Lost email messages from PC

[Bryan_Dunlop]

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

Bought MacBook and Entourage 2008. Transferred old email messages from my old PC to the MacBook and into Entourage successfully. Worked well for about two weeks. When I restarted my computer most recently, and logged onto Entourage, I was instructed to set up my account (again- like I had done before) with incoming/outgoing addresses, etc. That worked to allow me to continue to receive message, but I have lost all of the messages transferred from my PC and messages received on my new computer. I can't find my old messages. Where are they and how can I retrieve them? Thank you.

 

[Diane Ross]

Bought MacBook and Entourage 2008. Transferred old email messages from my old
PC to the MacBook and into Entourage successfully. Worked well for about two
weeks. When I restarted my computer most recently, and logged onto Entourage,
I was instructed to set up my account (again- like I had done before) with
incoming/outgoing addresses, etc. That worked to allow me to continue to
receive message, but I have lost all of the messages transferred from my PC
and messages received on my new computer. I can't find my old messages. Where
are they and how can I retrieve them? Thank you.

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.

~/Documents/Microsoft User Data/

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) or "Office 2008 Identities" folder or "Main Identity."

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. Virus software can also quarantine (hide) your Identity.
See this link for help finding 'lost' files.

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

 

[Bryan_Dunlop]

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.

~/Documents/Microsoft User Data/

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) or "Office 2008 Identities" folder or "Main Identity."

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. Virus software can also quarantine (hide) your Identity.
See this link for help finding 'lost' files.

Bryan J. Dunlop

 

[Diane Ross]

Thank you. I am unable to find any of the old messages in the Microsoft User
Folder. I guess that I inadvertently deleted those files, although I don'
know how I could have done that.

Most users move either the Microsoft User Data folder or their Identity
outside the Microsoft User Data folder to another location on their
computer. Be sure you search everywhere.

I highly suggest you do daily backups. This would have saved you in this
circumstance.

It is NOT recommended that you backup Entourage with Time Machine on the
hourly schedule. As a general rule you should shut down all Office programs
(including Office Notifications) before any Entourage backups. If not, the
backup could be corrupt.

Alternative method to use Entourage and Time Machine (does a once a day or
whatever time period you select) This quits Entourage and the Microsoft
Database daemon allowing for once a day backup into Time Machine.

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

<http://tinyurl.com/2r79ll>

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>