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Posts Tagged Microsoft

Microsoft OneApp: Smart Phone features for “Featured Phones”

Aug 25

Posted by Admin in New Technologies | No Comments


Microsoft has released an application for “Featured Phones” to allow them to use applications that were exclusively used by only Smart Phone users. Featured Phones are ones that allow users to install and use applications and are little advanced than normal cell phones, but not as advanced as Smart phones.

According to Amit Mital, Corporate VP of Microsoft’s Unlimited Potential Group & Startup Business Accelerator, “OneApp is a technology that is going to help people do things they could not do before- anything from paying their bills to helping diagnose their health issues or just staying connected with friends and family”.

This is a move to get into the mobile market through successfully exploiting capabilities of cell phones that do not offer smart phone like features. This application will allow access to social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, etc.

To ensure performance, OneApp is only 150KB in size and its applications are about 30KB in size. OneApp also provides a cloud architecture to these users, which means that the users can store and access their applications without the need to store them locally on their phones.

This application will provide a platform to application developers who currently face multiple challenges in developing applications for Featured Phones due to the complexity and wide range of available models. OneApp allows vendors to develop applications only once and distribute them to a wide range of handsets.

Source: Microsoft Press Release

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Tags: Microsoft, OneApp, phone, phones

Continue using Outlook and Outlook Express with Hotmail/Live/MSN email after September 1

Aug 24

Posted by Admin in Microsoft Outlook, Troubleshooting | No Comments

images
Microsoft will change the way it’s free web based email Hotmail used to work with email clients (Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express and Entourage). This change was slated to happen sometime last year, but in absence of alternate solution in place, Microsoft had decided to delay the change implementation. This will now be implemented on September 1, 2009. On and after this date, users who have configured the email clients mentioned above will not be able to get access to their emails using these clients. However, Microsoft has released a list of solutions for users to continue using these email clients with Hotmail (Hotmail / Live / MSN).

For users of Microsoft Office Outlook 2003/2007Outlook Logo

If you are using Office Outlook version 2003 or 2007, you will have to download and install free Office Outlook Connector.

For users of Microsoft Office Outlook 2002 and previous Versions

If you are using Office Outlook version 2002 or a previous version, you will have to set up a POP3 account to configure Hotmail. To set this up, follow the steps below: (How to check version?)

  1. Click on “Tools” and on the pop-up menu, click on “Email Accounts”
  2. On the following screen, Select the radio button next to “Add a new email account” and click on “Next” button.
  3. In the “Server Type” box, select “POP3” and click on Next.
  4. On the following screen, type your name and your Hotmail email address. After populating these boxes, click on the button “More Settings” on the bottom right of the screen.
  5. In the “Incoming Mail Server (POP3)” field, type pop3.live.com
  6. In the “Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP)” field, type smtp.live.com
  7. In the “User Name” field, type your email address
  8. In the “Password” field, type your email password
  9. On the Outgoing Server tab, select the “My outgoing Server (SMTP) requires authentication” check box.
  10. On the “Advanced” tab, make the following changes:

 

            Under “Incoming Server (POP3)”

             i.      Select the option for “This server requires an encrypted connection (SSL)” by ticking the check box

             ii.      On the “Incoming Server (POP3) field, type 995. If its already there, leave it the way it is.

             Under “Outgoing Server (POP3)”

              i.      Select the option for “This server requires and encrypted connection (SSL)” by ticking the check box

             ii.      In the “Outgoing Server (SMTP)” field, type the number 25 or 587 for the port number.

            iii.      There is an option on this screen to “leave a copy of the message on server”. This option allows you to see the email through your client and also through internet browser. If you intend to use both, check this option. If you only use Outlook, uncheck this option.

11. Now click on “Test Account Settings” button to ensure that the settings are working. If this test fails, recheck the settings mentioned above. If it passes, click on “Next” and then on “Finish” to complete the setup.

