Re: OE6 slow after installing SP2 patch

From: Steve Cochran (scochran_at_oehelp.com)
Date: 10/19/04 

Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2004 06:03:32 -0400

If it says Symantec, then its off my computer, no matter what.

steve

"Gerry Cornell" <gcjc@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:Om5HfMRtEHA.3972@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> Steve
>
> NIS =Norton Internet Security. E-mail scanning is part of Norton
> Anti-Virus, which is separate from Norton Internet Security. I use Norton
> Internet Security but do not know why it should cause a problem. However,
> I am using an older version than Christo.
>
>
> ~~~~~~
>
> Regards.
>
> Gerry
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> FCA
>
> Stourport, Worcs, England
> Enquire, plan and execute.
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
> "Steve Cochran" <scochran@oehelp.com> wrote in message
> news:ueX$j8QtEHA.3200@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>> You might get away with just turning off email scanning, but maybe not.
>> I
>> haven't tested it, as I won't have anything to do with either Norton or
>> McAfee.
>>
>> steve
>>
>>
>>
>> "Christo" <christo@internetkiosks.com.au> wrote in message
>> news:newscache$6ior5i$wu02$1@elise.onthenet.com.au...
>>> It turns out that Norton Internet Security was the problem. OE6sp2
>>> worked
>> ok
>>> after uninstalling it.
>>> I have searched the Symantec website, but have not found a solution. I
>> have
>>> requested help from Symantec, so I will post any results I get from
>>> them.
>>>
>>> I would replace NIS with another program but I bought 5 copies for the
>>> office, and it would be a shame not to use them. :-(
>>>
>>> Cheers
>>> Christo
>>>
>>> ===========================
>>>
>>>
>>> "Steve Cochran" <scochran@oehelp.com> wrote in message
>>> news:uraQV$esEHA.636@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>>> > See point 8 below and also make sure you do point 3. Norton is
>> well-known
>>> > for causing problems in OE and I suspect that is what is going on.
>>> >
>>> > steve
>>> >
>>> > "Christo" <christo@internetkiosks.com.au> wrote in message
>>> > news:newscache$lo8k5i$pus1$1@elise.onthenet.com.au...
>>> >> Ran through those 5 steps, also disabled Messenger, fire walls,
>>> >> Mapped
>>> >> drives, virus scanning and its still slow. It looks like there are
>> others
>>> >> out there with the same kind of problem. Its driving me nuts.
>>> >>
>>> >> Any other ideas?
>>> >>
>>> >> Thanks for your help.
>>> >>
>>> >> Christo
>>> >>
>>> >> ===================
>>> >>
>>> >> "Gerry Cornell" <gcjc@btinternet.com> wrote in message
>>> >> news:OHsO%23mUsEHA.2664@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>>> >> > Christo
>>> >> >
>>> >> > After installing SP2 you need to carry out full housekeeping!
>>> >> >
>>> >> > A suggested routine may include:
>>> >> > 1. In Outlook Express empty your Deleted Items folder.
>>> >> > 2. In Outlook Express run File, Folder, Compact All whilst OFFLINE.
>>> >> > 3. Run Disk Cleanup. Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools,
>>> >> > Disk
>>> >> > Cleanup with Temporary Internet Files, Offline Web Pages
>>> >> > (optional),
>>> >> > System Restore
>>> >> > ( more Options tab ) and Recycle Bin selected for deletion. If you
>> have
>>> >> > more than one drive /
>>> >> > partition you may need to do this operation for each drive /
>> partition.
>>> >> > 4. Remove Cookies. Start, Control Panel, Internet Options, General,
>>> > Delete
>>> >> > Cookies.
>>> >> > 5. Run Disk Defragmenter.
>>> >> >
>>> >> >
>>> >> > ~~~~~~
>>> >> >
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Hope this helps.
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Gerry
>>> >> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>> >> > FCA
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Stourport, Worcs, England
>>> >> > Enquire, plan and execute.
>>> >> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>> >> > Please tell the newsgroup how any
>>> >> > suggested solution worked for you.
>>> >> >
>>> >> > http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
>>> >> >
>>> >> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>> >> >
>>> >> >
>>> >> >
>>> >> > "Christo" <christo@internetkiosks.com.au> wrote in message
>>> >> > news:newscache$q9uh5i$91r1$1@elise.onthenet.com.au...
