Windows Live Mail Freezing When Opening Attachments

By terry Leave a Comment

Windows Live Mail crashes were giving long-time subsriber Raman problems, so he wrote to me to ask:


Hello Terry

When I try to open any attachments to my mail, the Windows Live Mail freezes. I checked on line and found many people have the same problem. Apparently this started after downloading Microsoft’s recent 11 updates.
Can you help?

Thank you
Raman

I wrote back to Raman to remind him that I don’t use Windows Live Mail. Unfortunately, that means I can’t give him any direct help as I have no idea what might be happening with it.

By checking online, he’s using the best approach for finding an answer to a problem caused by a new software release or new Windows updates. Searching Google or another search engine should point you to either a direct answer or a forum that has other users who likely have the same problem.

As he is aware from my newsletters, I’m using Thunderbird for my email program — and I like it a lot.

Continue reading Windows Live Mail Freezing When Opening Attachments

Filed Under: Email, Terry's Computer Tips, Troubleshooting, Usability, Windows Repair Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Problem Sending Email Using Outlook Express

By terry Leave a Comment

Subscriber Terry Millburg wrote recently with a queestion about sending email with Outlook Express.

I have an issue with Outlook Express in XP Home on a dell. Do you have any recommendations on a unit that can receive but not send in Outlook Express? I have tried the usual, uninstall & reinstall the OE from within Windows, removed & recreated the account, but still no luck. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks, Terry

I wrote back to Terry to say that I suspect that there’s something wrong in his SMTP (outbound) mailserver setting, perhaps a transposed number or a different subdomain should be used. I told him to check with his ISP to make sure what he’s supposed to be using.

If he’s trying to use your Outlook Express to send outbound via a third-party’s SMTP server instead of the ISP through which he’s connecting, then he’s probably being blocked by the ISP. They do this routinely to block the sending of spam from within their network.

If he’s really trying to connect to an outside SMTP mailserver to send outbound emails, then that server might have an alternate TCP port that they also use. The normal SMTP port is TCP port 25.

Alternate ports are usually either…

Continue reading Problem Sending Email Using Outlook Express

Filed Under: Email, PC Repairs, Stability, Terry's Computer Tips, Troubleshooting, Windows Repair, Windows XP

Comments on Upgrading to Windows 7

By terry Leave a Comment

Longtime subscriber Clif of the Clif Notes Newsletter wrote about my Windows 7 installation experience articles in last week’s online issue:


Hi Terry,

Thanks for the preview of the hassle to come when I move my laptop to win7 from the RC. Hopefully the drivers I have backed up will work. I’m hoping the driver backups I have will help me avoid the issues that you had getting the correct drivers installed.

See the following:

Continue reading Comments on Upgrading to Windows 7

Filed Under: Software, Speed-up, System Repair, Terry's Computer Tips, Updates, Upgrades, Usability, Vista, Windows 7, Windows Repair, Windows Updates, Windows XP

ReImage for Windows XP

By terry Leave a Comment

I received a question from Adam, a Terry’s Computer Tips web site visitor recently, who was having problems with two of his computers:

Hey Terry, just read your XP SP3 woes, got another one two for you. i have a small home network running with shared internet connection. When SP3 came out both computers immidiately downloaded the update. on PC1 the same happen to as did to your previous writer with the dvd-rom issue (gave up and bought another) on PC2 my onboard network adaptor, uh, mulfunctioned and my computer no longer registers any outside computers from my network port. i do not want to use system restore point. is there a way of repairing online? SP2 cd does not work

I wrote back to Adam to tell that there is a new online service about which I have been reading, that might be what he was looking for. InformationWeek, NetworkWorld and eWeek had very interesting articles about it. I also advised him that I have not tried ReImage yet.

Continue reading ReImage for Windows XP

Filed Under: Registry Repair, System Control, System Repair, Terry's Computer Tips, Troubleshooting, Windows Repair, Windows XP

Unable to Delete Email in Outlook Express

By terry Leave a Comment

Sherrill Kerbaugh wrote about a major problemm she and her husband were having on both of their computers:

Hi, Terry… We have a major problem…. My husband has been unable to delete daily e-mails for a few weeks now….we can’t figure out what in the world is wrong!?!?!?! Now, all of a sudden I can’t delete e-mails on my computer (same local area network and e-mail…Outlook Express)! HELP!!!!!!!!! Also, John can’t download or use Adobe Reader on his computer, but I can!?!?!?
We are going crazy here!

What are your thoughts? We just found your website this morning….hope you are our “computer angel”! : )
Thank you!

Continue reading Unable to Delete Email in Outlook Express

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Filed Under: Email, Outlook Express, PC Repairs, Software, Stability, Storage, System Control, Terry's Computer Tips, Usability, Windows Repair

A Look Inside PCPitstop Optimize 2.0

By terry Leave a Comment

Like many of the other downloadable programs that are designed to scan and fix computer problems, Optimize 2.0 from PC Pitstop is a program that can be run on schedule to routinely check for and fix problems, or can be run on request to fix and find problems.

Of course, the most significant value will be in the optimizations and repairs it makes on its very first running — optimizing your Internet access settings, checking startup programs, cleaning and repairing the Windows registry, and cleanup of junk files.

While some types of programs like antispyware and antivirus let you have fully-functional trial versions, programs that make repairs to your computer can’t afford to give free trials. Whether you are considering Spinrite 6 from Gibson Research (a hard drive recovery utility) or a Windows registry cleaner program, if there was a free fully-functional trial — no one would ever buy a copy — they’d just download a trial if they had a problem!

