How to delete duplicate contacts folders in Office XP?

[Guest]

Hi,
I have a client who has Office XP and when they go to create a new email and
they click on the "To:" button, an error is reported with the contacts, and
they need to select the second "contacts" option from the top right of the
page "Show names from" section.

I have seen this problem before with Office 97 and knew how to remove the
corrupted Contacts file/folder and leave the correct one in place. But I
can't seem to find how to do it for Office XP.

If my explanation needs better explaining, just say so.

Any help is appreciated,
rob.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Just remove the invalid reference to a Contacts Folder here:
Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing directories or address
books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >

 

[Guest]

I have the same problem, but I got there because my pst file was corrupted.
I've recovered most things from a backup file, but before deleting the old
Contacts (which I don't seem to be able to find under Contacts) I'd like to
import those or combine it with the "new" set.

How can I combine these before deleting the old one?

Thanks,
Richard

Just remove the invalid reference to a Contacts Folder here:
Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing directories or address
books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Hi,
I have a client who has Office XP and when they go to create a new email
and
they click on the "To:" button, an error is reported with the contacts,
and
they need to select the second "contacts" option from the top right of the
page "Show names from" section.

I have seen this problem before with Office 97 and knew how to remove the
corrupted Contacts file/folder and leave the correct one in place. But I
can't seem to find how to do it for Office XP.

If my explanation needs better explaining, just say so.

Any help is appreciated,
rob.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

This is not the same problem at all. Deleting an outdated reference to a
Contacts Folder does nothing to the data itself.
What is it you really need to do?
Normally one just opens a backup PST file and copies any data you need from
it into your current PST file. Importing is not advised.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I have the same problem, but I got there because my pst file was corrupted.
I've recovered most things from a backup file, but before deleting the old
Contacts (which I don't seem to be able to find under Contacts) I'd like
to
import those or combine it with the "new" set.

How can I combine these before deleting the old one?

Thanks,
Richard

Just remove the invalid reference to a Contacts Folder here:
Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing directories or address
books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Hi,
I have a client who has Office XP and when they go to create a new
email
and
they click on the "To:" button, an error is reported with the contacts,
and
they need to select the second "contacts" option from the top right of
the
page "Show names from" section.

I have seen this problem before with Office 97 and knew how to remove
the
corrupted Contacts file/folder and leave the correct one in place. But
I
can't seem to find how to do it for Office XP.

If my explanation needs better explaining, just say so.

Any help is appreciated,
rob.

 

[Guest]

The problem is the old pst file is corrupted and essentially hangs the
system. chkdsk finds no problem with the drive; the file is bad. XP is unable
to copy the file. The inbox repair tool cannot read the file. So copying from
my old pst file does not seem very promising. Now the name on the old
corrupted file has been changed and the file moved out of the current
directory. Outlook should not have any access to that file.

In the Contacts screen I show only one set of contacts, and many key names
are missing. When I click a "To" label while creating a message, the pop-up
window allows me to choose between two different Contacts list, both labeled
the same.

So I do have two sets of contacts. Clearly one is in the new pst file that
I'm building. I do not know where the other Contacts list is coming from, but
it has many entries that I would like to have. Your suggestion above, to a
slightly different problem, shows me how to open the tool and delete the old
list. That will be good, but I would like to get the names out of it first.

The "check names" function on a new message does not locate addresses stored
in the old Contacts list.

So what I "really need to do" is to copy the names from this mysterious
Contacts list, that I don't know how to access except when creating a message
using the To/cc button, into the current Contacts list that is part of my pst
file. Then I'll follow the instruction you already provided to delete the
extra Contacts list.

I appreciate you help!
Richard

This is not the same problem at all. Deleting an outdated reference to a
Contacts Folder does nothing to the data itself.
What is it you really need to do?
Normally one just opens a backup PST file and copies any data you need from
it into your current PST file. Importing is not advised.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I have the same problem, but I got there because my pst file was corrupted.
I've recovered most things from a backup file, but before deleting the old
Contacts (which I don't seem to be able to find under Contacts) I'd like
to
import those or combine it with the "new" set.

How can I combine these before deleting the old one?

Thanks,
Richard

Just remove the invalid reference to a Contacts Folder here:
Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing directories or address
books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message Hi,
I have a client who has Office XP and when they go to create a new
email
and
they click on the "To:" button, an error is reported with the contacts,
and
they need to select the second "contacts" option from the top right of
the
page "Show names from" section.

I have seen this problem before with Office 97 and knew how to remove
the
corrupted Contacts file/folder and leave the correct one in place. But
I
can't seem to find how to do it for Office XP.

If my explanation needs better explaining, just say so.

Any help is appreciated,
rob.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

What you describe is not possible. You cannot display any data in the
Outlook Address Book that does not reside in one of the Contacts Folders in
your profile. You'll need to examine your profile more carefully.
Have you used Folder view to display your entire folder hierarchy?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

The problem is the old pst file is corrupted and essentially hangs the
system. chkdsk finds no problem with the drive; the file is bad. XP is
unable
to copy the file. The inbox repair tool cannot read the file. So copying
from
my old pst file does not seem very promising. Now the name on the old
corrupted file has been changed and the file moved out of the current
directory. Outlook should not have any access to that file.

In the Contacts screen I show only one set of contacts, and many key names
are missing. When I click a "To" label while creating a message, the
pop-up
window allows me to choose between two different Contacts list, both
labeled
the same.

So I do have two sets of contacts. Clearly one is in the new pst file that
I'm building. I do not know where the other Contacts list is coming from,
but
it has many entries that I would like to have. Your suggestion above, to a
slightly different problem, shows me how to open the tool and delete the
old
list. That will be good, but I would like to get the names out of it
first.

The "check names" function on a new message does not locate addresses
stored
in the old Contacts list.

So what I "really need to do" is to copy the names from this mysterious
Contacts list, that I don't know how to access except when creating a
message
using the To/cc button, into the current Contacts list that is part of my
pst
file. Then I'll follow the instruction you already provided to delete the
extra Contacts list.

