PREGUNTA:

 

 

Tengo dos computadoras que deseo conectar a un solo monitor. ¿Hay algún dispositivo que me permita hacerlo, del mismo modo como se conectan dos computadoras a una misma impresora? – Mr. D

 

Growing numbers of home computer users find themselves as you do, Mr. D., with extra PCs left over after upgrades, and many of them wonder if there might be a way to connect the new machine to the existing monitor, keyboard and mouse setup. That way one could have all of the benefits of a newer machine and still be able to keep using the old one.

 

El dispositivo que Ud. Busca se llama switch KVM and they are easily obtained over the Internet and at larger computer stores. KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switches work several ways, such as hooking one monitor to multiple computers or multiple monitors to a single computer. Prices for what you need range from $125 to $250, and there are several different styles.

 

To get an idea of what's available either use the keyword "KVM switch" at Google (www.google.com) or check out the Belkin Web site (www.belkin.com), home of one of the world's largest makers of computer cables, switches and accessories.

 

PREGUNTA:

 

 

I subscribe to the Microsoft Network for my Internet access and have been trying to get it to use POP mail instead of Microsoft's Hotmail.com for my e-mail. It really came to a head this past week when Hotmail returned a large amount of e-mail addressed to my computer due to their imposed size limitations. I have tried every way I know how to get them to tell me how to use POP instead of Web-based Hotmail, and every time they act like they do not understand the question. -Tom E. Hancock

 

Makes a fellow wonder if he shouldn't just dump MSN and sign up with EarthLink or some other non-AOL Internet provider, doesn't it Mr. H? (AOL doesn't offer the POP mail feature you want because POP mail lets users read their messages in a relatively advertising-free climate.)

 

I, too, had trouble finding clear advice from Microsoft about how to do this, and I share your suspicions that the company makes it complicated to boost its Hotmail Web-based e-mail service. Like AOL, the Hotmail interface allows advertising that POP mail precludes in the e-mail display itself.

 

Here's the drill for setting up an MSN POP account in Outlook Express:

 

In the program display, click on Tools and then Accounts. Chose the Mail tab in the Accounts display. Then select Add, and you will get a wizard program to walk you through the next few steps. Put in your name, your account name and password in the screens that come up under the wizard. When you are asked for your connection settings, you need to type pop3.email.msn.com in the Incoming Mail box and then smtp.email.msn.com in the Outgoing Mail box.

 

Finally, put a check mark in the two boxes you see dealing with authentication and then click Apply.

 

Your machine now can use the Outlook Express software's superior e-mail features, including fewer ads, unlimited attachments and far better rules for dealing with junk mail.

 

 

 

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In Microsoft Word documents, I don't want every Web site address and e-mail address underlined. Can I turn this feature off? -Johnny

 

You need to remove checkmarks at two places. First, from Word's menu, go to Tools, AutoCorrect Options, then AutoFormat As You Type. Uncheck the option ''Internet and network paths with hyperlinks.'' Then click on the AutoFormat tab. Uncheck the box next to ''Internet and network paths with hyperlinks.'' This must be done in both places. These changes will not unlink Web addresses and e-mail addresses that already are in a document. It affects only new documents.

 

 

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How do I turn off the "are you sure" message when you are Recycling? -Jerry

 

Every time you send something to the Recycle Bin you always get an "Are you sure" message. This message can easily be turned off. To do this: Right-mouse clicking the Recycle Bin -- Choose Properties -- Deselect the "Display conformation dialog" box.

 

 

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Do you get an annoying network logon screen every time you boot Windows? Well, here's a way that *should* get rid of it for you.

 

1. Click Start, Settings, Control Panel

 

2. Next, open the Network Icon.

 

3. Finally, change the item in the Primary Network Logon drop down box to "Windows Logon". It's probably a good idea to write down whatever was in the "Primary Network Login" box before you change it. Just in case...

 

That's it. You should no longer have a logon screen pop up when you start Windows.

 

 

 

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I use Microsoft's MSN Hotmail. What does MSN mean by the message, "As of July 16, 2002, we will not provide POP mail retrieval"? -PPK

 

It means there is no more free lunch.

