Microsoft Support
Free Microsoft Support recently updated to include FREE Software for XP & OFFICE + HOW TO SCAN FOR SPYWARE PROPERLY
As a Microsoft consultant I’m pleased that practically every resource is available freely on Microsoft’s website.
They provide many useful downloads & fun “goodies”, as well as their support information. Locating the proper Microsoft Support information however isn’t always so easy; and with the additional pressure of finding information DURING troubleshooting – you’ll have to agree it can sometimes be quite frustrating!
My colleagues and friends give me the task of locating their “illusive” support documents. I would send them the link, along with “how I found it” -- I’ve gathered all of Microsoft’s disparate support resources here all in one location; along with a few tips on locating the information you desire.
Office 2007 Beta2
The Book of Windows Vista : As a Word document
SUPPORT CENTER: For general troubleshooting •
Access 2000, 2002, & 2003 • Excel 2000, 2002, & 2003 • Exchange Server 5.5, 2000 & 2003 •
FrontPage 2000, 2002, & 2003 • FrontPage Server Extensions 2000 & 2002 •
InfoPath 2003 •
Internet Explorer 6.0 •
Office 2000, XP, 2003 •
OneNote 2003 •
Outlook 2000, 2002, & 2003 •
Outlook Express 6.0 •
PowerPoint 2000, 2002, & 2003 •
Project 2000, 2002, & 2003 •
Publisher 2000, 2002, & 2003 •
SharePoint Portal Server 2001, 2003 & Team Services •
SQL Server 7.0 & 2000 •
Virtual PC 2004 •
Visio 2000, 2002, & 2003 •
Windows 98, Me, NT, 2000, XP, XPSP2, & XP x64 •
Windows Server NT, 2000, & 2003 •
Word 2000, 2002, & 2003
EVENTS AND ERRORS MESSAGE CENTER: For specific problems (enter the error code or message here.)• DLL Help Database – helps identify DLL version conflicts • The MDAC Component Checker tool is designed to help you determine installed version information and diagnose installation issues with the Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC). • The Windows Memory Diagnostic tests the Random Access Memory (RAM) on your computer for errors.
SEARCH THE KNOWLEDGE BASE: With the Standard Knowledge Base Search, it can be difficult to locate the article your need, so I recommend using the Advanced Knowledge Base Search – this can help you quickly isolate your question to a specific product and published date. 1) Pick your Product – The Advanced Knowledge Base Search allows you to easily choose the product you’re troubleshooting. (Which is easier than remembering "kbWinOS2000” is the keyword for Windows 2000.)2) “Guess” keywords that describe your problem – Error messages can go through a great deal of editing. We had an Outlook problem of the username field coming up blank (not saved) on some computers. We tried searching for everything (blank field, empty field etc.) – ultimately we discovered that the proper "Microsoft" word for a “blank field” is “unpopulated!”Microsoft only prints a fraction of their keywords list, as well as keywords used for programmers. Some keywords are too specific (as with these Windows 2000 keywords.) I hope Microsoft expands the list of keywords available to the public.
NOTE1: Remember to think like the game show Jeopardy. You’re looking for an “answer” not your “question”; so ask your question in the form of an answer. Articles will probably not have a question like “How do I change the system clock?” it will more likely have the answer “To change the system clock”NOTE2: Wildercards (*), “Quotes”, AND, OR, NOT commands can be used just like any other search engine. NOTE3: Read Microsoft's How to ask a question.
3) Pick an “Article Type” Keyword (optional) – Helps pinpoint the specific type of support you need.BUG – Known problem (may have a FIX)DOC – If your printed docs are wrongFAQ – Frequently Asked QuestionsFILE – Downloadable support filesfilename.ext – Search for a specific fileFIX – Shows fixes for known “BUGs”HOWTO – “How To” ArticlesINFO – Product info & specsPRB – End-user Perceived Problems QFE – Quick Fix Engineering PatchSAMPLE – Samples program code4) Modified Date – You can refine your search results to see the most recent articles, or broaden your results if you do not know a when the article was written/modification. 5) Categories – Unless you know which specific category to search, start by selecting all of the categories, as well as the “Community Solutions Content” which include solutions from knowledgeable non-Microsoft employees. How To Articles displays KB articles describing a feature or how to perform a task.Downloads displays KB articles contain content that links to a Download. It also includes hotfix or security bulletin information. Troubleshooting displays KB articles describing how to fix a problem or that have information about a virus. MSDN Content provides in-depth technical content, including references, technical articles, downloads, and code samples, for all developer-related Microsoft products and technologies. TechNet Content provides content that is geared toward information technology professionals. It provides information about technology issues, security and virus information, information technology solutions, and community resources. Community Solutions Content displays articles written by customers and also by Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) 6) Rinse, Lather & Repeat – It’s doubtful that you’ll find your answer on the first search. So go back to Step # 2 and try fewer keywords, more keywords, or “entire phrases within quotation marks.” There simply is no single method to “divine” an answer within Microsoft’s Knowledge Base – but trust me your answer is indeed in there. . .”somewhere” :-)
NEWSGROUPS: This information is “informally” organized, but there are indeed many support gems hiding here.• Internet Explorer • Office – General Office questions. Also covers: Access, Excel, FrontPage, PowerPoint, & Word • Outlook & Exchange Server • Project • SharePoint Portal Server • SQL Server • TechNet General Discussions • Visio • Windows 9x, NT, 2000, & XP • Windows Server NT, 2000, & 2003
MICROSOFT BLOGS: Not always a source of immediate help, but these blogs are a must read. Be sure to note the additional employees links on each of the team blogs. • Access • DHCP Team • Excel • Exchange Clustering • Exchange Server Team • FrontPage / Sharepoint • InfoPath • Internet Explorer • IIS • MOM Product Team • Office • OneNote • Project • SMS Server • SQL Server • Virtual PC • Windows Server • Word
ROAD TO KNOW WHERE: I've prepared additional articles detailing troubleshooting tips and free Microsoft software available for download. • Free Microsoft Windows XP Downloads • Free Microsoft Office Downloads • Free Microsoft Research Downloads• How to Properly Remove Spyware • Troubleshooting Office Service Pack 2 (SP2) • Troubleshooting Outlook • Troubleshooting Word using Support.DOT
FREE MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP SOFTWARE
WINDOWS XP
3 Degrees connects people into a small group, so you can do fun things together. Throw animations to each others' desktops with winks. Listen together to a shared playlist created from music that you own with musicmix.
UPDATED! ActiveSync synchronization software of Outlook information, Office documents, pictures, music, videos and applications from your desktop to your Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs and Smartphones. NOTE: ActiveSync Error Codes received after a synchronization attempt.
Alt-Tab Replacement: in addition to seeing the icon of the application window you are switching to, you will also see a preview of the page. This helps particularly when multiple sessions of an application are open.
UPDATED! AntiSpyware when properly congifured, this helps protect Windows users from spyware and other potentially unwanted software.
Baseline Security Analyzer includes a graphical and command line interface that can perform local or remote scans of Windows systems. MBSA will scan for common security misconfigurations in the following products: Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003, Internet Information Server (IIS) 5.0, and 6.0, SQL Server 7.0 and 2000, Internet Explorer (IE) 5.01 and later, and Office 2000, 2002 and 2003. MBSA also scans for missing security updates, update rollups and service packs published to Microsoft Update. (NEW! Support Tool: Visio Connector for MBSA 2.0)
Bootvis – Microsoft states this tool is no longer available, but they still “support it”. This program “was” a performance tracing and visualization tool designed to help identify performance issues for boot/resume timing while developing new PC products or supporting software. But you can download it at MajorGeeks.
Calculator Plus allows you to complete many different types of conversions.
CD Slide Show Generator can view images burned to a CD as a slide show.
NEW! Clear Cache feature for Internet Explorer – This program intended to automatically delete all temporary Internet files, cookies, and history files when it is installed and executed. The program was developed to programmatically clear these files when a corrupt entry caused errors with Internet Explorer.
ClearType Tuner lets you fine tune the ClearType technology via the Control Panel, making it easier to read text on your screen. A necessity for LCD screens (portables and flat screens)
Color Control Panel Applet adds a new "Color" item to the control panel, providing viewing and editing color management settings.
Creativity Fun Pack PowerToys automatically select images for your Desktop of Screen Saver.
Desktop Language Settings allows you to identify and change language, keyboard, and regional settings for Windows, Internet Explorer, and Office programs with a single tool.
NEW! Desktop Search – Enterprise Edition The latest version of Windows Desktop Search (WDS) is optimized with features that help the enterprise IT manager easily customize, deploy and manage the installation of desktop search across all users and computers in their organization. New Administrator Guide.
NEW! FolderShare keeps important files at your fingertips - anywhere. All file changes are automatically synchronized between linked computers, so you are always accessing the latest documents, photos, and files.
UPDATED! Game Voice Share Talk strategy to your teammates. Talk trash to your opponents. Game Voice brings the power of voice to games, whether you're online, on a LAN, or offline. (Support Document: How to Improve Performance)
UPDATED! Codename Max lets you make lists of your photos and turn them into beautiful slide shows to share with your family and friends. Max is built on the next-generation WinFX Runtime Components tehcnology that will drive the development of Windows Vista applications. (Support Document: NEW! Setup Guide)
UPDATED! MSN Messenger 7.5 is an instant messaging program that lets you send instant messages to your friends, and much more.
MSN Search Toolbar with Windows Desktop Search, tabbed browsing, pop-up blocker and automatic form fill. (Support Documents: Administration Guide & Toolbar Help - NEW! MSN Search SDK Beta)
UPDATED BETA 2 Developer Toolbar provides a variety of tools for quickly creating, understanding, and troubleshooting Web pages. (Feedback)
Games Add-in gives you 40+ puzzle games, 20+ card & board games, 150+ downloadable games, 20+ word & trivia games, 80+ free online games, with new games posted weekly.
UPDATED! Phishing Filter Add-in works to prevent high-tech scams using phony web sites with actual brands designed to steal valuable personal information such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, and Social Security numbers. (NEW! Support Document: How to. . .)
NEW! Search Preview Add-in - Make your searching more productive and convenient. Search Preview displays a thumbnail preview next to each result. Enlarge the preview by rolling over it and put an end to "click-look-back"
Weather Add-in Keeps the local three-day weather forecast at your fingertips.
NEW! Windows Live Favorites is a very useful service that allows you to store and quickly access all the interesting sites you find on the web from any computer, any time, any where. With Windows Live Favorites you can search your links and keywords easily so finding what you have already discovered on the web is simple. You will never lose your favorites again because your favorites will be located on the server.
