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Newsletter Number Twenty Seven - January 2009
In this Newsletter... Vacation Time, Windows 7, Outlook Address Cache, Improving System Performance - Tips and Tools, and more...
You're getting this Newsletter because you are a client, friend, prospect or just because you enjoy the content and want to be kept in touch, with some of the trends affecting Small Businesses and Information Technology.
Vacation Time for Barb and me. We will be on vacation from the 25th January to the 1st February 2009. We’re going on a cruise to celebrate Barbara’s recent (September 2008) birthday and get to some sun, sea and sand. The cruise in on the Crown Princess starting from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, with stops at Princess Cays (Bahamas), St. Maarten, St Thomas, Grand Turk (Turks & Caicos) and back into Port Everglades.
I can’t say we’re going to miss the cold and snow. We will be thinking of you, though!
While I'm away, my phone will be answered by one of my colleagues, so it will be business as usual. If you can wait for my return, the week of the 2nd February, I'll be happy to again take care of your IT needs personally. If it's urgent call my number +1 (416) 729-1232 for prompt support.
– What’s happening to Windows Vista?
You might have heard that Microsoft is returning to the original tradition of using number for its versions? Do you remember Windows 3.0, Windows 3.1 and Windows 3.11. They then switched to Windows 95, Windows 95, Windows 2000. Windows XP and subsequently Windows Vista where the nomenclature changed. Now back (or forward) to Windows 7.
Windows 7 is next version of the Windows client operating and is on track to be available approximately 3 years after the release of Windows Vista (which was released in November of 2006). Windows 7 builds on Windows and will focus on high compatibility with existing hardware, software, and security.
Given their expectation of release within three years from the release of Vista; my guess is we’ll see it at the end of this year. Click on this link toread more about Windows 7.
Diskeeper 2009 for system performance. I, like most of us, are always looking for ways to improve system performance. We constanly want to work faster! Not sure what this does for us mind you? It does not give us more free time. I think it just gives us more work time! I have found a tools that does give me improved system performace by improving access to the disk drive. From my web site (and you're there now if you are reading this edition of the newsletter), click on Software Link (on the left), then click on the Diskeeper icon. You can read about the benefits you will get from installing Diskeeper and even download a Trial Copy. Give it a try and see the performance improvement.
When you use Outlook and you start typing an email address, the system appears to magically remember that you've used it before. Have you thought about how it does that, or do you even care? I have done work for a few clients who only rely on this cached entry to be able to continually use those addresses. Why is this practice a bad idea? Good question!
This is a precarious database with no repair utilities that I have been able to locate. One of my clients recently called me a couple of weeks after returning their system. I had done some work to correct other issues and then this problem arose. They were sending emails and some messages bounced back indicated that the email address was bad. What had happened was that the cache file had encountered some corruption and the client did not notice that the address was bad. On investigation, I identified from the bounced message that the email address sent was the plain text part. No qualified email address like you@domain.com, instead it was First Last. This would obviously bounce. I did locate a utility that allowed me to read the cache file and save it as a CSV file. From here I was able to import it into Excel. From Excel, I was able to use Outlook to import the saved Excel file into the Contacts list.
What's the moral of the story? Do yourself a favour to avoid the impending heartache you will suffer if you are not able to read this file. Create a contact for the address and then be sure to backup the Outlook PST file. You've been warned!
Stay warm and look for more next month.
Once again, I appreciate your perspective on the content of my newsletter, both good and bad. I look forward to hearing from you. Just click this feedback link and let me have your comments.
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