Entourage Database difficulties.

J

J. Martins

After my hard drive decided to go kaput, I backed up all essential
files - including my MUD folder. After reinstalling everything, I did
what I was supposed to do and I put my old, 350 MB database file into
the correct Entourage folder (where the new database file was
created).

However, Entourage can't read it. It tells me to do a rebuild, and
when I try the rebuild process - both typical and advanced - the
program ends abruptly and says "End of file reached. Can't read
database. Yada yada."

When my hard drive became defective, I noticed many files were
corrupted. Files would still appear in their folders, but they were
all Zero KB. My database file -- thankfully, I foolishly thought --
maintained its integrity. The correct icon showed up on the desktop,
it was still 350 MB, etc. But somehow Entourage can't read it.

What could be causing the old database file to be non-readable? Can it
be fixed by changing modification dates or repairing resource forks or
something? Does anyone know of any file repair programs that could fix
it? Are there ANY other email programs out there that can import
Entourage X mailboxes? From which I can then import back into
Entourage?

I'm screwed, aren't I?
 
D

Diane Ross

However, Entourage can't read it. It tells me to do a rebuild, and
when I try the rebuild process - both typical and advanced - the
program ends abruptly and says "End of file reached. Can't read
database. Yada yada."
Click to expand...

End of file can be the kiss of death, but...

The file that has reached it's end is often the preferences file. Move the
'Microsoft' folder out of your local preferences folder and try again. If
this fails, "end of file" means the file is too corrupted to rebuild.
When my hard drive became defective, I noticed many files were
corrupted. Files would still appear in their folders, but they were
all Zero KB. My database file -- thankfully, I foolishly thought --
maintained its integrity. The correct icon showed up on the desktop,
it was still 350 MB, etc. But somehow Entourage can't read it.

What could be causing the old database file to be non-readable? Can it
be fixed by changing modification dates or repairing resource forks or
something? Does anyone know of any file repair programs that could fix
it? Are there ANY other email programs out there that can import
Entourage X mailboxes? From which I can then import back into
Entourage?

I'm screwed, aren't I?
Click to expand...

Try running Repair Permissions.

Run Repair Permissions after any software update from Apple and for other
software updates.

To use: open Disk Utility in your Applications/Utility folder.

Click on the First Aid tab and select Repair Permissions
Click on the icon for your boot volume.
Click the repair permissions button.

Don't run from CD as updates have a newer version of Repair Permissions.

Run Repair Permissions from the volume being repaired. Disk Utility uses
receipt files from the disk on which it is running (not necessarily the same
as the disk it is "repairing") in order to set the "correct" permissions. If
you run Disk Utility from a CD, it will use the receipt files on the CD (if
any) to determine what the "correct" permissions should be. This could mean
incorrect "repairs."

In short: Disk First Aid should always be run from CD (or by using fsck at
startup in single-user mode), whereas Repair Permissions should always be
run from the volume being repaired. The exception to the latter being if a
permissions problem is preventing startup. In that case, boot off of the CD
and run Repair Permissions, but if doing so, allows you to boot up again,
make sure you re-run Repair Permissions from your OS X volume afterwards.
 
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