>>> >> >>I have found OE6 VERY slow after installing the SP2 patch and
>>> >> >>upgrading
>>> >> >>to
>>> >> >> Norton Internet Security 2004. To right click on an email to see
>>> >> >> the
>>> >> >> properties takes 10 seconds. The computer is a good one with heaps
>> of
>>> >> >> memory.(1GIG).
>>> >> >> I have searched Symantec and Microsoft help areas with no success.
>>> >> >> I
>>> > have
>>> >> >> tried turning off firewalls, virus scanning etc with no
>> improvements.
>>> >> >> Is there any one who has experienced this and found a successful
>> fix?
>>> >> >> I have my email cash stored in a folder in My Documents, if that
>> would
>>> >> >> make any difference.
>>> >> >>
>>> >> >> Kind regards
>>> >> >>
>>> >> >> Christo
>>> >> >>
>>> >> >
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > 1. Don't open attachments.
>>> >
>>> > Most computer infections are the result of the user opening email
>>> > attachments. The attachment usually contains a virus or worm or
>>> > trojan
>>> > that
>>> > infects the system when it is opened.
>>> >
>>> > Because of this tendency of attachments to infect, Microsoft has now
>>> > set
>>> > OE
>>> > to block all attachments. See
>>> > these articles for explanations:
>>> >
>>> > Cannot Open E-Mail Attachments in Outlook Express After You Install
>>> > SP1
>>> > http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=329570
>>> >
>>> > OLEXP Using Virus Protection Features in Outlook Express 6 (Q291387)
>>> > http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q291/3/87.ASP
>>> >
>>> > Note that Microsoft does not send security patches in email. See this
>>> > article:
>>> > http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/news/patch_hoax.asp
>>> >
>>> > If you choose to adjust OE to allow attachments, make sure you save
>>> > the
>>> > attachment to disk first and then scan it with your antivirus
>>> > software.
>>> >
>>> > The most significant thing you can do to prevent such infections, is
>>> > to
>>> > educate yourself on what attachments may constitute a threat to your
>>> > system,
>>> > and never open any such attachments, no matter who they are from.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > 2. Turn off Background Compaction. (Note that with WinXP SP2, this
>>> > feature
>>> > is already disabled.)
>>> >
>>> > When a message is deleted, moved or marked as read in an OE message
>>> > file
>>> > (dbx), then wasted space is generated in that file, and the folder
>>> > must
>> be
>>> > compacted to remove that wasted space.
>>> >
>>> > By default, OE turns on a feature under Tools | Options | Maintenance
>>> > called
>>> > "background compaction", which turns itself on if the folders in your
>>> > message store get too much wasted space. This feature uses 100% CPU
>> time
>>> > and slows down your system, while it is active. In addition, if the
>>> > process
>>> > is somewhat interrupted, then the entire message store can become
>> corrupt.
>>> >
>>> > To prevent such corruption, turn off background compaction under Tools
>>> > |
>>> > Options | Maintenance for each Identity you have, and then compact
>>> > manually
>>> > and frequently using File | Folder | Compact all. This will make OE
>> more
>>> > stable.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > 3. Turn off email scanning in your antivirus software.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Antivirus software invades the Outlook Express program to try and
>>> > intercept
>>> > (incoming and, in some cases, outgoing) messages that might contain
>> virus.
>>> >
>>> > The problem with this approach is that the antivirus software can
>> trigger
>>> > the destruction of an entire message folder or the entire message
>>> > store,
>>> > when it attempts to remove a message containing a potential virus.
>>> >
>>> > To prevent the possibility of such destruction occuring, turn off
>>> > email
>>> > scanning in your antivirus software. You will still be protected
>> against
>>> > infection. If you attempt to open a message attachment containing a
>>> > potential virus, then your antivirus software will recognize that your
>> are
>>> > attempting to infect your system, and will block you from doing so.
>>> > The
>>> > best practice on the user's part is to save an attachment to disk and
>> then
>>> > scan it with the antivirus software prior to opening it. Messages
>> opened
>>> > themselves (if you have the latest security updates from Windows
>>> > Update)
>>> > will not infect your system -- only attachments.
