I followed the instructions for copying mail and addresses from one computer
to another, but when I open the "contacts" folder, none of the addresses
appear in any of the distribution lists.

Then you followed the wrong instructions.
Which ones did you follow?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"FUMC" wrote in message
news
I followed the instructions for copying mail and addresses from one
computer
to another, but when I open the "contacts" folder, none of the addresses
appear in any of the distribution lists.

What I am attempting to do is move info from my old computer (Outlook) to my
new computer (also with Outlook 2003). I logged onto the Outlook Help Menu
and followed those instructions:
On the file menu, click Import and export
Click on Export to a file, and then click Next
In the list, click Personal Folder File (.pst). and then click Next.
Click the contact folder. ...
Under Save exported file as, click browse....
(in other words...find a location, name it, then save it)
Click Finish.

Then you go into Outlook, once again to import and export, this time
choosing import (import from another program or file)
Click Personal Folder file (.pst), click next
In the File to Import box, specify the location of the file to import (in
this case it was the contact backup that I had created via the export from
Outlook and copied to My Documents on my hard drive)

Since there was no existing contact folder, I'm not sure which of the three
options I chose in the next step, since I didn't think it mattered (i.e.,
allow duplicates, replace duplicates, don't allow duplicates)

....then completed the process.

The contact files imported into Outlook 2003, complete with distribution
lists. However, all of the distribution lists were empty. When I opened the
backup file via Outlook, I found that those distribution lists were also
empty, so I suspect they didn't get imported when everything else was
imported, which doesn't make sense. I go to the old computer and each
distribution list contains members.

Is there a better way to move the information from the old computer to the
new one? Everything else seems to have copied just fine (all the files as
well as all the individual email addresses).



"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

Then you followed the wrong instructions.
Which ones did you follow?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"FUMC" wrote in message
news
I followed the instructions for copying mail and addresses from one
computer
to another, but when I open the "contacts" folder, none of the addresses
appear in any of the distribution lists.

Those instructions are wrong. I don't know why they won't change them. We've
told them countless times to do so. Importing and exporting lose data every
time every time you use them. DL's are among the data that is lost if you
import and export.
Normally one would just make a copy of your Outlook data file then open it
in another installation. Then you can copy the data you need from it or
reuse it as the default in the new installation. That way no data is lost.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"FUMC" wrote in message
...
What I am attempting to do is move info from my old computer (Outlook) to
my
new computer (also with Outlook 2003). I logged onto the Outlook Help Menu
and followed those instructions:
On the file menu, click Import and export
Click on Export to a file, and then click Next
In the list, click Personal Folder File (.pst). and then click Next.
Click the contact folder. ...
Under Save exported file as, click browse....
(in other words...find a location, name it, then save it)
Click Finish.

Then you go into Outlook, once again to import and export, this time
choosing import (import from another program or file)
Click Personal Folder file (.pst), click next
In the File to Import box, specify the location of the file to import (in
this case it was the contact backup that I had created via the export from
Outlook and copied to My Documents on my hard drive)

Since there was no existing contact folder, I'm not sure which of the
three
options I chose in the next step, since I didn't think it mattered (i.e.,
allow duplicates, replace duplicates, don't allow duplicates)

...then completed the process.

The contact files imported into Outlook 2003, complete with distribution
lists. However, all of the distribution lists were empty. When I opened
the
backup file via Outlook, I found that those distribution lists were also
empty, so I suspect they didn't get imported when everything else was
imported, which doesn't make sense. I go to the old computer and each
distribution list contains members.

Is there a better way to move the information from the old computer to the
new one? Everything else seems to have copied just fine (all the files as
well as all the individual email addresses).



"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

Then you followed the wrong instructions.
Which ones did you follow?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"FUMC" wrote in message
news
I followed the instructions for copying mail and addresses from one
computer
to another, but when I open the "contacts" folder, none of the
addresses
appear in any of the distribution lists.

That sounds possible. Would you please elaborate on how to do that?

"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

Those instructions are wrong. I don't know why they won't change them. We've
told them countless times to do so. Importing and exporting lose data every
time every time you use them. DL's are among the data that is lost if you
import and export.
Normally one would just make a copy of your Outlook data file then open it
in another installation. Then you can copy the data you need from it or
reuse it as the default in the new installation. That way no data is lost.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"FUMC" wrote in message
...
What I am attempting to do is move info from my old computer (Outlook) to
my
new computer (also with Outlook 2003). I logged onto the Outlook Help Menu
and followed those instructions:
On the file menu, click Import and export
Click on Export to a file, and then click Next
In the list, click Personal Folder File (.pst). and then click Next.
Click the contact folder. ...
Under Save exported file as, click browse....
(in other words...find a location, name it, then save it)
Click Finish.

Then you go into Outlook, once again to import and export, this time
choosing import (import from another program or file)
Click Personal Folder file (.pst), click next
In the File to Import box, specify the location of the file to import (in
this case it was the contact backup that I had created via the export from
Outlook and copied to My Documents on my hard drive)

Since there was no existing contact folder, I'm not sure which of the
three
options I chose in the next step, since I didn't think it mattered (i.e.,
allow duplicates, replace duplicates, don't allow duplicates)

...then completed the process.

The contact files imported into Outlook 2003, complete with distribution
lists. However, all of the distribution lists were empty. When I opened
the
backup file via Outlook, I found that those distribution lists were also
empty, so I suspect they didn't get imported when everything else was
imported, which doesn't make sense. I go to the old computer and each
distribution list contains members.

Is there a better way to move the information from the old computer to the
new one? Everything else seems to have copied just fine (all the files as
well as all the individual email addresses).



