Microsoft Update KB840374

Day before yesterday I downloaded update #KB840374 and installed it. Upon reboot I found all my Earthlink e-mail from Sept 2003 missing. It seems all my e-mail for 2004 disappeared ... three seperate accounts. Fortunately I recently backed up my address books. I use Netscape 7.0 and Earthlink (do not use total access).

When I alerted friends two wrote back that they too had problems with this update but not the loss of e-mail.

What could be in an Update that would wipe my e-mail ...???

 

Hi summerdale,

I'm not at all sure that the security patch had anything to do with losing your mail. It is not unusual for a Windows XP user to find their mail missing after a shutdown and startup, for any reason.

Have you look in your mail account folder to see if the mail is on the HD? Look here: C:\Documents and Settings/user_name/Application Data/Mozilla/Profiles/profilename/xxxxxxxx.slt/Mail/mail.isp.net

If the mail is still on your HD, then check the Mail & Newsgroups Account | Server Settings. Look at the "Local directory" field, and check to see if that path points to the correct location of the mail account.

Let us know the results.

Ramona

 

Ramona,

Thanks for your reply but I think I have a real problem. First, I've done a search, and cannot find any Mozilla files/folders on my system. I have tried to follow your other posting on "Lost Mail" and your reply to me but unable to locate any of the files/folders you reference. Under Documents and Settings I have six folders, Administrator, All Users, Default User, Glen, Local Server and Network Server. They all point to "Microsoft" under Application Data. None point to Netscape. I do not use Outlook Express. I have Netscape 7.0 and 4.73 installed and it appears all data under 7.0 has been wiped, 4.73 has my old mail account which ceased being used when I installed 7.0 back in September 2003. The Local Folder points to the correct Programs/Netscape/Users/summerdale/mail folder but it contains the old 4.73 account data.

I think it's time to give up and face the fact my 7.0 email is gone. Would you recommend removing 4.73 and using 7.0 exclusively ..? I have not installed 7.1 yet but from what I read it may not be a good idea at this time. Another thing, although I doubt it has any bearing, I do not use Earthlink Total Access. I did recently backup my email addesses but not my bookmarks.

Why does everyone say Quick Launch is a bad thing ..? I hate all those icons cluttering up my desktop.

Thanks for your help ... Summerdale

 

Summerdale,

On Windows 2000 and Windows XP those files are hidden by default:
To see hidden files:
1. On the Tools menu in Windows Explorer, click Folder Options
2. Click the View tab
3. Under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files and folders

I wouldn't do any installing/uninstalling until you try the above, and hopefully find your 7.0 files.

Quick Launch stays in memory even though you close Netscape, and this is what can cause the problem. If you don't want a Desktop Icon, then you can enable the Quick Launch Toolbar, and place the Netscape shortcut there. Here's how to enable the Toolbar, if you haven't already: http://www.andyrathbone.com/tips/quicklaunch.html

Ramona

 

Lost Netscape Email and Addresses

Ramona,

I swear I replied to this thread on the 14th but find no evidence of the reply. My reply said: Because I use Explorer frequently I have removed the defaults allowing hidden files and all file extensions to be shown. However, I was still unable to find any Mozilla or Profile files. Also, turning Quicklaunch ON and OFF doesn't help, nor does replacing the "prefs.js" file. Today I have a new anomaly, on boot up I find my address books have disappeared and the address book left behind is the old Netscape 4.73 address book. I recall seeing a thread that delt with "lost email addresses" and I will review that thread, however, wouldn't you agree now is the time to delete 4.73 and reinstall 7.0 (or 7.1)....???

Summerdale

 

Summerdale,

If you have nothing here:
C:\Documents and Settings/user_name/Application Data/Mozilla/Profiles/profilename/xxxxxxxx.slt/Mail/mail.isp.net

Then now is the time to move on to Mozilla. I would forego Netscape 7.1 because of its many bugs, and install Mozilla 1.6. It is fast, has none of the bugs which plague Netscape 7.1, and very stable. It has the look of Netscape, with one feature missing, and that is the ability to access Netscape WebMail from within Mail & Newsgroups, and no AIM. If these features are unimportant to you, then that is what I strongly recommend.

Download Mozilla 1.6:
Full Installer, 12 MB
Zip File, 10.8 MB
If you use the Zip file, all that's necessary is to create a Folder on your HD, and unzip the Program into the newly created folder. To uninstall, simply delete the entire folder. Very nice, especially if you like to keep current on new Releases.

