entourage wont open

[mumbles27]

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

hi forum,

after using isync to sync my n95 with entourage, my entourage now wont open. i have tried to use the database utility program to fix but now that wont open, it tells me it cannot quit my office programs and then hangs?

any ideas?

did back up my identity before doing this so i do have the identity from before the sync. ca i change to this older identity without being in entourage? if the current identity is corrupt maybe i need to do this as that's what it isn't opening?

 

[Diane Ross]

did back up my identity before doing this so i do have the identity from
before the sync. ca i change to this older identity without being in
entourage? if the current identity is corrupt maybe i need to do this as
that's what it isn't opening?

I would test in a new User with a COPY of your backup Identity. I'm not a
sync expert, but I'm guessing some cache file is corrupted from the sync
causing the problem. The new User will eliminate any type of problem in your
User's folder. If the problem exists in the new User, then you can first try
running the Apple combo updater. If that fails, then you might need to do an
"Archive & Install."

 

[mumbles27]

thank you Diana

by new user you mean a new computer user rather than entourage user? create another logon, copy the identity i think is ok and use that by putting it in the correct place or "switching" to it once i get entourage open with the new user?

yes i do think the sync caused the problems, as it didnt seem to finish properly, and had errors on the phone. Any known issues with this?

 

[Diane Ross]

by new user you mean a new computer user rather than entourage user? create
another logon, copy the identity i think is ok and use that by putting it in
the correct place or "switching" to it once i get entourage open with the new
user?

Correct. See below.

yes i do think the sync caused the problems, as it didnt seem to finish
properly, and had errors on the phone. Any known issues with this?

There are so many sync issues it's hard to keep up with them.


Let's first be clear about the terms User, Identity and Account.

An identity is a complete personality of Entourage, containing (preferences,
account settings.

A User is a term used by the Mac OS. The terms Identity and User are often
confused. Creating a new User in System Preferences is a good way to test in
a clean environment.

Entourage stores your data in an Identity, and the Mac OS creates Users.

Your identity is named "Main" by default. It is located in the Microsoft
User Data folder. Creating a new Identity is a good way to test your
database to see if corruption is the problem.

Each identity can have (almost) any number of accounts. Each account is
associated with a distinct email address than can be used to send and/or
receive mail, but all mail is stored in the same database, all calendar
events are common to all the accounts, all notes & contacts are shared.

You can have multiple accounts in Entourage. Examples: POP, IMAP, Hotmail,
Gmail, AOL, Exchange, news accounts.

 

[mumbles27]

thank you Diane

may have gone "off message" a little. i thought i would try something, get rid of my current identity, and change the backed up identity to "main", then open Entourage. This worked, but my calendar still seems corrupt. Everything works but i have no appointments after a certain date and the calendar crashed when i go to this date or past it.

not sure why this is?

do have proper time machine back ups? can i bring in my old calendar from one of those back ups or when i bring in a back up does it over right everything?

again, thank you for your continued support

 

[Diane Ross]

do have proper time machine back ups? can i bring in my old calendar from one
of those back ups or when i bring in a back up does it over right everything?

Try exporting all Calendar events using Export --> Entourage archive (.rge).
Select Calendar events. Delete after exporting. Import back.

Backing up Entourage to Time Machine is NOT advised. If you copy a database
while it is being written to it can be corrupt. I advise you use this
alternative backup to Time Machine.

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

This method creates a Time Machine-like backup. Note you can not use folder
actions on external drives.

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.

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

 

[mumbles27]

thank you again Diane

do the export import from my current database? and/or the older one? i assume the current? i shall back up before i do it..

also i have always had this message that comes up when i open Entourage, 9 out of 10 times, telling me my DB is corrupt... any ideas aboutvthat?

 

[Diane Ross]

do the export import from my current database? and/or the older one? i assume
the current? i shall back up before i do it..

Current. If you find missing info you can import from the older Identity and
use the remove duplicate scripts to clean up the mess.

also i have always had this message that comes up when i open Entourage, 9 out
of 10 times, telling me my DB is corrupt... any ideas aboutvthat?

This page has answers for many of the problems users experience.

Find solutions for crashes, conflicts and general problems with Entourage
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/troubleshoot/crashes.html#crash9>