The solution for many of these products is to provide a scanner program that will scan your computer, tell you that it found a bunch of things to change, but will only make the repairs if you buy a license.

Does that sound unreasonable? If so, compare it to buying software in a retail box — most retailers will not accept returns of opened software, so you have no way to see it work. I wish I’d been able to see some of the games I’ve bought before spending my money.

Optimize 2.0 goes the extra mile — in the unregistered scanner mode, Optimize 2.0 shows you the changes it would make! It does not just show you the categories of changes that it would make, if you buy a license. This way, if you know what you’re doing and want to take the time, you can make the changes manually.

In the first screen shot below, we see the display after Optimize has done its first scan of my notebook computer (my main computer). The blue “Next” button at the bottom right is the next step…

Continue reading A Look Inside PCPitstop Optimize 2.0

Download the Optimize 2.0 Scanner

Filed Under: Networking, Optimize, PC Repairs, Software, System Control, Terry's Computer Tips, Troubleshooting, Vista, Windows Repair, Windows XP

HOWTO: Stopping Blue Screen of Death Reboots

By terry Leave a Comment

Reader Russ Tinley wrote about a strange problem he was having:


Terry, My computer is connected to a Verizon DSL Modem, and everytime I connect the modem to my PC I get a blue screen and the system reboots. I called Verizon and they replaced my Modem but it still does it. So I called adn they said that my computer must be the problem, so just to test it I plugged my Notebook directly to the DSL modem and same blue screen. I called Verizon and they are giving me the run around saying it is my hard ware. Can you give me any tips on what I should look for or how to work with Verizon to get this corrected. Thank you, Russ

Russ had a strange problem. But, let’s look at the pieces:

  1. the original modem caused the bluescreen/reboot on your desktop.
  2. Verizon replaced the modem
  3. The desktop still does it with the new modem.
  4. The notebook also does it when connected to the modem.

So, you’ve got two computers doing it with two modems.

Continue reading HOWTO: Stopping Blue Screen of Death Reboots


WAHM

Filed Under: HowTo, Stability, System Control, Terry's Computer Tips, Troubleshooting, Windows Repair, Windows XP

HOWTO: Change File-type Program Associations

By terry Leave a Comment

I’ve done it. I’m sure you have, too.

We’ve all installed a program that arbitrarily grabbed certain file extensions (such as .doc, .jpg, .mp3) and changed Windows’ settings. Now, the new program is the default for opening that file type.

Sometimes, it’s our fault — many programs that can handle multiple file types will give us an option during the program’s installation. We’ll get the chance to select (or deselect) which program types will default to the new program. If we pick wrong, or decide later that this wasn’t really what we wanted to do, it seems like we’re stuck with the new program.

Fortunately, Windows has a couple easy ways for us to change the default program that is opened when you double-click on a file or an attachment.

For this example, let’s assume that we installed the graphics program Irfanview, which gives us the option to make it the default for a lot of different types of images. Without thinking, and forgetting that we really like Windows XP’s Windows Picture and Fax Viewer, we set IrfanView to be the default for JPG images.

Continue reading HOWTO: Change File-type Program Associations

Filed Under: HowTo, Other, System Control, Terry's Computer Tips, Uncategorized, Vista, Windows Repair, Windows XP

HowTo: Change Windows Default Font Size

By terry Leave a Comment

I received an email recently from someone who was having problems with a Windows dialog box. In this particular case, she was trying to put a registration code into software, but the field for the code extended outside the box — and she couldn’t input the whole code.

It really sounds to me like a font-size settings problem in your copy of Windows. Programmers almost often specify the size fo a Windows dialog boxes — but Windows itself lets YOU change the default font size that you use.

As a result, when users make their default Windows fonts larger (their Windows font, not their default web browser font), they can end up moving stuff from the dialog box into the invisible, unusable portion of the dialog box.

Continue Reading HowTo: Change Windows Default Font Size

Filed Under: Software, System Control, Terry's Computer Tips, Troubleshooting, Web Browsers, Windows Repair, Windows XP

Slow-loading Web Browser Links

By terry 1 Comment

One of my forum readers in my Windows XP /2000/etc forum (which are now shut down thanks to too many spam posts) wrote about a problem he was having.

He wrote:

IE6 SP1 browser..links take long time to download

My computer contains: Athlon 3200gb, 1 gig Ram, I have WinXP SP2 Home, and IE 6 SP1. When I click on a link in my OE e-mail, I am immediately taken to the web-site. When on a web-site, and I click on a link within the site, it takes “forever” to download the page….I watch the green progress bar, not much happens. It says “done”, but I still have to wait a long time for the page to download. I click the F5 key to refresh and still it takes a long time for the page to download.

I’ve checked for malware (AdAware, SpyBot, MS anti spyware, CCleaner….none), I ran a system scan for viruses (AVG and then TrendMicro Housecall….no viruses), I cleaned out cache, Temp files and cookies. Nothing helps.

I also ran Start/Run/ sfc /scannow with my original Win XP CD and this didn’t help. I also ran IE Fix…didn’t help.

This problem occurs on e-mails with Links from e.g. PCMag.com; Lockergnome.com; AllExperts.com, etc.

What suggestions can U offer??

I would hate to format/reinstall.

_________________

Irving S.

I wrote back to Irving with a list of suggestions — and his problem was solved.

Read how in Slow-loading Web Browser Links

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Filed Under: Firefox, Firewalls, Internet Explorer, Opera, Registry Repair, Speed-up, Stability, System Control, Terry's Computer Tips, Usability, Web Browsers, Windows Repair, Windows XP
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