importing .wab files into outlook 2k

Trying to import windows address book (.wab) files into Outlook 2000, I get the error message: “an error occurred while importing or exporting and the import or export was terminated. MAPI error OX80004005 was reported.” I was trying to help a friend with Win ME solve this problem- I get the same message in W2k except his message also says something about “translation error”.
Apparently there is a conversion that needs to take place. Does anyone know a fix or workaround for this? Thank you.
Bill Burnette