Archive for December, 2008
Workaround for Errors When Opening Microsoft Office Files on WebDAV Drives
by Grant Burton on Dec.18, 2008, under JungleDisk, Microsoft Office 2003, Windows Vista
JungleDisk is a WebDAV file sharing service running on the Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3). It appears when users are using Office 2003 SP3 on a Vista Business SP1 based system, they may not be able to open Microsoft Word and Excel files. The users experience an error similar to:
Could not open ‘http://2667/somebucket/some file.doc’
The JungleDisk Support site (KBID#: 300065) indicates installing the Windows Software Update for Web Folders (KB907306) and rebooting will fix the problem. Unfortunately the reported fix does not appear to work for numerous users. Additionally, connecting to the JungleDisk “bucket” using the naive Windows WebDAV client does not allow saving due to the “read-only” bug.
We discovered the easiest way to work around the Vista/Office 2003 WebDAV limitations was to use a substitute drive. Once the JungleDisk client loads and you can access the JungleDisk network drives, the following command can be use to connect:
subst NewDriveLetter: JungleDiskDriveLetter:\
For example, if the JungleDisk drive letter is “J:\”, you will run the following command to access the share:
subst k: j:\
You should then be able to open files from and save files to the “k:” drive directly.
When your system reboots, you will need to run the subst command again. For our users, we have created a batch file that deletes the virtual drive (subst k: /d) then re-creates it (subst k: j:\). After the user’s system has completely loaded, they double-click on the batch files to create accessible virtual drives.
Incidentally, upgrading to Office 2007 on Vista or running Office 2003 from Windows XP does not appear to have any issues.
Have your business listed as a search engine’s local listing
by Grant Burton on Dec.03, 2008, under Bing / Microsoft Live, Google, Search Engines, Yahoo
Most top search engines now offer “local listings” in their search results. The local listings act in a manner similar to an online Yellow Pages for people searching for a product or service in a particular area. To see the results of a search, go to a top search engine and type in your business type and the city your business is located. For example, a search of “cameras, Santa Monica, CA” on http://local.google.com produced the results here.
The great thing about a local listing, is they are free, people can review your business, and it will help connect you with people in your area. We would highly recommend having your business listed in the following search engines local listings since it is FREE:
Google Maps
- Search Site: http://local.google.com
- Submission Page: http://www.google.com/local/add?hl=en&gl=us
- Just sign in with a Google account and follow the instructions. At the time of this writing, Google’s automated system will call your business phone number and you will enter a code to confirm you are a valid business.
Yahoo! Local
- Search Site: http://local.yahoo.com/
- Submission Page: http://listings.local.yahoo.com/csubmit/index.php
- Sign in with a Yahoo account and follow the registration instructions. Yahoo will review the listing and approve it within a few days.
Microsoft Live Search Maps
- Search Site: http://maps.live.com
- Submission Page: https://ssl.search.live.com/listings/ListingCenter.aspx
- Sign in using your Microsoft Live account and filled out the questions. Microsoft will then send you a letter with verification instructions in it.
Once your business has been accepted and listed, invite friends, colleagues, and clients to write positive reviews and testimonials about your business.
Scan and Repair Outlook 2007 PST files
by Grant Burton on Dec.03, 2008, under Microsoft Outlook 2007
Inbox Repair tool
If you can’t open your Personal Folders file (.pst) or your Offline Folder file (.ost), or you suspect that your .pst or .ost data file is corrupted, you can use the Inbox Repair tool (Scanpst.exe) to diagnose and repair errors in the file. The Inbox Repair tool scans only the .pst or .ost file, not your mailbox on the server running Microsoft Exchange. The tool determines whether the file structure is intact. If it is not intact, the Inbox Repair tool resets your file structure and rebuilds the headers.
The Inbox Repair tool works on both the Microsoft Outlook 97-2002 Personal Folders File (.pst) and the Office Outlook Personal Folders File (.pst) data files in Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 and Microsoft Office Outlook 2007.
