Help! Entourage Deleted my Emails, Can I Recover with Time Machine?

[Hunter Lowe Lappen]

Hi,
I have two Gmail accounts with Entourage. One is business and the other is
personal. They are both imap. One day checked the personal account and
everything was deleted up until the last 3 weeks. When I first used
Entourage and connected it to my personal Gmail account every message (1,000
+ from 2006-now) showed up in the Entourage program window. Now, they are
all gone.

I do not remember ever choosing a setting that would allow a deletion of old
emails (3 weeks or older) or any delete command at all. Also, all of my
emails from my business account are still there (even the ones that are
older than 3 weeks). I tried going to the Gmail website for my personal
account and they were deleted there as well!

What can I do to recover these emails? I am aware of the Database file in
the Microsoft User Data folder and I have been using Time Machine to back up
my data. I even closed the Entourage program, replaced my MUD folder with a
Time Machine version from 2 months ago, and reopened Entourage to no avail.
No old emails showed up. What can I do?

Please help me anyone! These emails were important to me and I hope that
they are recoverable. If you anyone can offer any assistance I would be
forever grateful!

Thank you!

Respectfully,
Hunter

 

[Diane Ross]

I do not remember ever choosing a setting that would allow a deletion of old
emails (3 weeks or older) or any delete command at all. Also, all of my
emails from my business account are still there (even the ones that are
older than 3 weeks). I tried going to the Gmail website for my personal
account and they were deleted there as well!

Gmail has a limit on size. They have also been know to delete accounts.
Using a free service for business is just not a wise choice. You get what
you pay for.

<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/2007/11/disappearing_gmail.html>

As far as Entourage goes, unless you have a schedule set to delete emails, I
would look at Gmail.

Another possibility is user error. If you move your Microsoft User Data
folder, Entourage opens in a new blank Identity. However, if your account
info is still intact, then this is not a result of you moving your data.

You mentioned using a Time Machine backup. Your account are IMAP accounts
and your mail was stored on the server not in the Identity.

In addition, it's advised 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>

Entourage and Time Machine (creates chronological backup of Identity can be
used by both Tiger and Leopard)

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

Take this opportunity to learn more about how messages are stored and start
a good backup strategy. It's possible Gmail can restore your messages, but
again, it's a free service I wouldn't hold my breath on that happening.

If you have questions about accounts and backup, we'll be happy to advise.
Sorry, I don't have better news.

 

[Hunter Lowe Lappen]

Hi Diane,
Thank you so much for the helpful information.

You mentioned using a Time Machine backup. Your account are IMAP accounts
and your mail was stored on the server not in the Identity.

Just to confirm, my email is not saved on the Entourage database because
it's IMAP? It's on the IMAP server, and the IMAP server belongs to Google?
So this is more of a Google issue?

Take this opportunity to learn more about how messages are stored and start
a good backup strategy. It's possible Gmail can restore your messages, but
again, it's a free service I wouldn't hold my breath on that happening.

How do you recommend I go about contacting Google about this? Have you heard
of them ever recovering emails for an account?

If you have questions about accounts and backup, we'll be happy to advise.
Sorry, I don't have better news.

I was able to find some relief when I found that all of the email I ever
sent, Sent Mail folder, was still intact in Entourage and on the Gmail site.
That way I can still kind of piece together the chronology. I wanted to back
this up and I was reading about dragging folders to the desktop and creating
and mbox. Where do I go from here? I was reading about switching identities
but I don't want to fool around to much and mess up my email in Entourage (I
am still learning).

Thank you for all the help! I greatly appreciate it!
Hunter

 

[Diane Ross]

Just to confirm, my email is not saved on the Entourage database because
it's IMAP? It's on the IMAP server, and the IMAP server belongs to Google?
So this is more of a Google issue?

Yes. Google can also lock down your account for violating any of it's rules.
For example:

Gmail's mail sending limits is 100 (messages x
recipients) using email clients and/or mobile devices, and 500 using
the web interface. Exceeding these limits could temporarily lock down
your account to send any further messages for up to 24 hours or less.

How do you recommend I go about contacting Google about this? Have you heard
of them ever recovering emails for an account?

Yes, you will have to search their site to find out how to contact them. I
remember when I was first reading their forums how difficult it was to find
the correct email to send your request.

I wanted to back
this up and I was reading about dragging folders to the desktop and creating
and mbox. Where do I go from here? I was reading about switching identities
but I don't want to fool around to much and mess up my email in Entourage (I
am still learning).

You can move the messages to folders "On My Computer". These would then be
stored on your computer. If you don't travel or use a second computer you
might want to switch your account to a POP account.

You could automatically move messages from IMAP to your folders "On My
Computer" using a rule. Under Tools --> Accounts, select IMAP. Choose to
move messages to a folders "On My Computer".

Using a second Identity is best used for archived mail that's old. You don't
want to be switching back and forth for recent mail.