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I decided to write this article because I have run into many individuals, and small businesses that ran into this particular problem. It even happened to me.

When you update from a previous version, you are asked if you want to keep duplicates if you are using a PST file for your backup.  When you install Outlook 2007 it automatically brings in your old Outlook or Outlook Express messages and addresses.  If you import the “old” PST file you may get the duplicates.

What about new installs?

I have seen the same effect (in some cases) in new installs also.  I am just as confused, why it does not always do it.  After much research, I do not see a real solution.  It appears you can buy a plug in to solve it.  These programs appear to cost around $30.00.  I feel it just is not worth doing that. In spite of the fact you have to work a little more by deleting the duplicate e-mails.

Are there other solutions?

Yes and no!  You could try other e-mail clients such as Hotmail, gmail or Thunderbird. They are ok but mostly do not have the same functions as outlook.

If you have entered more than one e-mail setup with the same pop server and SMTP you will get double messages.  You need to eliminate one of the setups.

Here is what I found on one Blog:
1. You must have at least one rule set for the “Rules and Alerts” selection to show up.
2. Select “Rules and Alerts” from the tool menu.
3. Check under “Rule Description” if there are some that are set then delete one of them.
4. After you delete the rules recreate them again.

I did try this.  It does work (at least in my case).

You need to ask yourself what will work for you.  I personally like Outlook because it has e-mail and scheduling all in the same place.  You can prioritize and set rules for your messages also.

What I do not like about Outlook?

I wish it would have a better way of backing it up.  Although they do provide a way to do it, I feel it is too deep in the file structure and the average person will not even think of backing it up.  If it were a little more automatic I think it would be better.  I think a scheme similar to QuickBooks would be good.  At least it asks you if you want to.  If you don’t back it up and your computer crashes you will lose all your contacts and messages.

Another suggestion:

If you have your contacts already put into your address book print them out (just in case).  Just open the contact group you want,  click on “file”,  click on print and there you are.  You will need to do this for each group you want to have printed.  This will give you a paper copy.

The reason I am writing this article is because I ran into this myself.  The set includes three CDs and a book with the license sticker attached.

Here is what happened: I started by inserting Disk one into the DVD-RW drive.  I booted (started) the computer and let it load. I then followed the instruction as to weather to load the system, delete and format the hard drive etc.

If the disk will not load you may need to go into the setup screen to change the boot order.  The CD or DVD must be the first device to load for this to work.

After the hard drive is formatted the operating system continues to load. It will eventually ask for Disk number 2. Needless to say I inserted the disk and it continued to load.  Some time during the loading procedure of Disk 2 a screen comes up that says “Please insert a compact disc label Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 into your CD-ROM Drive (D:) and then click OK.”  I figured I was supposed to load the Update Disk which came with the disk set.  I inserted the disk but it said it couldn’t find iexplore and/or i386.  This may sound simple to certain people but at least I was lost.  After searching inside Disk 2 and the Update Disk I decided to cancel to files it was asking for and I let the rest of the system load.  The desktop eventually appeared.  However, there was no way to access the internet and Internet Explorer was nowhere to be found.

I decided to contact people I knew.  One person seemed to have the answer.  He told me the message saying  (to load XP Professional service pack 2) is misleading. You need to reinsert Disk number 1 (one).  I was thinking it couldn’t be that easy.  I decided totry again and reload the operating system.  This time when the message came up I inserted Disk 1.  I couldn’t believe it.  That was the answer.  It loaded great and everything worked.

What about the update disk?

That’s a good question.  I found out you can go to Start>Programs (Windows XP) and then pick Windows Update.  This will give you any and all updates that are available.

Warning! Be sure all your drivers are loaded and that you activate the product. If you don’t include drivers for Sound, Video, Network etc., those devices will not work.  Also, without the network driver you will not be able to access the internet.

If you don’t activate the product it will stop working after 30 days.

This article emphasizes the importance of understanding how operating systems need to be installed.  You may need to find a professional in your area to help you through the installation process if you can’t get it to work or don’t understand it.

Licenses
If you load or reload an operating system of any kind it MUST have a legal license from whichever company made it. If you attempt to use an illegal copy of the software you could be charged with fraud, pirating or other charges.

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Do a little research if you haven’t already purchased the printer.  Some printers do use more ink than others.  If you don’t want to do the research either have somebody else do it or ask somebody.  Be sure you tell them what you plan to use the printer for.

Types of printers

There are many types of printers. The biggest difference is if they are ink jet or laser jet.  Dot matrix is older but some still exist.  I am not going too deep into that difference but it does make a difference.  If you want permanent copy at a cheaper price you MUST take a laser jet printer. The ink in the Ink jet printers can smear and the cartridges are usually expensive.  Although the initial cost is high for Laser jet cartridges the cost per copy is much lower.  You also don’t need to change them as often.  In fact,  if you remove the cartridge and shake it you can extend the life of the cartridge by quite a bit.

