MS Outlook 2K3 - Can't insert backgound sounds anymore, help!

[Kendall]

Hello, I've had a problem ever since I've installed SP2
in my emails to my friends and family.
I frequently use background images and sounds.
Lately I've been receiving this error:

This object was created in HTMLInlineSoundCtl.
This application is not available to open this
object. Make sure the application is properly
installed and that it has not been deleted,
moved, or renamed.

I found the article at microsoft's knowledge base:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=838214

but it really didn't help me. I just want my
sounds back. How do I go about this?

Kendall

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Hello, I've had a problem ever since I've installed SP2
in my emails to my friends and family.
I frequently use background images and sounds.
Lately I've been receiving this error:

This object was created in HTMLInlineSoundCtl.
This application is not available to open this
object. Make sure the application is properly
installed and that it has not been deleted,
moved, or renamed.

I found the article at microsoft's knowledge base:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=838214

but it really didn't help me. I just want my
sounds back. How do I go about this?

I'm sure the receivers of your emails are pleased you no longer send them
backgrounds and sounds in your email. It's one of those cutesy annoyances
most can do without. It would be like getting the Sunday newspaper and it
being printed on different (sometimes hard to read over) paper with designs
on it each week and then opening to the sports section and it playing "Take
me out to the ball game" each time.

The article in question just confirms the bug and that the fact that SP2 is
SUPPOSED to fix it. However, reading other forums:

http://fidonet.sensationcontent.com/echomail/nthelp/7d1ecfa8ccc8aa32.html

and

http://www.mcse.ms/message1055078.html

Which seem to indicate (as does the article) that the third-party vendors
are going to have to fix this. For now (and hopefully you will get used to
it) you will have to send email without sound. =)

 

[Kendall]

I'm sure the receivers of your emails are pleased you no longer send them
backgrounds and sounds in your email. It's one of those cutesy annoyances
most can do without. It would be like getting the Sunday newspaper and it
being printed on different (sometimes hard to read over) paper with designs
on it each week and then opening to the sports section and it playing "Take
me out to the ball game" each time.

The article in question just confirms the bug and that the fact that SP2 is
SUPPOSED to fix it. However, reading other forums:

http://fidonet.sensationcontent.com/echomail/nthelp/7d1ecfa8ccc8aa32.html

and

http://www.mcse.ms/message1055078.html

Which seem to indicate (as does the article) that the third-party vendors
are going to have to fix this. For now (and hopefully you will get used to
it) you will have to send email without sound. =)

It was working fine "Until" I installed SP2.
Why third party vendors? Microsoft broke it. Don't you think they
should fix it? I paid a small fortune for Office 2003, which I thought
was all Microsoft. Now it's broken. I appreciate your response and
help, but your opinion wasn't asked for. We enjoy our little music
bits. We've been doing it for over a year now. I don't send emails
with background sound to everyone, just the few in our little circle
who like it.

Kendall

 

[Shenan Stanley]

It was working fine "Until" I installed SP2.
Why third party vendors? Microsoft broke it. Don't you think they
should fix it? I paid a small fortune for Office 2003, which I thought
was all Microsoft. Now it's broken. I appreciate your response and
help, but your opinion wasn't asked for. We enjoy our little music
bits. We've been doing it for over a year now. I don't send emails
with background sound to everyone, just the few in our little circle
who like it.

You "asked" for my opinion when you posted on a worldwide publicly
distributed newsgroup. And then you just asked for it more directly again
in the post above. I can appreciate your enthusiasm. I know many people
who do exactly what you are doing. My default method for reading email is
PLAIN TEXT only. Thus, your pictures and sounds would be lost on my setup -
for security and safety reasons.

And No, I don't think "they" (Microsoft) should fix it. My guess is that
you are using some third party (perhaps SmileyCentral? HotBar?) application
to insert the sounds/backgrounds/other images with ActiveX controls instead
of the built-in Outlook 2003 tools. However, in order to insert sound/music
into an Outlook email, I think you have to use Word as your editor and the
person on the other end better be runnig Outlook as well. If you have been
using these third-party applications - that answers your question about
"third party vendors" and you may want to try using the default tools as
well as scan your machine for known spyware/adware/malware known to come
with programs such as you MAY have used in the past.

Two side-notes: Never think one of these can do the whole job.
Try the first 5 before coming back and saying "That did not work!"
Also, you can always visit:
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
For more updated information.

