Entourage locks up when trying to open message...

[thexamdu]

I have Office 2004 with Entourage, and for some strange reason,
Entourage has started to lock up and freeze the system when I try to
open a mail message. I can download and send new messages fine, but
as soon as I try to open or read a message, it locks up and freezes
the entire system, not even force quitting will do anything, I have to
reboot system. I have installed all updates and everything else is
running fine. I am using OS 10.3.9 on a PowerBook G3 Lombard.
Entourage has worked fine on this system for years. I have also run
virus scans and diskscans and everything checks out ok. Any
suggestions??? Thanks.

Joey

 

[Diane Ross]

I have Office 2004 with Entourage, and for some strange reason,
Entourage has started to lock up and freeze the system when I try to
open a mail message. I can download and send new messages fine, but
as soon as I try to open or read a message, it locks up and freezes
the entire system, not even force quitting will do anything, I have to
reboot system. I have installed all updates and everything else is
running fine. I am using OS 10.3.9 on a PowerBook G3 Lombard.
Entourage has worked fine on this system for years. I have also run
virus scans and diskscans and everything checks out ok. Any
suggestions??? Thanks.

When you say open, do yuou men open in it's own window? Can you read in
either 3 pane view or preview pane below?

Drag a few messages to the desktop for testing.

Create a new Identity in Entourage.

Cancel out of account setup.

Drag the test messages into Entourage. Do you see the same problem? If no
then your database could be corrupted.

Before you rebuild, make a duplicate in the Finder first as additional
backup. A rebuild does make a duplicate, but sometimes in the process the
original and backup get merged resulting in total disaster. It's rare but
it happens.

You can also test your Identity using these methods.

1) Under File --> export select the default all items as Entourage archive
(.rge) file

2) download the export as MBOX files script and see if it completes. It will
fail on the folder with corruption.

Export folders as MBOX files (includes subfolders)
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/downloads/scripts/jolly/Make_MBOX.zip>

 

[thexamdu]

When you say open, do yuou men open in it's own window? Can you read in
either 3 pane view or preview pane below?

Drag a few messages to the desktop for testing.

Create a new Identity in Entourage.

Cancel out of account setup.

Drag the test messages into Entourage. Do you see the same problem? If no
then your database could be corrupted.

Before you rebuild, make a duplicate in the Finder first as additional
backup. A rebuild does make a duplicate, but sometimes in the process the
original and backup get merged resulting in total disaster. It's rare but
it happens.

You can also test your Identity using these methods.

1) Under File --> export select the default all items as Entourage archive
(.rge) file

2) download the export as MBOX files script and see if it completes. It will
fail on the folder with corruption.

Export folders as MBOX files (includes subfolders)
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/downloads/scripts/jolly/Make_MBOX.zip>

Diane,

Thanks for your response. I am able to download and send emails, but
as soon as I try to open a message, either in a new window or in a
preview pane, Entourage locks up, and all I get is the spinning
pinwheel. If I try to Force Quit, then OS X locks up and I have to
reboot the computer. I have rebuilt the database and everything
seemed ok for a few messages, then it all started again. I cannot
drag a single message to the desktop because as soon as I click on the
message, Entourage freezes. I am not sure how to set up a new
Identity, but I will try. I need to reboot now so that I can open
Entourage again and try some of your ideas. If you have any other
ideas, please feel free to send them, either here or to my email,
(e-mail address removed). Thanks,

Joey

 

[thexamdu]

Diane,

Thanks for your response. I am able to download and send emails, but
as soon as I try to open a message, either in a new window or in a
preview pane, Entourage locks up, and all I get is the spinning
pinwheel. If I try to Force Quit, then OS X locks up and I have to
reboot the computer. I have rebuilt the database and everything
seemed ok for a few messages, then it all started again. I cannot
drag a single message to the desktop because as soon as I click on the
message, Entourage freezes. I am not sure how to set up a new
Identity, but I will try. I need to reboot now so that I can open
Entourage again and try some of your ideas. If you have any other
ideas, please feel free to send them, either here or to my email,
(e-mail address removed). Thanks,

Joey

Diane,

I have tried creating a new Identity, and I am having the same
problem. I can do everything except open a message. Any suggestions?

Joey

 

[Diane Ross]

I have tried creating a new Identity, and I am having the same
problem. I can do everything except open a message. Any suggestions?

Go to System Preferences --> Create a New User in Accounts. Switch to the
New User by logging out/in or use Fast User Switching.

Open Entourage to test.

You can either bring over some emails via the Shared folder for testing, or
enter your account and download some messages to test.

Be sure to set your account to "leave on server" under the Options tab in
the account window.

Does it work in a new User? If yes, then drag your Identity to Shared.
Switch to the test user and drag from Shared to the Office 2008 Identities
folder. It will overwrite the test Identity you created unless you rename
one of the Identities.

Open Entourage and test. If it fails, then we know the problem is in both
your Identity folder and your User's account since a new Identity failed in
the regular User.

 

[Diane Ross]

If you have any other
ideas, please feel free to send them, either here or to my email,
(e-mail address removed). Thanks,

I also replied off list.