newsgroup message behavior

[Jake]

I try to read posts on this and other groups on two systems with two
different subscriptions and get different behavior. On System one using
msnews.Microsoft.com everything seems fine but using news.giganews.com all
posts begin with Re: and I never see any original posts, only the last
reply. Can anyone tell me why that is happening? I won't be keeping Giganews
if that is where the problem originates.

Thanks for any replies.

Jake

 

[Kelly]

Wow and to think folks pay for newsgroups....
http://www.giganews.com/faq.html

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Happy Birthday if today is your birthday!

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

[Jake]

Wow and to think folks pay for newsgroups....
http://www.giganews.com/faq.html

I have gone through the FAQ file and found nothing that addresses my issue.
Did I miss something perhaps?

 

[HeyBub]

I try to read posts on this and other groups on two systems with two
different subscriptions and get different behavior. On System one
using msnews.Microsoft.com everything seems fine but using
news.giganews.com all posts begin with Re: and I never see any
original posts, only the last reply. Can anyone tell me why that is
happening? I won't be keeping Giganews if that is where the problem
originates.

If you have your newsreader set to download only, say, the last 100 posts,
all you'll probably get are replies. Try raising the limit to the maximum
(1,000 I think).

 

[HeyBub]

Wow and to think folks pay for newsgroups....
http://www.giganews.com/faq.html

My Giganews access is part of my ISP (Earthlink) account.

 

[Jake]

If you have your newsreader set to download only, say, the last 100
posts, all you'll probably get are replies. Try raising the limit to
the maximum (1,000 I think).

I only get replies even to this post and the new ones that others send. I
can read an answer to another poster I responded to but not the original
message. All is well on the System I am using to post these messages and
checking settings shows them both the same. I know there must be something I
am missing but can't seem to figure it out.

Thanks for your replies and attempt to help me solve this.

Regards.

Jake.

 

[Jake]

My Giganews access is part of my ISP (Earthlink) account.

Comcrap just discontinued their free newsgroup service. I think it is time
to start looking for another ISP for far more reasons that this.

Jake.

 

[Ian D]

I try to read posts on this and other groups on two systems with two
different subscriptions and get different behavior. On System one using
msnews.Microsoft.com everything seems fine but using news.giganews.com all
posts begin with Re: and I never see any original posts, only the last
reply. Can anyone tell me why that is happening? I won't be keeping
Giganews if that is where the problem originates.

Thanks for any replies.

Jake

Strange, I have been using Giganews for 3 years on my own
subscription, and for a couple of years before that free with my
ISP, and have never seen that behaviour. I have on occasion
seen only RE:s, but the original posts appeared after getting
more headers.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

[X-post to OE General]

Your newsreader (i.e., OE in your case) can only display messages which
reside on the newsserver. While the MS newsserver has a minimum retention
policy of 90 days, many other (free) newsservers have a much shorter
retention policy (e.g., 24 hours). If a message has been removed from the
server, it will be removed in OE the next time you sync with the server.

Then there's OE's Tools | Options | Read | "Get XX headers at a time"
setting: The default here is 300. You may set this option as high as 1,000.
Right-click on the newsgroup in Folders pane | Synchronization Settings |
select New Messages Only; Now every time you open the newsgroup (or hit F5),
you will download the next-newest set of headers/messages.

When you feel you've downloaded enough headers/messages, again right-click
on the newsgroup in Folders pane and select Catch Up Now. This will Mark as
Read all messages on the server, including ones you've not yet downloaded.
Now return to "Get XXX headers at a time" and uncheck the option completely;
then compact the folder. From then on, OE will only download
headers/messages posted to the server since you last checked (polled) for
messages.

OE View | Current view controls what you see in OE when you open a
newsgroup.

You should probably visit this page, too:
http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm#cleannews (lotsa good stuff
there).

PS: Your headers (Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.2180) tell us that
you're running outdated and much less secure versions of OE, IE and WinXP
SP2! Visit Windows Update ASAP and get your machine fully patched!

Automatic Updates in WinXP
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/windowsupdate/learn/windowsxp.mspx

How to configure and use Automatic Updates in WinXP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525

 

[Kelly]

Good to hear! )

As for as not seeing the originals this happens for me as well when using
gmail.

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Happy Birthday if today is your birthday!

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

[Ken Blake]

Comcrap just discontinued their free newsgroup service.

Yes, however there are lots of other good free newsgroup servers that can be
used. One good choice, if you want only text newsgroups, is Motzarella.

And then, for the Microsoft newsgroups, it's best to use Microsoft's
server. Just in case you're not aware of it, almost any newsreader can use
multiple servers with ease.

I think it is time to start looking for another ISP for far more reasons
that this.

I don't know what you mean by "far more reasons," but I've been using
Comcast for a year or two, and haven't had any other issues with them. And
since the practical effect of their discontinuing newsserver service is so
tiny, I merely replaced their service with another free one, and all is
fine.

 

[Jake]

Yes, however there are lots of other good free newsgroup servers that
can be used. One good choice, if you want only text newsgroups, is
Motzarella.

Thanks. I will consider your reference. I have read so much on both sides
of the free vs premium servers.
http://www.newsgroupservers.net/usenet_groups/free_newsgroup_servers.htm

And then, for the Microsoft newsgroups, it's best to use Microsoft's
server. Just in case you're not aware of it, almost any newsreader
can use multiple servers with ease.

I just canceled Giganews subscription for something a bit more friendly. I
find Microsoft newsgroups very helpful.

