Entourage won't start - db rebild won't work

[hsteinfeld]

Version: 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Power PC
Email Client: pop

Hi

Thanks for taking a look at this

Every time I try to load Entourage it tells me it can't access my data and then the database rebuild screen opens, but every time I try to rebuild it fails.

My question is this: Can I access my contacts from a file somewhere on my Mac and pull them out that way? If I can't find a way to move my contacts, I fear that I have lost them all.

I don't mind upgrading to the newer version of Entourage, but will I lose everything by doing that, or does the new version simply install over the current one.

Thanks in advance for any advice

Cheers
Hart

 

[Diane Ross]

Every time I try to load Entourage it tells me it can't access my data and
then the database rebuild screen opens, but every time I try to rebuild it
fails.

Are you saying Entourage will not open at all?

My question is this: Can I access my contacts from a file somewhere on my Mac
and pull them out that way? If I can't find a way to move my contacts, I fear
that I have lost them all.

It's possible that Apple Address Book can import. Have you tried that? Did
you ever have Sync Services turned on and sync with the Address Book?

I don't mind upgrading to the newer version of Entourage, but will I lose
everything by doing that, or does the new version simply install over the
current one.

Entourage 2008 will create an entirely new Identity folder for Office 2008.
You can have Identity folders for multiple Office versions in the same
folder. Only the correct version can open an Identity. Older Identities have
to be imported, but if yours is corrupt you might not be able to import.

What size if your database? It's possible rebuilding will work on a bigger
drive. See this article:

Rebuilding a damaged database that exceeded size limit

<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/2007/09/rebuilding_a_damaged_database_that_e
xceeded_size_limit.html>

In case the above link does not work:

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

First let's be sure you have Entourage 2004 upgraded. Some upgrades improved
the database rebuild. What version of 2004 do you have? Download this script
and copy the info so we know what version you have.

Favorite Scripts to use with Entourage
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/script/fav_scripts.html#favscript_findVersion
This is an example for Office 2008 that is slightly different from the
earlier versions:

Last update applied: Thursday, August 7, 2008 9

Microsoft Entourage.app: 12.1.2
Microsoft Excel.app: 12.1.2
Microsoft Word.app: 12.1.2
Microsoft PowerPoint.app: 12.1.2
MicrosoftComponentPlugin:Thursday, August 7, 2008 9:35:36 AM
Junk E-Mail Protection:Thursday, August 7, 2008 9:38:30 AM
Mac OS X 10.5.4 (9E17)

Don't give up hope yet. Database corruption can be fatal, but we will do our
best to help in the recovery.

 

[hsteinfeld]

Hi Diane

First off, thanks so much for trying to help me. This has been an extremely frustrating experience, so thanks so much for helping

My version is as follows

Last update applied: 11.5.1

Microsoft Entourage: 11.4.0
Microsoft Excel: 11.5.1
Microsoft Word: 11.5.0
Microsoft PowerPoint: 11.5.1
Microsoft Component Plugin: 11.5.1
Junk E-Mail Protection: 11.3.4
Mac OS X 10.4.11 (8S165)

Entourage starts to boot, but then it tells me it can't access my data and tells me to rebuild the database. When i try to rebuild the database, it tells me that an I/O error occured and it can't rebuild.

Thanks for any help at all

cheers

Hart

 

[Diane Ross]

Entourage starts to boot, but then it tells me it can't access my data and
tells me to rebuild the database. When i try to rebuild the database, it tells
me that an I/O error occured and it can't rebuild.

I/O errors almost always means disk damage. You need to immediately backup
all of your data before your drive dies.

You can try using Disk Utility to repair your drive, but I/O errors are
warnings of drive failure. You might be able to reformat and block out bad
blocks.

If you can burn your Identity to a DVD, I would do that as a safety net.
After you get your drive problems fixed, then you can try rebuilding. If the
rebuild fails, you can try rebuilding on a large drive (500GB). I offer
services to rebuild if you do not have the physical drive to do this
yourself.