PC Win: How the Inbox Received Time Stamp Is Set

Last reviewed: June 4, 1996
Article ID: Q119089
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Mail for Windows, versions 3.0, 3.0b, and 3.2

SYMPTOMS

When you use Microsoft Mail for Windows, the Inbox contains the message header with the time the message was received. This Inbox time stamp is set by the delivery agent. If the message is from another user on the same postoffice, the time is stamped by the sending client. If the message is from an external postoffice or a downstream postoffice, the time is stamped by the External Mail program (EXTERNAL.EXE). If the message is from a gateway directly serving the postoffice, the time is stamped by the gateway.

The External Mail program sometimes does not time stamp messages transferred asynchronously or through an X.25 connection. Therefore, the received time stamp reflects the time when the message was composed and not the time it was received by EXTERNAL.EXE.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in versions 3.0, 3.0b, and 3.2 of Microsoft Mail for PC Networks. This problem was corrected in version 3.2a (which includes EXTERNAL.EXE version 3.2.9).

For information on obtaining this update, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

   m a i l u p d

There is also a newer version of EXTERNAL.EXE, which is available from the Microsoft Software Library (MSL).

You can find EXTUPD.EXE (size: 531665 bytes) 
                       , a self-extracting file, on the following
services:
  • Microsoft's World Wide Web Site on the Internet

          On the www.microsoft.com home page, click the Support icon.
          Click Knowledge Base, and select the product.
    
          Enter kbfile EXTUPD.EXE (size: 531665 bytes) 
                                 , and click GO!
          Open the article, and click the button to download the file.
    
    
  • Internet (anonymous FTP)

          ftp ftp.microsoft.com
          Change to the Softlib/Mslfiles folder.
          Get EXTUPD.EXE (size: 531665 bytes) 
    
  • The Microsoft Network

          On the Edit menu, click Go To, and then click Other Location.
          Type "mssupport" (without the quotation marks).
          Double-click the MS Software Library icon.
          Find the appropriate product area.
          Locate and Download EXTUPD.EXE.
    
  • Microsoft Download Service (MSDL)

          Dial (206) 936-6735 to connect to MSDL
          Download EXTUPD.EXE (size: 531665 bytes) 
    

For additional information about downloading, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q119591
   TITLE     : How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online
               Services


Additional reference words: 3.00 3.00b 3.20 time stamp external
KBCategory: kbenv kbfile kbbug3.00 kbbug3.00b kbbug3.20 kbfix3.20a kbfix
KBSubCategory: MailPCWin


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Last reviewed: June 4, 1996
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.