Contacts or other default folder hidden, but shortcut works with Open in New Window

Source: Microsoft Support

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When you try to click the Contacts shortcut in your Outlook bar, nothing happens. When you examine the Folder List, the Contacts folder is not present. However, if you right click the Contacts shortcut in the Outlook Bar and click Open In New Window, the Contacts folder opens.

Using the command "outlook.exe /resetfolders" has no impact on this. If you examine the mailbox with MDBVU32.EXE or MFCMAPI.EXE, the Contacts folder is present.

This problem can be caused by improperly formatting the Provisioning registry keys for OWA on the Back-End (mailbox) Exchange Server.

Correct the registry value using the information from the following article from the Knowedge Base online to prevent future issues with any users moved to the impacted Back-End Exchange Server:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;311154 (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;311154)

To immediately correct the problem for existing users, you can use the following steps using MFCMAPI.EXE:

1. Launch MFCMAPI and click OK to the first window.
2. Click Session, click Log On and Display Store Table.
3. Choose the Outlook profile for the mailbox and click OK, provide credentials if prompted.
4. Double click the Mailbox - <username> and a new window will open.
5. Expand the Root Folder .
6. Expand Top Of Information Store.
7. Single click to select the impacted folder - for example Contacts.
8. In the detail window, note the value of the PR_ATTR_HIDDEN property (T or F - T means it is Hidden).
9. Double click PR_ATTR_HIDDEN and uncheck the "Boolean" box and click OK.
10. Close all MFCMAPI windows and log off Outlook and restart.

The Contacts (or other) folder will be visible and the shortcuts will now work.

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