Thanks, I appreicate your input. When I click my contacts folder I only get
two windows: Open New Windows and navigation pane options. That folder is
in the lower left column. So where is the contacts folder located? I can't
even find a place to put "contacts" in the task bar area...

The contacts folder is located in your default .pst fle or Exchange mailbox. You can also try using the Folder List view to display all folders, so you can right-click on the Contacts folder and bring up its Properties dialog.

You said the names I have sent messages to in the past are unrelated...but
they are stored somewhere because they automatically appear when i begin
typing a name in the "to" window...I want to see that list, pick from it
those I want to email.

That's not possible, at least not without a third-party tool. The "autocomplete" entries are in an .nk2 file that has no connection whatsoever with your Contacts folder.

Sorry if I'm dense but on my old computer when I clicked address book, those
who I have sent messages to in the past, simply appear. I am beginning to
think I must manually insert these names etc, into contact manager.

Recent versions of Outlook have no such feature. You can either add contacts manually or use VBA code to add them automatically.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.turtleflock.com/olconfig/index.htm
and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx