SOLVED! SkyDrive - This item might not exist or is no longer available

My friend wants to share some Excel files to me, through Microsoft SkyDrive. The files are on list, but when click on them, this is the message shown:

This item might not exist or is no longer available

This item might have been deleted, expired, or you might not have permission to view it. Contact the owner of this item for more information.

SOLUTION: Save your Excel files to XLSX format and upload them again.


Similar problem likely happens to other older versions of Word files as well. In this case, my friend has saved the file in the old Excel format (XLS), which causes problems.

SOLVED! My Android Too Many Pattern Attempts, Locked!

Just got a call from a friend, his Android tablet is locked because of too many failed pattern attempts. I don't have his Google account information and he's forgotten his Google account information! Even his Google account name has been forgotten!

Last resort, wipe data and return to factory default. Follow these steps*:

*it works on his Vido Tablet, same set of buttons may work for you; principle the same.

1)      Turn OFF the tablet.

2)      Hold <Power><Vol+> until the tablet is ON.

3)      You will see a screen different. Now, press <Vol+> to see a menu

4)      Press <Vol-> to change to option “wipe data/factory reset”

5)      Press <Power> button to select

Now, your Android is wiped clean and returns to the factory default settings. All your personal data gone, ... well, it won't take you too long to re-setup everything...


For Alcatel Phones/Tablets
Long press “# key” and “power on key” at the same time in power off mode, then you will be asked “All data will be lost, continue?” After you select “Yes,” the sequence will be entered with reminder “Formatting flash, please wait.” The phone will auto switch on when reset finishes. Please do not manipulate the phone or remove the battery during this process.

NOTES: For OT-Mini (OT-708) specifically, due to the touch panel design, reset can be performed only by long pressing “upper side key” and “power on key” at the same time.

Reference: http://www.alcatelonetouch.com/global-en/support/faq/phone_reset.html

TIPS: How to Install Microsoft Apploc in Windows 7

Sometimes, you may want to run some older software on your Windows 7, which requires the use of Microsoft Application Locale tool (apploc). You will notice a normal installation seems hopelessly failed. Here's how you may install it.

STEPS:

1. Download apploc.msi from Microsoft's website
2. Press Windows Start, in "Search Programs and Files", type "cmd"
3. The command prompt tool "cmd.exe" shows on list, right click on it "Run as administrator"
4. Using this command prompt window, go to the folder where you've stored your apploc.msi.
5. Type "apploc.msi" to start the installation
6. You should be able to finish the installation wizard

SOLVED! Windows Live Mail or Outlook Cannot Connect to Hotmail Account, Keep Asking for a Password

If you're using HOTMAIL or OUTLOOK.COM, and recently you have started the 2-STEP Verification (i.e., you've asked Microsoft to send you a verification code to verify your mobile device or computer), the chance is that YOU NEED TO ENTER THE App Password generated by Microsoft instead of the password you set for yourself.

SOLUTION:

1. From your web browser, logon HOTMAIL / OUTLOOK.COM mail. You can successfully logon, because your password is correct.
2. Go to your Account, Overview, then Security Settings
3. Scroll down the page to find the section "App Passwords"
4. Click on the click "Create a new App Password"
5. Copy the App Password and paste it on your Email Client (like Windows Live Mail or Outlook) when it prompts for a password. IT SHOULD BE THE APPS PASSWORD, NOT THE PASSWORD YOU YOURSELF MADE.

Sorry, life is getting complicated!!

SOLVED! Thunderbird Portable Takes Extremely Long to Load or Cannot Load

A friend has a copy of Thunderbird Portable installed on his computer for checking emails. After a month's using, it's getting unstable and suddenly one day it stops loading. He called me for help and here're some findings, then a possible FIX for you..., besides an overview of my troubleshooting steps.

The first thing I check, Task Manager, I see one instance of "thunderbirdportable.exe", but two instances of "thunderbird.exe". Obviously, these are from previous freeze, and he double clicked on the Thunderbird icon again. Stopping all these tasks won't help.

Then, I used PROCMON.exe (from Microsoft) to monitor what the thunderbird.exe is actually doing, and it seems that it's doing nothing...or maybe waiting, or even it's hanged...

I copied the whole Thunderbird folder (because it's a portable version) to my PC and started it. It started perfectly fine! Well, this is something related to the "SYSTEM" of his computer, not just with the Thunderbird...

I started to suspect the way Thunderbird is working, TEMP FILES!!! I checked and found out that there're 4,000+ temporary files in the temporary folder "C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Temp", which is also the folder that Thunderbird is storing some temporary files*. Most of the temporary files in this folder reported 0KB in file size.

SOLUTION: Delete temporary files from the folder "C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Temp". Then, restart Thunderbird again. Or, reboot and start Thunderbird. (if you do not know how to End Task of all Thunderbird processes)

*Notes: When Thunderbird starts, a temporary folder is being created in the user's TEMP folder, you may identify this folder by looking for a file with name "splash.jpg" inside the folder.

SOLVED! Zipping Multiple Folders Into Separate Zip Files

A friend has a special need to compress many folders into separate zip files. Normally, in Windows Explorer, the output will be ONLY ONE zip file. However, the question is whether a simple solution is around.

Solutions:
There are software tools like WinRAR, which can do it. Even so, the default setting does not allow it and you need to check an option for that. Also, WinRAR is not really free.

After research for a while, here's a simple solution, which is FREE!

What you need is...

(1) Download and install a free copy of 7-zip - http://www.7-zip.org/

• I love it as an open source, free yet powerful zip tool

(2) Make a batch file with this command line:

for /d %%X in (*) do "c:\Program Files\7-Zip\7z.exe" a "%%X" "%%X\" -mx=5 –tzip

• it will do a Normal compress (-mx5) in TZIP format (-tzip), default file extension in .ZIP

(3) Put the batch file in the same folder with the folders you want to zip, execute it

For those who may be interested to know more, of course 7-zip's official website has excellent materials. Also, you may check these websites as well.

Reference:

http://www.dotnetperls.com/7-zip-examples

http://jamesit.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/7-zipping-multiple-folders-to-individual-ziparchive-files/

SOLVED! Microsoft Live Group Invitation Not Received

I've created a group in Microsoft SkyDrive, with a Group Calendar to share with my friends. In the past, I was able to send an email invitation to others. So users can check their mail, click on a button to join. Just the receivers will receive these invitation to join group in their Junk mail (this is unbelievable enough, Microsoft treated its own mails as "junk"!).

Recently, strange things happens, even in Junk box there's nothing found. The invitation to My Group is really sent, and if I try to send again, it told me that I'm still waiting for the user to reply...

After searching through so many settings at the user side, what I found is that Microsoft HAS CHANGED its way of handling invitations!

Solution: Ask the user to log in their Hotmail/Outlook account, go to People, Manage, View Invitations. There you go! REALLY, MICROSOFT IS UNBELIEVABLE!

Updated Solution:
Ask the user to log in their Hotmail/Outlook account, go to SkyDrive, Groups, View Group Invitation.