"Reset" windows settings - can't get rid of too many open windows

[Dan_in_Mtl]

Version: 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Power PC

I have run into a problem that I have never before encountered.

A user had many mailbox windows open - the window one would get by double-clicking a mailbox icon (if that pref is enabled). When Entourage is started up, it re-spawns all those windows, at first quickly, slowing to a crawl by the time it reaches 452 (!!!).

Once the windows are open, the app is unresponsive, but not crashed. The CPU is going on full throttle, but I can still send a friendly quit command from Activity Monitor and it will comply. I can even right-click E's icon in the dock and switch to the window of my choosing.

I just can't close the windows. I have tried clicking the red buttons and using the keyboard shortcut to no avail.

He is running the latest Office 2004 on an iMac G5, with ample RAM and HD space. We have run basic troubleshooting (permissions, flush caches, remove preferences/folders/etc, restart). His MS Database is quite large (4.5 GB after rebuild), but i do not think this has any relevance.

I copied his database (ONLY!!) to a new user on the same computer, and to another computer - the same thing happens, so the setting must be stored in the DB itself. I opened the DB with E 2008, and the same thing happens.... only more slowly, and only 392 windows.

We can't access any critical information from his email. I am desperately trying to resolve this issue, and would appreciate any help... really!

Thank you in advance

 

[Dan_in_Mtl]

Addition: Ideally, I'm looking for a way to start Entourage in "Safe Mode"

(no, I don't mean rebuild the Database)

 

[Diane Ross]

I just can't close the windows. I have tried clicking the red buttons and
using the keyboard shortcut to no avail.

Hundreds of windows open in Entourage.

Delete the preference file, manually close each window then rebuild the
database.

~Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Entourage Preferences

Entourage 2008 now allows users to Option-click on the red close button

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/troubleshoot/crashes.html#crash45>

--
Diane Ross, Microsoft Mac MVP
Entourage Help Page <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
YouTalk <http://tinyurl.com/bzcrjy> <-- Entourage mailing list
Twitter: follow <http://twitter.com/entouragehelp>

 

[Diane Ross]

Addition: Ideally, I'm looking for a way to start Entourage in "Safe Mode"

Starting with Entourage 2004 is that you can start it up from default
settings - i.e. with Send & Receive All schedule OFF (Manual only) - by
holding down the Shift key at startup - like "Extensions Off" when starting
up your Mac.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/troubleshoot/crashes.html#crash2>

--
Diane Ross, Microsoft Mac MVP
Entourage Help Page <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
YouTalk <http://tinyurl.com/bzcrjy> <-- Entourage mailing list
Twitter: follow <http://twitter.com/entouragehelp>

 

[Dan_in_Mtl]

Hundreds of windows open in Entourage.

Delete the preference file, manually close each window then rebuild the database.
~Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Entourage Preferences
Entourage 2008 now allows users to Option-click on the red close button

Thanks for the suggestion, but as i mentioned, the windows open, and i can do nothing. I need to find a way to PREVENT the windows from opening!

Resetting prefs does not help, as mentioned, including copying DB to new user or new computer (just DB, no old prefs).

Starting with Entourage 2004 is that you can start it up from default
settings - i.e. with Send & Receive All schedule OFF (Manual only) - by
holding down the Shift key at startup - like "Extensions Off" when
starting up your Mac.

Cool, I did not know this, but it does not help

 

[Diane Ross]

A user had many mailbox windows open - the window one would get by
double-clicking a mailbox icon (if that pref is enabled). When Entourage is
started up, it re-spawns all those windows, at first quickly, slowing to a
crawl by the time it reaches 452 (!!!).

I don't understand exactly what you mean by double-clicking a mailbox icon.
Can you explain in detail? Could this be one of those cases like "Doctor, my
head hurts...."

I just can't close the windows. I have tried clicking the red buttons and
using the keyboard shortcut to no avail.

This function does now work in Entourage 2004. You can Option click on the
red button in Entourage 2008 to close all windows.

He is running the latest Office 2004 on an iMac G5, with ample RAM and HD
space. We have run basic troubleshooting (permissions, flush caches, remove
preferences/folders/etc, restart). His MS Database is quite large (4.5 GB
after rebuild), but i do not think this has any relevance.

I agree. It's not database corruption.

I copied his database (ONLY!!) to a new user on the same computer, and to
another computer - the same thing happens, so the setting must be stored in
the DB itself. I opened the DB with E 2008, and the same thing happens....
only more slowly, and only 392 windows.

Entourage does store some preferences in the database. Since you tested in a
new User, this eliminates preferences in the User's Library/Preferences
folder.

If this is an Exchange account, I would just create a new Identity and let
Entourage sync back up. If it's a POP account, you'll probably have to
manually move to a new Identity. The Entourage archive (.rge) file is the
quickest.

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>

--
Diane Ross, Microsoft Mac MVP
Entourage Help Page <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
YouTalk <http://tinyurl.com/bzcrjy> <-- Entourage mailing list
Twitter: follow <http://twitter.com/entouragehelp>

 

[Dan_in_Mtl]

I don't understand exactly what you mean by double-clicking a mailbox icon.

Can you explain in detail? Could this be one of those cases like "Doctor, my
head hurts...."

