Saturday, November 2, 2024

Blocking Mail Senders + The Power Of System Restore

Hi Carey,
I am trying to reduce the number of emails I receive. I see under messages, there is a block senders list; however, I guess I don’t fully understand what to do. Please explain how to use this list and how it works.

Ken

Hi Ken,

It varies depending on what you are using to read your email. But regardless of the program, simply click on Help on the right corner and do a search for the word Block.

It is fully explained with examples uniquely for each email program, and each version of each email program.

If you are using Outlook or Outlook Express, you may find this feature practically worthless, as most Spam never comes from the same address twice. Instead you should consider a spam filter, such as Norton AntiSpam http://www.symantec.com/antispam/ or try reading some of the great articles from PC Magazine on this topic which includes reviews of products and suggestions for Spam detection and removal at http://www.pcmag.com/search_results/0%2C3015%2C%2C00.asp?qry=spam&site=PC+Magazine

Thanks for writing,
Carey


Hi Carey,
I have WindowsME and AOL server (this is as computer literate as i get, as dummy seems more apt!) I was viewing a web page when an error appeared in a little grey box so I pressed close and not only lost my explorer icon from my start bar at the bottom but couldn’t access any web pages either. I then went and downloaded microsoft explorer 6 as I thought “its got to solve the problem” the repair explorer said it couldn’t do it, even though I’m not sure what my explorer was to start with!

The problem now is :-
1. I have no icon in my bar at the bottom
2.When I press the icon on my desktop it says C/: in the box and windows cannot locate iexplorer.exe files
3.When I go to web pages a script error comes up saying “class not registered” but if i close the window the page is there!

I also had this problem while trying to contact you, script error came up
Line; 96
Char;1
Error;Object expected
Code;0
URL;http://www.careyholzman.commain.htm
I closed the window and was on your page!

Although to get to e-mail you it said “class not registered also” Not understanding all “computer jargon” i need clear dummy explanations step by step as i’m not scared to delve (maybe thats my problem)haha! I have read all your problem page and printed it out so i can refer to it but i don’t seem to be able to find anything that resembles my problem, i am at my wits end now because i can’t let this computer beat me haha. If there’s any thing you can do to help, i would very much appreciate it as i have been browsing the web looking for solutions for 3 days now and the grey is starting to show haha!

Many Thanks
Martine

Hi Martine,
Use System Restore that comes included with Windows ME to take your computer back in time to when it was working properly. Click start, programs, accessories, system tools, system restore and follow the on-screen instructions.

Let me know if this helps,

Carey


Hi Carey,
Dell has stuffed the systems tray of my computer with 39 programs, all running in the background. Consequently I had only 7 RAM free memory (of 128 RAM) with Windows ME – and nothing else – running.

This resulted in the blue screen of death as soon as I run a couple of programs. I am back to the ‘olden’ days when one had to shut down a program before another could be opened.

When I contacted Dell about this mess they adised me to go to “msconfig” and disable about 25 programs. Ok, great, but as soon as one returns to normal operating mode, all of those RAM hogging programs are right back. On my second call, they told me that I had to run my computer in “trouble shooting mode”, so the programs will stay disabled.

So, I’ve been running in “trouble shooting” moder ever since, and I’ve added “MemTurbo” to reclaim whatever RAM can be freed up on the fly.

I was also told that the programs the systems tray cannot be removed. Is this true? Or is there a way that the unwanted programs can be permanently removed.

Also, I would love to know which programs in the systems tray are essential and should never be removed.

Hoping that there is a solution to the crippling of this computer,

Peter Weis

Hi Peter,
There is no reason to return to ‘normal’ operating mode after using msconfig. Simply disable the items you do not want to start when your computer starts, and the next time you boot a message will appear letting you know that you have used MSCONFIG… Simply put a check in the box next to “Don’t show this message…” and then click OK. That’s all there is to
it.

To determine what can be safely unchecked from MSCONFIG, visit: http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_pages/startup_full.php

MemTurbo and other memory programs are generally a waste of money. (You’re going to load something in memory to unload things from memory? See the irony?) and tests from Maximum PC, PC World and PC Magazine all confirm the same findings that these programs are not only useless, but can be the source of many problems. My recommendation is to uninstall MemTurbo and do
not use a registry cleaner or a memory optimization program. Everything Windows needs to run is included with Windows. There are millions of Windows users out there, and none of them NEED to have memory ‘optimizers’ or registry cleaning software.

Carey


Hi Carey,
Just recently I’ve had trouble getting info from the internet. When I go to a site I’ve been to before {especially Favorites} it shows me the page I was last at. It doesn’t go to the internet and pick up the updated page. I go in and clean my disc of temporary files and it works, but the next time I go in the same thing happens. What can I do to correct this?

Thanks,
Bob Schwei

Hi Bob,
Change how you want your Temp files updated by clicking on the Internet Options icon in the Control Panel, click the Settings button and make sure AUTOMATICALLY is selected.

Thanks for writing!

Carey


Dear Carey,
I have ME installed on my computer and I can’t get it to scan disk or defrag it tells me that I have something running in the background I have turned off everything that I know is running and it still want scan.

Thanks,

Linda

Linda,
Boot your computer into Safe Mode and then run Scandisk/Defrag.

Carey

Carey Holzman owns and operates Discount Computer Repair (602-527-9723) in Phoenix, Arizona, where he offers repairs, upgrades, custom built PCs and network wiring at highly competitive pricing. His networking tips have appeared in David Strom’s book, The Home Networking Survival Guide (McGraw/Hill), and his own book on PC maintenance is currently available at local book stores, amazon.com or directly through him. His free informative web site can be found at http://www.careyholzman.com. Donate $30 to help maintain his site and you’ll get a free autographed copy of his book. Carey can be reached directly at carey@careyholzman.com.

Ask Carey a Question! Free Windows help is just a click away.

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