Outlook 2003 contacts not appearing in address book

[Steve H]

I am replacing my computer with a new one. Both systems have Windows XP. In
the past, I installed my Office 2003 software on the new computer and then
copied my outlook.pst file from the old system to the new one. Everyone
worked fine until I went to send some emails and don't have any contacts in
my Outlook address book. The Contacts all show up in Outlook Contacts, but
not in the address book when I attempt to select addresses to send to. I
believe I ran into this once before and figured out a solution... but
apparantly I'm not as wise as I was then. Any suggestions?

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

I am replacing my computer with a new one. Both systems have Windows XP. In
the past, I installed my Office 2003 software on the new computer and then
copied my outlook.pst file from the old system to the new one. Everyone
worked fine until I went to send some emails and don't have any contacts in
my Outlook address book. The Contacts all show up in Outlook Contacts, but
not in the address book when I attempt to select addresses to send to. I
believe I ran into this once before and figured out a solution... but
apparantly I'm not as wise as I was then. Any suggestions?

Whatever method you're using to add the file to the new Outlook instance is in
error and you are damaging the mail profile, specifically the Outlook Address
Book service. When you place the PST on the new PC, do NOT overwrite any
existing PST unless you KNOW beyond a doubt that it is not already mapped to a
mail profile. The best advice is to put in some folder OTHER THAN the folder
in which Outlook creates PSTs by default. Then, prior to starting Outlook,
use the Mail applet in Control Panel to add that PST to the mail profile. You
can also make it your delivery location PST if you wish the folders in it to
be your default folders. This will allow the Outlook Address Book service to
map the Contact folder(s) correctly and they will be available when clicking
the To button. See this for additional information:
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm

 

[Steve H]

Brian, I don't find a "mail applet" in the Control panel. What is it that
I'm looking for? Also, if I place my old outlook.pst in this new folder and
then add it to the mail profile, how do I then tell Outlook to look and this
2nd pst file for the address book?

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Brian, I don't find a "mail applet" in the Control panel. What is it that
I'm looking for? Also, if I place my old outlook.pst in this new folder and
then add it to the mail profile, how do I then tell Outlook to look and this
2nd pst file for the address book?

If you have Vista 64, enable viewing the 32 bit Control Panels. Displaying
your CP in the Classic view will help as well. It's there.

 

[Steve H]

Per the original post, I'm running Windows XP on both systems.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Per the original post, I'm running Windows XP on both systems.

Then you must have the Mail appet. In the Category view it's under User
Accounts. Under the Classic view, it will be just "Mail"

 

[Gordon]

Then you must have the Mail appet. In the Category view it's under User
Accounts. Under the Classic view, it will be just "Mail"

Is there a page some where that details what functions are under what
section in the Category view - an "index" if you like?

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Is there a page some where that details what functions are under what
section in the Category view - an "index" if you like?

Good question. I've never looked for one.