Corrupted Contact folder looks like message (Outlook 2003 & WinXP

[jammy]

When I click on "Contacts" at the bottom of my Navigation pane, I get the
following:
- "My Contacts" at the top of Nav Pane is empty
- Below it, in "Current View" it has the radio buttons normally shown for
message folders, i.e. "Messages", "Messages with AutoPreview", etc.
- Then I have below that "Open Shared Contacts" which work as usual.
- Then ""Customize Current View"" which works as if it is a message
folder. If I click on "Customize Current View", the popup window has the
header ""Customize View:Messages"!!!
- Finally, the main pane is EMPTY. It says "There are no items to show in
this view."

HOWEVER, if I right click on the "Contacts" at the bottom of my Navigation
pane and select "Show in a New Window", I SEE ALL MY CONTACTS!

Please help.

I must confess that there is something else that has gotten really messed up
in my WindowsXP.

I did not like the fact that my account was called "Owner." I tried to
change the name to <MyName> by creating another user called <MyName> and
copying the "Documents and Settings" folder for "Owner" to <MyName>. I now
notice that when I log in as "Owner", some of my system folders being used
(e.g. Send To, Start Menu) are the ones in the Document and Settings of
<MyName>!!! Things have gotten crossed between the two accounts.

I deleted the <MyName> account, but the references to its system folders
when I log in as "Owner" persist.

Don't know if this has anything to do with the Outlok COntacts issue, but
thought I would mention it.

Thanks for any help you can offer. This one is a mess!!!

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Try resetting your view.
Use Folder List view to see your Contacts Folder and make sure it has the
properties of a Contacts Folder and not a Message folder.
You need to check in an OS group to fix your user account problems.

 

[jammy]

Thanks, Russ. I actually solved it, using a slightly different method.

I had tried to use Folder List to see the folder properties, but the
Contacts folder was never shown in the Folder View. It seems to be hidden for
some reason.

Now, here's what I did.

I originally had two active pst files (PST1, PST2) that I was using for two
different POP accounts. Incoming mail was being delivered to the inbox of
PST1's Inbox. (In e-mail setup, I had that mail folder selected for "Deliver
new e-mail to ...PST1") I could not see an system folders (Contacts,
Calendar) for the PST1 folder.

I brought up contacts by right clicking on Contacts in the Nav Pane and
exported them to a temp pst file.

Then I created a new pst file "NewMail" and made it the default for all mail
delivery, removing PST1 from this role.

Try resetting your view.
Use Folder List view to see your Contacts Folder and make sure it has the
properties of a Contacts Folder and not a Message folder.
You need to check in an OS group to fix your user account problems.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

When I click on "Contacts" at the bottom of my Navigation pane, I get the
following:
- "My Contacts" at the top of Nav Pane is empty
- Below it, in "Current View" it has the radio buttons normally shown for
message folders, i.e. "Messages", "Messages with AutoPreview", etc.
- Then I have below that "Open Shared Contacts" which work as usual.
- Then ""Customize Current View"" which works as if it is a message
folder. If I click on "Customize Current View", the popup window has the
header ""Customize View:Messages"!!!
- Finally, the main pane is EMPTY. It says "There are no items to show in
this view."

HOWEVER, if I right click on the "Contacts" at the bottom of my Navigation
pane and select "Show in a New Window", I SEE ALL MY CONTACTS!

Please help.

I must confess that there is something else that has gotten really messed
up
in my WindowsXP.

I did not like the fact that my account was called "Owner." I tried to
change the name to <MyName> by creating another user called <MyName> and
copying the "Documents and Settings" folder for "Owner" to <MyName>. I now
notice that when I log in as "Owner", some of my system folders being used
(e.g. Send To, Start Menu) are the ones in the Document and Settings of
<MyName>!!! Things have gotten crossed between the two accounts.

I deleted the <MyName> account, but the references to its system folders
when I log in as "Owner" persist.

Don't know if this has anything to do with the Outlok COntacts issue, but
thought I would mention it.

Thanks for any help you can offer. This one is a mess!!!