Recovering Outlook Categories After Update to Windows 7 from XP

[James S. Huggins]

I just updated to Win 7 from XP.

I'm trying to overcome Microsoft's view of where to put things, whic
is
VERY different to mine.

For example, Outlook categories . . .

It seems though I have all my contacts and THEIR individual categories
I've lost the "master list".

Is there a way to recover the list by somehow rebuilding it from th
600 or so contacts I have and just creating it based on what I've used?

Or can I grab it from my old system image somewhere?


James S. Huggins


..

 

[Russ Valentine]

Do not multipost.

 

[Gis Bun]

Going from Outlook or Outlook Express? You shouldn't be losing contacts in
Outlook as it's a single file. It's there. You may have to tinker around with
your default contacts list.

If it's OE, not surprised. It uses a .wab file which is dumped in a really
bad location.

Why does Microsoft do that? Why can't the files be part of [My] Documents.
They are data files.

 

[James S. Huggins]

Outlook as it's a single file. It's there. You may have to tinker aroun
with
your default contacts list.
====================================

I am NOT using OE, but Outlook (and I hate the fact that they eve
named OE that way).

Like I said, I have 600+ contacts. They all have the correc
categories. But the categories do not show up when I try to add one to
new contact.

So that is why I asked if I could recover them from (a) some other fil
that the are stored in or (b) from the contacts themselves.

James

..

 

[Russ Valentine]

Your question was answered.
This is why you don't mulitpost.
--
Russ Valentine

Do not multipost.

 

[James S. Huggins]

===============================
Your question was answered.
This is why you don't mulitpost.
Russ Valentine
===============================

Thanks, Russ.

I apologize for the multipost. That was my error.

I couldn't find my first post and so posted again without realizing
was looking in the "wrong" "subforum".

Thanks for your forgiveness.

That said, though a "reply" HAS been posted, the question(s) remai
unanswered.

So only for clarity ...

I just updated to Win 7 from XP.

I'm trying to overcome Microsoft's view of where to put things, whic
is VERY different to mine.

For example, Outlook categories . . .

While It seems though I hHAVE all my contacts and while each of m
contacts has its correct individual categories,
I've lost the "master list".

Is there a way to recover the list by somehow rebuilding it from the
600 or so contacts I have and just creating it based on what I'v
used?

Or can I grab it from my old system image somewhere?


James S. Huggins


..

 

[James S. Huggins]

===================================
Gis wrote:
You shouldn't be losing contacts in Outlook as it's a single file.
===================================

To clarify, it is not the contacts which are "missing". It is the
(heavily revised/extended) Master Category list. I'm trying to rebuild
that list.


James S. Huggins


...

 

[Russ Valentine]

You have provided none of the information that would permit a customized,
detailed answer to your unique situation.
You cannot upgrade an OS from "XP to Windows 7," as you suggest. You can
only do a clean installation, which of course means you had to take careful
deliberate steps to migrate your Outlook data. How did you migrate your data
file? How did you migrate your Categories?
Your Outlook version is also very much in play.
We know none of that information.

 

[James S. Huggins]

==================
You have provided none of the information that would permit
customized,
detailed answer to your unique situation.
You cannot upgrade an OS from "XP to Windows 7," as you suggest. Yo
can
only do a clean installation, which of course means you had to tak
careful
deliberate steps to migrate your Outlook data. How did you migrate you
data
file? How did you migrate your Categories?
Your Outlook version is also very much in play.
We know none of that information.
--
Russ Valentine
===================


Thank you Russ.

Here are some of the answers you indicated were necessary.

You are correct; the upgrade was not "in place". Rather it was a clea
install followed by a restore of everything, including Outlook, as yo
noted.

My restore of the PST itself was "simple", since I had long ago move
the PST to a folder beneath "My Documents" to facilitate routine backup


But. as noted I did not correctly migrate the categories.

That is what I'm trying to do. So, I either need to go to my archive
and, once I know what to look for, and find out if I even have the righ
file, or I have to somehow reconstruct the categories from the contacts
I'm seeking help on either approach.

I'm talking about version 2003.

I appreciate your elucidation of my missing info. If you need any othe
info, just ask.


James S. Huggins

..

 

[Russ Valentine]

Outlook 2003 stored the Master Category List in the Registry:
http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/olcat.asp

 

[James S. Huggins]

Russ provided a very valuable link to
http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/olcat.asp

Here is what I have learned

+ Microsoft chose the Registry (gag) as the place to store the Maste
Category List (MCL) in Outlook 2003

+ As a result of that decision, and my failure to "know" that and ac
on that during my upgrade from XP to Win 7, I have lost that Maste
Category List

+ It is still possible for me to identify these categories because th
information is still available in the indivisual contacts. Further, th
Contacts list will print the categories, including those NOT in th
Master Category List (MCL)

+ It appears that my only path is to create this print list, the
manually update the MCL with the categories.

+ It does not appear that there is any automated tool which will sca
all contacts and automatically update the Master Category List (MCL).

+ It does not appear that there is any identified automated tool whic
will identify and or print all categories which are NOT in the Maste
Category List (MCL).


James S. Huggins

..

 

[James S. Huggins]

Just for closure, I report that I rebuilt the categories. I'm truly
disappointed that Microsoft chose to create a topology that made this
necessary and to not create the tool which could have provided this
functionality, but such is life.

Thanks for the help.

I needed it and it was invaluable.

James S. Huggins

...

 

[Russ Valentine]

I feel your pain. Outlook has to be one of the most cantankerous, unfriendly
programs end users have ever had to deal with. The reasons are obvious.
Outlook was born as the client to Exchange Server, a role it fills well.
Some geniuses at Microsoft thought they could reshape their proprietary
Exchange Server client into an email program for all the various Internet
Mail protocols for which it was never designed, a role it has never served
competently and obviously never will.
Sadly, standalone end users who thought Outlook would be their premier email
program have been left with anything but. Instead we are left with a highly
proprietary and completely unfathomable data store, the PST file, that
abides by none of the conventions we would normally use for managing other
files. Ask anyone who has used their instincts and customary practices to
migrate their Outlook data instead of reading up on the subject. They get
skewered every time: You cannot overwrite a PST file. You cannot import a
PST file (with rare exception). You cannot rename a PST file. And every
version of Outlook has changed what is stored in the PST file and what is
stored elsewhere, but provided none of that information to the end user so
that they could accommodate to the changes they randomly make.
No wonder Outlook is the program we love to hate. You should never attempt
to do anything with Outlook without first reading about what you want to do
in these newsgroups and at the sites the dedicated and skilled Outlook MVP's
maintain:
http://www.slipstick.com/index.htm
http://www.outlook-tips.net/index.html
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
A thorough search of the KB never hurts either. Occasionally, Microsoft will
admit to its transgressions with Outlook, but not often enough.