Contacts lost after adding PST to Outlook 2007

[Salil]

In 2006, I was using Outlook 2003 in which I created a PST data file to store
my personal messages.

Then in 2007, I migrated to Outlook 2007 and added the old PST file via
Tools > Options > Mail Setup > Data Files > Add (Browsed for my PST). My
'Personal Folder' tree got restored fine, and I continued using this PST. I
also created several calendar entries, tasks and contacts painstakingly. I
took regular backups of this 700MB PST file.

Now in 2008, I do not have access to my old laptop and I have a new exchange
server to connect to (yes, switched my job). On the new laptop, I added the
old PST file via Tools > Options > Mail Setup > Data Files > Add (Browsed for
my PST) in Outlook 2007. In the 'Personal Folders' tree, I got all my mails
back. Also I can click on the ‘Calendar’ and ‘Tasks’ buttons and see the
appointments and tasks in the PST file. But the ‘Contacts’ button yields a
empty list.

If I go to address book, 'Global Address book' shows exchange server
contacts, but my personal contacts stored in the PST file are gone. 'Outlook
address book > Contacts' entry is there but no contacts in there.

Can anybody tell me where my contacts have disappeared?

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Now in 2008, I do not have access to my old laptop and I have a new
exchange
server to connect to (yes, switched my job). On the new laptop, I added
the
old PST file via Tools > Options > Mail Setup > Data Files > Add (Browsed
for
my PST) in Outlook 2007. In the 'Personal Folders' tree, I got all my
mails
back. Also I can click on the ‘Calendar’ and ‘Tasks’ buttons and see the
appointments and tasks in the PST file. But the ‘Contacts’ button yields a
empty list.

Adding a PST to a mail profile the way you describe cannot delete data. The
PST you opened must not have had anything in the Contacts folder to begin
with.

If I go to address book, 'Global Address book' shows exchange server
contacts, but my personal contacts stored in the PST file are gone.
'Outlook
address book > Contacts' entry is there but no contacts in there.

In order for a contacts folder's contents ot appear in the Outlook Address
Book, you must enable the folder to appear there. Right-click the folder,
choose Properties, select the Outlook Address Book tabe, and check the box
labeled "Show this folder as an e-mail Address Book".

 

[Salil]

Yes, I trust Outlook would not delete my contacts, but they are not showing
up either. The other possibiliy is - I deleted all my 442 contacts myself - I
can assure you that is not the case.

Thanks anyways,
Salil

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Yes, I trust Outlook would not delete my contacts, but they are not
showing
up either.

If the COntacts folder is empty after opening the PST with File>Open>Outlook
Data File, then something you did emptied it, probably in your manipulation
of it. There's no way around that fact. Are you, in fact, looking in the
Contacts folder, not the Address Book? Is this the exact same PST you used
in the previous version of Outlook or is it a copy, an exported PST, or one
you made woith a cloning tool?