Lost all Entourage accounts after downloading the new security updatefrom apple????

[pauldono]

Hi,
Over the past 3 days, apple released 2 security updates. After
installing the second one last night, I had to restart as required
after installing the update. When the computer turned back on I tried
to open my Entourage and it was very slow, then I was shocked: I had
lost all of my email accounts stored, all 4,000+ emails and folders
they were stored in, and entourage was acting like it was the first
time I had used it. So upset.
I am a new mac user and not sure how to fix this or if there is hope.
I have a fully upgraded 1 month old macbook pro with office 2004.
Please let me know if anyone knows what I can do to fix this and to
get all my emails back.
I would greatly appreciate it.
Also, entourage when I try to click on it now is very slow and I have
not tried to add anything since this issue, just an occasional click
of hope that my emails, contacts, calendar, ect... will be there.

Thank you,

Paul

 

[Diane Ross]

Over the past 3 days, apple released 2 security updates. After
installing the second one last night, I had to restart as required
after installing the update. When the computer turned back on I tried
to open my Entourage and it was very slow, then I was shocked: I had
lost all of my email accounts stored, all 4,000+ emails and folders
they were stored in, and entourage was acting like it was the first
time I had used it. So upset.
I am a new mac user and not sure how to fix this or if there is hope.
I have a fully upgraded 1 month old macbook pro with office 2004.
Please let me know if anyone knows what I can do to fix this and to
get all my emails back.
I would greatly appreciate it.
Also, entourage when I try to click on it now is very slow and I have
not tried to add anything since this issue, just an occasional click
of hope that my emails, contacts, calendar, ect... will be there.

The fact that Entourage is slow to open and did not open with a new blank
Identity makes me think your data is still there.

First, let's determine if your old data is still in Documents folder or if
it's missing. Entourage stores you data in the Microsoft User Data folder in
your Documents folder. Check the size of your database file for your
Identity. A new blank Identity database file will be 18.1 MB.

Possible situations: the security update has either erased your data or made
it invisible. First do a search for "Microsoft User Data" folder (without
the quotes). If you find it, drag it back to your User's Document folder.

To search for invisible files, under the 'go' menu, select 'go to folder'.
In that dialog, enter "/lost+found" (without the quotes). If there is a
lost+found folder it will open, if not, you will get a 'folder not found'
error.

Are you using Time Machine? If yes, then you can use the Restore to bring
back your Microsoft User Data folder from the previous day.

MacFixIt <http://macfixit.com/> is a good site to monitor for
troubleshooting the latest problems, but I don't see any reports about
loosing Entourage data.

FWIW, being a new Mac user at the same time a new system is released can be
especially difficult. It seems even in Tiger some of the recent Security
updates have created odd problems for many users. It's imperative that you
have backups when using 'new' software like this.

SuperDuper is highly recommended by users for backup, but it hasn't released
a Leopard version yet. In the mean time you should be using Time Machine or
some other third party application to backup your data.

SuperDuper! Is $27.95. I¹m not affiliated with the product. Just a satisfied
user. <http://www.shirt-pocket.com/>

 

[medtlove]

On Dec 23rd, my email account, email folders, emails, contacts,
favorite web page saves, and calendar info disappeared.

I was able to establish me email account again (use Entourage, with
ComCast high speed). However, I have not been able to recover my
previous info. I think it is all there on the system. I can find
what looks like the info, but have no clue how to recover and restore
my data.

Believe it happened by me trying to change the account name, but not
sure.

I am a new Apple MAC user, and am not very famailiar with Apple
methods.

If I did not know better (and I don't) it seems that a new user is now
the default on start-up when I boot up, and my previous stuff is out
there. All my previous files (pictures, docs) are still there. They
all reside under a "alias" file.

Thanks: Mike

 

[Diane Ross]

On 12/25/07 6:29 AM, in article
(e-mail address removed),

Hi Mike,

Bear with us while we probe you with questions.