The Windows Rights Management Add-on provides a way for users of supported Windows operating systems to view, but not alter, files with restricted permission. These restrictions enable authors to prevent sensitive documents, Web-based information, and e-mail messages from being forwarded, edited, or copied by unauthorized individuals. These restrictions provide protection, not only while the information is in transit, but also after the recipient of the information has received it. My Font Tool converts your own handwriting into a TrueType font, making typed text appear as though you had written it by hand.
HTML Slide Show Wizard helps you create an HTML slide show of your digital pictures, ready to place on your Web site.
Image Resizer enables you to resize one or many image files with a right-click.
UPDATED! Location Finder is a client-side application that turns a regular WiFi enabled laptop, Tablet or PC into a location determining device without the addition of any separate hardware. Location Finder uses WiFi access points - or reverse IP lookup when WiFi is not available - to center and display the person's location on the NEW! Windows Live Local, enabling the user to quickly and easily search in their present location.
Malicious Software Removal Tool checks for infections by specific, prevalent malicious software—including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom—and helps remove any infection found. When the detection and removal process is complete, the tool displays a report describing the outcome, including which, if any, malicious software was detected and removed.
Open Command Window Here adds an "Open Command Window Here" context menu option on file system folders, giving you a quick way to open a command window (cmd.exe) pointing at the selected folder.
PortQry Command Line Port Scanner is a command-line utility that you can use to help troubleshoot TCP/IP connectivity issues. The utility reports the port status of TCP and UDP ports on a computer you choose. For details, see KB310099 and description.
NEW! Port Reporter logs TCP and UDP port activity on a local Windows system. Port Reporter is a small application that runs as a service logging which ports are used, which process is using the port, if the process is a service, which modules the process has loaded and which user account is running the process.
Port Reporter Parser Tool is a log parser for Port Reporter log files. Port Reporter Parser has many features that can help you analyze Port Reporter log files.
Power Calculator can graph and evaluate functions as well as perform many different types of conversions.
NEW! Promqry and PromqryUI are two tools that enable you to detect a network sniffer that is running on a computer that is running Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, or Windows 2000. If a system has network interfaces in promiscuous mode, it may indicate the presence of a network sniffer running on the system.
PromqryUI is a tool with a Windows graphical interface that can be used to detect network interfaces that are running in promiscuous mode.
Promqry is a command line tool that can be used to detect network interfaces that are running in promiscuous mode.
RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer for the serious photographer. Now you can organize and work with digital RAW files in Windows Explorer (much as you can with JPEG images). This tool provides thumbnails, previews, printing, and metadata display for RAW images.
Shared Computer Toolkit is designed for schools, libraries, Internet and gaming cafés, community centers, and other locations where are "shared" computer is used.
Support Tools are intended for use by Microsoft support personnel and experienced users to assist in diagnosing and resolving computer problems.
SyncToy can help you copy, move, and synchronize files coming from every direction (such as digital cameras, e-mail, cell phones, portable media players, camcorders, PDAs, and laptops)
Taskbar Magnifier magnifies part of the screen from the taskbar.
Time Zone installs as a small tray icon that allows you to specify as many as five cities to watch the time on while you are working on your computer.
Tweakomatic is a nifty new utility that writes Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) scripts enablimg you to retrieve and/or configure Windows and Internet Explorer settings locally or remotely.
Tweak UI gives you access to system settings that are not exposed in the Windows XP default user interface, including mouse settings, Explorer settings, taskbar settings, and more.
USB Flash Drive Manager will backup and restore files to/from a USB Flash Drive device.
UPDATED! User Profile Hive Cleanup is a service to help with slow log off and unreconciled profile problems ensuring that user sessions are completely terminated when a user logs off when using Roaming Profiles or locked profiles as implemented through the Shared Computer Toolkit.
UPDATED! User State Migration Tool (USMT) migrates user files and settings during large deployments of Windows 2000 or XP. USMT captures desktop, network and application settings as well as a user files, and then migrates them to a new Windows installation. (Support: Homepage)
Virtual Desktop Manager manages up to four desktops from the Windows taskbar
Virtual Machine is Microsoft's Java Virtual Machine for Internet Explorer, allowing you to view java applets on Web pages.
Webcam Timershot lets you take pictures at specified time intervals from a Webcam connected to your computer and save them to a location that you designate.
Windows Installer CleanUp Utility can remove a program's Windows Installer configuration information if experiencing installation (Setup) problems.
MULTIMEDIA
"Decades" Auto Playlist Pack include dozens new auto playlists to organize your music by decades—from the 1940s through the new millennium.
Device Manager Software Development Kit (SDK) helps you work with devices that support the new Media Transfer Protocol (MTP).
Media Bonus Pack is fully packed with utilities, PowerToys, visualizations, skins, sound effects, and much more.
Media Capture enables video content authors to capture uncompressed AVI files with mono, stereo, 5.1, or 7.1 channels of audio, with up to 24 bit resolution and sampling rates up to 192KHz. Windows Media Capture 9 Series supports a broad range of video and audio capture cards, and includes the complete source code for developers who wish to build their own capture applications.
Media Encoder is a powerful tool for content producers who want to take advantage of the many innovations in Windows Media 9 Series including high-quality multichannel sound, high-definition video quality, new support for mixed-mode voice and music content, and more.
Media Player Software Development Kit (SDK) introduces a range of new features and functionality for customizing the Player and Player Control.
Media Professional Exhibitor is a powerful tool intended for playback of Windows Media files at full-screen resolution at all times. All transport and playlist controls appear on a (required) second monitor allowing for a theatrical viewing experience.
Media Transfer Protocol Porting Kit introduces the new Media Transfer Protocol (MTP), which enables you to manage content on any portable device.
Movie Maker makes home movies amazingly fun. With Movie Maker, you can create, edit, and share your home movies right on your computer. Build your movie with a few simple drag-and-drops. Delete bad shots and include only the best scenes. Then share your movie via the Web, e-mail, or CD.
Photo Story create slideshows using your digital photos. With a single click, you can touch-up, crop, or rotate pictures. Add stunning special effects, soundtracks, and your own voice narration to your photo stories. Then, personalize them with titles and captions. Small file sizes make it easy to send your photo stories in an e-mail. Watch them on your TV, a computer, or a Windows Mobile–based portable device.
Producer 2003 is free to licensed users of PowerPoint 2002 & 2003, includes improved audio and video quality, better synchronization, and presentation-sharing tools.
TweakMediaPlayer gives users easy access to advanced settings for the library, CD burning, and full-screen mode. Use this plug-in to adjust music queuing in the library, automatic volume leveling for burning audio CDs, full-screen animations, and much more.
SCREENSAVERS & THEMES
Christmas Theme has wallpaper, animated cursors, new icons, new sounds, and a 3D screensaver.
NEW! Desktop Wallpapers from Microsoft's Michael Swanson. 1920 x 1200 (16:10 aspect ratio, "widescreen") and 1600 x 1200 (4:3 aspect ratio, "standard")
Dungeon Siege Wander through the magical Land of Ehb. The screensaver features several breathtaking views taken straight from the game, some you might recognize, others you might not.
European Flags Screensaver celebrates the European Union expansion on May 1st 2004. The screensaver displays each member state's flag in succession or allows the user to choose to display just a single flag.
Final Fantasy XI Desktop Theme For decades, gamers have embarked upon journeys through the unforgettable worlds of the Final Fantasy games. Alone, they fought heroic battles and saved the world countless times. Now these players can unite from around the world in the exploration of a new fantasy experience online in Final Fantasy XI for Windows.
Fun Pack for Windows Movie Maker 2 (2002 & 2003) Check out this expansive collection of wintry sound effects, holiday music, titles, video titles and cut scenes!
Holiday Snowflakes transform your computer monitor into a winter wonderland with 3-D snowflakes falling from the sky.
Ireland Desktop Theme includes a desktop wallpaper and a screensaver depicting images from around the island of Ireland. The images have been kindly supplied by Fáilte Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth Skin for Windows Media Player 10 The skin was created in partnership with Electronic Arts and designed by The Skins Factory.
MSN Screensaver can personalize your screensaver with background photos and news and weather information from MSN or any RSS feeds from websites you choose.
New Zealand Bliss A special Queen's Birthday 2005 edition; the world-famous directional sign in Bluff; and the theme pack for Royale.
NEW! Office Dinosaur Screensaver. Share the Dino's pain as he dances his way through one embarrassing technological difficulty after another.
Plus! Dancer LE is a free trial version of Plus! Dancer that enables you to experience the fun of entertaining dancers that groove to beats of the music that's playing on your desktop.
Cobey See Cobey get down to Hip Hop!
Evan & Michele Spice up your desktop with the sexy Argentinean tango.
Scooby-Doo See Scooby-Doo do the Scooby Shuffle!
San Fermín Desktop Theme is specifically designed for the Spanish speaking community.
Security Screensavers helps remind users of basic security practices. The download package contains two different screen savers -- one displays the Ten Immutable Laws of Security, and the other displays the Ten Immutable Laws of Security Administration.
Valentine's Day Screensaver celebrates (duh) Valentine's Day.
Video Screensaver includes sample movie footage that gives you a surprisingly new view of countries all over the world. Every language release has its own video that shows you in a new and surprising way what living in these countries may look like.
Windows XP Screensaver The 3D Windows XP screensaver shows off the power of DirectX matched with the bright colors of Windows XP.
Winter Fun Pack 2004 for Windows XP Installer.
World of Warcraft Skin for Windows Media Player 10 The official Windows Media Player 10 skin for Blizzard's award-winning World of Warcraft online game.
BONUS: Really Slick Screensavers!
FREE MICROSOFT OFFICE SOFTWARE
MICROSOFT OFFICE SYSTEM
Desktop Language Settings allows you to identify and change language, keyboard, and regional settings for Windows, Internet Explorer, and Office programs with a single tool.
File Converter Pack provides file converters and image filters for older or seldom used program formats.
Font properties extension adds several new property tabs to the fonts dialog box.
NEW! Office Web Parts and Components is a collection of Web Parts, Web Part Page solutions, templates, and data retrieval services that work closely with Office 2003 and Windows SharePoint Services 2.0.
Remove Hidden Data permanently remove hidden and collaboration data, such as change tracking and comments, from Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files with documentation.
Resource Kit Tools 2000, XP, & 2003 for those deploying Microsoft Office in a corporate environment.
Sounds add sounds to have fun audio cues play as you work with Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word.
Stock Actions for the Research Task Pane allows you to insert stock quote information from the MSN Money Stock Quotes service into Word & Excel.