I appreciate you help!
Richard

This is not the same problem at all. Deleting an outdated reference to a
Contacts Folder does nothing to the data itself.
What is it you really need to do?
Normally one just opens a backup PST file and copies any data you need
from
it into your current PST file. Importing is not advised.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I have the same problem, but I got there because my pst file was
corrupted.
I've recovered most things from a backup file, but before deleting the
old
Contacts (which I don't seem to be able to find under Contacts) I'd
like
to
import those or combine it with the "new" set.

How can I combine these before deleting the old one?

Thanks,
Richard

:

Just remove the invalid reference to a Contacts Folder here:
Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing directories or
address
books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message Hi,
I have a client who has Office XP and when they go to create a new
email
and
they click on the "To:" button, an error is reported with the
contacts,
and
they need to select the second "contacts" option from the top right
of
the
page "Show names from" section.

I have seen this problem before with Office 97 and knew how to
remove
the
corrupted Contacts file/folder and leave the correct one in place.
But
I
can't seem to find how to do it for Office XP.

If my explanation needs better explaining, just say so.

Any help is appreciated,
rob.

 

[Guest]

Russ, if you are refering to the heirachy of folders on the left side, then
"yes" - I always have that displayed.

It shows that I have 7 main or top-level folders (files). Using the "Go"
"Folder List" it reveals more info, and two of the files has a Contacts
subfolder. So that is where the list came from. I have no idea why 2, and not
7, of these exist, but that is probably not worth trying to figure out.

Most of my contacts are in the Contacts of the Personal top-level folder.
The other one only has 2 names in it. I just drug both of them to the main
Contacts in Personal. No other top-level fonder includes a Contacts
sub-folder.

Next I initiaated a new message, and clicked the "To" button. The "Select
Names" pop-up shows "Contacts" in the "Show Names from the:" field. The names
I just moved into my "main" Contacts are not there. The options in this field
are "Outlook Address Book", "Contacts", or "Contacts". The names I just moved
are included in the second "Contacts" selection.

Back in the main Outlook screen - if I select "Tools" and "Email Accounts"
and then under "Directory" I select "View of change existing directories or
address books" I find a single MAPI entry of "Outlook Address Book". If I
click Change for it I get a new pop-up with two entries, both "Contacts:
Personal". I can find no way to differentiate between the two entries, but I
could select either one.

So somehow when it comes to the address book it appears that Outlook thinks
there are two separate files. When I simply open the ADdress Book I also see
two "Contacts" listed (makes sense - same utility).

Now, with the Address Book open, clicking on the File menu has "Add to
contacts" greyed out for one "Contacts" but active for the other. The
Properties for both simply say "Personal". Same is true of the Add to
Contacts icon.

What can I describe better for you? I still need to get all the addresses
into a single "Contacts" to move forward....

Thanks for your patience,
Richard

What you describe is not possible. You cannot display any data in the
Outlook Address Book that does not reside in one of the Contacts Folders in
your profile. You'll need to examine your profile more carefully.
Have you used Folder view to display your entire folder hierarchy?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

The problem is the old pst file is corrupted and essentially hangs the
system. chkdsk finds no problem with the drive; the file is bad. XP is
unable
to copy the file. The inbox repair tool cannot read the file. So copying
from
my old pst file does not seem very promising. Now the name on the old
corrupted file has been changed and the file moved out of the current
directory. Outlook should not have any access to that file.

In the Contacts screen I show only one set of contacts, and many key names
are missing. When I click a "To" label while creating a message, the
pop-up
window allows me to choose between two different Contacts list, both
labeled
the same.

So I do have two sets of contacts. Clearly one is in the new pst file that
I'm building. I do not know where the other Contacts list is coming from,
but
it has many entries that I would like to have. Your suggestion above, to a
slightly different problem, shows me how to open the tool and delete the
old
list. That will be good, but I would like to get the names out of it
first.

The "check names" function on a new message does not locate addresses
stored
in the old Contacts list.

So what I "really need to do" is to copy the names from this mysterious
Contacts list, that I don't know how to access except when creating a
message
using the To/cc button, into the current Contacts list that is part of my
pst
file. Then I'll follow the instruction you already provided to delete the
extra Contacts list.

I appreciate you help!
Richard

This is not the same problem at all. Deleting an outdated reference to a
Contacts Folder does nothing to the data itself.
What is it you really need to do?
Normally one just opens a backup PST file and copies any data you need
from
it into your current PST file. Importing is not advised.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I have the same problem, but I got there because my pst file was
corrupted.
I've recovered most things from a backup file, but before deleting the
old
Contacts (which I don't seem to be able to find under Contacts) I'd
like
to
import those or combine it with the "new" set.

How can I combine these before deleting the old one?

Thanks,
Richard

:

Just remove the invalid reference to a Contacts Folder here:
Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing directories or
address
books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message Hi,
I have a client who has Office XP and when they go to create a new
email
and
they click on the "To:" button, an error is reported with the
contacts,
and
they need to select the second "contacts" option from the top right
of
the
page "Show names from" section.

I have seen this problem before with Office 97 and knew how to
remove
the
corrupted Contacts file/folder and leave the correct one in place.
But
I
can't seem to find how to do it for Office XP.

If my explanation needs better explaining, just say so.

Any help is appreciated,
rob.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Shouldn't be hard. Just move all Contacts into the main folder. Delete the
other folders. Delete the reference to the other folders. Restart Outlook.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ, if you are refering to the heirachy of folders on the left side,
then
"yes" - I always have that displayed.

It shows that I have 7 main or top-level folders (files). Using the "Go"
"Folder List" it reveals more info, and two of the files has a Contacts
subfolder. So that is where the list came from. I have no idea why 2, and
not
7, of these exist, but that is probably not worth trying to figure out.

Most of my contacts are in the Contacts of the Personal top-level folder.
The other one only has 2 names in it. I just drug both of them to the main
Contacts in Personal. No other top-level fonder includes a Contacts
sub-folder.