 

The usual way to get e-mail is to open an e-mail program to download messages from a mail server. That transfer takes place according to a set of rules called Post Office Protocol (POP).

 

Hotmail doesn't use POP. All your Hotmail remains on an MSN server, allowing you to use a regular Web browser to view, create and reply to messages. Like competitors such as Yahoo, Microsoft also programmed its servers to mimic POP mail clients, allowing Hotmail users to check their POP accounts from within Hotmail.

 

But now that costs $20 a year. If your Hotmail account is your only e-mail address, that may not be a problem. Otherwise, you might want to switch Web-mail providers.

 

 

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I recently ordered a new IBM ThinkPad laptop. IBM refused to ship the machine without an operating system, so I had to take it with Windows XP already installed. I don't want to use Windows XP because both my home and office desktops run Windows 98SE, and I don't want to learn a second operating system.

 

My question is this: What is the easiest way to install Windows 98SE in place of XP on the ThinkPad? Should I uninstall XP, then install 98, or can I just install 98 over XP? Any advice? -Steve

 

I strongly recommend against attempting to install Windows 98 on that ThinkPad that came with XP, and I'll tell you why.

 

But first the good news. It is possible to change Windows XP's display screens into a so-called Classic View instead of the dramatically different interface created for Microsoft's newest operating system. Right-click on the Windows XP Start button and select Properties. In the next display you will find the command to make the computer return to Classic View.

 

This Classic View returns the same icons to the desktop as are there on Windows 98 and ME, and it also recasts the file-explorer interface to look like older versions. I am sureI you will be completely comfortable with running Windows XP after triggering Classic View.

 

Going Classic View is your best bet, Mr. B., because in order to install Windows 98 over your version of Windows XP you would need to reformat that brand new ThinkPad's hard drive by using a disk utility called fdisk. The problem is that XP changesI he format style of hard drives from the earlier FAT system to one called NTFS.

 

Another big problem would be getting Windows 98 to find the proper settings for the ThinkPad's hardware that were installed for Windows XP at the factory. If you installed Windows 98 over the factory settings for XP, it would be a crapshoot whether the system would have the unique settings required for a ThinkPad's hardware. That includes the display screen, the infrared ports, the printer and parallel ports, and other features.

 

 

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How can you turn off those annoying ads that AOL gives you when you log on?

 

1. Go to the Members menu at the top of the screen and select My AOL.

2. Click on the Preferences, then select Marketing Preferences.

3. Click on the Set Up Now button.

4. Double-click on Tell Us What Your Popup Preferences Are.

5. Click on the box at the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.

6. Click on the Send button.

 

 

 

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Does the connection speed affect the speed of the computer or downloading after connection is completed? -Dan Daniel

 

Most computer modems "negotiate" speeds during the entire time they are connected. So, in theory, things can change dramatically from the initial connection speed shown by your computer. If line conditions change substantially --- for better or worse --- the two modems, which connected at one speed, can negotiate a higher or lower speed.

 

However, in the real world the connection speed is a fairly good general indicator of your download speeds after the connection is made. If you pay attention to the connection speeds that you are getting you'll notice that --- 90 times out of 100 --- they fall in the same general speed range each time you connect. The pattern that forms offers a good indication of the line conditions between your modem and the modem at your Internet provider.

 

 

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I have been exchanging mail with an online friend for a few months and we have been exchanging regularly every few days. I have not heard from her for over two weeks and I have left two e-mails to say "hello" and see how she was doing. I have made it my own personal rule not to send more than three e-mails at a time so as not to seem overbearing. Is there any particular rule as to how many e-mail messages you should leave before receiving a response or so that you don't seem obsessive? -Jude

 

I might have said that one was enough until an answer is received but I'm is willing to make it two when the correspondence is by e-mail, a charming but notoriously wayward form of communication. Even a third e-mail might pass muster if its text was "I've been having trouble with my server, so please just let me know if you've received this," although that is awfully close to pestering.