"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

Then you followed the wrong instructions.
Which ones did you follow?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"FUMC" wrote in message
news I followed the instructions for copying mail and addresses from one
computer
to another, but when I open the "contacts" folder, none of the
addresses
appear in any of the distribution lists.

FUMC wrote:

That sounds possible. Would you please elaborate on how to do that?

http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm
--
Brian Tillman

That's rather a lot to sift through for one simple answer.

To open your old PST file that you have copied, just use the File Open
Outlook Data File command. Then you can copy any information you want into
your new installation's PST file.

To use a PST file from an earlier installation and set it to be the default
for your current installation of Outlook:
- 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.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"Brian Tillman" wrote in message
...
FUMC wrote:

That sounds possible. Would you please elaborate on how to do that?

http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm
--
Brian Tillman

Thannks Russ and Brian. Before receiving your reply (system sometimes works
a bit slow), I checked the article referred to in a previous post (Export
Outlook Contacts). Once I got the concept I tried this approach and it
worked (which seems a bit easier to expain FYI):

Went into the old computer, Outlook, Open, selected Outlook Data File, which
brought up the backup file. I right clicked on it and copied it, then pasted
it into a folder in My Documents (I titled Outlook files). Then I burned it
to a CD, took it to the other computer, copied it to My Documents on the new
computer and then followed the instructions for importing in Outlook.

Apparently importing works fine - exporting is the problem.

The frustration this erroneous information caused ... well, I work in a
church, and, as the old saying goes, "It's enough to make a preacher cuss!"
not to mention the several new gray hairs I'm sure popped out in the process.
I have distribution lists with 100+ names. I'm happy to say, they're all
there now. I do web work. Changing those instructions isn't that major!
Come on, Microsoft!!!!!!!

Thanks again. Without your guidance and support, I don't know what I would
have done.
Sincerely,
Sharon Fink


"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

That's rather a lot to sift through for one simple answer.

To open your old PST file that you have copied, just use the File Open
Outlook Data File command. Then you can copy any information you want into
your new installation's PST file.

To use a PST file from an earlier installation and set it to be the default
for your current installation of Outlook:
- 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.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"Brian Tillman" wrote in message
...
FUMC wrote:

That sounds possible. Would you please elaborate on how to do that?

http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm
--
Brian Tillman

Glad it worked. However, neither exporting nor importing is recommended.
Either can cause data loss.
Use the method I posted in the future to be safe.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"FUMC" wrote in message
...
Thannks Russ and Brian. Before receiving your reply (system sometimes
works
a bit slow), I checked the article referred to in a previous post (Export
Outlook Contacts). Once I got the concept I tried this approach and it
worked (which seems a bit easier to expain FYI):

Went into the old computer, Outlook, Open, selected Outlook Data File,
which
brought up the backup file. I right clicked on it and copied it, then
pasted
it into a folder in My Documents (I titled Outlook files). Then I burned
it
to a CD, took it to the other computer, copied it to My Documents on the
new
computer and then followed the instructions for importing in Outlook.

Apparently importing works fine - exporting is the problem.

The frustration this erroneous information caused ... well, I work in a
church, and, as the old saying goes, "It's enough to make a preacher
cuss!"
not to mention the several new gray hairs I'm sure popped out in the
process.
I have distribution lists with 100+ names. I'm happy to say, they're all
there now. I do web work. Changing those instructions isn't that major!
Come on, Microsoft!!!!!!!

Thanks again. Without your guidance and support, I don't know what I
would
have done.
Sincerely,
Sharon Fink


"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

That's rather a lot to sift through for one simple answer.

To open your old PST file that you have copied, just use the File Open

Outlook Data File command. Then you can copy any information you want
into
your new installation's PST file.

To use a PST file from an earlier installation and set it to be the
default
for your current installation of Outlook:
- 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.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"Brian Tillman" wrote in message
...
FUMC wrote:

That sounds possible. Would you please elaborate on how to do that?

http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm
--
Brian Tillman

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought I had it solved, but when I exit Outlook and
come back in, it reverts back to the Distribution Lists without the list of
names!!! I've now imported them twice and each time I exit and return,
they're gone. Why?!
"FUMC" wrote:

Thannks Russ and Brian. Before receiving your reply (system sometimes works
a bit slow), I checked the article referred to in a previous post (Export
Outlook Contacts). Once I got the concept I tried this approach and it
worked (which seems a bit easier to expain FYI):

Went into the old computer, Outlook, Open, selected Outlook Data File, which
brought up the backup file. I right clicked on it and copied it, then pasted
it into a folder in My Documents (I titled Outlook files). Then I burned it
to a CD, took it to the other computer, copied it to My Documents on the new
computer and then followed the instructions for importing in Outlook.

Apparently importing works fine - exporting is the problem.

The frustration this erroneous information caused ... well, I work in a
church, and, as the old saying goes, "It's enough to make a preacher cuss!"
not to mention the several new gray hairs I'm sure popped out in the process.
I have distribution lists with 100+ names. I'm happy to say, they're all
there now. I do web work. Changing those instructions isn't that major!
Come on, Microsoft!!!!!!!

Thanks again. Without your guidance and support, I don't know what I would
have done.
Sincerely,
Sharon Fink


"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

That's rather a lot to sift through for one simple answer.

To open your old PST file that you have copied, just use the File Open
Outlook Data File command. Then you can copy any information you want into
your new installation's PST file.

To use a PST file from an earlier installation and set it to be the default
for your current installation of Outlook:
- 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.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"Brian Tillman" wrote in message
...
FUMC wrote:

That sounds possible. Would you please elaborate on how to do that?

http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm
--
Brian Tillman