Support site for do it your selfers and users looking for solutions to problems

  • Windows 8.1 Update to Include the Very Much Missed Start Button

    Windows 8.1 Brings Back the Start Button!

    It appears Microsoft has come to its senses! They  released an update to Windows 8 that includes the very much missed “Start” button. If you hate the “Metro” interface as much as I do, this will be a welcome change! One click away from the Windows 7 interface.

    Maybe now Windows 8 will be accepted in the enterprise. How many CEOs want to put big “Netflix” and “Facebook” icons on their employees desktop? Hopefully, there will be a way to start Windows 8 WITHOUT the Metro interface even popping up.  There WAS a reason you could still order new computers from Dell with Windows 7 Pro installed wasn’t there? Now they need to get rid of Office 365 and the world will be as it should.

     


  • Godaddy SMTP server problem — get 530 error, can’t authenticate to smtpout.secureserver.net

    GoDaddy SMTP server problem

    Today a client called me and she couldn’t get her brand new Windows 8 to send mail thru GoDaddy’s SMTP server. She was getting mail just fine, but no outbound mail. I tried all the different ports, 25, 80, 3535 and 465 with SSL. Same error. GoDaddy’s stellar support referred her to Micro$oft. And of course they wanted to charge her for support on a brand new Dell Inspiron 15. She actually should have called Dell, as they are responsible for supporting any operating system they sell. Then I pinged the server and got a good reply…Hmmmm.

    Turns out there’s some problem, possibly on GoDaddy’s end with the name resolution on that server. Even though I got a reply, it still wouldn’t authenticate.

    Resolution to Godaddy SMTPOUT.SECURESERVER.NET not authenticating users.

    Instead of using smtpout.secureserver.net, put the IP address of that server in the outbound mail section in Outlook configuration. This particular setup was Office 365, but I would think it doesn’t really matter what you’re using, as she was also having the same issue on her I-Pad and I-Phone. As soon as we put the IP address in the configuration of both the I-Phone and the I-Pad, woohoo…..They both started working also!

    GoDaddy should be aware of this issue, but apparently they’re not. Maybe I should call them and offer them the resolution for a fee. It would sure cut down on their call volume I would think!

    NOTE: The IP address of the server smtpout.secureserver.net will change according to your location. This may only be happening locally, so if you’re in Houston, and can’t send mail thru GoDaddy, give this a shot!

    How to ping a server name on Windows 8.
    To ping a server on Windows 8, hold down the window key and tap the “R” key. This brings up the run box.computer repair houston

    Enter “cmd” (without the quotes) then hit enter, and a command prompt will appear. Click in the dark area and type—ping “servername” then hit enter.

    Example——at command prompt type        ping smtpout.secureserver.net ——you must have a space after ping or it won’t work.

    I hope this helps someone out there. If it does, let me know. Or even better, go to my website and plus one me on Google or even better, go to my Google Plus page and tell everyone what great guy I am!

     

    Mike Del Monico


  • How to Setup Outlook 2010 Auto-Archive

    Outlook 2010 Auto Archive

    If you want to keep Outlook 2010 clean and running faster, one method is to set up the AutoArchive feature. Today we show you how to configure and manage the feature in Outlook 2010. Using AutoArchive allows you to manage space in your mailbox or on the email server by moving older items to another location on your hard drive.

    Enable and Configure Auto Archive

    In Outlook 2010, Auto Archive is not enabled by default. To turn it on:

    • Click on the File tab to access Backstage View, then click on Options.
    • The Outlook Options window opens then click on Advanced then the AutoArchive Settings button.
    • The AutoArchive window opens and you’ll notice everything is grayed out.
    • Check the box next to “Run AutoArchive every…”  Note: If you select the Permanently delete old items option, mails will not be archived.
    • Now you can choose the settings for how you want to manage the AutoArchive feature. Select how often you want it to run, prompt before the feature runs, where to move items, and other actions you want to happen during the process.
    • After you’ve made your selections click OK.

