Copying contacts from Outlook 2003 to Outlook 2002 problem

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MikeD. - 24 Jan 2006 21:42 GMT

I need to copy my contacts from Outlook 2003 on desktop to 2002 on laptop.
Searching this newsgroup extensively has got me to the point where I realize
I have to create a new .pst data file in the 97-2002 type from within
Outlook 2003, and then copy my contacts into it, before I copy this new .pst
file to the laptop and open it with 2002.

My problem is that I cannot copy my contacts (or contacts folder) to the
new file. With Outlook 2003 open, on the left side I have a list of folders,
I right click on "Contacts" folder, that opens a box that has "copy
Contacts...". When I select that, an other box opens up offering only more
folders to copy to. Nowhere is there the option to copy to another file.

Several threads have just said "copy and paste" or "drag and drop" to
accomplish this step, with no further instructions. I must be very dense
indeed; have been trying for over a day to get this done. Any help
appreciated. Thanks.

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Vince Averello [MVP-Outlook] - 24 Jan 2006 21:57 GMT

After you've created the New PST file or opened one it should appear on your
folder tree as a new root. You should be able to drag/drop things to it then

>I need to copy my contacts from Outlook 2003 on desktop to 2002 on laptop.
> Searching this newsgroup extensively has got me to the point where I
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> indeed; have been trying for over a day to get this done. Any help
> appreciated. Thanks.

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MikeD. - 25 Jan 2006 02:24 GMT

I got it working thanks to your hint. I didn't realize that Outlook can use
more than one .pst at a time, and these files show up as folders on that
folder "tree". It seems that if these files are opened once, Outlook is very
tenacious in trying to find them every time Outlook is started thereafter. I
had actually brought my contacts in the .pst file to the laptop, but in all
the stumbling around had created many copies of my personal folders and a lot
of confusion to sort out.

I only figured it out by experimenting with moving and hiding the various
.pst files outside the default directory. I think this program is way, way
too complex. May I ask, do you think most people even know how to properly
back-up these deeply buried files?

Anyway, thanks very much for the help, I'm sure I'll be asking for more!

> After you've created the New PST file or opened one it should appear on your
> folder tree as a new root. You should be able to drag/drop things to it then
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> > indeed; have been trying for over a day to get this done. Any help
> > appreciated. Thanks.

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Brian Tillman - 25 Jan 2006 15:13 GMT

> I got it working thanks to your hint. I didn't realize that Outlook
> can use more than one .pst at a time, and these files show up as
> folders on that folder "tree". It seems that if these files are
> opened once, Outlook is very tenacious in trying to find them every
> time Outlook is started thereafter.

Of course, unless you close them first. Right-click on the PST root and
choose Close. They will be removed from Outlook's display. You can then
close Outlook and manipulate them in Windows as you see fit.

> I only figured it out by experimenting with moving and hiding the
> various .pst files outside the default directory.

This is certainly the wrong approach. You could easily damage your Outlook
profile that way.

> May I ask, do you think most people
> even know how to properly back-up these deeply buried files?

Fairly easy.
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm

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Brian Tillman

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