If you use Outlook XP as your mail client, you’ve likely run into the problem of having bad addresses show up in your auto-complete options when you’re typing a new email to people. It’s usually really annoying, and there’s no way to really fix the problem from inside Outlook XP that’s intuitive (to me at least).
This message board post will quickly walk you through two ways to fix the problem though, depending on the severity of your problems… enjoy:
When typing an address into the To:, Cc: or Bcc: lines of a new message in Outlook 2002, Outlook will use AutoComplete and automatically suggest an address based on addresses it has cached.
To turn off this feature, so that addresses are never suggested, go to the Tools pull-down menu, choose Options, then click the E-Mail Options button, and the Advanced E-mail Options button. Uncheck the box for “Suggest names while completing the To, Cc and Bcc fields”.
To remove one address from the list so that it won’t be suggested again, open a new message and begin typing in the address. Use the up and down arrow keys to select the address to be removed from the addresses suggested. When the address to be removed is highlighted, hit the Delete key.
To remove all the saved addresses, delete the .nk2 file where Outlook stores them. The file is normally located in Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook folder for each Outlook profile.
And just in case you want more information, here’s another link with plenty of info.
12 Responses to “Outlook XP’s Auto-Complete Function”
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What do you do when the Outlook XP Auto Complete or Suggest Names feature quits working? The setting is checked but Outlook no longer suggests names even for frequently used addresses. I’ve tried deleting the .NK2 file so it can be re-created but this did not work. I have several users with this problem.
I havethe same problem.
Works on 4 identical machines – won’t work on 5th.
Hve reinstalled outlook numerous times. The autocomplete continues to work throughout a session, but is gone if I quit outlook and restart. NK2 file is never created???
My auto complete will not work on a specific web page that I do searches on. It will work on pages in the same location on other pages and everywhere on the internet. Also it works fine on the same page with my laptop and a second computer on the same page.
So I guess that means Gene, Clare and Connie, you didn’t find an answer?
Just wondering because I too have a user that has a new machine with the same problem.
Hello,
I had the same problem; found the solution here: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=287854
You have to rename the “.nick” file and then repair oulook with the CD. I tried everything else, and finally this one fixed the problem.
good luck
-Aaron
If the Nk2 File is not being created check to make sure the auto complete feature is enabled…
Tools–>Options–>Email Options–>Advanced Email Options
Make sure the check box (Suggest names while completing To, CC, Bcc fields)
You need to replace the *.nk2 file at C:\Documents and Settings\%profile name%\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\ To see the file you need to go to tools menu in windows explorer and and under view tab select show hidden files and folders, uncheck hide extensions for known file types, and uncheck hide protected system files. You have to rename the *.nk2 to correspond with the outlook profile name. Default name is outlook.nk2
Jim
open a new mail>
double click TO: field and select ALL addresses>
subject email “test:do not open”>
send mail>
open new mail and start typing a recipient… names SHOULD appear again!
This is what i did and it worked. On Office 2003. As a previuos resolution advised no .nick files where found on system.
1. I manually delete .NK2 and .OST files. Also removed mail profile.
2. Reinstall MsOffice from Pro11.msi and system requiered to restart.
3. Re-create mail profile. Open up Outlook type an address-close it (NK2 was generated), then reopen it and it was working just fine.
Thank you for these outlook tips… you gave me the answer to something that has been bugging the crap out of me for a LONG time. It was so simple too…
Here’s how to fix it:
- Make sure Outlook is completely closed.
- Right click on start and select explore
- Go to: Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\
- ren Outlook.nk2 to .old
- Open Outlook and send a test email. Compose another email and hit the first letter of the test email you sent. It should autocomplete. Close Outlook.
- Delete Outlook.nk2
- Ren your Outlook.old to Outlook.nk2
- Open Outlook – autocomplete should be working again with your original list.
I had exactly this problem with outlook 2003 with XP. Tried all the above with no success. I then realised I was also running Activsync for my PDA which has been a real pain and has beem responsible for lots of niggles, so i removed it from my computer and hey presto Auto complete works as good as new. Just got to put activsync back on and wait for the next hiccup!!