Entourage/Office 11.2.3 database damaged again

[wyanwink]

Entourage in Office 2004 11.2.3 keeps reporting that there is a problem
with the database and we have to rebuild it. This is the second time
this has happened, and this behavior is unacceptable if we are to
continue using this product, because we use Categories extensively for
our Contacts and these are lost with a database rebuild.

How can we rebuild the database to a healthy state and restore the
categories we have created? Can we drag the Contacts to a folder on
the Desktop and copy them back in after rebuilding? Right now the
database is usable because I restored to Friday's backup (which I made
using the Compact feature in the D.U.), but when I verify the integrity
of the database, the utility reports a problem. It is bound to become
unusable again.

How can we prevent this from happening? I have saved the log from this
integrity verification for the current database.

Ryan Link
Personal Technology Solutions
www.ptsolutions.com
212.206.9620

 

[mmmmark]

Entourage in Office 2004 11.2.3 keeps reporting that there is a problem
with the database and we have to rebuild it. This is the second time
this has happened, and this behavior is unacceptable if we are to
continue using this product, because we use Categories extensively for
our Contacts and these are lost with a database rebuild.

How can we rebuild the database to a healthy state and restore the
categories we have created? Can we drag the Contacts to a folder on
the Desktop and copy them back in after rebuilding? Right now the
database is usable because I restored to Friday's backup (which I made
using the Compact feature in the D.U.), but when I verify the integrity
of the database, the utility reports a problem. It is bound to become
unusable again.

How can we prevent this from happening? I have saved the log from this
integrity verification for the current database.

Ryan Link
Personal Technology Solutions
www.ptsolutions.com
212.206.9620

Have you tried rebuilding your permissions in the OS? Reply back if this
concept needs some explanation.

-Mark

 

[wyanwink]

Haven't tried that... would appreciate more on this, thanks!

 

[mmmmark]

Haven't tried that... would appreciate more on this, thanks!

Repairing permissions seems to be a "fix-all" in OS X, although it isn't the
panacea that some make it out to be. There a couple of ways you can do
this, some free, some cheap.

You can't fully repair permissions by running Disk Utility from your normal
boot disk. But, uou can boot from your OS X install disk and select Disk
Utility and repair permissions there. Put in the disk and hold down "C"
when rebooting to boot from the CD/DVD.

Several free/shareware utilties are available. Everyone seems to have their
favorite and always seem to denigrate the others. A couple off the top of
my head are Onyx (free) and Cocktail (cheap). These sorts of utilities let
you repair permissions without having to boot from a CD or other volume.
They also offer a wide array of "tools" that are mostly just graphical front
ends to Unix command-line utilities. If you are like most Mac traditional
users, you will welcome their use rather than firing up Terminal to do
arcane text maintenance tasks. They also allow you to "tweak" various
system functions that are otherwise difficult to do.

Many people indicate that it is helpful to repair permissions both before
and after major installs (or any installs, even). Other subscribe to the
"if it ain't broke, don't fix it" camp. However, it seems generally
accepted that repairing permissions won't _hurt_ anything so go ahead and
try it.

Good luck,
-Mark

 

[Diane Ross]

You can't fully repair permissions by running Disk Utility from your normal
boot disk. But, uou can boot from your OS X install disk and select Disk
Utility and repair permissions there. Put in the disk and hold down "C"
when rebooting to boot from the CD/DVD.

I have to disagree with running repair permissions from the CD.

You can run Repair Permissions from the volume being repaired. Updates
contain a newer version of Repair Permissions and running from the CD would
not include any updates.

To use Repair Permissions:
1. Open Disk Utility in your Applications/Utility folder.
2. Click on the First Aid tab and select Repair Permissions
3. Click on the icon for your boot volume.
4. Click the repair permissions button.

 

[jswahn]

Diane,

This is the second topic on this subject. Can you inform the first
topic if a solution is found, please?

Johan

 

[Diane Ross]

Diane,

This is the second topic on this subject. Can you inform the first
topic if a solution is found, please?

Johan

A solution to database damage will be a high priority update for everyone.

I have seen random reports of database damage after updating. It appears to
be one of those problems that will affect a small percentage of users thus
making it very difficult to track down. This is not to say that it's not a
serious problem for those affected and I'm sure MS is doing everything they
can to find the cause and solution.

As always, with any update things can go wrong..... so backup, backup,
backup before updating.

Also, may I suggest when replying to quote the relevant parts of the message
you are questioning.

 

[mmmmark]

I have to disagree with running repair permissions from the CD.

You can run Repair Permissions from the volume being repaired. Updates
contain a newer version of Repair Permissions and running from the CD
would
not include any updates.

To use Repair Permissions:
1. Open Disk Utility in your Applications/Utility folder.
2. Click on the First Aid tab and select Repair Permissions
3. Click on the icon for your boot volume.
4. Click the repair permissions button.

Diane,

You can indeed repair permissions that way, but that method will not be able
to access all the files since many are in use. It may solve the problem,
but then again, it may not.

I do agree with your point about the CD way being "old". I think that one
of the many free/cheap utilities is well worth it.

Welcome back, BTW. Good to see you back.

-Mark

 

[Barry Wainwright [MVP]]

You can indeed repair permissions that way, but that method will not be able
to access all the files since many are in use. It may solve the problem,
but then again, it may not.

You can still change permissions on a file whether or not it is open or
locked. Permissions are set and maintained at a much lower level in the
operating system than file usage.

There should be no difference between doing it from the startup drive or
from a CD.