Problems with data files/*.pst import/Contacts

[Mary]

Problem: Contacts File shows up empty. Address Book email names and
addresses does show up properly.

Background: Previously was using Outlook 2003 Pro on Windows XP Home. Had
an increasing number of weird “buggy†problems in various applications, so
finally decided to upgrade OS to Windows XP Pro by installing over XP Home as
an alternative to re-formatting the hard drive and/or hacking the registry.
(I’m pretty sure I was having registry issues). The new OS loaded
successfully and I began re-installation of frequently-used software,
including Office.

Mistakenly installed Office 2003 for Students and Professionals instead of
Office 2003 Professional. Had tried to import the previous *.pst file from
my previous user directory, unsuccessfully. At this point Contacts file was
blank. After downloading some updates, I realized that I was not running
Office 2003 Pro and so I uninstalled Office 2003 Students and Teacher
edition, using the Control Panel. I then installed Office 2003 Professional,
as well as Service Pack 1 for Office 2003 Professional.

I am still unable to see my Contacts file. Now it appears that I cannot
even access the portions of Outlook necessary to deal with data files,
importing *.pst files, etc.

As far as I can tell, I never wrote over the previous *.pst file. My
current OS installation shows my user account as “User.ComputerNameâ€; my
previous Documents And Settings folder still contains the previous user data
in a folder called “Userâ€.

Here’s a summary of what doesn’t work properly (and a few things that do work)

1. Contacts File: does not show any names or info, just blank spaces.
2. Address Book: does show previous names and email addresses.
3. Import/Export for *.pst file – doesn’t seem to respond.
4. File – Data File Management – doesn’t seem to respond.
5. File – Open – Outlook Data File – doesn’t seem to respond

Current OS = Windows 2003 Professional
Current Office version = Office 2003 Professional, with SP1. Used
“complete†installation of all features, to run from hard disk.

Possible solutions entertained, and questions:
1. Remove the entire Outlook Address Book Service? How?
2. Remove Outlook 2003 Pro and reinstall the whole thing, including
re-installing service packs and updates? (Oh please, not again!)
3. Start a new profile? How?
4. Some other solution – what?

Please help … I could find nothing on TechNet or in this newsgroup for this
specific problem(s). I am at my wits’ end!
Thanks.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Windows XP Pro is not an "upgrade" to Windows XP Home.
Installing another Windows XP version over another is never recommended and
could not possibly solve any problem you were having with Outlook. It would,
however, disrupt your already corrupt Outlook settings even further.

I can't imagine a more convoluted series of missteps to compound your
problem beyond all repair. I sincerely hope you have good backups of your
data.

 

[Mary]

Sorry if I wasn't clear. I was NOT trying to fix Outlook problems when I
installed XP Professional. Outlook was behaving fine at that point. And my
data, with the possible exception of application data, is still fine and
accessible on my hard drive.

I do appreciate your input ... but am still looking for solutions. Thanks.

Windows XP Pro is not an "upgrade" to Windows XP Home.
Installing another Windows XP version over another is never recommended and
could not possibly solve any problem you were having with Outlook. It would,
however, disrupt your already corrupt Outlook settings even further.

I can't imagine a more convoluted series of missteps to compound your
problem beyond all repair. I sincerely hope you have good backups of your
data.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Problem: Contacts File shows up empty. Address Book email names and
addresses does show up properly.

Background: Previously was using Outlook 2003 Pro on Windows XP Home.
Had
an increasing number of weird "buggy" problems in various applications, so
finally decided to upgrade OS to Windows XP Pro by installing over XP Home
as
an alternative to re-formatting the hard drive and/or hacking the
registry.
(I'm pretty sure I was having registry issues). The new OS loaded
successfully and I began re-installation of frequently-used software,
including Office.

Mistakenly installed Office 2003 for Students and Professionals instead of
Office 2003 Professional. Had tried to import the previous *.pst file
from
my previous user directory, unsuccessfully. At this point Contacts file
was
blank. After downloading some updates, I realized that I was not running
Office 2003 Pro and so I uninstalled Office 2003 Students and Teacher
edition, using the Control Panel. I then installed Office 2003
Professional,
as well as Service Pack 1 for Office 2003 Professional.

I am still unable to see my Contacts file. Now it appears that I cannot
even access the portions of Outlook necessary to deal with data files,
importing *.pst files, etc.

As far as I can tell, I never wrote over the previous *.pst file. My
current OS installation shows my user account as "User.ComputerName"; my
previous Documents And Settings folder still contains the previous user
data
in a folder called "User".

Here's a summary of what doesn't work properly (and a few things that do
work)

1. Contacts File: does not show any names or info, just blank spaces.
2. Address Book: does show previous names and email addresses.
3. Import/Export for *.pst file - doesn't seem to respond.
4. File - Data File Management - doesn't seem to respond.
5. File - Open - Outlook Data File - doesn't seem to respond

Current OS = Windows 2003 Professional
Current Office version = Office 2003 Professional, with SP1. Used
"complete" installation of all features, to run from hard disk.

Possible solutions entertained, and questions:
1. Remove the entire Outlook Address Book Service? How?
2. Remove Outlook 2003 Pro and reinstall the whole thing, including
re-installing service packs and updates? (Oh please, not again!)
3. Start a new profile? How?
4. Some other solution - what?

Please help . I could find nothing on TechNet or in this newsgroup for
this
specific problem(s). I am at my wits' end!
Thanks.

 

[Mary]

It should also be noted that I *deleted* the Windows (XP Home) directory
first, and booted the computer from a boot disk as part of the process of
installing Windows XP Professional. I *did* mistakenly install Outlook 2003
Students and Teacher over Outlook 2003 Professional at this point, onto
Windows XP Professional. Realizing the error, I subsequently uninstalled
Outlook Students and Teacher prior to installing Outlook 2003 Professional as
I do wish I had done in the first place.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Then I'll need some further clarification. Your first statement is not
compatible with reality. You cannot have entries in the Outlook Address Book
and a blank Contacts Folder. The Outlook Address Book does not contain data.
It only shows the contents of a Contacts Folder. So somewhere you have a
Contacts Folder in your Outlook profile. How many PST files and how many
Contacts Folders do you have in this profile?

Also, importing is never the correct way to transfer Outlook data. Do you
still have your original PST file intact? If I were you I would completely
remove Office 2003, reinstall it, run Detect and Repair.
Then create a new Outlook profile from scratch and configure it to use your
original PST file.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;312354
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx