Tip 880: Moving an NK2 to a new profile

A reader asked: "I need to shift the NK2 file from old Exchange domain profile to a new IMAP domain profile of Google apps."

That's easy (and it works for any new profile). Close Outlook then go to the folder where the new NK2 is stored (see Where are my Microsoft Outlook Files? if you need help finding it). If the Exchange NK2 is from another computer, copy it to this folder.

1. Select the Google profile's NK2, press F2 to enter edit name mode.
2. Copy the name then add "-old" to the end of it.
3. Select the exchange NK2, press F2 to edit the name
4. Paste the copied name, changing the name to the Google profile name.

Restart Outlook.

Note: if you use one profile and add the Google account to it, you won't have to do anything as you will have the Exchange NK2 available to you. (Before removing the Exchange account from your profile, move mail, calendar, contacts and tasks from your Exchange folders to either the Google folders or a local pst file.)

Keep in mind that addresses that were on Exchange will likely fail as they hold the Exchange internal address, not the SMTP address Google uses. When these addresses come up, use the arrow keys to select, then press Del.

Finally, if you use Outlook 2010 and have the Suggested Contacts folder created by the Exchange account, you can add these addresses to a fresh, new autocomplete list. Using the To button, simply address a new message to all of the addresses in the Suggested names folder then close the message without sending.

Published June 21, 2011. Last updated on May 8, 2014.

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