>>> >
>>> > You do not need additional email scanning on top of your system being
>>> > continuosly scanned by antivirus software, so turn off email scanning
>>> > to
>>> > prevent destruction of your message store.
>>> >
>>> > From a post by Frank Saunders:
>>> >
>>> > From
>>> >
>> http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nav.nsf/df0a595864594c86852567ac0063608c/65434372961d321d8825687f000003f8?OpenDocument&src=tr&Highlight=0,email,protection
>>> >
>>> > Disabling email protection does not leave you vulnerable to viruses
>>> > and
>>> > malicious software in email. It is a separate layer of protection in
>>> > addition to Auto-Protect. Auto-Protect scans any incoming files,
>> including
>>> > email, as they are saved to your hard drive. As long as you keep your
>>> > virus
>>> > definitions up to date with LiveUpdate, and keep Auto-Protect enabled
>> and
>>> > set to scan files as they are created or downloaded, your system is
>> fully
>>> > protected.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > 4. Recovering lost messages.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > The most significant contributors to lost messages are described in
>> points
>>> > 2
>>> > and 3 above. Turn these options off to prevent message store
>> corruption.
>>> >
>>> > If you do lose your messages, you can try using my DBXtract program to
>>> > attempt to recover the lost messages. Note that dbx files are hidden
>>> > in
>>> > Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
>>> > http://www.oehelp.com/DBXtract/
>>> >
>>> > Alternatively one can also use DBXpress, which is faster and more
>> accurate
>>> > than DBXtract,
>>> > and it also has the capability of reading directly from the disk and
>>> > bypassing the file system.
>>> > http://www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/
>>> >
>>> > If you have upgraded your version of IE and OE or your OS version, and
>> all
>>> > your messages are lost, then see this article (note that the technique
>> in
>>> > the article does not only apply to the issue addressed in the article
>>> > title):
>>> >
>>> > OLEXP: Mail Folders, Address Book, and E-mail Messages Are Missing
>>> > After
>>> > You
>>> > Upgrade to Microsoft Windows XP
>>> > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;313055
>>> >
>>> > If File | Import | Messages does not work, ignore the error message,
>> which
>>> > is erroneous in itself, and try one of the following techniques to get
>>> > your
>>> > messages back:
>>> > a. Right click on each dbx file or a selection of them and go to
>>> > Properties
>>> > and clear the read only attribute of the files. Then try File |
>>> > Import
>> |
>>> > Messages again.
>>> > b. Import the dbx files individually. See the last paragraph on this
>>> > page
>>> > for how to do that:
>>> > http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx
>>> > c. As a last resort use DBXtract or DBXpress
>>> > http://www.oehelp.com/DBXtract/ or http://www.oehelp.com/DBXpress/
>>> >
>>> > See also: http://www.insideoe.com/problems/bugs.htm#mailgone
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > 5. How does one reinstall IE and OE?
>>> >
>>> > This article seems to work for other OSs than just XP:
>>> >
>>> > How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express
>>> > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q318378
>>> >
>>> > See point 11 below first.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > 6. How does one backup and restore or transfer OE messages and
>> settings:
>>> >
>>> > See: http://www.insideoe.com/backup/index.htm
>>> > http://www.oehelp.com/backup.aspx
>>> >
>>> > Note that there is also a link in this article to MVP David Guess's
>>> > free
>>> > OEBackup programs (www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/)
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > 7. Links in email don't work:
>>> >
>>> > see the links on this page
>>> >
>>> > http://www.oehelp.com/
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > 8. Outlook Express is slow.
>>> >
>>> > See the various performance issues and how to address them on this
>>> > page:
>>> >
>>> > http://www.insideoe.com/problems/performance.htm
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > 9. Outlook Express won't start.