For users of Microsoft Outlook Express

Microsoft recommends users to download a free Windows Live Mail Client for people who are still using Outlook Express with Hotmail accounts. However, if you want to continue using Outlook Express, you will have to follow the following steps:

  1. On the Outlook Express window, click on “Tools” and then click on “Accounts”
  2. Click on “Add” and then click “Mail”
  3. Type your name in the blank text box and then click on “Next”
  4. Type your email address and then click on “Next”
  5. On the next window, enter the following information
    1. In the “My incoming mail server is a” box, select “POP3” from the drop down menu.
    2. In the “Incoming mail (POP3, IMAP or HTTP) server” box, type “pop3.live.com”
    3. In the “Outgoing mail (SMTP) server:” box, type “smtp.live.com”
  6. On the “Internet Mail Logon” window, Type your email address and password. Please check the box “Remember password” to avoid entering password every time you launch Outlook Express. Also ensure that the box “Log on using Secure Password Authentication(SPA)” is unchecked.
  7. Click on “Next” and then click on “Finish”
  8. In the “Internet Account” window, click on the “Email” tab, select the new account and then click on “Properties”
  9. Click on the “Servers” tab and under “Outgoing Mail Services”, check the option for “My server requires authentication”
  10. Click on the Settings button to the right of the “My server requires authentication” option.  You may need to turn on the “Use same settings as my incoming server” option unless you are using a special account setup requiring a different Account name and password.  Most people will need to use the default option of “Use same settings as my incoming server“.
  11. Click on the “Advanced” tab and under “Server Port Numbers”, enter the following information:a.       Incoming mail (POP3): 995b.      Outgoing mail (SMTP): 25 or 587

    c. Under both Incoming Mail and Outgoing Mail, select the option “This server requires a secure connection (SSL)”

             d. Under “Delivery”, There is an option on this screen to “leave a copy of the message on server”. This option allows you to see the email through your client and also through internet browser. If you intend to use both, check this option. If you only use Outlook, uncheck this option.

  12. Click on “OK” to finish account setup.

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Tags: Client, Entourage, Express, Hotmail, Live, mail, Microsoft, MSN, Office, Offline, Outlook, Outlook Connector, POP3, Premium, SMTP

Microsoft unveils HD Widescreen Webcam for Consumers

Aug 21

Posted by Admin in New Technologies | No Comments


MSWEBCAMMicrosoft has released a web camera capable of widescreen capture. This is the first consumer webcam to offer widescreen video with a 720pixel capture. With increasing internet bandwidth and image and video sharing platforms like YouTube, this is perfect timing for release of such hardware. This will bring life like quality to social networking sites and for chatting with friends and family.

This is the only webcam that offers these features and caters to home consumer segment. Such features were only available to corporate for conducting remote meetings. This webcam also features an advanced Auto Focus feature that delivers sharp images up to 4 inches from the webcam. Microsoft has also launched ClearFrame Technology with this webcam. This offers faster image processing to deliver smooth video at any resolution and enhanced noise reduction capabilities. This webcam has a widest angle of coverage, a whooping 74 Degrees. This new cam also features integration with following Microsoft Live features to support editing and sharing of pictures and videos:

  1. Windows Live Movie Maker: This is a new version which now supports HD. Users can edit their pictures and videos with this tool and upload them to YouTube with a single click functionality.
  2. Windows Live Photo Gallery: This tool is also integrated with the cam utility software. However, there are no notable changes made to this tool. This is currently available as a standalone download for your existing cams also.

This revolutionary webcam will be priced at approximately USD 79.95 and will be available in September this year. This also carries a limited 3 Year hardware warranty.

Source: Microsoft Press Release

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Tags: hardware, HD, Microsoft, webcam, widescreen

Microsoft Windows Home Server

Aug 21

Posted by Admin in New Technologies | No Comments


The term Server used to be associated with only corporate Information Technology setup. Microsoft has brought the capabilities of a server to home users now with their Windows Home Server (WHS). Though this was introduced over 2 years ago, not many people have adopted this wonderful technology. Microsoft has now increased its focus on marketing this product.

Some of the key features of WHS are as below:

1.       Backup & Restore

Windows Home Server makes it easy to backup your data and applications and then restore them with some simple steps. It takes image based backups that can be programmed to perform backup action every day. Since the backup is not stored locally, you can recover your computer even if the hard drive is physically damaged. The recovery feature allows users to restore specific files or complete system which provides enough flexibility and confidence to users to carry on their day to day tasks on their machines easily and without any fear of data loss.

 

2.       Networking

WHS ensures that your home network remains healthy by constantly monitoring the defined network. You can even ensure that the anti-virus software is updated on all computers on your home network. It also incorporates a firewall that you can utilize to secure information on your network. You can be rest assured that no one can access your medical files or your banking information from your computers/network.

