Moving or Copying Outlook 2003 Address Book

[thetacker]

I set up a new PC for a friend and moved all her data over, as well as
reinstalling all operating programs. Her old machine had her Outlook
data saved in outlook.pst in the default directory. I copied this file
to the same directory in the new PC, after deleting the file of same
name that was created when Outlook was installed on the new PC.

All seemed fine, at first, as all the old data and folders appear when
the new-PC version of Outlook is opened. And, mail can be received and
sent. The problem is that the address book is either disappeared or is
inaccesible, for some reason. Any attempt to open the address book
results in a warning message that the address book cannot be opened:
"the address list could not be displayed. the contacts folder
associated with this address list could not be opened; it may have been
moved or deleted, or you do not have permission......."

I would guess that the above means that some additional file needed to
be moved to the new machine, not just the outlook.pst file. Is that
the case, and, if so, what file needs to be copied from the old machine
and where does it reside? If there is an alternate explanation and fix
for this issue, I'd be pleased to learn that, too.

Thanks.

 

[Guest]

If your frend used old address book, then you have to move file which ends
..pab
If he used Contacts -folder, you must add it from (Outlook 2003) Tools -
E-mail accounts - Add a new directory or address book

Paukkule

 

[Guest]

Assuming Contacts was used and not Address Book (PAB):
Click the address book in Outlook (little book symbol). The message pops up,
click OK. Now with the blank address book up click on Tools and then Options.
Change your setting to use Contacts or Business Contacts (Where the contacts
are stored).
The big question is: Where was she storing her addresses? In the standard
Contacts with Outlook or some place else?

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Disregard the previous posts. Neither is correct.
You migrated data in the worst possible way. You must connect to a different
Outlook data file from within Outlook. Never delete or overwrite an Outlook
Data File with Outlook closed. You will only corrupt your profile.
It is hard to say if you will encounter other problems. For now your only
problem appears to be that you have simply not configured the Outlook
Address Book so that it will connect to the new data. That simple process is
documented in the KB and daily in posts here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;287563&Product=ol2002

Next time you need to migrate Outlook Data, read the Help files:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;287563&Product=ol2002

 

[Brian Tillman]

I set up a new PC for a friend and moved all her data over, as well as
reinstalling all operating programs. Her old machine had her Outlook
data saved in outlook.pst in the default directory. I copied this
file to the same directory in the new PC, after deleting the file of
same name that was created when Outlook was installed on the new PC.

This is an excellent way to make sure you damage her mail profile.

All seemed fine, at first, as all the old data and folders appear when
the new-PC version of Outlook is opened. And, mail can be received
and sent. The problem is that the address book is either disappeared
or is inaccesible, for some reason. Any attempt to open the address
book results in a warning message that the address book cannot be
opened: "the address list could not be displayed. the contacts folder
associated with this address list could not be opened; it may have
been moved or deleted, or you do not have permission......."

I would guess that the above means that some additional file needed to
be moved to the new machine, not just the outlook.pst file.

This is not correct. There is no address book in Outlook. Instead, Outlook
uses COntacts folders and the address book is just a view of those Contacts
folders. You need to configure the Outlook Address Book service in the mail
profile. Click Tools>E-mail Accounts>Add a new directory or address
book>Next. Select Additional Address Books and click Next. Select Outlook
Address Book, click Next, then Finish. Stop and restart Outlook. Finally,
right-click the Contacts folder, choose Properties, select the Outlook
Address Book tab, and select the option named "Show this folder as an e-mail
Address Book". Click OK.

 

[Guest]

Disregard this post! Mentions that both posts are wrong, but doesn't address
your problem. Simply wants to tell you what you did was wrong and gives you a
solution that does not address the problem you are having. Typical response
here in this forum. If you don't have MVP or something next to your name
everyone is wrong.
Your email works…send/receive is working. Your previous emails and folders
are there. The only issue you have is getting access to your contacts. You
can use this link that addresses the actually error message and not some BS
to confuse you more:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q319901

Disregard the previous posts. Neither is correct.
You migrated data in the worst possible way. You must connect to a different
Outlook data file from within Outlook. Never delete or overwrite an Outlook
Data File with Outlook closed. You will only corrupt your profile.
It is hard to say if you will encounter other problems. For now your only
problem appears to be that you have simply not configured the Outlook
Address Book so that it will connect to the new data. That simple process is
documented in the KB and daily in posts here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;287563&Product=ol2002

Next time you need to migrate Outlook Data, read the Help files:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;287563&Product=ol2002
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I set up a new PC for a friend and moved all her data over, as well as
reinstalling all operating programs. Her old machine had her Outlook
data saved in outlook.pst in the default directory. I copied this file
to the same directory in the new PC, after deleting the file of same
name that was created when Outlook was installed on the new PC.

