Many have and Microsoft’s Office 365 is certainly one of your options – however, it has just been brought to light that there is a limitation on the number of emails you can send out in a 24 hour period.

In Office 365 help, under Recipient And Sender Limits, this is what you’ll find: Recipient rate limit: The maximum number of recipients that can receive e-mail messages sent from a single cloud-based mailbox in a 24 hour period.

• - Microsoft Live@edu 500 recipients per day
• - Office 365 for professionals and small businesses 500 recipients per day
• - Office 365 for enterprises 1,500 recipients per day

This limitation applies to both an individual and the company as a whole. This means five employees sending 100 emails each would reach the threshold for the small business platform.

Now that this limitation has become public it will be interesting to see if Microsoft makes any changes to the policy, however Microsoft claims it is an anti-spam measure

Apparently Firefox is scaled for dial-up users and someone has found a way to adjust the pipelining to allow for more simultaneous connections and generally faster speeds.

 
Type “about:config” into the address bar and hit return. Scroll down and look for the following entries: network.http.pipelining, network.http.proxy.pipelining, network.http.pipelining.maxrequests.

Normally the browser will make one request to a web page at a time. When you enable pipelining it will make several at once, which really speeds up page loading.

Set “network.http.pipelining” to “true”

Set “network.http.proxy.pipelining” to “true”

Set “network.http.pipelining.maxrequests” to some number like 30. This means it will make 30 requests at once.

Lastly right-click anywhere and select New-> Integer. Name it “nglayout.initialpaint.delay” and set its value to “0″. This value is the amount of time the browser waits before it acts on information it receives.

Try it – do you see a speed increase?

A search for this type of problem revealed a lot of different answers, however here’s the solution that worked for this customer:

• Remove the 4/07/2011 Excel security update KB2541025.

I tried other resolutions offered, however this was the one that resolved the slowness for me (other solutions are offered below). It seems Microsoft has introduced some security checks regarding remote code execution that breaks or severely slows down opening files over the network. No doubt an update will follow but it is not available as of this writing.

[Update: I had another XP computer that I also had to additionally uninstall the KB2502786 update]

How to remove this Excel Security Update:

To remove this update from within Microsoft Windows XP, go to Add/Remove Programs and click the checkbox at the top of the window to Show Updates. Now scroll down until you see the KB number shown above and uninstall it. I reboot the customer’s computer afterwards just to be sure there’s no residual information in the Windows Registry.

After removing this update Excel was again able to open files over the network.

Note: Be careful that this update does not get pulled again on the next Windows Update sequence.

Other things to try:
One of the comments below also suggests: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2570623, option 4

- Microsoft Support
- Check your DDE
- Check the comments below.
- Thanks to Steve Harman over at Techarena for offering this fix!

You might also be interested in [Prepare your computer for summer vacation]

[Update: Microsoft now advises using the Windows Recovery Console, however many security experts still advise a complete re-install for a rootkit removal]

“If your system does get infected with Trojan:Win32/Popureb.E, we advise you to fix the MBR and then use a recovery CD to restore your system to a pre-infected state,” – Chun Feng,  Engineer, Microsoft Malware Protection Center.

Why do I have to reinstall?

Rootkits are bad. They actually replace fundamental and critical files in your operating system with copies. The copies will have the same name and function, just with a little extra code included to do their dirty work. Many antivirus programs can detect them (make sure you virus definitions are kept up-to-date!) but due to the fact that the original file is now gone, you need to put back the original file. This means copying it back from the installation CD or your Windows CD/DVD. It’s not going to be as easy as running a scan and clicking “yes” to clean infected files.

Here’s some details to tell you what is going on – based on Mr Feng’s quote above:

What is “MBR” and “Recovery CD”?

MBR - the MBR is the Master Boot Record. Think of the MBR as the starting point on your hard disk. When you turn on your computer everything else comes after the MBR. The problem is that Popureb overwrites this MBR with its own code – thereby perfectly hiding itself from anything else that follows.

Recovery CD – A Recovery CD/DVD is a disk that will return your computer to factory settings. Most computers these days do not come with any included disks. Instead you must create the disks from the computer. Based on my experience I can tell you that most people never burn these disks, even though they are prompted to do so for the first few weeks after purchasing their computer (have you?). We do this automatically for our clients and if you haven’t done one DO IT NOW – although if you already have a rootkit trojan it is too late, you’ll copy the trojan with the Recovery CD. If this is the case your only option now is to obtain replacement recovery CD’s directly from the manufacturer.