 

3.       Ease of Storage

WHS provides a central location to users, which is accessible by all the computers on the network like a shared location. This feature allows you to create a central repository for all images, pictures, photographs, movies, etc. This will ensure that you never miss out on the location of any of your files ever again.

4.       Enhanced Storage Capacity

Instead of adding hard drive on every computer on your home network, you can simply add hard drive (internal or external) to your WHS and it can be shared by all the computers on your network. All you need to do is plug in a hard drive and Windows Home Server will take care of the rest.

5.       Supports Home Automation

Home automation relates to devices such as Digital Photo Frames, Security Systems, IP Based refrigerators, IP & Remotely Controllable Air Conditioners, etc. Windows Home Server supports all these platforms and manufacturers of these devices are now extensively working with Microsoft to provide the capability to control your home remotely from any location using WHS. Imagine restricting access to your bedroom from your office (Cool Stuff, Just hope that your kids don’t lock you out J)

6.       Anywhere, Anytime Access

WHS provides the functionality to access your files, data, etc securely, weather you are inside your home/office or outside. You can use a completely customizable website address to download and upload files to and from your computer/network. It will look like you are working on your own computer. You will have access to all applications that you have installed on your machine back home.

 

With these features, WHS is an apt device for users who have set up a small network of up to 5 PCs at their home. It will also be wise for small business owners to invest into this to ensure that their data stays secured while providing roaming access to all the data and applications. What’s more, you can download a trial version which works for 120 days (4 Months) from Microsoft.

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Tags: access, backup, Home, Microsoft, remote, restore, Security, server, WHS, windows

Windows XP does not start after installing Windows Vista as a dual boot option

Aug 17

Posted by Admin in Windows Vista, Windows XP | No Comments


You may be unable to log into Windows XP after installing Windows Vista and making your computer a dual OS / dual boot machine. This primarliy happens when Windows Vista is installed in unallocated space on the hard drive that existed in front of the Windows XP partition. To resolve this issue, follow the steps below:

(Please note that you will need administrative rights on your login to perform these steps.)

  1. Boot the computer into Windows Vista
  2. Right click on the “Start” button and on the pop up menu, click on “Explore“
  3. Click on ”Organize” option and then on the drop down menu, click on “Folder and Search Options“
  4. Click on the “View” tab
  5. In the advanced settings area, click “Show hidden files and folders“. Click on the checkbox next to “Hide extension for known file types” to uncheck it and then click on “Hide protected sytem files (Recommended)” to uncheck it. Click “yes” to confirm that you want to display operating system protected files and then click on “OK”
  6. Locate the Windows XP drive by using the “Computer” panel browsing (Start–>Computer)
  7. Now locate “boot.ini” file. Right click on it and click on “properties” on the pop up menu
  8. On the boot.ini properties window, click on Security tab and then click on “Advanced“
  9. Click on the “Owner” tab and then click on “edit“. If you get a prompt to enter administrator password, type your password to continue to the next step.
  10. In the change owner list, Click your alias or leave the default option selected. Now click on “OK” 4 times.
  11. Now right click on boot.ini file again and click on “Edit” on the pop up menu
  12. On this window, modify the Advanced RISC Computing (ARC) path to the correct Windows XP partition

These steps will solve your issues with Windows XP booting and allow you to enjoy both the operating systems compleltely.

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Tags: boot, dual, Error, issue, Microsoft, Vista, windows, XP

Microsoft Outlook Error: Could not create work file. Check the temp environment variable

Aug 14

Posted by Admin in Microsoft Outlook | No Comments


Microsoft Outlook is the most widely used email client across the globe. We have all used it and it works great with Microsoft exchange server in our corporate environment. There are times though when it throws unwanted errors. One of the error is: “Outlook could not create work file. Check the temp environment variable”.

