his is the third time I have opened my mailbox in the past few months to
find it once again totally empty except for a welcome message from the
team. I must be doing something that deletes my inbox, files, folders,
everything. Firstly any clues as to what I am doing wrong, secondly do
you know how I can retrieve the original mailbox? A purge every so often
is fine but constantly loosing emails is exhausting and frustrating.
Entourage expects the Microsoft User Data folder to be in your Documents
folder. For OS X users, that's the Documents folder in your User's
folder. When Entourage opens in a new blank Identity, it's usually User
error.
Most likely you have accidentally moved your data. Hopefully, you have
not deleted the file. If you have deleted the trash, it's gone. Sorry!
Select Switch Identity (under Entourage in the Menu bar) and see if your
old identity is still listed.
To find your old database, search for "Microsoft User Data" (without the
quotes). You can also search on "Office 2008 Identities" (replace 2008
with either 2004 or X if you are using an older version)
If you have not used a new identity in Entourage, then copy the entire
Microsoft User Data folder to the correct location.
Fix if you have more than one Microsoft User Data Folder...
Move the entire identity folder you want to use to the Office Identities
folder that Entourage is recognizing. Your identity is named "Main" by
default. Be sure to rename one so you do not overwrite. Your identity folder
can contain more than one identity. Switch Identities to view your old mail.
If you have not used the new identity, delete it. If you have used it and
want to combine the new mail with your original database, drag each folder
to the desktop from one identity. This creates an MBOX file. Switch
identities. Drag the MBOX files into the folder window of Entourage.
You can delete the old folder after you are satisfied with the transfer.
