Importing the nk2 file in Outlook 2010

In general, you can just move the nk2 file to your new computer but if your new computer is running Outlook 2010, then additional actions are needed as Outlook 2010 no longer uses an nk2 file for caching but stores these addresses in the Suggested Contacts folder in the Outlook mailbox itself.

When you upgrade to Outlook 2010, the nk2-file is automatically imported upon starting Outlook 2010 for the first time. When you create a new Outlook mail profile or when using Outlook on a new computer, you can import an existing nk2-file in the following way.

1. Copy the nk2-file to the following folder:

• Windows Vista and Windows 7
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook
• Windows XP
C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application Settings\Microsoft\Outlook

2. Rename the nk2-file to the name of your mail profile.

To find out this name use the Mail applet in Control Panel and click on the Show Profiles… button.
By default, your profile is called “Outlook”. So in that case you would call your file “outlook.nk2”.

3. Start Outlook with the /importnk2 switch:

• Windows Vista and Windows 7
Start-> type: outlook.exe /importnk2
• Windows XP
Start-> Run: outlook.exe /importnk2

4. Outlook will now process the nk2 file and import it into the Suggested Contacts folder. Outlook will automatically append .old to the nk2 file.