"The address list could not be displayed"

[loren]

When I try to open my address list on Outlook 2003 (WinXP)
I get an error message that starts with the above
sentence.

Then it continues:
"The contacts folder associated with this address list
could not be opened and may have been moved or deleted,
or you do not have permissions."

I can open the contact list and see everything but when I
try to get to my address book I get the above message.

Can anybody please tell me how to fix this? I have about
10 years worth of email addresses in my contact list and
address book and now it will not open.

I still have some old .pst files saved as backups but now
I am terrified to move anything without guidance.
Everytime I try I make it worse.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

It is not unusual for the Outlook Address Book to "lose track" of the
connection to its Contacts Folder when you move or import your PST or update
your Outlook version or OS. Use the following steps to reset the connection.
Note that in some instances you may actually have to remove the Outlook
Address Book completely from your Profile, close Outlook, and then re-add it
before you can get it to work.

Go to Tools | E-mail accounts, select "View or change existing directories
or address books", and click OK. If you don't see the OAB in the Directories
and Address Books list, click the Back button, then select "Add a new
directory or address book", then "Additional Address Books", and add the
OAB. Then keep clicking Back until you get back to the first dialog box,
and go back to the Directories and Address Books list as you did earlier.
Once the OAB appears in the list, select it and then click Change to make
sure the Contacts folder(s) you want to display are listed. If any of them
aren't listed, you'll need to enable those Contacts folders as Outlook
Address Books by right clicking the folder, selecting Properties, clicking
the Outlook Address Book tab, and checking the "Show this folder as an
E-mail address book" box. Make sure you restart Outlook after making these
changes.

 

[Terrence]

Have the very same problem now...but the method you
suggested does not seem to work for me is there a way for
me to completed removed the contacts and re-add them..I'm
running XP and using office 2003 also...

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

You did not quote the correct post.
What method did not work? What did you do?
What happened instead?
Removing and re-adding Contacts will not fix the address book view.