>>> >
>>> > This is usually due to a conflict between what is recorded in the
>> registry
>>> > and what is in the message store. Often, one can fix this problem by
>>> > deleting folders.dbx. If that doesn't work, then try moving all the
>>> > dbx
>>> > files to another directory and see if that fixes it. Alternatively,
>>> > see
>>> > these articles and also point 4 above:
>>> >
>>> > http://www.insideoe.com/problems/performance.htm#nostart
>>> >
>>> > http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q245/4/19.asp
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > 10. Address book information:
>>> >
>>> > see The Windows Address Book
>>> >
>>> > http://www.insideoe.com/files/wab.htm
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > 11. Installation issues:
>>> >
>>> > Most of the problems with a faulty installation are due to other
>> programs
>>> > running during the install and interfering with the updating of
>> necessary
>>> > files. Antivirus software is notorious for this. To minimize such
>>> > interference, in Win98, WinMe, and WinXP go to Start | Run and type
>>> > msconfig
>>> > and disable all startup items and non Microsoft services. Then
>>> > reboot.
>>> > Then proceed with the installation. Startup items can then be
>> re-enabled.
>>> >
>>> > For additional info see:
>>> >
>>> > Win98:
>>> >
>> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;281965&Product=w98
>>> > WinXP:
>>> >
>> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310560&Product=winxp
>>> >
>>> > Since Win2000 does not have msconfig, one has to manually go to this
>>> > registry key:
>>> >
>>> > HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
>>> >
>>> > You can export this key and then delete all values under it. Then
>> disable
>>> > all antivirus services under Computer Management | Services and then
>>> > reboot.
>>> > Then install. After the installation you can import the key back into
>> the
>>> > registry to restore the values and re-enable the services.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > 12. Screening unwanted email and Spam
>>> >
>>> > Everybody gets unwanted email these days. Much of this email is
>>> > either
>>> > trying to sell you something you probably don't want or else is trying
>> to
>>> > infect you with a virus via an email attachment. What can you do?
>>> >
>>> > a. Never open an attachment. First save an attachment to disk and
>>> > then
>>> > scan it with your antivirus software to ensure it is not infected
>>> > (make
>>> > sure
>>> > your antivirus software definitions are up to date). If the
>>> > attachment
>> is
>>> > from someone you don't know, don't even bother opening it. Its not
>> worth
>>> > it. See also point 1 above.
>>> >
>>> > b. Screen email. Disable the Preview Pane (you can put a button on
>>> > the
>>> > toolbar to turn this on and off). Then go to View | Columns and
>>> > enable
>>> > most
>>> > of the headers. That way you can scan the headers and pick out the
>>> > various
>>> > obvious unwanted mail. Once you find messages that you don't want to
>>> > open,
>>> > select the headers of those messages without opening the messages and
>>> > perform a Shift-Delete to permanently remove them from the folder.
>>> > Once
>>> > they are removed, they will no longer be accessible, so don't do this
>>> > on
>>> > messages you might wish to keep.
>>> >
>>> > c. On messages left that might be worth opening, go to Tools |
>>> > Options
>> |
>>> > Read and check the box that says "read all messages in plain text"
>>> > (available only with IE6 SP1 or WinXP SP1 and higher). Reading in
>>> > plain
>>> > text prevents any returns to the spammer's server, so your email
>>> > address
>>> > cannot be validated in that fashion. In addition, it prevents
>>> > malformed
>>> > or
>>> > malicious HTML code from executing. If you find the message is worth
>>> > viewing as HTML, then you can go back to Tools | Options | Read and
>>> > uncheck
>>> > the option to read in plain text only and then reopen the message to
>> view
>>> > it
>>> > as HTML (note that you can put this button on a toolbar with OETool
>>> > (www.oehelp.com/OETool/). You can also use OETool to view the message
>>> > details without having to open the message. You can also use the
>> "Compact
>>> > Current Folder" button after deleting to shrink the file size.
>>> >
>>> > d. If you get unwanted email repeatedly from the same source, you can
>> set
>>> > up message rules to block out some of these messages. See the help
>>> > file
>>> > in
>>> > OE and also
>>> >
>>> > http://www.insideoe.com/tips/rules.htm
>>> >
>>> > and
>>> >
>>> > http://www.mindspring.com/~oe_oh/message_rules.htm.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > e. If you find a message that is spam and that offends you or is
>>> > deceptive,
>>> > go to Message | Forward as attachment and send it to uce@ftc.gov .
