Why Don’t Deleted Emails Appear in the Recycle Bin?

October 18, 2011 By

Subscriber JPB had a question about deleting emails, and why they don’t get recycled:

When you delete files (normally) they go to the recycle bin. How come E-mail doesn’t work the same way. it get’s compacted? I’m using Thunderbird and Windows 7.

The reason that deleted emails don’t show up in the Recycle Bin is that the Recycle Bin stores files after you delete them (note that some programs will delete files without putting them into the Recycle Bin). This is sometimes a problem with older programs or programs that are simplistically ported from another operating system.

Most Windows email programs store emails as data in large files containing multiple emails. They’re not stored as individual files. Email “folders” are actually files, in most cases, although some email programs may not create separate files for the folders.

Thunderbird is one such, as is Eudora OSE (which I use), which is based on Thunderbird. Thunderbird stores all its emails in a database file called global-messages-db.sqlite.

JPB still had some concerns, though:

Filed Under: Communications, Email, Software, Tips & Tricks

Adding a Computer to an Existing Home Network

August 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

OK, you have a new computer and you’ve made the decision to keep your old computer, and you want your spouse and children to be able to do email and surf the web without demanding your computer.

Let’s assume you already have an existing home computer network — if you don’t, the first article in this week’s online newsletter is for you…

There are two basic ways that computers on home networks can get the IP addresses and other network data they need in order to communicate with each other: we can enter the data into the configuration screens, if we want to use static (unchanging) IP addresses, or we can set the router to assign IP addresses dynamically using DHCP.

DHCP is the default setting for home routers, it’s the way most Internet Service Providers assign IP addresses, and it’s the way Windows has networking set up by default. Let’s assume you’re using DHCP.

Continue reading Adding a Computer to an Existing Home Network

Filed Under: Communications, Router, Tips & Tricks

Router Encryption — Increasing Wireless Security

July 20, 2010 By

I answered a question recently from someone who was using WEP (the so-called “Wired Equivalent Privacy”) encryption on their wireless network. They were considering changing to WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access). The real answer is that they need to change to the second generation of WPA — WPA2.

The biggest question in their mind was whether they’d have to change the wireless passphrases on all their computers (quick answer: yes).

Why change? WEP is old, way, way old in computer terms. When it was first released, it was effective.

But, by 2004, second-generation WEP-cracking tools were widely available. In an article, SmallNetBuilder reports on a 2005 demonstration by a team of FBI agents who were able to crack a 128 bit WEP key in about three minutes.

WPA replaced WEP as the choice for encryption. Then, it fell prey…

Continue reading Router Encryption — Increasing Wireless Security

Filed Under: Communications, Data Security, Network Security, Router, System Security, Tips & Tricks, Wireless

Blog questions & Vista SP 2

June 12, 2010 By

Ed Pilarczyk wrote last week to ask:

Hey Terry,

As a long time subscriber, I have to say that you continue to do a GREAT job. Thanks for all your hard work!!

Two things. First, I can find no way to register for any of your blogs. I found the link to log in…but not sign up. Please advise.

Second, my OS is Vista Ultimate x64 sp1, on an HP with a Core2 Quad, with 6gb ram. which I have be using for almost one year without any problems or complaints. Several days ago my windows updater said sp2 is available to upgrade. What I have found on the web is mostly negative, or at best inconclusive.

What is you take, should I or shouldn’t I upgrade to sp2? Thanks again, Ed P.

I wrote back to tell Ed…

Continue reading Blog questions & Vista SP 2

Filed Under: Communications, Vista

How Can One Cable Modem Work With Two Wireless Routers?

June 7, 2010 By

In How to Fry a Wireless Router or Two, I wrote about my brother’s experience frying a pair of wireless modems in a lightning storm. Last week, I talked about what had happened, why it happended, and what he could do to prevent the problem in the future (this was the third set of routers, plus he lost a computer motherboard in that storm).

This week, we’ll look at his network layout, and why he could not get the network to set up properly.

To summarize the situation, he has an office an a shop, with computers on his network in both locations. Some connect via wired connections (Ethernet), while others use wireless connections. His Internet cable comes into the office first.

In the past, he first used Linksys wireless routers. Then DLinks. This time, he chose Belkin wireless routers.

The incoming cable (standard cable-company RG6 coaxial cable) connects to the cable modem.

Then, the cable modem connects to the WAN (wide area network “Internet”) connection on the router.

The local wired ports on the router…

Continue reading How Can One Cable Modem Work With Two Wireless Routers?

Filed Under: Broadband, Communications, Hardware, Network Security, Router, System Security, Tips & Tricks

Compacting Folders in Email Programs

November 15, 2009 By

Longtime subscriber Peter wrote recently from the U.K. to ask about an Outlook Express problem he’s having:

Hi Terry, Many thanks for the latest issue of your newsletter, which always arrives here in the UK on a Sunday evening – a great time for reading it through.

My question is: Do you know a way of permanently stopping Outlook Express from compacting all its stored files? Every so often OE pops up a dialog asking if it can do this and if I let it go ahead it then makes a complete pigs mess of all my folders.

Very old deleted e-mails suddenly reappear in the Inbox folder bolded as unread, with dates months before the real latest message, although they drop in after it – so it has apparently also managed to mess up the date sort order, something I thought a computer couldn’t do.

Some other stored messages…

Continue reading Compacting Folders in Email Programs

Filed Under: Communications, Email, Software, System Stability, Tips & Tricks

What is Microsoft Silverlight?

June 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment

I’ve been asked several times about Microsoft Silverlight — what is it and do I need it.

Silverlight is Microsoft’s competition for Adobe Flash Player. It’s designed to play videos and allow interaction with the program.

My initial thoughts were that I didn’t need it. I had no application that areqired it and I did not need yet another video display system on my computer. I already had Windows Media Player which could handle video streaming. I already had JavaScript and ActiveScript (Microsoft’s name for its JavaScript interpreter in Internet Explorer). I already had Adobe Flash Player. Wy did I need Silverlight?

I managed to do without Silverlight all through the first version, which was released in 2008. However, in early 2009, I finally had to install it — it was required for one of my new applications.

Continue reading What is Microsoft Silverlight?

Filed Under: Audio, Communications, Free Software, Resources, Reviews, Storage, Vista, Windows Xp
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