Spybot Search and Destroy (Free!)
http://www.safer-networking.net/en/download/index.html

Lavasoft AdAware (Free and up)
http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/

CWShredder (Free!)
** No longer updated as of July 29, 2004 - however, still a great
product and should still be ran **
http://www.softbasket.com/download/s_8114.shtml

Hijack This! (Free)
http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/
( Tutorial: http://hjt.wizardsofwebsites.com/ )

SpywareBlaster (Free!)
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html

IE-SPYAD (Free!)
https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/resource.htm

ToolbarCop (Free!)
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/toolbarcop.htm

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner (Free!)
http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/

Browser Security Tests
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/

Popup Tester
http://www.popuptest.com/

The Cleaner (49.95 and up)
http://www.moosoft.com/

That will clean up your machine of the spyware, given that you download and
install several of them, update them regularly and scan with them when you
update. Some (like SpywareBlaster and SpyBot Search and Destroy and
IESPYAD)
have/are immunization utilities that will help you prevent your PC from
being
infected. Use these features!

Unfortunately, although that will lessen your popups on the Internet/while
you are online, it won't eliminate them. I have looked at a lot of options,
seen a lot of them used in production with people who seem to attract popups
like a plague, and I only have one suggestion that end up serving double
duty (search engine and popup stopper in one):

The Google Toolbar (Free!)
http://toolbar.google.com/

Yeah - it adds a bar to your Internet Explorer - but its a useful one. You
can search from there anytime with one of the best search engines on the
planet (IMO.) And the fact it stops most popups - wow - BONUS! If you
don't like that suggestion, then I am just going to say you go to
www.google.com and search for other options. Please notice that Windows XP
SP2 does help stop popups as well. Another option is to use an alternative
Web browser. I suggest "Mozilla Firefox", as it has some great features
and is very easy to use:

Mozilla Firefox
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

One more suggestion, although I will suggest this in a way later, is to
disable your Windows Messenger service. This service is not used frequently
(if at all) by the normal home user and in cooperation with a good firewall,
is generally unnecessary. Microsoft has instructions on how to do this for
Windows XP here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/communicate/stopspam.asp

 

[Kendall]

You "asked" for my opinion when you posted on a worldwide publicly
distributed newsgroup. And then you just asked for it more directly again
in the post above. I can appreciate your enthusiasm. I know many people
who do exactly what you are doing. My default method for reading email is
PLAIN TEXT only. Thus, your pictures and sounds would be lost on my setup -
for security and safety reasons.

And No, I don't think "they" (Microsoft) should fix it. My guess is that
you are using some third party (perhaps SmileyCentral? HotBar?) application
to insert the sounds/backgrounds/other images with ActiveX controls instead
of the built-in Outlook 2003 tools. However, in order to insert sound/music
into an Outlook email, I think you have to use Word as your editor and the
person on the other end better be runnig Outlook as well. If you have been
using these third-party applications - that answers your question about
"third party vendors" and you may want to try using the default tools as
well as scan your machine for known spyware/adware/malware known to come
with programs such as you MAY have used in the past.

No smilies, HotBar, CoolWebSearch, 180Solutions
Kazza, WinMX, eDonkey, Online casino/card games,
WinTools, TVMedia (of course the list goes on and on)
None of that. Just the web tool bar in Outlook.
By the way, I tried it in Outlook Express, and it still works.

Most spyware/malware is listed in your Add/Remove Programs, which is
actually the best way to remove them. Then "clean up" with
Ad-Aware, SpyBot S&D, and CWShredder, otherwise, the way some
spyware applications modify winsock entries with LSP's you run the
risk of loosing internet connectivity.

Getting off subject here. I guess I'm just telling you I know how to
deal with Spyware, and that's not the problem.

I asked a simple question, and from what I've extrapolated from all
this is that "there is no fix". For now anyway.
That would have been sufficient.

You are right about this being a worldwide publicly
distributed newsgroup, and you may express yourself
anyway you wish. Who am I to say otherwise.

Thank you for your time Shenan

Kendall

 

[=?Windows-1252?B?1L/UIE13cw==?=]

Hi Kendall,

I have several Microsoft engineers working on this problem for me. They are
aware of the issue and realize that their KB article is misleading. It should
have been removed by now. A fix is forthcoming as this impacts several editions
of Microsoft Office products. Hope that helps..

Morrie

P.S. I have an unorthodox fix if you really want it to work..
email me at. Mstapler at msn dot com...

 

[Kendall]

Hi Kendall,

I have several Microsoft engineers working on this problem for me. They are
aware of the issue and realize that their KB article is misleading. It should
have been removed by now. A fix is forthcoming as this impacts several editions
of Microsoft Office products. Hope that helps..

Morrie

It does.
Thanks Morrie

Kendall