UPDATED! Web Components are a collection of Component Object Model (COM) controls for publishing spreadsheets, charts, and databases to the Web. XML Date and Phone Number Smart Tags recognize most date and phone number formats in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
And of course, plenty of Free Clip Art, Templates, Fonts – and zillions of Calendars for the years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, & 2005-2014
ACCESS
Converter 2.0 Utility is used to convert files from the Access 2.0 file format.
Links Add-in helps maintains your Excel data-link with Access
Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) Add-in contains the SQL.REQUEST worksheet function, which can connect to an external database and return a query to the worksheet.
Report Manager Add-in allows you to combine Excel worksheets, views, and scenarios into reports that can then be printed.
XML Spreadsheet Add-in moves XML data seamlessly from Access 2002 to Excel
Templates
Accounts Ledger
Asset tracking
Classroom Management (Test & Grades)
Contact Management
Expense Report
Inventory Management
Personal Address Book
Project Management Issues
Public Relations Event Management
Service call management
Time and Billing
Code Samples
EXCEL
MSN Money Stock Quotes add-in allows you to get dynamic stock quotes from the MSN Money Web site.
Sample Spreadsheets: Five Handy Gantt Charting Tips & Expense Report
SQL Server Analysis Services add-in enables users to access and analyze data from multiple Analysis Services Cubes.
Statistical Analysis Toolpak performs statistical and regression analysis, while Solver Add-in uses Generalized Reduced Gradient (GRG2) nonlinear optimization code.
NEW! Treemapper Add-In tool allows a user to quickly and easily generate a treemap visualization of any hierarchical data in Excel, or from a CSV or XML file. Treemapper is based on the Data Visualization Components also available from this group. (Research Product)
XML Toolbox provide useful tools for working with XML in Excel with additional available help.
Excel Templates
FRONTPAGE
1 Cool Menu FX Tool is a 3rd party tool to adding animated buttons, expandable menus, floating navigation and other Flash animations.
bCentral Commerce Manager is an add-in providing you with the tools you need to create, update, and manage a fully-powered e-commerce Web site.
Creating an RSS Feed is sample code providing a Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) solution to programmatically generate an RSS feed.
Database Troubleshooting Utility checks for the following items that may cause a Database Results Region page to fail: The absence of a Global.asa file, Whether the Global.asa file is running, Whether the Global.asa file is running outside of the Web, The absense of any database connections in the Web.
Fiddler is an HTTP Debugging Proxy which logs all HTTP traffic between your computer and the Internet; and can inspected all HTTP Traffic, set breakpoints, and "fiddle" with incoming or outgoing data. Additional help is availble for debugging and performance.
Flashation Flash Menu Builder is a 3rd party tool for adding Flash buttons and menus.
FrontLook Media Maker is a 3rd party add-in makes publishing & creating CDs for use with the presentation viewer.
Help Publisher is a 3rd party add-in to create full-featured HTML help files.
Mobile HTML Optimizer is an add-in for versions 2000 & 2002 that can jumpstart your development of a WML (Wireless Markup Language) site by converting existing HTML (HyperText Markup Language) files created for a static Web site to WML format.
Page Margins is a 3rd party add-that helps the user easily set page margins that are compatible with both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator.
Page Titles is a 3rd party add-in that changes page titles quickly and easily, individually and in-bulk.
Pre-publish is a 3rd party add-in that prompts you to save unsaved pages before your Web is published.
Windows Media Player Add-in enables users to embed the Windows Media Player control into websites.
Templates
Accountant
Clear Teal (Professional)
Course Web-site
Doctor
Employment
Finance
Gradient Grey
Government Site
High School
Hospital
Human Resources
Insurance
Legal - Small, Large, & Corporate
Project Management
Real Estate
Sales
ONENOTE
My Font Tool converts your own handwriting into a TrueType font, making typed text appear as though you had written it by hand.
Send to OneNote from Internet Explorer is a PowerToy that allows you to send the contents of a Web page from Internet Explorer to a new OneNote page with the click of a button.
Send to OneNote from Outlook is a PowerToy that allows you to send e-mail messages to a OneNote from Outlook with the click of a button.
OneNote Templates
OUTLOOK
Calendar Views is an add-in that allows viewing your Calendar appointments through a filter that is based on Outlook labels and categories.
Lookout provides lightning-fast search for your e-mail, files, and desktop from within Outlook!
Notes Connector enable access your e-mail messages, calendar, address book, and To Do (task) items on an IBM Lotus Domino Release 5.x or Release 6.x server
Outlook Mobile Manager (OMM) brings the power of Microsoft Outlook to your portable device. OMM can prioritize your messages and makes smart decisions about when to send email. OMM also sends calendar reminders, task reminders, and an Outlook Today style daily summary all to your wireless device. (Research Product)
Oversized PST and OST Crop Tool used to resolve problems that can not be fixed using the Inbox Repair Tool due to the .pst or .ost files exceeding the 2 gigabyte (GB) size limitation. (Support Document: How to Troubleshoot Outlook)
Personal Folders Backup creates backup copies of your .PST files at regular intervals
SMS (MOSA) download will enable you to send SMS text messages through most GSM mobile phones connected to your PC.
NEW! SNARF, the Social Network and Relationship Finder filters and sorts Outlook e-mail based on the type of message and the user’s history with an e-mail correspondent. The result: a collection of alternative views of your e-mail that can help you make sense of the deluge. Support Documents: Help Guide & Overview (Research Product)
NEW! Thread Compressor macro compresses all mail messages from a specific conversation into a single mail message, thus reducing Inbox clutter and size.
Video E-mail uses a Web camera to send a video e-mail.
STATIONERY
Baxter
Boomerang
Column Twill
Dark River
Forest Floor
My Kitchen
Pinstripe
POWERPOINT
Presentation Broadcast makes it easier to synchronize audio, video, slides, and images to deliver your presentations.
Producer makes it easier to synchronize audio, video, slides, and images to create engaging and effective rich-media presentations.
NEW! Report Presentation Add-in helps a user to quickly and easily create a presentation from a Project file. The tool extracts task information from the Project file and populates a template with the user-selected information. This add-in provides an effective, integrated means for project managers and other users to create presentations with real-time project data while avoiding redundant data entry and potential input errors. (Support Document: Read Me)
These samples allow PowerPoint 2002 to create an organization chart from a database of employees in Word and PowerPoint, or an animated presentation from a Word outline.
Templates Packs 1, 2, & 3 and even more Templates
PROJECT
Scrum Solution Starter is an Agile project management practice that employs short iterations and continuous improvement. The Scrum solution starter extends Microsoft Office Project Professional 2003 or Project Standard 2003 and enables project managers to perform basic Scrum work.
The Software Development Kit (SDK) is designed for solution providers, value-added resellers, and other developers to help customize Project 2003, and to extend and integrate Project Server 2003 with other applications for Enterprise Project Management. It features articles, programming references, tools, and sample code, including extensive articles called Solution Starters.
Template Creation Wizard add-in gives you the ability to create your own design templates incorporating custom backgrounds. This Wizard allows you to create new design templates using custom images as title master and slide master backgrounds.
Project Templates
VISIO
20 Sample Diagrams related to support and sales demos.
IFilter is a component used by the Windows Indexing service and SharePoint Portal Server 2003 to extract text strings from Microsoft Visio files (.VSD, .VSS, .VST, .VDX, .VSX, and .VTX formats). The text strings are then indexed by these servers and the resulting indices are made available to several client applications that provide a user interface to search for text strings in files. These search clients include Visio 2003 Find Shape, Windows 2000 and Windows XP File Explorer search, Office 2003 search, Microsoft Windows SharePoint™ Services 2003 search, and SharePoint Portal Server search.
Software Development Kit (SDK) contains sample applications, code librarian code snippets, documentation, and tools, including the ShapeStudio, Event Monitor, Persistent Events, Print ShapeSheet, and Solution Publishing tools.
Resource Kit are tools used to support deployment of Visio.
Visio Templates
WORD
Avery Wizard is a plug-in to Word XP, 2000, & 2003 and provides templates for hundreds of Avery laser and inkjet products. Use the Avery Wizard to print mailing labels, shipping labels, tab titles, Ready Index table of contents sheets, diskette labels, name badges, name tags, business cards, and tent cards.
NEW! Create Calendar in Word from Outlook 2000 Calendar Data The automated calendar template creates Outlook calendars in Word 97/2000. The template contains macros that automatically take the data from Outlook 2000 and re-create your monthly calendar view in Word. After you use this template to re-create your calendar, you can print it, with or without weekends, in either portrait or landscape orientation. You can also modify the document.
Create a Presentation from Word easily convert your documents into PowerPoint presentations.
Equation Toolbar allows you to choose from more than 150 mathematical symbols.
Legal User's Guide is a reference for legal professionals that describes features useful to the legal industry. (Previous Versions)
Sales & Marketing Templates (NEW!)
Word Redaction makes it easy to mark sections of a document for redaction. You can then redact the document so that the sections you specified are blacked out.
The XSLT Inference Tool creates XSL Transformations (XSLT) that quickly transform XML files into WordprocessingML files with complex and rich formatting.
Word Templates
AND. . .if you don’t own Microsoft Office – you can always use the Microsoft Office Viewers:
Access
Excel
HTML :-)
Journal
PowerPoint
Word
Word XML
Visio
SPYWARE REMOVAL
Removing and preventing Spyware has (unfortunately) been very lucrative for most consultants (OK, a few of us). The crux of most users’ problems is that the programs are not updated and the default settings for these programs do NOT scan for all possible problems! So they “sneak” on through!
Software manufactures state that users don’t want to wait a long time for scanning, so they choose a (quicker) default scanning time.
SpyBot Search & Destroy
1) Launch program and check for (& install) updates
2) Select “Advanced Mode” from the “Mode” pull-down menu
3) Click on the “Tools” button on the side toolbar
4) Select ALL Tools except for the “Bug Report” (only needed when troubleshooting the SpyBot program)
5) Click on the “Settings” button on the side toolbar
6) Click on “Ignore Products”
7) Select “All Products” – then right-mouse click on the list and “Deselect All” items, but (re)select “DSO Exploit”
8) (Re)immunize to include the newly included “All Products”
9) Click on “Check for problems”
Lavasoft’s AdAware
1) Launch program and check for (& install) updates [click on "Check for updates now" -- click "Connect" to continue, then "Finish"]2) Click "Start" to begin scanning.3) The first time requires that we configure the settings -- click on "Customize" (Change all items that are RED "X" (not grey) to GREEN "Check") -- Select ALL local hard drives 4) Click "Customize" to select this type of scanning5) Click "Next" to begin scanning.
