Entourage Hangs after startup

[Denis]

Version: 2008 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) Processor: Intel Entourage (WEB Exchange edition, last version) hangs shortly after starting up. Database Utility also hangs at the end of the process, as well as database compress. Oddly though, just checking the database with Database Utility doesn't report any problem.

I tried to start it while holding Shift key, I also tried to start it after removing the Microsoft User Data folder in the Documents folder; no success.

Finally, I created a new User and started Entourage from there; everything was fine.

Does it mean my User account is somewhat corrupted? How can I fix it?
Thanks,

Denis

 

[Diane Ross]

Finally, I created a new User and started Entourage from there;
everything was fine.

In your main User account drag your Identity folder to Shared. Now
switch to the new test User and drag from Shared (it actually copies)
your Identity and open Entourage. Does the Identity open in this new
setting? If yes, then it's not your Identity but problems in your User's
account. Most likely preferences.

Remember to drag back from Shared your Identity folder or Entourage will
open in a new blank one.

Does it mean my User account is somewhat corrupted? How can I fix it?
Thanks,

Troubleshooting Your User Account for a Problem
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/troubleshoot/test_user.html>

 

[Denis]

Thank you.
By &quot;Identity folder&quot; you mean just the Identity, not the whole &quot;Microsoft User Data&quot; folder?
BTW, I had already tried the preferences, but not all of them as described in the User Accout problem article. Shall I completely delete these preferences or just drag them out of their locations?

 

[Diane Ross]

By "Identity folder" you mean just the Identity, not the whole "Microsoft User
Data" folder?

Yes, just the Identity folder and not the MUD folder.

BTW, I had already tried the preferences, but not all of them as described in
the User Accout problem article. Shall I completely delete these preferences
or just drag them out of their locations?

Testing in a new User gives you all new preferences. If that works, then in
your regular User's account, drag all out of the ~/Library/Preferences
folder. Log out/In then test.

--
Diane Ross, Microsoft Mac MVP
Entourage Help Page <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
YouTalk <http://tinyurl.com/bzcrjy> <-- Entourage mailing list
Twitter: follow <http://twitter.com/entouragehelp>

 

[Denis]

I first copied my Identity to the Shared folder, logged out and re-logged with the other user account; same problem...
I also removed all Microsoft Prefs and logged out + logged in again; same problem.
Then I re-booted from my external HD clone backup (still 10.6.2), ran Entourage, exported my Identity in case (.rge file) and re-booted with the computer. Started Entourage and.... micracle... it worked.... although it took a long time to show some &quot;life&quot;, i.e. spinning beach ball. I don't know why it then worked. which is a bit worrying. I then rebuilded the Database. Seems OK now.
Thanks a lot.

 

[Diane Ross]

Then I re-booted from my external HD clone backup (still 10.6.2), ran
Entourage, exported my Identity in case (.rge file) and re-booted with
the computer. Started Entourage and.... micracle... it worked....
although it took a long time to show some "life", i.e. spinning beach
ball. I don't know why it then worked. which is a bit worrying. I then
rebuilded the Database. Seems OK now.

Check out the sandbox option in SuperDuper to keep this from happening
with future updates with the OS.

One of the options in SuperDuper! is to create what the author calls a
"Sandbox". It's used to revert to pre-update state of your OS. Here's a
description of how this option works:

A Sandbox is a bootable copy of your system, stored on another hard
drive or partition, that shares your personal documents and data with
the original. With SuperDuper!, you actually use the Sandbox as your
startup volume. You can safely install any system updates, drivers or
programs in the Sandbox, without worrying about what might happen to
your system. If anything goes wrong, you can simply start up from the
original system. SuperDuper! has preserved it in its original,
pre-disaster state but all your new and changed personal documents are
totally up to date. Within minutes, you're up and running again without
having to go through a difficult and time-consuming restore process.

SuperDuper! Is $27.95. I’m not affiliated with the product. Just a
satisfied user. <http://www.shirt-pocket.com/>

Hope this helps!

 

[Karl D. Schubert, Ph.D.]

I guess I'm going to have to get SuperDuper!, too.

But, I have to say: this is *really annoying. The problem did occur after
that last Snow Leopard upgrade for me, too. I've done all things that
you've suggested, Diane, and it goes away for a bit and then comes back
randomly and then stays back. And, it moves along to causing the same
behavior with MS Word & PowerPoint (probably the others but I don't use them
as often).

It's hard to imagine that the MS Office for Mac team wouldn't have seen this
problem, too....

Karl.

 

[Diane Ross]

But, I have to say: this is *really annoying. The problem did occur after
that last Snow Leopard upgrade for me, too.

The variations on what happens to different users after an upgrade are
numerous.

When you do a major upgrade of the OS or an application like Microsoft
or Adobe, my best advice is to quit all applications including the
hidden ones by logging out of your User and log back in with the Shift
key down to disable all startup items. Then do the upgrade and even if
it's not required RESTART.

It's hard to imagine that the MS Office for Mac team wouldn't have seen this
problem, too....

There is no way to predict what a user will do or not do when they upgrade.