Rebuilt DB, then all prefs reset and mail missing

[wes]

I was getting a lot of messages in the Error window telling me to
relaunch Entourage and to maybe rebuild the database (I can't recall
the exact words), so I did that. Upon relaunch my preferences were
all reset to factory defaults and, there were no accounts and many
mail messages were missing (from my inbox, probably elsewhere too).

This is no good.

How do I go back to the backup database? I renamed the backed up Main
Identity folder back to "Main Identity" and renamed the new "Main
Identity" to something else but when I relaunch Entourage I still see
the bad new environment.

I'm reluctant to just trash the new indentity folder until I know I
can get back to my old one, so I'm copying the new folder onto a
server before I remove it from my computer. If I get rid of this will
Entourage find my old indentity?

 

[Kerry]

I was getting a lot of messages in the Error window telling me to
relaunch Entourage and to maybe rebuild the database (I can't recall
the exact words), so I did that.  Upon relaunch my preferences were
all reset to factory defaults and, there were no accounts and many
mail messages were missing (from my inbox, probably elsewhere too).

This is no good.

How do I go back to the backup database?  I renamed the backed up Main
Identity folder back to "Main Identity" and renamed the new "Main
Identity" to something else but when I relaunch Entourage I still see
the bad new environment.

I'm reluctant to just trash the new indentity folder until I know I
can get back to my old one, so I'm copying the new folder onto a
server before I remove it from my computer.  If I get rid of this will
Entourage find my old indentity?

Try doing a switch identities when you've lauched Entourage and choose
Main Identity. When you restore an Entourage DB you need to go into
the Entourage drop down menu and choose switch identities which will
cause Entourage to open a list of identities, if you have others, you
can switch to. Just choose Main Identity or whatever your active
identity is and you should get the right information.

I'd do a search here on rebuild and review some of the posts around
rebuild issues.

 

[Diane Ross]

This is no good.

You've left out vital info. What version of Entourage are you using
including the updates? How to tell what version you are using:

<http://tinyurl.com/4yeepm>

Also What type of account? (POP, IMAP, Exchange)

What size was the original database? What size is the database after
rebuilding?

How large is your hard drive and how much free space?

What version of the OS are you using? Look under the Apple in the Menu bar
and select "About this Mac."

To be safe I would work in Entourage off a copy. This way no further damage
can be done until we solve your problem.

--
Diane
Entourage Help Page <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
YouTalk <http://nine.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/youtalk>
Twitter: follow <http://twitter.com/entouragehelp>

 

[wes]

You've left out vital info. What version of Entourage are you using
including the updates? How to tell what version you are using:

The latest version. 12.1.5.

Also What type of account? (POP, IMAP, Exchange)
POP


What size was the original database? What size is the database after
rebuilding?

Original DB is 8.1 GB, when repaired it was just over 4GB.

How large is your hard drive and how much free space?

112GB capacity with 13GB free

What version of the OS are you using? Look under the Apple in the Menu bar
and select "About this Mac."

10.5.6


I trashed the new database and then relaunched Entourage 2008 and then
my original identity came back.

I'm worried that I'll be forced to repair because of whatever problem
Entourage was complaining about and then I will lose some email. I
think I'll be archiving my emails this week just in case.

 

[Diane Ross]

:

First, thanks for answering all my questions.

112GB capacity with 13GB free

A hd needs at least 10% free for virtual memory. It's possible if you had
more free, your rebuild would have been successful.

See these articles:

Rebuilding a damaged database that exceeded size limit

<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/2007/09/rebuilding_a_damaged_database_that_e
xceeded_size_limit.html>

In case the above link does not work:

<http://tinyurl.com/4s6qv3>

Problems from insufficient RAM and free hard disk space

I'm worried that I'll be forced to repair because of whatever problem
Entourage was complaining about and then I will lose some email. I
think I'll be archiving my emails this week just in case.

Good idea. The easiest method is to just copy your Identity, but since your
hd is full, you need to copy to another drive.

Some Entourage 2008 users that imported their data have had troublesome
Identities, but after moving into a new Entourage 2008 Identity, it's been
very stable.

How to manually move your data. (when import fails and/or you need to move
to a new Identity same version or revert to an older version)

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/install/manual_install.html>

It's advised by the MSFT developers _not_ to let Time Machine backup your
Entourage database. If the database is copied while being used, the backup
could be corrupt. You can set the Time Machine to exclude the Microsoft User
Data folder and create an iCal event to copy it over at night while not in
use so you get one backup daily in Time Machine.

Alternative method to use Entourage and Time Machine (does a once a day or
whatever time period you select)

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

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>

--
Diane
Entourage Help Page <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
YouTalk <http://nine.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/youtalk>
Twitter: follow <http://twitter.com/entouragehelp>