On Dec 23rd, my email account, email folders, emails, contacts,
favorite web page saves, and calendar info disappeared.

Did you crash or shut down without using the OS to power down? If you just
kill the power, the OS does not have the time to close out files correctly
and things can go 'missing', but often are lost forever. Always shut down
correctly. Choose Apple menu > Shut Down.

I was able to establish me email account again (use Entourage, with
ComCast high speed). However, I have not been able to recover my
previous info. I think it is all there on the system. I can find
what looks like the info, but have no clue how to recover and restore
my data.

What type of account do you have? POP or IMAP? If you don't know the
difference see this page for an explanation.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/glossary/pop_imap.html>

In a nutshell, POP accounts download messages to your computer where the
IMAP keeps them on the server. Knowing which is crucial in how we look for
your data. I'm guessing you have a POP account and we need to find your data
on your computer.

Believe it happened by me trying to change the account name, but not
sure.

Where and how did you change the account name. Was it the email account or
your User account in System Preferences? Changing the Account name wouldn't
be a problem, but changing the User's name could cause the problems you
describe. In the Finder, select Help from the menu bar and search for these
terms:

Restoring a deleted user account (Note: Deleting a user account will cause
the loss of all the files and settings in the user¹s home folder.)

How to change short name:

I am a new Apple MAC user, and am not very famailiar with Apple
methods.

I have a few tips posted to help new users here:

If I did not know better (and I don't) it seems that a new user is now
the default on start-up when I boot up, and my previous stuff is out
there. All my previous files (pictures, docs) are still there. They
all reside under a "alias" file.

On the Mac you can have multiple Users. In Entourage you can have multiple
Identities. Additional Identities are used for archiving or testing. You
really only need one Identity to retrieve your email from multiple accounts.
When Entourage starts up in a new blank Identity it's usually because of
User error (the user moves the MUD folder out of Documents folder) or during
a crash or install something goes wrong and the file is erased or moved to
'lost & found'.

The answers to the top FAQs can be found here:
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/faq/top_faqs.html>

Following the link "Entourage uses a brand new identity when it starts up"
on this page, use the instructions to look for your mail.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/troubleshoot/crashes.html#crash15a>

If your mail is not found, follow the link on the Solutions for Crashes,
Conflicts and General Problems page "Identity has disappeared from hard
drive"

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/troubleshoot/crashes.html#_3_database>
Links to solution for 'lost & found'.
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/troubleshoot/user_exp.html#user1>

Some basics:
A User is a term used by the Mac OS. The terms Identity and User are often
confused. Entourage stores your data in an Identity, and the Mac OS creates
Users. The Users folder resides at the root level of the startup disk and
contains the home folders for all user accounts on the computer.

If you move the Microsoft User Data folder (also known as the MUD folder) in
your Documents folder, Entourage will create a new blank Identity. Inside
this folder is your Identity (named Main by default). All of your mail,
contacts, etc are stored here.

You can make sure that the latest update has been applied by checking the
version number. Entourage 2004 latest update is 11.3.6. "How to check" can
be found here:
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/version/index.html#find_version>

To update from the installed CD version, you need to get these updaters:

11.3.5 combo
11.3.6 requires 11.3.5 to be installed
11.3.7 requires 11.3.6 to be installed
11.3.8 requires 11.3.7 to be installed
11.3.9 requires 11.3.8 to be installed

Mactopia Downloads
<http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downloads.aspx>

For more basics, see Getting Started:

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/get_started/index.html>

I suggest you join one of the general Mac talk lists to learn about the Mac
and for a place to get help. Reading the list messages every day will help
you learn from others. Don't just wait until you have a problem to join a
list. Learning from others is a way to not have problems.

You¹ll find links for the Mac-L and OSX list on Suggested Links:

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/links.html>

MacOSXHints forums are also excellent for getting help and searching for
answers:

<http://www.macosxhints.com/hintsfaq/index.php>