To resolve this situation, follow the following 2 Methods, in order:

Method 1: Delete Temp files

  1. Minimize all the active windows to get back to the Windows desktop screen
  2. Click on Start and then click on Run
  3. On the Run box, type “temp”. If you are using windows Vista, just click on Start and type “temp” in the search box and click on the temp folder when it shows up on the results window
  4. Select all the files and delete them. Please note that these files would not delete any data from your computer. (Use ctrl+A to select all files)
  5. Follow the first 2 steps again and this time type/search for “%temp%”
  6. Select all the files here also and delete them. (Use ctrl+A to select all files)
  7. Now open/search for “cmd”. This is a command prompt window and will open a black screen with a blinking cursor
  8. On this window, type: “echo %temp%” (without the quotes) and press “Enter“
  9. It will take you back to the blinking cursor. Now type: “echo %tmp%” (without the quotes) and press “Enter“

Now try to use Microsoft Outlook once and see if you still get this message. If the error still exists, then follow the Method 2 below;

Method 2:

Please note that this step includes modifying the registry on your computer. If changes other than the ones listed below are made, it could render your computer in a non bootable state. You may have to reinstall windows also in some cases. Please follow these steps very carefully.

  1. Click on Start and then click on Run
  2. In the run box, type “regedit”. If your are using Windows Vista, type “regedit” in the search box and click on regedit on the search results once it shows up.
  3. This will launch the Registry Editor window with 2 panes
  4. On the left pane, locate and click on the (+) sign next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER
  5. Under this tree, Now click on the (+) sign next to Software
  6. Under this tree, Now click on the (+) sign next to Microsoft
  7. Under this tree, Now click on the (+) sign next to Windows
  8. Under this tree, Now click on the (+) sign next to Current Version
  9. Under this tree, Now click on the (+) sign next to Explorer
  10. Under this tree, Now click on UserShellFolders
  11. On the right pane, there should be a value called “Cache”
  12. Right click on it and click on Properties on the pop up menu
  13. Change the default value for this key. It should be set to c:\Windows\Temp
  14. Restart the computer

    15.  

     

Both these steps will help you access Microsoft Outlook without the error message.

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Tags: Error, Microsoft, Outlook, registry, Temp, Variable

Windows Update Error 0×80073712

Aug 13

Posted by Admin in Windows Vista, Windows XP | No Comments


Microsoft has released 2 major security loophole fixes in past 2 months. This leads us to believe that the security risk in our daily computing life is increasing every day. To ensure that our computer remains safe from these unwanted threats, all of us want to keep our computer updated with latest updates from Microsoft. Unfortunately, windows updates are not 100% successful everytime on all the machines in the world. This is one of the most common error that is thrown to users who attempt to run Windows update manually or get this message after they restart the computer post automatic updates has finished installing the updates. To resolve this issue, follow the steps below:

  1. Browse to Windows Folder. This is usually c:\Windows
  2. Double click on the winsxs folder
  3. Locate the file pending.xml and rename it to pending.old
  4. Restart the computer and try installing the updates again

In most cases, during the rename process, you may get “Access Denied” message. If this happens, follow the steps below:

  1. Right Click on pending.xml
  2. On the pop up menu, click on Properties
  3. On the Properties window, click on Security tab
  4. On the Security tab, click on Advanced and then click on Owner tab
  5. In the Name list, click on “Administrator” or click on the “Administrators Group” and then click on OK.
  6. Click on “Add”
  7. On the “Enter the object names to select (examples) list”, type Everyone
  8. Click on OK
  9. In the “Group or Username list”, click on “Full Control”
  10. Click on OK

After the above steps, you will be able to rename the file “pending.xml”

I hope this will allow you to resolve this issue, if it ever occurs on your computer. Keep your computer updated & safe.

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Tags: Error, install, Microsoft, update, windows

Microsoft Office 2008 update for Apple Mac

Aug 13

Posted by Admin in Apple | No Comments


Microsoft released Service Pack 2 for Office 2008 for Mac on July 20, 2009. This is focussed to improve speed, stability and compatibility. With this update, Microsoft has equipped Apple Mac users with a tool to browse and share documents on SharePoint technologies and Office Live Workspaces. This is critical for business users and end consumers from an experience perspective. This goes on to say that Microsoft is investing heaviliy into providing cross platform user experience to Apple customers also.

Microsoft says that lot of customer feedback was incorporated to create SP2. Following are the key features of this free update to Mac users:

  1. Custom path Animations (PowerPoint 2008): This feature adds the functionality to author motion path animations. Prior to SP2, users could only playback motion path animations.
  2. Default Theme (PowerPoint 2008): This feature provides the functionality to define a default theme to a presentation deck, which was not possible for Apple users earlier.
  3. Increased Speed (Word and Excel 2008): This update primarily impacts launch and scroll speed for both Microsoft Word and Excel 
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Tags: 2008, Apple, Mac, macintosh, Microsoft, Office, update

Remove Content Advisor password from Internet Explorer

Aug 13

Posted by Admin in Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP | No Comments


Content Advisor option in Internet Explorer can be a boon and a big problem at the same time. In my last post, I mentioned how to set this up. This post is about getting rid of it. Though it can be misused, but this is purely for the purpose of administrators.

