Copy my Database to another computer..sometimes it works, sometimes not??

[MacJunkie]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Power PC
Email Client: pop

So, I often take the Entourage Database and copy it over to my laptop so when I travel, I have the most recent data on my laptop. I do this by using the Firewire Disk Mode (startup laptop holding 'T') and make the laptop a disk on my desktop. Then, I drag the desktop Database over to the laptop and kill off the Database.

So, my question is, sometimes Entourage will fire right up with the new database and other times, I get database errors and have to rebuild or...

QUESTION: what is the best protocol to not ever have problems? Why sometimes does Entourage fire right up and sometimes I get database issues?

 

[Adam Bailey]

So, I often take the Entourage Database and copy it over to my laptop so when
I travel, I have the most recent data on my laptop. I do this by using the
Firewire Disk Mode (startup laptop holding 'T') and make the laptop a disk on
my desktop. Then, I drag the desktop Database over to the laptop and kill off
the Database.

I'd start by copying the entire Microsoft User Data folder, not just the
Database. There are other files there that the Database interacts with,
and it's a bad idea to copy just one file.

Also see:
http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/2009/04/quit_all_microsoft_applications_before_backing_up.html

 

[MacJunkie]

hey thanks.. I have been doing this for years and only manually carried over what was altered.. since the Rules and Signature and such were/are not altered much, I only carried over the Database which is daily changed. I will try your suggestion next time as I never considered carrying over the entire folder.

And, I always did have other MS apps on the desktop quit before carrying over to the laptop - but I suppose I could run the script to be safe as the DB Daemon & Reminders still run in the background.

 

[Diane Ross]

So, I often take the Entourage Database and copy it over to my laptop so when
I travel,

I'm not sure if you travel enough to consider this option but it's worth
considering if you do.

Use an external drive for Microsoft User Data folder with alias in Documents
folder.

One user explains how they use this method:

I keep my Microsoft User Data folder on an external pocket firewire drive (a
large capacity USB thumb-drive will suffice if both machines have USB 2.0)
and just keep aliases to it in my Documents folder of all the machines I use
Entourage on (laptop, desktop and occasionally other machines I sit down in
front of for a few hours). Works like a charm and gives me an identical
environment on every machine.

You must quit Microsoft applications in order to eject the drive.

 

[MacJunkie]

Adam Bailey: "copying the entire Microsoft User Data folder, not just the
Database. "

well, this did not work. I tried it and upon launch, I get the error that the DB cannot be used and I have to try to verify and/or rebuild... there must be a reliable way to do this.

 

[Diane Ross]

well, this did not work. I tried it and upon launch, I get the error that the
DB cannot be used and I have to try to verify and/or rebuild... there must be
a reliable way to do this.

It's very possible the file is corrupt causing the error. Was the Identity
working on the other computer? Have you tried dragging it over again?