OMG! I started Entourage and both eMail accounts are gone...

[Dustin_H]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel
Email Client: imap

I restarted my computer and had not been having any issues... and after the restart:
* Entourage 2008 is asking if I want help getting started, import old Entourage info, etc...
* both of my eMail accounts are no longer there
* all the data I had copied to my local database ('On My Computer') is gone...

What the **** happened?! I just lost everything!

 

[William Smith [MVP]]

I restarted my computer and had not been having any issues... and after the restart:
* Entourage 2008 is asking if I want help getting started, import old Entourage info, etc...
* both of my eMail accounts are no longer there
* all the data I had copied to my local database ('On My Computer') is gone...

What the **** happened?! I just lost everything!

Select Entourage menu --> Switch Identity... and see if you have a
second identity you can select. Entourage may have simply forgotten
where your mail is stored.

If you've recently done some house cleaning on your computer then you
may have moved your Database. Entourage 2008 looks for your mail in one
location only:

~/Documents/Microsoft User Data/Entourage 2008 Identities

The " ~ " means o start in your home folder.

If you have moved or renamed anything here or in the folders below then
put things back.

Hope this helps!

--

bill

Entourage Help Page <http://entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
YouTalk <http://nine.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/youtalk>
Twitter: follow <http://twitter.com/meck>

 

[Dustin_H]

Yeah I looked into Switch Identity and the only thing there is 'Main Identity' which is already what I am using... which is essentially the default new-startup identity. :/

Nope - no housecleaning done... just simply rebooted the PC. The sad thing is that this isnt the only time this has happened to me... but it is the first time since the Office for Mac update a few days ago...

Any other ideas?

 

[Diane Ross]

Any other ideas?

Entourage expects the Microsoft User Data 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.

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 (under Entourage in the Menu bar) and see if your old
identity is still listed.

To find your old database, search for "Microsoft User Data" (without the
quotes). You can also search on "Office 2008 Identities" (replace 2008 with
either 2004 or X if you are using an older version)

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.

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>

 

[Dustin_H]

Hey thanks for the link and continued information... I did the looking around to see if something else may had moved things (since I didn't)... but the only thing that exists the the current [and proper] location. I swear on my 13+ years in IT that I didn't move anything.

* Using Entourage 2008
* Noticed xmarks for Safar was 'hung'
* Performed a reboot on the machine [Apple > Restart]
* When logged in, opened Entourage and acted like new-install...

 

[Diane Ross]

Hey thanks for the link and continued information... I did the looking around
to see if something else may had moved things (since I didn't)... but the only
thing that exists the the current [and proper] location. I swear on my 13+
years in IT that I didn't move anything.

* Using Entourage 2008
* Noticed xmarks for Safar was 'hung'
* Performed a reboot on the machine [Apple > Restart]
* When logged in, opened Entourage and acted like new-install...

It sounds like it went to never never land. If it's not in the invisible
folder called lost & found it's just gone.

I had something similar to an iMovie file after a crash. This is why you
must have backups. $#@! happens.

Check this list for options to get you started.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/articles/backup_articles.html>

 

[dannas]

The same exact thing happened to me this morning. What the hell is going on? I didn't move anything either. It sounds like Microsoft blaming users for bugs in its software. It's total BS.

 

[William Smith [MVP]]

The same exact thing happened to me this morning. What the hell is
going on? I didn't move anything either. It sounds like Microsoft
blaming users for bugs in its software. It's total BS.

No one from Microsoft has been participating in this thread. Two of us
who have provided responses are unpaid volunteers who are also customers
of Microsoft and are using Office 2008. Nothing more.

I think I can speak for Diane as well as myself that we're not here to
defend Microsoft. Our goal is to simply help folks find a solution or a
workaround to their problems whether they were caused by Microsoft or by
the end-user.

One idea that I think we have both neglected to mention is antivirus
software. Check any antivirus for potentially quarantined files called
"Database". This would probably be the Entourage Database. Also, search
your hard drive for large files using the Finder. The Database file will
most likely be one of the largest you have.

If this doesn't help then please begin your own thread and provide
details of your own environment. Jumping in on someone else's message
thread, no matter how similar to your problem, only causes confusion for
anyone trying to follow what's happening.

Hope this helps!

--

bill

Entourage Help Page <http://entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
YouTalk <http://nine.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/youtalk>
Twitter: follow <http://twitter.com/meck>

 

[Decker 12]

I have a user that has experienced the same problem. He did not move his
folder, or delete it, or anything. Was up and running in the morning, came
back an hour later, opened Entourage, and it gave him the Welcome wizard.

Nothing else was changed on his computer - he wasn't missing any other
files. The folder and all associated sub folders (such as Saved Attachments)
was completely gone. The disk does not have any hardware issues, neither does
the computer itself. There are no alternate identities that could be switched
to. He is now doing a full mailbox resynch and fortunately, didn't lose
anything.

The user is a serious mannered, deliberate individual who is very tech savvy
and would have absolutely no reason to deceive me if he did accidentally
remove the folder. I am 100% sure that the disappearing folder had nothing to
do with any of his actions.

I know the original message was sent months ago, but has there been any
other resolution to the problem?

He's running a fully updated 10.5.8 system with a full updated Office 2008.

It's a pretty scary problem. I spent half the day investigating it. He
turned on his computer and for some reason, the entire Microsoft User Data
folder was simply gone. It's as simple as that and an explanation is
required. Whole folders just don't up and arbitrarily delete themselves.