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Some Useful Tips!

Compact Your Outlook Data Files

Even after deleting old and unnecessary e-mail from the Delete Items folder, the file size may still stay the same. This means that you need to manually compact the file. Because of the many different versions of Outlook, these instructions may vary, but this will work for the latest versions.

1. Make sure the Folder List showing. If it's not, from the View menu, click Folder List

2. From the Folders list in the left pane, right-click on Personal Folders toward the top

3. Select Properties For Personal Folders

4. Click the Advanced button

5. Then click Compact Now

Doing this helps eliminate deleted item space and recover space on your hard drive.

Reducing Viruses in E-Mail

Did you know that you can greatly reduce the amount of viruses you might get through e-mail attachments by simply installing the free Outlook Email Attachment Security Update from Microsoft? Since most viruses come through email, doing this will just about eliminate them. Of course, this should not take the place of having a good anti-virus program installed on your system.

This update strips out any attachments that automatically run on their own when you click on them.

Examples of restricted extensions are: .exe, .com, .bat, .vbs, .scr

This works for Outlook 98 and 2000. Outlook XP and 2003 already has this feature built in as part of the product.

Before you download the update, get more info.

Download from Microsoft

Before you do this, think about the types of attachments you receive that are legitimate. If you actually want to receive files with the restricted extensions, keep in mind that this tool will block those items as well.

Quick Favourites

I do a lot of research on the Internet and save quite a few pages to my Favourites folder. If you have a lot of Favourites too then you probably get tired of scrolling through all those web sites as well.

A little trick that helps me is to hit the first letter of the favourites you are looking for. The first link with a name that begins with that letter will be highlighted. Not the right one? Hit the letter again. The next favourites with that letter will be highlighted. When you find the one you are looking for, hit the Enter key.

One Click Shutdown

Follow these directions to create a one-click shutdown shortcut on your desktop:

1. On your desktop, right-click on a blank spot and point to New
   
   
2. Then click on Shortcut
   
   
3. In the Create Shortcut window, type the following depending of the version of Windows you are using.

For Windows 95, 98, or Me type or copy and paste:

C:\windows\rundll.exe user.exe,exitwindows

For Windows XP type or copy:

SHUTDOWN -s -t 01

4. Click the Next button.
   
   
5. Name the shortcut whatever you like and click Finish.

Now whenever you want to shut down, just double click on this shortcut.

Additionally, you can shutdown Windows 2000/NT by pressing ALT-F4 from the desktop, which is the same as clicking Start, Shutdown.

Note: When other applications are open, ALT-F4 will close them one at a time.

Disclaimer - The Micro 2000 Tech Tip is a free service providing information only. While we use reasonable care to see that this information is correct, we do not guarantee it for accuracy, completeness or fitness for a particular purpose. Micro 2000, Inc. shall not be liable for damages of any kind in connection with the use or misuse of this information.