Next I initiaated a new message, and clicked the "To" button. The "Select
Names" pop-up shows "Contacts" in the "Show Names from the:" field. The
names
I just moved into my "main" Contacts are not there. The options in this
field
are "Outlook Address Book", "Contacts", or "Contacts". The names I just
moved
are included in the second "Contacts" selection.

Back in the main Outlook screen - if I select "Tools" and "Email Accounts"
and then under "Directory" I select "View of change existing directories
or
address books" I find a single MAPI entry of "Outlook Address Book". If I
click Change for it I get a new pop-up with two entries, both "Contacts:
Personal". I can find no way to differentiate between the two entries, but
I
could select either one.

So somehow when it comes to the address book it appears that Outlook
thinks
there are two separate files. When I simply open the ADdress Book I also
see
two "Contacts" listed (makes sense - same utility).

Now, with the Address Book open, clicking on the File menu has "Add to
contacts" greyed out for one "Contacts" but active for the other. The
Properties for both simply say "Personal". Same is true of the Add to
Contacts icon.

What can I describe better for you? I still need to get all the addresses
into a single "Contacts" to move forward....

Thanks for your patience,
Richard

What you describe is not possible. You cannot display any data in the
Outlook Address Book that does not reside in one of the Contacts Folders
in
your profile. You'll need to examine your profile more carefully.
Have you used Folder view to display your entire folder hierarchy?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

The problem is the old pst file is corrupted and essentially hangs the
system. chkdsk finds no problem with the drive; the file is bad. XP is
unable
to copy the file. The inbox repair tool cannot read the file. So
copying
from
my old pst file does not seem very promising. Now the name on the old
corrupted file has been changed and the file moved out of the current
directory. Outlook should not have any access to that file.

In the Contacts screen I show only one set of contacts, and many key
names
are missing. When I click a "To" label while creating a message, the
pop-up
window allows me to choose between two different Contacts list, both
labeled
the same.

So I do have two sets of contacts. Clearly one is in the new pst file
that
I'm building. I do not know where the other Contacts list is coming
from,
but
it has many entries that I would like to have. Your suggestion above,
to a
slightly different problem, shows me how to open the tool and delete
the
old
list. That will be good, but I would like to get the names out of it
first.

The "check names" function on a new message does not locate addresses
stored
in the old Contacts list.

So what I "really need to do" is to copy the names from this mysterious
Contacts list, that I don't know how to access except when creating a
message
using the To/cc button, into the current Contacts list that is part of
my
pst
file. Then I'll follow the instruction you already provided to delete
the
extra Contacts list.

I appreciate you help!
Richard

:

This is not the same problem at all. Deleting an outdated reference to
a
Contacts Folder does nothing to the data itself.
What is it you really need to do?
Normally one just opens a backup PST file and copies any data you need
from
it into your current PST file. Importing is not advised.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I have the same problem, but I got there because my pst file was
corrupted.
I've recovered most things from a backup file, but before deleting
the
old
Contacts (which I don't seem to be able to find under Contacts) I'd
like
to
import those or combine it with the "new" set.

How can I combine these before deleting the old one?

Thanks,
Richard

:

Just remove the invalid reference to a Contacts Folder here:
Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing directories or
address
books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
in
message Hi,
I have a client who has Office XP and when they go to create a
new
email
and
they click on the "To:" button, an error is reported with the
contacts,
and
they need to select the second "contacts" option from the top
right
of
the
page "Show names from" section.

I have seen this problem before with Office 97 and knew how to
remove
the
corrupted Contacts file/folder and leave the correct one in
place.
But
I
can't seem to find how to do it for Office XP.

If my explanation needs better explaining, just say so.

Any help is appreciated,
rob.

 

[Guest]

Russ, my difficulty is identifying a way to move those contacts. The only way
I can find them is with the Address Book open, and that does not allow
drag-n-drop, nor do I find a way to "move" the contacts easily.

This is effectively my query....

It does appear that I can open each contact, one-by-one, and move it to
another folder. For well over 100 contacts that is overly exciting.... :-(

Richard

Shouldn't be hard. Just move all Contacts into the main folder. Delete the
other folders. Delete the reference to the other folders. Restart Outlook.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ, if you are refering to the heirachy of folders on the left side,
then
"yes" - I always have that displayed.

It shows that I have 7 main or top-level folders (files). Using the "Go"
"Folder List" it reveals more info, and two of the files has a Contacts
subfolder. So that is where the list came from. I have no idea why 2, and
not
7, of these exist, but that is probably not worth trying to figure out.

Most of my contacts are in the Contacts of the Personal top-level folder.
The other one only has 2 names in it. I just drug both of them to the main
Contacts in Personal. No other top-level fonder includes a Contacts
sub-folder.

Next I initiaated a new message, and clicked the "To" button. The "Select
Names" pop-up shows "Contacts" in the "Show Names from the:" field. The
names
I just moved into my "main" Contacts are not there. The options in this
field
are "Outlook Address Book", "Contacts", or "Contacts". The names I just
moved
are included in the second "Contacts" selection.

Back in the main Outlook screen - if I select "Tools" and "Email Accounts"
and then under "Directory" I select "View of change existing directories
or
address books" I find a single MAPI entry of "Outlook Address Book". If I
click Change for it I get a new pop-up with two entries, both "Contacts:
Personal". I can find no way to differentiate between the two entries, but
I
could select either one.

So somehow when it comes to the address book it appears that Outlook
thinks
there are two separate files. When I simply open the ADdress Book I also
see
two "Contacts" listed (makes sense - same utility).

Now, with the Address Book open, clicking on the File menu has "Add to
contacts" greyed out for one "Contacts" but active for the other. The
Properties for both simply say "Personal". Same is true of the Add to
Contacts icon.

What can I describe better for you? I still need to get all the addresses
into a single "Contacts" to move forward....

