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Outlook

Import or copy the Auto-Complete List to another computer

Step 1: Copy the Auto-Complete file from the old computer

  1. Because the default folder is hidden folder, the easiest way to open the folder is to use the command %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Outlook in the Windows Search box (or, browse to C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook).
  2. In the Outlook folder, find your Auto-Complete List (.nk2) file.

Note: By default, file extensions are hidden in Windows. To change whether file extensions are shown, in Window Explorer on the Tools menu (in Windows 7 or Windows Vista, press the ALT key to see the Tools menu), click Folder Options. On the View tab select or clear the Hide extensions for known file types check box.

  • Copy the file to the new computer. The file is small and can be placed on a removable media such as a USB memory stick.

Step 2: Copy the Auto-Complete file to the new computer

  1. On the new computer, in Control Panel, click or double-click Mail.

Mail appears in different Control Panel locations depending on the version of the Microsoft Windows operating system, the Control Panel view selected, and whether a 32- or 64-bit operating system or version of Outlook 2010 is installed.

The easiest way to locate Mail is to open Control Panel in Windows, and then in the Search box at the top of window, type Mail. In Control Panel for Windows XP, type Mail in the Address box.

Note: The Mail icon appears after Outlook starts for the first time.

  • Click Show Profiles.
  • Make a note of the name of the profile. You will need to change the .nk2 file name to match the name later.
  • Copy the .nk2 file to the new computer in the folder in which Outlook configurations are saved. Because the default folder is hidden folder, the easiest way to open the folder is to use the command %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Outlook in the Windows Search box (or, browse to C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook).
  • After the file is copied to the folder, right-click the file, click Rename, and change the name to match the profile name that appeared in step 3.

Step 3: Import the Auto-Complete List

You are now ready to start Outlook and import the file, but you must start Outlook with a special one-time command.

  • Type outlook /importnk2 in the Windows Search box and then press Enter.

The Auto-Complete List should now have the entries from your other computer when you compose a message and begin typing in the To, Cc, or Bcc boxes.