How to know if you have a Rootkit

It can be difficult to know you have a Rootkit Trojan, since the whole point of putting there is to hide it from you. What you may notice though is overall slowness of your system. You may also detect slowness when accessing the Internet, due to increased traffic coming to and from your computer. You may also see popups on your desktop, or notice software failures or software not working like it used to. Most virus protection programs will search for rootkits and some have rootkit removal features built in.

If you want to did deeper and have some technical experience on the “back end” of computers and operating systems, here’s some of the preliminary evaluation steps you might take.  However if you suspect you have a rootkit trojan then it’s probably best to skip right to the removal steps.

• Run “netstat -an” from a Windows command prompt and look for connections to external points that don’t match what you would expect.
• Use the Windows Task Manager Performance tab; are you using more memory or cpu power than you should be?
• Use the Windows Task Manager Networking tab: is there more traffic that you expect?
• Use the Windows Task Manager Processes tab: is there anything unusual or unrecognized there?

How to remove a Rootkit Trojan

Rootkit Trojans are especially difficult to detect, since they have full control and, even if detected by an antivirus program, can be cumbersome to remove. Often a rebuild it required just to be absolutely sure your rootkit is gone.

Here’s steps to take:

• Backup files, pictures, music, databases, everything
• Backup Outlook, Thunderbird, or whatever you are using for email. Copy the whole folder where your Outlook pst file is stored.
• Backup your browser favorites or bookmarks
• Make sure to include your Desktop as part of your backup
• Gather disks and licenses for all software installed.
  • If you don’t know the licenses, try a utility like Keyfinder to retrieve the licenses you have.
• Once you have disks and licenses and are sure you have everything from your computer that you need, put in your Recovery CD and reboot.
• Once recovery is complete, reinstall all your programs, then copy back all your data and other files.

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Yes, Rootkits are a pain and removing a rootkit using this process may take you 3-4 hours or more to complete, however it must be done in order to eliminate this major security breach.
Have you had to deal with and/or remove a Rootkit Trojan? Tell us your experiences.

Before you leave, take a little time and follow these three tasks to prepare your computer, protect your data, and plan for your return.

Set aside a couple hours before you leave on your summer vacation to prepare your computer. Like many, you probably use the computer more than any other office tool. Don’t turn it off while you’re on vacation, your computer can also work for you even while you are away.

1. Clean up

• Clean up your My Documents folder (especially old files, photos, music, etc)
• Clean up your Desktop (old shortcuts, links to programs you don’t use, folders)
• Delete all the files in your C:/Windows/Temp folder
• Delete all the files in your C:/Windows/Prefetch folder
• Run a full Disk Check (My Computer, right-click on C: drive, Properties, Tools tab, Error Checking)
• Defragment your C: drive (in Windows 7 press start, type “defrag”, select Disk Defragmenter)

2. Backup your data

• Export your data from Outlook (File, Import and Export, Export to a file, select Personal Folder File (.pst), Select Personal Folders and check the box for Include Subfolders)
• Copy your My Documents folder and everything underneath, your desktop, and any other places you have files hiding (financial programs, etc) to somewhere off your main computer.
• Back it all up to an external USB hard disk, and back it up to the Cloud

3. Tell people when you are coming back

• If you are not taking your computer with you on your summer vacation (you’re not – right?!) then have it work for you while you’re away. In Outlook, turn on the Out of Office Assistant (Tools, Out of Office Assistant, click I am currently Out of the Office, type your message saying when you will be back) Full instructions here. (Your computer must be left on in order for this to work)

When you get back you just need to turn off the Out of Office Assistant and pick up where you left off.

Take the time to follow these three easy steps and you can better relax while on your summer vacation, knowing your data is safe.

If your office is using an Exchange Server then the process is pretty simple, however most SOHO and Small Businesses are not using that technology.

Not to fear – there is a way to send an out-of-office message using Outlook 2003, 2007, or 2010 alone, in just a few steps:

Need more help with Microsoft Outlook? Try Outlook 2010 All-in-One For Dummies at Amazon.

