problem restoring existing outlook state after backing up

i wanted to reformat to refresh my computer. i backed up outlook in .pst
files and my .wab and a few other important documents on cds and formatted
the rest.

now, i've successfully imported my folders but i didn't know about .pab
files. now everytime i try searching my contacts (which i backed up and
restored in a contacts.pst) it says none exist, or if i click new mail "To" i
get an empty list. is it possible to restore my pab from my contacts .pst or
recover them from my .wab or another way?

Outlook has not used a PAB for years, so it is highly unlikely you were.
Far more likely, you transferred your data incorrectly and corrupted the
settings in your profile. That will happen every time, for example, when you
import your old data instead of configuring Outlook to use it.
It would be easier to help you if you posted your Outlook version. Never
import a PST. Read through all of this information on how to migrate Outlook
data. Pick out what applies to your version:
To use another PST file (such as one from an earlier installation) and set
it to be the default for your current installation of Outlook, you will
first need to know the location and name of the PST file you'd like to use
as your new default. Then use the following directions, depending on version
and mode of Outlook:

Corporate Mode: (With Outlook closed)
- Control Panel Mail applet
- Remove the current Personal Folder service
- Readd the service, directing it to the new PST file location
- Restart Outlook

Internet Mail Only mode:
- File menu Open Personal Folders file migrate to the new PST file
location to open it
- Right-click on the root of the new set of folders in the folder pane (View
Folder List)
- Choose Properties
- Check the "Deliver POP mail" box
- Quit & restart Outlook
- Now you can Close the PST file that you were previously using (R-click on
that pst folder while in Folder View and select "Close foldername
Folders"). If you have any information in your former PST that you'd like to
transfer to your new default PST, you can drag and drop from one to the
other before you close the old one.


Outlook 2002:
- Go to Tools Options Mail Setup Data Files Add...
- Add the PST you'd like as your new default, then Close OK to exit the
Options dialog
- Go to Tools E-mail Accounts View or change existing e-mail accounts
- Select the PST you just added in the "Deliver New e-mail to the following
location" dropdown (it will most likely appear just below the current
default Personal Folders file) Finish
- Exit and Restart Outlook
- You can now close the previous default PST (R-click on that pst folder
while in Folder View and select "Close foldername Folders"). If you have
any information in your former PST that you'd like to transfer to your new
default PST, you can drag and drop from one to the other before you close
the old one.

Outlook 2003:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/as...771141033.aspx

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"Adam B" Adam wrote in message
...
i wanted to reformat to refresh my computer. i backed up outlook in .pst
files and my .wab and a few other important documents on cds and formatted
the rest.

now, i've successfully imported my folders but i didn't know about .pab
files. now everytime i try searching my contacts (which i backed up and
restored in a contacts.pst) it says none exist, or if i click new mail
"To" i
get an empty list. is it possible to restore my pab from my contacts .pst
or
recover them from my .wab or another way?

i was briefly reading over some of other people's problems with importing and
restoring contact lists and didn't realize that .pab files were used in older
models. i know i didn't back them up, thus figured it was my mistake and why
it wasn't working. to clarify the situation... im backing up and restoring
Outlook 2003 on the same pc, simply pre and post formatting. i exported pst
files (seperate ones for inbox, sent items, and contacts) and then after
reinstalling outlook 2003, i tried importing them one by one. it worked fine
for my inbox and sent items but i now have duplicates in my contacts area and
none in my outlook contacts 'address book' in which i select who i want to
mail and am able to search my contacts with. i kept my .pst files and don't
mind uninstalling and trying again if you could guide me through the proper
way of bringing my contacts into outlook 2003. i would only assume that if i
exported them, by doing the reverse, importing them, things would go
smoothly. thanks for your help...

I already posted what you need to do.
Create a new profile. Follow the Help File's instructions for migrating your
Outlook Data File:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/as...771141033.aspx

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"Adam B" Adam wrote in message
...
i was briefly reading over some of other people's problems with importing
and
restoring contact lists and didn't realize that .pab files were used in
older
models. i know i didn't back them up, thus figured it was my mistake and
why
it wasn't working. to clarify the situation... im backing up and restoring
Outlook 2003 on the same pc, simply pre and post formatting. i exported
pst
files (seperate ones for inbox, sent items, and contacts) and then after
reinstalling outlook 2003, i tried importing them one by one. it worked
fine
for my inbox and sent items but i now have duplicates in my contacts area
and
none in my outlook contacts 'address book' in which i select who i want to
mail and am able to search my contacts with. i kept my .pst files and
don't
mind uninstalling and trying again if you could guide me through the
proper
way of bringing my contacts into outlook 2003. i would only assume that if
i
exported them, by doing the reverse, importing them, things would go
smoothly. thanks for your help...

Russ, thanks for your help. i wasn't so concerned about my mail files.. those
i imported successfully. what was causing the problem was my contacts. i
eventually solved the problem by reimporting them using your method and
following this help file (
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/as...127381033.aspx ) to
configure Outlook to use the newly imported contacts. thanks again for your
time.