How a Google
Search Instantly Translates a
Cryptic Error Message Into Free Tech Support
By Joshua Feinberg
Did you ever get one of those nasty error messages when
installing or upgrading your software and not know where to turn? Should you contact your
PC vendor? Software vendor? Or post your problem to a tech support newsgroup?
Any of these could take a considerable amount of time to
resolve. And as with all things in small businesses, saving time is at least as important
as saving money.
While configuring my e-mail program, Microsoft Outlook
2000, to work with my contact management database, Interact ACT! 2000, I got a rather
cryptic error message.
Interact ACT 2000! told me that I needed to
"upgrade" Microsoft Outlook, because I was supposedly running Microsoft Outlook
97, which is not compatible with Interact ACT! 2000.
I was perplexed. I use Microsoft Outlook 2000, not
Microsoft Outlook 97. So where do I turn? Do I contact Microsoft or post a question on one
of their Microsoft Outlook newsgroups? (Option A) Or should I contact Interact ACT!
Service and Support? (Option B)
I actually first tried Option C: none of the above. I
launched my Web browser and visited Google (http://www.google.com).
I typed the full error message, "The installed version
of Outlook is not supported. Please upgrade it to Outlook 98 or newer," in the Google
Search box. Low and behold, Google responded to me with ten matches on the first page. I
selected the first link and found the answer to my question. I needed to disable my
Symantec Norton AntiVirus Script Blocking, as Script Blocking must be disabled in order
for Interact ACT! 2000 to access Microsoft Outlook's e-mail, address book or activities.
A simple solution in less than five minutes!
Try this quick, easy and free solution the next time you
run into one of those nasty cryptic error messages.
Copyright (C) 2002, KISTech Communications Corporation,
Used by Permission
Joshua Feinberg is an internationally
recognized small business technology expert, consultant, columnist, author, keynote
speaker, and trainer. He is a published Microsoft Press author, as well as the creator of
and two-year veteran writer of the Microsoft Direct Access "VAPVoice: Notes From the
Field".
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