Block Sender
'Block Sender' couldn't be further from fact. It has NOTHING to do with blocking anything, it's 'Diverting Sender' to the Delete File'. I don't know if '7' fixes this but hopefully it does. This is my first time trying to use 'Block Sender' with 'XP' and it fails miserably. Block Sender in one place, Message Rules in another place and Message Un-rules in another. This whole mess needs to be on one menu and there needs to be choices that WORK, like:Block Sender (for real at the server), Return to sender (from the server with or without a note) etc.1 person needs an answerI do too
March 8th, 2010 3:48pm

Is there a question in that rant? XP has no native "block sender". You must be referring to an email program but forgot to say which one. Outlook Express comes with XP; Outlook is part of MS Office. In any case, neither of those programs have particularly good spam-blocking features. OE specifically is a very old, primitive email client. Windows 7 doesn't "fix" this since Windows 7 is an operating system and in addition, doesn't come with any native email client. Use a better email client or even use your email provider's webmail program instead. Your email provider is most often your Internet Service Provider. Look on its Help website for how to manage spam. This is usually done by first using the email provider's spam filtering and second by using a good email client (if that's what you want) that has better spam management. Thunderbird is a good free email client and it's spam filtering is quite good. Windows Live Mail is also free but I can't say whether it's spam filtering is good or not. You could try it. This information explaining the difference between email clients and webmail might be useful to you also even though it doesn't address spam filtering per se. Webmail vs. Email Client When you sign up with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) like AT&T or Comcast, they give you email addresses, like YourName@comcast.net or YourName@att.net. When someone sends an email to you at that address, the email goes and lives on one of your ISP's computers. This computer is called a mail server. Now you have a choice as to how to get that email. A. You can access it by reading it online in your browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc.), using your ISP's mail program. This is called webmail. 1. The advantage of webmail is that you can read your mail from any computer that's on the Internet. You just need to open a browser, go to the ISP's website, login, and go to your Inbox. The email still lives on the ISP's mail server, not on your computer and it stays there until you delete it from the webmail's Inbox. It is scanned for viruses by the ISP's antivirus software. Since your email and your addressbook are on the ISP's mail server, you don't need to back anything up unless you want to change ISPs. 2. The disadvantages to webmail are a) if you have dialup and/or pay for Internet access by the minute, you have to be online to read your mail; b) you might not like the ISP's webmail interface. B. The alternative to webmail is accessing your email by using an email program (called an email client) like Outlook, Outlook Express, Windows Mail, Thunderbird, etc. Using an email client downloads the email onto your computer. The email has been scanned for viruses by the ISP's antivirus software and again by the antivirus software you have installed on your own computer when you download it. Unless you choose to keep the messages on the ISP's mail server and remember to delete them from webmail regularly, once downloaded onto your computer those email messages are gone from the ISP's mail server. You can no longer access your email from anywhere except on your own computer in the email client you use. Since your mail and addressbook are on your computer in your email client, backing up regularly is your responsibility. So if you don't want to use the ISP's webmail, you need to set up an email client. Go to the ISP's website and they will have instructions for doing this with whatever email client you chose. No matter which method you choose - webmail or email client - it's the same email account. One method isn't inherently "better" than the other; it's a matter of personal preference.MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
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March 8th, 2010 4:15pm

Sheeze, it's regrettable that were not all geeks.Thanks for the info....I'll sift through it and see if I can understand any of it.AND, yes it is 'Outlook Express'. How did I know that they didn't offer anything in '7'? That's seems to be typical Microsoft....have a problem?, get rid of it, don't fix it.
March 8th, 2010 7:14pm

If you get an e-mail client for your Win7 machine, I would suggest using message rules rather than blocked senders, and specifically filtering in your mail, or your mail server's spam program.These apply to Windows Live Mail as well as Outlook Express.Some Message Rule tips:http://www.insideoe.com/tips/rules.htm Controlling Junk Mail in Outlook Express:http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/junkmail.mspx Message Rules not working?:http://www.insideoe.com/faqs/why.htm#rules Bruce Hagen MS-MVP [Mail]
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March 8th, 2010 7:20pm

Thanks for the links. I'm slowly digesting the info.
March 9th, 2010 2:19pm

No one is asking you to be a geek. However, ranting isn't the best way to make people disposed to spend time solving your problems. The vast majority of the people who help here - like me and like Bruce - are volunteers and do not work for Microsoft. You may be irritated because you're frustrated but you should remember that taking your frustration out on us is rude and counterproductive. Getting a less than gentle and cordial response should not come as a surprise. If you still have questions, then come back and ask them bearing what I've said above in mind.MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
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March 9th, 2010 3:37pm

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