How do I copy Outlook contacts to switch computers?

[MIKE MEDLIN]

I hope someone can help me with this frustrating task. I am changing
computers, and I need to copy my Outlook content & contacts from my laptop
and transfer them to my desktop. I have a 500GB external harddrive, but
everytime that I copy the entire Outlook file, apps & database, when I go to
check to see if I successfully loaded the content and try to open on my
desktop there is no data there, nor any contacts.
Can someone explain to me what I am doing wrong?,...and how to copy and
transfer this data to my desktop.
Thanks in advance...
Mike M.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

We do every day.
Surely you aren't trying to "copy your apps." You install those. You copy
only your data file. The file you need is your Personal Folders file (*.pst)
It's where all the mail, calendar, contacts etc are stored.

Take a look at these pages for info on Outlook data backup or transfer:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx