Contacts in Outlook

[Guest]

Just migrated from NT SBS to 2003 SBS. Used Exchange 5.5 previously, running
Exchange 2003 now. Everything came over from the old server fine. The only
problem that I'm having is with OL 2003 on 2 machines. We can see all the
contacts that the users had previously (about 900), however when we open a
new message and click on "To:" we do not get them listed as an address book.

Here is what I've tried (in no particular order):
1. Contacts -> Properties -> Address book tab -> "Show this folder as an
address book" is disabled.
2. Tools ->Email Accounts -> view/change existing Exchange is all that is
listed, no settings for address book.
3. Exporting address book to a PST file and importing back in
4. Exporting address book to PST file, re-install of OL, import PST back in.
5. Complete uninstall of Office, OL 2003, and reinstallation of both.
6. Sign both users into machines that are known to work correctly, both can
then access thier contacts from a new email message. So I know this is an
issue with the 2 local machines.
7. Recreation of computer account in SBS Management Console.

None of the above has worked. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Noel All]

Go to Tools || Email Accounts || View or change existing directories or
address book || is the Outlook Address Book listed if Yes remove it and
close and restart Outlook, if it isn't listed then use the Add button to add
it || Close and restart Outlook and also make sure the contact folder is
enabled as an email address book.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Noel, I tried what you recommended. The address book was not listed.
When I tried adding it, it still was not listed from an email message. I
checked again and I still cannot enable it as an address book. This setting
is greyed out on this machine for some reason, but enabled on every other
machine that I migrated. So I don't believe it is being blocked by a group
policy. In fact if I log the user into another machine, the setting is
checked and enabled to show the contacts folder as an address book.

 

[Brian Tillman]

Thanks Noel, I tried what you recommended. The address book was not
listed. When I tried adding it, it still was not listed from an email
message.

You said "tried". Either you added it or you didn't. I'm presuming you
used Tools>E-mail Accounts>Add a new directory or address
book>Next>Additional Address Books>Next>Outlook Address Book>Next>Finish,
followed by right-click on Contacts>Properties>Outlook Address Book, then
check "SHow this folder as an e-mail Address Book".

 

[Guest]

Please accept my apologies, I should've explained further. You would be
partly correct. By "tried" I meant that I did:

Tools>E-mail Accounts>Add a new directory or address

book>Next>Additional Address Books>Next>Outlook Address Book>Next>Finish

This added another mail folder entirely to the users local installation of
OL. Which is something of a mystery. And both recieve mail when she
recieves it in Exchange. I thought I messed up so I removed it and tried it
again. same result.

I then went to the folder view, right-clicked on 'contacts', selected
properties, selected the Outlook Address Book tab, and am left with the same
result. "Show this folder as an e-mail Address Book" is greyed out -
disabled. I cannot change this setting.

This user can log into any other workstation or the RWW and everything works
correctly. No other users are experiencing this difficulty. So let me
stress that I believe it to be an issue local to this particular installation
of OL.

 

[Guest]

If anyone is interested, I've found a solution that worked.

1. System restore to day before migration on system in question
2. recreation of computer account and applications on server, including OL
3. logged in to local machine
4. connected with server and connected computer to network
5. Server reinstalled all applications
6. Re-established Exchange account
7. Contacts were visible from new email message in Outlook at that point.

Why it didn't work the first time when I was doing the migration I'm not
sure. Or for that matter the multiple re-installations thereafter. Possible
random hiccup or collision on the network would be my best guess. A poor
assumption I'm sure, but it works.

Thank you guys for your time and efforts.

 

[Noel All]

Glad you got it resolved

If anyone is interested, I've found a solution that worked.

1. System restore to day before migration on system in question
2. recreation of computer account and applications on server, including OL
3. logged in to local machine
4. connected with server and connected computer to network
5. Server reinstalled all applications
6. Re-established Exchange account
7. Contacts were visible from new email message in Outlook at that point.

Why it didn't work the first time when I was doing the migration I'm not
sure. Or for that matter the multiple re-installations thereafter.
Possible
random hiccup or collision on the network would be my best guess. A poor
assumption I'm sure, but it works.

Thank you guys for your time and efforts.

 

[Brian Tillman]

This added another mail folder entirely to the users local
installation of OL. Which is something of a mystery. And both
recieve mail when she recieves it in Exchange. I thought I messed up
so I removed it and tried it again. same result.

This is a sign of a damaged mail profile. Try creating a new one in Control
Panel's Mail applet.