Entourage can't access database

[Madeline Koch]

I'm running Entourage 2008 (Mac OS10.5 on a MacBook Pro) and am getting the
following error:

Entourage cannot access your data. To attempt to fix the problem rebuild
your database.

I have rebuilt the database but continue to get the error. If I use the
database utility to verify the database it comes back clean -- although I
still get the error if I try to launch Entourage.

I have tried to restore my backup from 10 days ago but still get the error.
I have let Office create a new Microsoft User Folder. I do not get the error
when I first start up (i.e., with a blank new identity), but if I put my old
(rebuilt) identity into the Identities folder I get the the error message.
I can open Word and Excel without difficulty.

I have now created a new identity, but want to know if there is some way to
crack open the old one so I can retrieve my address books and stored folders
-- especially since I am unable to get into my backup files.

My old identity was 7+ gigs, but shrank to 6.6 gigs after rebuilding.

Cheers,
Madeline

 

[Diane Ross]

I have now created a new identity, but want to know if there is some way to
crack open the old one so I can retrieve my address books and stored folders
-- especially since I am unable to get into my backup files.

If you can't open it, there is no way to get the data out. You could try and
see if the Apple Address Book can import it, but you would need Sync
Services set in that Identity first.

 

[Madeline Koch]

My address books are the least of my worries. All my stored emails, on the
other hand -- that's enough to lose sleep over. But why wouldn't I be able
to access any of my backup databases from Time Machine? That suggests to me
that it's not a problem with the database, especially since the database
utility claims to rebuild it successfully.

I'm trying to remain hopeful! Is there some kind of library or preference
file that might be interfering?

 

[Diane Ross]

Have you tried the Time Machine backups? You made no mention of those. Did
you quit all Microsoft applications before backing up to Time Machine or did
you do the hourly backups?

 

[Diane Ross]

I'm trying to remain hopeful! Is there some kind of library or preference
file that might be interfering?

There are preference files inside the database. You can test your Identity
in a new User. Drag it to Shared, Switch to a new User in System
Preferences. Drag from Shared to the new Microsoft User Data folder and open
Entourage to test. This would tell you if it's a pref file in your User's
folder.

 

[Madeline Koch]

The only way I've been able to get Entourage to run properly is by letting
Entourage create a new Microsoft User Data folder.

If I then drag the old identity folder into the 2008 Identities folder and
try to switch identities from within Entourage, it launches the database
utility.

As for Time Machine, I plug it in about once a week and let it do its thing
and then unplug it, but I don't shut down anything while it's backing up.
And yes, Entourage can't access that database either.

I tried removing all the files in the user > library > preferences too and
that didn't work.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[Madeline Koch]

I'm extremely pleased to report that after rebuilding my June 8 backup from
Time Machine, I'm able to access that database, so I've only lost about 10
days of stuff, not everything. This is good news, but I'd still love to be
able to crack my corrupt one!!

Maeline

 

[Diane Ross]

I'm extremely pleased to report that after rebuilding my June 8 backup from
Time Machine, I'm able to access that database, so I've only lost about 10
days of stuff, not everything. This is good news, but I'd still love to be
able to crack my corrupt one!!

That's good news. You might consider switching from POP to IMAP. This way
your mail would not get lost if you had problems again.

If rebuild failed, you could try rebuilding on a larger drive. See this
article to understand.

Rebuilding a damaged database that exceeded size limit

<http://tinyurl.com/4s6qv3>

Be sure to read this article:

Quit all Microsoft applications before backing up

<http://tinyurl.com/pykno3>

 

[Madeline Koch]

Thanks, Diane, as always.

That's good news. You might consider switching from POP to IMAP. This way
your mail would not get lost if you had problems again.

It's not the mail on my server that I've lost, though, but all the stuff
I've downloaded and stored in folders -- not to mention stuff tagged with
reminders to nag me to do stuff!

If rebuild failed, you could try rebuilding on a larger drive. See this
article to understand.

Rebuilding a damaged database that exceeded size limit

<http://tinyurl.com/4s6qv3>

Having replaced my hard drive a month or so ago, I suspect space is not the
problem.

Be sure to read this article:

Quit all Microsoft applications before backing up

<http://tinyurl.com/pykno3>

I've now resigned myself to having lost a week's worth of stuff and hope no
more calamities happen.

 

[Diane Ross]

I've now resigned myself to having lost a week's worth of stuff and hope no
more calamities happen.

I know your mail is important and you have a lot of work mail. You might
look at archiving individual items on top of backing up your Identity. Use
the FolderOrgX to keep them organized. Save them to your main drive so the
folder actions will work.

See this article on how to backup individual items.

Backup individual items

<http://tinyurl.com/cyoyvn>

At least you got the majority of your stuff back. If you were able to open
the Identity, you could use some scripts to recover the notes and tasks etc.

 

[Madeline Koch]

That's good advice in that article! Thanks.

I know your mail is important and you have a lot of work mail. You might
look at archiving individual items on top of backing up your Identity. Use
the FolderOrgX to keep them organized. Save them to your main drive so the
folder actions will work.

See this article on how to backup individual items.

Backup individual items

<http://tinyurl.com/cyoyvn>

At least you got the majority of your stuff back. If you were able to open
the Identity, you could use some scripts to recover the notes and tasks etc.