Palm HotSync deleted all 1,000+ contacts in Entourage

[Michael Jardine]

My Palm did a crash and lost all of its data. When I performed a HotSync
the next time, everything was restored, except for the Contacts, which for
some reason were not restored. The NEXT time I performed a synch, it
apparently took that empty Contacts list and used it to overwrite everything
on Entourage, deleting my entire Contacts list.

Is there a way to recover?

 

[Phyber Quest]

Unless you made a back up of the Entourage Identity, I do not think so.

It happened to me once, and it was very upsetting. So I set my Conduit to
have the Entourage Overwrite the Palm everytime. I do not update information
directly into my PALM anymore. I just update my Entourage, and then
Entourage will overwrite the palm completely, including the new changes. I
do this for the Contact, Calendar, and Memo.

I use Document to Go, where I use to add new addresses, memo, notes and
etc... Then when I get back on the computer, I would sync the Document to
Go, and copy and paste any new information into the Entourage.

Sorry if I was not of any help to your current problem.

Cheers,
PQ

 

[Michael Jardine]

Thanks. Alas, I had mine set to overwrite the Palm as well, but this time it
did not work. I have an old backup and may have to use that.

I have no idea how to make a back up of the Entourage identity. Is this
done automatically?

Thanks again...

 

[Craig Deutsch]

If you have never previously backed up your Entourage database, then
regrettably you're hosed. However, if you have very recently created one
that you know contains the data you need, then follow steps 1-12 below.

To create a backup for future emergency use, do steps A-D below.

A) Once a month or so, create a back up by holding down the Option key while
launching Entourage. This opens the Entourage Utility program.

B) Open the database utility, and in the window that appears, click on
Compress and backup Database and execute it. This will create a backup of
your entire user database, place it in the same folder as the Main Identity
and label it with the date/time. Its format will be Main Identity [Backed
up M-D-YYYY HH:MM]. These files are found in Users: [Your User]: Documents:
Microsoft User Data: Office 2004 Identities.

C) To conserve space, as you create new backups regularly, you can trash
older backup folders if needed.

D) For the ultimate in safekeeping, keep a copy of your Main Identity and
the most recent backup folders on an external hard drive that¹s kept
offsite.


What to do if your sync¹ing operation fails in the future and wipes out
data:

Do the following to restore the backup records to your Main Database and
synchronize the Palm with these slightly older records. Read through these
FIRST before starting so you¹re clear about the process:

1) Open the Palm HotSync Manager (or MissingSync, if you use it instead).

2) Double-click on the Entourage conduit, and ensure that the Identity you
select at the top of that window is the correct backup database instead of
the Main Identity database. The one you want to use will be the most recent
backup that contains the correct data.

3) If, prior to this procedure, you entered data into the Palm that you want
sync'd with Entourage, set each Entourage conduit to "Synchronize."
Otherwise, set each of them to "Entourage overwrites Handheld."

4) Execute a sync and ensure that the results are satisfactory.

5) Re-open HotSync Manager and change your Identity back to "Main Identity"
and ensure that all conduits are set to "Synchronize."

6) Close HotSync Manager.

7) If Entourage is open, close it.

8) Go to Users: [Your User]: Documents: Microsoft User Data: Office 2004
Identities and delete the folder called Main Identity. You can do this
because the data you updated no longer resides there.

9) In that same folder, duplicate the latest backup folder ‹ the same one
you chose for the most recent Sync operation (command is Fileuplicate).

10) In that same folder, rename the duplicate folder you just created to
Main Identity (spelled exactly like that). If you've done this right,
you'll have a new Main Identity as well as a new folder called Main Identity
[Backed up M-D-YYYY HH:MM], and both will contain identical records.

11) Re-launch Entourage. It will open using the new Main Identity that you
just created. If you've done this correctly, your new Main Identity should
have all the records restored, and the most recent backup copy will be a
duplicate of that...ensuring that going forward, you're fully in sync.

Hope this helps.

