Outlook Contacts

[jbenz]

I recently changed computers. I went from vista to 7. I used easy transfer
for this process (probably my first mistake), all files seemed to transfer
without issue. One exception.....my contacts in Outlook 2007 are not
migrating to be used as my email address book. I see from earlier threads
that I am not alone. I've checked contact properties and it wont allow me to
check the box to use contacts as address book. Nor can I delete outlook
contacts throug address book set-up. I'm hoping there is an easy answer as
Im not an expert at these types of things.

 

[Gordon]

I recently changed computers. I went from vista to 7. I used easy
transfer
for this process (probably my first mistake), all files seemed to transfer
without issue. One exception.....my contacts in Outlook 2007 are not
migrating to be used as my email address book. I see from earlier threads
that I am not alone. I've checked contact properties and it wont allow me
to
check the box to use contacts as address book. Nor can I delete outlook
contacts throug address book set-up. I'm hoping there is an easy answer
as
Im not an expert at these types of things.

Unfortunately you now need to create a new Outlook profile and attach the
current pst file to it.

See here for a step-by-step:
http://gordonb-p.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!E60CE3038809E993!2534.entry?&_c02_vws=1

 

[Sharon]

I too have this problem and tried the step-by-step instructions provided by
Gordan and it did not work. Still no address book available. Any other
advice?

 

[Sharon]

WET corrupted my old outlook pst file by putting a password on it which I
don't know what it is. I created a new outlook pst file which cannot connect
to the old original due to the password. The new pst file cannot access
address book either becuase there is still one on my computer, the one I
can't access.

 

[Gordon]

WET corrupted my old outlook pst file by putting a password on it which I
don't know what it is.

So have you tried running scanpst.exe against the pst file that is
corrupted?

I created a new outlook pst file which cannot connect
to the old original due to the password.

pst files don't "connect" to each other.....

The new pst file cannot access
address book either becuase there is still one on my computer, the one I
can't access.

A misconception. EACH pst file has it's OWN Contacts folder. The only way of
accessing this Contact folder is by opening the pst file in Outlook. One pst
file cannot "Access" another pst file on it's own.

You DID take a backup before doing all this?

 

[Sharon]

I did backup my computer before everything, so it sounds like I need to
restore Outlook from my backup to get it to work properly. Would it be the
same if I did it from the previous version in contacts properties or do I
need to search from my backup off my externall hard drive?

 

[Gordon]

I did backup my computer before everything, so it sounds like I need to
restore Outlook from my backup to get it to work properly. Would it be
the
same if I did it from the previous version in contacts properties or do I
need to search from my backup off my externall hard drive?

You can't use the "Previous version" function because Contacts is part of
the pst file - not a file on it's own.
Yes you need to restore from the external drive.

Here's the best current info on how to do that correctly:

How to backup and restore Outlook

http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx

There is out-dated information on some of these pages, specifically with
regard to Outlook 2003 and 2007.

The main points to note:
1. Do NOT use the import/export function to move Outlook data from one
version to another - all you need to do is to copy the pst file, with
Outlook closed.

2. Do NOT paste the copied pst file into the default location - paste into
(for example) your Documents folder and then do File-Open-Outlook Data File
within Outlook.