Out-of-Office Replies Only Work Internally / Do Not Work Externally

By default in Microsoft Exchange Server 2000/2003, Out-of-Office replies to the Internet is disabled. Many administrators do not allow Out-of-Office auto-replies to be sent outside of the Exchange organization to prevent unauthorized people from learning when users are out of the office.

MORE INFORMATION
To enable Out-of-Office replies to the Internet:
1.Start Exchange System Manager.
2.Double-click Global Settings, and then click Internet Message Formats.
3.In the Details pane, right-click a domain name, and then click Properties. The default SMTP domain is "*".
4.In the Properties box, click the Advanced tab, and then click to select the Out of office responses check box. This enables Out-of-Office responses to the Internet for the selected domain.

iPOD Shuffle A Great Solution to Problems

So my issues came back - one last time. I gave up with iTUNES and downloaded the XPlay Plugin for Microsoft Windows Media Player. It works great -worked from the start. Synching is easy - although slower - but works. I am happy.
http://www.mediafour.com/products/xplay/

iPOD Shuffle Troubleshooting for: disconnect, freeze, Error 1418, disappear from 'My Computer', and no sound.

I experienced the most annoying set of problems with my iPOD Shuffle today; the $70.00 gadget cost me 5 hours of troubleshooting time – alas victory is mine.  The reason I was determined to make it work is because it fits perfectly into the USB port of my car deck.  As I was on a quest to resolve my issues I spent quite a bit of time Googling the strange events and found very little useful information.

Problems:

I installed the contents of the CD that came with the iPOD Shuffle.  The CD included iTUNES 6.0 and what I will assume was version 1.0 of the firmware.  I was able to synch and use the shuffle almost immediately.  It is also then that iTUNES recommended an update to iTUNES 7.0 and firmware 1.1.4.  I acknowledged the update.  This is where the problems began.

After upgrading to iTUNES 7.0 the iPOD would connect and disconnect almost immediately.  iTUNES would show Update Completed / OK to Disconnect.  On the other hand, I would notice that the iPOD would disappear from ‘My Computer’ as soon as iTUNES opened. If I uninstalled iTUNES the iPOD would remain connected and allow me to copy files directly. BUT, if I tried to play them I would get no sound from the headphones; later I noticed blinking lights. Ironically it would play in my car.

I downloaded the 1.1.4 Updater from APPLE.  You will find the link below.  Well, I also updated to iTUNES 7.0. In that combination, the 1.1.4 Updater does not work – it tells you to use iTUNES. Well, given the original connectivity problem, I was stuck. I could not UPDATE or RESTORE iPOD Shuffle.  The reason for me doing so was because of The Five Rs of iPOD Troubleshooting: Reset, Retry, Restart, Reinstall, Restore.  If I tried to use iTUNES to Update or Restore I got Unknown Error 1418 after a short freeze. iPod Issues?  The Five Rs Assistant: http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/five_rs/


I did several Resets, Retrys, Restarts, Reinstalls, and attempted Restores but none had effect until the next series of steps.

I removed iTUNES 7.0 and installed 6.0 from the CD, then loaded the 1.1.4 Updater. That worked to Restore and Update my iPOD correctly, but the problem continued. At least it was progress. iPOD Updater 2006-06-28 for Windows / Version 1.1.4
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/ipodupdater20060628forwindows.html


I installed the 1.0 package that came on the CD.  Now I knew I can get it back to the state it came in – and to the state it worked.  I installed it directly from the CD.  That worked to downgrade it, but the problem continued.  I did have to remove iTUNES because otherwise it would open automatically and in turn disconnect my iPOD Shuffle.

I downloaded Updater 1.1.3 package from Apple.  Installed that.  Ran it on the iPOD.  Installed iTUNES 6.0, restarted.  It worked.  So finally, I have a working iPOD – we’ll see for how long. iPOD Updater 2005-11-17 for Windows / Version 1.1.3
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/ipodupdater20051117.html


Final WORKING configuration:  iTUNES 6.0;  Firmware 1.1.3.Machine: Windows XP Professional x64 bit edition.
I hope this experience helps the rest of your. I’ve seen many people posting similar problems (headset jack not working, disconnects, unable to update, errors) and many suggested fixes like warranty, trash, etc.. Well, the good news is there may be a fix for your iPOD, or iPOD Shuffle.  Just takes patience and time.

Various links:
iPod Issues?  The Five Rs Assistant
http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/five_rs/

iPOD Updater 2006-06-28 for Windows / Version 1.1.4
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/ipodupdater20060628forwindows.html

iPOD Updater 2005-11-17 for Windows / Version 1.1.3
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/ipodupdater20051117.html

Data Protection Made Easy

Data Protection Made Easy

Data protection is a new concept to small business.  Historically smaller companies have relied only on a daily onsite/offsite backup while larger companies were able to protect their information in real-time.  Well, times are changing and these days, for less than a $1000.00 a small business can have a reliable system that – in real time – retains copies of changing files AND maintains historical record.  New Data Protection technologies allow a system to automatically save a copy of a file being saved to the network, and 8 previous versions of it, efficiently and affordably.  

