Microsoft User Data - Does it store ALL your emails, folders, etc?

N

newman71

I'm worried because I recently lost all my data.
I bought an external drive to backup (now that I've rebuilt most
everything) but before I do I was checking through the User Data
folder.
I couldn't discern what file within the folder held all my email info,
groups i've created, etc and I just want to be sure when I backup that
all the folders that hold hundreds of emails I need saved will be saved
when I backup.

If someone just tells me "yes don't worry it will be backed up" that is
good enough for me. I don't need to know the tech behind it. Lol.

Thanks
 
B

Barry Wainwright

I'm worried because I recently lost all my data.
I bought an external drive to backup (now that I've rebuilt most
everything) but before I do I was checking through the User Data
folder.
I couldn't discern what file within the folder held all my email info,
groups i've created, etc and I just want to be sure when I backup that
all the folders that hold hundreds of emails I need saved will be saved
when I backup.

If someone just tells me "yes don't worry it will be backed up" that is
good enough for me. I don't need to know the tech behind it. Lol.

Thanks
Click to expand...


All the mail, contacts etc are stored in the 'Database' file in the "Office
2004 Identities" (or "office X Identities" etc). Thisis in the Identities
folder in the Microsoft User Data folder (MUD folder) in your user Documents
folder.
 
D

Daiya Mitchell

If you back up the MS User Data folder, yes it will be saved.

The Entourage database (mail/cal/address/etc) is stored in the
[username]/Documents/Microsoft User Data/Office [version #] Identities/Main
Identity folder (assuming you haven't changed the identity name).

Saved attachments and scripts are kept in the [username]/Documents/Microsoft
User Data.

It is a good idea to regularly backup the entire Main Identity folder, or
the appropriate Identity folder for anyone who uses entourage on a regular
basis. I back up my Identity folder a lot more frequently than I back up the
rest of my hard drive.
 
M

matt neuburg

newman71 said:
If someone just tells me "yes don't worry it will be backed up" that is
good enough for me. I don't need to know the tech behind it. Lol.
Click to expand...

Yes don't worry it will be backed up. In fact I use this technique to
switch "master computers" - for example, just before travelling, I copy
the stuff in my Identity folder from computer A to computer B. When I
start up Entourage on Computer B, presto, it's just the same as if I
were on computer A.

This kind of thing, though, does not relieve you of the responsibility
to run the Database Utility periodically to verify and compact your
database. You should do this whenever you think of it. This helps keep
your database from getting corrupted. A backed up version of a corrupted
database is not much help... :) m.
 
N

newman71

Matt and Daiya
Thanks. I usually backup the Microsoft User Data folder located in my
Documents folder. This User Data Folder contains 7 different folders
(including Office X Identities, Office 2004 Identities, Saved
Attachments, Entourage Temp, etc) So I'm assuming this is what you mean
by backing up the "Main Identity Folder"

Also I was not aware of a "Database Utility" program? Is this something
within Office or a stand alone program. Again thanks for all your help!

Mike
 
D

Daiya Mitchell

Hi Mike,
If someone just tells me "yes don't worry it will be backed up" that is
good enough for me. I don't need to know the tech behind it. Lol.
Click to expand...

See and it wasn't good enough. :) I personally think we will all be happier
computer users if we know what is going on with the computer, at least a
bit.

As I said, the Main Identity folder is inside the Office 2004 Identities
folder. The Office 2004 Identities folder holds a separate folder for each
identity that is set up in Entourage. If you only have one identity, it is
named Main Identity by default. My use of "Main Identity" is equivalent to
Matt's references to his Identity folder. Help has a nice "About Identities"
topic that explains more.

Inside the Main Identity folder are several files: Rules, Signatures,
Mailing Lists, and Database. You will notice that Database is probably the
only one of significant size. Entourage holds all your info in a proprietary
database format--only Entourage knows how to go into the Database file and
access the info stored there to show your emails in the correct folders with
the right categories, etc.

Database Utility is a little app within Office, designed solely to support
Entourage. It checks your database for corruption, and has the capability to
compact and rebuild the database. Obviously, since Entourage depends on this
database format, the health of the database is what really preserves your
info. Dropping "database" into Help will return several relevant topics
which will explain more, and will explain how to do what Matt suggested
(e.g., "about the entourage database", "about database utility," "check the
integrity of the entourage database")

Backing up the MUD (MS User Data) will catch everything. In my case, since
my Office 2001 identities and my random other identities for Office 2004 do
not change very often, and don't have anything important in them anyhow, I
personally don't need to take the time and space to back up the entire MUD
frequently. Backing up *only* the identity folder that I use regularly is
plenty for me. This all depends on your backup routine and your personal
preference. If I had a huge external hard drive, I would probably only copy
all my data files to it every month or so, but I like to back up my Main
Identity folder every few days.

Daiya
 
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