entourage - problems using email - multiple mail identities?

I

ians

Hi folks

hope you can help with this problem. I'm not a tekkie so apologies if the terminology is dumb.

I'm using Entourage (office 2004) on an intel iMac with OS 10.4.10.

If I launch Entourage from the dock, the bar at the top of the window starts flashing and appears to be launching numerous Mail identities (I think that's what they're called). Anyhow - it gets up to around Mail 100 before it stops. And then everything just slooooows down. Can't close entourage - can't force quit. Can't shut down. It's taken me 15' to write this post.

Office for Mac is the only non-apple programme on the computer. No third party stuff. Have repaired permissions - nothing seems wrong there.

Any help much appreciated.

Thanks

Ians
 
I

ians

update.

I guess multiple mail identities may be the wrong terminology.

I've checked database utility and the database is OK.

ians
 
D

Diane Ross

I'm using Entourage (office 2004) on an intel iMac with OS 10.4.10.
Click to expand...

Have you updated Office 2004 since installing? Look under Entourage in the
Menu bar. What version do you see?

To find and download all updates for Office 2004,

If I launch Entourage from the dock, the bar at the top of the window starts
flashing and appears to be launching numerous Mail identities (I think that's
what they're called). Anyhow - it gets up to around Mail 100 before it stops.
And then everything just slooooows down. Can't close entourage - can't force
quit. Can't shut down. It's taken me 15' to write this post.
Click to expand...

You can only launch one Identity at a time. If removing the preferences,
Jolly Roger recommended doesn't work, try this:

You might need to download the combo updater from Apple and run it again
rather than using Software Update. Doing so overwrites potentially
problem-causing files. Several users have reported this fixed some odd
problems they were having with Entourage. Combo updaters will install on the
same version as they¹re applying‹no need to roll back or do a clean install.

Tiger:

Mac OS X 10.4.11 Combo Update (PPC)
<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosx10411comboupdateppc.html>

Mac OS X 10.4.11 Combo Update (Intel)

<http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosx10411updateintel.html>
==================================================
More info on why applying the combo updater helps:

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/troubleshoot/combo.html>

It is recommended that you back up your system prior to installing any
updates.
 
D

Diane Ross

I am almost certain it will work. a Family member has had this exact
issue in the past. Entourage has a bug where, on some systems, through
some process (I never have figured out how to reproduce it), multiple
Main windows are opened, stcked exactly on top of each other such that
these symptoms appear. The normal method to fix it is to simply close
each of the Main window instances, but since there are so many in this
case, the quick fix is to remove the Entourage preferences file so that
Entourage will "forget" to open them all back up again the next time it
is launched.
Click to expand...

I didn't realize this was the multiple windows opening problem. BTW, in
Entourage 2008, you can option click on the red close button and they all
close.
 
I

ians

thanks for the swift replies. will read carefully give this a try when i get home from work.

ian
 
I

ians

Hi again

so - it's the multiple windows problem. At least I know its name now.

I trashed the plist and updated to 10.4.11. No joy. I can't find out which version of entourage I have because as soon as I get near the menu bar I get the spinning beach ball. When it eventually stops - "about entourage" is grayed out.

I'm currently on window 112. Althought the red button is coloured - there's no cross on it so I can close the windows one at a time.

I'm assuming that all that's left is to reinstall entourage. Would that be right?

Again thanks for your help. I'm not unintelligent - but I can't figure out computers - and it bugs me when I don't know what the cause of the problem.

Ian
 
I

ians

Hi again

so - it's the multiple windows problem. At least I know its name now.

I trashed the plist and updated to 10.4.11. No joy. I can't find out which version of entourage I have because as soon as I get near the menu bar I get the spinning beach ball. When it eventually stops - "about entourage" is grayed out.

I'm currently on window 112. Althought the red button is coloured - there's no cross on it so I can't close the windows one at a time.

I'm assuming that all that's left is to reinstall entourage. Would that be right?

Again thanks for your help. I'm not unintelligent - but I can't figure out computers - and it bugs me when I don't know what the cause of the problem.

