Delete function freezes Entourage and corrupts database

[SilkRoad]

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

Of late, Entourage often freezes when I delete messages. After force quit, sometimes it freezes when relaunching, when the "Entourage" window appears. When this happens, I have to rebuild the database, but then it freezes at the end of Step 5 and I have to trash this database and get back the previous database from Time Machine.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled Office 2008, but to no avail.

I have also removed all attachments, which doesn't work either.

The problem originally started last month when I deleted a sub-folder after archiving all my 2008 emails. But I had noticed earlier that the software had begun to take inordinate time when searching a contact.

 

[gracie]

I'm waiting for an answer to this, too, as I dumped a large amount of mail and now cannot get Entourage to work.

The database utility also stops w/o completing as well and I have to force quit everything.

Help!

 

[Diane Ross]

Of late, Entourage often freezes when I delete messages. After force quit,
sometimes it freezes when relaunching, when the "Entourage" window appears.
When this happens, I have to rebuild the database, but then it freezes at the
end of Step 5 and I have to trash this database and get back the previous
database from Time Machine.

It's advised by the developers not to let Time Machine backup your Entourage
database. If the database is copied while being used, the backup could be
corrupt. You can set the Time Machine to exclude the Microsoft User Data
folder and create an iCal event to copy it over at night while not in use so
you get one backup daily in Time Machine.

Alternative method to use Entourage and Time Machine (does a once a day or
whatever time period you select)

<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/2008/01/alternative_method_to_use_entourage_
and_time_machine.html>

Read this article:

Is corruption hiding in your database? (The Entourage Help Blog)
<http://tinyurl.com/buznag>

Then read this article on why your rebuild could be failing:

Rebuilding a damaged database that exceeded size limit

I have uninstalled and reinstalled Office 2008, but to no avail.

This never helps problems like this.

I have also removed all attachments, which doesn't work either.

Other than reducing the size, it's not going to help corruption either.

Evidently, rebuild did not fix your problems. This could be due to hardware
or the fact you used Time Machine backups that are corrupted. How big is
your hd and how much free space?

My suggestion would be to move into a new Identity. Since you can't use the
import Identity in the same version, you have to manually export your data.
The export as Entourage archive (.rge) is the quickest way.

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>
--
Diane Ross, Microsoft Mac MVP
Entourage Help Page <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
YouTalk <http://tinyurl.com/bzcrjy> <-- Entourage mailing list
Twitter: follow <http://twitter.com/entouragehelp>

 

[Diane Ross]

The database utility also stops w/o completing as well and I have to force
quit everything.

See my answers to SilkRoad. If you need help we need to know what version of
Entourage you are using and what OS.

--
Diane Ross, Microsoft Mac MVP
Entourage Help Page <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
YouTalk <http://tinyurl.com/bzcrjy> <-- Entourage mailing list
Twitter: follow <http://twitter.com/entouragehelp>

 

[ctan]

Just so I get this right.

Don't use time machine on the Entourage Database.

Don't rebuild the database if using an exchange account, unless it is really corrupt.

So what is Microsoft's official stance on how to backup the HUGE file known as the database?

 

[Diane Ross]

Just so I get this right.

Don't use time machine on the Entourage Database.

Not on an open database. You can use an alternative where you copy the
database after quitting Entourage and the Microsoft Database daemon once a
day and saving it outside of the Microsoft User Data folder for Time Machine
to backup.

Alternative method to use Entourage and Time Machine (does a once a day or
whatever time period you select) This quits Entourage and the Microsoft
Database daemon allowing for once a day backup into Time Machine.

<http://tinyurl.com/2r79ll>

Entourage and Time-Machine-like backup (creates chronological backup of
Identity can be used by both Tiger and Leopard allowing you to roll back to
previous dated backups.

Don't rebuild the database if using an exchange account, unless it is really
corrupt.

If you think about it, your data is on a server, if the database that's on
your computer is rebuilt, it really isn't touching the mail on the server.
It's just easier for both Exchange and IMAP to just create a new Identity
and let it sync back up.

So what is Microsoft's official stance on how to backup the HUGE file known as
the database?

They have not posted one, we just go on what the developers suggest. I just
started a series on backing up Entourage. Be sure to read comments from
users for their suggestions too. Only two parts out right now. I'm working
on backing up individual items using .rge and MBOX files now. We'll have
several authors talking about different methods of backup. The goal is to
give as many options as possible so users can find a method that works for
them.

Backup Series:

Backup Basics: <http://tinyurl.com/ceau8a>
Check for Corruption: <http://tinyurl.com/buznag>

--
Diane Ross, Microsoft Mac MVP
Entourage Help Page <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
YouTalk <http://tinyurl.com/bzcrjy> <-- Entourage mailing list
Twitter: follow <http://twitter.com/entouragehelp>