    Manually Configure Individual Folders

    For more control over individual folders that are archived, try this:

    • Right-click on the folder and click on Properties.
    • Click on the AutoArchive tab and choose the settings you want to change for that folder. For instance, you might not want to archive a certain folder or move archived data to a specific folder.
    • If you want to manually archive and backup an item, click on the File tab, Cleanup Tools, then Archive.
    • Click the radio button next to Archive this folder and all subfolders.
    • Select the folder you want to archive. In this example we want to archive this folder to a specific location of its own.
    • The .pst files are saved in your documents folder and if you need to access them at a later time you can.

    After you’ve setup AutoArchive you can find items in the archived files. In the Navigation Pane expand the Archives folder in the list. You can then view and access your messages. You can also access them by clicking the File tab \ Open then Open Outlook Data File.  Then you can browse to the archived file you want to open.

    Archiving old emails is a good way to help keep a nice clean mailbox. It helps speed up your Outlook experience and saves space on the email server. The other nice thing is you can configure your email archives and specific folders to meet your email needs.


  • Fix computer problems yourself

    Fix Computer Problems Yourself

    You can fix computer problems yourself many times if you just have a little know-how. Our computers run day in and day out giving us many hours of productivity, education, and entertainment. But every now and then PCs hit a bump in the road or come to a deafening screeching halt. Those seconds and minutes of downtime can feel like days and if you don’t know how to fix common computer problems, it may take longer to waiting on computer repair technician, or worse, having to leave your computer at the repair shop.

    But you can diagnosis and repair many kinds of computer issues. Here are some common computer errors and their fixes.

    Blue Screen of Death

    The dreaded blue screen with its scary text including “STOP” and strings of characters; the font is even ominous. And, of course, the advice to “contact your system administrator” is so helpful. You would laugh if you could get past the sinking feeling of despair.

    The reason the blue screen is so scary is that it can indicate something is very seriously wrong. But this error appears for a wide variety of reasons including disk and hardware failures, damaged software, issues with drivers, corrupted DLL files, etc. Its ultimate remedy will depend upon the issue, but luckily usually only a reboot is required.

    Once rebooted, be sure to use your malware scanner to check for viruses, check to be sure you have plenty of available space on your hard drive (about 15% of free space), and ensure you are running the latest versions of your operating software.

    If the PC will not reboot properly, make a note the codes you are getting on the screen, think about what you were doing when the blue screen appeared or any software you recently loaded. There are additional steps that can be taken to reboot in safe mode to diagnose the problem. But it will require some know-how. Fortunately most of the time, the reboot works and you are back to working, learning, and playing on your computer.

    ADVICE: When you try to skip a backup or avoid paying a few bucks to get automatic backups, try to conjure up that sinking feeling of the blue screen and you will gladly make that investment of time and money.

    Application Will Not Install

    The most common problem when an application will not install is that your computer’s hard drive does not have enough free available space. So, this is a relative easy fix. Just look for files you can delete. The following are great places to look to create available space:

    • delete temporary files from your file system
    • delete temporary files from your internet browsers
    • delete old files you no longer need
    • remove especially large files or folders (like pictures) that you want to keep by copying them to removable media like a CD or thumb drive, then deleting them from your computer
    • empty your recycle bin
    • run defrag

    Make a note to complete these actions quarterly so that you don’t have application install problems in the future. It is never convenient to have a lack of available space. Plus, lack of space can cause other problems such as the blue screen of death.

    Missing DLL File

    DLL or Dynamic Link Library files are used by your operating system (OS) to know what to do. They are like the brains of your OS. Just like in real life, occasionally a gremlin comes along and misplaces or damages a DLL file. Without the file, your computer does not know what to do next. A corrupt or missing DLL file will give an error message every time you are performing certain actions like saving a file. Here are a few tips to fixing your problem:

    • Look for it in your recycle bin and restore it. It happens occasionally that you just accidentally delete a DLL file.
    • Run a virus scan. It may be that your DLL is not missing, but rather than is the message that the malware gives you.
    • Reinstall the application that is throwing the DLL error. If you are using a particular program when you are getting the error, just reinstall the program. This frequently works to resolve the issue.
    • If you receive the error when trying to use devices like your printer, reinstall the driver.
    • If you made recent changes that would affect the registry, try using System Restore to undo those changes rolling back to a point where the computer was working.
    • Apply any available operating system service packs or upgrades.

