Outlook Addresses

The information is stored in a .NK2 file.  I have never tried moving it from 1 PC to another but so long as the Outlook version is the same you should be OK.  There is more about it here ==> http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/copy-autocomplete-name-list-to-another-computer-HA001139451.aspx

Hope this helps

Priz

I do not see the following folders in Windows 7 when I try to do what the above doc says to do.

Moving from one PC to another works fine, but the name of the mail profile Outlook is using must be the same; the NK2 file is named after the profile, so you can either change the filename of the NK2 file or change the mail profile name on the new computer.

If you open a Run prompt and enter "%appdata%\microsoft\outlook" it should bring up the folder containing your NK2 file.

When I run the above  "%appdata%\microsoft\outlook" I do not see any NK2 files. See attached screen shot.
ee.PNG

Sorry, didn't notice you were using Outlook 2007; try this isntead:

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook

Still no NK2 Files.
ee1.PNG

Make sure you enable to option to see hidden files and folders, as this article suggests. If the NK2 file still isn't there after that I don't know what to tell you, I suppose a search of the entire hard drive would be needed.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/where-does-microsoft-office-outlook-2007-save-my-information-and-configurations-HP010066914.aspx

Is NK2 the extension name of the file or the File name itself???

It's just the extension, the filename will match the name of the Outlook mail profile for that user.

For example if my mail profile was named TheGorby then my NK2 file would be TheGorby.nk2

I've requested that this question be deleted for the following reason:

No correct answer

The correct answers have been given, see the link I posted in comment 35342719; if you are still unable to find the NK2 file on the OLD computer/profile, then either:

-there never was an old NK2
-it was deleted or the location was moved
-there is another problem with the original PC

TheGorby

Still not the correct answer sorry! There is no extension of nk2 and no files have been deleted. IF you will look again at the screen shot above you will see that. I will not award points for an incorrect answer.

South Mod.

Still no correct answer!

I provided the link to a Microsoft website documenting the correct default location of the NK2 file for Outlook 2007 on Windows XP, 2003 and Vista/7. If the NK2 file you need is not in that location, then there is something wrong with your computer, not my answer.

Your original question asked if there is a way to transfer the autocomplete addresses in Outlook. I provided that information, but now a new issue has arisen from your original question; the NK2 file does not seem to exist in the default location. I have no problem helping you with this as well. As I said before, one of the following has happened:

-there never was an old NK2 (not likely, I believe you that there was)
-it was deleted or the location was moved (most likely, in my opinion)
-there is another problem with the original PC (corrupt hard drive, files, etc.)

As I suggested, did you make sure hidden files are visible? Did you search all local hard drives on the original PC for files with a .NK2 extension?

Is it possible that the user's Windows/Outlook profile information was or is stored on a network share? The .NK2 file may be there instead.

The bottom line is, if the .NK2 file is no longer on any hard drive on the old PC or stored on a network location, then it is gone forever. Possibly you could restore the old PC to an earlier date in hopes that the NK2 file would exist in that restore point. Just because your specific NK2 is missing does not mean my answers are wrong. I realize that some problems can have complex issues that could be solved in a myriad of different ways, but this is not one of those problems. The NK2 file is the only method used by Outlook 2007 to store the autocomplete address entries, so if that file is gone or unrecoverable then your issue is over and the information I provided to lead you to that result is the answer to this overall question. This is the way that EE works as I've come to understand it.

The Gorby,

I have tried your suggestion on 3 different computers now running outlook and NO .nk2 file on any of the three one of which is my own. Sorry but this is not the correct answer I am looking for. I will not award points for the reason of saying that someone deleted a file.

I said it was deleted or moved. I know it's not the answer you wanted, but it is the correct one. I never meant to imply that it was a final answer - I wasn't done troubleshooting, which is why I'm still providing suggestions on how to track down the NK2 file. You didn't reply to my last suggestion for 3 months and then you suddenly came in and tried to delete it without giving me any feedback, that is why I objected to it.

