A:  Try this >>> goto control panel (in Windows 7). Navigate down to “Programs & Features” and open it. Right-click on Microsoft Office 2003 Professional >>> select “Change”. When the pop-up appears, select “Repair”. Follow the process through and make sure that Outlook 2003 is selected and that “Run all from computer” is also checked. You might need the Office 2003 CD to do this. Even this may not work. I’ve been poking around in the forums for answers to this problem this week and many, many people are having the same problem. There are also many other problems with Office 2003 on Windows 7 as well including the infamous “roving cursor” issues, amongst many others.

Another thing to remember is that Outlook 2003 (any version) is not really recommended for Windows 7. This is especially true if you have Windows 7 64 bit! I bought Office 2007 Professional (Academic Version since I’m also a Teacher) on eBay to solve my problems with Office 2003, and particularly Outlook 2003. The Professional version is the only version that has Outlook 2007 (with contact manager). It cost me less than $180 Canadian (including S&H) and took 16 about days to get here.

Another option would be to buy Outlook 2007 by itself. It’s a costly investment of about $160 (CDN). You could also buy the Microsoft Office Home & Student 2007 edition for about $149 to $179 (CDN) but it DOESN’T include Outlook!

Let me know if the above work-around fixes the issue. If not, I’d suggest going to Office 2007 Professional (Academic Version) or the stand-alone Outlook 2007 application.

Follow-up: I got an email from Lew today and the work-around above fixed his problem. He said >>> “I followed your instructions & also updated Office 2003 on Microsoft Update.  It seems to be working, and I was able to send  the pictures I took that I was trying to send. Thank you for your help”.

A:  Here’s a quick and easy solution to this.

• Go to Control Panel –> Default Programs –> “Choose the programs that Windows uses by default”. Instead of clicking “Set Your Default Programs”, go to the bottom of the list and click “Set Program Access and Computer Defaults.”
• Click the Down Arrows on the right hand side for the “Custom” Row.
• INSTEAD OF clicking “Use My current email program”, click on Microsoft Office Outlook and check Enable Access to this program.

I’d suggest you install it now on all your computers. It’s really easy to use, and may fix your email issues and other internet related issues rapidly without having to phone Shaw constantly.

It also provides support modules for several other Shaw Products like Digital Phone (VOIP) and Digital TV. You can also activate your new Shaw Digital TV terminal, customize your Shaw Digital Phone features and access Shaw’s online product support troubleshooting guides.

The features for Shaw’s Internet Support Service application include:

• Step-by-step instructions for setting up Shaw Email
• Automatic download of Shaw Secure – our no-cost Internet security software
• Automatically detects problems with your Internet connection, email settings, and security products
• PC Tune Up, Modem Setup Tutorials, System Information Screen, Hardware Reset Wizard
• Instant access to your no-cost extras such as Webspace, Photoshare and Videomail
• Shows Email Server status

Shaw Internet Subscribers can download it here >>> http://www.shaw.ca/en-ca/CustomerCare/ShawSupport.htm . It’s a really great idea to install it NOW, so it’s there if you need it. And, that may be sooner than later!

The software itself is actually a private labelled version of the full-featured F-Secure Internet Security Suite. If you have other security software you MUST make sure it is fully uninstalled before installing Shaw Secure. Shaw Secure also updates itself automatically, every day! Specifically it includes the following products:

• Firewall: Stops viruses, trojans and worms from entering your computer system
• Anti-virus: Works inside your computer to detect and expel viruses
• Spyware protection: Protects your computer from invasive spyware software that could monitor your online behaviour
• Automatic updates: Independently updates your existing Shaw Secure software without interrupting your online experience
• Identity Theft Protection: All of the Shaw Secure features help prevent the occurrence of online identity theft
• Spam protection: Identifies unwanted, unsolicited email and gives you the option of completely blocking it from your computer
• Parental controls: Provides parents control over what’s viewed on the family computer. Each family member can be set with their own customized profile with one of three settings: Adult, Teen, and Children. (Optional 12MB install).
• Time Lock: Internet usage controls that allow you to limit time online for specific weekends and/or weekday timeframes, or on a set number of hours per week.
• Performance Profile: Allows fast control of the performance profile of Shaw Secure, allowing a quick switch to max performance if needed.
• Live Side Grade: Automatically checks to see if there are conflicting security programs on your PC when installing.
• Automatic Updates
• Fast and Easy Installation

You can’t lose, and it’s just one feature of being a Shaw Internet Subscriber.

