Error 2293 when sending email from Microsoft Access - Can't sent this email message.

Yesterday I attended a client who uses a system I wrote for them using Microsoft Access. The problem is when they click on a button to create an email (this uses SendObject) nothing happened. My code catches the error but doesn't let the user know what happened. Could have coded that better, but it meant I put together a quite test program so I could see the error message.

A search through the internet for the Error 2293 message gave lots of responses but nothing that could help. Luckily a second computer didn't have the problem so I went to send my test program to the second computer. I right clicked on the file and selected Send To, Mail recipient and was surprised to find this feature also didn't work.

That actually was a good thing as it showed the problem was a system problem and not a Microsoft Access problem. Again a search of the internet revealed many responses but nothing that could help.

I tested an email link in Excel and it worked. So clicking on a link would created an email for me. That meant it had to be something not related to email URL. When I checked the Send To feature that called MAPI. Most likely this was installed using Microsoft Office.

I decided to run a repair for Microsoft Office 2010, the version installed on the computer. Microsoft Access 2016 is installed on the computer but Microsoft Office contains Outlook and this is I suspect what would install MAPI.

It turned out I was right and the repair fixed the problem. The client could now send emails using the buttons in Microsoft Access that used SendObject.

What caused the problem I don't know. It may be possible installing Microsoft Access 2016 after Microsoft Office 2010 caused an issue as the client suggested the email feature hadn't worked for some time and possibly since the change to the full version of Microsoft Access 2016. Previously the computer only had Microsoft Access 2010 runtime installed, but was upgraded as the new computer had Microsoft Office 2016 and Microsoft Access 2016. This may have been the case because once Microsoft Office 2010 was repaired the test program I had written no longer worked and there was a missing DLL.

Problem fixed and client happily using their Microsoft Access system they've now been using for over 20 years that started with Microsoft Access 1.0 and now runs under Microsoft Access 2016.

Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
IT support.

CPA Australia faked email contains malware attachment.

Today I thought I'd remind everyone to never trust attachments even when they may be from businesses or organisations you know. I'm not a member of the CPA, but many people are. The following email arrived today.

Everything in the text of the email is OK. However scanning the attachment showed only 4 out of 59 of the anti-virus scan engines would pick up the attachment contained malware. None of the commonly used in Australia anti-virus programs detected the malware meaning, if most people in Australia opened this attachment it may infect their computer without warning.

Don't be tempted to open attachments even if you know the organisation sending the email. If you wish to check the attachment you can save the attachment to a computer (I'd suggest a secondary computer that can be wiped if necessary). Then type virus into https://www.advancedsearch.com.au/SearchAustralia/ which will take you direct to the site I use to check suspicious emails. Upload and check the file. If one or more of the 59 scanning engines detect malware then the attachment is nearly certainly malicious. It may be worth waiting half a day or so before checking the attachment. That means others may have already uploaded the file and the scanning engines updated with new signatures. After checking the file if it's malicious delete the file immediately after checking and also empty the deleted files. You don't want to inadvertently infect your computer later.

Even if the attachment is reported as clean, there's still a small chance it is malicious. Check with the send to ensure they actually sent you the attachment.

Yes it is a pain to take this level of precaution, but it's more of a pain to get an infected computer repaired. Even more if the computer is on a network and infects other computers as well.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
IT support.

Apple battery replacement iPhone 6 and later, price reduced until December 2018.

Apple has recently come under fire for reducing the performance of certain Apple iPhone models when the battery is ageing. The apparent reason is, as batteries age they can't handle the peak power requirements and if the power requirement was not reduced, it may cause the iPhone to unexpectedly shut down.

This technically really isn't a bad thing, but what hasn't been the best is Apple letting their customers know. Apple is now reacting by bringing out an update early this year which will provide better information on the battery status and also making an offer of reducing the battery upgrade price from $119 to $39 until December 2018. Obviously that's still a poor outcome for those who went and replaced their iPhone thinking their iPhone was now getting too old because it had become slow.

This does however mean there may be quite a few good iPhones sitting in drawers that for a $39 battery upgrade may again become useful devices.

Secondly, this is a great opportunity for anyone with an older iPhone 6 or above, who is finding their battery not lasting as long as it previous did, to get a low cost battery replacement. Keep in mind this offer lasts until December 2018, so you can get as much use out of your current battery and take advantage of the offer later in the year.

Overall the battery offer gives an $80 saving and peace-of-mind the replacement is being performed by Apple.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
IT support