Database rebuild problem

[cathiecush]

I'm running Entourage 2004 V 11.3.6 on an iMac under OS 10.5.2

In the past six weeks or so, I've had problems with messages
disappearing -- e.g., only the top half of my inbox window shows
anything. If I click on blank lines, sometimes the messages reappear.
Other times, I get a 4362 error.

I've rebuilt the database twice in that time.

Each time, I notice that it seems to restore messages that I thought I
had deleted. Other than that, it seems to work OK for a few weeks,
then I start having trouble again.

Should I try Advanced Rebuild? Anything I should know before I start
(Entourage Help doesn't provide much information on this topic).

Any other suggestions?

 

[Mickey Stevens]

It does sound like database corruption. I would suggest you run the
advanced rebuild procedure. The advanced rebuild results in the loss of
server caches (which you can re-download) and some internal data like links,
but most key data is preserved (contacts, tasks, notes, messages, events).

Note that although the rebuild process should archive your old database in
the identity folder, it is a good idea to backup regularly in any case. You
can backup by copying the "Office 2004 Identities" folder in /Users/<Your
User>/Documents/Microsoft User Data/ to another drive.

 

[cathiecush]

It does sound like database corruption.  I would suggest you run the
advanced rebuild procedure.  The advanced rebuild results in the loss of
server caches (which you can re-download) and some internal data like links,
but most key data is preserved (contacts, tasks, notes, messages, events)..

Note that although the rebuild process should archive your old database in
the identity folder, it is a good idea to backup regularly in any case.  You
can backup by copying the "Office 2004 Identities" folder in /Users/<Your
User>/Documents/Microsoft User Data/ to another drive.

The Office 2004 Identities folder is 1.8 GB -- compared to the old
Office X Identities folder, which is only 274 MB. Is that normal?

 

[cathiecush]

It does sound like database corruption.  I would suggest you run the
advanced rebuild procedure.  The advanced rebuild results in the loss of
server caches (which you can re-download) and some internal data like links,
but most key data is preserved (contacts, tasks, notes, messages, events)..

Note that although the rebuild process should archive your old database in
the identity folder, it is a good idea to backup regularly in any case.  You
can backup by copying the "Office 2004 Identities" folder in /Users/<Your
User>/Documents/Microsoft User Data/ to another drive.

I held down the option key to open utilities, and I selected Rebuild.
I didn't see an option for Advanced Rebuild, and I couldn't find any
information on it in Entourage Help.
--Cathie

 

[Barry Wainwright]

I held down the option key to open utilities, and I selected Rebuild.
I didn't see an option for Advanced Rebuild, and I couldn't find any
information on it in Entourage Help.
--Cathie

that's OK - in Office vX the wording was 'rebuild' and 'Advanced
Rebuild'. In 2004 (and 2008) the wording was changed to 'Compact' and
'Rebuild' to more accurately reflect what was going on.

 

[cathiecush]

that's OK - in Office vX the wording was 'rebuild' and 'AdvancedRebuild'.In 2004 (and 2008) the wording was changed to 'Compact' and
'Rebuild' to more accurately reflect what was going on.

OK, so I've done the "Advanced" Rebuild at least 3 times since June?
And after the Rebuild is finished, why do messages that I thought I
deleted appear in my inbox as Unread? Should I be doing some other
kind of maintenance that I'm not?

I still have a version of Office X installed, in addition to 2004.
Could that be creating problems?

--Cathie

 

[Diane Ross]

OK, so I've done the "Advanced" Rebuild at least 3 times since June?
And after the Rebuild is finished, why do messages that I thought I
deleted appear in my inbox as Unread? Should I be doing some other
kind of maintenance that I'm not?

Sometimes when you import from another version, it brings over corruption.
If rebuilding does not fix it, then you will need to manually move your data
into a new Identity.

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)

I still have a version of Office X installed, in addition to 2004.
Could that be creating problems?

No, it's OK to have both installed.

You previously asked:

The Office 2004 Identities folder is 1.8 GB -- compared to the old
Office X Identities folder, which is only 274 MB. Is that normal?

No.

Since you still have Entourage X installed, you can manually move that data
over into a new Entourage 2004 Identity. Then you will only have your newest
messages to move from the problem Entourage 2004 Identity.

Something does not sound right. You can contact me off list for help.

Send me an email:

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/support_options/email.html>