    If these fail, there are other steps that an experienced computer technician can take, so don’t despair. But other actions require greater knowledge, so give a professional a call.

    Hints and warnings: Do NOT download a DLL file from a DLL download site. That is a great way to get a virus or a non-working file that does more damage. Also, if you cannot get your PC to function to fix the DLL problem, reboot in safe mode.

    Application Running Slowly

    There are many moving parts to making an application run. It needs hard drive space, memory, working operating system, etc. So there are many reasons why any software application can slow down. Try these solutions:

    • Close other applications. This will free up memory and may get you going again.
    • If your app is using online content, take a look at your modem while you are not doing anything on your computer. Are the lights flashing rapidly? That means someone is using the bandwidth you need. If you work an office, it may mean someone is using an intensive application or downloading a large file. If at home, it could also mean someone is playing online video games, streaming videos, or have left an application running on their commuter like Torrent, a video download app that hogs bandwidth frequently when no one is using the computer. If your modem is lit up while you are doing nothing, find the culprit and either wait or ask them to do something else.
    • Close all your applications and reboot. It takes time, but usually saves you time by getting your application to run faster (and avoiding other problems that can be caused when your computer just needs a good reboot.) Of course, run a virus scan after rebooting because they can also cause application speed to drop.

    Use the Internet

    Searching the internet for solutions to these and other common problems is very useful. Be sure to use reputable sources of information. Do not use references that are poorly written. Also, never download from sources that are not well-known such as Microsoft websites. Internet articles can provide great advice, but if you are nervous taking any of the actions, that is a sign that you are out of your depth and should consult someone with more experience and in-depth knowledge.

    What are your tips for solving common computer problems? Comment below!


  • Changing SMTP port on Exchange Smart Host

    SMTP Send Connector Port

    By default the SMTP Send Connector is set to use port 25 with a Smart Host. However if you need to change the port from port 25 to port 587 or any other port, then follow the below instructions.

    Launch the Exchange Management Shell (EMS). (Otherwise known as Exchange Power Shell) It’s in  Start>All Programs>Microsoft Exchange Server 20xx>Exchange Management Shell

    Use the following command in the Exchange Management Shell to get the current Connector information.

    Get-SendConnector

    Windows SBS Internet Send “Your SBS server name” will be the connector name in SBS installations. You must type the command exactly like you see it with spaces and capitalization.

    To change the port to 587 use the following command

    Set-SendConnector “Your SMTP Send Connector” -Port 587

    Notice: The commands are case sensitive. You must type them EXACTLY as you see them. The send connector name must be inside quotes..”send connector name” .

    Reboot the server and send a test mail. Then check the outgoing queue. Poof. That’s it!

    Note: The last time I had to make this change, I was forced to use my SMTP servers IP address instead of the server name, even though it resolved ok. If you aren’t successful, try using your SMTP servers IP address instead of the SMTP server name. I have no idea why it makes a difference.

    Mike


  • Can’t send mail with AT&T Internet service

    AT&T Internet Service Provider Email Problems

    AT&T has restricted outgoing email by directing all SMTP traffic to their servers only. This is to reduce spam, but it makes it very hard to use Outlook or any other mail program to send email if you have Uverse or DSL thru AT&T. There is a way around this though. Most SMTP servers also accept mail on port 587. Try changing the outgoing mail to port 587. You may get lucky if your email host accepts email on that port. Don’t forget to tell Outlook to use the same name and password as your incoming (POP) server.


  • What is DNS?

    In short, DNS, short for Domain Name System, is the worldwide system for translating IP (Internet Protocol) addresses to user friendly names. Like computerrepairhouston.net What a bummer it would be to have to remember all the IP addresses for the sites you visit on the Internet.