The toolbar changes to show you those functions that are available in the current context and hide those that are not available.
It is not at all clear from your post, though, what "Contacts" you are referring to and what symptoms suggest they are "lost."

Signature
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.turtleflock.com/olconfig/index.htm
and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx
> Our network does not allow placing personal contacts in the global listing or
> any
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx?mid=5eafc950-2b06-4
8ec-89ea-ebbc6215977c&dg=microsoft.public.outlook.contacts