About 'UnreadMail' MRU items in Windows XP...

Discussion in 'MRU Blaster Forum' started by javacool, Apr 28, 2003.

  1. javacool

    javacool BrightFort Moderator

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    In many cases the Windows XP logon screen displays the number of unread e-mails in all of an individual's e-mail accounts.

    Windows stores information on every e-mail address you have ever used with various e-mail programs and with MSN/Windows Messenger. This information includes a count of the number of unread e-mail messages (at last check), the last time the account was accessed, and the application used to access the account. Even if you stop using an e-mail account, the information is still stored in the Windows registry.

    MRU-Blaster can clear this 'UnreadMail' information. This will NOT delete any e-mails you haven't read or any e-mails in your inbox - it doesn't touch your e-mail account at all. Instead, deleting these MRU items simply removes the UnreadMail count information from the registry. This is a safe procedure and also removes yet another 'treasure trove' of information about you from your computer.

    Best regards,

    -Javacool
     
  2. LowWaterMark

    LowWaterMark Administrator

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    That's quite a good addition Javacool, especially since that particular count has a bad habit of being wrong - so much so that there are fixes out there that try to fix the count for you. (I've never had that count correct on my system. :rolleyes: )
     
  3. javacool

    javacool BrightFort Moderator

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    Agreed - I've also heard reports that people got so tired of the count that they started deleting unread messages in their inboxes. :D

    But the biggest issue is that by looking at that key, if it hasn't ever been cleaned, anyone could determine nearly every e-mail address you have accessed on your computer. (And a program could do the same thing to harvest e-mail addresses...)

    EDIT: Windows doesn't seem to ever get rid of this information. It does seem to disregard it after a number of days, but the information is not deleted. Who knows why. :rolleyes:

    Best regards,

    -Javacool
     
  4. Philidor

    Philidor Registered Member

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    And here I was feeling pleased with myself for finding the knowledge base article that tells how to turn that feature off.
    http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B304148
    By the way, mine recorded hotmail, not the count in Outlook Express. I kept trying to fix it looking at the wrong e-mail account.
    Nice work!
     
  5. r00ted

    r00ted Registered Member

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    I love MRUBlaster it rox ;) But 1 thing, about this UnreadMail MRU deletion. I have disabled the UnreadMail count thru 1 of the registry keys, from a tweak over @ tweakxp I think was the site ;) Soo....will having the MRU blaster set to "wipe" the "UnreadMail" MRU mess with that registry tweak I have applied? :p
     
  6. kimbaughman

    kimbaughman Registered Member

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    Hello,
    I hate to fly in the face of tradition, but I actually liked the unread mail counter from XP. Note the past tense "liked" because MRU blaster removed it. Is there any way (short of reinstalling XP) that I can recover that file (or registry key or whatever; I am not savvy in computer lingo). I did not see a backup file on MRU blaster to restore deleted files. Thanks.
     
  7. javacool

    javacool BrightFort Moderator

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    Hi,

    If you open the "Settings" area of MRU-Blaster and uncheck the item named "UnreadMail Count (Win XP Logon) the count should reappear the next time you access your e-mail accounts with Outlook (Express) or log into MSN/Windows Messenger. :)

    Best regards,

    -Javacool
     
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