How to backup & restore Microsoft Entourage data
In this step-by-step, we’ll walk through backing up Microsoft Entourage 2004 data in Mac OS X. Before we begin, know that Entourage groups, notes with multimedia items, and category information for everything except contacts cannot be saved in the backup file.
To create an archive of your Entourage identity, click on the File menu and click Export:
This will bring up an export window in Entourage. Select Export items to an Entourage archive and choose the items you wish to backup. In this example, Entourage will back up all items:
On the next screen, Entourage will ask if you would like to keep archived files in your mailbox after performing the archive. Choose ‘No’, then continue:
In this window Entourage will prompt where to save the file. Click Save to begin the backup process:
Once the archive of data is complete, Entourage will create an archive file. Save this file to an external hard disk or burn to CD/DVD:
To Restore from the backup, click on Import from the File menu:
Select Import information from an Entourage archive, then click the right arrow:
Navigate to the Entourage archive and choose Import:
After importing is complete, a folder icon will appear in Entourage containing your archived items:
Done! From here, you can drag & drop your archived messages to other folders located in Entourage (for example, your Inbox).
September 20th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Is there a way to create an export file that can be transferred into Outlook? Outlook doesn’t recognize the .rge extension. Thanks.
January 12th, 2008 at 8:59 am
I followed these instructions and created a *.rge file that was 940 mb big, and instructed the system not to delete the items that were archived.
Next time I open Entourage, everything is gone, and I have a new message from Apple Mac Team welcoming me and thanking me for installing Entourage.
So, I import the *.rge file and this takes an appropriate amount of time. However, once complete I’m told there are no messages in this folder.
Any ideas?
February 20th, 2008 at 2:52 am
I have a similar problem. I synched with my Treo and when I went back to the computer I had no email. I still have the calendar and contacts but no inbox etc. Also got the message welcoming me and helping me to set up an account. My Entourage account seems to have disappeared.
March 25th, 2008 at 5:06 am
Same overhere!!!!! this is terrible… How can this be? I just open my mailbox and it’s completely empty! All my contacts, mail, everything…
April 9th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
What the hell!! All my emails, contacts….everything GONE!! Apple might not have viruses and crap but when stuff blows up, it’s freaken life stopping!! I can’t believe nobody warned us that this could happen before we followed the instructions!
June 18th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Same thing has happened to me 3 times over 5 years. everything gone. contacts. archived messages. blaamo! one day entourage opens up competely empty and you get the welcome message. when will i learn? manage all email online at gmail. major pain. RGE file imports nothing. these instructions do not work.