Step 1: Create an Out of Office Reply Template

Outlook 2003 and earlier

1. Open a new Outlook message formatted as plain text. (NOTE: Do not use Microsoft Word as your e-mail editor)
2. Type the information that you want to have in your reply message.
3. On the File menu, click Save As.
4. In the Save As dialog box, click to select the Outlook Template check box in the Save As Type list.
5. Type a name for your reply template in the File Name box, and then click Save.

Outlook 2007

1. Create a new Outlook message.
2. On the Options tab, click Plain Text.
3. Type the message you want people to receive (it’s often helpful to put in your return date).
4. Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Save As.
5. In the Save As dialog box, click to select the Outlook Template check box in the Save as type list.
6. Type “Reply Template” in the File name box, and then click Save.

Outlook 2010

1. Click New E-Mail on the Ribbon.
2. On the Format Text tab, click Plain Text.
3. Type the information that you want to have in your reply message.
4. Click File on the Ribbon, and then click Save As.
5. In the Save As dialog box, click to select the Outlook Template check box in the Save as type list.
6. Type a name for your reply template in the File name box, and then click Save.

Step 2: Create an Out of Office Outlook Rule

Outlook 2003

1. On the Tools menu, click Rules and Alerts.
2. In the Rules and Alerts dialog box, click the New Rule button on the E-mail Rules tab.
3. In the Rules Wizard, click the Start from a blank rule button, click Check messages when they arrive, and then click Next.
4. Under Which condition(s) do you want to check?, click to select the Sent Only To Me check box or any other check box that you want, and then click Next.
5. Under What do you want to do with the message?, click to select the Reply using a specific template check box.
6. On the Step 2: Edit the Rule Description page of the wizard, click the underlined phrase a specific template.
7. In the Select A Reply Template dialog box, click the template that you saved in step 5 of the “How to Define an Automatic Reply Template” section, and then click Open.
8. Complete the Rules Wizard instructions, click Finish, and then click OK.

Outlook 2007

1. On the Tools menu, click Rules and Alerts.
2. In the Rules and Alerts dialog box, click the New Rule button on the E-mail Rules tab.
3. In the Rules Wizard under Start from a blank rule, click Check messages when they arrive, and then click Next.
4. Under Which condition(s) do you want to check?, click to select the Sent Only To Me check box or any other check box that you want, and then click Next.
5. Under What do you want to do with the message?, click to select the Reply using a specific template check box.
6. Under Step 2: Edit the Rule Description, click the underlined phrase a specific template.
7. In the Select A Reply Template dialog box, click the template that you saved in step 6 of the “How to Define an Automatic Reply Template” section, and then click Open.
8. Complete the Rules Wizard instructions, click Finish, and then click OK.

Outlook 2010

1. Click the File tab in the Ribbon, and then click the Info tab on the menu.
2. In the Rules and Alerts tab, click the New Rule button on the E-mail Rules tab.
3. In the Rules Wizard under Start from a blank rule, click Check messages when they arrive, and then click Next.
4. Under Which condition(s) do you want to check, click to select the Sent Only To Me check box or any other check box that you want, and then click Next.
5. Under What do you want to do with the message, click to select the Reply using a specific template check box.
6. Under Step 2: Edit the Rule Description, click the underlined phrase a specific template.
7. In the Select A Reply Template dialog box, click the template that you saved in step 6 of the “How to Define an Automatic Reply Template” section, and then click Open.
8. Complete the Rules Wizard instructions, click Finish, and then click OK.

Create and activate this rule just before you leave – and don’t forget to turn it off when you get back (maybe a calendar reminder?)

Have a great time off – here’s hoping for a good summer!

Download the eBook ($4.99)

This article includes informatino from the eBook. For the complete manual (including automation and command line syntax) choose a link below:

• Buy Kindle eBook via Amazon, or
• Buy PDF via Paypal
  

SyncToy Requirements:

Microsoft SyncToy 2.1 can run on Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7 and requires .NET Framework 2.0. Versions exist for both 32 (x86) and 64-bit systems.

Download Microsoft SyncToy version 2.1 for free at: Microsoft.com/downloads

The installation is painless and configuration is point-and-click.  The only area that may be more difficult for you is automating this application using Scheduled Tasks, shown later.

