For some reason, I think the .wab file on my PC disappeared. Now, when I try to open the address book (wab.exe), I get an error. How do I rebuild the address book data file ? I am not concerned about the data. I just want the address book to work.
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I am assuming you did a search for *.wab and did not find it…yes? I am also assuming you received an error message when you tried to open your address book or as you seem to be saying outlook express…. so I will tell you to reinstall internet explorer with the mail and news option…. or install internet mail and news ver 1.0 … if the above doesn’t work please post the error message information so we may have a better idea of the root issue…I have outlook and outlook express along with internet explorer and can not find a wab file..However, my “Windows address book” works fine…you likely have some mismatched dll’s
OK. Here is the problem (detailed) -
MY OE & address book were working fine. I had about 100 records in my address book and I know that I had a .wab file in my system (I am not sure which directory, may be in "windows\application data\address book").
Then, one day I had to re-install MS Exchange and MS Fax. Now, when I try to access the address book from OE or by trying to run wab.exe, I get the error - "Unable to open Address Book. Address Book may not be configured properly". I copied a .wab file from another PC and opened it by double-clicking on it. It DOES open properly with address book. That's when I discovered that my .wab file has disappeared.
Also, now when I try to open a message window in OE (compose new mail or open an existing mail in a new window - preview pane works fine), I get the error "Unable to open this message". I know this is related to address book because this has happened to me before and I had fixed it myself. I remember I had lost all records in the process, but I had managed to make the Address Book and OE work. I don't bother about data, because I have back up, but I need to get the programs working. Last time, I may have re-installed IE, can't remember. But, I feel the root problem is with Address Book data. That's why I asked if anyone knew how to rebuild an address book data file (.wab) in the right directory with the right name.
Thanks for the help. I will try re-installing IE ultimately, but want to know if there is a way of fixing it without going through that.
Thanks.
Mark,
Thanks. Copying files worked !!
I didn't copy the first two files in your list, but copied the third file alongwith another file in "c:\program files\outlook express" directory related to the address book. The files that I copied are -
wab50.inf
wabmig.exe
and it worked....
Thanks.
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by: bchewPosted on 2000-01-20 at 14:12:59ID: 2372486
Outlook 97, 98, 2000, Express?
Reinstalling any of them will probably rebuild your (empty) address book if you are talking about a Personal Address Book or Outlook Adress Book. However, there is a better way, depending on the version you are running. If you are referring to the "Windows Address Book" that is part of Windows, not Outlook, and should be reinstalled from Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, Windows Setup.
Bert