Microsoft Entourage
Outlook has Crashed with Error 255 – Warning to all: Stay AWAY From Outlook
If you followed my previous attempts to flee Entourage for a faster, safer and more current email program, you may remember that I have tried and liked Postbox 2, but was not sold on it because of the complex manner it stores emails online and on the local computer, as well as for it’s potential for hangs. I reluctantly reverted to Entourage, with all its flaws and occasional crashes. Then in December, I bought the new Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac with Outlook and finally thought I found a program I could live with. But my experiences over the past couple of days has taught me otherwise… to my great regret and disappointment. Following others who have had the same problem, I realize my experience is not unique. Not only is data lost and unrecoverable (unlike Entourage where you could rebuild your databases almost all the time) with Outlook, but you cannot even backup from TimeMachine or another backup to restore you files, folders, contacts and settings.
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THIS IS THE WORST DATABASE ERROR OF ALL TIME. THIS IS FAR WORSE THAN ENTOURAGE. Having to rebuild my identity from scratch with all my rules and folders etc. is CRAZY. IT will take me days to fix a program that should be a servant not my master. I won’t recommend office 2011 to anyone. It is insane that the rebuild database does not fix this problem. I thought we were supposed to be protected by the new file format, but I can’t even find a way to import those messages. That is probably possible, but losing all my rules, accounts, etc. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.
Outlook doesn’t launch anymore, it always quits with the following error msg:
23.11.10 17:11:31 com.apple.launchd.peruser.504[163] ([0x0-0x14f14f].com.microsoft.Outlook[8147]) Exited with exit code: 255
Return to Entourage
I’ve switched back to Entourage for now. This is just not worth it. I cannot believe how dangerous this program is. This isn’t just a minor glitch. This is a full-stop, data losing, business-money costing, dangerous program that could cost you years of data and client correspondence. So much for the idea that separate email files are safer. When I look even for the attachments that are supposed to be saved, they are gone too.
I’ve tried several steps to recover, including replacing the user accounts and database folders with backups, but every time I do, Outlook recognizes the change and forces a rebuild of the database which then recreates the 255 error. The only thing I was able to do was to create a new identity and import my Entourage files which were over a month out of date, causing a loss of all my recent correspondence and files.
Outlook crashed initially either while running a sync on the address book contacts, or on some other update. Whatever the reason, the corruption is deep and complete. The only remedy I’ve heard is to have had the foresight, not to back up your files, but to export your complete Outlook identity as a precaution ever day…
The loss of time and labor alone make this Outlook program a minefield and something to be avoided at all costs.
Recommendation: STAY AWAY.
The Eclectic Rant 
[…] The Eclectic Rant. Outlook has Crashed with Error 255 – Warning to all: Stay AWAY From Outlook If you followed my previous attempts to flee Entourage for a faster, safer and more current email program, you may remember that I have tried and liked Postbox 2, but was not sold on it because of the complex manner it stores emails online and on the local computer, as well as for it’s potential for hangs. I reluctantly reverted to Entourage, with all … Read More […]
Ah!! Just found your comments on the mac support site. I’m facing the same issue. Outlook 2011 seemed so promising when I first started using it, then all these database issues started happening! Anyway, I’m switching to Mail. Not sure it’s the best choice, but at least I’ll know that it’ll work.
I’ve just had a machine with this issue and FIXED IT!
I’m an IT admin, so this problem was on a colleague’s machine.
I found it was down to a single corrupt file inside the Main Identity folder.
The Main Identity folder contains many folder and thousands of files. Through a process of elimination that removing “Database Headers” folder would allow Outlook to start, but it would kick off the Database Rebuild utility and then would fail to rebuild.
I think replace the bad “Database Headers” folder with a known good one (from my personal Main Identity folder), then rebuilt the database and now everything’s fine!
So – the guilty folder is “Database Headers” – replace that with a known good version, rebuild the database and you’re good to go.
[…] The Eclectic Rant. Outlook has Crashed with Error 255 – Warning to all: Stay AWAY From Outlook If you followed my previous attempts to flee Entourage for a faster, safer and more current email program, you may remember that I have tried and liked Postbox 2, but was not sold on it because of the complex manner it stores emails online and on the local computer, as well as for it’s potential for hangs. I reluctantly reverted to Entourage, with all … Read More […]