Entourage Database rotten

[Marek]

Hello all!



This is the second time that this happens to me! My database is rotten
and the Microsoft Database Utility only gets back 3,85 GB from my
original 6,24!

There is a major problem with Entourage, and this persists since I am
working with Entourage: the junk folder is keeping growing and
growing, until the database crashes :-( If you want to delete them,
you have to put them first into your trash and then delete them once
again out of the trash. That's cumbersome!

Ok, ok, I know there is a routine to empty this folder every two
weeks, but I never use it. I kept my junk mail, to collect them and
burn them later on CD; one day I think, there will be somebody, making
a doctor thesis about old times, where there were something like
"spams" again. (Yes, there are crazy people out there in the world
like me; probably I am the only one ...)

My question: I discovered a tool EEAX (Entourage Email Archiver).
Unfortunately I am not able to run the actual version of it (4.1.0) on
my MBP, OS 10.4.11

Where do I get one older version, running on my OS and with Microsoft
Office 2008?

Would it be possible to archive everything of a rotten Database with
this tool, I mean without opening it in Entourage? I would like to
have also the attached files to be archived, if possible. And all my
contacts and the birthdays of my calendar, if possible.

Is there an other possibility to recover the Microsoft Database except
this Microsoft Database Utility? Repair it manually perhaps? My backup
is three weeks old :-( Yes, yes shout on me!

Please help! My computer is a second virtual part of my personality,
and the greatest part of it, are my mails, written in many many years
in Entourage! I should have paid much more attention, to save it! Now
it is probably too late?


marek

 

[Diane Ross]

This is the second time that this happens to me! My database is rotten
and the Microsoft Database Utility only gets back 3,85 GB from my
original 6,24!

A database can have what's called wasted space. The database will be left
with 'wasted' space in it every time you delete something. However, this is
not all bad, since the wasted space is used up with new data as it is added.
This way, over a period of time (assuming that you are deleting stuff as you
go) the database will probably reach an optimum size, after which the stuff
you delete is roughly equal to the stuff you add, and no further growth
takes place.

Rebuilding gets rid of the wasted space. This is why you are seeing the size
difference.

There is a major problem with Entourage, and this persists since I am
working with Entourage: the junk folder is keeping growing and
growing, until the database crashes :-( If you want to delete them,
you have to put them first into your trash and then delete them once
again out of the trash. That's cumbersome!

In Entourage 2008 it does not put in trash but permanently deletes them when
you select delete. You can by pass this Ok window using a script called nuke
messages.

Nuke Messages:

(Yes, there are crazy people out there in the world
like me; probably I am the only one ...)

Let's hope so. What you are doing is affecting the problems you are having
with Entourage. It's a lot of bloat that you have to backup too. Take my
advice and stop doing this.

My question: I discovered a tool EEAX (Entourage Email Archiver).

We don't do support or have much feed back on this tool.

Would it be possible to archive everything of a rotten Database with
this tool, I mean without opening it in Entourage?

Yes. 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>

Once you export/import your data into a new Identity you shouldn't have the
problem you are experiencing.

 

[Marek]

A database can have what's called wasted space. The database will be left
with 'wasted' space in it every time you delete something. However, this is
not all bad, since the wasted space is used up with new data as it is added.
This way, over a period of time (assuming that you are deleting stuff as you
go) the database will probably reach an optimum size, after which the stuff
you delete is roughly equal to the stuff you add, and no further growth
takes place.

Rebuilding gets rid of the wasted space. This is why you are seeing the size
difference.


In Entourage 2008 it does not put in trash but permanently deletes them when
you select delete. You can by pass this Ok window using a script called nuke
messages.

Nuke Messages:



Let's hope so. What you are doing is affecting the problems you are having
with Entourage. It's a lot of bloat that you have to backup too. Take my
advice and stop doing this.


We don't do support or have much feed back on this tool.


Yes. 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>

Once you export/import your data into a new Identity you shouldn't have the
problem you are experiencing.

Thank you Diane for your long reply!


Sorry, for the delay of my answer. Because the testing is taking so
long time, because the original database is really huge, also for a
2.4 GHz Core 2 processor.

I forgot to say, that after the restoration with the Microsoft
Database Utility I have lost one year or more of email correspondence
(in any case in my Inbox; the rest I did not checked). So your answer
about 6.24 old against 3.85 GB new and "waisted space" is good to know
and also obvious, but unfortunately not helpful in my case.

Your advice to import the data from a new identity is not working. You
cannot import your database from the same version of Entourage
(Why?) ... I tried nevertheless choosing import from Entourage 2004,
which seems to work. But the result after long hours (original
database is 6.24 GB!) of work is unfortunately the same, as if I had
done it with the Database Utility directly: "reconstruct
database" (translated from German).

I tried to import this database in Thunderbird. But Thunderbird needs
the import data in form of mbox format :-(

All I need now is to reopen the old database with any means, to be
able to archive my emails in mbox format.