Ways to use Microsoft Synctoy: (from the eBook)

1) Backup your laptop to you desktop or USB drives. Microsoft SyncToy will copy your documents, email files, and photos from your laptop to your backup automatically every day at the time you choose.

2) Synctoy can even backup your Blackberry, Android, or other Smartphone memory or SD card. Protect your contacts, photos and other data. Activating USB data services for your phone will make it show up as a drive letter. Now you can configure Synctoy to pull the information from there to your computer, or backup destination.

3) Three people are working on the same project, all at different locations.  Each morning they synchronize their portions of the project to the central shared drive, ensuring everyone has the updated versions of the other project pieces.

How to Configure Microsoft SyncToy (from the eBook)

Once the install is complete, you can start configuring SyncToy.

Simply click Create New Folder Pair

Next, Choose your Folders. For consistency I would designate the left folder as the folder you want to backup or sync, and the right folder as the place to sync or backup to.

Microsoft Synctoy offers you three types of synchronization:

• - Synchronize (new files and any changes are copied both ways)
• - Echo (new and updated files are copied to the destination – basically this is a backup)
• - Contribute (like Echo, but files on the destination will not be deleted if deleted on the source)

I prefer Echo and use Microsoft SyncToy strictly as a local backup copy.

Your last option is to name the Folder Pair. Make it something obvious so that you know what it should be doing. For example: “My Documents” or “Blackberry”.

Running Microsoft SyncToy (from the eBook)

All Folder Pairs (synchronization jobs) show up on the left side of the main window.

Selecting one will show the last time it was run in the bottom right of the window, along with the buttons to run this synchronization job.

Or, if you select All Folder Pairs then all jobs will run. The first run will be longer as the verification and copying of files takes place. After that Microsoft SyncToy just does updates and so sync times are faster.

How to Automate Microsoft SyncToy

Synctoy does not have any automation tools built in, however there are ways to automate it using Windows Task Scheduler and Windows Group Policy. The step-by-step details for both of these methods is included in the eBook

Conclusion

This is a primer to using Microsoft SyncToy and additional details can be found in the eBook How to use Microsoft SyncToy, from Amazon, or use the PDF link above.
If you are a small business and are thinking of using Synctoy for backups, we recommend CloudPockets as an additional step to protecting your data off-site, in the cloud.

Windows 7 is the newest Operating System from Microsoft, replacing Vista. It is more efficient than Vista and comes in 3 versions. Which one is right for your business?

Many small businesses, including my customers, avoided Vista as much as possible so they are still running Windows XP Professional. However due to the normal rotation of computers, Windows 7 will be coming in your door shortly.

What version of Windows 7 should you buy?

As in XP and Vista, the version of Windows 7 you want for business is:

Windows 7 Professional.

Why? Windows 7 Professional allows you to do three things the Home Premium version does not:

• Run programs in XP Mode (for those legacy systems)
• Be part of a Windows Domain (provides better security)
• Allow Remote Desktop connections (great for remote support)

Unless you have very special requirements there is nothing in Windows 7 Ultimate that you need for business, why pay the extra money? Here’s the official comparison chart from Microsoft: Windows 7 Editions

Stay with XP?

Mainstream support for Windows XP already ran out in April 2009, extended support runs out 2014. Vista mainstream support runs out April 2012. At some point you’ve got to bite the bullet and upgrade. The question you need to ask is, “What is the best way to upgrade to Windows 7?”

Two Ways to Upgrade

Neither upgrade path is “better” than the other, it just depends on how your office works.

1) Upgrade through attrition

As computers die, purchase the new ones with Windows 7.

For cash flow, this is the most cost-effective way to upgrade. Spend the money when it is needed and work out the wrinkles on the first one or two. In the long term you will probably spend more money due to individual staff training and support costs, but you won’t break the bank.

2) Upgrade office-wide

Purchase new or upgrade all computers throughout the office at one time

All staff can be trained at the same time and prepared for the cutoff date for the transition. Staff can help each other out with questions – efficiencies are gained here. There is a higher up-front cost to this and you may feel nickle and dime’d a bit as some computer components may have to be swapped out, but you will have spent less in the long run.

Resource Links

• Windows 7 comparison chart
• Microsoft Windows 7 home page
• Windows 7 Wikipedia article
• CNET Windows 7 Review