A. It is quite easy to move your store folder to a more convenient location, rather than buried who knows where in the Windows folder. First open Windows Explorer and create a folder you want Outlook Express to use for the new store, preferably on a separate local drive or partition. You cannot move the store to a network drive nor a removable drive. Even better you can create a new folder called “My Email” inside your existing “My Documents” folder.

With the new folder created, open Outlook Express and click Tools| Options| Maintenance, then click the Store Folder button. Click the Change button and Browse to your new folder. Click OK to close each dialogue, and then close Outlook Express. When you open OE again it will automatically move the old store to the new location.

Warning! Do NOT attempt to copy the store manually to the new location. This will only confuse Outlook Express and result in warnings that will confuse you. The automated move function works as expected, and is quite safe. BTW, there’s no files in the store folder that you can use or open without Outlook Express. I suggest leaving the folder alone completely, and maybe even “hiding” it if you cant resist the temptation of poking around in it

Gord, I am trying to add some pictures to a web page and I’ve been told that they’re much too big and are over 1 mb each. In fact they are about 1.4 mb each! What is the easiest way to reduce the mbs but maintain a decent size of around 600 pixels x 400 pixels each?

My Reply: it’s fairly simple. Just open the photos (1 at a time) in PhotoShop Elements, then first resize them to 600 x 400 pixels (goto Image —> Resize). Then choose “Save for Web” under the drop-down “File” tab. When the 2 side-by-side photos pop up, choose “JPEG” and “High”. Then click ok and save them to a separate folder. I usually create a new folder and call it “Web Uploads” and put it on my desktop for ease of finding it. Then just upload them to the website. Then you’re done! (PS: delete or move the folder from ytour desktop when you’re finished with it)

Hi Gord. Could you give me an idea of what to do about a little screen that has been appearing on my desktop all day today. I click to get rid of it, but it comes back again right away. I tried turning off the computer and booting it up again, but that didn’t help – it was back again.
Here’s what it says:
“An internal error has occured: Cryptic error message D627″
(note: you have not done anything wrong)
I’d appreciate a response if you have the time.
Thanks a lot.

My reply:

I think the problem is likely caused by MailWasher’s learning function. Open MailWasher, then click on Tools >> Spam Tools >> Learning (in the left side panel) >> tick “limit learning archive size to xx MB per category” and type in 3MB >> click OK >> restart MailWasher, the error should then stop.

It seems to be caused by MailWasher not recognizing how large the training files should be, doing the above will (hopefully) reset this information. Let me know one way or the other please.

Hope this helps; Gord
(AN emailed me back that it worked immediately after fix and re-starting MailWasher)

FANTASTIC!! You’ve just protected the EMail addresses of your friends/family from spam harvesters!

BONUS INFO (Using the Reply versus the Reply All button)
When someone sends you an EMail with cc’s (carbon copies) or bcc’s (blind carbon copies) to a hundred other people, DON’T make the mistake of replying to the person who sent you the EMail by clicking the Reply All button.  Not only will the ‘sender’ get your EMail, but so will every single other person that received the original EMail.  Instead, be sure to click the Reply button so that ONLY the sender of the EMail gets your reply.

Thanks for helping to fight SPAM!
PS: Check my BCC Tutorial at http://www.eldercomps.com/bcc.htm.

I need to download the driver for a Microsoft MN-510 for Windows XP. I can’t find it anywhere.

My Reply:

The MN510 driver and network utility are contained in the download below. Once you begin installation you will have a choice of drivers.

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=33104  

You could also check out the Microsoft Knowledge Base items for more information about the adapter:
MSBBN: MN-110 or MN-510 USB Network Adapter Does Not Function
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/819516

Hope this helps. Gord

I don’t understand why you had to send my laptop away for repairs Gord. I thought it was built by you. Did you not build it? I’m sorry but I’m very confused. Is it guaranteed by them or you? I was under the impression you built it. That’s why I bought it from you. I can’t afford to buy another or pay for repairs on this one. I would appreciate hearing from you when I can get my laptop back.

My Reply:

Sorry Laura, I guess I should have explained my “Customization Process” to you better. I “Custom Build Computers & Laptops to Order”. I tailor your new computer by hand selecting everything that’s installed that we’ve identified you’ll need and want. I don’t have a factory or warehouse to build and store hard drives, motherboards, ram, processors, etc. I analyse my Clients needs and then select/order all the parts I need to “build” it from the warehouse. For desktop PC’s they ship all the parts to me and I assemble it myself. I always have 1-2 desktop computers in stock here that can be quickly customized my me.  MORE >>> Laptops are built/assembled there from my specs as follows….