Ian
 
D

Diane Ross

so - it's the multiple windows problem. At least I know its name now.

I trashed the plist and updated to 10.4.11. No joy. I can't find out which
version of entourage I have because as soon as I get near the menu bar I get
the spinning beach ball. When it eventually stops - "about entourage" is
grayed out.
Click to expand...

There are several ways to get this info. See this page for help:

I'm currently on window 112. Althought the red button is coloured - there's no
cross on it so I can close the windows one at a time.

I'm assuming that all that's left is to reinstall entourage. Would that be
right?
Click to expand...

No, it's a preference file that's causing it. Try deleting the file, then
hold option key when opening Entourage to bring up the Rebuild Utility.
Rebuild your database and see if the problem goes away.


~Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Entourage Preferences

Entourage 2008 now allows users to Option-click on the red close button.
Entourage 2004 will have to manually close each window.
Again thanks for your help. I'm not unintelligent - but I can't figure out
computers - and it bugs me when I don't know what the cause of the problem.
Click to expand...

You have a lot of company. We all need help at times.
 
I

ians

Hi JR and Diane

well I had hoped to post a positive reply but no. I did everything you both suggested - this time the top window had the following; "Mail.Main Identity 112". Previously it was just "Mail 112".

I figured that a reinstall was the only answer but that also failed. I dragged Entourage from Applications and then reinstalled Entourage. When I open it I got a new message "this identity will not work with this version of Entourage".

Before I deleted Entourage I checked the version as Diane suggested and this showed it to be 11.3.3 The version reinstalled from the CD was 11.2.0

So I'm not even back to where I was before. I can't understand why the reinstall did not work. Once again I hope you can enlighten me.

Your advice is much apprecaited.

ian
 
D

Diane Ross

I figured that a reinstall was the only answer but that also failed. I dragged
Entourage from Applications and then reinstalled Entourage. When I open it I
got a new message "this identity will not work with this version of
Entourage".

Before I deleted Entourage I checked the version as Diane suggested and this
showed it to be 11.3.3 The version reinstalled from the CD was 11.2.0
Click to expand...

"This Identity Cannot Be Opened With This Version of Entourage"
This message usually means, for example, that Entourage is at 11.0, but the
saved database was saved in Entourage 11.3.3. Since there was a database
format change in there, Entourage 11.0 cannot open a database saved in
Entourage 11.3.3.

For updates, see this page: (don't apply the last one 11.4 seems to be
problematic for many users)

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/downloads/mactopia_dl.html>
 
I

ians

Hi

Thanks again for your advice (I've been away for a couple of weeks).

I've tried all of the suggestions above - got the updates, trashed the prefs, rebuild the data base and no good.

So - I've decided to get Office 2008 and start again (at least I can close the windows individually if it happens again).

A couple of questions please - should I REMOVE Office 2004 altogether?

I assume if I do I'll lose my contacts - I'm concerned that if I keep it and copy the contacts into the new version I might copy what ever's causing me problems?

Thanks

Ian
 
D

Diane Ross

A couple of questions please - should I REMOVE Office 2004 altogether?
Click to expand...

Not until you get Office 2008 working correctly.
I assume if I do I'll lose my contacts - I'm concerned that if I keep it and
copy the contacts into the new version I might copy what ever's causing me
problems?
Click to expand...

When you manually export your data it usually fixes the corruption problems
that can result when you use the Setup Assistant to import.

How to manually move your data from one version to another:

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/install/manual_install.html>
 
I

ians

Hi Diane

well, Office 2008 now installed. I opened Entourage with some intrepidation - my heart sank as 112 windows flew open. However, option click and the red button as you suggested has fixed the problem

So thank you for your help and patience.

ian
 
D

Diane Ross

well, Office 2008 now installed. I opened Entourage with some intrepidation -
my heart sank as 112 windows flew open. However, option click and the red
button as you suggested has fixed the problem

So thank you for your help and patience.
Click to expand...

Wonderful!!! Isn't it nice when it works. :)
 
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