Entourage MS user database lost

johnshelley · 04-25-2009, 12:09 PM

Hi,
I'm using Entourage 2004 on OSX.4.11. imac.

Recently I began getting notifications that the database appears to be damaged, do I want to rebuild? After rebuilding three times in three weeks I was getting worried. Lately the interface would sometimes freeze for a minute or longer when I opened mail. I thought at first it was memory, and threw away a lot of old mails, but the problem persisted, in fact the last database rebuild brought back a bunch of emails I'd deleted a long time ago.

So I thought maybe there was a conflict somewhere. I found there were no less than four separate MS user data folders listed in various places on the hard drive, so I overrode the oldest with the newest, thinking it was outdated. It took a second, no hesitation by the Mac. When I opened Entourage again all I had was a brand new folder, no mail, no address book, nothing. I'd lost my entire database in a second.

What really puzzles me is where has all the data gone? I had a LOT of addresses and mails on there, including many attachments, but there was no "ticking clock", no "hang on a sec while I fry all your data". Just one click and .... fizz, gone. A search of the hard drive shows nothing but the new empty data folder.

Can anyone help?

sinclair_tm · 04-25-2009, 02:58 PM

Sounds like the newest folder you used was empty, hence why it did it so quick. When you copy a folder of the same name to a place, the Mac OS replaces a folder, not mergers it. Sadly there isn't much you can do now. Data recover software might help, but I doubt it. For Microsoft software, yes, there is umpteen different folders all over the place. They do not follow the suggested protocol that Apple has outlined for Mac friendly software. Never mess with any Microsoft titled folders if you want your software from them to work. THe issues you have had sound more like a failing hard drive. I'd be looking at backing up what you have left and getting a new hard drive if you plan on keeping your iMac.

johnshelley · 04-26-2009, 05:04 AM

many thanks for explaining this sinclair_tm

it looks like I'll be crying over this for a long time to come.

John

04-25-2009, 12:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
johnshelley Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 10 OS: os10.5.6	Entourage MS user database lost Hi, I'm using Entourage 2004 on OSX.4.11. imac. Recently I began getting notifications that the database appears to be damaged, do I want to rebuild? After rebuilding three times in three weeks I was getting worried. Lately the interface would sometimes freeze for a minute or longer when I opened mail. I thought at first it was memory, and threw away a lot of old mails, but the problem persisted, in fact the last database rebuild brought back a bunch of emails I'd deleted a long time ago. So I thought maybe there was a conflict somewhere. I found there were no less than four separate MS user data folders listed in various places on the hard drive, so I overrode the oldest with the newest, thinking it was outdated. It took a second, no hesitation by the Mac. When I opened Entourage again all I had was a brand new folder, no mail, no address book, nothing. I'd lost my entire database in a second. What really puzzles me is where has all the data gone? I had a LOT of addresses and mails on there, including many attachments, but there was no "ticking clock", no "hang on a sec while I fry all your data". Just one click and .... fizz, gone. A search of the hard drive shows nothing but the new empty data folder. Can anyone help?

04-26-2009, 05:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
johnshelley Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 10 OS: os10.5.6	Re: Entourage MS user database lost many thanks for explaining this sinclair_tm it looks like I'll be crying over this for a long time to come. John