac though, so I suppose it wasn't all bad.

For now though, everything seems to be back to normal.

Diane - Thanks much for the pointers and suggestions. This kind of help and
friendly advice is definitely what the Net is all about!