Contacts Inaccessible in Outlook 2003

[Rando]

WinXP Pro
Outlook 2003 SP2

When the "To" button is clicked in Outlook, "No Entries in Address
Book" is returned on the "Select Names Screen". Or click Tools >
Address Book and same result is returned on Select Names Screen.
Under "Show Names Box" are entries: 1. Outlook Address Book, 2.
Contacts, 3. Contacts, 4. Contacts. Numbers l, 2, 3 are empty.
Number 4 contains all my contacts. Pointing Outlook to the Outlook
default (.PST files) folder under Documents & Settings returns an
"invalid" response. The three Contacts files also appear under the
"Microsoft Office Outlook Address Book" screen (under email accts.).
I would like to delete the empty ones but there is no way to tell
which one contains the contacts. Right clicking the folders on this
screen or the Address Book screen (tools > address book) does not
return a properties or any other option. Question: How do I return the
contacts to the Address Book or cause the "To" button to display the
contacts by addressing the default PST files folder. Many thanks for
any help

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Post the steps you used to corrupt your Outlook Address Book or read the
many posts here that tell you how to fix it.

 

[Rando]

Post the steps you used to corrupt your Outlook Address Book or read the
many posts here that tell you how to fix it.

.
One day the contacts were there, the next day they were not. I've
read all of the posts that I think applies and none work.

Rando

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

I'll repost them all again. You try them all again. You explain what doesn't
work. You're expecting us to read your mind.

It is not unusual for the Outlook Address Book to "lose track" of the
connection to its Contacts Folder when you move or import your PST or update
your Outlook version or operating system. Use the following steps to reset
the connection. Note that in some instances you may actually have to remove
the Outlook Address Book completely from your Profile, close Outlook, and
then re-add it before you can get it to work.

For Outlook 2002/2003:
Make sure the Contact folder is enabled as an email address book. Right
click the Contacts folder, choose Properties then Outlook Address Book. Is
the box to enable as email address book checked?
If this is grayed out...Go to Tools | Email Accounts, choose View or change
existing directories or address book. Is the Outlook Address Book present?
If it isn't listed, add it and close and restart Outlook. If it is listed,
then remove it and close then restart Outlook and repeat these steps to add
it.

For Outlook 2007, you add and repair the address book service using a
different steps:
Tools > Account Settings > Address Book Tab. Is the Outlook Address Book
present? If it isn't listed, add it and close and restart Outlook. If it is
listed, then you can no longer repair this service by removing and re-adding
it. Instead you must create an entire new Outlook profile from scratch and
add the Outlook address book service to it.

More details available here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;287563&Product=ol2002



--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Post the steps you used to corrupt your Outlook Address Book or read the
many posts here that tell you how to fix it.

..
One day the contacts were there, the next day they were not. I've
read all of the posts that I think applies and none work.

Rando

 

[Rando]

I'll repost them all again. You try them all again. You explain what doesn't
work. You're expecting us to read your mind.

It is not unusual for the Outlook Address Book to "lose track" of the
connection to its Contacts Folder when you move or import your PST or update
your Outlook version or operating system. Use the following steps to reset
the connection. Note that in some instances you may actually have to remove
the Outlook Address Book completely from your Profile, close Outlook, and
then re-add it before you can get it to work.

For Outlook 2002/2003:
Make sure the Contact folder is enabled as an email address book. Right
click the Contacts folder, choose Properties then Outlook Address Book. Is
the box to enable as email address book checked?
If this is grayed out...Go to Tools | Email Accounts, choose View or change
existing directories or address book. Is the Outlook Address Book present?
If it isn't listed, add it and close and restart Outlook.  If it is listed,
then remove it and close then restart Outlook and repeat these steps to add
it.

For Outlook 2007, you add and repair the address book service using a
different steps:
Tools > Account Settings > Address Book Tab. Is the Outlook Address Book
present? If it isn't listed, add it and close and restart Outlook. If it is
listed, then you can no longer repair this service by removing and re-adding
it. Instead you must create an entire new Outlook profile from scratch and
add the Outlook address book service to it.

More details available here:http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;287563&Produc...

--
Russ Valentine




.
One day the contacts were there, the next day they were not.  I've
read all of the posts that I think applies and none work.

Rando- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thank you very much for your guidance. Very simple when you have the
right information. I had become very frustrated even though I've done
this for over 20 years. I assure you I'll pass this on. Thank you
very much.

Rando

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

You're welcome. Address Book configuration in Outlook has become a nightmare
for most users. Microsoft should be ashamed of the mess they have created.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I'll repost them all again. You try them all again. You explain what
doesn't
work. You're expecting us to read your mind.

It is not unusual for the Outlook Address Book to "lose track" of the
connection to its Contacts Folder when you move or import your PST or
update
your Outlook version or operating system. Use the following steps to reset
the connection. Note that in some instances you may actually have to
remove
the Outlook Address Book completely from your Profile, close Outlook, and
then re-add it before you can get it to work.

For Outlook 2002/2003:
Make sure the Contact folder is enabled as an email address book. Right
click the Contacts folder, choose Properties then Outlook Address Book. Is
the box to enable as email address book checked?
If this is grayed out...Go to Tools | Email Accounts, choose View or
change
existing directories or address book. Is the Outlook Address Book present?
If it isn't listed, add it and close and restart Outlook. If it is listed,
then remove it and close then restart Outlook and repeat these steps to
add
it.

For Outlook 2007, you add and repair the address book service using a
different steps:
Tools > Account Settings > Address Book Tab. Is the Outlook Address Book
present? If it isn't listed, add it and close and restart Outlook. If it
is
listed, then you can no longer repair this service by removing and
re-adding
it. Instead you must create an entire new Outlook profile from scratch and
add the Outlook address book service to it.

More details available
here:http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;287563&Produc...

--
Russ Valentine




.
One day the contacts were there, the next day they were not. I've
read all of the posts that I think applies and none work.

Rando- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thank you very much for your guidance. Very simple when you have the
right information. I had become very frustrated even though I've done
this for over 20 years. I assure you I'll pass this on. Thank you
very much.

Rando