New Windows 10 Computer Build

In addition to the Linux computer I’m building, I also ordered another whole set of parts to replace my current main workstation. My current main rig runs Windows 8.1 (which I truly hate (but Classic Shell makes it tolerable)), and I’m ready to make the jump to Windows 10. My Windows 8 install has some odd issues that show up once in awhile, so I will not upgrade it. It must be a fresh install. And since I don’t want to wipe my current machine without a fully functional Windows 10 machine, a new build is in order.

Below is the parts list that has been ordered. Should be a very decent machine for the total cost.

ComponentPart NameCost
CaseRosewill Micro-ATX Mini Tower LINE-M Black$47.22
Power SupplyThermaltake TR2 430$35.99
MotherboardGigabyte GA-B150M-DS3H$69.99
CPUIntel Core i3-6100 BX80662I36100$115.79
RAMKingston HyperX FURY Black 8GB Kit$37.99 x 2
Storage - SSDSamsung 850 PRO 512GB SSD$207.92
Storage - HDDWD Black 2TB Performance Desktop Hard Disk Drive$122.99
Optical DriveAsus 24x DVD-RW DRW-24B1ST$22.94
Video CardEVGA GeForce GT 740 2GB 02G-P4-3747-KR$91.99
OSWindows 10 Professional$0.00 *
Total Cost$790.81

I really, really wanted to go with the Core i7, but that makes for a huge jump in cost, even the Core i5 was more than I add right now. Also I thought about going with a Blu-Ray drive, but settled on a standard, inexpensice DVD-RW drive. I may make these upgrade down the line at some point.

* Note: I have no cost associated with the Windows 10 Professional as I have licenses available to me as a Microsoft Partner with an active Action Pack subscription.

Microsoft Outlook has stopped working

Here we are a day after Microsoft updates were released and I start getting phone calls of Outlook crashing for some users. I’ve seen it on both Outlook 2013 and 2016.

I don’t have full details yet, but for now the quick fix is to uninstall hotfix KB3097877 and reboot.

From what I’ve read, it seems to only affect those who have the reading pane enabled. Hopefully MS will issues an update for this update soon!

EDIT: This was a short lived issue. Microsoft has released an updated patch under the same number that does not have the issues.

 

Outlook 2011 on Mac create a new profile

I have a client the bought a new laptop and went with an Apple Mac Book Pro instead of sticking with Windows. He also had Office 2011 installed on it. Office 2011 on Mac no longer includes Entourage, but instead has introduced Outlook. The client initially configured email, but was having an issue with it pulling mail. That’s where I was called in to help. Now in Windows, I will normally create a new profile and configure it myself to make sure all the settings are correct. However, I could not find anywhere to create a new profile on the Mac. After some research, here’s what I found out.

The functionality I was looking for does indeed exist on the Mac, it’s just not called the same thing or located anywhere similar to that of a Windows PC. Outlook on Mac uses Identities. You simply need to create a new Identity. After a bit of googling, I found this article, which gave me the information I was looking for. I found that the location for the Microsoft Database Utility was just a bit different that listed in that post.

Simply put, to create a new Identity, you use an app called Microsoft Database Utility. That app was located here for me: Finder > Applications > Microsoft Office 2011 > Office > Microsoft Database Utility.

Location of the Microsoft Database Utility

Just click the plus in the lower left, name the new identity, and then you can set it as the default by pressing the gear in the lower left of the box. Now when you open Outlook 2011 it will open using the new profile.

Request a Microsoft hotfix without having to call Microsoft

It’s true, Microsoft now has a form you can fill out to have a hotfix emailed to you. Sounds great, doesn’t it?!? In theory yes, and that was certainly how I felt when I first heard about it. But in reality it may be a useless service, at least for me or other time-based consultants.

Today, I’d figured I test it out to see how well it works, if at all. And to some mild surprise, I’m considering it pointless. It’s currently 12:13pm and I filled out the form around 11:00am and I still do not have any hotfixes in my inbox. The real concerning part was what it said on the screen after I submitted the form.

Your request was successfully submitted to Microsoft. A Microsoft Professional will respond to you via e-mail within 8 business hours.

Potentially 8 hours?? That is ludicrous! I will update this entry when I actually get the hotfix. But keep this in mind if you think it will save you some time.

If you’ve used this, please share your results.

Update: I finally got the hotfix at 2:25p.m. Took 3 1/2 hours to arrive. Looks like I’ll still be calling when I need one.

Vista Business Upgrade?? That can’t be right!

We just received our January Action Pack shipment and as I went through the contents, I found the Vista dvd, but it’s listed as Microsoft Windows Vista Upgrade Business. Huh? An upgrade? That doesn’t seem right, plus I thought I read that Vista upgrade disks will not do full installs(I haven’t confirmed this though). Well, I’m off to scour the net looking for more info on this.

Vista Upgrade - Action Pack

Do I have Downgrade Rights for my software that comes in Action Pack?

Interesting….

Microsoft Small Business Community Blog : Do I have Downgrade Rights for my software that comes in Action Pack?

This is a question that has been floating around a few of the online groups lately, so I thought I would post the answer here for you. This comes from the Microsoft Action Pack Team:

“While MAPS does not include downgrade rights, a partner can continue to use a previous version of a product through the remainder of their subscription year.

The intention of the Action Pack program is to provide the latest software technology to the partners, thus once a product is revised the previous version will no longer available.”

So for all of you that received the Windows XP Professional licenses in your Action Pack, you still have the rights to use them throughout the term of your annual subscription. Remember that Action Pack is a subscription and you will need to renew that subscription annually. When your annual subscription ends, you no longer have the rights to run the software that you received in the expired kit. To continue to receive the software benefits included in Action Pack, you will need to renew your subscription for another year. When you do renew your subscription, you will be renewing for the current software that is included in the Action Pack (which no longer includes the previous Windows Desktop Operating Systems). At that point, you will no longer have licensing rights to Windows XP through your Action Pack subscription.

Thank you and have a wonderful day,

Eric Ligman
Microsoft US Senior Manager
Small Business Community Engagement
This posting is provided “AS IS” with no warranties, and confers no rights