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MS Office Forum / Outlook / Contacts / May 2006Any way to restore my contacts list after a computer crash?
My computer crashed. I had to reload Outlook and, of course, all of my contacts are gone. Are these stored in a file somewhere that may still be on my computer somewhere? Look under--C:\Documents and Settings\(user)\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook  SignatureRegards > My computer crashed. I had to reload Outlook and, of course, all of my > contacts are gone. Are these stored in a file somewhere that may still be > on > my computer somewhere? The file you need is your Personal Folders file (*.pst) It's where all the mail, calendar, contacts etc are stored. Take a look at these pages for info on Outlook data backup or transfer: http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx SignatureRuss Valentine [MVP-Outlook] > My computer crashed. I had to reload Outlook and, of course, all of my > contacts are gone. Are these stored in a file somewhere that may still be > on > my computer somewhere? Pardon the highjack, but is all this info found in just one file? (The file with the Office icon) SignatureRegards > The file you need is your Personal Folders file (*.pst) It's where all the > mail, calendar, contacts etc are stored. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >> be on >> my computer somewhere? Not quite sure what you're asking, but yes, all Outlook data is stored in one file. It has a PST extension. SignatureRuss Valentine [MVP-Outlook] > Pardon the highjack, but is all this info found in just one file? (The > file with the Office icon) [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >>> be on >>> my computer somewhere? The reason I ask, is because I have 3 folders that look alike, but have different properties (Mailbox, Outlook, and Personal Folders). This doesn't look right to me. SignatureRegards > Not quite sure what you're asking, but yes, all Outlook data is stored in > one file. It has a PST extension. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >>>> be on >>>> my computer somewhere? Where and in what version of Outlook do you see these three "folders?" SignatureRuss Valentine [MVP-Outlook] > The reason I ask, is because I have 3 folders that look alike, but have > different properties (Mailbox, Outlook, and Personal Folders). This [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] >>>>> still be on >>>>> my computer somewhere? C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook Outlook 2003 Pro SignatureRegards > Where and in what version of Outlook do you see these three "folders?" >> The reason I ask, is because I have 3 folders that look alike, but have [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >>>>>> still be on >>>>>> my computer somewhere? Then I assume you mean files. What is their file extension? It would not be unusual for you to have created more than one set of Outlook Data Files. Each Outlook profile usually has a different file. To see which you are using, just examine the properties of your root folder in Outlook. SignatureRuss Valentine [MVP-Outlook] > C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] >>>>>>> still be on >>>>>>> my computer somewhere? mailbox.PAB-- Outlook. NK2-- Personal Folders.PST (It's funny--Each one opens with "unknown application" in the properties box) I am only using one POP account. Can you steer me to the root folder? SignatureRegards > Then I assume you mean files. What is their file extension? > It would not be unusual for you to have created more than one set of [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] >>>>>>>> still be on >>>>>>>> my computer somewhere? Then only one of these is your PST file, obviously. The NK2 file is your autocompletion cache. The PAB file is a legacy file for Contacts that Outlook has not used for years (and I doubt you are). Your Contacts are stored in your PST file now. The root folder is simply the top folder in the Navigation Pane. It will usually be called "Outlook Today" or "Personal Folders" depending on how you configured your folder. In its properties, click on "Advanced" to see the name and location of the PST file you are currently using. SignatureRuss Valentine [MVP-Outlook] > mailbox.PAB-- Outlook. NK2-- Personal Folders.PST (It's funny--Each one > opens with "unknown application" in the properties box) [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] >>>>>>>>> still be on >>>>>>>>> my computer somewhere? I think I finally found the root folders you were referring to. I have two personal folders in the left pane--One has a house icon associated with it, and the other one has a file box icon. Both of these folders have what appears to be the same thing in them (inbox, outbox, etc.) and my mail is in both inboxes. Here is the path I found for the first Personal Folder in the navigation pane--C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Personal Folders.pst And the second Personal Folder--C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Personal Folders.pst I cannot find the .PAB file in Outlook's Navi pane. I tried to delete the file from its current location, but Outlook does not want to open without knowing where it is. Well, Outlook eventually opened after I went through the prompts in an effort to find the .PAB file--Even though Outlook never found it. I have since restored this folder back to where it used to be, along with the .PST folder. Did I answer your questions? SignatureRegards > Then only one of these is your PST file, obviously. The NK2 file is your > autocompletion cache. The PAB file is a legacy file for Contacts that [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] >>>>>>>>>> still be on >>>>>>>>>> my computer somewhere? I didn't have any questions. You did. You aren't using a PAB You can delete that file. The PST file and the NK2 file are both in use by Outlook. Leave them alone. In case you're interested, you also have a corrupt profile which has 2 references to the same data file. It doesn't hurt anything. You'd have to create a new Outlook profile from scratch to fix it. SignatureRuss Valentine [MVP-Outlook] >I think I finally found the root folders you were referring to. I have two >personal folders in the left pane--One has a house icon associated with it, [quoted text clipped - 68 lines] >>>>>>>>>>> may still be on >>>>>>>>>>> my computer somewhere? How can I stop Outlook from requesting the .PAB file, every time I open it (Outlook)? It asks for it after I send it to the recycle bin. As for fixing the corrupt .pst file situation--I guess it's best to create a new profile first, and then delete the old profile? SignatureRegards >I didn't have any questions. You did. > You aren't using a PAB You can delete that file. The PST file and the NK2 [quoted text clipped - 74 lines] >>>>>>>>>>>> may still be on >>>>>>>>>>>> my computer somewhere? So new information keeps trickling in. You never mentioned you were getting a prompt for the PAB. Why are you? You must have configured your profile to use a PAB at some point. Outlook never does that on its own. Do you have any reason to be using a PAB? Actually, creating a new profile will solve both problems. Make sure you do it from acratch and give it a