Lost all email data down to snow leopard

[Clive]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard)
Processor: Intel
Email Client: pop

I am in deep doodoo here.

I upgraded to snow leopard in September and all was OK. I switched my computer off last night and on again this moring and when I looed on I knew something was amiss when entourage said I had a conflict with some addresses - that was notthe case previosuly - then I quickly noticed all my emails had disappeared. Entourage looked as if it was the first time it had been opened. I had not previously logged in as a guest. I do not have time machine operating, and I am scared that I have lost all my history which I desperately need for my job. Is there anything I can do to get my data back or am I completely screwed by Snow leopard? Any help will be greatly appreciated. By the way I haven't bothered trying to speak to Microsoft as I bought Ofiice 2008 from Aplle and Microsoft (in my experience) just chuckle and bounce you straight back to Apple and you end up in no man's land very quickly. Any help is much appreciated.

 

[lizc]

Same thing happened to me this morning. I read on another forum that it has to do with the location of the Microsoft User Data file. If it has been moved, Entourage "looses" it as a data target and loads like new. I did not move those files, but I did do a file clean up yesterday afternoon & Entourage started like new today. I've tried to import the files, but my system freezes. And when I look at the files, they appear to be empty. So like you - anyone who knows how to fix this, I'd really appreciate some help. Thanks!

 

[Diane Ross]

I upgraded to snow leopard in September and all was OK. I switched my computer
off last night and on again this moring and when I looed on I knew something
was amiss when entourage said I had a conflict with some addresses - that was
notthe case previosuly - then I quickly noticed all my emails had disappeared.

1) check the size of the database file. A new blank database is 23.6MB

~/Documents/Microsoft User Data/Office 2008 Identities/Main
identity/database

2) See directions below for searching for your data. The last link is for
files that go missing. It's also possible it just went poof if you
incorrectly shut down. If you don't have backups, take this opportunity to
create a good backup strategy.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/articles/backup_articles.html>

My Entourage Data is missing!

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.

Sometimes updating software (including the OS) can cause problems where
files go missing. See this link for help finding 'lost' files.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/troubleshoot/crashes.html#crash15>