Outlook XP - won't reconize names from the contact when typed in the "to" field

[Wanda]

I am using Outlook XP. When I open a new email and type in the name of
someone that I know is in my contacts, it doesn't reconize the name.

I view the list and go into contacts, they are all there.

While in the new email I hit the "to" button and drop down the menu
option to the "contacts" option, there is nothing there.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Two completely different and unrelated questions.
1. Outlook does not use your Contacts for autocompletion. It uses a separate
autocompletion cache.
2. Configure your Outlook Address Book correctly:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;287563&Product=ol2002