Okay Doc, here it is. On the left hand column of my Entourage (Mail) window are my mailboxes: In, sent, drafts, and others that if have created myself to store messages, as well as folders that can hold mailboxes. If you double-click a mailbox icon in that left column, it will open a new window. (Ex: I can have a window open for Inbox, and another for sent items.) The same thing will happen if you click on a mailbox, and then hit enter. The user must have clicked, and then he (or a heavy book) held the enter key until over 400 windows opened.

This function does now work in Entourage 2004. You can Option click on the
red button in Entourage 2008 to close all windows.
Entourage does store some preferences in the database. Since you tested in a
new User, this eliminates preferences in the User's Library/Preferences
folder.

Yes, I am positive that this setting is stored in the DB.

If this is an Exchange account, I would just create a new Identity and let
Entourage sync back up. If it's a POP account, you'll probably have to
manually move to a new Identity. The Entourage archive (.rge) file is the
quickest.

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)

It is POP, not Exchange. BTW, even if it were Exchange, my problem would not be resolved; Exchange does not sync other items, such as tasks, etc.

I cannot manually back anything up. When I open Entourage, it tries to restore my last session by re-opening my 400+ windows. Once they are open, nothing is accessible via mouse or keyboard shortcuts. (As mentioned, I have tried starting holding Shift, rebuilding & compacting DB, upgrading DB to Entourage 2008.)

Ideally, I want a way to start up Entourage so that it will NOT try to restore 400+ versions of my Inbox.

Thanks again.

 

[Diane Ross]

Okay Doc, here it is. On the left hand column of my Entourage (Mail) window
are my mailboxes: In, sent, drafts, and others that if have created myself to
store messages, as well as folders that can hold mailboxes.

OK, I understand that. I just call them folders. To me mailboxes are the
IMAP and Exchange accounts that are on the server.

I cannot manually back anything up. When I open Entourage, it tries to restore
my last session by re-opening my 400+ windows. Once they are open, nothing is
accessible via mouse or keyboard shortcuts.

How big was the hard drive and how much free space? I'm wondering if a
larger hd would give you a complete rebuild.

(As mentioned, I have tried
starting holding Shift, rebuilding & compacting DB, upgrading DB to Entourage

2008.

What happened when you tried to import into Entourage 2008?

Previously, you mentioned....

His MS Database is quite large (4.5 GB after rebuild)

I wouldn't call this large but just to be clear.... After a rebuild, the
size will not be reduced unless you do a Compact (I believe that's what it
was called in Entourage 04.)

-----Basics-----
The database will be left with 'wasted' space in it every time you delete
something. However, this is not all bad, since the wasted space is used up
with new data as it is added. This way, over a period of time (assuming that
you are deleting stuff as you go) the database will probably reach an
optimum size, after which the stuff you delete is roughly equal to the stuff
you add, and no further growth takes place.
-------

If you are unable to get his data out, you might be able to run the compact
and this would allow you to burn to a DVD. I could try recovering the
database. Send me an email if this is an option you want to explore:

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/support_options/email.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>

 

[Dan_in_Mtl]

How big was the hard drive and how much free space? I'm wondering if a

larger hd would give you a complete rebuild.

I wouldn't call this large but just to be clear.... After a rebuild, the
size will not be reduced unless you do a Compact (I believe that's what it
was called in Entourage 04.)

He has over 80 GB free on his HD. I have rebuilt and compacted the database in 2004 neither one of which helped. The size of 4.5 GB was after the rebuild.

What happened when you tried to import into Entourage 2008?

After upgrading the 2004 database to 2008, the app launched and did exactly the same thing: spawned 400+ windows, eventually stopping and becoming unresponsive.

If you are unable to get his data out, you might be able to run the compact
and this would allow you to burn to a DVD. I could try recovering the
database. Send me an email if this is an option you want to explore:

I'm sure I can fit the database onto a DVD, worst case a DL. I am sure that all the data is fully intact. The problem is that I cannot access it. If you have a way to extract the data from the DB without using the normal interface (please re-read above), please tell me what it will cost. Ideally, I would like my normal 2004 database intact, but without opening hundreds of windows when Entourage is launched.

Thanks very much.

D

 

[Diane Ross]

:

He has over 80 GB free on his HD. I have rebuilt and compacted the database in
2004 neither one of which helped. The size of 4.5 GB was after the rebuild.

Even though 80 GB sounds like a lot, it takes a HUGE amount to rebuild some
databases. This is from my personal experience and the feedback I get from
users.

I'm sure I can fit the database onto a DVD, worst case a DL. I am sure that
all the data is fully intact. The problem is that I cannot access it. If you
have a way to extract the data from the DB without using the normal interface
(please re-read above), please tell me what it will cost. Ideally, I would
like my normal 2004 database intact, but without opening hundreds of windows
when Entourage is launched.

Send me an email and we can discuss your options.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/support_options/email.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>

 

[Dan_in_Mtl]

Hi i tried to send you an email using the form you provided the link to, but it bounced back, and again when i tried to send from a different address.

D

 

[Diane Ross]

Hi i tried to send you an email using the form you provided the link to, but
it bounced back, and again when i tried to send from a different address.

My email provider added new spam filters and it seems they are a bit
aggressive. I added a second link that uses my Gmail address. Try that one.
If that fails, you can get my address by subscribing to the YouTalk list
(see below). Those aren't hidden.

--
Diane Ross, Microsoft Mac MVP
Entourage Help Page <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
YouTalk <http://tinyurl.com/bzcrjy> <-- Entourage mailing list
Twitter: follow <http://twitter.com/entouragehelp>