Deleted emails reappear after new search

[buldog1]

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

If I search for specific text under 'everything', certain emails are listed, with the Folder field empty for each email. Selecting all and deleting, then emptying the deleted items folder temporarily clears those emails. Searching again causes the same (deleted & emptied) emails to return. How do I permanently remove those emails?

 

[Diane Ross]

If I search for specific text under 'everything', certain emails are listed,
with the Folder field empty for each email. Selecting all and deleting, then
emptying the deleted items folder temporarily clears those emails. Searching
again causes the same (deleted & emptied) emails to return. How do I
permanently remove those emails?

It's either your database that is corrupted or the Spotlight cache file
needs updating. Under Entourage in the Menu bar select Preferences -->
Spotlight. Click the Rebuild button and see if the problem clears up.

If it is database corruption....

How to rebuild:

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

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.

 

[buldog1]

Thank you Diane.

I tried both approaches you suggested, but unfortunately neither worked and I still have the persisting issue. Your first suggestion relating to the Spotlight cache worked briefly, only to have the issue come back after restarting Entourage.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks, Scott

 

[Diane Ross]

I tried both approaches you suggested, but unfortunately neither worked and I
still have the persisting issue. Your first suggestion relating to the
Spotlight cache worked briefly, only to have the issue come back after
restarting Entourage.

Let's work off a copy of your Identity. In the Finder make a duplicate. Use
Switch Identity to select the duplicate.

1) Export messages to export as Entourage archive (.rge) file and select to
ERASE after exporting.
2) Import the .rge file back into this test Identity.

Do the messages go away now? If no....

1) Create a new blank Identity in Entourage and import the .rge file. You'll
see the messages listed under Main.rge in the folder window. You can drag
them to the proper location.

Do the messages go away now?

 

[buldog1]

Diane,

Thank you again for your help. Following outlines the results of your suggestions:

Executing your first solution, the unwanted emails were still present.
Executing your second solution, the unwanted emails were deleted, however all the emails were deleted even though the 'Main.rge' folder was present. That folder was empty.

In the meantime I have switched back to my original Identity at the moment as I need to stay up and running. Please let me know if there are any other possible solutions to this continuing issue.

Thanks so much,
Scott

 

[Diane Ross]

Executing your second solution, the unwanted emails were deleted, however all
the emails were deleted even though the 'Main.rge' folder was present. That
folder was empty.

I'm surprised you didn't get an error when you exported as .rge file. This
is a definite sign of database corruption. You'll need to manually move to a
new Identity.

Download this script and run it. It will fail on the folder with corruption.

Export folders as MBOX files (includes subfolders)
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/downloads/scripts/jolly/Make_MBOX.zip>

Once you identify the folder that's bad, you will have to manually subdivide
that folder until you can drag out all messages. Continue dragging all
folders our as MBOX files.

You should be able to export as Entourage archive (.rge) file all items BUT
messages.

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>

 

[buldog1]

Hi Diane,

I ran the Make_Mailbox script with the Entourage Archives desktop folder open. I watched it reproduce all the folders/sub-folders which exist in my Entourage email. It produced all the folders, so am not sure where or how to tell if it failed on one folder. The script eventually ended with the following error message: 'Applescript Error: Microsoft Entourage got an error: Apple event timed out', but all the folders were present in the newly created Entourage Archives folder.

So, I assume that this step above must be completed successfully first prior to commencing the manually move date to a new identity step, correct? What am I looking for in terms of folder failure?

Thanks again,
Scott

 

[Diane Ross]

I ran the Make_Mailbox script with the Entourage Archives desktop folder open.
I watched it reproduce all the folders/sub-folders which exist in my Entourage
email. It produced all the folders, so am not sure where or how to tell if it
failed on one folder. The script eventually ended with the following error
message: 'Applescript Error: Microsoft Entourage got an error: Apple event
timed out', but all the folders were present in the newly created Entourage
Archives folder.

So, I assume that this step above must be completed successfully first prior
to commencing the manually move date to a new identity step, correct? What am
I looking for in terms of folder failure?

Sorry, I'm late getting back. Have been swamped recovering databases and
trying to help with the SP2 issues.

Normally when the script fails, you'll see the folders that are missing. It
starts at the top with the Inbox and works it way down the list.

I'm wondering if the script timed out because it's seeing an invisible
folder that's part of your corruption.

Let me know how the new Identity is working after you import your data. You
can use the .rge file to import your other data, but make a new one and
exclude messages. I trust MBOX files over .rge for messages especially in
your situation as I understand it.