Help with my Entourage Main Identity

[florence.harvey]

For some reason ??? any ideas, the last time I rebooted my computer
(after changing sceen saver and desktop preferences) I totally
eliminated my entire Entourage email. I found myself with a total
"new" blank Entourage- address book, calendar and all vital
correspondance (past and present) gone!

Thankfully in November I had backed up my data into Main Identity... I
wish I had done it in December but someone coached me through it and I
couldn't remember HOW TO DO IT AGAIN.

Can you tell me or suggest where I could find a step by step as to how
to import my Nov, main identity into my blank Entourage AND for the
next time, How to back up (archive? is that the same thing?) my
address book, emails, calendar next week.

Thanks,- Desperate in Seattle

 

[Diane Ross]

Thankfully in November I had backed up my data into Main Identity... I
wish I had done it in December but someone coached me through it and I
couldn't remember HOW TO DO IT AGAIN.

Here it is again. Why not use the Finder to Label the folder so you
don't move it. Having the color highlighted will let you know it's
important.

Entourage expects the folder to be in your Documents folder. For OS X users,
that's the Documents folder in your User's folder. When Entourage opens in a
new blank Identity, it's usually User error. Sometimes updating software
(including the OS) can cause problems where files go missing. See this link
for help finding 'lost' files.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/troubleshoot/crashes.html#crash15>

Most likely you have accidentally moved your data. Hopefully, you have not
deleted the file. If you have deleted the trash, it's gone. Sorry!

Select Switch Identity and see if your old identity is still listed.

To find your old database, search for "Microsoft User Data" (without the
quotes).

If you have not used a new identity in Entourage, then copy the entire
Microsoft User Data folder to the correct location.

Fix if you have more than one Microsoft User Data Folder...

Move the entire identity folder you want to use to the Office Identities
folder that Entourage is recognizing. Your identity is named "Main" by
default. Be sure to rename one so you do not overwrite. Your identity folder
can contain more than one identity. Switch Identities to view your old mail.
If you have not used the new identity, delete it. If you have used it and
want to combine the new mail with your original database, drag each folder
to the desktop from one identity. This creates an MBOX file. Switch
identities. Drag the MBOX files into the folder window of Entourage.

You can delete the old folder after you are satisfied with the transfer.

 

[Cep]

I've got a similar problem. My iMac G5 hard drive crashed (only three years old - how hopeless is that?!), it's been replaced with a new one (now with a Leopard system update). And to add to my woes, my version of Entourage 2004 (which I'd backed up with various previous identities to be extra safe) comes up empty and refuses to import any of these identities even if I try to fool it by putting it in the new Microsoft user data. Help. My entire contacts list is now unable to be used. Help! :angry: :worried:

 

[Diane Ross]

I've got a similar problem. My iMac G5 hard drive crashed (only three years
old - how hopeless is that?!), it's been replaced with a new one (now with a
Leopard system update). And to add to my woes, my version of Entourage 2004
(which I'd backed up with various previous identities to be extra safe) comes
up empty and refuses to import any of these identities even if I try to fool
it by putting it in the new Microsoft user data. Help. My entire contacts list
is now unable to be used. Help! :angry: :worried:

IMPORT Basics
1) You can import from an older version to a newer version.

2) You cannot import from a newer version to an older version. e.g.
Entourage X to OE or Entourage 2001 using Entourage.

3) You cannot import from the same version of Entourage. e.g. Entourage 2008
to Entourage 2008 or Entourage 2004 to Entourage 2004. You can use the MBOX
method or the Export-Import Scripts to transfer mail from one identity to
another.

Simply drag over your archived files to the Microsoft User Data folder.
Rename so you do not overwrite data. You might need to merge messages into
one Identity.

How to manually move your data:

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