Inbox

By DON McALLISTER

Welcome to InBox, where we attempt to answer your internet questions.

David downloaded the latest Microsoft patches for Office 2000. But now Outlook and Word refuse to run, flashing on and off the screen in the blink of an eye.

The update has spotted a known bogus registration code and stopped the product from operating, David. Usually pirated install code starts with "GC6J3". See this Microsoft page on the subject. If your original registration code (the string of numbers on the back of your Office CD) is legitimate, a call to Microsoft may resolve the issue. Or, maybe you were ripped off by merchants peddling pirated Microsoft software? See Microsoft's piracy page or phone 0800 PIRACY (0800 747-229).

Some of Ron's email seems inexplicably to bypass his Inbox folder, planting itself in the Deleted Items folder.

Check the Outlook Express filters and blocked senders list, Ron. Components of those emails are triggering components in the filters. To check each filter's wording, go to Outlook Express/Tools/Message Rules/Mail. Highlight each rule, then press Modify. Look for the offending component. To check the blocked senders list, go to Outlook Express/Tools/Message Rules/Blocked Senders List. Change addresses on the list that shouldn't be there.

Some kind soul changed Nick's internet provider dialup password. Unfortunately, he now doesn't know the password.

Call your internet provider, Nick. It will verify your identity and change the password for you.

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