IT Queries: Computer problems answered

My hard drive just got replaced. I have Windows 7. We set up outlook for my e-mails. It works with my go-daddy account, no problem sending and receiving e-mails.

However, if I’m on a web site, and I decide to right click it and e-mail the web site somewhere, it wants to send it via windows live, instead of defaulting to my outlook instead. How do I get it to work and e-mail from my outlook?

The problem lies with Outlook not being your default email program. To fix this, click the Start Button and select Control Panel.

In the Control Panel screen, select Programs then Default Programs and Set Default Programs.

In the Set Your Default Programs list, highlight Microsoft Office Outlook and click the Set this program as default. Click OK and Outlook will now be the program used for all email function.

I am using windows XP. I am on Microsoft Outlook for my email and I have gmail as my default email.

What should i do? should i go to control panel, firewall, and go to advanced and press return to default? i am scared to as it said some things could be lost. I think at some point last week I pressed a button somewhere saying ‘reset’ but i can’t remember what i did . thank you so much.

Email error 554 really doesn’t tell you much except the message has been rejected by the recipient’s server. It could be for any of a number of reasons which could lie on your system, your Internet provider’s servers or a problem at the other end.

One common problem is time and dates. If the clock on your computer is seriously out, then some servers will reject emails sent from it. So checking your computer’s time and date is a good first step.

You should also check your return addresses are correct; for instance if you are sending out emails saying you’re with AOL when you are really with Comcast will be another reason for servers to reject your emails.

If the problem continues, call your Internet provider and get their support line to walk through your email settings to ensure they are correct. Beyond that, the problems are either with the various mail servers or your ISP.

Emails that I send out in Microsoft Outlook are received by others with just “Peter” in the From column of their In Box. Also, the email itself shows just “Peter + my email address at the top.

How do I change this to “Peter Kowaltzke” OR something else ??? Could you help me please.

Fixing this is relatively straightword. It’s a matter of changing the setting in the mail account. Open Outlook, choose the Tools menu and select E-mail Accounts.

In the E-mail Accounts screen choose View or change existing e-mail accounts, select your email account and click the change button.

Under User Information, change your name there. Click Next and Finish then restart Outlook for the new name to take effect.

I keep receiving PPT files from friends, but I cannot open them. What are they and are they dangerous?

PPT files are PowerPoint presentations and normally they are perfectly harmless although it is a good idea not to open any email attachment from people you don’t know.

Powerpoint is the Microsoft presentation program which comes with some versions of Microsoft Office. Just because you have Microsoft Office, it doesn’t mean you have Powerpoint.

If you want to open ppt files, then you can download the free Powerpoint Viewer from Microsoft. This allows you to read and print ppt files but not edit them.

Should you want to change them, the free Open Office program can deal with most Powerpoint presentations.

On ABC Radio last week you advised how it is possible to keep a bigpond email address by paying $25/year and then being able to have internet with another provider. Please advise these details.Thanking you.

If you have a Bigpond.com email address it is possible to retain it by moving to Bigpond’s Casual User plan which charges $25 a year. The plan also allows dial up Internet access at $3 per hour so it can be a handy fall back connection as well.

There is catch though. If you are on an older Bigpond ADSL or cable plan, then you won’t be able to retain your bigpond.net.au address.

If keeping an email address is important, then it’s important to register your own domain name which will follow you wherever you go.

I am able to receive emails, but unable to send them.  Windows XP & MS IE installed. The error message is “ The connection to the server has failed. Account: ‘pop3.people.net.au‘, Protocol: SMTP, Port:25, Secure[SSL]:No, Socket error:10060, Error number:0×800CCC0E.

Any thoughts?

The immediate thought is your firewall has decided to block your email program sending data.

To fix the built in Windows Firewall in Windows XP Service Pack 2, open the Control Panel, choose Windows Firewall, click the Exceptions tab and tick the email program.

If the email program isn’t listed, then you can either manually add the program through the Add Program button. Although it may be easier to reset the firewall through selecting the Advanced tab and clicking the Restore Defaults button.