Mozilla Release Notes
Read the Release Notes before installing as they contain a wealth of information.

If you leave Communicator installed, Mozilla will migrate the Users data to the Profiles folder. These two programs have no problem running side by side.

I would uninstall Netscape 7.0, including the
C:\Program Files\Netscape\Netscape folder
Be careful not to remove the original Netscape folder, and only the Netscape subfolder. You might want to backup your plugins folder first.

Once you have uninstalled 7.0 through Add/Remove, reboot your PC.

Now install Mozilla...

Ramona

 

Ramona,

After reading another one of your Posts, Installing Netscape 7.1 with Jeane (I gave her my opinion about ZoneAlarm), I downloaded Mozilla 1.6 just as you suggested to her. I haven't installed it yet as I was waiting for your reply to my Post. It will be installed in the next few days once I finish some webmaster duties.

However, in reply to your "If you have nothing here: C:\Documents and Settings/user_name/Application Data/Mozilla/Profiles/profilename/xxxxxxxx.slt/Mail/mail.isp.net ". I can't believe it ... yesterday there were no Mozilla files on my machine, at least none I could find through Search or explorer. Now a whole group has appeared under a .slt profile that contains 2 Cache folders and a Chrome folder. In addition there is an ImapMail, Mail, and News folder. The Mail folder contains 2 Local Folders, 3 Mail.ISP folders, and 6 Pop.ISP folders. There are three seperate ISP's involved, two I haven't used in ages. I have "opened" some of the "Inbox" and "Sent" files and can discern which account is which. When I reboot Netscape still gives me my mail from 4.73. Perhaps if I remove Netscape 4.73, then when I reboot, my existing ISP email will be back in place since now there is a profile. What do you suggest
now ...?

When I install Mozilla, and I shall, will it pick up my exisitng ISP mail data ...?

Summerdale

 

If you know which mail account folder contains your current Mail:
Open Netscape Mail & Newsgroups
Click on Edit | Mail & Newsgroups Account Settings | Server Settings
In the "Local directory" field, enter the path to the Mail Account folder which contains the current Mail.

When you install Mozilla, it will use the existing Profile located here:
C:\Documents and Settings/user_name/Application Data/Mozilla/Profiles/profilename/xxxxxxxx.slt/

Ramona

 

Mozilla Installed

Ramona,

With your superb assistance I have crossed over into Mozilla land. So far I like what I see and astounded at the faster access (unbelievable). Thank you ... thank you ...

I have one glitch and that is my webmaster password seems to work fine on Go Daddy's web mail but Earthlink doesn't like it when I try to download new mail using Mozilla. I have a query into GoDaddy and hopefully they will solve my problem. It's certainly gratifying to know we have people like you with the expertise to help us amatuers.

Summerale

 

Summerdale,

Glad to hear that you have moved to the land of the Komodo Dragon.

Mozilla 1.6 should be Earthlink friendly, and they do support Mozilla and Netscape 7. I'm not familiar with Go Daddy...

Happy browsing!

Ramona

 

Lost Email Addresses

Ramona,

First, I really am enjoying Mozilla ...

I have looked at your other posts on Lost Addesses, etc., have done a search and read your dissertation on "corrupted abook.mab" fix" (http://home.att.net/~cherokee67), but none answered my question.

Before I lost my Email I had 5 seperate email address books. The only address books that appear with Mozilla Mail are a "PAB" and "Collected Addresses ". I wondered if perhaps I could resurrect the old lists since most reside in my .slt as xxxxxx.nab files. Most of these nab's are old but some haven't changed in awhile and could still be used as a base line. Unfortunately, when I looked at the abook.mab in my .slt (contains 37.8 KB), they are all real old addresses. And, the abook.mab in the .slt file does not contain the address book I am using with my Mozilla Mail. I know this as I've just changed an email address and the change is not reflected. I don't find this changed address book under "Program Files/mozilla.org" ... or as the PAB.nab ... where is it ..? Only one of the lost address books appear as a xxxxxx-1.mab, I would expect to find all 5.

How can I resurrect my old address books or do I have to rebuild them ...?

Summerdale

 

summerdale,

Do a Windows "Find" for *.mab, and see what you come up with. If those Address Books are on your HDD, then the "Find" should give you the path. You might look at these two pages on Address Books:

The Address Book
Using the Address Book

Your Mozilla Address Book resides in the *.slt folder, and not in the Program Files folder. The pab.na2 files are Communicator Address Books.

Ramona