Error: Failed to open Address Book database

Help!  I keep getting this error message.  Other posts said to sync with address book defaulting to handheld but the desktop software won't even open so I can't sync.  Any suggestions??  I haven't synced for a very long time!
Post relates to: Tungsten E

Hi, and welcome to the Palm Support Community.
Please review the Palm Knowledgebase article which is linked in this thread.
smkranz
I am a volunteer, and not an HP employee.
Palm OS ∙ webOS ∙ Android

Similar Messages

  • Palm Desktop software - Fails to open with msg "Error: Failed to open Address Book database"

    In July 2009 I dropped my trusty Visor on a tile floor and it stopped working.  So, in the meantime I have been using only the Palm Desktop software. 
    Just yesterday, when I attempted to launch the Palm Desktop software, it failed with the message “Error: Failed to open Address Book database”.  I think this error was caused by a very ungraceful shut-down of my Win XP system yesterday. 
    I really do need to use the Palm Desktop software for my address list, calendar, and memo.  The problem is that the error with the Address Book database seems to be preventing the Palm Desktop software from initializing.
    I am using Palm Desktop 4.0.1 on Windows XP SP3.  I do NOT  have an export file of the Palm address book or other databases.  However, I do have five levels of backup history on my external Maxgor backup drive. 
    Specifically, on my current c drive I have files in the directory:
    C:\Program Files\Handspring\WR\address
                address.bak                  5/16/2009   (from last sync before I broke Visor)
                address.dat                   5/24/2011
                Personal.ABA                11/6/2008
                Unfiled.ABA                   3/28/2008
    On my most recent backup of my system, there are the following files:
                            address.bak                 5/16/2009   (from last sync before I broke Visor)    
                            address.dat                  5/12/2011
                            Personal.ABA              11/6/2008
                            Unfiled.ABA                  3/28/2008
    I have not listed the four older backup versions.
    I haven’t tried any corrective measures yet (I don’t want to make matters worse) and am hoping that someone can guide me along the right path.
    Is it possible for me to just rename the “current” address.dat file to something like address.SAV and then copy the Address.dat file file with date of 5/12/2011 into the current directory.  Will the software then just use the older version of the data, or must I do something else.
    I am grateful for any assistance.  Thank you very much.
    Post relates to: Visor Deluxe
    Post relates to: Visor Deluxe

    Thanks for the speedy response.  However, I read the article for which you provided the link, and I hve also read many other articles that I found via search, but I don't think these will help me.  All of these articles seem to assume that (1) you have a handheld to which you can sync and thereby rebuild the database on the PC, or (2) you have a backup that you created via the Palm Desktop export function.  Unfortunately, I have neither and so I don't think any of these solutions will work for me.
    I did read with great interest an article that stated that recent versions of Palm Desktop have a built-in function that will repair a corrupted Datebook database.  Will this also fix a corrupted Address Book database which is my problem?  
    So, I downloaded and attempted to install the latest version of Palm Desktop.  I was careful to read the instructions that stated NOT to uninstall my current version of Palm Desktop, but to just install the latest version on top of my current Palm Desktop.  However, when I attempted to do the installation, the installer software said it could not install on top of my current software and that I should first uninstall my current software.
    I have some questions now:
    (1) If I uninstall my current version of Palm Desktop, will this destroy my Address Book, Datebook, and Memo databases ( I don't care about the ToDo database)?  If so, what can I do to preserve those databases?
    (2) Is there really a function built in the recent versions of Palm Desktop that will fix a corrupted database?  Is this an "automatic" function that will detect and fix a broken database or is this something I will have to invoke?
    Thanks for your help.
    Gdad

