# Outlook express problem- Where is the Contacts list stored?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-problem-where-is-the-contacts-list-stored/274534
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 13, 2004, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-problem-where-is-the-contacts-list-stored/274534 "2004-11-13T05:06:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Limbo\_Donni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Limbo\_Donni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limbo_Donni)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2004, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-problem-where-is-the-contacts-list-stored/274534/1 "2004-11-13T05:06:52Z")

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I reinstalled my Windows XP operating system, and for some reason it created a whole batch of new (empty) Outlook Express folders.  
I found my mail folders (.dbx files) and transfered them to my new directory.  
And I redefined my pop3 and smtp parameters.  
But I can’t locate where they had my Contacts.  
These are very difficult to recreate.

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### Author: ![Limbo\_Donni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Limbo\_Donni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limbo_Donni)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-problem-where-is-the-contacts-list-stored/274534/2 "2004-11-13T14:12:58Z")

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bump

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### Author: ![leenmi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f1d935/32.png) [@leenmi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leenmi)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2004, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-problem-where-is-the-contacts-list-stored/274534/3 "2004-11-13T14:24:54Z")

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I hate trying to find a non-GUI way to do anything in Windows. It’s painful.

After a bit of googling that returned no specific answers, I think you are looking for your personal settings folder (it has an extension of .pst).

Besides .pst, grab .pab (personal address book), if there is one.

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### Author: ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2004, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-problem-where-is-the-contacts-list-stored/274534/4 "2004-11-13T16:15:41Z")

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> [@leenmi](#):
>
> After a bit of googling that returned no specific answers, I think you are looking for your personal settings folder (it has an extension of .pst).

Those are used by Outlook, not Outlook Express. OE uses Windows Address Book files to store addresses.

Search your hard drive for \ ***.wab**. Once you’ve found the file, go to **File|Import|Address Book** and browse to it.

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### Author: ![Limbo\_Donni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Limbo\_Donni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limbo_Donni)
#### Post date: [November 13, 2004, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-problem-where-is-the-contacts-list-stored/274534/5 "2004-11-13T20:29:45Z")

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**leenmi** -  
Thanks for the help, but I don’t have those file types.  
**Number** -  
I did find some .wab files and was able to import them. Thanks for the help.