How to autofocus AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II with a nikon d5000?

I can't seem to get it to autofocus, is there some type of settings that i'm suppose to be under? Can someone give me steps to set it to autofocus?

There are 3 levers for setting to auto. 1 on the lens slide to AF, one on the front of the body slide to auto, and one on top rotate the dial to auto.

If all this is already done, more likely you have the focus grid set to all points of the picture (you would see many dots in the viewer) and the camera does not know which dot to focus on.particularly a problem if the picture has stuff both near and far in it or for macro when real close up.

Go to the menu and set the camera for center focus or view the options in the focus menu you may like.

I don't know.

I use an AF-S Nikkor 300 mm f/2.8 VR on my old D300 and it works just fine.

True I have been using cameras for over 35 years, so maybe what I consider routine, is all new to you.

Look on page 21 of the lens user manual. Make sure that your lenses focus memory is turned off.

When using the 300 mm when shooting sports, I keep the Auto-focus button pressed down with my thumb so that the lens continues focus as I follow the subject that I want in focus. The D5000 does not have this continuous focus feature, so you will have to use other methods to shoot action.

There are so many "scene modes" a carry over from P&S cameras, make sure that you have your camera in the manual exposure mode and once you determine the proper exposure, set it in manual if the lighting is even throughout the area you are shooting.

Also look at the way you are using the focus points on your camera. Make sure that you have your subject behind the active focus point.