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Windows 8.1

How to fix ‘Outlook must be online or connected to complete this action’ errors

 

Dave’s Computer Repair Blog – Fixing ‘Outlook must be online or connected to complete this action’ errors.

Microsoft Outlook is a great email application that works pretty well once you have it set up and running. However, it being Microsoft, Outlook also has its fair share of problems. Whether you’re running it as an installed version or within Office 365, there are quite a few errors you can come up against.

One of which is the ‘Outlook must be online or connected to complete this action’ error. Fortunately, it is also one of the easiest to troubleshoot and fix. The error syntax tells us exactly what is wrong, Outlook cannot contact the Exchange server. That is where our troubleshooting begins.

Here are some basic steps you can take to overcome this error. I’ll assume your internet is working correctly and it is only Outlook that cannot connect. Try each step and retest Outlook. Only move on to the next step if the error still appears.

  1. Reboot your computer. The most basic troubleshooting step but also the most effective.
  2. Check Work Offline isn’t enabled by clicking the Send/Receive tab and checking for a red X in the Work Offline box.
  3. Log into Outlook Web Access using your browser. If you can login fine, the issue is with Exchange or Outlook, not with your credentials.
  4. Download and run the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant for Office 365 if you use Office 365.
  5. Create a new profile through Mail in Control Panel. Don’t delete your old one!
  6. Check account settings. Navigate to File, Account Settings in Outlook, Change and then Advanced Settings. Verify all settings are correct and click Test Account Settings.
  7. Add or remove email accounts from Outlook but don’t delete the .ost file. You can add them again once testing is complete.

One of those methods is sure to address the ‘Outlook must be online or connected to complete this action’ error. If it doesn’t or you need extra assistance, we can help.

Thank you for reading Dave’s Computer Repair Blog, if you ever need computer repair or data recovery assistance give us a call or fill out the contact form on the bottom right of the website.

How to fix Windows 10 ‘Inaccessible Boot Device’ errors

your pc ran into a problem and needs to restart - How to fix Windows 10 ‘Inaccessible Boot Device’ errors

If you see the Inaccessible Boot Device error when booting your computer, it means Windows cannot find your drive or the file that tells Windows where to find critical resources it needs to load. While it may seem like a serious problem to be faced with, it can actually be very straightforward to fix.

The issue is usually one of three things. Windows cannot find the hard drive, Windows cannot find the partition it is loaded onto or it cannot find the index that tells it where to find boot files. The first issue is a hardware issue and the other two are software. Let’s deal with software first.

Fix Windows 10 ‘Inaccessible Boot Device’ errors

As Windows cannot tell us exactly what’s wrong, we need to perform a series of tests to find out what is causing the error.

  1. Start your computer with your Windows 10 installation media inserted and boot from it.
  2. Select Troubleshoot instead of Install in the bottom left of the new screen.
  3. Select Advanced Options and Safe Mode. Press F5 for Safe Mode with Command Prompt and let Windows load.
  4. Type ‘Chkdsk /f /r’ into the CMD window that is open on the desktop. Let the process complete.

If Checkdisk finds any drive errors it will automatically repair them. Reboot your computer and retest if it makes any changes. Otherwise, move on.

  1. Load into Safe Mode once more, only this time, select Safe Mode with Networking.
  2. Right click the Windows Start Button and select Device Manager.
  3. Click IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers, right click the hardware listed below it and select Update Driver Software.
  4. Select Automatic and let Windows download and install the latest driver for your hard drive. If automatic download doesn’t work, navigate to your motherboard manufacturer’s website and update your motherboard software manually.
  5. Reboot and retest.

Finally, if none of those methods work, let’s check hardware. Perform a reboot and retest after each step.

  1. Boot into your system BIOS by hitting Delete or Backspace when you first turn your PC on. The key you need differs depending on motherboard manufacturer but is usually displayed on screen.
  2. Check that your hard drive is set up correctly. It should be set as AHCI for an SSD or IDE for an HDD.
  3. Change the cable connecting your boot drive to your motherboard for one you know works.
  4. Change to a different connector on the motherboard for one you know works.
  5. Try a different hard drive in place of your boot drive to see if your BIOS picks it up.

If none of the software fixes work, the hardware checks will tell you something. If you change the cable and your computer boots, you know it was a faulty cable. The same for plugging in your boot drive to a different slot on your motherboard and trying a different hard drive.

If none of these work or you are uncomfortable trying them, contact us here at Dave’s Computers. We’ll take care of everything for you!

Computer Help: Why Do a Windows 8 Clean Install?

If you plan on upgrading to Windows 8, then you can just go straight from the operating system you have to this new one. However, some people prefer to do a clean install, which means removing the old operating system and essentially starting from scratch. This is technical, by computer help professionals, considered the best way to add Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 to the computer.

Computer Help: Why should you consider a clean install?

Essentially, by doing this, you are getting rid of everything and that lets you start new as if your computer has never been used before. Many computer support professionals prefer this because it ensures nothing from the older Windows version will get in the way of the new operating system working properly.

Think about it like this. Have you ever noticed when you want to install a new version of software, that if any part of the old version is on the computer, it can cause problems? Often, old files and old bits of information will make things difficult. The only way to get the machine working again is to completely remove all of that old information. That’s why a Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 clean install can be such a good choice.