 

The pace of chatty social correspondence (as opposed to solemn social correspondence, such as answers to invitations and letters of thanks and condolence, which must be sent immediately) varies enormously. Your correspondent may be particularly busy at the moment, or she may have decided that writing every few days is too much.

 

In either case, it is time to stop and see what she does so that you can develop a pattern that is convenient to you both, and allows for small lapses without triggering alarms. It is not as if she were next door with her newspapers piling up on the porch and you had to decide whether it is time to call the police to check whether she is still alive.

 

 

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I have a PC and a Mac, each equipped with a CD rewritable drive. Can I make a CD-RW disc that works on both machines? -Carol

 

You can, as long as you burn the CD-RW in a format called ISO 9660. That way, both machines will be able to read the disc. Dig around in your CD recording software's help file to learn how. You won't be able to use long filenames. The ISO 9660 format permits file names that are only eight characters with three-character extensions.

 

 

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I'm buying a computer equipped with Windows XP. Can I keep my flat screen monitor or do I need to buy a new one? -Kosheen

 

You probably can keep it, but check the Microsoft Windows XP Compatibility Site (www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/compatibility) for a definitive answer. Once there, you'll find listings of monitors, computers, printers, cameras and more that will work with Windows XP. If your monitor is not on the compatibility list, don't give up. Check the monitor manufacturer's Web site. It may have drivers that will allow your monitor to work with Windows XP.

 

 

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The drawer tray to my CD-ROM drive is stuck, and my favorite music CD is in there. What do I do? -Paul

 

Look closely at the front of the CD-ROM drive. See that teensy hole in the door? That's your answer. First, power off your computer. Afterward, straighten a paper clip and stick it in the hole. With any luck, you'll get your CD back.

 

PREGUNTA:

I use Windows XP. I want to remove the My Documents folder from the desktop. It's too easy for people to snoop. Is this possible? -Boom Boom

 

You can remove the My Documents folder from your desktop. When you do that, only the desktop link to the folder is deleted. The My Documents folder is still accessible in Windows Explorer and off the Start button. In Windows XP, right-click the desktop. Click Properties, select the Desktop tab, then click Customize Desktop. Deselect My Documents, click OK.

 

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I have a virus and now I need to edit the Windows Registry. There are warnings to back it up first. How do you do that? -Regret

 

The Registry is a very important file that tells Windows how to run. That's why it's a good idea to back it up before editing it. It's not hard to do. Here's how: Click Start, then Run. Type ''regedit'' (without the quotes) in the box and click OK. Click File and Export. Select a folder on your hard drive and click Save. That will save a copy of the Registry to that folder.

 

 

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How can I tell how much free hard-drive space I have on my Windows computer? -Ghost

 

Easy. Open Windows Explorer. The status bar at the bottom will show the free space. If the status bar is not visible, click View, then Status Bar. Do you prefer pie charts? Double-click the My Computer icon on the desktop in Windows 98 and Me (Millennium Edition). If the icon isn't available in XP, click Start and My Computer. Right-click the hard drive (usually C:). Click Properties. Select the General tab. You should see a pie showing used and free space, along with their percentages.

 

 

 

 

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Advice from a reader

 

In a previous column you answered a question about Windows ME's inability to manage memory adequately. One problem you mentioned concerned ME's reluctance to turn loose of system resources.

 

About six months ago I downloaded a shareware program named Memory Zipper Plus by Shrishail Rana. I tried it and I bought it for $10. Since I bought it, Shrishail has e-mailed me links to updates about six times. The latest version can be downloaded at www.systweak.com/memzip/. The Memzip icon in the system tray specifies available memory in megabytes and includes a color bar to show memory condition.

 

 

 

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I recently upgraded to Outlook Express 6.0. Now when I want to print an e-mail, the print is so small I can hardly read it. (You can probably guess my age.) Is there any way I can enlarge the print? -Janet

 

A single glance at the picture atop this column should convince you that I share your pain, Ms. J. Your answer is as simple as the nose on my face, even if I need bifocals to see much past the tip of said proboscis. When I get an e-mail in Outlook Express that somebody has sent in tiny type, I open the note and hit Control plus A, which selects all of the text in the message. I then click the Format choice at the top of the e-mail display and pick Font. This brings up a menu with a slider for increasing the text size for my weak and watery eyes once I make the printout.