 

[Michael Jardine]

Thanks. I've got a backup several months old, which should be fine for my
Contacts List. However I do not want to lose the emails and other items
that have transpired since that time. Is there a way to synch ONLY the
contacts database from the old backup, with the new one? I'm thinking
creating a folder and dragging it over, or something like that...

If you have never previously backed up your Entourage database, then
regrettably you're hosed. However, if you have very recently created one
that you know contains the data you need, then follow steps 1-12 below.

To create a backup for future emergency use, do steps A-D below.

A) Once a month or so, create a back up by holding down the Option key while
launching Entourage. This opens the Entourage Utility program.

B) Open the database utility, and in the window that appears, click on
Compress and backup Database and execute it. This will create a backup of
your entire user database, place it in the same folder as the Main Identity
and label it with the date/time. Its format will be Main Identity [Backed
up M-D-YYYY HH:MM]. These files are found in Users: [Your User]: Documents:
Microsoft User Data: Office 2004 Identities.

C) To conserve space, as you create new backups regularly, you can trash
older backup folders if needed.

D) For the ultimate in safekeeping, keep a copy of your Main Identity and
the most recent backup folders on an external hard drive that¹s kept
offsite.


What to do if your sync¹ing operation fails in the future and wipes out
data:

Do the following to restore the backup records to your Main Database and
synchronize the Palm with these slightly older records. Read through these
FIRST before starting so you¹re clear about the process:

1) Open the Palm HotSync Manager (or MissingSync, if you use it instead).

2) Double-click on the Entourage conduit, and ensure that the Identity you
select at the top of that window is the correct backup database instead of
the Main Identity database. The one you want to use will be the most recent
backup that contains the correct data.

3) If, prior to this procedure, you entered data into the Palm that you want
sync'd with Entourage, set each Entourage conduit to "Synchronize."
Otherwise, set each of them to "Entourage overwrites Handheld."

4) Execute a sync and ensure that the results are satisfactory.

5) Re-open HotSync Manager and change your Identity back to "Main Identity"
and ensure that all conduits are set to "Synchronize."

6) Close HotSync Manager.

7) If Entourage is open, close it.

8) Go to Users: [Your User]: Documents: Microsoft User Data: Office 2004
Identities and delete the folder called Main Identity. You can do this
because the data you updated no longer resides there.

9) In that same folder, duplicate the latest backup folder ‹ the same one
you chose for the most recent Sync operation (command is Fileuplicate).

10) In that same folder, rename the duplicate folder you just created to
Main Identity (spelled exactly like that). If you've done this right,
you'll have a new Main Identity as well as a new folder called Main Identity
[Backed up M-D-YYYY HH:MM], and both will contain identical records.

11) Re-launch Entourage. It will open using the new Main Identity that you
just created. If you've done this correctly, your new Main Identity should
have all the records restored, and the most recent backup copy will be a
duplicate of that...ensuring that going forward, you're fully in sync.

Hope this helps.

Thanks. Alas, I had mine set to overwrite the Palm as well, but this time it
did not work. I have an old backup and may have to use that.

I have no idea how to make a back up of the Entourage identity. Is this
done automatically?

Thanks again...

 

[Phyber Quest]

If you go to your User --> Document --> Microsoft User Data --> Office 2004
Identities

You will find your identity, either it is Main Identity or your name,
depending on if you have more than one identity on there.

Just copy that whole folder over to another part of your computer harddrive,
or external drive, floppy, or cd.

You are done.

No it is not done automatically, unless you have a auto back up program.

Cheers,
PQ

 

[Steve B.]

If you have never previously backed up your Entourage database, then
regrettably you're hosed. However, if you have very recently created one
that you know contains the data you need, then follow steps 1-12 below.

To create a backup for future emergency use, do steps A-D below.

A) Once a month or so, create a back up by holding down the Option key while
launching Entourage. This opens the Entourage Utility program.

B) Open the database utility, and in the window that appears, click on
Compress and backup Database and execute it. This will create a backup of
your entire user database, place it in the same folder as the Main Identity
and label it with the date/time. Its format will be Main Identity [Backed
up M-D-YYYY HH:MM]. These files are found in Users: [Your User]: Documents:
Microsoft User Data: Office 2004 Identities.