Thanks for your patience,
Richard

What you describe is not possible. You cannot display any data in the
Outlook Address Book that does not reside in one of the Contacts Folders
in
your profile. You'll need to examine your profile more carefully.
Have you used Folder view to display your entire folder hierarchy?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
The problem is the old pst file is corrupted and essentially hangs the
system. chkdsk finds no problem with the drive; the file is bad. XP is
unable
to copy the file. The inbox repair tool cannot read the file. So
copying
from
my old pst file does not seem very promising. Now the name on the old
corrupted file has been changed and the file moved out of the current
directory. Outlook should not have any access to that file.

In the Contacts screen I show only one set of contacts, and many key
names
are missing. When I click a "To" label while creating a message, the
pop-up
window allows me to choose between two different Contacts list, both
labeled
the same.

So I do have two sets of contacts. Clearly one is in the new pst file
that
I'm building. I do not know where the other Contacts list is coming
from,
but
it has many entries that I would like to have. Your suggestion above,
to a
slightly different problem, shows me how to open the tool and delete
the
old
list. That will be good, but I would like to get the names out of it
first.

The "check names" function on a new message does not locate addresses
stored
in the old Contacts list.

So what I "really need to do" is to copy the names from this mysterious
Contacts list, that I don't know how to access except when creating a
message
using the To/cc button, into the current Contacts list that is part of
my
pst
file. Then I'll follow the instruction you already provided to delete
the
extra Contacts list.

I appreciate you help!
Richard

:

This is not the same problem at all. Deleting an outdated reference to
a
Contacts Folder does nothing to the data itself.
What is it you really need to do?
Normally one just opens a backup PST file and copies any data you need
from
it into your current PST file. Importing is not advised.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I have the same problem, but I got there because my pst file was
corrupted.
I've recovered most things from a backup file, but before deleting
the
old
Contacts (which I don't seem to be able to find under Contacts) I'd
like
to
import those or combine it with the "new" set.

How can I combine these before deleting the old one?

Thanks,
Richard

:

Just remove the invalid reference to a Contacts Folder here:
Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing directories or
address
books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
in
message Hi,
I have a client who has Office XP and when they go to create a
new
email
and
they click on the "To:" button, an error is reported with the
contacts,
and
they need to select the second "contacts" option from the top
right
of
the
page "Show names from" section.

I have seen this problem before with Office 97 and knew how to
remove
the
corrupted Contacts file/folder and leave the correct one in
place.
But
I
can't seem to find how to do it for Office XP.

If my explanation needs better explaining, just say so.

Any help is appreciated,
rob.

 

[Brian Tillman]

It does appear that I can open each contact, one-by-one, and move it
to another folder. For well over 100 contacts that is overly
exciting.... :-(

Open one of the Contacts folders (in Outlook, not the Address Book), select
the first contact by clicking on it, select them all with CTRL-A and then
click Edit>Copy to Folder or right-click the selection and choose Move to
Folder. Choose the Contacts folder where they should go as a destination.
Alternatively, you can right-click the selection and drag-and-drop, choosing
Copy or Move as you please. Then right-click the empty Contacts folder
itself, choose Properties, click the Outlook Address Book tab, and uncheck
"Show this folder as an e-mail Address Book" or open the address book, click
Tools>Options, select the empty Contacts folder and click Remove. If you
don't know which one's the empty one by examining the name, in the address
book, use the "Show Names from the" drop-down to see which one is empty.
They're in the same order there that they are on Tools>Options.

 

[Brian Tillman]

It shows that I have 7 main or top-level folders (files). Using the
"Go" "Folder List" it reveals more info, and two of the files has a
Contacts subfolder. So that is where the list came from. I have no
idea why 2, and not 7, of these exist, but that is probably not worth
trying to figure out.

If the two that have Contacts folders also have Inbox, Outbox, and the other
default folders, then at some point those PSTs were designated as delivery
locations and Outlook created those fodlers automatucally. If the other
default folders don't exist in a particular PST but a Contacts folder does,
then you must have created the Contacts folder manually.

Most of my contacts are in the Contacts of the Personal top-level
folder. The other one only has 2 names in it. I just drug both of
them to the main Contacts in Personal. No other top-level fonder
includes a Contacts sub-folder.

Good. Can you delete the now-empty Contacts folder? If the other default
folders exist in that PST, then chances are you can't, because Outlook won't
let you delete folders it created automatically when the PST was a delivery
location even if it no longer is the delivery location.

Next I initiaated a new message, and clicked the "To" button. The
"Select Names" pop-up shows "Contacts" in the "Show Names from the:"
field. The names I just moved into my "main" Contacts are not there.
The options in this field are "Outlook Address Book", "Contacts", or
"Contacts". The names I just moved are included in the second
"Contacts" selection.

Then in the Address Book, click Tools>Options, select the first Contacts
folder and click Remove.

Back in the main Outlook screen - if I select "Tools" and "Email
Accounts" and then under "Directory" I select "View of change
existing directories or address books" I find a single MAPI entry of
"Outlook Address Book". If I click Change for it I get a new pop-up
with two entries, both "Contacts: Personal". I can find no way to
differentiate between the two entries, but I could select either one.

One should go away when you remove it from the address book as above or when
you uncheck the "Show this folder..." option in the folder's Properties.

So somehow when it comes to the address book it appears that Outlook
thinks there are two separate files. When I simply open the ADdress
Book I also see two "Contacts" listed (makes sense - same utility).

Not two files, two folders.

Now, with the Address Book open, clicking on the File menu has "Add to
contacts" greyed out for one "Contacts" but active for the other. The
Properties for both simply say "Personal". Same is true of the Add to
Contacts icon.

You shouldn't ever use the Address Book interface to add a contact.

 

[Guest]

Brian, the problem is when I go to the Contacts area in Outlook (not Address
Book) I only have one Contacts folder - the new one. This dialog is about how
to discover where the mysterious Cotacts folder is located so that I can move
the items. Opening the Folder View to see all the folers and their full
contents reveals no other Contacts forlder with any contents. (One other of
the 7 folders, besides Personal, does have a Contacts folder but I already
moved everything out of it.) This mysterious Contacts folder - from before my
Outlook.pst file was currputed and is now removed - contains valuable info
that I want to retain.

