Outlook 2003 NK2 Files (Auto complete)

[Diabolus]

I've spent days and hours testing these damn NK2 files.

In Outlook 2003, I cannot get the auto complete to save. I've re-created profiles, everything I can think of, and the NK2 will not save.

I can upload an existing NK2 file just fine, and it reads the contents, but new entries will not save.

After wiping out the profile, and re-creating, its not creating a fresh .NK2 anywhere.

Does anyone have a clue what is going wrong here?

[Rivers]

Yes. Outlook 2003.

Update Outlook to at least 2007 (2010 recommended if Outlook is a must) for better autocomplete performance. Chronic issues with 2003 that you are unlikely to resolve in this lifetime.

[hamsalad]

I have extensive experience with this. Office 2007 uses the same location and format for NK2 files. Office 2010 moves to a .DAT file to store the autocomplete info.

Normally, the NK2 is stored in this location: %USERPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\

In a fresh profile (outlook 2003) the NK2 will only be created after sending an email or at least creating and saving a draft to a known email address...you can even send one just to yourself to test.

[Diabolus]

I have extensive experience with this. Office 2007 uses the same location and format for NK2 files. Office 2010 moves to a .DAT file to store the autocomplete info.

Normally, the NK2 is stored in this location: %USERPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\

In a fresh profile (outlook 2003) the NK2 will only be created after sending an email or at least creating and saving a draft to a known email address...you can even send one just to yourself to test.

I cant wait to move to 2010, but for now I'm screwed on 2003 for Outlook and Office.

For whatever reason, its just not creating a new NK2 file anywhere on the desktop.

[hamsalad]

The NK2 won't be created on the desktop, it will be created in the location I showed above. Make sure you have hidden files and folders disabled, just in case. Also, the NK2 is usually the same name as the email profile you create in Outlook. By default (unless you rename it) it is called Default Outlook Profile and the NK2 will reflect that name as well.

[hamsalad]

Another thought...Outlook may not be closing properly or all the way. Sometimes a plug in or add in can "hang" Outlook and make you think it is closed when it hasn't gone all the way down. Outlook writes data when it is closing and that could prevent the NK2 from getting update/populated as well.

Outlook 2003
Tools-> Options…-> tab Other-> button Advanced Options…-> button Add-In Manager… or button COM Add-ins…

[Diabolus]

The NK2 won't be created on the desktop, it will be created in the location I showed above. Make sure you have hidden files and folders disabled, just in case. Also, the NK2 is usually the same name as the email profile you create in Outlook. By default (unless you rename it) it is called Default Outlook Profile and the NK2 will reflect that name as well.

I did try this, no such luck.

[Diabolus]

You might be on to something here, we did install new plug ins that might be causing the issue.

[hamsalad]

Let me know if that works.

[high_revs]

would the nk2 file only be saved once you exit outlook? i figure it's saved on the fly since it'll remember the email addresses while your session is active.

i've deleted my nk2 files before on all outlook platforms i used w/o issues like OP though.

[Diabolus]

Let me know if that works.

It didn't turn out to be a comm add-in, but this POS contact manager that's scripted to launch with Outlook.

Basically, it was doing exactly as you said, Outlook was crashing prematurely and not writing the Nk2 file.

I owe you a beer if youre ever in NorCal.