It Started Again - Entourage Database Corruption

[exiled2tx]

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

I had posted back in January about a database corruption issue. The thread is now closed but is at: <http://www.officeformac.com/ProductForums/Entourage/8223>

It has been about two months since I last posted and about 2 1/2 months since I had the problem. But I had the corruption error today when I was adding a calendar event.

Some details: while last year I'd have it maybe once a month or so, this time I went 2-3 months without it. My last OS X update was with a combo updater. I had not rebuilt the Entourage database at all as a preventive measure, thinking that might be part of the problem. I did compress my database once last week (was 140M, not 65M) after deleting some large mail with attachments. On this rebuild today, it does not look like I lost anything but not sure yet.

I do have a backup from earlier today, a few hours before the problem (done simply with the APPLE-D). Have not switched back in case there is anything anyone can recommend that involves comparing the current to the backup.

Or I just need Help before I get into the database failure every few days and start loosing things again.

thanks.....

 

[Diane Ross]

I did compress my database once last week (was 140M, not 65M) after deleting
some large mail with attachments. On this rebuild today, it does not look like
I lost anything but not sure yet.

Why in the world would you want to compress a database that small?

Examples of a blank database
2004 --> 18.1 KB
2008 --> 22.6 MB

Any time you use the rebuild or compress functions, things can go wonky.
It's a complex procedure that's should only be used if you are having
problems or your hd is so full you must save some space. Yours is hardly
bigger than the default. If you had 5GB or more then we might start to
consider options, but many users have much larger databases. The largest
ever reported was over 100GB.

IMHO, I think a database between 2-5 GB is reasonable. Between 5-10 GB is
starting to get a bit risky. Over 10 GB, you really need to look at how you
are managing your data.

Hope this helps!

 

[exiled2tx]

Diane - thanks for the quick response.

I can resist the urge to even compress until it is several Gigs. To me, this was a large file.

Anything else?

 

[Diane Ross]

To me, this was a large file.

Hopefully, now you can understand how small it really is.

Anything else?

If you do have problems, then exporting your data for import into a new
Identity should get you into a stable database. Before you create a new
Identity, I want you to give it this stress test.

1) export all items as Entourage archive (.rge) file
2) download Archive Message Folders by Jolly Roger and then export all your
folders as MBOX files

Export folders as MBOX files using a script
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/database/export_mbox.html>

If you can do both of these, then the last test is to open Entourage with
Option key down and Verify your database. If you pass all three test, then
your database should be safe.

If you do create a new Identity, give it the stress test again. Once it
passes you know your data is good.