All seemed fine, at first, as all the old data and folders appear when
the new-PC version of Outlook is opened. And, mail can be received and
sent. The problem is that the address book is either disappeared or is
inaccesible, for some reason. Any attempt to open the address book
results in a warning message that the address book cannot be opened:
"the address list could not be displayed. the contacts folder
associated with this address list could not be opened; it may have been
moved or deleted, or you do not have permission......."

I would guess that the above means that some additional file needed to
be moved to the new machine, not just the outlook.pst file. Is that
the case, and, if so, what file needs to be copied from the old machine
and where does it reside? If there is an alternate explanation and fix
for this issue, I'd be pleased to learn that, too.

Thanks.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Believe what you wish but at least post accurately.
You simply posted an abbreviated version of the more complete instructions
that I posted and then accuse me of not having addressed the problem. You
failed to address the root cause of the problem so that it would not happen
again.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Disregard this post! Mentions that both posts are wrong, but doesn't
address
your problem. Simply wants to tell you what you did was wrong and gives
you a
solution that does not address the problem you are having. Typical
response
here in this forum. If you don't have MVP or something next to your name
everyone is wrong.
Your email works.send/receive is working. Your previous emails and folders
are there. The only issue you have is getting access to your contacts. You
can use this link that addresses the actually error message and not some
BS
to confuse you more:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q319901

Disregard the previous posts. Neither is correct.
You migrated data in the worst possible way. You must connect to a
different
Outlook data file from within Outlook. Never delete or overwrite an
Outlook
Data File with Outlook closed. You will only corrupt your profile.
It is hard to say if you will encounter other problems. For now your only
problem appears to be that you have simply not configured the Outlook
Address Book so that it will connect to the new data. That simple process
is
documented in the KB and daily in posts here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;287563&Product=ol2002

Next time you need to migrate Outlook Data, read the Help files:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;287563&Product=ol2002
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I set up a new PC for a friend and moved all her data over, as well as
reinstalling all operating programs. Her old machine had her Outlook
data saved in outlook.pst in the default directory. I copied this file
to the same directory in the new PC, after deleting the file of same
name that was created when Outlook was installed on the new PC.

All seemed fine, at first, as all the old data and folders appear when
the new-PC version of Outlook is opened. And, mail can be received and
sent. The problem is that the address book is either disappeared or is
inaccesible, for some reason. Any attempt to open the address book
results in a warning message that the address book cannot be opened:
"the address list could not be displayed. the contacts folder
associated with this address list could not be opened; it may have been
moved or deleted, or you do not have permission......."

I would guess that the above means that some additional file needed to
be moved to the new machine, not just the outlook.pst file. Is that
the case, and, if so, what file needs to be copied from the old machine
and where does it reside? If there is an alternate explanation and fix
for this issue, I'd be pleased to learn that, too.

Thanks.

 

[tacker]

Didn't mean to start a range war.

Whether I made the transfer correctly or not, please advise if the
correction, to enable access to addresses, is merely advising the new
outlook where things are and how to access the file, rather than having
some critical data missing and not included in the outlook.pst file,
itself. I only moved one file over.

In the worst case, I can start all over again, as the orginal outlook
and data is still resident on the old machine.

Thanks.

P.S. Makes me appreciate my old, simple, elegant, but very reliable,
Ecco program.

 

[tacker]

Further to my last post:

As the error message seems to be generated because the "contacts
folder" could not be accessed, may I assume that the address-book data
resides in the "contacts folder" and not the outlook.pst file? If so,
then no amount of clicking settings on the new machine is going to
"find" the contacts data because no 'contacts folder" or any data
therein was copied or moved.

Thanks, again.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

It is very unlikely that any data is missing. Transferring data the way you
did only corrupts the profile (never the data) and can easily be fixed. With
any luck, the only disruption so far will be the connection between the
Outlook Address Book and the Contacts Folder it should display. There is no
separate address book in Outlook. All Contact data resides in the Contacts
Folder(s) in your PST file. The Outlook Address Book simply displays the
electronic addresses contained in your Contacts Folder. The link I posted
shows you how to establish the connection between the Outlook Address Book
and your Contacts Folder. The link Oliver posted shows you how to
re-establish the connection between the Outlook Address Book and your
Contacts Folder. The information is the same.
The additional information I posted is to show you how to migrate data
correctly so you won't run into this again.

 

[tacker]

Muchas gracias!

Will advise if any further sticky wickets.