New Search Engine for Outlook

If you've ever used the search tool in Outlook you're familiar with it's limitations. The native tool only searches one folder at a time and it is SSLLOOOWWW. There is an alternative and it's name is LookOut.

LookOut is so good that it was recently purchased by Microsoft and will find it's way into Outlook with the next version but fortunately you don't have to wait that long to start using it. LookOut indexes everything in your mailbox including, contacts, sent items, deleted items and even public folders. Once created the index is updated automatically. Because of this index searches are instantaneous. For example, a search through my 191 folders for references to Midwest Security, my health insurance provider, turned up 13 items, scattered about in 5 different locations in 2.1 seconds.

In addition to mailbox folders you can also have LookOut index your My Documents folder. LookOut is an incredible personal search engine.

If you'd like to install it now you can. Go to http://www.lookoutsoft.com/Lookout/ You'll notice that when you download it comes directly from Microsoft.

Enjoy!

WIndows XP Service Pack 2 for Home

Should you install Windows XP Service Pack 2 at home? YES!

Why? Because it contains all of the latest security updates, has a new security structure for some key operating system components that will help to protect your computer for future exploits, and it implements a second generation firewall on your computer.

For the best odds of success follow these steps before installing the service pack:

1. Empty the Temporary Internet items folder and delete Cookies. To do this, right click on Internet Explorer and select properties. Click the Delete temporary files, then click to delete cookies.

3. Run Disk Cleanup and delete all temporary files. To run Disk Cleanup, right click on your C drive and select properties. Then click the disk cleanup button.

4. Empty the recycling bin.

5. Scan for Viruses and delete files from the virus quarantine

6. Remove any programs that you don't need on your computer. If you don't know what it is, it's probably spyware or adware.

7. Reboot

Now you are ready to install Windows XP Service Pack 2.

Small Business Tech Notes

Free Microsoft Office Training Courses!

Did you know that Microsoft offers free Office training courses? Each course covers a specific topic and runs from 15 - 45 minutes. The courses are on demand which means that you can view them anytime. There are quick courses for all skill levels. Even advanced topics are covered like How to Use the AutoFilter feature in Excel or Add Graphics and keep them where you want them in Word, and See and Share Multiple Calendars in Outlook. Visit this site and check out the long list of available courses.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/default.aspx

Look in the middle of the page to browse the course catalog by office component. Enjoy and let me know how you enjoy the courses.

An article published!

An article that I wrote on how to overcome the time server issue reported in the previous blog entry has been published by www.isaserver.org. Thank you Tom Shiner for believing in me. The details of my findings have also been delivered to the powers that be at Microsoft by Jim Harrison. A Knowledgebase article is being drafted at Microsoft.

This is very exciting for me. This is the first time that I've written an article and had it published since I had the recycling column back when I was a recycling guru. What fun!

I do enjoy writing and hope to have more success in this field.