 

Let me add that one also can find a font command while composing notes so that they are sent in a readable size. Finally, note that while just reading e-mail on the screen, one can make the letters much more legible by clicking on the View command and then seeking out the Text Size choice, which can be set anywhere from impossibly tiny to probably bigger than either you or I require

 

 

 

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Did you miss the chance to view bootup chkdsk results when your computer rebooted?

 

Whether your computer rebooted with an error while you're away or you scheduled an automated check disk upon bootup, you might not get enough time to examine bootup chkdsk results. The good news is that Windows NT will save this information in the Events Log.

 

Open Event Viewer

 

Windows NT 4.x: Select "Start | Programs | Administrative Tools | Event Viewer" from the Start Menu.

 

Select "Log | Application" from the main menu.

 

Scroll through the events until you see an event with "Autochk" as the "Source".

 

Double click on the selected event to view the results of previous bootup check disk operations.

 

 

 

 

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Is there a reason why Apple doesn't include a two-button mouse with its computers? Can you recommend a good replacement with more than one button? -L.L

 

It's anyone's guess as to why Apple doesn't include a two-button mouse. Windows users have certainly benefited from having a right mouse button to call up "contextual" menus. These menus change a bit, depending on what is selected. They feature handy options for whatever you are "right-clicking" on. Apple has included contextual menus in its last few versions of the operating system. My favorite is the Kensington USB Mouse-in-a-Box. It's a $20 optical mouse with two buttons and a scroll wheel.

 

 

 

 

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I have my own Web site and host it on Yahoo. I also registered the site name through Yahoo Domains last November. I did the agreement for one year, and I know if I want to renew it, I have to do it before the year is up. Lately, I've been getting mail telling me that I need to renew my address, but the mail is not from Yahoo Domains. The latest letter was from Register.com, but it isn't the only one contacting me. Is the Register.com mail my official renewal notice? I'd hate to miss out on renewing my domain. I couldn't find a phone number for Yahoo Domains to ask. -J.T.

 

What you are getting is junk mail. If it is e-mail, I'd call it spam. Register.com and the others want you to renew your Web site through them. All these domain registrars deal with Internic, the company that keeps up with all the domain names. Internic does not deal directly with the public. There are several companies that can register a domain name on your behalf, and they've started to get very competitive. You can renew through any registrar, especially if you are offered a cheaper deal. Don't feel obligated to renew through anyone else if you are happy with Yahoo Domains' service.

 

 

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My granddaughter was taking a floppy disk out, and the silver part did not come out with it!!! It is stuck inside!!!!! I have some Masonic work I need to do, and I need to keep the information on this floppy for the lodge. I know you have a lot of questions to answer, but could you hurry with mine? -Impatient

 

Not until you show me the secret handshake. Just fish the tab out with some tweezers or needle-nosed pliers, or haul the computer down to the shop, where they'll do the exact same thing for an unconscionable amount of money. Meanwhile, you can still read the floppy on another computer, even without the silver thingie.

 

 

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I have installed Ad-aware and put Doubleclick.com on my list of cookies to reject, but each day when I run Ad-aware, it finds a Doubleclick cookie. Is there any way to find out why it keeps showing up? -Cookie Monster

 

Yeah. It shows up because you didn't read the Ad-aware instructions. The "Ignore'' list is for cookies on your system you want to ignore instead of delete. Tons of different Web sites use Doubleclick cookies to determine which ads they should show you, as if you actually paid any attention to Internet advertising. All of that makes a lot of people get this really icky feeling that all the ad weasels out there are spying on them. Ad-aware (www.lavasoft.nu) cleans out known spyware and ad cookies if you use it correctly.

 

 

 

 

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This reader offers advice about working with computers in a way that seems more convincing than anything I could say:

 

Your article on computers not being a mystery hit home. I'm legally blind. It is hard for me to read manuals, so everything I've learned is through trial-and-error. I'm living proof that you can't hurt computers.

