Never import Outlook data.
To migrate your old data used the steps Outlook tells you to:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx
Once you do, configure your Outlook Address Book correctly.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;287563&Product=ol2002

Signature
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
>I have a new computer with Outlook 2003 using a Contact list from an older
> version of Outlook ()2000). When writing a new email, clicking on the
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> there
> any way to access the old contacts by default?