Hi Guys,

I frequently change laptops or workstations for users over months and one of the problems that I have never managed to solve is to store all emails stored in the local cache of Microsoft Outlook. When an email has been sent to a specific user, be it on Address book or Contact list, the second time is comes down automatically. I believe that is some kind of cache stored in Microsoft Outlook system files.

Would anyone have any idea if it is possible to backup this cache and restore it on a fresh installation of Microsoft Outlook on another workstation?

Any help would be appreciated, Thanks,

Roberttanti

chuckhole

The Outlook Autocomplete File (or Nicknames File) is stored within the Outlook Profile. If there are more than one profile for the user, then there would be multiple Nickname files.

Depending on what version you have of Outlook depends on the file extension but the file name is the same as the profile name. For example, if the Outlook user profile name is Default Outlook Profile, then the file name would be:

%SystemRoot%\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Default Outlook Profile.NK2 (or .NICK).

The Application Data folder is a hidden folder so hidden folders must be made visible in your Explorer Properties.

To migrate the file(s), you would have to create the new Outlook Profiles and then rename the file(s) to the same as the profile name. Then close Outlook and overwrite the just created file(s) with the files moved over from the old profile.

Another option is to use Roaming Profiles long enough to migrate the users to a different computer and then stop the use of the Roaming Profiles. In this manner, desktop shortcuts, favorites, printers and files also get migrated.

chuckhole

A note about the Autocomplete Names lists:

The email names saved in the Nicknames Files from your Global Address List are saved in X500 formats. So if you are moving mailboxes from one server to another, then even though the Display Name and SMTP address may be the same, the X500 address will change. The names in the Nicknames file will become stale and if used, a non-delivery receipt (NDR) will be the result. Microsoft does have a Nicknames utility that allows users to edit the lists.

Roberttanti

You are good my friend! Haven't tried it yet but will. Located the NK2 file. By any chance, does this file lock with other files or have any other functionality? I don't want to cause problems to any other function/s of the problem once I replace them. Noted re. renaming before overwriting.


Thanks a million,

Roberttanti

chuckhole

They are only for the Nicknames. Outlook profile settings are saved into the

%SystemRoot%\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

folder. They have file extensions of .FAV. The .OST file is the Exchange Cache Mode file. The OST files are profile and user specific. You can export the Client based Rules into .RUL files and imported into a new profile. Server based rules will travel with the mailbox.

Cheers.
Good luck.