Weird Word

This week we have two email tips, and a reader who needs help with a Word problem.

I love a mystery
"Alan" wrote with a description of weird behaviour from MS Word. I'm stumped, and I know Alan would be grateful if anyone has a solution.

The problem seems to be that when Alan's computer is connected to his home network, Word will save and then open documents in the expected way. However, if he disconnects his laptop from the network (or even from the power source) and tries to open a file that's been saved, Word just sits there with a blank page and an hourglass.

Alan describes the steps to recreate the problem:

1. Turn on computer while connected to the network
2. Launch MS Word and open my work document. (It works fine).
3. Close the document from the 'File' menu.
4. Quit MS Word.
5. Shut off computer from 'Start' menu.
6. Remove Internet connection
7. Remove AC power.
8. Start computer (now on battery power)
9. Launch MS Word (works fine)
10. Try to open saved document - result: white screen - "busy "hourglass" cursor - and a message in the top menu bar: "Microsoft Word is not responding".
11. Power down computer - reconnect network and AC power - start computer - start MS Word - open saved document - works perfectly!

Here are the particulars: Toshiba laptop running Windows XP SP2, fully patched. Word 2000. The documents are saved to the Toshiba, not to a network location. The local network consists of the Toshiba laptop, two Macs, and the Apple Laserwriter networked to one another via a Linksys router to Shaw cable. Alan uses PCMacLAN to get the macs talking to the PC.

If anyone wants to take a stab at that, please email me. I'll put you in touch with Alan directly.

Vanishing Email
"Mike" had a problem with Outlook Express:

"This AM opened Outlook Express, received messages, opened some & all of a sudden all messages since Dec 22/06 till this AM have disappeared, both read & unread. All that is left are mails that I haven't opened yet prior to Dec. 22 & unopened ones received today. Present situation is that when I receive & read a mail exit OE & reopen OE that mail that I just read has disappeared. It is not in deleted' folder. I have used System Restore' for the the 2 previous days but that doesn't restore the missing mails.
Any idea of what has happened?"

Hey! Here's one I can answer! Mike changed the "View" in Outlook Express without realizing it. To fix that, with Outlook Express open, click on "View", then on "Current View". "Show all messages" should be selected. If it isn't select it and see if your messages come back.

Also, "System Restore" will restore system files. It won't restore documents, photos, email files, program files, or anything but system files. You might want to look into backing up your email. There's an overview here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/270670.

Don't quote the original message in a reply
"Jim" says:

I hate it when I get an email message that has all the original stuff in it. I managed to set up my Outlook Express so it doesn't do that, but now I don't remember how I did that. Everyone wants to know!

Some of us need to be reminded what was said originally, others...not so much!

In Outlook Express, click on Tools, then Options, then Send. Clear the check mark in the box that says "Include message in reply" and OK your way out.

Thank you Alan, Mike, Jim, and everyone who wrote with questions and comments. Please email me with your questions, comments, constructive criticisms, and Windows tips. Please remember you can read the old columns at any time in the Column Archives, here: http://rlis.com/column.htm. We are open 24/7! Now get out there and enjoy the summer weather!

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.