Microsoft’s AntiSpyware
1) Launch program and check for (& install) updates (under the File pull-down menu)
2) Click on “Scan Options”
3) Select “Run a full system scan’
4) Ensure that all check boxes are selected (as well as ALL permanent hard drives)
5) Click on “Save these options” then “Run Scan Now”
Add this to favourites Plus trouble shoot
Office 2003 SP2: What can go wrong?
So your a little reluctant to deploy a new Service Pack. So now the NEW Office 2003 SP 2 has been released with many updates & patches, that resolved many problems, along with new Office 2003 Registry Keys to configure – you still don't budge even if it's available automatically!
You think there might be some issues. . .what could possibly go wrong?
You may simply have to reboot an extra time, or reinstall/update your Windows Installer.
Sometimes you cannot install some updates or programs – and sometimes this requires some serious troubleshooting or thorough analysis of the Office 2003 Log Files!
You may receive an error "80070643" that at least has a resolution – But you may also receive the error "The upgrade patch cannot be installed by the windows installer service" which sometimes does not actually give you a notification!
Or some installation problems require using the Local Installation Source Tool for Office 2003, to Disable the LIS Option and disable installer caching and then performing a full install.
You may have problems (changes) with Outlook's custom properties.
And some problems require running the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility, followed by completely removing and reinstalling Office!
NEW! While not an "error" this document shows Information about the changes that occur to the Offline Address Book after you install Outlook 2003 SP2 and Exchange Server 2003 SP2.
How to Troubleshoot Outlook
Outlook’s problems tend to fall into five categories:
Sluggish .PST Data Folder
Data File Corruption Details
Oversized PST File
Program Corruption
Last Resorts
Sluggish .PST Data Folder – Manually run a .PST Compaction
- Outlook 97, 98 & 2000 -
If the Folder List is not showing, click Folder List on the View menu.
Right-click one of the Personal Folders.
Click Properties For Personal Folders.
On the General tab, click Advanced, and then click Compact Now.
Click OK twice
- Outlook 2002 & 2003 -
On the File menu, click Data File Management.
Click the personal folders (.pst) files that you want to compact, and then click Settings
Click Compact, and then click OK twice.
Data File Corruption
PST File (Post Office Folder) -- The main file that stores all of the Email, Contacts, Calendar, & Tasks. The Office utility program ScanPst resolves most PST corruptions.
OST File (Offline Storage Folder) -- A folder that get synchronized so Email, Contacts, Calendar, & Tasks can be read even when not connected to the Internet or Corporate network. The Office utility program ScanOst resolves most OST corruptions
KB296088 When you start Microsoft Outlook or try to open a personal folders (.pst) file or an offline folders (.ost) file, you receive: Errors have been detected in the file. Quit all mail-enabled applications, and then use the Inbox Repair Tool.
RESOLUTION:
Search and run the file ScanPst or ScanOst (depending on which file is corrupt).
Locate the “corrupt” .PST or .OST file – and in case you didn’t make a backup, click YES when asked if you want a backup!
How to use the Inbox Repair Tool for Internet Mail & Exchange Users.
Oversized PST File
Both the PST & OST files can not get bigger than 2GB, and the files start “misbehaving” before they reach their maximum allowed size.
KB303652 When you add information to a personal folders (.pst) file that is larger than 2 gigabytes (GB) in size, you receive: The file could not be added to the folder. The action could not be completed.
KB305108 If you try to copy files to a personal folders (.pst) file that exceeds the 1.82 gigabyte (GB) limit in Outlook 2002, you receive: Can't copy the items. The operation failed.
Get the Microsoft tool here!
NOTE: "Truncate" a fancy word for “we’re gonna chop off the end of your file and lose a bunch of your emails!
Program Corruption (resolved by Outlook /Parameters)
Run “Detect & Repair” from the Help pull-down menu to rebuild Outlook.
/CleanFinders Removes Search Folders from the Microsoft Exchange server storeKB240697 When you use the Find feature you receive: Outlook cannot perform your search. Outlook cannot display this view. The folder already exists.
/CleanFreeBusy Clears and regenerates free/busy information. (This switch can only be used when you are able to connect to your Microsoft Exchange server.)KB223459, KB287656 & KB813609 When you use the meeting planner to view another person's free/busy time, you receive: Unable to load free/busy information. KB163664 if you choose to accept or tentatively accept a meeting request from a Schedule Plus user, you receive: The custom form could not be opened. Outlook will use an Outlook form instead. The object could not be found. KB172039, KB180179 & KB197483 If you delete the primary Calendar folder from the Exchange Server, Outlook creates a new Calendar folder. The new folder does not contain appointments from the old folder but the small calendar displayed in Day/Week/Month view still shows bolded days for the old appointments.KB195071 & KB195077 After converting Microsoft Schedule+ 1.0 or 7.0 files to Outlook 98, you receive: Unable to update public free/busy data. The file contains data that is not valid. -or- When adding resource accounts to a meeting request you receive: Cannot directly book the resource. -or- You may not be able to view free/busy times of other users. KB292980 After you install Outlook 2002, a second calendar folder named Calendar1 may appear in your Folder List. This second Calendar folder registers itself as the default calendar, and most new appointments that you create are added to it instead of your normal calendar. Calendar1 is treated as a primary Outlook folder and cannot be deleted.KB813506 When you try to open a Calendar appointment (and it doesn’t), you receive: Can't open this item. The value for Appointment Busy Status is not valid. Check your code.KB307590 When you try to dismiss a reminder you receive: Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library, Runtime error!, Program: c:/.../Outlook.exe, R6025, Pure virtual function call
/CleanProfile Removes invalid profile keys and recreates default registry keys where applicableKB303931 When you view Outlook Today and the folder list, you may see duplicates of both Outlook Today and the folder list. The duplicate folder list looks exactly like the current folder list, and changing one of the folder lists produces the same change in the other folder list. KB256594 When you import a personal folder file into Outlook, you receive: Outlook caused an invalid page fault in module RM.DLL at 0167:3ab938d7 (NOTE: The address that you see in the error message will be different)
/CleanPst Launches Outlook with a clean Post Office FileKB297010 (way too many options to mention here)
/CleanReminders Clears and regenerates a damaged Reminders FileKB161033 & KB195964 Calendar or Task Reminders do not appear as scheduled.KB184334 When you try to open an item from a reminder, you receive: Unable to Open the ItemKB262546, KB265368 & KB265373 When you use Resource Accounts for conference rooms, delegates may receive the following message even though they cannot read or find the message: Messages in Inbox KB179393 Your Calendar or Task reminders may not display at the scheduled time. KB307590 When you try to dismiss a reminder in Microsoft Outlook, you receive: Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library, Runtime error!, Program: c:/.../Outlook.exe, R6025, Pure virtual function call
/CleanRules Starts Outlook and deletes client- and server-based rules.KB826964 When you install Outlook 2003, any rules that you created in Outlook 2002 that were custom rules that checked for adult content and offensive content are not visible in Outlook 2003 Rules Wizard. However, the rules still exist in Microsoft Outlook Web Access (OWA).FIRST Export Rules1) From within Outlook – The Tools pull-down menu select “Rules & Alerts”2) Click Option, then Export Rules – name/save the file as “Outlook Rules”3) Exit OutlookSECOND Run with Outlook with /cleanrules paramaterTHIRD Import Rules1) From within Outlook – The Tools pull-down menu select “Rules & Alerts”2) Click Option, then Import Rules – locate/open the file “Outlook Rules”
/CleanSchedPlus Deletes all Schedule+ data (free/busy, permissions, and .cal file) from the server and enables the free/busy information from the Outlook Calendar to be used and viewed by all Schedule+ 1.0 users.KB168687, KB179547 & KB196635 You are using Schedule+ version 1.0 and trying to view the free/busy status of another person who has migrated from Schedule+ 1.0 to the Microsoft Outlook 97 Calendar. The free/busy information is not available for viewing. An indication that free/busy status cannot be read is the checkmark to the left of the user name in the Attendees is a lighter shade of gray than the check box by your name.
/CleanSniff Deletes duplicate reminder messages.(Need to have access to your Exchange Server)
/CleanViews Restores default views. All custom views you created are lost.KB195323 & KB183114 When you view your Contacts folder in Outlook 2000 using the Address Card view, each contact may appear to have your e-mail addressKB329932 When you click Calendar in Outlook to view the calendar, you receive: Unable to display the folder. Out of memory or system resources. Close some windows or programs and try again. KB195209, KB195207 & KB195208 When you click the Contacts folder in Outlook 97, you receive: OUTLOOK caused an invalid page fault in module OLE32.DLL KB237854 When you start Outlook, you receive: The view is damaged. Default view settings will be used. KB307590 When you try to dismiss a reminder in Microsoft Outlook, you receive: Microsoft Visual C++, Runtime Library, Runtime error!, Program: c:/.../Outlook.exe, R6025, Pure virtual function call
/ResetFolders Restores missing folders for the default delivery location.KB823127 When you click a Search Folder in Outlook 2003, you receive: The operation failed. The object could not be found.KB189841 When you attempt to open an appointment or meeting request in your Calendar your receive: Unable to open this item. Closing and reopening the Outlook client and/or recreating the meeting request has no effect on this error message. KB185049 When you attempt to update a task in Outlook 98, you receive: Could not complete the operation. One or more parameter values are not valid.
/ResetNavPane Clears and regenerates the Navigation Pane for the current profile.
/ResetOutlookBar Rebuilds the Outlook BarKB216088 After installing Microsoft Outlook with the "Integrated File Management" system you may be missing the Other Shortcuts group from your Outlook Bar. KB299398 After you install Outlook 2002, or after normal use, you may be missing the Other Shortcuts group from your Outlook Bar. KB213843 & KB199684 When you browse folders using the Outlook Bar, you receive: Outlook caused an invalid page fault in MSO97.dll KB259791 You may not be able to turn the Outlook Bar on or off, or the Outlook Bar may be improperly positioned.
How to run Outlook with one of the above Parameters:
Search for the program Outlook.exe and make a note of its full path location. Example: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Outlook.exe.
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type the complete path you noted in step 1, including the file name Outlook.exe in the above example. Press the SPACEBAR once, and then type a forward slash mark (/) followed by the parameter you wish to select.For example, if you want to use the CleanReminders switch, the command you type in the Open box should look like this:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Outlook.exe" /Cleanreminders Note Paths that include spaces between words must be enclosed in quotation marks (") and are case sensitive.
To run the command, click OK.
Last Resorts
Create A New User Profile (sometimes you can import information from the old PST file, but this usually means losing the user’s information and settings).
