Retrieve old messages, contacts, etc.

[gochippy]

I am re-posting the question as follows from the old group (posted
3/18 but no response).

I recently upgraded from Tiger (10.4.11) to Leopard (10.5.6) for my
iMac G5 (w/iSight, the last G5 model). During the installation, I
chose 'archive' installation, which I should not have done, and now I
am having problems to get the old messages, addresses (contacts) etc.
back to the current. I did perform some searches and found that there
should be a folder, /Previous System/ .... I could not locate them.
However, if I use spotlight and do search old messages, I see them in
HD, and they are located in the old 'user' folder. I tried to import
those messages but it showed the message '...file was deleted or
renamed.' and the import failed. I just need to know how to get the
old files back to the current system. I am so close to retrieve old
messages and possibly the contacts to the new Leopard system but so
far no luck. Perhaps I am not doing it correctly. Please if someone
expert in this field knows what to do, give me a step by step
procedure. Thanks for your kind help.

 

[Diane Ross]

/Previous System/ .... I could not locate them.
However, if I use spotlight and do search old messages, I see them in
HD, and they are located in the old 'user' folder. I tried to import
those messages but it showed the message '...file was deleted or
renamed.' and the import failed. I just need to know how to get the
old files back to the current system.

1) Your data is stored in this location not the System files.

~/Documents/Microsoft User Data/Office 2008 (or 2004) Identities

2) You can't import from the same version. You simply need to move the
correct files to the correct location.

3) the messages you are finding using Spotlight most likely are the
Spotlight cache files. These files are located in your User's library.

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

Basically when you use the upgrade method to install system files, It takes
ONLY the Apple system files and renames the original as "Previous System".
Your other files are not supposed to be touched. However things do go wrong
and sometimes files even go missing. It's too late now to advise using this
method, but remember this for a future upgrade.

 

[gochippy]

1) Your data is stored in this location not the System files.

~/Documents/Microsoft User Data/Office 2008 (or 2004) Identities

2) You can't import from the same version. You simply need to move the
correct files to the correct location.

3) the messages you are finding using Spotlight most likely are the
Spotlight cache files. These files are located in your User's library.

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

Basically when you use the upgrade method to install system files, It takes
ONLY the Apple system files and renames the original as "Previous System"..
Your other files are not supposed to be touched. However things do go wrong
and sometimes files even go missing. It's too late now to advise using this
method, but remember this for a future upgrade.

OK, no wonder I was not able to get those recovered. After the
spotlight search, I found old messages (in the directory above) and
tried to open but it did not go through Entourage, instead, the
message opened with 'text' format, which was very difficult to
identify what's inside (I could see the message body, recipient, and
other information but too many funky characters). And when I tried to
import those, Entourage could not recognize as it warns 'wrong file
name' or something. I think I learned a lesson here. At least I know
where the old mail messages are located. Thanks for your help.

 

[Diane Ross]

I found old messages (in the directory above) and
tried to open but it did not go through Entourage, instead, the
message opened with 'text' format, which was very difficult to
identify what's inside (I could see the message body, recipient, and
other information but too many funky characters).

Which location? The cache file or the database file in Documents.

The cache files only cache the partial messages unless they are very small.
They are mainly markers for Spotlight to index for searching.

If your Identity in Documents is still there you should be able to access
unless the update moved the file to an invisible folder called 'lost &
found.'

The folder is located at the root level of the hard drive. To find this
hidden folder called "lost+found, do a search for "invisible files" and
"Microsoft User Data". If you are lucky, you'll find the missing files.

It is better to activate the finder, then 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.

One other possibility....If an anti-virus program has detected a virus
stored in the database (probably in an infected email) it can quarantine the
database, hiding it from the system. Check any AV products you are running
and, if necessary, exclude the Microsoft User Data folder from their scans.

 

[gochippy]

Which location? The cache file or the database file in Documents.

The cache files only cache the partial messages unless they are very small.
They are mainly markers for Spotlight to index for searching.

If your Identity in Documents is still there you should be able to access
unless the update moved the file to an invisible folder called 'lost &
found.'

The folder is located at the root level of the hard drive. To find this
hidden folder called "lost+found, do a search for "invisible files" and
"Microsoft User Data". If you are lucky, you'll find the missing files.

It is better to activate the finder, then under the 'go' menu, select 'goto
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.

One other possibility....If an anti-virus program has detected a virus
stored in the database (probably in an infected email) it can quarantine the
database, hiding it from the system. Check any AV products you are running
and, if necessary, exclude the Microsoft User Data folder from their scans.

OK, one of the old mail messages is found in this directory after
spotlight search... (***** my name)

users/******/library/caches/metadata/microsoft/entourage/2004/main
identify/messages/0T/0B/0M/27K

then if I click it, it shows the contents as 27603.vRgeMessage

In the search result folder, I see entourage icon messages listed and
if I double click one of them, Entourage opens but the warning shows
up, 'Entourage cannot find this item.' 'It may have been deleted or
renamed.'

 

[Diane Ross]

OK, one of the old mail messages is found in this directory after
spotlight search... (***** my name)

users/******/library/caches/metadata/microsoft/entourage/2004/main
identify/messages/0T/0B/0M/27K

then if I click it, it shows the contents as 27603.vRgeMessage

In the search result folder, I see entourage icon messages listed and
if I double click one of them, Entourage opens but the warning shows
up, 'Entourage cannot find this item.' 'It may have been deleted or
renamed.'

What you have found is the Spotlight cache files. These are pointers to
messages in your database which can't be found now. Other than possibly
containing some info, that might be vital, they are worthless without the
database that should be in your Documents/ Microsoft User Data folder /
Office 2008 Identities folder.

 

[gochippy]

What you have found is the Spotlight cache files. These are pointers to
messages in your database which can't be found now. Other than possibly
containing some info, that might be vital, they are worthless without the
database that should be in your Documents/ Microsoft User Data folder /
Office 2008 Identities folder.

OK thanks. I assume I cannot retrieve those old messages into
Entourage now, correct? If not, I am still good. It is just
extremely inconvenient but I can still see the mail addresses and
messages in quick text format.

 

[Diane Ross]

OK thanks. I assume I cannot retrieve those old messages into
Entourage now, correct? If not, I am still good. It is just
extremely inconvenient but I can still see the mail addresses and
messages in quick text format.

They are not the actual messages, but partials of those emails. In the worst
case scenario like you have it's better than nothing.

Get started with a good backup plan. We have several options listed here:

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

 

[gochippy]

They are not the actual messages, but partials of those emails. In the worst
case scenario like you have it's better than nothing.

Get started with a good backup plan. We have several options listed here:

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

Thanks for your help!