Any help? Which format is Microsoft Entourage using to write the
binary database? Is it a proprietary format to Microsoft or an open
format? If it is an open format, probably it would be possible to
repair the mistake in the Database with something other than the
Microsoft Database Utility or manually? I only need to open this
database one more time just to save and archive everything ...



Please help! Thank you!


marek

 

[Diane Ross]

Your advice to import the data from a new identity is not working. You
cannot import your database from the same version of Entourage
(Why?)

Import Basics:

You can import from an older version to a newer version. eg. OE to Entourage
2001, Entourage X, 2004 tor 2008.

You cannot import from a newer version to an older version. e.g. Entourage X
to Entourage 2001, or Entourage 2008 to Entourage 2004 using Entourage.

You cannot import from the same version of Entourage. e.g. Entourage 2004 to
Entourage 2004 or Entourage 2008 to Entourage 2008. You can manually move
over your data as described here:

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/install/manual_install.html>

If you have a copy of your Identity BEFORE you tried the rebuild, it's
possible I could recover all of your data. If you are interested in my
services you can contact me. If you read all the directions in the link to
manually move your data you can do it yourself.

 

[Marek]

Import Basics:

You can import from an older version to a newer version. eg. OE to Entourage
2001, Entourage X, 2004 tor 2008.

You cannot import from a newer version to an older version. e.g. Entourage X
to Entourage 2001, or Entourage 2008 to Entourage 2004 using Entourage.

You cannot import from the same version of Entourage. e.g. Entourage 2004to
Entourage 2004 or Entourage 2008 to Entourage 2008. You can manually move
over your data as described here:

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/install/manual_install.html>

If you have a copy of your Identity BEFORE you tried the rebuild, it's
possible I could recover all of your data. If you are interested in my
services you can contact me. If you read all the directions in the link to
manually move your data you can do it yourself.

Thank you Diane for your help!


Only to move my data manually into a new Identity I have to be able to
open my Database, which is not possible any more :-( Or did I got
something wrong? What I will try is tomorrow to copy my rotten
Database on my Terrabyte external HD to see, whether the
reconstruction is working better, with plenty of space around ...


Good night, thx again!


marek

 

[Diane Ross]

Only to move my data manually into a new Identity I have to be able to
open my Database, which is not possible any more :-( Or did I got
something wrong? What I will try is tomorrow to copy my rotten
Database on my Terrabyte external HD to see, whether the
reconstruction is working better, with plenty of space around ...

You'll need to be booted from the larger drive for this to work. Try finding
your oldest copy of your Identity. Even if you have to use the first one
that was rebuilt. It will have something like this after the name:

[Backed up 5-01-2009 13.35]

If it rebuilds, then immediately make a copy. Often a database will continue
to crash and if you have a fall back copy to use each time, you'll be able
to eventually get all of your data out.

 

[Marek]

Hi Diane!


This Microsoft Database Utility is not very intelligent! I put my
original Main-Identity ("Hauptidentiät") on an external HD. But
impossible to convince this Utility to rebuild the Database starting
from there!

Then I tried with an Alias in my folder ~/Documents/Microsoft-
Benutzerdaten/Office 2008-Identitäten/ pointing to the
"Hauptidentität" on the external HD. But this too does not help :-(

I am starting to be disappointed about the Microsoft programmers! I
don't know, what to do now! I am completely clueless, what I can do
more, to recover my Database again. All I need is to restart this
Database one time more, to archive everything.


Thank you for your help! Hope you have a better weekend than me ...



marek

 

[Diane Ross]

Your understanding of how the program works is the problem. It's not
Entourage or the database utility. As I mentioned before, "You'll need to be
booted from the larger drive for this to work."

You must install the OS and Office on the larger drive. Then boot from that
drive. Drag over your database to be rebuilt.

I know what I'm doing and it's a lengthy process. It's not uncommon for me
to spend over 8 hrs doing a recovery.

 

[Marek]

Your understanding of how the program works is the problem. It's not
Entourage or the database utility. As I mentioned before, "You'll need tobe
booted from the larger drive for this to work."

You must install the OS and Office on the larger drive. Then boot from that
drive. Drag over your database to be rebuilt.

I know what I'm doing and it's a lengthy process. It's not uncommon for me
to spend over 8 hrs doing a recovery.

Thank you! I will try that this week ... (I have red your answer
-"boot from the external drive"- only after posting my last request).
Only I am not sure, whether this is feasible with an USB-Drive ... Is
a USB-Drive bootablel? But you don't have to answer this question, I
will find myself.

I keep you posted.


Greetings from Munich


marek

 

[Diane Ross]

Only I am not sure, whether this is feasible with an USB-Drive ... Is
a USB-Drive bootablel? But you don't have to answer this question, I
will find myself.

A PPC Mac requires a FireWire external drive for booting and will not boot
from a USB drive, regardless of which OS is installed and regardless of the
partition scheme and volume format on the drive.

An Intel Mac can boot off either type (FW or USB), but the partition scheme
also needs to be considered. GUID is preferred and I have seen reports that
a Leopard Installer may give difficulties with an Apple Partition Map.

<http://tinyurl.com/3grgje>