Uninstall and reinstall Outlook.
Technorati Profile
ignore the date of blog as updated regularly
As a Microsoft consultant I’m pleased that practically every resource is available freely on Microsoft’s website.
They provide many useful downloads & fun “goodies”, as well as their support information. Locating the proper Microsoft Support information however isn’t always so easy; and with the additional pressure of finding information DURING troubleshooting – you’ll have to agree it can sometimes be quite frustrating!
My colleagues and friends give me the task of locating their “illusive” support documents. I would send them the link, along with “how I found it” -- I’ve gathered all of Microsoft’s disparate support resources here all in one location; along with a few tips on locating the information you desire.
Office 2007 Beta2
The Book of Windows Vista : As a Word document
SUPPORT CENTER: For general troubleshooting •
Access 2000, 2002, & 2003 • Excel 2000, 2002, & 2003 • Exchange Server 5.5, 2000 & 2003 •
FrontPage 2000, 2002, & 2003 • FrontPage Server Extensions 2000 & 2002 •
InfoPath 2003 •
Internet Explorer 6.0 •
Office 2000, XP, 2003 •
OneNote 2003 •
Outlook 2000, 2002, & 2003 •
Outlook Express 6.0 •
PowerPoint 2000, 2002, & 2003 •
Project 2000, 2002, & 2003 •
Publisher 2000, 2002, & 2003 •
SharePoint Portal Server 2001, 2003 & Team Services •
SQL Server 7.0 & 2000 •
Virtual PC 2004 •
Visio 2000, 2002, & 2003 •
Windows 98, Me, NT, 2000, XP, XPSP2, & XP x64 •
Windows Server NT, 2000, & 2003 •
Word 2000, 2002, & 2003
EVENTS AND ERRORS MESSAGE CENTER: For specific problems (enter the error code or message here.)• DLL Help Database – helps identify DLL version conflicts • The MDAC Component Checker tool is designed to help you determine installed version information and diagnose installation issues with the Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC). • The Windows Memory Diagnostic tests the Random Access Memory (RAM) on your computer for errors.
SEARCH THE KNOWLEDGE BASE: With the Standard Knowledge Base Search, it can be difficult to locate the article your need, so I recommend using the Advanced Knowledge Base Search – this can help you quickly isolate your question to a specific product and published date. 1) Pick your Product – The Advanced Knowledge Base Search allows you to easily choose the product you’re troubleshooting. (Which is easier than remembering "kbWinOS2000” is the keyword for Windows 2000.)2) “Guess” keywords that describe your problem – Error messages can go through a great deal of editing. We had an Outlook problem of the username field coming up blank (not saved) on some computers. We tried searching for everything (blank field, empty field etc.) – ultimately we discovered that the proper "Microsoft" word for a “blank field” is “unpopulated!”Microsoft only prints a fraction of their keywords list, as well as keywords used for programmers. Some keywords are too specific (as with these Windows 2000 keywords.) I hope Microsoft expands the list of keywords available to the public.
NOTE1: Remember to think like the game show Jeopardy. You’re looking for an “answer” not your “question”; so ask your question in the form of an answer. Articles will probably not have a question like “How do I change the system clock?” it will more likely have the answer “To change the system clock”NOTE2: Wildercards (*), “Quotes”, AND, OR, NOT commands can be used just like any other search engine. NOTE3: Read Microsoft's How to ask a question.
3) Pick an “Article Type” Keyword (optional) – Helps pinpoint the specific type of support you need.BUG – Known problem (may have a FIX)DOC – If your printed docs are wrongFAQ – Frequently Asked QuestionsFILE – Downloadable support filesfilename.ext – Search for a specific fileFIX – Shows fixes for known “BUGs”HOWTO – “How To” ArticlesINFO – Product info & specsPRB – End-user Perceived Problems QFE – Quick Fix Engineering PatchSAMPLE – Samples program code4) Modified Date – You can refine your search results to see the most recent articles, or broaden your results if you do not know a when the article was written/modification. 5) Categories – Unless you know which specific category to search, start by selecting all of the categories, as well as the “Community Solutions Content” which include solutions from knowledgeable non-Microsoft employees. How To Articles displays KB articles describing a feature or how to perform a task.Downloads displays KB articles contain content that links to a Download. It also includes hotfix or security bulletin information. Troubleshooting displays KB articles describing how to fix a problem or that have information about a virus. MSDN Content provides in-depth technical content, including references, technical articles, downloads, and code samples, for all developer-related Microsoft products and technologies. TechNet Content provides content that is geared toward information technology professionals. It provides information about technology issues, security and virus information, information technology solutions, and community resources. Community Solutions Content displays articles written by customers and also by Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) 6) Rinse, Lather & Repeat – It’s doubtful that you’ll find your answer on the first search. So go back to Step # 2 and try fewer keywords, more keywords, or “entire phrases within quotation marks.” There simply is no single method to “divine” an answer within Microsoft’s Knowledge Base – but trust me your answer is indeed in there. . .”somewhere” :-)
NEWSGROUPS: This information is “informally” organized, but there are indeed many support gems hiding here.• Internet Explorer • Office – General Office questions. Also covers: Access, Excel, FrontPage, PowerPoint, & Word • Outlook & Exchange Server • Project • SharePoint Portal Server • SQL Server • TechNet General Discussions • Visio • Windows 9x, NT, 2000, & XP • Windows Server NT, 2000, & 2003
MICROSOFT BLOGS: Not always a source of immediate help, but these blogs are a must read. Be sure to note the additional employees links on each of the team blogs. • Access • DHCP Team • Excel • Exchange Clustering • Exchange Server Team • FrontPage / Sharepoint • InfoPath • Internet Explorer • IIS • MOM Product Team • Office • OneNote • Project • SMS Server • SQL Server • Virtual PC • Windows Server • Word
ROAD TO KNOW WHERE: I've prepared additional articles detailing troubleshooting tips and free Microsoft software available for download. • Free Microsoft Windows XP Downloads • Free Microsoft Office Downloads • Free Microsoft Research Downloads• How to Properly Remove Spyware • Troubleshooting Office Service Pack 2 (SP2) • Troubleshooting Outlook • Troubleshooting Word using Support.DOT
FREE MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP SOFTWARE
WINDOWS XP
3 Degrees connects people into a small group, so you can do fun things together. Throw animations to each others' desktops with winks. Listen together to a shared playlist created from music that you own with musicmix.
UPDATED! ActiveSync synchronization software of Outlook information, Office documents, pictures, music, videos and applications from your desktop to your Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs and Smartphones. NOTE: ActiveSync Error Codes received after a synchronization attempt.
Alt-Tab Replacement: in addition to seeing the icon of the application window you are switching to, you will also see a preview of the page. This helps particularly when multiple sessions of an application are open.
UPDATED! AntiSpyware when properly congifured, this helps protect Windows users from spyware and other potentially unwanted software.
Baseline Security Analyzer includes a graphical and command line interface that can perform local or remote scans of Windows systems. MBSA will scan for common security misconfigurations in the following products: Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003, Internet Information Server (IIS) 5.0, and 6.0, SQL Server 7.0 and 2000, Internet Explorer (IE) 5.01 and later, and Office 2000, 2002 and 2003. MBSA also scans for missing security updates, update rollups and service packs published to Microsoft Update. (NEW! Support Tool: Visio Connector for MBSA 2.0)
Bootvis – Microsoft states this tool is no longer available, but they still “support it”. This program “was” a performance tracing and visualization tool designed to help identify performance issues for boot/resume timing while developing new PC products or supporting software. But you can download it at MajorGeeks.
Calculator Plus allows you to complete many different types of conversions.
CD Slide Show Generator can view images burned to a CD as a slide show.
NEW! Clear Cache feature for Internet Explorer – This program intended to automatically delete all temporary Internet files, cookies, and history files when it is installed and executed. The program was developed to programmatically clear these files when a corrupt entry caused errors with Internet Explorer.
ClearType Tuner lets you fine tune the ClearType technology via the Control Panel, making it easier to read text on your screen. A necessity for LCD screens (portables and flat screens)
Color Control Panel Applet adds a new "Color" item to the control panel, providing viewing and editing color management settings.
Creativity Fun Pack PowerToys automatically select images for your Desktop of Screen Saver.
Desktop Language Settings allows you to identify and change language, keyboard, and regional settings for Windows, Internet Explorer, and Office programs with a single tool.
NEW! Desktop Search – Enterprise Edition The latest version of Windows Desktop Search (WDS) is optimized with features that help the enterprise IT manager easily customize, deploy and manage the installation of desktop search across all users and computers in their organization. New Administrator Guide.
NEW! FolderShare keeps important files at your fingertips - anywhere. All file changes are automatically synchronized between linked computers, so you are always accessing the latest documents, photos, and files.
UPDATED! Game Voice Share Talk strategy to your teammates. Talk trash to your opponents. Game Voice brings the power of voice to games, whether you're online, on a LAN, or offline. (Support Document: How to Improve Performance)
UPDATED! Codename Max lets you make lists of your photos and turn them into beautiful slide shows to share with your family and friends. Max is built on the next-generation WinFX Runtime Components tehcnology that will drive the development of Windows Vista applications. (Support Document: NEW! Setup Guide)
UPDATED! MSN Messenger 7.5 is an instant messaging program that lets you send instant messages to your friends, and much more.
MSN Search Toolbar with Windows Desktop Search, tabbed browsing, pop-up blocker and automatic form fill. (Support Documents: Administration Guide & Toolbar Help - NEW! MSN Search SDK Beta)
UPDATED BETA 2 Developer Toolbar provides a variety of tools for quickly creating, understanding, and troubleshooting Web pages. (Feedback)
Games Add-in gives you 40+ puzzle games, 20+ card & board games, 150+ downloadable games, 20+ word & trivia games, 80+ free online games, with new games posted weekly.
UPDATED! Phishing Filter Add-in works to prevent high-tech scams using phony web sites with actual brands designed to steal valuable personal information such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, and Social Security numbers. (NEW! Support Document: How to. . .)
NEW! Search Preview Add-in - Make your searching more productive and convenient. Search Preview displays a thumbnail preview next to each result. Enlarge the preview by rolling over it and put an end to "click-look-back"
Weather Add-in Keeps the local three-day weather forecast at your fingertips.
NEW! Windows Live Favorites is a very useful service that allows you to store and quickly access all the interesting sites you find on the web from any computer, any time, any where. With Windows Live Favorites you can search your links and keywords easily so finding what you have already discovered on the web is simple. You will never lose your favorites again because your favorites will be located on the server.
