Stuck on Re-Install OL 2003

[Dana DeLouis]

Hoping for a little hint on a problem.
I'm testing backup / restore, and am having problems with Contacts.
I'm about to do a clean install with a computer running Outlook 2003 at
home. I have a second computer for testing backup.

I've read some links given here recently.
I've saved my pst file to hard drive back up.
On a second computer that also has Outlook 2003, I replaced the pst file
with this backed up pst file.
Restored pst file is not read protected.
Mail is being sent to this one and only file.

All seems fine, except for Contacts. The contacts are all there, but when I
go to compose a message, I get a message that says...
"The address book could not be displayed....It may have been moved....etc.

If I do Tools | Address Book, I get the same message.

So...I can see all my contacts, it's just that the program is not using the
contacts in its pst file.
I've got the clean install on hold till I figure this out.

Thanks for any hints. I can't seem to find any related articles...

Dana
Windows XP, Office 2003
--

 

[Hal Hostetler [MVP P/I]]

You probably corrupted the Outlook profile if you really did "replace the
pst file with this backed up pst file". The correct method is to keep the
new .PST file intact, RECONNECT your old .PST file:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx
Reconnect your old Outlook data file

Then close the "New" .PST file Outlook created. Overwriting the .PST file
Outlook creates for a new profile with a saved .PST pretty much guarantees a
corrupted Outlook profile. Create a new profile and use the method above.

Hal
--
Hal Hostetler, CPBE -- (e-mail address removed)
Senior Engineer/MIS -- MS MVP-Print/Imaging -- WA7BGX
http://www.kvoa.com -- "When News breaks, we fix it!"
KVOA Television, Tucson, AZ. NBC Channel 4
Still Cadillacin' - www.badnewsbluesband.com

 

[Dana DeLouis]

Thank you Hal. I appreciate the help. I understand the process a little
better now.
For this particular test, I recently found the solution to the contacts
problem.
The problem comes from my lack of understanding, as I thought the Contacts
folder "was" the address book.
Apparently, this is not the case. When I received the error, I was able to
open the "Address Book" program. Then, under Tools | Options, I was able to
clean it up and have the program point to the correct "Contacts Folder."
Now, it works as expected.
So, from my new understanding, when composing a new email message, the email
addresses come from the "Address Book." And you have to tell the address
book to use Outlooks "Contacts" folder. Ok. I think I got it now. :>()
Thank you very much for your time.

 

[Dana DeLouis]

Just came back up from a clean install. The kb article, and your tip,
worked great. :>)
I had a slight problem with setting up the address book though. For anyone
else, here's what worked for me.
I renamed the Contacts folder slightly to something like "ContactsNew" This
made it easier to identify the correct folder in the address book.
After setting up the address book, I closed Outlook before doing anything
else.
When Outlook restarted, the address book was set up correctly. I then
renamed the Contacts folder back to Contacts.
Seems like the address book changes didn't take effect till after closing
Outlook. That was the problem I seemed to have had.
Anyway, works great. Thanks.

Dana
<snip>