# Outlook WAB export/import error **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 9, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-wab-export-import-error/343697 "2006-02-09T16:44:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-wab-export-import-error/343697/1 "2006-02-09T16:44:02Z")
I’m trying to transfer the address book from an old PC (Win98) to a brand new PC (Win XP), both using Outlook Express. On the old, Export-\>WAB, works fine (to a floppy). On the new, Import–\>WAB-\>(file name), I get the error message, “An error occurred during the import process. The import process could not be completed.” Trying the same import process in another Win98 machine, Outlook version 5.00, I get the same error message. Looking up the error message in Google, I am referred to this MS site, which describes the exact same error message: [http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=278599&sd=RMVP](http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=278599&sd=RMVP) That page says the likely cause is a R/O flag on the file. I checked; the file is not flagged R/O. I changed the flag to R/O just for kicks, same error; changed back to R/W, same error; removed the Archive flag, same error. Tried exporting to CSV text file; file looks good in a text editor, but the import process hangs after initially reading the file and never completes. The transferred file is small, less than 100 names. I am able to re-import the file back to the source machine without error, so it looks like the file was written OK, and the same thing happens with different media samples. Outlook source is version 6.00, destination version is unknown, but it came with XP. Any ideas how I can get this data transferred? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-wab-export-import-error/343697/2 "2006-02-10T22:51:38Z")
\ Hello? Is this thing on? Any Outlook experts around? ---
**Author:** ![jakeline](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@jakeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakeline)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-wab-export-import-error/343697/3 "2006-02-10T23:01:40Z")
Stupid question: Have you tried transferring the file to the new computer then importing it instead of importing directly from the floppy? That would probably be the first thing I tried. However, I can’t say I have a lot of experience in transfering WAB files. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-wab-export-import-error/343697/4 "2006-02-11T01:59:14Z")
Have you tried copying the address book file over to the other computer directly? It should be located at C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR\_USERNAME\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book\default.wab ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-wab-export-import-error/343697/5 "2006-02-11T13:23:05Z")
> [@jakeline](#): > > Stupid question: Have you tried transferring the file to the new computer then importing it instead of importing directly from the floppy? That would probably be the first thing I tried. However, I can’t say I have a lot of experience in transfering WAB files. It’s not a stupid question, but it was tried before the floppy procedure (email computer to computer), same error message. > [@Reply](#): > > Have you tried copying the address book file over to the other computer directly? That would wipe out the existing file rather than append to it, not desireable. But it might be worthwhile as an experiment. Maybe I can export the existing file (on the destination machine) as WAB, replace the default file with the source, then import the WAB just saved which would merge the two. Thanks for giving me the idea. But if that works, the main file structure would probably be the old version… ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-wab-export-import-error/343697/6 "2006-02-11T14:35:49Z")
Try [exporting the address book to a text file](http://support.microsoft.com/kb/270670/en-us): > [@](#): > > Export the Address Book to a File > NOTE: This step is very important when multiple Identities are in use. A .WAB (Windows Address Book) file is used by Outlook Express 5.x and 6.0 versions, even if multiple Identities are used. The individual data for each Identity is stored in a folder, by user name, within the .WAB file in use. > > Exporting this data, while logged in to a specific Identity, is the only means of segregating the Address Book data. If the .WAB file becomes dissociated from the user Identities, the data can only be exported in total - not folder by folder. > > Another reason to export the .WAB file to a .csv file is that if the .WAB file is shared with Microsoft Outlook, the addresses are stored in the \*.pst file in Outlook. When you export the file from the Outlook Express File menu to a \*.csv file it exports the correct contacts. If the Address Book is shared with Microsoft Outlook, you are not able to export from within the Address Book on the File menu. This option is dimmed or not available. > [@](#): > > To export your Outlook Express address book: > > 1. On the File menu, click Export, and then click Address Book. > 2. Click Text File (Comma Separated Values), and then click Export. > 3. Click Browse. > 4. Locate the Mail Backup folder that you created. > 5. In the File Name box, type address book backup, and then click Save. > 6. Click Next. > 7. Click to select the check boxes for the fields that you want to export, and then click Finish. > 8. Click OK and then click Close. > [@](#): > > To import your Outlook Express address book: > > 1. On the File menu, click Import, and then click Other Address Book. > 2. Click Text File (Comma Separated Values), and then click Import. > 3. Click Browse. > 4. Locate the Mail Backup folder on your desktop, click the address book Backup.csv file, and then click Open. > 5. Click Next, and then click Finish. > 6. Click OK, and then click Close. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-wab-export-import-error/343697/7 "2006-02-11T14:54:30Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Maybe I can export the existing file (on the destination machine) as WAB, replace the default file with the source, then import the WAB just saved which would merge the two. Thanks for giving me the idea. > > But if that works, the main file structure would probably be the old version… To take it one step further… if the merge works, you could re-export the whole collection, delete the address book, and then re-import the latest export. That might give you the new file structure. You could also try the same process with CSV. Messy, but it might work… ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-wab-export-import-error/343697/8 "2006-02-11T17:25:06Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > Try [exporting the address book to a text file](http://support.microsoft.com/kb/270670/en-us): Perhaps you missed my first post: > [@](#): > > Tried exporting to CSV text file; file looks good in a text editor, but the import process hangs after initially reading the file and never completes. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2006, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-wab-export-import-error/343697/9 "2006-02-11T17:54:52Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Have you tried copying the address book file over to the other computer directly? > > It should be located at C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR\_USERNAME\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book\default.wab While the file is not located in this path in either computer, and not named default.wab, nevertheless, I copied what appears to be the equivalent WAB file from one computer to another. When the destination computer attempts to open the file, it gives me the error message “{file name} is not a valid WAB file.” On second try, the message is “Address Book failed to load. Outlook Express is incorrectly configured, please re-install.” So copying the address book file does not appear to work, either. I guess the only thing is to connect a printer, install it, and print the list out the long way.