The Windows Rights Management Add-on provides a way for users of supported Windows operating systems to view, but not alter, files with restricted permission. These restrictions enable authors to prevent sensitive documents, Web-based information, and e-mail messages from being forwarded, edited, or copied by unauthorized individuals. These restrictions provide protection, not only while the information is in transit, but also after the recipient of the information has received it. My Font Tool converts your own handwriting into a TrueType font, making typed text appear as though you had written it by hand.
HTML Slide Show Wizard helps you create an HTML slide show of your digital pictures, ready to place on your Web site.
Image Resizer enables you to resize one or many image files with a right-click.
UPDATED! Location Finder is a client-side application that turns a regular WiFi enabled laptop, Tablet or PC into a location determining device without the addition of any separate hardware. Location Finder uses WiFi access points - or reverse IP lookup when WiFi is not available - to center and display the person's location on the NEW! Windows Live Local, enabling the user to quickly and easily search in their present location.
Malicious Software Removal Tool checks for infections by specific, prevalent malicious software—including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom—and helps remove any infection found. When the detection and removal process is complete, the tool displays a report describing the outcome, including which, if any, malicious software was detected and removed.
Open Command Window Here adds an "Open Command Window Here" context menu option on file system folders, giving you a quick way to open a command window (cmd.exe) pointing at the selected folder.
PortQry Command Line Port Scanner is a command-line utility that you can use to help troubleshoot TCP/IP connectivity issues. The utility reports the port status of TCP and UDP ports on a computer you choose. For details, see KB310099 and description.
NEW! Port Reporter logs TCP and UDP port activity on a local Windows system. Port Reporter is a small application that runs as a service logging which ports are used, which process is using the port, if the process is a service, which modules the process has loaded and which user account is running the process.
Port Reporter Parser Tool is a log parser for Port Reporter log files. Port Reporter Parser has many features that can help you analyze Port Reporter log files.
Power Calculator can graph and evaluate functions as well as perform many different types of conversions.
NEW! Promqry and PromqryUI are two tools that enable you to detect a network sniffer that is running on a computer that is running Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, or Windows 2000. If a system has network interfaces in promiscuous mode, it may indicate the presence of a network sniffer running on the system.
PromqryUI is a tool with a Windows graphical interface that can be used to detect network interfaces that are running in promiscuous mode.
Promqry is a command line tool that can be used to detect network interfaces that are running in promiscuous mode.
RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer for the serious photographer. Now you can organize and work with digital RAW files in Windows Explorer (much as you can with JPEG images). This tool provides thumbnails, previews, printing, and metadata display for RAW images.
Shared Computer Toolkit is designed for schools, libraries, Internet and gaming cafés, community centers, and other locations where are "shared" computer is used.
Support Tools are intended for use by Microsoft support personnel and experienced users to assist in diagnosing and resolving computer problems.
SyncToy can help you copy, move, and synchronize files coming from every direction (such as digital cameras, e-mail, cell phones, portable media players, camcorders, PDAs, and laptops)
Taskbar Magnifier magnifies part of the screen from the taskbar.
Time Zone installs as a small tray icon that allows you to specify as many as five cities to watch the time on while you are working on your computer.
Tweakomatic is a nifty new utility that writes Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) scripts enablimg you to retrieve and/or configure Windows and Internet Explorer settings locally or remotely.
Tweak UI gives you access to system settings that are not exposed in the Windows XP default user interface, including mouse settings, Explorer settings, taskbar settings, and more.
USB Flash Drive Manager will backup and restore files to/from a USB Flash Drive device.
UPDATED! User Profile Hive Cleanup is a service to help with slow log off and unreconciled profile problems ensuring that user sessions are completely terminated when a user logs off when using Roaming Profiles or locked profiles as implemented through the Shared Computer Toolkit.
UPDATED! User State Migration Tool (USMT) migrates user files and settings during large deployments of Windows 2000 or XP. USMT captures desktop, network and application settings as well as a user files, and then migrates them to a new Windows installation. (Support: Homepage)
Virtual Desktop Manager manages up to four desktops from the Windows taskbar
Virtual Machine is Microsoft's Java Virtual Machine for Internet Explorer, allowing you to view java applets on Web pages.
Webcam Timershot lets you take pictures at specified time intervals from a Webcam connected to your computer and save them to a location that you designate.
Windows Installer CleanUp Utility can remove a program's Windows Installer configuration information if experiencing installation (Setup) problems.
MULTIMEDIA
"Decades" Auto Playlist Pack include dozens new auto playlists to organize your music by decades—from the 1940s through the new millennium.
Device Manager Software Development Kit (SDK) helps you work with devices that support the new Media Transfer Protocol (MTP).
Media Bonus Pack is fully packed with utilities, PowerToys, visualizations, skins, sound effects, and much more.
Media Capture enables video content authors to capture uncompressed AVI files with mono, stereo, 5.1, or 7.1 channels of audio, with up to 24 bit resolution and sampling rates up to 192KHz. Windows Media Capture 9 Series supports a broad range of video and audio capture cards, and includes the complete source code for developers who wish to build their own capture applications.
Media Encoder is a powerful tool for content producers who want to take advantage of the many innovations in Windows Media 9 Series including high-quality multichannel sound, high-definition video quality, new support for mixed-mode voice and music content, and more.
Media Player Software Development Kit (SDK) introduces a range of new features and functionality for customizing the Player and Player Control.
Media Professional Exhibitor is a powerful tool intended for playback of Windows Media files at full-screen resolution at all times. All transport and playlist controls appear on a (required) second monitor allowing for a theatrical viewing experience.
Media Transfer Protocol Porting Kit introduces the new Media Transfer Protocol (MTP), which enables you to manage content on any portable device.
Movie Maker makes home movies amazingly fun. With Movie Maker, you can create, edit, and share your home movies right on your computer. Build your movie with a few simple drag-and-drops. Delete bad shots and include only the best scenes. Then share your movie via the Web, e-mail, or CD.
Photo Story create slideshows using your digital photos. With a single click, you can touch-up, crop, or rotate pictures. Add stunning special effects, soundtracks, and your own voice narration to your photo stories. Then, personalize them with titles and captions. Small file sizes make it easy to send your photo stories in an e-mail. Watch them on your TV, a computer, or a Windows Mobile–based portable device.
Producer 2003 is free to licensed users of PowerPoint 2002 & 2003, includes improved audio and video quality, better synchronization, and presentation-sharing tools.
TweakMediaPlayer gives users easy access to advanced settings for the library, CD burning, and full-screen mode. Use this plug-in to adjust music queuing in the library, automatic volume leveling for burning audio CDs, full-screen animations, and much more.
SCREENSAVERS & THEMES
Christmas Theme has wallpaper, animated cursors, new icons, new sounds, and a 3D screensaver.
NEW! Desktop Wallpapers from Microsoft's Michael Swanson. 1920 x 1200 (16:10 aspect ratio, "widescreen") and 1600 x 1200 (4:3 aspect ratio, "standard")
Dungeon Siege Wander through the magical Land of Ehb. The screensaver features several breathtaking views taken straight from the game, some you might recognize, others you might not.
European Flags Screensaver celebrates the European Union expansion on May 1st 2004. The screensaver displays each member state's flag in succession or allows the user to choose to display just a single flag.
Final Fantasy XI Desktop Theme For decades, gamers have embarked upon journeys through the unforgettable worlds of the Final Fantasy games. Alone, they fought heroic battles and saved the world countless times. Now these players can unite from around the world in the exploration of a new fantasy experience online in Final Fantasy XI for Windows.
Fun Pack for Windows Movie Maker 2 (2002 & 2003) Check out this expansive collection of wintry sound effects, holiday music, titles, video titles and cut scenes!
Holiday Snowflakes transform your computer monitor into a winter wonderland with 3-D snowflakes falling from the sky.
Ireland Desktop Theme includes a desktop wallpaper and a screensaver depicting images from around the island of Ireland. The images have been kindly supplied by Fáilte Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth Skin for Windows Media Player 10 The skin was created in partnership with Electronic Arts and designed by The Skins Factory.
MSN Screensaver can personalize your screensaver with background photos and news and weather information from MSN or any RSS feeds from websites you choose.
New Zealand Bliss A special Queen's Birthday 2005 edition; the world-famous directional sign in Bluff; and the theme pack for Royale.
NEW! Office Dinosaur Screensaver. Share the Dino's pain as he dances his way through one embarrassing technological difficulty after another.
Plus! Dancer LE is a free trial version of Plus! Dancer that enables you to experience the fun of entertaining dancers that groove to beats of the music that's playing on your desktop.
Cobey See Cobey get down to Hip Hop!
Evan & Michele Spice up your desktop with the sexy Argentinean tango.
Scooby-Doo See Scooby-Doo do the Scooby Shuffle!
San Fermín Desktop Theme is specifically designed for the Spanish speaking community.
Security Screensavers helps remind users of basic security practices. The download package contains two different screen savers -- one displays the Ten Immutable Laws of Security, and the other displays the Ten Immutable Laws of Security Administration.
Valentine's Day Screensaver celebrates (duh) Valentine's Day.
Video Screensaver includes sample movie footage that gives you a surprisingly new view of countries all over the world. Every language release has its own video that shows you in a new and surprising way what living in these countries may look like.
Windows XP Screensaver The 3D Windows XP screensaver shows off the power of DirectX matched with the bright colors of Windows XP.
Winter Fun Pack 2004 for Windows XP Installer.
World of Warcraft Skin for Windows Media Player 10 The official Windows Media Player 10 skin for Blizzard's award-winning World of Warcraft online game.
BONUS: Really Slick Screensavers!
FREE MICROSOFT OFFICE SOFTWARE
MICROSOFT OFFICE SYSTEM
Desktop Language Settings allows you to identify and change language, keyboard, and regional settings for Windows, Internet Explorer, and Office programs with a single tool.
File Converter Pack provides file converters and image filters for older or seldom used program formats.
Font properties extension adds several new property tabs to the fonts dialog box.
NEW! Office Web Parts and Components is a collection of Web Parts, Web Part Page solutions, templates, and data retrieval services that work closely with Office 2003 and Windows SharePoint Services 2.0.
Remove Hidden Data permanently remove hidden and collaboration data, such as change tracking and comments, from Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files with documentation.
Resource Kit Tools 2000, XP, & 2003 for those deploying Microsoft Office in a corporate environment.
Sounds add sounds to have fun audio cues play as you work with Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word.
Stock Actions for the Research Task Pane allows you to insert stock quote information from the MSN Money Stock Quotes service into Word & Excel.