Richard

 

[Guest]

See below...... Thanks, Richard

If the two that have Contacts folders also have Inbox, Outbox, and the other
default folders, then at some point those PSTs were designated as delivery
locations and Outlook created those fodlers automatucally. If the other
default folders don't exist in a particular PST but a Contacts folder does,
then you must have created the Contacts folder manually.

OK, that makes sense. I don't recall if the other system folders are there
(it is at home; I am at work) and I certaily don't recall creating a Contacts
folder, but that could happen....

Good. Can you delete the now-empty Contacts folder? If the other default
folders exist in that PST, then chances are you can't, because Outlook won't
let you delete folders it created automatically when the PST was a delivery
location even if it no longer is the delivery location.

I was not very clear. The Contacts in Personal has a lot of contacts, most
restored by Importing from a July 2 backup; I lost my Outlook.pst file over a
week ago and am trying to recover info. The other Contacts folder that I can
find had only 2 names and I moved them. This Contacts folder never showed in
Address Book. The Address Book shows yet an additional Contacts list that has
many entries I added after my July 2 backup was made. I do not want to lose
these, but neither do they appear in my Contacts area of Outlook. I can only
find them by opening Address Book and then choosing the second Contacts item
in the list.

Then in the Address Book, click Tools>Options, select the first Contacts
folder and click Remove.

I do not want to remove that Contacts folder until I get the names out of
it. There is some very important information there (thus all this pain on how
to find it).

One should go away when you remove it from the address book as above or when
you uncheck the "Show this folder..." option in the folder's Properties.


Not two files, two folders.


You shouldn't ever use the Address Book interface to add a contact.

Yeah, I don't. This info was provided to help clarify the picture. The
Address Book believes that there are two Contacts folders. I see this both by
opening the Adderss Book (rare except for this troubleshooting) or by
clicking the To/cc buttons when creating a message. The auto-find of names
when creating a new message only finds names located in the Contacts folder
in my Personal file (top-level folder). Not finding some recent customers is
how I discovered the dual Contacts folders.

 

[Brian Tillman]

I do not want to remove that Contacts folder until I get the names
out of it. There is some very important information there (thus all
this pain on how to find it).

How do you know there are names in it, using the "Show Names from the"
drop-down? There can be only two contacts folders showing in the address
book: the one in your "Outlook Today" personal folders and the one in the
other Personal Folders file you have. Since you say you moved the contacts
from the latter to the former, you can disable the latter as an address book
and the Address Book interface won't show it.

The auto-find of names when creating a new message only
finds names located in the Contacts folder in my Personal file
(top-level folder). Not finding some recent customers is how I
discovered the dual Contacts folders.

If the Address Book interface shows two Contacts folders and selecting each
in the "Show Names from the" drop-down shows you names, then you MUST have
both of those folders in your mail profile. Does what's in File>Data File
Management agree with what you see int he Folders List in the Navigation
Pane? If so, those two Contacts folders are in one or more of the PSTs in
your profile (unless they're in an Exchange public folder, but your
description doesn't suggest that).

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Reread my post. I explained this already. What you claim is not possible.
There is simply no such thing as a Contact that resides in your Outlook
Address Book that does not reside in a Contacts Folder. The Outlook Address
Book contains no data. It only displays the contents of your Contacts
Folders. You need to look more carefully at ALL of your Contacts Folders.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ, my difficulty is identifying a way to move those contacts. The only
way
I can find them is with the Address Book open, and that does not allow
drag-n-drop, nor do I find a way to "move" the contacts easily.

This is effectively my query....

It does appear that I can open each contact, one-by-one, and move it to
another folder. For well over 100 contacts that is overly exciting....
:-(

Richard

Shouldn't be hard. Just move all Contacts into the main folder. Delete
the
other folders. Delete the reference to the other folders. Restart
Outlook.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ, if you are refering to the heirachy of folders on the left side,
then
"yes" - I always have that displayed.

It shows that I have 7 main or top-level folders (files). Using the
"Go"
"Folder List" it reveals more info, and two of the files has a Contacts
subfolder. So that is where the list came from. I have no idea why 2,
and
not
7, of these exist, but that is probably not worth trying to figure out.

Most of my contacts are in the Contacts of the Personal top-level
folder.
The other one only has 2 names in it. I just drug both of them to the
main
Contacts in Personal. No other top-level fonder includes a Contacts
sub-folder.

Next I initiaated a new message, and clicked the "To" button. The
"Select
Names" pop-up shows "Contacts" in the "Show Names from the:" field. The
names
I just moved into my "main" Contacts are not there. The options in this
field
are "Outlook Address Book", "Contacts", or "Contacts". The names I just
moved
are included in the second "Contacts" selection.

Back in the main Outlook screen - if I select "Tools" and "Email
Accounts"
and then under "Directory" I select "View of change existing
directories
or
address books" I find a single MAPI entry of "Outlook Address Book". If
I
click Change for it I get a new pop-up with two entries, both
"Contacts:
Personal". I can find no way to differentiate between the two entries,
but
I
could select either one.

So somehow when it comes to the address book it appears that Outlook
thinks
there are two separate files. When I simply open the ADdress Book I
also
see
two "Contacts" listed (makes sense - same utility).

Now, with the Address Book open, clicking on the File menu has "Add to
contacts" greyed out for one "Contacts" but active for the other. The
Properties for both simply say "Personal". Same is true of the Add to
Contacts icon.

What can I describe better for you? I still need to get all the
addresses
into a single "Contacts" to move forward....

Thanks for your patience,
Richard



:

What you describe is not possible. You cannot display any data in the
Outlook Address Book that does not reside in one of the Contacts
Folders
in
your profile. You'll need to examine your profile more carefully.
Have you used Folder view to display your entire folder hierarchy?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
The problem is the old pst file is corrupted and essentially hangs
the
system. chkdsk finds no problem with the drive; the file is bad. XP
is
unable
to copy the file. The inbox repair tool cannot read the file. So
copying
from
my old pst file does not seem very promising. Now the name on the
old
corrupted file has been changed and the file moved out of the
current
directory. Outlook should not have any access to that file.

