lost mails and address book

[olfella]

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

Recently I cleaned up some old documents in my Documents folder and then I lost my stored mails in Entourage. I think I may have mistakenly deleted or moved some of the files required. Can some one tell me where my inbox and address book is stored and how do I get it back into Entourage?
Thanks - I will never do it again Eric

 

[Diane Ross]

Recently I cleaned up some old documents in my Documents folder and then I
lost my stored mails in Entourage. I think I may have mistakenly deleted or
moved some of the files required. Can some one tell me where my inbox and
address book is stored and how do I get it back into Entourage?
Thanks - I will never do it again Eric

Sounds like you moved or deleted the Microsoft User Data folder or the
Office 2008 Identities folder inside the Microsoft User Data folder. Be sure
to check the trash too.

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).

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.

Let us know what you find.

 

[olfella]

Sounds like you moved or deleted the Microsoft User Data folder or the
Office 2008 Identities folder inside the Microsoft User Data folder. Be sure
to check the trash too.

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).

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.

Let us know what you find.

Many Thanks Diane but it looks like I have lost my data. I did do some housekeeping and did move the Microsoft User Data folder not thinking that I was deleting/loosing the contents in the process. I attempted to find the identity files you mention but they are gone, so it is back to starting all over again. I suppose I was hoping the address and message files would have been located in a more secure location like .PST...
Aahhh, the joys of computing
Regards - Eric

 

[Diane Ross]

Many Thanks Diane but it looks like I have lost my data. I did do some
housekeeping and did move the Microsoft User Data folder not thinking that I
was deleting/loosing the contents in the process. I attempted to find the
identity files you mention but they are gone, so it is back to starting all
over again. I suppose I was hoping the address and message files would have
been located in a more secure location like .PST...
Aahhh, the joys of computing

Sorry to hear you lost your data. Sadly many lessons we learn are the hard
ones. If it helps take solace in the fact you aren't the only one to do
this.

Backup is important. See this link for options to backup your Entourage
data.

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

Since you mentioned PST files I'm assuming you are new to Mac. Cheers and
Welcome to Mac! I have a few tips and links posted to help new users here:

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/new2mac/index.html>

The Entourage Help Page and Blog are good resources to find answers and
learn about Entourage.

 

[TimPennell]

Hello Diane !

I have a very similar problem and, since I can't switch to the old identity and can only find one 'main identity' in the one and only Microsoft User Data folder, where it should be, it would APPEAR that I erased the old identity with all my emails, contacts etc....

HOWEVER, I did my housekeeping about a week ago and continued to use Entourage very happily for several days afterwards. It was only when I made some software updates on Safari and iTunes and had to restart the computer, that all the Entourage data disappeared. This would seem to suggest that it must still be somewhere on the hard disk, no ?

I used the Apple Disk Utility to verify the hard disk and it assured me "Volume passed verification."

Any ideas of how I can find the old identity ?

Thanks,
Tim

 

[Diane Ross]

HOWEVER, I did my housekeeping about a week ago and continued to use Entourage
very happily for several days afterwards. It was only when I made some
software updates on Safari and iTunes and had to restart the computer, that
all the Entourage data disappeared. This would seem to suggest that it must
still be somewhere on the hard disk, no ?

I have seen a few cases where Entourage would still see the Identity when it
was in the trash can, but after a restart it would loose the connection.
Check the trash in the Finder.

Otherwise search for "Main Identity" or "database" (kind: Microsoft
Entourage database)

If your Spotlight cache files are still there, you can recover some data
from those files.

"YOUR USER FOLDER/Library/Caches/Metadata/Microsoft/Entourage"

See the other solutions here:

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

BTW, have you started a backup strategy yet?