If you are doing what I think you are doing ,,,, good luck, but if you are still unable to see your contacts ,,,,, follow my last instructions for creating a empty new Address Book, and if you were able to see the fake contact in the right panel, then right click on the fake contact and delete it ,,,,, now, from within the address book, click on File/Import/Address Book ,,,, browse to find your original book that is now in the "Back Ups" folder you just created ,,, select your old .wab book and import it into your new book ,,,, and cross your fingers that the only thing that is imported is the contacts & their information. If this little maneuver works, go back to the Back Ups folder and delete the files in it, they are no good. If you wish to keep a back up of your new book ,,, COPY all files in the Address Book folder into the Back Ups folder ,,, up date now and then to keep the back ups current. I will now shut up and wait for more input. Bob Hays