  • Help! Error: Failed to open Address Book Database on Palm Desktop

    In advance, thank you, thank you, thank you to the person who saves me from this error! I have no idea what I've done to deserve this!?! So, thank you for helping!!!
    Here's the problem:
    When I double click on the Palm Desktop icon on my desktop, I get: Error: Failed to open Address Book Database on Palm Desktop
    And then, I get: This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down. If the problem persists, contact the program vendor.
    When I click on the details button, it says: PALM caused an invalid page fault in
    module MFC42.DLL at 0177:5f404045.
    Registers:
    EAX=0082fad8 CS=0177 EIP=5f404045 EFLGS=00010202
    EBX=00000000 SS=017f ESP=0082fa94 EBP=00855d0c
    ECX=5f4d1c58 DS=017f ESI=0082fad8 FS=572f
    EDX=00017b84 ES=017f EDI=00000008 GS=0000
    Bytes at CS:EIP:
    8b 07 3b c8 74 34 83 79 f4 00 7d 0f 83 c1 f4 3b
    Stack dump:
    00000000 008558c0 004b5d3d 00000008 01befe17 0082fad8 008559cc 008558c0 00855d0c 00000000 00000010 5f4d1c58 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
    Again, thanks for your help in advance!
    Post relates to: Palm Vx

    I've seen a lot of people post a message that's basically like the problem I'm having. I'm sending this to everyone who had the same general type of question in hopes that my fix might cure your problem also.
    My Palm Desktop (4.1.4) would open correctly the first time after installing, but after doing a hotsync it would crash every other time it was opened (using a Tungsten E). I'm running Windows XP Professional, and it would give an error saying "Windows XP has encountered an error and needs to close", or something like that.
    I did the usual. Removed the program and reinstalled, which didn't work. I also went through the tedious process of uninstalling the software, then removing every registry entry by hand that referenced the Palm or Pocketmirror, which also didn't work.
    I searched through the support files on palmone.com and found something that gave me an idea. It talked about removing a corrupted file to fix problems with the datebook. I hadn't been getting any errors pointing to a specific problem, but on a hunch I deleted the entire address folder out of the Palm directory. That did the trick!
    A corrupted address book in the Palm Desktop software was keeping it from running. The problem was how to fix the corruption, which I eventually found on a menu option in the Palm Desktop software.
    Below is the fix that worked for me. Caution! Only do this if you have all of the current info in your Palm, because it will erase what's on your Palm Desktop.
    1. Go to your Palm folder on your pc (default install location is c:\palm) and open the folder for your user.
    2. Delete the address, datebook, expense, memopad, note pad and todo folders.
    3. Open the Palm Desktop program.
    4. Do a hotsync.
    5. Important! Don't click on anything else in the Palm Desktop after doing the hotsync. If you change to one of the areas that has corrupted data, it will immediately crash.
    6. Right after doing the hotsync, click Tools on the top menu in the Palm Desktop, then Options. Click on the Tools tab and then click Check Now to fix the corrupted data.
    7. Click OK.
    That should hopefully get you running again. Let me know if that worked for you.

  • Error message : failed to open address book database

    On clicking the desktop icon I recieve the message Error: failed to open address book database and my palm programme will not open on my computer. On my hand held Hot Sync Log I have: OK Mail, OK Date Book, Address Book Sync failed, OK To Do 3 messages, OK Memo 3 Messages, Note Pad Syncho failed, OK System.
    I have uninstalled and installed Palm twice.  Any suggestions would be welcomed!
    Post relates to: Palm m515
    Message Edited by lisbellaw on 06-26-2008 06:42 AM

    Hi, and welcome to the Palm Community Forums.
    This question comes up relatively frequently (using the Search function brings up many, many hits, such as this one which has a link to the Palm Knowledgebase article which should resolve the problem).  It is typically the result of a damaged or corrupted record.
    Good luck, let us know if it helps.
    Post relates to: Centro (AT&T)
    smkranz
    I am a volunteer, and not an HP employee.
    Palm OS ∙ webOS ∙ Android

  • Failed to Open Address Book Database

    I see this is a common question, but the link in the knowledge base ("Take a look at this Palm Knowledgebase article: http://tinyurl.com/33agzl") goes to a blank page. Maybe it's gone?
    Anyway, I have this problem trying to open the desktop. The handheld is fine. Direct me to the solution?
    Thanks.
    Post relates to: Palm Vx
    This question was solved.
    View Solution.