What is even more exciting is that new products in server recovery are available now for a few hundred dollars that actually do the same thing to server images, and permit companies to restore the entire server and state to alternative and temporary hardware within a few minutes.

Unfortunately, the one true solution of complete data replication and auto-failover are still out of the Small Business Reach.  We have experimented with technologies that do this sort of thing, but by the time we priced out all the details a small company would pay close to $15,000.00 plus recurring costs for a seamless auto-failover solution.  

I’ll make an effort to make some posts about these types of solutions over the next few days/weeks.

Microsoft Word suddenly freezing when trying to browse for files.

Today I have had several reports of people freezing in Microsoft Word and Outlook for no particular reason. Well, the problems is a result of a recent series of Microsoft Updates that affect browsing. Fortunately there is a fix published April 15, 2006. You can read Microsoft Article 918165 and retrieve the fix.

This is the link: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/918165

SYMPTOMS
After you install security update MS06-015 (908531) - THIS IS NOT THE FIX!!(http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms06-015.mspx), you may experience one of more of the following issues:

• Unable to access special folders like "My Documents" or "My Pictures".Microsoft Office applications may stop responding when you attempt to save or open Office files in the "My Documents" folder.
• Office files in the "My Documents" folder are not able to open in Microsoft Office.Opening a file through an application's File / Open menu causes the program to stop esponding .
• Typing an address into Internet Explorer’s address bar has no effect.
• Right-clicking on a file and selecting Send To has no effect.
• Clicking on the plus (+) sign beside a folder in Windows Explorer has no effect.
  Some third-party applications stop responding when opening or saving data in the “My Documents” folder.

-Karl J

Calendar Items Disappear From Microsoft Outlook 2003

Starting with Microsoft Exchange 2003 Service Pack 2 and Microsoft Outlook 2003 Service Pack 2 (you need both for this to be true) you may notice a strange - and maybe upsetting - behaviour of calendar appointments: they vanish randomly. The good news is that that the behavior is somewhat normal, but the bad news is that appintments do vanish.

Well, I've been working on truly understanding the situation, and - at this point - feel it is something users must be informed of, and learn how to work with. On the bottom of this article I'll describe the steps you should follow to duplicate this situation, as it may be critical to your business.

Basically, Outlook handles meeting requests differently now, and - for the most part - you will be faced with having to ACCEPT or DECLINE more appointments. Simply DELETING the notices from you inbox will also mean you will NOT have the appointment on your calendar, regardless of AUTO-ACCEPT features.

The work around to this entire issue is to Invite Attendees as Resources (New Appointment > To > Scheduling Tab > Add Others > Add From Address Book > add people to the Resources box). This will send the appointment without an opportunity to accept / decline.

To duplicate this issue:

1. Go to your personal calendar in Outlook 2003.
2. Create a new appointment, and invite someone else in the office.
3. Make sure that the other person has Auto Accept enabled. Also, for test purposes, choose a time that will not conflict with anything on the invitees calendar.
4. Send the appointment.
5. At this point the other user will see the appointment on their calendar, but will also have an ACCEPT notice in their inbox.
6. If you DELETE the inbox message, you will also delete this appointment.

Hope this information helps, you can read the details about the programming changes directly from Microsoft:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/899919/en-us

Additionally, there was a bug in Exchange 2000 and Exchange 2003 (pre SP2) that had the same symptoms, and is corrected by hotfix 894470, but it does not apply to XCH SP2.

Why Should You Wait to Purchase a SmartPhone?

Currently there are 84 Windows Mobile 2005 SmartPhones on the market. Projections indicate that there will be a 36% increase in SmartPhone sales this year. Moreover, some experts believe that devices like Palm and BlackBerry will loose value and will be replaced by Windows Mobile. However, there is a catch...

The Microsoft Security and Features Pack, already available from Microsoft, is a ROM update for SmartPhones - an update that enables the devices to fully utilize technologies like Live Push and Remote Wipe. It was released in March 2006, but currently none of the phones produced include it. To make matters more interesting, because of the type of update the MSFP is, it may not be possible to receive it on phones available today.

Projections indicate that by April there should be plenty of choices available... our position is wait until then.

Even better, Computer Doctors of Maine, Inc. is building partnerships with several wireless providers, so keep checking our blogs for more info. When the technology is fully ready, contact us and we'll help you purchase the best device for your needs, and get it working with Exchange 2003 SP2.