different name. When you do, make sure you set it to use your current PST file, not the new one it will create. You can also migrate your autocompletion cache by renaming it to match your new profile's name. To create a new profile for Outlook 2002 and 2003: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;312354 SignatureRuss Valentine [MVP-Outlook] > How can I stop Outlook from requesting the .PAB file, every time I open it > (Outlook)? It asks for it after I send it to the recycle bin. [quoted text clipped - 81 lines] >>>>>>>>>>>>> may still be on >>>>>>>>>>>>> my computer somewhere? Remember this? (I cannot find the .PAB file in Outlook's Navi pane. I tried to delete the file from its current location, but *Outlook does not want to open without knowing where it is*. Well, Outlook eventually opened after I went through the prompts in an effort to find the .PAB file--Even though Outlook never found it. I have since restored this folder back to where it used to be, along with the .PST folder.) Sorry, but you misread the above, or you would have understood. --------------------------------------- I have no idea why I am getting a prompt for a .PAB file, unless, as you say, I configured my profile that way. I just installed Office a few months ago, and I have much to learn. Anyway, thanks for your help and the links Russ...I'll see if I can take it from here. SignatureRegards > So new information keeps trickling in. You never mentioned you were > getting a prompt for the PAB. Why are you? You must have configured your [quoted text clipped - 92 lines] >>>>>>>>>>>>>> may still be on >>>>>>>>>>>>>> my computer somewhere? But the above never appeared in this thread. You just jumped in and started asking about the files in your default Outlook location. SignatureRuss Valentine [MVP-Outlook] > Remember this? > [quoted text clipped - 111 lines] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> that may still be on >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> my computer somewhere? I don't quite follow you, but I think I have fixed things for now. Thanks again. SignatureRegards > But the above never appeared in this thread. You just jumped in and > started asking about the files in your default Outlook location. [quoted text clipped - 115 lines] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> that may still be on >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> my computer somewhere? Just look at the thread. You posted nothing about an error message concerning a PAB. You must have expected me to commit some other thread to memory. SignatureRuss Valentine [MVP-Outlook] >I don't quite follow you, but I think I have fixed things for now. > [quoted text clipped - 120 lines] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> that may still be on >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> my computer somewhere? I didn't start the thread Dr.--I just jumped in to get a little expert advice that the thread helped to trigger. You're splitting hairs in my opinion. No hard feelings though, and thanks for your help. SignatureRegards > Just look at the thread. You posted nothing about an error message > concerning a PAB. You must have expected me to commit some other thread to [quoted text clipped - 127 lines] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> that may still be on >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> my computer somewhere? Didn't mean to. I was just curious about the actual problem that caused you to post your question. It's an interesting error and I'd love to know what caused it. SignatureRuss Valentine [MVP-Outlook] >I didn't start the thread Dr.--I just jumped in to get a little expert >advice that the thread helped to trigger. [quoted text clipped - 135 lines] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> that may still be on >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> my computer somewhere? My apologies then. To tell you the truth, I'm not completely sure how this error got started. I had uninstalled Outlook back in March, due to lack of resources to run it efficiently. But I before I did that, I had moved the .pst file over to D drive.--I later on decided to delete the .pst file. After getting a memory upgrade, I reinstalled Outlook a few days ago, but it did not want to open without knowing where the .pst file was on D drive. I was a bit shocked that it would remember that after I had uninstalled the program and deleted the file--Maybe the uninstall didn't go correctly or something? My memory is a little vague about what I did next, but I remember going through some prompts, in order to create a new file. And I'm not sure how my new file wound up in--C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook. I think the correct (default) location is--C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\*Local Settings*\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook. (I am running XP Home w/SP2) I'm guessing that it was a combination of operator/ program error that caused my problems. I have another thread in the Outlook/ Installation forum addressing a problem with the Import Export wizard. Some of the files in the MSOcache folder were corrupted-Not sure how that happened, but it has since been fixed. SignatureRegards > Didn't mean to. I was just curious about the actual problem that caused > you to post your question. It's an interesting error and I'd love to know [quoted text clipped - 140 lines] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> somewhere that may still be on >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> my computer somewhere? What happenend is that Outlook profile settings are never deleted when you uninstall Outlook. So when you reinstalled it, it used those settings and kept looking for the same data file in the same location (a host of other settings were retained as well). The reason I was alarmed eventually to learn about that error message is that it suggested that perhaps you actually had been using a PAB file--which I had already told you was safe to delete because no one has used one for years. Now I'm sure you were not. My best guess is that in an attempt to create a new data file, you added the "Personal Address Book" to your profile which produced the prompt to find a non-existent PAB file. SignatureRuss Valentine [MVP-Outlook] > My apologies then. > [quoted text clipped - 167 lines] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> somewhere that may still be on >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> my computer somewhere? Quote... ""My best guess is that in an attempt to create a new data file, you added the "Personal Address Book" to your profile which produced the prompt to find a non-existent PAB file." ------------------------------- Now that you've jogged my memory--I believe that is what happened. SignatureRegards > What happenend is that Outlook profile settings are never deleted when you > uninstall Outlook. So when you reinstalled it, it used those settings and [quoted text clipped - 178 lines] >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> somewhere that may still be on >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> my computer somewhere? |
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