    Hi, and welcome to the Palm Community Forums.a
    Sorry for that broken link...here is the article it would have taken you to:
    http://kb.palm.com/SRVS/nua/launchKB.asp?c=10082
    Post relates to: None
    smkranz
    I am a volunteer, and not an HP employee.
    Palm OS ∙ webOS ∙ Android

  • Treo 90 fails to synchronize address book database and open

    I have an old Treo 90 that I still like to use for addresses.  Recently the software will not open on my computer and when I try to open it, I get an error message  "Failed to open address book database" which is followed by "Drror:  Invalid configuration.  Terminating the Palm Desktop."  I have uninstalled and reinstalled the software from the computer 2 or three times and still get the same errors.  The handheld Treo seems to work fine.  Any suggestions?
    Post relates to: Treo 90

    Hello,
    This is mostly caused by the Addressbook database being corrupted even if you sync your Treo 90 to other PC you'll still have the same problem.
    You need to import and export your addressbook
    NOTE: these steps may cause the Addressbook to loose its category.
     cut and paste to your desktop the addressbook folder from your username folder   C:\program files\handspring\ your username folder\addressbook
    reopen Palm desktop you'll see that the contacts are empty.
    In your Palm Desktop click on file import
    and in the import box look for the addressbook which you saved in the desktop.
    in the file name type *.*
    choose address.bak and click import
    close Palm Desktop and reopen.
    perform hotsync and set the contacts to desktop overwrites handheld.
     hope this helps...

  • Error to open address book database

    Hi.  I've been using the Palm Pilot i705 without the email feature for several years and on a succession of computers.  Never had a problem.  Today I can't access it on my pc.  I get "error to open address book database."
    Is the fix to reinstall the software from the cd?  If so how do I save my existing databases or would the subsequent hot sync after reinstall pull in the database? My last hot sync was successful and is my most current.
    Any help is greatly appreciated.  Thanks.  Pat.

    cmoulin,
    Ok, No problem.
    Glad to hear you recovered your data.
    FYI,
    The best way to preserve your data is to export the data in each category in Palm Desktop to a seperate folder on your PC.
    Create a new folder on your PC somewhere that is convenient. Name it something like Palm Desktop Data. Click on the link below and follow the instructions on that page for the export procedure.
    http://www.palm.com/cgi-bin/cso_kbURL.cgi?ID=28734
    Make sure you select all for the range in the export window.
    With the data saved in the folder you created, make a copy of that folder and save to a flash drive, cd-rw or external hard drive.
    Anytime you make a change in Palm Desktop, export the data that was changed to that folder and save again to the external media.
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  • Error message "cannot open address book file" thunderbird freezes

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    In trying to open my Palm 3.1.1.0 dinosaur desktop application, I received the above error message. I'm new to this help arrangement, but it looked to me like the old solution offered by the forum was no longer linked to the message. Help! I no longer use my handheld, and it's been a long time since I ran a paper backup. The date book is far less important than the address data base that I cannot open at this point. Am I in trouble, or is there a way around this? (I probably have the old installation software somewhere, but what if I don't?)
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    Post relates to: Palm III
    This question was solved.
    View Solution.

    Hi, and welcome to the Palm Community Forums.
    Palm's recent do-over of its support site blew up many of the links appearing in the Forums.
    Perhaps this is the article which you could not find from prior links:
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    Post relates to: None
    smkranz
    I am a volunteer, and not an HP employee.
    Palm OS ∙ webOS ∙ Android

  • HELP! Address Book database all lost, says "corrupted", won't open.

    HELP!
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  • Palm Desktop software - Fails to open with msg "Error: Failed to open To Do List database"

    In July 2009 I dropped my trusty Visor on a tile floor and it stopped working.  So, in the meantime I have been using only the Palm Desktop software. 
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    Post relates to: Visor Deluxe
    Post relates to: Visor Deluxe

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