In the Contacts screen I show only one set of contacts, and many key
names
are missing. When I click a "To" label while creating a message, the
pop-up
window allows me to choose between two different Contacts list, both
labeled
the same.

So I do have two sets of contacts. Clearly one is in the new pst
file
that
I'm building. I do not know where the other Contacts list is coming
from,
but
it has many entries that I would like to have. Your suggestion
above,
to a
slightly different problem, shows me how to open the tool and delete
the
old
list. That will be good, but I would like to get the names out of it
first.

The "check names" function on a new message does not locate
addresses
stored
in the old Contacts list.

So what I "really need to do" is to copy the names from this
mysterious
Contacts list, that I don't know how to access except when creating
a
message
using the To/cc button, into the current Contacts list that is part
of
my
pst
file. Then I'll follow the instruction you already provided to
delete
the
extra Contacts list.

I appreciate you help!
Richard

:

This is not the same problem at all. Deleting an outdated reference
to
a
Contacts Folder does nothing to the data itself.
What is it you really need to do?
Normally one just opens a backup PST file and copies any data you
need
from
it into your current PST file. Importing is not advised.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I have the same problem, but I got there because my pst file was
corrupted.
I've recovered most things from a backup file, but before
deleting
the
old
Contacts (which I don't seem to be able to find under Contacts)
I'd
like
to
import those or combine it with the "new" set.

How can I combine these before deleting the old one?

Thanks,
Richard

:

Just remove the invalid reference to a Contacts Folder here:
Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing directories or
address
books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"Robert O'Connell" <[email protected]>
wrote
in
message
Hi,
I have a client who has Office XP and when they go to create a
new
email
and
they click on the "To:" button, an error is reported with the
contacts,
and
they need to select the second "contacts" option from the top
right
of
the
page "Show names from" section.

I have seen this problem before with Office 97 and knew how to
remove
the
corrupted Contacts file/folder and leave the correct one in
place.
But
I
can't seem to find how to do it for Office XP.

If my explanation needs better explaining, just say so.

Any help is appreciated,
rob.

 

[Guest]

Sorry, Brian, but what you describe is what I would expect, but not what I see.

The File -> Data Files shows the same files that appear in the folder list.
There are two of those folders that have a Contacts folder (along with the
other 'system' folders one would expect). When I click on the one in Personal
folder I find a bunch of names, but there are many names that I had before my
old pst file was crupted that are not there. When I click on the other one it
is empty.

When I open the Address Book, or just click on the "To" button for a new
message, the list I get matches what I see in the Contacts list in the
Personal folder. Many names are missing. But the Address Book has a second
Contacts in the "Show Names from the" window. If I choose the other Contacts
list there, it is full of names and includes the names I added over the last
three months that are not in the Contacts folder under Personal. (Those are
the names I need to save.)

Last weekend, after I exhausted ideas on recovering the old Outlook.pst
file, I renamed it to OLD.pst and moved it to a different folder on my system
(while Outlook was not running). That file cannot be copied by XP due to CRC
errors, Outlook cannot write to it, and the Inbox Repair tool cannot open it.
It appears to be toast.

So I have multiple opinions that the Contacts folder I see doesn't exist,
but it still has lots of items that I need. I suspect my only recourse is to
print the Contacts folder that is working properly, then read through the
other list and, when I see one I need, Open its propoerties and copy or move
it to another folder, choosing the Contacts in Personal. It will be tedious,
but it is better than losing everything.

Odd that know one seems to know where else Outlook stores this, other than
where everyone would expect it to be stored....

I'm still open to ideas, and willing to answer questions... (I'd even email
a screen capture....) Thanks, Richard

 

[Brian Tillman]

I'm still open to ideas, and willing to answer questions... (I'd even
email
a screen capture....)

Posting screen captures may be advantageous.

 

[Guest]

I would be happy to provide screen shots showing the impossible. What is it
that cannot happen?

An entry called Contacts in the Address Book look-here field that has
entries which do not show up in any Contacts folder in the files section?
Doesn't make sense to me either. But I can show it to you.

Each of my two Contacts lists that appear in the Address Book have about 315
entries. Unfortunately, they are not the same.

In the folders view I find exactly two Contacts lists/folders. One has about
315 entries. The other one has zero entries.

This makes no sense to me, and everything I know about Outlook says it will
not happen. But I have a list of over 300 items that indicates that the world
is not always like we think it is. Frustrating!!

You suggest that I re-read your posts. I've done that, and just did it
again. I agree that the AB should not have any Contacts that are not in the
folders. The only thing I can figure is that Outlook has a cache someplace
not in the pst file and the old Contacts folder that was located in my
now-gone corrupt Outlook.pst file is in the cache.

I agree with your's and Brian's logic and explanations, but it doesn't match
my absurb reality. If you care to provide things for me to check, I'm happy
to do that. I do not want to delete the Contacts that appears in the Tools ->
E-mail Accounts -> View of change existing directories or address books ->
(Outlook Address Book) Change: where it shows two entries, both labeled
"Contacts: Personal" because I strongly suspect that these two entries are my
two populated lists. (My emplty Contacts list does not appear in this area at
all.) And I only have one Folder labeled "Personal" inspite of Outlook saying
there are two Personal folders with a Contacts folder.

Richard

Reread my post. I explained this already. What you claim is not possible.
There is simply no such thing as a Contact that resides in your Outlook
Address Book that does not reside in a Contacts Folder. The Outlook Address
Book contains no data. It only displays the contents of your Contacts
Folders. You need to look more carefully at ALL of your Contacts Folders.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ, my difficulty is identifying a way to move those contacts. The only
way
I can find them is with the Address Book open, and that does not allow
drag-n-drop, nor do I find a way to "move" the contacts easily.

This is effectively my query....