UPDATED! Web Components are a collection of Component Object Model (COM) controls for publishing spreadsheets, charts, and databases to the Web. XML Date and Phone Number Smart Tags recognize most date and phone number formats in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
And of course, plenty of Free Clip Art, Templates, Fonts – and zillions of Calendars for the years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, & 2005-2014
ACCESS
Converter 2.0 Utility is used to convert files from the Access 2.0 file format.
Links Add-in helps maintains your Excel data-link with Access
Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) Add-in contains the SQL.REQUEST worksheet function, which can connect to an external database and return a query to the worksheet.
Report Manager Add-in allows you to combine Excel worksheets, views, and scenarios into reports that can then be printed.
XML Spreadsheet Add-in moves XML data seamlessly from Access 2002 to Excel
Templates
Accounts Ledger
Asset tracking
Classroom Management (Test & Grades)
Contact Management
Expense Report
Inventory Management
Personal Address Book
Project Management Issues
Public Relations Event Management
Service call management
Time and Billing
Code Samples
EXCEL
MSN Money Stock Quotes add-in allows you to get dynamic stock quotes from the MSN Money Web site.
Sample Spreadsheets: Five Handy Gantt Charting Tips & Expense Report
SQL Server Analysis Services add-in enables users to access and analyze data from multiple Analysis Services Cubes.
Statistical Analysis Toolpak performs statistical and regression analysis, while Solver Add-in uses Generalized Reduced Gradient (GRG2) nonlinear optimization code.
NEW! Treemapper Add-In tool allows a user to quickly and easily generate a treemap visualization of any hierarchical data in Excel, or from a CSV or XML file. Treemapper is based on the Data Visualization Components also available from this group. (Research Product)
XML Toolbox provide useful tools for working with XML in Excel with additional available help.
Excel Templates
FRONTPAGE
1 Cool Menu FX Tool is a 3rd party tool to adding animated buttons, expandable menus, floating navigation and other Flash animations.
bCentral Commerce Manager is an add-in providing you with the tools you need to create, update, and manage a fully-powered e-commerce Web site.
Creating an RSS Feed is sample code providing a Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) solution to programmatically generate an RSS feed.
Database Troubleshooting Utility checks for the following items that may cause a Database Results Region page to fail: The absence of a Global.asa file, Whether the Global.asa file is running, Whether the Global.asa file is running outside of the Web, The absense of any database connections in the Web.
Fiddler is an HTTP Debugging Proxy which logs all HTTP traffic between your computer and the Internet; and can inspected all HTTP Traffic, set breakpoints, and "fiddle" with incoming or outgoing data. Additional help is availble for debugging and performance.
Flashation Flash Menu Builder is a 3rd party tool for adding Flash buttons and menus.
FrontLook Media Maker is a 3rd party add-in makes publishing & creating CDs for use with the presentation viewer.
Help Publisher is a 3rd party add-in to create full-featured HTML help files.
Mobile HTML Optimizer is an add-in for versions 2000 & 2002 that can jumpstart your development of a WML (Wireless Markup Language) site by converting existing HTML (HyperText Markup Language) files created for a static Web site to WML format.
Page Margins is a 3rd party add-that helps the user easily set page margins that are compatible with both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator.
Page Titles is a 3rd party add-in that changes page titles quickly and easily, individually and in-bulk.
Pre-publish is a 3rd party add-in that prompts you to save unsaved pages before your Web is published.
Windows Media Player Add-in enables users to embed the Windows Media Player control into websites.
Templates
Accountant
Clear Teal (Professional)
Course Web-site
Doctor
Employment
Finance
Gradient Grey
Government Site
High School
Hospital
Human Resources
Insurance
Legal - Small, Large, & Corporate
Project Management
Real Estate
Sales
ONENOTE
My Font Tool converts your own handwriting into a TrueType font, making typed text appear as though you had written it by hand.
Send to OneNote from Internet Explorer is a PowerToy that allows you to send the contents of a Web page from Internet Explorer to a new OneNote page with the click of a button.
Send to OneNote from Outlook is a PowerToy that allows you to send e-mail messages to a OneNote from Outlook with the click of a button.
OneNote Templates
OUTLOOK
Calendar Views is an add-in that allows viewing your Calendar appointments through a filter that is based on Outlook labels and categories.
Lookout provides lightning-fast search for your e-mail, files, and desktop from within Outlook!
Notes Connector enable access your e-mail messages, calendar, address book, and To Do (task) items on an IBM Lotus Domino Release 5.x or Release 6.x server
Outlook Mobile Manager (OMM) brings the power of Microsoft Outlook to your portable device. OMM can prioritize your messages and makes smart decisions about when to send email. OMM also sends calendar reminders, task reminders, and an Outlook Today style daily summary all to your wireless device. (Research Product)
Oversized PST and OST Crop Tool used to resolve problems that can not be fixed using the Inbox Repair Tool due to the .pst or .ost files exceeding the 2 gigabyte (GB) size limitation. (Support Document: How to Troubleshoot Outlook)
Personal Folders Backup creates backup copies of your .PST files at regular intervals
SMS (MOSA) download will enable you to send SMS text messages through most GSM mobile phones connected to your PC.
NEW! SNARF, the Social Network and Relationship Finder filters and sorts Outlook e-mail based on the type of message and the user’s history with an e-mail correspondent. The result: a collection of alternative views of your e-mail that can help you make sense of the deluge. Support Documents: Help Guide & Overview (Research Product)
NEW! Thread Compressor macro compresses all mail messages from a specific conversation into a single mail message, thus reducing Inbox clutter and size.
Video E-mail uses a Web camera to send a video e-mail.
STATIONERY
Baxter
Boomerang
Column Twill
Dark River
Forest Floor
My Kitchen
Pinstripe
POWERPOINT
Presentation Broadcast makes it easier to synchronize audio, video, slides, and images to deliver your presentations.
Producer makes it easier to synchronize audio, video, slides, and images to create engaging and effective rich-media presentations.
NEW! Report Presentation Add-in helps a user to quickly and easily create a presentation from a Project file. The tool extracts task information from the Project file and populates a template with the user-selected information. This add-in provides an effective, integrated means for project managers and other users to create presentations with real-time project data while avoiding redundant data entry and potential input errors. (Support Document: Read Me)
These samples allow PowerPoint 2002 to create an organization chart from a database of employees in Word and PowerPoint, or an animated presentation from a Word outline.
Templates Packs 1, 2, & 3 and even more Templates
PROJECT
Scrum Solution Starter is an Agile project management practice that employs short iterations and continuous improvement. The Scrum solution starter extends Microsoft Office Project Professional 2003 or Project Standard 2003 and enables project managers to perform basic Scrum work.
The Software Development Kit (SDK) is designed for solution providers, value-added resellers, and other developers to help customize Project 2003, and to extend and integrate Project Server 2003 with other applications for Enterprise Project Management. It features articles, programming references, tools, and sample code, including extensive articles called Solution Starters.
Template Creation Wizard add-in gives you the ability to create your own design templates incorporating custom backgrounds. This Wizard allows you to create new design templates using custom images as title master and slide master backgrounds.
Project Templates
VISIO
20 Sample Diagrams related to support and sales demos.
IFilter is a component used by the Windows Indexing service and SharePoint Portal Server 2003 to extract text strings from Microsoft Visio files (.VSD, .VSS, .VST, .VDX, .VSX, and .VTX formats). The text strings are then indexed by these servers and the resulting indices are made available to several client applications that provide a user interface to search for text strings in files. These search clients include Visio 2003 Find Shape, Windows 2000 and Windows XP File Explorer search, Office 2003 search, Microsoft Windows SharePoint™ Services 2003 search, and SharePoint Portal Server search.
Software Development Kit (SDK) contains sample applications, code librarian code snippets, documentation, and tools, including the ShapeStudio, Event Monitor, Persistent Events, Print ShapeSheet, and Solution Publishing tools.
Resource Kit are tools used to support deployment of Visio.
Visio Templates
WORD
Avery Wizard is a plug-in to Word XP, 2000, & 2003 and provides templates for hundreds of Avery laser and inkjet products. Use the Avery Wizard to print mailing labels, shipping labels, tab titles, Ready Index table of contents sheets, diskette labels, name badges, name tags, business cards, and tent cards.
NEW! Create Calendar in Word from Outlook 2000 Calendar Data The automated calendar template creates Outlook calendars in Word 97/2000. The template contains macros that automatically take the data from Outlook 2000 and re-create your monthly calendar view in Word. After you use this template to re-create your calendar, you can print it, with or without weekends, in either portrait or landscape orientation. You can also modify the document.
Create a Presentation from Word easily convert your documents into PowerPoint presentations.
Equation Toolbar allows you to choose from more than 150 mathematical symbols.
Legal User's Guide is a reference for legal professionals that describes features useful to the legal industry. (Previous Versions)
Sales & Marketing Templates (NEW!)
Word Redaction makes it easy to mark sections of a document for redaction. You can then redact the document so that the sections you specified are blacked out.
The XSLT Inference Tool creates XSL Transformations (XSLT) that quickly transform XML files into WordprocessingML files with complex and rich formatting.
Word Templates
AND. . .if you don’t own Microsoft Office – you can always use the Microsoft Office Viewers:
Access
Excel
HTML :-)
Journal
PowerPoint
Word
Word XML
Visio
SPYWARE REMOVAL
Removing and preventing Spyware has (unfortunately) been very lucrative for most consultants (OK, a few of us). The crux of most users’ problems is that the programs are not updated and the default settings for these programs do NOT scan for all possible problems! So they “sneak” on through!
Software manufactures state that users don’t want to wait a long time for scanning, so they choose a (quicker) default scanning time.
SpyBot Search & Destroy
1) Launch program and check for (& install) updates
2) Select “Advanced Mode” from the “Mode” pull-down menu
3) Click on the “Tools” button on the side toolbar
4) Select ALL Tools except for the “Bug Report” (only needed when troubleshooting the SpyBot program)
5) Click on the “Settings” button on the side toolbar
6) Click on “Ignore Products”
7) Select “All Products” – then right-mouse click on the list and “Deselect All” items, but (re)select “DSO Exploit”
8) (Re)immunize to include the newly included “All Products”
9) Click on “Check for problems”
Lavasoft’s AdAware
1) Launch program and check for (& install) updates [click on "Check for updates now" -- click "Connect" to continue, then "Finish"]2) Click "Start" to begin scanning.3) The first time requires that we configure the settings -- click on "Customize" (Change all items that are RED "X" (not grey) to GREEN "Check") -- Select ALL local hard drives 4) Click "Customize" to select this type of scanning5) Click "Next" to begin scanning.