I don't know what you mean by "far more reasons," but I've been using
Comcast for a year or two, and haven't had any other issues with
them. And since the practical effect of their discontinuing
newsserver service is so tiny, I merely replaced their service with
another free one, and all is fine.

I have used Comcast for several years both for Internet and TV and have
seen much of a decline over time. TV connectivity in this area is poor with
problems that they can't seem to fix. Nightmares with the Digital Voice from
the start after a major screwup that may have cost me plenty at the worst
possible time. Vonage is my choice now with excellent price and no problems
what so ever.

I will try Motzarella. Thanks for your time.

Jake

 

[Lil' Dave]

My Giganews access is part of my ISP (Earthlink) account.

Odd, I have been an Earthlink subsciber since Mindspring was incorporated by
them. That's been a long time. Earthlink continues to have its own genuine
news server to the present. Still using OE for news as a result. I see
you're ussing OE as well. A former MindSpring user on dialup, and you're
using Avast for AV.

Hmmm...

 

[JimL]

Having spent every day since I installed XP Pro doing everything I possibly
can to PREVENT it from incessantly begging to GET ON THE INTERNET all day
long (I wouldn't keep a 24/7 connection on even if I had broadband) I have
just two questions.

1. Is there any way to do an update (SP3 in my case) without the automatic
junk turned on?
(Last night it started an update but trashed it when the actual
download started.)

2. Is there any way to get an updated OE without getting SP3?

 

[Lem]

1. Is there any way to do an update (SP3 in my case) without the automatic
junk turned on?

XP SP3 on CD ($3.99):
https://om2.one.microsoft.com/opa/V...e3453ad966d&LocaleCode=en-us&JavaScriptOn=yes
--
Lem -- MS-MVP

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

You are more than welcome to begin a new thread about YOUR problems, Jim,
instead of hijacking someone else's thread.

WinXP SP3 does not update OE but your headers...

X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.3138
X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3198

....tell us that you're missing several Critical Security Updates for Outlook
Express (and probably IE and WinXP, too, even without installing SP3). I'd
recommend taking care of that ASAP!

 

[Jake]

[X-post to OE General]

Your newsreader (i.e., OE in your case) can only display
messages which reside on the newsserver. While the MS
newsserver has a minimum retention policy of 90 days,
many other (free) newsservers have a much shorter
retention policy (e.g., 24 hours). If a message has been
removed from the server, it will be removed in OE the
next time you sync with the server.
Then there's OE's Tools | Options | Read | "Get XX
headers at a time" setting: The default here is 300. You
may set this option as high as 1,000. Right-click on the
newsgroup in Folders pane | Synchronization Settings |
select New Messages Only; Now every time you open the
newsgroup (or hit F5), you will download the next-newest
set of headers/messages.
When you feel you've downloaded enough headers/messages,
again right-click on the newsgroup in Folders pane and
select Catch Up Now. This will Mark as Read all messages
on the server, including ones you've not yet downloaded.
Now return to "Get XXX headers at a time" and uncheck the
option completely; then compact the folder. From then
on, OE will only download headers/messages posted to the
server since you last checked (polled) for messages.
OE View | Current view controls what you see in OE when
you open a newsgroup.

You should probably visit this page, too:
http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm#cleannews
(lotsa good stuff there).

PS: Your headers (Microsoft Outlook Express
6.00.2900.2180) tell us that you're running outdated and
much less secure versions of OE, IE and WinXP SP2! Visit
Windows Update ASAP and get your machine fully patched!
Automatic Updates in WinXP
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/windowsupdate/learn/windowsxp.mspx

How to configure and use Automatic Updates in WinXP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience -
since 2002 AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Thanks for all that. I got more than my money's worth.

Regards.

Jake

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

YW & thanks for your feedback, Jake.

[X-post to OE General]

Your newsreader (i.e., OE in your case) can only display
messages which reside on the newsserver. While the MS
newsserver has a minimum retention policy of 90 days,
many other (free) newsservers have a much shorter
retention policy (e.g., 24 hours). If a message has been
removed from the server, it will be removed in OE the
next time you sync with the server.
Then there's OE's Tools | Options | Read | "Get XX
headers at a time" setting: The default here is 300. You
may set this option as high as 1,000. Right-click on the
newsgroup in Folders pane | Synchronization Settings |
select New Messages Only; Now every time you open the
newsgroup (or hit F5), you will download the next-newest
set of headers/messages.
When you feel you've downloaded enough headers/messages,
again right-click on the newsgroup in Folders pane and
select Catch Up Now. This will Mark as Read all messages
on the server, including ones you've not yet downloaded.
Now return to "Get XXX headers at a time" and uncheck the
option completely; then compact the folder. From then
on, OE will only download headers/messages posted to the
server since you last checked (polled) for messages.
OE View | Current view controls what you see in OE when
you open a newsgroup.

You should probably visit this page, too:
http://www.insideoe.com/files/maintain.htm#cleannews
(lotsa good stuff there).

PS: Your headers (Microsoft Outlook Express
6.00.2900.2180) tell us that you're running outdated and
much less secure versions of OE, IE and WinXP SP2! Visit
Windows Update ASAP and get your machine fully patched!
Automatic Updates in WinXP
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/windowsupdate/learn/windowsxp.mspx

How to configure and use Automatic Updates in WinXP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience -
since 2002 AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Thanks for all that. I got more than my money's worth.

Regards.

Jake