It does appear that I can open each contact, one-by-one, and move it to
another folder. For well over 100 contacts that is overly exciting....
:-(

Richard

Shouldn't be hard. Just move all Contacts into the main folder. Delete
the
other folders. Delete the reference to the other folders. Restart
Outlook.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Russ, if you are refering to the heirachy of folders on the left side,
then
"yes" - I always have that displayed.

It shows that I have 7 main or top-level folders (files). Using the
"Go"
"Folder List" it reveals more info, and two of the files has a Contacts
subfolder. So that is where the list came from. I have no idea why 2,
and
not
7, of these exist, but that is probably not worth trying to figure out.

Most of my contacts are in the Contacts of the Personal top-level
folder.
The other one only has 2 names in it. I just drug both of them to the
main
Contacts in Personal. No other top-level fonder includes a Contacts
sub-folder.

Next I initiaated a new message, and clicked the "To" button. The
"Select
Names" pop-up shows "Contacts" in the "Show Names from the:" field. The
names
I just moved into my "main" Contacts are not there. The options in this
field
are "Outlook Address Book", "Contacts", or "Contacts". The names I just
moved
are included in the second "Contacts" selection.

Back in the main Outlook screen - if I select "Tools" and "Email
Accounts"
and then under "Directory" I select "View of change existing
directories
or
address books" I find a single MAPI entry of "Outlook Address Book". If
I
click Change for it I get a new pop-up with two entries, both
"Contacts:
Personal". I can find no way to differentiate between the two entries,
but
I
could select either one.

So somehow when it comes to the address book it appears that Outlook
thinks
there are two separate files. When I simply open the ADdress Book I
also
see
two "Contacts" listed (makes sense - same utility).

Now, with the Address Book open, clicking on the File menu has "Add to
contacts" greyed out for one "Contacts" but active for the other. The
Properties for both simply say "Personal". Same is true of the Add to
Contacts icon.

What can I describe better for you? I still need to get all the
addresses
into a single "Contacts" to move forward....

Thanks for your patience,
Richard



:

What you describe is not possible. You cannot display any data in the
Outlook Address Book that does not reside in one of the Contacts
Folders
in
your profile. You'll need to examine your profile more carefully.
Have you used Folder view to display your entire folder hierarchy?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
The problem is the old pst file is corrupted and essentially hangs
the
system. chkdsk finds no problem with the drive; the file is bad. XP
is
unable
to copy the file. The inbox repair tool cannot read the file. So
copying
from
my old pst file does not seem very promising. Now the name on the
old
corrupted file has been changed and the file moved out of the
current
directory. Outlook should not have any access to that file.

In the Contacts screen I show only one set of contacts, and many key
names
are missing. When I click a "To" label while creating a message, the
pop-up
window allows me to choose between two different Contacts list, both
labeled
the same.

So I do have two sets of contacts. Clearly one is in the new pst
file
that
I'm building. I do not know where the other Contacts list is coming
from,
but
it has many entries that I would like to have. Your suggestion
above,
to a
slightly different problem, shows me how to open the tool and delete
the
old
list. That will be good, but I would like to get the names out of it
first.

The "check names" function on a new message does not locate
addresses
stored
in the old Contacts list.

So what I "really need to do" is to copy the names from this
mysterious
Contacts list, that I don't know how to access except when creating
a
message
using the To/cc button, into the current Contacts list that is part
of
my
pst
file. Then I'll follow the instruction you already provided to
delete
the
extra Contacts list.

I appreciate you help!
Richard

:

This is not the same problem at all. Deleting an outdated reference
to
a
Contacts Folder does nothing to the data itself.
What is it you really need to do?
Normally one just opens a backup PST file and copies any data you
need
from
it into your current PST file. Importing is not advised.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I have the same problem, but I got there because my pst file was
corrupted.
I've recovered most things from a backup file, but before
deleting
the
old
Contacts (which I don't seem to be able to find under Contacts)
I'd
like
to
import those or combine it with the "new" set.

How can I combine these before deleting the old one?

Thanks,
Richard

:

Just remove the invalid reference to a Contacts Folder here:
Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing directories or
address
books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"Robert O'Connell" <[email protected]>
wrote
in
message
Hi,
I have a client who has Office XP and when they go to create a
new
email
and
they click on the "To:" button, an error is reported with the
contacts,
and
they need to select the second "contacts" option from the top
right
of
the
page "Show names from" section.

I have seen this problem before with Office 97 and knew how to
remove
the
corrupted Contacts file/folder and leave the correct one in
place.
But
I
can't seem to find how to do it for Office XP.

If my explanation needs better explaining, just say so.

Any help is appreciated,
rob.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

As I said, what is impossible is that you would have a Contact appear in the
Outlook Address Book that does exist in one of your Contacts Folders. That
simply can't happen.
I have no doubt that you have a thoroughly corrupted Outlook Address Book
Service that has any number of invalid references to Contacts Folders. But
the Outlook Address Book contains no data and cannot display a Contact that
does not exist in a Contact Folder in your profile. Therefore, you have no
need to try to "save" entries from your Outlook Address Book. Just repair
the Outlook Address Book Service. The easiest way to do that is to remove
the Service. Restart Outlook. Consolidate your Contacts Folders however you
wish.Then re-add the Outlook Address Book Service and designate your
Contacts Folders as email address books in their properties.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I would be happy to provide screen shots showing the impossible. What is it
that cannot happen?

An entry called Contacts in the Address Book look-here field that has
entries which do not show up in any Contacts folder in the files section?
Doesn't make sense to me either. But I can show it to you.

Each of my two Contacts lists that appear in the Address Book have about
315
entries. Unfortunately, they are not the same.

In the folders view I find exactly two Contacts lists/folders. One has
about
315 entries. The other one has zero entries.

This makes no sense to me, and everything I know about Outlook says it
will
not happen. But I have a list of over 300 items that indicates that the
world
is not always like we think it is. Frustrating!!