Scanpst.exe is installed when you install Outlook. It is located at:
drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE12.
Repair errors by using Scanpst.exe
- Exit Outlook if it is running.
- Double-click Scanpst.exe, located at drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE12.
- In the Enter the name of the file you want to scan box, enter the name of the .pst or .ost file that you want to check, or click Browse to search for the file.
- To specify the scan log options, click Options, and then click the option that you want.
- Click Start.
- If errors are found after the scan is complete, you will be prompted to start the repair process to fix the errors.A backup file is created during the repair process. To change the default name or location of this backup file, in the Enter name of backup file box, enter a new name, or click Browse to look for the file that you want to use.
- Click Repair.
- Start Outlook by using the profile that contains the .pst file that you tried to repair.
- On the Go menu, click Folder List.In the Folder List, you may see a folder named Recovered Personal Folders that contains your default Outlook folders or a Lost and Found folder. The recovered folders are usually empty, because this is a rebuilt .pst file. The Lost and Found folder contains the folders and items recovered by the Inbox Repair tool. Items that are missing from the Lost and Found folder cannot be repaired.
- If you see a Recovered Personal Folders folder, you can create a new .pst file, and drag the items in the Lost and Found folder into the new .pst file. When you have finished moving all the items, you can remove the Recovered Personal Folders (.pst) file, including the Lost and Found folder, from your profile.
OST files can be scanned using drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE12\Scanost.exe.
For additional 3rd party repair tools, check out Slipstick System’s fantastic Outlook/Exchange website: http://www.slipstick.com/problems/scanpst.asp
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From: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA100758311033.aspx
Clear the browser cache in Safari
by Grant Burton on Dec.03, 2008, under Web Browsing
Clear the browser cache in Apple’s Safari browser:
- From the Safari menu, select Empty Cache… .
- When prompted, click Empty to confirm that you want to empty the cache.
Get the latest version of Safari here: http://www.apple.com/safari/
Clear the browser cache in Firefox 3
by Grant Burton on Dec.03, 2008, under Web Browsing
Clear the browser cache in Firefox 3:
Firefox 3 for WIndows
- From the Tools menu, select Clear Private Data, and then check Cache. Click Clear Private Data Now.
Firefox 3 for Mac OS X
- In Firefox, from the Tools menu, select Clear Private Data.
- Make sure Cache is checked, and then click Clear Private Data Now.
If necessary, update your browser here: http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/
Clear your temporary Internet files in Internet Explorer 7’s browser cache
by Grant Burton on Dec.03, 2008, under Internet Explorer, Web Browsing
Clear the temporary files in Internet Explorer 7’s browser cache:
- Open Internet Explorer 7.
- From the Internet Explorer 7 command bar, choose Tools and then Delete Browsing History….
- In the Delete Browsing History window that appears, click on the Delete files… button, which should be the first button you see.
- In the Delete Files window that is displayed, you are presented with the question Are you sure you want to delete all temporary Internet Explorer files?
- Click on Yes to confirm.
- The Delete Browsing History window may appear, showing you the progress of the deletion. When this window disappears, all of the files saved (cached) from your Internet browsing activities will have been removed.
- Click Close in the Delete Browsing History window to complete the process and return to Internet Explorer.
Get the latest version of Internet Explorer here: http://www.microsoft.com/ie
Clear your temporary Internet files in Internet Explorer 6’s browser cache
by Grant Burton on Dec.03, 2008, under Internet Explorer, Web Browsing
Here are the steps you need to take to clear your browser cache in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6:
- On the Internet Explorer 6 Tools menu, click Internet Options. The Internet Options box should open to the General tab.
- On the General tab, in the Temporary Internet Files section, click the Delete Files button. This will delete all the files that are currently stored in your cache.
- Click OK, and then click OK again.
Get the latest version of Internet Explorer here: http://www.microsoft.com/ie