Address Book disappeared!!!

Question

Yesterday my Address Book (Contacts) in Outlook Express suddenly disappeared.  Also, I can receive messages, but I get an error when I try to Reply.  When I try to open the Address Book I get an error message that Outlook Express needs to be reinstalled.  I searched for *.wab files, but only found some small, old files.  OE is part of IE6, but I am up to date on all updates for XP SP2. I tried System Restore, no luck.  I did LiveUpdate for Norton Internet Security, ran a virus scan, nothing showed up.  I tried Outlook, but it will not open.  Get an error message about 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Addins\fldpub.ecf' could not be installed. I tried reinstalling Microsoft Office Basic Edition from my OEM disks, but I get another error message that it cannot be installed.  Anybody have any clues???

Denny Denham · Answer

redsoxron,

Is your system set up to display hidden files and folders? The Windows Address Book is located in C:\Documents and Settings\ Your account\Application Data\Microsoft and the Application Data is a hidden file.

If you are being prompted to reinstall OE, the procedure for doing so is here.

Techmoscopic · Answer

Reinstalling OE does not mean you have to reinstall SP2

redsoxron · Answer

Denny,

I am set up to view hidden files. there is one small .wab file (173K) that has no names in it.

I have tried your link to re-installing OE, but it looks to me like it is telling me to re-install SP2, right?

redsoxron · Answer

I don't understand.  I am running Windows XP SP2 with all updates, and the corresponding IE 6 (I believe OE is part of this).  When I try to update, Windows Update says I have all the current updates installed.  So again, how do I reinstall OE??

Digf · Answer

Hello

Have you tried the following. Open Outlook Express click View - Layout - Customize Toolbar Your address book may be in the Available Toolbar List, if it is you are given the option to move it to the Current Toolbar List

Digf

redsoxron · Answer

I finally called Dell and paid $39 for a single incident to talk to a techie who walked me through Dell PC Restore. Thankfully I had backed up my personal files on my wife's computer through a wireless network. The Dell PC Restore program restores the computer to where it was when you took it out of the box. The benefit to a Windows XP reinstall is that it only takes about 15 minutes, and you do not have to reinstall any of the software that came preinstalled (Office 2003, Norton Internet Security, etc.).

One gripe I have is I needed to spend the $39 to learn how to access Dell PC Restore. While booting, you need to hold Ctrl+F11. Why doesn't Dell tell you this? I could not find it in any of the support articles.

Windows General

Address Book disappeared!!!

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