Techie type question

[starrkers]

We have home network and a bunch of pooters: two desktops running XP Pro, and two laptops, the one I use runs ME, hubby's has some form of Vista.
Question: Is there anyway I can view email that comes into my desktop from the laptop, other than downloading to the laptop? Email program is Outlook Express (god knows what generation).

 

[Zeb_Carter]

We have home network and a bunch of pooters: two desktops running XP Pro, and two laptops, the one I use runs ME, hubby's has some form of Vista.
Question: Is there anyway I can view email that comes into my desktop from the laptop, other than downloading to the laptop? Email program is Outlook Express (god knows what generation).

Not really, unless you just use webmail (mail program that is on the web site that is you mail server) to look at the mail.

Although there maybe a way by pointing outlook to the fill on the desktop...if you can do that I don't know how. *shrug*

 

[gauchecritic]

There should be a share folder option somewhere but it's been a long time since I did anything about Lan.

I'm pretty sure there's also a way of looking at your whole desktop from another PC but I've never been there either I just use yahoo mail.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Wait...you should be able to RDP to the desktop then run outlook from there.

You will probably need to copy the RDP (remote desktop program) from the machine with XP. Then you will need to set up the desktop to able it to accept remote connections (named connections).

In help on the XP machine type in RDP or remote desktop...it should take you step by step through the process.

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

Your best bet is using a web-mail reader. You can access it from whichever computer, its slightly slower but safer and less of a space hog on your hard drive.

 

[fifty5]

We have home network and a bunch of pooters: two desktops running XP Pro, and two laptops, the one I use runs ME, hubby's has some form of Vista.
Question: Is there anyway I can view email that comes into my desktop from the laptop, other than downloading to the laptop? Email program is Outlook Express (god knows what generation).

As soon as you get past a couple or three machines, it gets simpler to have a Server on your network. Once you designate one machine as a server, you can run email server software on it (which will collect and store email from your ISP), then connect your workstations to that using IMAP instead of connecting to your ISP using POP. Unfortunately, I only just know how I do that under Linux, but it must be possible under 'Doze, or Big Bill would be totally laughed out of the Server market. However, it might cost money - you may need the Server version of some version of 'Doze to get the email server software - you may need to buy the email server program - finally, you may need to buy a machine to run it on (but see below).

If the latter is the case, if you can find anyone local who knows Linux, get them to set it up for you. The software is virtually all free - including updates - and it doesn't need to be a beast: the server, for a small home network, will be doing sod all that's faster than the 100 MHz network, while modern CPU speeds are measured in GHz.

But put your big disks into the server, so you can get at all your files, no matter which machine you are actually using to process them. Linux comes with RAID capability, so put two in and you can relax about disk failures - if one goes down, just unplug it and plug in a new one and all your data gets copied across automatically.

Linux can also be very, very small. The version that runs on my firewall fits onto a single floppy disk!

Linux also has "Samba" - software that follows the 'Doze networking protocol, so your 'Doze work stations can access it perfectly.

So find a local Linux guru (on line will probably do - because Linux also comes with remote access as standard, so they can 'mend' your machine without having to be physically there) then keep your eyes out for some friend or neighbour who is upgrading. Their old kit will make a great server for you. And a second one will act as a hardware firewall/router - mine is an incredibly ancient 486 - it only has to be fast enough to cope with modem speeds - single figure MHz...

If you are brave, it is possible to cope on your own; modern Linux distributions are actually easier, faster and more flexible to install than Windows. And it has brill things like the 'apropos' command. Open a text terminal and type, say, 'apropos raid' and all the software available on your Linux box relevant to RAID will be listed - almost certainly including md and mdadm. Then type 'man md' or 'man mdadm' and you'll be shown the manuals for the Multiple Device - aka RAID - driver and the Multiple Device ADMin program respectively.

Similarly, type 'apropos "word processor"' or 'apropos office' and you'll get similar lists - likely Abiword for the former and OpenOffice for the latter. (And both are free! If you do start down this track, you must be prepared to find you want Linux on your workstations too, free is habit forming!)

The vast majority of Linux software runs from the command line, but the vast majority also has GUI front-ends that run under X-Windows (the Unix window GUI system), so you can mostly work that way, but the command line is almost always more powerful; the GUI usually only gives a way to avoid using the command line, it doesn't actually do anything itself - and it maybe doesn't support the unusual things you sooner or later find you want.

Linux isn't perfect. Most of it is written by volunteers, who just want the thrill of seeing their name in the credits, so if they can't be arsed to write proper documentation, then until some other volunteer decides to do it, then it won't exist. Similarly, if you have some rare bit of hardware (or something that's tailored specifically for 'Doze), there may not have been a volunteer who has written a driver. Having said that, the foundation of the PC hardware industry is compatibility - and if the hardware follows standards, then there will (soon if not already) be Linux drivers - and they will almost always be free. Enlightened hardware manufacturers produce their own Linux drivers (though you often have to download them off the Web - the CD often only has the 'Doze drivers). The big difference is that Linux folk want to help other Linux folk - for the thrill of helping others. Even those that are paid are usually paid by the hour, not at capitalistic 'exploit the market' rates. Unlike the 'Doze world, the Linux community very rarely want to keep stuff secret so they can make a fast buck.