You suggest that I re-read your posts. I've done that, and just did it
again. I agree that the AB should not have any Contacts that are not in
the
folders. The only thing I can figure is that Outlook has a cache someplace
not in the pst file and the old Contacts folder that was located in my
now-gone corrupt Outlook.pst file is in the cache.

I agree with your's and Brian's logic and explanations, but it doesn't
match
my absurb reality. If you care to provide things for me to check, I'm
happy
to do that. I do not want to delete the Contacts that appears in the
Tools ->
E-mail Accounts -> View of change existing directories or address books ->
(Outlook Address Book) Change: where it shows two entries, both labeled
"Contacts: Personal" because I strongly suspect that these two entries are
my
two populated lists. (My emplty Contacts list does not appear in this area
at
all.) And I only have one Folder labeled "Personal" inspite of Outlook
saying
there are two Personal folders with a Contacts folder.

Richard

Reread my post. I explained this already. What you claim is not possible.
There is simply no such thing as a Contact that resides in your Outlook
Address Book that does not reside in a Contacts Folder. The Outlook
Address
Book contains no data. It only displays the contents of your Contacts
Folders. You need to look more carefully at ALL of your Contacts Folders.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ, my difficulty is identifying a way to move those contacts. The
only
way
I can find them is with the Address Book open, and that does not allow
drag-n-drop, nor do I find a way to "move" the contacts easily.

This is effectively my query....

It does appear that I can open each contact, one-by-one, and move it to
another folder. For well over 100 contacts that is overly exciting....
:-(

Richard

:

Shouldn't be hard. Just move all Contacts into the main folder. Delete
the
other folders. Delete the reference to the other folders. Restart
Outlook.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Russ, if you are refering to the heirachy of folders on the left
side,
then
"yes" - I always have that displayed.

It shows that I have 7 main or top-level folders (files). Using the
"Go"
"Folder List" it reveals more info, and two of the files has a
Contacts
subfolder. So that is where the list came from. I have no idea why
2,
and
not
7, of these exist, but that is probably not worth trying to figure
out.

Most of my contacts are in the Contacts of the Personal top-level
folder.
The other one only has 2 names in it. I just drug both of them to
the
main
Contacts in Personal. No other top-level fonder includes a Contacts
sub-folder.

Next I initiaated a new message, and clicked the "To" button. The
"Select
Names" pop-up shows "Contacts" in the "Show Names from the:" field.
The
names
I just moved into my "main" Contacts are not there. The options in
this
field
are "Outlook Address Book", "Contacts", or "Contacts". The names I
just
moved
are included in the second "Contacts" selection.

Back in the main Outlook screen - if I select "Tools" and "Email
Accounts"
and then under "Directory" I select "View of change existing
directories
or
address books" I find a single MAPI entry of "Outlook Address Book".
If
I
click Change for it I get a new pop-up with two entries, both
"Contacts:
Personal". I can find no way to differentiate between the two
entries,
but
I
could select either one.

So somehow when it comes to the address book it appears that Outlook
thinks
there are two separate files. When I simply open the ADdress Book I
also
see
two "Contacts" listed (makes sense - same utility).

Now, with the Address Book open, clicking on the File menu has "Add
to
contacts" greyed out for one "Contacts" but active for the other.
The
Properties for both simply say "Personal". Same is true of the Add
to
Contacts icon.

What can I describe better for you? I still need to get all the
addresses
into a single "Contacts" to move forward....

Thanks for your patience,
Richard



:

What you describe is not possible. You cannot display any data in
the
Outlook Address Book that does not reside in one of the Contacts
Folders
in
your profile. You'll need to examine your profile more carefully.
Have you used Folder view to display your entire folder hierarchy?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
The problem is the old pst file is corrupted and essentially
hangs
the
system. chkdsk finds no problem with the drive; the file is bad.
XP
is
unable
to copy the file. The inbox repair tool cannot read the file. So
copying
from
my old pst file does not seem very promising. Now the name on the
old
corrupted file has been changed and the file moved out of the
current
directory. Outlook should not have any access to that file.

In the Contacts screen I show only one set of contacts, and many
key
names
are missing. When I click a "To" label while creating a message,
the
pop-up
window allows me to choose between two different Contacts list,
both
labeled
the same.

So I do have two sets of contacts. Clearly one is in the new pst
file
that
I'm building. I do not know where the other Contacts list is
coming
from,
but
it has many entries that I would like to have. Your suggestion
above,
to a
slightly different problem, shows me how to open the tool and
delete
the
old
list. That will be good, but I would like to get the names out of
it
first.

The "check names" function on a new message does not locate
addresses
stored
in the old Contacts list.

So what I "really need to do" is to copy the names from this
mysterious
Contacts list, that I don't know how to access except when
creating
a
message
using the To/cc button, into the current Contacts list that is
part
of
my
pst
file. Then I'll follow the instruction you already provided to
delete
the
extra Contacts list.

I appreciate you help!
Richard

:

This is not the same problem at all. Deleting an outdated
reference
to
a
Contacts Folder does nothing to the data itself.
What is it you really need to do?
Normally one just opens a backup PST file and copies any data
you
need
from
it into your current PST file. Importing is not advised.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I have the same problem, but I got there because my pst file
was
corrupted.
I've recovered most things from a backup file, but before
deleting
the
old
Contacts (which I don't seem to be able to find under
Contacts)
I'd
like
to
import those or combine it with the "new" set.

How can I combine these before deleting the old one?

Thanks,
Richard

:

Just remove the invalid reference to a Contacts Folder here:
Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing directories
or
address
books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"Robert O'Connell" <[email protected]>
wrote
in
message
Hi,
I have a client who has Office XP and when they go to
create a
new
email
and
they click on the "To:" button, an error is reported with
the
contacts,
and
they need to select the second "contacts" option from the
top
right
of
the
page "Show names from" section.

I have seen this problem before with Office 97 and knew how
to
remove
the
corrupted Contacts file/folder and leave the correct one in
place.
But
I
can't seem to find how to do it for Office XP.

If my explanation needs better explaining, just say so.

Any help is appreciated,
rob.