[/QUOTE]

I'm using Entourage X, and holding the option key while starting up gives me
the option to rebuild the database, but nothing else. How do I do what
you're suggesting here?

Thanks in advance,
Steve = : ^ )

 

[Craig Deutsch]

Hmmm...in Office 2004, which I use, launching the Utility brings up a list
of identities currently found in Users: [Your User]: Documents: Microsoft
Office 2004: Microsoft User Data: Office 2004 Identities.

Below that is a section entitled: "Select the maintenance activity to
perform." and there are four options: Verify database integrity, Compact
database (and back up), Rebuild database and Set database preferences.

If you don't have a backup option, then I'd simply go the simple route:
Select your Main Identity folder and duplicate it (File: Duplicate). Rename
the duplicate to something different than Main Identity, perhaps something
like "Main Identity MM_DD_YYYY HH:MM" and keep it in the same folder.

Then, as an added precaution, copy that same backup folder to a location on
another volume, whether that be another hard disk, CD-ROM or DVD.

Let me know if that doesn't work for you.

If you have never previously backed up your Entourage database, then
regrettably you're hosed. However, if you have very recently created one
that you know contains the data you need, then follow steps 1-12 below.

To create a backup for future emergency use, do steps A-D below.

A) Once a month or so, create a back up by holding down the Option key while
launching Entourage. This opens the Entourage Utility program.

B) Open the database utility, and in the window that appears, click on
Compress and backup Database and execute it. This will create a backup of
your entire user database, place it in the same folder as the Main Identity
and label it with the date/time. Its format will be Main Identity [Backed
up M-D-YYYY HH:MM]. These files are found in Users: [Your User]: Documents:
Microsoft User Data: Office 2004 Identities.

I'm using Entourage X, and holding the option key while starting up gives me
the option to rebuild the database, but nothing else. How do I do what
you're suggesting here?

Thanks in advance,
Steve = : ^ )

 

[Steve B.]

Thanks. I perform regular backups with Retrospect so maybe I don't need to
do this. If a database becomes corrupt and is backed up corrupted, I can
still go back to an earlier 'snapshot' of the drive.

Thanks anyway,
Steve = : ^ )

Craig Deutsch said:

Hmmm...in Office 2004, which I use, launching the Utility brings up a list
of identities currently found in Users: [Your User]: Documents: Microsoft
Office 2004: Microsoft User Data: Office 2004 Identities.

Below that is a section entitled: "Select the maintenance activity to
perform." and there are four options: Verify database integrity, Compact
database (and back up), Rebuild database and Set database preferences.

If you don't have a backup option, then I'd simply go the simple route:
Select your Main Identity folder and duplicate it (File: Duplicate). Rename
the duplicate to something different than Main Identity, perhaps something
like "Main Identity MM_DD_YYYY HH:MM" and keep it in the same folder.

Then, as an added precaution, copy that same backup folder to a location on
another volume, whether that be another hard disk, CD-ROM or DVD.

Let me know if that doesn't work for you.

On 6/9/05 11:08 AM, in article BECDD3B8.8016%[email protected], "Craig

If you have never previously backed up your Entourage database, then
regrettably you're hosed. However, if you have very recently created one
that you know contains the data you need, then follow steps 1-12 below.

To create a backup for future emergency use, do steps A-D below.

A) Once a month or so, create a back up by holding down the Option key
while
launching Entourage. This opens the Entourage Utility program.

B) Open the database utility, and in the window that appears, click on
Compress and backup Database and execute it. This will create a backup of
your entire user database, place it in the same folder as the Main Identity
and label it with the date/time. Its format will be Main Identity [Backed
up M-D-YYYY HH:MM]. These files are found in Users: [Your User]:
Documents:
Microsoft User Data: Office 2004 Identities.

I'm using Entourage X, and holding the option key while starting up gives me
the option to rebuild the database, but nothing else. How do I do what
you're suggesting here?

Thanks in advance,
Steve = : ^ )