Escaping from M$ isn't as easy as handing over hundreds or thousands of bucks (if you have them to hand over), but you never feel that you are being ripped off. You will need to learn some new words, because Linux folk aren't patronising - they don't assume you are stupid enough to need help from a paper clip! But if you ask, they usually are prepared to take time out to explain and help a newbie - rather like Lit... It's like being used to being in a monoxide laden town, then getting out into the country; there are still problems, but they feel clean and refreshing instead of choking you!


Oops - you pushed one of my buttons...


What is risk-free is to google for LUG +linux - LUGs are Linux User Groups - if there's one near you, you have access to free expertise.

 

[Weird Harold]

We have home network and a bunch of pooters: two desktops running XP Pro, and two laptops, the one I use runs ME, hubby's has some form of Vista.
Question: Is there anyway I can view email that comes into my desktop from the laptop, other than downloading to the laptop? Email program is Outlook Express (god knows what generation).

Tested withOUtlookExpress 5.5 -- it should work with any version.

Open outlook express.

Go to Tools/Options/maintenance tab.

Click Store Folder button and change Folder.

Enter the folder on the desktop that contains the Outlook Express Database files for that machine.

When asked if you want to use the databse files detected or deletel them, make sure you answert you want to use them (different versions may ask the questionslightly differently so read the prompt carefully.)

Close Outlook and reopen it.

You should be using the same database as the desktop at that point.

You may have to make sure that OE is closed on the desktop -- OE5.5 doesn't like to have two copies of OE open at the same time, but newer versions might be OK with a shared database.

Alternatively, you can try:

Create a new folder in Outlook express named "copies."

Copy the Inbox.dbx file from the desktop's outlook store folder to that laptop's store folder as copies.dbx.

Make sure you wait until AFTER the copying is complete before opening the folder in OE but you should have every message from the Desktop's inbox in on your laptop and be able to reply either directly through the laptop to the mail server or by copying the outbox.dbx file from the laptop to the desktop (make sure the desktop has sent everything before overwriting the outbox database.)

Either method will work as long as both machines are running the same version of outlook express so the DBX file formats are the same.

I can't find anything in the OE5.5 help file about two copies sharing the same database files, but, again, newer versions might be more forgiving about sharing.

 

[starrkers]

Thanks everyone. I shall look into trying some of this when I'm in a more equable mood. I'm still suffering the aftereffects of technology frustration after having to rebuild my Photobucket albums.
Harold, yours sounds easiest (asuimng I have the same OE on each machine, and I bet I haven't!)
Fifty5 I would love to go your route, but hubby is the household computer "expert" and is still tied to Bill Gates' apron strings. he won't even use Firefox (I do).

 

[fifty5]

Fifty5 I would love to go your route, but hubby is the household computer "expert" and is still tied to Bill Gates' apron strings. he won't even use Firefox (I do).

Wait till the next time M$ 'updates' Office - then show him that OpenOffice handles both the new and the old versions (give them a couple of months so it does) - and then explain that OO is free, while upgrading M$ Office will cost lots...

Clearly he needs to be weaned. Do it gently and he won't mind...

 

[Weird Harold]

Thanks everyone. I shall look into trying some of this when I'm in a more equable mood. I'm still suffering the aftereffects of technology frustration after having to rebuild my Photobucket albums.
Harold, yours sounds easiest (asuimng I have the same OE on each machine, and I bet I haven't!)
Fifty5 I would love to go your route, but hubby is the household computer "expert" and is still tied to Bill Gates' apron strings. he won't even use Firefox (I do).

If you can't match up the versions, the newer version should be able to import messages from the older version's databases or export messages to the older versions format -- see help menus under "Import" and "Export."

Unfortunately, Outlook and Outlook Express don't use compatible database formats, so you'll have to be wary of that problem, too.

OE5.5 can't set up a message rule to export all incoming messages or dave them in EML format (which any e-mail client can read) but that would be the easiest solution -- just save every incoming message in .EML in folder accessible to the entire network and open them individually by double-clicking them.

 

[starrkers]

I've already encountered the dramas with Outlook vs Outlook Express.



ETA: Well I'll be a screwed goose! Will wonders never cease! I have OE 5.5 on the old laptop!

 

[Weird Harold]

I've already encountered the dramas with Outlook vs Outlook Express.



ETA: Well I'll be a screwed goose! Will wonders never cease! I have OE 5.5 on the old laptop!

You'll probably want to upgrade to match the desktop's version if it will run on the laptop. (I quit upgrading at 5.5 because 6.0 and up won't run on Win 98.

 

[starrkers]

Hmm, we'll see. Not sure what will run on ME, beyond not bloody much!