>>> >
>>> > The US Federal Trade Comission is launching a major crackdown on
>> deceptive
>>> > and offensive spam. Visit their site at www.ftc.gov/spam for more
>>> > info.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > 13. Messages appear blank
>>> >
>>> > From a post by Frank Saunders:
>>> >
>>> > Several possible causes and therefor several possible fixes:
>>> > 1. Go to Start | Run and type
>>> > regsvr32 inetcomm.dll
>>> > and press <Enter>
>>> > 2. Go to Tools | Options | Read | Fonts and set Western (ISO) as the
>>> > default.
>>> > 3. Clear Temporary Internet Files and the Temp folder.
>>> > 4. Turn off email scanning in your anti-virus.
>>> > 5. Someone else reported that re-installing OE using method 2 in this
>>> > article fixed the problem:
>>> > How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in
>>> > Windows
>>> > XP
>>> > http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=318378
>>> > Method 2 works on earlier versions of Windows.
>>> > 6. Eliminate any scumware.
>>> > See
>>> > Dealing with Unwanted Spyware, Parasites, Toolbars and Search Engines
>>> > http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
>>> > especially
>>> > http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm#Coolwebsearch
>>> >
>>> > Note that AdAware and SpyBot S & D will each catch some things the
>>> > other
>>> > won't. Also, each needs to be updated before every use, even when
>>> > just
>>> > downloaded. There's also a lot more to do than just those two
>>> > programs.
>>> > CWShredder is also available here:
>>> > http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/cwshredder.zip
>>> > **Post your HijackThis log to
>>> > http://forums.spywareinfo.com/ or the Spyware forum at
>>> > http://forum.aumha.org/ for expert analysis, not here.**
>>> > Alternative download pages for Ad-Aware, Spybot, HijackThis and
>> CWShredder
>>> > may be found on this page:
>>> > http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm.
>>> > If trying everything at that site does not fix the problem please post
>>> > back
>>> > in the same thread.
>>> >
>>> > 14. Issues with WinXP SP2.
>>> >
>>> > For general information on WinXP SP2 see:
>>> >
>>> > Windows XP Service Pack 2 Resources for IT Professionals
>>> >
>> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/winxpsp2.mspx
>>> >
>>> > For Internet Explorer changes with SP2 see:
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Changes to Functionality in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2: Part
>>> > 5:
>>> > Enhanced Browsing Security
>>> >
>> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2brows.mspx
>>> >
>>> > 883256 - How to manage Internet Explorer add-ons in Windows XP Service
>>> > Pack
>>> > 2
>>> > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;883256
>>> >
>>> > For Outlook Express changes with SP2 see:
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Use the New Security Improvements in Outlook Express
>>> > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/web/sp2_oe.mspx
>>> >
>>> > Changes to Functionality in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
>>> > Part 4: Email Handling
>>> >
>>> >
>> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2email.mspx
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Also:
>>> >
>>> > 835935 - Release notes for Windows XP Service Pack 2
>>> > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;835935
>>> >
>>> > Changes to Functionality in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2Part 1
>>> > Introduction
>>> >
>> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2chngs.mspx
>>> >
>>> > 842242 - Some programs seem to stop working after you install Windows
>>> > XP
>>> > Service Pack 2
>>> > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;842242
>>> >
>>> > 884130 - Programs that may behave differently in Windows XP Service
>>> > Pack
>> 2
>>> > http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=884130
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > I've left off some issues, but I believe these address the most
>>> > common problems that users encounter with OE. In addition, please
>>> > check
>>> > the
>>> > websites of the individual OE MVP's that address other issues not
>>> > listed
>>> > here:
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Tom Koch:
>>> > http://www.insideoe.com/
>>> >
>>> > David Guess
>>> > http://www.mindspring.com/~oe_oh/
>>> >
>>> > Jim Pickering
>>> > http://home.comcast.net/~jimpickering/
>>> >
>>> > Frank Saunders
>>> > http://www.fjsmjs.com/OE/index.htm
>>> >
>>> > and my site at http://www.oehelp.com
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > If you don't find your problem addressed, then feel free to post a
>>> > question
>>> > in these newsgroups and we will be more than happy to respond and
>> attempt
>>> > to
>>> > help. Just go to Tools | Accounts | Add | News and add
>>> > msnews.microsoft.com
>>> > as a newsserver and then you can address your question to the
>> appropriate
>>> > newsgroup.
>>> >
>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>
>