Damaged Entourage database increases in size from 2.13GB to 4GB during "compacting"

[asiaunderground]

I am using Entourage X.My Entourage database crashed at 2.13GB. I then
backed it up, then
tried rebuilding it. The 2.13GB database is being rebuilt and compacted
into 4GB, which does not open.

Typical rebuild failed. The typical rebuild of my 2.13GB database
pauses for a few minutes at
6300 / 38836 then stops with the message: "Compacting failed. The end
of the file was reached."

Then when compacting the database during the advance rebuild, it pauses
for a few minutes at 20300 / 38836 and then after a few minutes goes on
up to around 23400 and then stops.

Advanced rebuild had succeeded but the database became 4GB.
"The Entourage database is full. The Entourage database can store up
to 4 gigabytes (GB) of information. It is now full. Please compact
your database by performing a Typcial Rebuild now."
Typical rebuild does not make it smaller, and Entourage still cannot be
used.

In the typical rebuild after the advanced rebuld, it does get stuck
again
for several minutes at 6300 / 38836, but then continues to complete
all the files. Then it compacts and optimizes all 10129 files, and then
gives the message:
The database has been rebuilt.
The previous version of the database files have been renamed "Old
Database" and "Old Database Cache". You can move these files to the
Trash.

The new Database file is 4GB, and when I try to open Entouarage I
still get the message:
Entourage cannot access your data. To attmpet to fix thie problem,
rebuild your database. To rebuild your database quit all other
Microsoft programs and try again.

I have removed the Entourage Preferences and Settings and
com.microsoft.Entourage.prefs.plist.

I have tried logging in the test account, and using the back-up files
again.

Can anyone tell me what is happening?

Thanks,

Robert

 

[Barry Wainwright [MVP]]

I'm sorry to say that it sounds like your database is irrecoverably damaged.

Can you open it at all? If so, can you save some of the data by dragging
items to a desktop folder? (It's unlikely that the export functions will
work with a database that cannot be rebuilt).