If you make the decision to attempt this type of install without the help of a computer repair service, then there are a few things that you need to know in advance.

  • Follow a tutorial. This process will take a lot of steps and you need to ensure you know exactly what you are doing. Otherwise, you may find yourself calling computer help because you did something wrong and now your computer will not work at all.
  • Make sure you back up everything you want to keep. When you go through this process, you are going to lose everything associated with the operating system. Do not proceed without ensuring you have saved everything that you could possibly want. If you do, then it is very unlikely that any of your data could be recovered.
  • Always disconnect any extra hardware. When you do a clean install, having any of the extra hardware connected could cause problems with your computer as well as with the hardware itself. So, if you have external hard drives, printers, scanners, or anything of the like, disconnect them before you begin the process.

No, you don’t have to do a clean install to add Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 to your machine, but there are plenty of reasons why you should consider doing this. It will ensure your computer works better. You don’t necessarily have to get computer help to do the install either, but if you run into problems, then contacting a professional would be a very good idea.

Whenever you run into computer issues, be sure to contact Dave’s Computers. We offer a variety of different remote computer support services to resolve many of the problems you may have with your machine.

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How to Do a System Restore

clock 407101 640 300x199 - How to Do a System RestoreLet’s say you install a new piece of software and then your computer starts acting up. You try to uninstall the software but something goes wrong. You have a problem and you aren’t sure what to do about it. Before you contact computer help professionals, keep in mind that there is a solution to your issue, and it is one you can manage right at home. All you need to do is know how to use system restore. This is a utility built right into your Windows operating system designed specifically to handle these types of issues, which is a convenient method of computer help for business owners.

Essentially, system restore allows you to roll your whole computer back to an earlier date before whatever went wrong. It will return files, settings, and other controls to the point in time that you choose. This can deal with many issues without you needing to contact a computer support service. So, how do you use system restore? We will discuss using the tool in Windows 8 or Windows 8.1.

System Restore for Windows 8 or Windows 8.1

Start by going to your control panel. To get to this, open the charm bar on the right side of your desktop and choose settings. Once the settings menu opens, you can choose control panel.

In control panel, you will be looking for one of two things: system and security or just system. If you find system and security, you will need to click on system in the next window. The way your icons are set up will affect what you see here. If you have trouble with this, then contact a computer repair service for help.

When you arrive at the system menu, you will need to choose system protection, which will appear as a link. When you do this, a new window will appear and you can choose system restore. Once you choose this option, you will see a system restore menu come up and you need to click next.

After you do that, then you will see a list of restore points categorized by date. You will need to choose a date that will go back before when your computer started causing you problems. After choosing a date, click next. You will be asked if you are sure youw ant to perform a system restore and you should click yes and then finish.

You will be asked again if you want to do this, and this time it will remind you that you cannot use or turn off your computer until the system restore is complete. Again, click yes. You will have to wait for your computer to do several things until the system restore is complete and your computer restarts.

This can resolve many of the problems you may run into with your computer. However, if you are still having issues, then you can get computer help from a professional computer help service, like www.DavesComputers.com. We can pinpoint the problem and then provide you with the computer help you need.

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Computer Support Tips: Bypass Windows 8 Start Screen

startscreen 300x199 - Computer Support Tips: Bypass Windows 8 Start ScreenWhen you upgrade to Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, you will notice some big differences. One of these differences is the introduction of apps. Apps allow you to do more with a computer and they almost have a mobile feel to them, like things you are used to on your smart phone or tablet. To get to those apps, you use a Start Screen, which is where your computer will automatically boot to. For some people, though, they would prefer to boot to the desktop as they are used to with older versions of Windows. If you are one of those people, then there is good news. If you upgrade to Windows 8.1 (free if you have Windows 8), then you can change where your computer boots, and you can do so all on your own without computer support.

You must have the Windows 8.1 upgrade, though, so the first thing you need to check is whether or not you already have it. If you only have Windows 8, then you can get the upgrade to 8.1 for free at the Windows store. This shouldn’t be too difficult, but if it is, then you can contact a computer help service. Otherwise, once you have Windows 8.1, here are the steps you need to take in order to change where your computer boots.

Computer Support: How to Bypass Windows 8 Start Screen

First, you need to go to your control panel. Open the charm bar on the right side of the screen by swiping in from the right toward the middle of the computer screen. When you get the charm bar open, click on settings and then choose control panel.

In the control panel, look for either appearance and personalization or taskbar and navigation. If you get the second of those first, then you can skip the next step. If you see appearance and personalization, then click on taskbar and navigation next.

You will see some tabs at the top of the window that opens. Choose the tab labeled navigation. Then, look for the check box that says “When I sign in or close all the apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of start.” Make sure you check that checkbox. If you cannot get to this screen, then you may need to contact a computer repair service.

Once you check the checkbox, then click ok at the bottom of the window. From now on, your computer should automatically go to the desktop every time you log in. You can always change this and you can still access your start screen with the Windows icon on your keyboard. If you need to reverse this choice and you cannot figure out how, then contact a computer support service for advice.

If you need help going through this process or you need any type of computer support, then DavesComputers.com is here for you. Contact us with any of your computer support problems in person or remotely.

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