How to adjust my settings

Unfortunately every printer has a little different set up.  Here is how you can do it if your particular printer has the capability.  In Windows XP, click on start. Go to Control panel. Select “Printers and other hardware”. Now select Printers and Faxes.  Find your default printer.  If you have more than one selection it’s the one with the check mark behind it.  Now right click that icon.  Click on Properties.  When the screen opens it should be on the general tab. On the bottom of that screen you should see “Print preference”.  Click that box.  Another screen appears that should have several tabs. Find the selection that says “Print quality” on the “Paper/Quality” tab.  Pick the level that you prefer.  You may have selections such as: Fast draft, fast normal, normal etc.  It should be noted that the location of these setting and types of settings may vary according to the particular printer you have.   Once you have selected the setting you want click OK and return to the desk top or file you want to work with.  Now test the printer to see if it is what you want.

Are there other ways to save?

Yes! Ask yourself if you really need to print the page or picture.  If it is one picture it might be ok.  If you need to print a lot of pictures take it to a service in your area.  Wal-Mart (as an example) can print pictures at a very cheap rate.  The reason it is so expensive is because it takes a huge amount of ink to do even one picture.  Color cartridges can be very expensive.  Very rarely does anybody read an email more than once.  Instead of printing it just read it.  If you do have to keep it, store it in a file within your email program or on disk or USB drive.

One way to save costs is see if you can find a refill kit. They are normally available in stores and online.  Some stores (such as Walgreen Drug stores) now refill at least the major cartridges.  This is usually much cheaper than any other method.  They will also test the cartridges for you. If  you refill the cartridges yourself  it can be time consuming and very messy.  Be sure you wear rubber gloves and old cloths that you don’t mind getting dirty.

Vista settings are similar. This also applies to previous versions of Windows.

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Did you ever send an e-mail to somebody that had an attachment they couldn’t read?  Did you ever get an auto response that got stuck in the outbox?  It would be real surprising if you haven’t had at least some kind of e-mail issue.

If you get an attachment that will not open the chances are that either you don’t have the version of the software that they are sending you or you don’t have the program at all.  Well! Here’s the deal. You MUST have the same version or higher of the program the person saved the attachment in.  To solve this one you will either have to get the latest version of the software or you can tell the person to send it again in an earlier version.  You can also send it in text format right inside the e-mail.  This can be a problem with pictures.

Another problem, which seems to be growing, is they can’t send from their e-mail program.  This mostly happens with earlier versions of Outlook and Outlook Express.  Normally auto responses are the problem.  Go to your out box and delete them and usually you have solved the problem.  Why!  Because the “old” programs are not compatible.  That is to say they don’t know what to do with them.  These new features either didn’t exist or they have been upgraded.  Thus the reason they won’t send.  What is worse is that it will freeze up your outbox.  If somebody sends you an auto-response do not accept it.  If you do accept it you will need to go to your outbox and delete it.  Needless to say you could update the e-mail program.  This would also solve that problem. You could have a problem with your SMTP setting also. Call your service provider if need be.
If you do upgrade your old e-mail program be sure to back it up first.  You may need to import the old file which contains all your contacts and old e-mail folders.  If you do not know how to do that simply push the F1 key when the program is open and ask it.   If you go to a search engine they can offer advice also.

Another issue you may run into (I hate this) is that you need to have everything inside the contacts folder in order for it to show up when you click To: when you are sending an e-mail from you address book.  If you want to copy or move addresses to the contacts folder here is what to do.  First click on the folder that contains the address (es) you want to have in the contacts folder.  You MUST highlight any contact that you want to move or copy.  RIGHT click and drag the name to the contact folder and let go of the mouse.  A menu will come up that says move or copy.  Click on your choice.  Personally I like to copy it until I am sure everything is where I want it.  You can always go back and delete what you want to.   You can not delete a folder until you have it completely empty in Outlook 2007.

Online e-mail is not affected by the above rules.  Other e-mail programs may have different rules and different problems.

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This is a great program in my opinion.  I have used it along with Norton internet security.  I still feel it protects you more to have a quality anti-spyware program installed along with your regular program.  Why? it is hard to convince me that any of these programs can work alone.  The threats are to extreme.  I feel you must do everything in your power to protect not only your valuable data but also your identity. If you have been urged to install a free program of any kind don’t bet it will protect you.  If you can not  afford to protect yourself you shouldn’t own a computer.   I have seen people that have spent thousands for a computer but didn’t want to spend the money for an anti-virus / spyware program.  In not to long a time their computer became infected and either was really really slow, they couldn’t get on the internet and a wide range of other problems. DO NOT take this chance.  The virus production people are always ahead of you. Get the best Anti-spyware program you can afford.