Missing Address Book

[newstar]

Several days ago, upon a "normal" start up my Quick Launch shortcuts disappeared. After restoring the Quick Launch, my address book is "empty". I'm using a dual boot setup with WinME (on C: ) and Win XP Pro (on E: ).

The original shortcuts are at C:\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch. The correct Address Book is (2 levels up) in the Microsoft folder.

However once in Outlook Express, I can't get to the correct Address Book file.

Hope this is clear... Appreciate any insight. Thanks all.

[Welshjim]

newstar--Not 100% sure I understand the problem.
For the moment, let's not worry about the shortcuts. Do you still have the address book itself? This is a .wab file. Do a Search for *.wab. (Normally in WinXP it should be in C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book.) Or look for *.wa~ which is your backup Address Book automatically generated by OE. If you still have either, get one back into OE following these directions. (If you have .wa~ but no .wab file,you should rename the .wa~ to a .wab file. That might solve your problem immediately.)
http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com//backup/simple.htm (see #2) or
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/270670/
However, if you no longer have a .wab or .wa~ file (or .csv file perhaps from an earlier backup), I am not too hopeful about recovery.

[newstar]

Jim,

I think I can clarify the situation. After following your reply I discovered the following... The current folders for OE are as you stated... C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\ApplicationData|Microsoft\Address Book
The address book that I'm looking to restore is located at C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\ApplicationData\Microsoft(3)\Address Book.

My question is, How do I enable the Address Book in the folder Microsoft(3)? Please advise...

ps: Pardon the weird line breaks. I don't know why they are occurring.

[Welshjim]

newstar--To be honest I have no idea what Microsoft(3) is. Can you access your Address book from the .wab in that folder. (You should be able to open it in WordPad.)
If I were faced with this, I would move what is in Microsoft(3) into a folder called C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\ApplicationData\Microsoft\Address Book.
Create such a folder if it does not already exist. (Or just rename the Microsoft(3) folder.)
Perhaps make a copy of that folder before you play with it.
P.S. Are there are folders/files with the Microsoft(3) name? Do you have Microsoft(1), (2) as well?

[newstar]

I have a .csv backup of my address book; made about a month ago. Address book is restore. Thanks for your help...

[Welshjim]

newstar--Thanks for posting back. Most pleased to hear the good news.