It would be my guess that your company uses roaming profiles or redirected folders, and that some or all of the Windows profile information is stored on a network location. That would also mean that the NK2 file would be in the profile folders stored in that location. Another possibility is that mandatory profiles are being used, in which case the NK2 file would cease to exist once the user logged off of the computer. Assuming these 3 computers are providing autocomplete entries for the users, and you searched the entire hard drive of these computers and found no NK2 file, these are the only possibilities.

If not, then there is something custom configured on your network that's causing the NK2 file to be stored somewhere else. I do not know how your network and user settings are configured, but I have provided you all the information necessary to solve your problem.

The NK2 file is the ONLY way that Outlook 2007 stores the autocomplete entries. If that file is not in the default/correct location that I provided, or any network location that you know of, then you need to get with your network admin and find out where that Outlook and/or Windows profile information is being redirected to. For example, using Group Policy it is possible to redirect only the Application Data folder of users' profiles, as opposed to the whole profile. The NK2 file would be stored at the redirected location in that scenario.

I've worked with Outlook 2003 and 2007 for years and transferred NK2 files to and from hundreds of computers owned by several different people/companies. They all use NK2 files. Outlook 2010, however, does not use an NK2 file. The only way Outlook doesn't create an NK2 file is if the autocomplete feature is turned off (in Options, the checkbox "Suggest names while completing To,Cc, and Bcc fields").

Here is a small possibility of the cause of your problem, if this computer was upgraded from Outlook 2000: https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/22577358/Outlook-2007-autocomplete-file.html?sfQueryTermInfo=1+10+2007+30+autocomplet+outlook

It helps the troubleshooting process along if you directly confirm attempts to follow experts' suggestions. Replying with statements like "I tried that it didn't work" isn't very helpful and doesn't address my previous suggestion to investigate the possibility of the files being stored on a network location.

There is documentation all over the internet (even here on EE) providing the same info as I have. Here are some of those links confirming my answers:

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/23353173/Copying-Autocomplete-feature-in-Outlook-2007.html?sfQueryTermInfo=1+10+2007+30+autocomplet+outlook

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/27194396/Outlook-2007-SP2-Missing-NK2-File.html?sfQueryTermInfo=1+10+2007+30+nk2+outlook

http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/2833/outlook_transfer_autocomplete_addresses_to_a_new_computer/

http://www.nirmaltv.com/2008/07/01/how-to-copy-outlook-auto-complete-list-to-another-computer/

http://blog.nektra.com/main/2010/05/21/how-to-migrate-nk2-auto-complete-%E2%80%9Csuggested-contacts%E2%80%9D-from-microsoft-outlook-2003-or-2007-to-microsoft-outlook-2010/

And when you search the hard drives, make sure you're following the steps below to search for hidden files and folders as well: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-files/search-for-hidden-files-and-folders-in-windows-7/f47f5bf2-2678-4dae-bbb3-62e202b54b18

Ok Gorby,

I tried your therory on a independent fourth computer and did a search for all nk2 files and yes I searched for it after marking the search to include hidden files and folders and no such file shows up. Can you send me a screen shot of your searches and include a detailed step by step screen shot of how you are searching and opening the file maybe I am missing something.

- Start a Command Prompt
- type "c:", press return
- type "cd\", press return
- type "dir /s/w/o/p *.nk2", press return

This will search your whole c: drive for any file with a .NK2 file extension.

Hope this helps

Priz

Gorby,

I was not searching for the file logged in as administrator. Once I logged in as administrator I was able to find the file. Do you have a similar solution for outlook 2010? If so I will open another question so I can award you the points. Thanks for the help.

Ahh! I hate it when it's the little things that get us :)

It is possible with 2010 as well, both transferring from older versions to 2010 and transferring between 2 installations/profiles of 2010. The topic is related so I wouldn't worry about another question, it'll be good for the knowledge base to have the info for all versions in one place.

To transfer from Outlook XP/2003/2007 to Outlook 2010:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/980542

To transfer from Outlook 2010 to Outlook 2010:
http://benosullivan.co.uk/windows/how-to-copy-auto-complete-in-outlook-2010/

Thanks again for all the help Gorby!