If you remember the password and want to remove the content advisor password, follow the steps below:

  1. Open the internet explorer window
  2. Click on “Tools” and from the drop down menu, click on “Internet Options“
  3. On the Internet Options window, click on “Content” tab
  4. Click on “Disable” button. It will prompt you for the password. Please enter the existing password and click on “OK“

If you intend to change the password, on the “Content Advisor” window, click on “General” tab and then click on “Change password“. You will be prompted to enter existing password and new password.

 

If you have forgotten the password, you can either use the “Hint” that Content Advisor would have prompted you to enter. If this doesn’t work or if you did not set up a hint, the process is a little more complex. You will have to play with Windows Registry to fix this. Follow the steps below to get rid of the Content Advisor password if you don’t remember the password:

  1. Click on “Start” button and on the start menu, click on “Run”. If you are using Windows Vista, type “Run” in the Search box and click on the RUN option after the search is complete.
  2. On the run box, please type “Regedit” and click on “ok”
  3. This will launch the registry editor window of Windows
  4. On the left pane of this window, you will see some entries with a “+” sign before them
  5. On this left pane, locate & click on the + sign next to “HKEY_LOCAL_Machine”
  6. On the expanded list, locate & click on the + sign next to “Software”
  7. On the next expanded list, locate & click on the + sign next to “Microsoft”
  8. On the next expanded list, locate & click on the + sign next to “Windows”
  9. On the next expanded list, locate & click on the + sign next to “Current Version”
  10. On the next expanded list, locate & click on the + sign next to “Policies”
  11. Under Policies tree, you will see a folder “Ratings”. Click on it.
  12. On the right pane of this window, you will see a key. Right click on the key and on the pop up menu, click on “Delete”
  13. Exit the registry editor window.

You have successfully deleted the password for Content Advisor. Now restart the comptuer and launch Internet Explorer again. Go back to “Tools”–>”Internet Options”–> “Content”–> “Disable”. It will prompt you to enter the password. Do not enter anything and click on “OK”.

This will resolve all your issues with Content Advisor feature in Internet Explorer.

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Tags: advisor, content, explorer, IE, internet, Microsoft, password, remove

Restrict web access for kids: Internet Explorer

Aug 13

Posted by Admin in Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP | No Comments


With internet becoming the backbone for education, a new problem has emerged in every home with Kids. How to restrict access to explicit content for kids? Microsoft has addressed this concern through a tool in Internet Explorer called “Content Advisor”. As the name suggests, it filters sites that contain content that you have specified and does not allow user to access such sites unless they have a password to allow access.

You can set this up very easily. Just follow the simple steps listed below to activate this on your computer:

  1. On the Internet Explorer window, Click on “Tools” and on the drop down menu, click on “Internet Options“
  2. On the Internet Options window, click on “Content” tab and then click on the “Enable” button
  3. On the “Ratings” tab on the next window, you will see a host of details that content advisor can work on to block any webpage access. There is a bar on this page, which is set to “None” which means no exception. You can move the bar to the right to decrease the level of restriction.

There is another tab “Approved Sites” on the Content Advisor window, that allows you to enter a list of websites that will be viewable irrespective of the type of content or rating of the website.

There is another tab called “General”. On this tab, you can see the following options:

a. Users can see websites that have no rating: This essentially means that if a website that is being accessed has no rating, it should be made visible. For details of rating system, click on the buttons–”Find Rating systems” or “rating systems”.
b. Supervisor can type a password to allow users to view restricted content: This allows users to gain unrestricted access for a specific session of Internet Explorer. If you close IE and reopen it again, the security will prompt for a password again. In case you select this option (Selected by default since administrators may want to retain access to restricted sites.)If a restricted site is accessed, user will get a prompt to enter a password. If incorrect password is provided, it will restrict the page view.
To create a password, click on the “create password” button and enter the password on both the boxes.

 Please ensure that the password is kept safe. Else you will not be able to get access to restricted sites yourselves.

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Tags: access, advisor, content, IE, internet, Microsoft, password, restrict