Switching to New Computer

Question

I am in the process of switching to a new Windows 11 computer. I have Outlook up and running. Email is working fine (IMAP). I copied my Outlook Data file from my old computer and installed it on new one. It is in Documents/Outlook/. I can see my calendar, contacts, memos on the new computer. What I cannot do is when I want to send an email to one of my contacts, I do not see any contacts when I enter the TO.

What have I screwed up?

Dennis

Answer 1

The 'this computer only' folder is in an IMAP data file that is set as default data file.

The other folder is just your email address? Are there contacts in it? In Outlook (not the address book) - switch to the People module (Ctrl+3 is the keyboard shortcut) - how many contacts folders do you see? Are you contacts there?

Answer 2

Diane.

It is showing two files:

Contacts (This Computer only) - ******@comcast.net

and just

******@comcast.net

I need either Contacts or Contacts (This Computer Only) - Outlook Data File

Should I start over and Export then Import the files I need?

Dennis

Answer 3

So when you click To, you don't see the contacts?

In the show addresses from menu on the right, does it list more than one account and if so, are the missing contacts there but not default? You can change that in the Address book's Tools > Options menu (you need to open it using the Address book button on the home ribbon to see Tools menu.)

I have other things to check in this article:

https://www.slipstick.com/outlook/people/contac...

Disclaimer:

slipstick.com is a site I run as a Microsoft MVP and the content is much more accurate and relevant than a general internet search. While the site is in English, there are translations options under the search box.

Answer 4

Diane,

Thank you for the information. My problem is that since I do not have the autocomplete list, if I create a new message in outlook and at the To address block; when I touch that it is supposed to show my complete contact list so I can select. It does not show the list.

Dennis

Answer 5

Hello drcsuefl

That is the autocomplete list - addresses are added as you send mail. You can get the autocomplete list from the old computer and use it on the new one.

It's at C:\Users%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook\RoamCache - it should be the largest Stream_Autocomplete_0_*.dat - and would have a recent modified date.

Copy it to same folder on the new computer. Close Outlook. If you have more than one email account in your profile, you may have than one autocomplete file - select the largest one. Press F2 or right click on the original and click Rename. Copy the name to the clipboard then add -old to it. Select the one from the old computer, press F2 or right-click and edit - paste the file name from the clipboard.

Restart Outlook. Most of the time, you will have the autocomplete list back. Occasionally it doesn't work - repeat the steps. If it fails the second time, you will need to build the autocomplete list as you go as it is corrupt.

-- Diane