Computer Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) -- Outlook: Autocomplete Name Cache

When you type the first 3 characters of a contact on the TO: or CC: lines when addressing your email, Outlook has a feature called 'Autocomplete Name Caching'.

1. You can turn this off, if you don't like it:

Click on Tools - Options - Email Options - Advanced Email Options
Uncheck the box for "Suggest Names while completing To; CC: and Bcc: Fields"

2. You can correct it!  Are entries still cached that don't exist in your contact list?

Type the first 3 characters, once the cached list appears, arrow down to the name you want to delete and press delete.  You have to have multiple names matching the 3 chars you've typed, to be able to delete an entry.  If the entry you want to delete is the only listed, you won't be able to delete it.

3. You can delete the cache file altogether and start over:

The file is located under the user's documents and settings folder. It is normally called outlook.NK2. Just look for the .NK2 file. If the user has used multiple Outlook accounts there may be multiple NK2 files.

The file is in the folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\UserID\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

Deleting the cached file and starting over can resolve some problems with importing the address book files. If you import the address book files incorrectly (without first creating a contact), and the address book is used by the user for a while before they discover that their mail is not going anywhere. Now you delete all the contacts, re-import and they have a good contact list. Things are fine, until they use one of those cached names that refer to the old deleted contact list! Delete the cached file and let them start over!

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