Rebuild database

[Linda]

Entourage 2004
Mac Snow Leopard

Entourage stopped working about 1 week ago. I have tried rebuilding
the database by holding down the Option key and starting up
Entourage. I get the selection of identities to rebuild (other
options as well). Database Utility opens but there is no GUI, no
progress bar...nothing. I have a copy of the Main Identity folder on
an external drive. Is there another utility that can rebuild the
database since Database Utility does not appear to be working
correctly? Is there something that you can tell from this message
that I am doing wrong that I can change?

Linda

 

[Linda]

....continuation...
Since these are not archived messages or contacts, is there a way that
I can create a new identity and then import all of my old messages and
contacts? Or would they have needed to be archived for this to work?

My concern is that I may have lost attachments to emails if I cannot
ever get them to open again in Entourage.

I can definitely convert all of the messages and contacts with the
program Emailchemy that I found but I would rather have everything
working again in Entourage.

Thanks again,
Linda

 

[Diane Ross]

Entourage stopped working about 1 week ago.

First, let's verify that you are fully updated. Check the Microsoft
Component Plugin in this location and verify that you are running version
11.5.6.

/Applications/Microsoft Office 2004/Office/Microsoft Component Plugin"

When you open the Utility, did you select Rebuild after selecting your
Identity? Did you click Continue button?

Rebuilding takes a lot of free space. See this article. Rebuilding a damaged
database that exceeded size limit.

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

Make a duplicate in the Finder first as additional backup. A rebuild does
make a duplicate, but sometimes in the process the original and backup get
merged resulting in total disaster. It's rare but it happens.

How to rebuild:

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/database/rebuild.html>

There is no other utility that can rebuild Entourage. I do recoveries for
clients if you can't do it for yourself. If you have the space you should be
able to rebuild or revert to your older copy and use it after you verify
that the database is good.

Instead of using the database utility, I like to use Entourage's export
feature to export all items as Entourage archive (.rge) file under File >
Export. If this completes without an error, your database should be good.
You'll end up with a copy of your data. You can also use this file to create
a new Identity.

 

[Diane Ross]

Since these are not archived messages or contacts, is there a way that
I can create a new identity and then import all of my old messages and
contacts? Or would they have needed to be archived for this to work?

If the Identity will not rebuild, you have to manually export the data.
Depending on the corruption this can take a lot of time.

How to manually move your data. (when import fails and/or you need to move
to a new Identity same version or revert to an older version)

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

 

[Linda]

Thank you. I will follow your directions. I have a 1TB external
drive so should have enough extra memory to do whatever I want.

Linda

 

[Linda]

/Applications/Microsoft Office 2004/Office/Microsoft Component Plugin

How do I know which version it is? The component you mentioned does
exist but will not open. I assume because it is not an app itself but
rather a plugin.

Linda

 

[Diane Ross]

How do I know which version it is? The component you mentioned does
exist but will not open. I assume because it is not an app itself but
rather a plugin.

If you are in Column View, when you select the file, the next column will
show the version info.

 

[Linda]

I may be close to solving the problem. On the same day that I started
having problems with Entourage, I also started having problems with
iTunes. Both my music and my Main Identity are on an external drive.
I think that something has happened with the aliases that point to
the correct places. That may be why the Database Utility appears to
not be doing anything nor does it have an error. I think that the
"Main Identity Alias" was pointing to nothing.

So, I am going to repair the alias. The only problem is that I don't
know what the alias should point to. Is it to the folder or to the
database or....what else?

Linda

 

[Diane Ross]

Both my music and my Main Identity are on an external drive.
I think that something has happened with the aliases that point to
the correct places.

It's not a good idea to run on an external drive. If you use a symlink you
might have better results but try moving it back to your Documents folder >
Microsoft User Data folder > Office 2008 Identities folder.

You can follow direction for moving the itunes.

Moving your iTunes Music folder

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449

where important data is stored

<http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=6185507>

move your iPhoto library

<http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1229>