Microsoft’s AntiSpyware
1) Launch program and check for (& install) updates (under the File pull-down menu)
2) Click on “Scan Options”
3) Select “Run a full system scan’
4) Ensure that all check boxes are selected (as well as ALL permanent hard drives)
5) Click on “Save these options” then “Run Scan Now”
Add this to favourites Plus trouble shoot
Office 2003 SP2: What can go wrong?
So your a little reluctant to deploy a new Service Pack. So now the NEW Office 2003 SP 2 has been released with many updates & patches, that resolved many problems, along with new Office 2003 Registry Keys to configure – you still don't budge even if it's available automatically!
You think there might be some issues. . .what could possibly go wrong?
You may simply have to reboot an extra time, or reinstall/update your Windows Installer.
Sometimes you cannot install some updates or programs – and sometimes this requires some serious troubleshooting or thorough analysis of the Office 2003 Log Files!
You may receive an error "80070643" that at least has a resolution – But you may also receive the error "The upgrade patch cannot be installed by the windows installer service" which sometimes does not actually give you a notification!
Or some installation problems require using the Local Installation Source Tool for Office 2003, to Disable the LIS Option and disable installer caching and then performing a full install.
You may have problems (changes) with Outlook's custom properties.
And some problems require running the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility, followed by completely removing and reinstalling Office!
NEW! While not an "error" this document shows Information about the changes that occur to the Offline Address Book after you install Outlook 2003 SP2 and Exchange Server 2003 SP2.
How to Troubleshoot Outlook
Outlook’s problems tend to fall into five categories:
Sluggish .PST Data Folder
Data File Corruption Details
Oversized PST File
Program Corruption
Last Resorts
Sluggish .PST Data Folder – Manually run a .PST Compaction
- Outlook 97, 98 & 2000 -
If the Folder List is not showing, click Folder List on the View menu.
Right-click one of the Personal Folders.
Click Properties For Personal Folders.
On the General tab, click Advanced, and then click Compact Now.
Click OK twice
- Outlook 2002 & 2003 -
On the File menu, click Data File Management.
Click the personal folders (.pst) files that you want to compact, and then click Settings
Click Compact, and then click OK twice.
Data File Corruption
PST File (Post Office Folder) -- The main file that stores all of the Email, Contacts, Calendar, & Tasks. The Office utility program ScanPst resolves most PST corruptions.
OST File (Offline Storage Folder) -- A folder that get synchronized so Email, Contacts, Calendar, & Tasks can be read even when not connected to the Internet or Corporate network. The Office utility program ScanOst resolves most OST corruptions
KB296088 When you start Microsoft Outlook or try to open a personal folders (.pst) file or an offline folders (.ost) file, you receive: Errors have been detected in the file
RESOLUTION:
Search and run the file ScanPst or ScanOst (depending on which file is corrupt).
Locate the “corrupt” .PST or .OST file – and in case you didn’t make a backup, click YES when asked if you want a backup!
How to use the Inbox Repair Tool for Internet Mail & Exchange Users.
Oversized PST File
Both the PST & OST files can not get bigger than 2GB, and the files start “misbehaving” before they reach their maximum allowed size.
KB303652 When you add information to a personal folders (.pst) file that is larger than 2 gigabytes (GB) in size, you receive: The file could not be added to the folder. The action could not be completed.
KB305108 If you try to copy files to a personal folders (.pst) file that exceeds the 1.82 gigabyte (GB) limit in Outlook 2002, you receive: Can't copy the items. The operation failed.
Get the Microsoft tool here!
NOTE: "Truncate" a fancy word for “we’re gonna chop off the end of your file and lose a bunch of your emails!
Program Corruption (resolved by Outlook /Parameters)
Run “Detect & Repair” from the Help pull-down menu to rebuild Outlook.
/CleanFinders Removes Search Folders from the Microsoft Exchange server storeKB240697 When you use the Find feature you receive: Outlook cannot perform your search. Outlook cannot display this view. The folder already exists.
/CleanFreeBusy Clears and regenerates free/busy information. (This switch can only be used when you are able to connect to your Microsoft Exchange server.)KB223459, KB287656 & KB813609 When you use the meeting planner to view another person's free/busy time, you receive: Unable to load free/busy information. KB163664 if you choose to accept or tentatively accept a meeting request from a Schedule Plus user, you receive: The custom form could not be opened. Outlook will use an Outlook form instead. The object could not be found. KB172039, KB180179 & KB197483 If you delete the primary Calendar folder from the Exchange Server, Outlook creates a new Calendar folder. The new folder does not contain appointments from the old folder but the small calendar displayed in Day/Week/Month view still shows bolded days for the old appointments.KB195071 & KB195077 After converting Microsoft Schedule+ 1.0 or 7.0 files to Outlook 98, you receive: Unable to update public free/busy data. The file contains data that is not valid. -or- When adding resource accounts to a meeting request you receive: Cannot directly book the resource. -or- You may not be able to view free/busy times of other users. KB292980 After you install Outlook 2002, a second calendar folder named Calendar1 may appear in your Folder List. This second Calendar folder registers itself as the default calendar, and most new appointments that you create are added to it instead of your normal calendar. Calendar1 is treated as a primary Outlook folder and cannot be deleted.KB813506 When you try to open a Calendar appointment (and it doesn’t), you receive: Can't open this item. The value for Appointment Busy Status is not valid. Check your code.KB307590 When you try to dismiss a reminder you receive: Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library, Runtime error!, Program: c:/.../Outlook.exe, R6025, Pure virtual function call
/CleanProfile Removes invalid profile keys and recreates default registry keys where applicableKB303931 When you view Outlook Today and the folder list, you may see duplicates of both Outlook Today and the folder list. The duplicate folder list looks exactly like the current folder list, and changing one of the folder lists produces the same change in the other folder list. KB256594 When you import a personal folder file into Outlook, you receive: Outlook caused an invalid page fault in module RM.DLL at 0167:3ab938d7 (NOTE: The address that you see in the error message will be different)
/CleanPst Launches Outlook with a clean Post Office FileKB297010 (way too many options to mention here)
/CleanReminders Clears and regenerates a damaged Reminders FileKB161033 & KB195964 Calendar or Task Reminders do not appear as scheduled.KB184334 When you try to open an item from a reminder, you receive: Unable to Open the ItemKB262546, KB265368 & KB265373 When you use Resource Accounts for conference rooms, delegates may receive the following message even though they cannot read or find the message: Messages in Inbox KB179393 Your Calendar or Task reminders may not display at the scheduled time. KB307590 When you try to dismiss a reminder in Microsoft Outlook, you receive: Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library, Runtime error!, Program: c:/.../Outlook.exe, R6025, Pure virtual function call
/CleanRules Starts Outlook and deletes client- and server-based rules.KB826964 When you install Outlook 2003, any rules that you created in Outlook 2002 that were custom rules that checked for adult content and offensive content are not visible in Outlook 2003 Rules Wizard. However, the rules still exist in Microsoft Outlook Web Access (OWA).FIRST Export Rules1) From within Outlook – The Tools pull-down menu select “Rules & Alerts”2) Click Option, then Export Rules – name/save the file as “Outlook Rules”3) Exit OutlookSECOND Run with Outlook with /cleanrules paramaterTHIRD Import Rules1) From within Outlook – The Tools pull-down menu select “Rules & Alerts”2) Click Option, then Import Rules – locate/open the file “Outlook Rules”
/CleanSchedPlus Deletes all Schedule+ data (free/busy, permissions, and .cal file) from the server and enables the free/busy information from the Outlook Calendar to be used and viewed by all Schedule+ 1.0 users.KB168687, KB179547 & KB196635 You are using Schedule+ version 1.0 and trying to view the free/busy status of another person who has migrated from Schedule+ 1.0 to the Microsoft Outlook 97 Calendar. The free/busy information is not available for viewing. An indication that free/busy status cannot be read is the checkmark to the left of the user name in the Attendees is a lighter shade of gray than the check box by your name.
/CleanSniff Deletes duplicate reminder messages.(Need to have access to your Exchange Server)
/CleanViews Restores default views. All custom views you created are lost.KB195323 & KB183114 When you view your Contacts folder in Outlook 2000 using the Address Card view, each contact may appear to have your e-mail addressKB329932 When you click Calendar in Outlook to view the calendar, you receive: Unable to display the folder. Out of memory or system resources. Close some windows or programs and try again. KB195209, KB195207 & KB195208 When you click the Contacts folder in Outlook 97, you receive: OUTLOOK caused an invalid page fault in module OLE32.DLL KB237854 When you start Outlook, you receive: The view is damaged. Default view settings will be used. KB307590 When you try to dismiss a reminder in Microsoft Outlook, you receive: Microsoft Visual C++, Runtime Library, Runtime error!, Program: c:/.../Outlook.exe, R6025, Pure virtual function call
/ResetFolders Restores missing folders for the default delivery location.KB823127 When you click a Search Folder in Outlook 2003, you receive: The operation failed. The object could not be found.KB189841 When you attempt to open an appointment or meeting request in your Calendar your receive: Unable to open this item. Closing and reopening the Outlook client and/or recreating the meeting request has no effect on this error message. KB185049 When you attempt to update a task in Outlook 98, you receive: Could not complete the operation. One or more parameter values are not valid.
/ResetNavPane Clears and regenerates the Navigation Pane for the current profile.
/ResetOutlookBar Rebuilds the Outlook BarKB216088 After installing Microsoft Outlook with the "Integrated File Management" system you may be missing the Other Shortcuts group from your Outlook Bar. KB299398 After you install Outlook 2002, or after normal use, you may be missing the Other Shortcuts group from your Outlook Bar. KB213843 & KB199684 When you browse folders using the Outlook Bar, you receive: Outlook caused an invalid page fault in MSO97.dll KB259791 You may not be able to turn the Outlook Bar on or off, or the Outlook Bar may be improperly positioned.
How to run Outlook with one of the above Parameters:
Search for the program Outlook.exe and make a note of its full path location. Example: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Outlook.exe.
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type the complete path you noted in step 1, including the file name Outlook.exe in the above example. Press the SPACEBAR once, and then type a forward slash mark (/) followed by the parameter you wish to select.For example, if you want to use the CleanReminders switch, the command you type in the Open box should look like this:"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Outlook.exe" /Cleanreminders Note Paths that include spaces between words must be enclosed in quotation marks (") and are case sensitive.
To run the command, click OK.
Last Resorts
Create A New User Profile (sometimes you can import information from the old PST file, but this usually means losing the user’s information and settings).
Uninstall and reinstall Outlook.
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