They assemble laptops for me according to my specifications at the wholesalers depot. When I receive it already custom assembled, I install the operating system (Windows) with all updates, and all the software my Client wants. I also protect it from viruses, trojans, worms and malware. In essence when I deliver it, you just sit down and play. I’ve done all the initial things that you would normally have to do …. like doing all the Windows Updates, installing Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash, Adobe Shockwave, Adobe Air, QuickTime and JAVA! I also backup and restore your documents, pictures, videos, music, address book, email and favourites from your old (or another) computer. I then put in all the tools you’ll need for CD/DVD burning, software for cleaning/maintaining your system and any other programs you use like Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, etc. These tasks would have taken you from 6-8 hours of installation and updating it all before you can play. It’s also true that you probably wouldn’t know how to find/install some of the little bits of software & plug-ins that make your gaming/computing experience what it is. You know this yourself from when Java acts up.

So, when a laptop computer is acting up, I don’t have the factory tools on hand to properly disassemble and open/repair the computer. In some cases I can’t even get laptop service manuals. As such, the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) handles the laptop RMA repairs. In this case the Manufacturer’s Canadian Wholesale Distributor is in Montreal. The actual parts manufacturers are in various parts of the 3rd world like China, etc. Any laptops or parts I suspect of being faulty, I must apply online to return it for repair/replacement, quoting my original purchase order number and receipt for what’s called an RMA (variously referred to as a “Return Merchandise Authorization”, “Return to Manufacturer Authorization” or “Return Material Authorization”) then wait for it’s approval. This process can take 7-10 days itself …. in your laptop’s case it took 6 days to get approval because of the weekend. I then must securely package and ship the defective equipment to the “OEM Repair Centre” – in this case it happens to be in Montreal.

As for your question of Guarantee, it is for one year, and yes I am the Guarantees’ Broker. It does have some limitations … like it being dropped, water damage, smoke damage, etc. I Broker the guarantee on behalf of the OEM (The Original Equipment Manufacturer) and the Client (in this case it’s you). If it’s software related, or malware, or doesn’t require motherboard level servicing requiring opening the case, I repair it myself at my shop and get it back to you ASAP. If it’s a suspected motherboard level related failure I must process it as I explained in detail above. I sent your laptop off because I couldn’t determine the problem without opening the case properly and safely, which would void the warrantee.

I also don’t know yet whether they replaced the hard drive, in which case I’ll have to re-install all your stuff myself. That’s 3-5 hours of my time you get for free. My process is also much shorter than the Big Box stores & distributors like FutureShop, Staples, HP, Compaq, Dell, Gateway, Apple, IBM (Lenovo), etc. I have one Client who waited over 4 months to get her laptop back from one of these suppliers. My old personal Dell 9200 laptop’s display conked out and after Purolator picked it up 5 days later, I then waited a total of 9 weeks to get it back. Compared to these outlets I’m Mr. Speedy! The only thing that slows me down is having to deal with the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer). I know you’re well aware from your own experience that I usually get your computer back to you in 2-3 days or less. Hope this clears it up for you. I apologize for the delay but it’s beyond my control.

Do you know where can i find the book “Knowledge & Money” by Roger Geiger in Spanish ? Your reply will be highly appreciated.

My reply:

Hello Miriam. I don’t know of any one place where you can get it, but I do have a helpful suggestion. Download the FREE BOOKSEARCH v1.4. You can then search the entire world for books yourself! This is the world’s leading book search software.

This is a small and fast FREEWARE program enabling you to search a number of large book search engines on the Internet for new and used books. It’s the ideal tool for finding rare or hard-to-find books, or for comparing prices. Search by keyword, title, or author name.

Download it right here >>>

http://www.docsdownloads.com/booksearch.htm

Hope this helps.

Do you know where can i find the book “Knowledge & Money” by Roger Geiger in Spanish? Your reply will be highly appreciated.

My reply:

Hello Miriam. I don’t know of any one place where you can get it, but I do have a suggestion. Download the FREE BOOKSEARCH v1.4. You can then search the world for books yourself! This is the world’s leading book search software.

This is a small and fast FREEWARE program enabling you to search a number of large book search engines on the Internet for new and used books. It’s the ideal tool for finding rare or hard-to-find books, or for comparing prices. Search by keyword, title, or author name.

Download it right here >>>

http://www.docsdownloads.com/booksearch.htm

Hope this helps.