 

I've had computers for more than eight years. I install all my own programs and replace worn or broken hardware, all without seeing very well. I've learned that you want to explore. And I've learned that you must keep track of what you are doing so if you get in trouble, you can back out and - most of the time - things will be OK.

 

I try to tell people not to be scared of computers. I've crashed a computer just twice in over eight years of using them. And both times it was a hardware problem and not something I did.

 

 

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I want to capture some video to my computer, and I see that I have a choice of USB or FireWire to use for the "port of entry." My computer already has a USB port, but I'd have to buy a FireWire card for one of my PCI slots. The USB video import devices are less than $100, and the FireWire devices are more than $200. Which should I buy? -D.E.

 

You'll be sorry if you go with the cheap solution for video importing. FireWire can transfer data at up to 400 megabits per second, while USB is stuck at a pokey 12 Mbps. If you can find a device that uses USB 2.0, which transfers at up to 480 Mbps, that may be a good choice, but you'll still need to add a PCI card to the ports. You'll need the fastest data transfer possible to avoid dropping video frames during the import. Dropped frames mean choppy video playback. I'd go with the FireWire card and import device. That way, when you are ready to use a digital video camera, you can import the digital video directly.

 

 

 

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Reader Tips!

 

Close many Windows at once:

Pressing the shift key is pressed when a window is closed closes all of its ancestors, too.

 

Recover from dragging errors:

If you notice when dragging an item (a file, window frame, or whatever) that you're moving something you didn't intended to move, you can cancel the operation by pressing the escape key before dropping the item.

 

Move files, copy files, and create shortcuts with less confusion:

Instead of left-clicking when dragging and dropping a file, try right-clicking instead. When you drop the file, a menu will appear asking whether you want to Move it, Copy it, or Create a Shortcut to it.

 

 

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In Windows XP, what is Pctspk.exe, and why does it sometimes require 98 percent of my CPU resources, causing my computer to run like a drunken one-legged man? -Resourceless

 

An exhaustive 30-second search of the Internet turns up hundreds of others with the same complaint. Apparently, Pctspk.exe's only purpose is to make those screechy modem noises come out of your speaker when you go online. It's probably installed when the rest of your modem drivers are.

 

Hit Control-Alt-Delete to open the Task Manager, and temporarily shut it down there to see if it's going to kill your computer. You can do that with any other suspected memory-hog, too. If things still work, try disabling it permanently. Go to the Run dialog in the Start menu and type ``Msconfig,'' then look for it in the startup files.

 

 

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I've heard about Internet newsgroups. What are these and how can I use them? -Atilda

 

Internet newsgroups - otherwise known as Usenet newsgroups or just Usenet - are electronic discussion groups in which you can share information and opinions with people all over the world.

 

To access newsgroups you need a program known as a newsreader. Although there are dedicated newsreader programs, you will find programs such as Outlook Express and Netscape Navigator include newsreading facilities, and so you might already have this on your computer.

 

To start using newsgroups, you will need to specify a news server, much like you specify a mail server to use e-mail.

 

In Outlook Express, for instance, click the Tools/Accounts menu and then the News tab. Your Internet Service Provider will be able to tell you the name of any news servers they provide or recommend. Usually it is the form news.isp.com.au.

 

 

 

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Text printed from the Internet always seems to come with an extra page with little or no information on it. Why is this? Is it just me? - Paper Chase

 

Yes, it's just you. None of the rest of us have that problem.

 

A Web "page'' doesn't fit any standard paper size. It stops where it stops, and if that just happens to be at the top of a fresh piece of paper, you just inadvertently helped to kill another tree. If you want more control, cut and paste stuff from the Web page into your word processor.

 

 

 

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Sometimes the Internet connects itself automatically on my PC, which makes me quite nervous. This happens randomly and I haven't been able to isolate the problem. I like to keep my computer up and running but I've been shutting it off because I fear if I leave the house the Internet connection will start up and I won't receive phone calls. Any ideas or opinions? -Tim Gilders

 

All you need to do is change the settings for your default dial-up Internet connection in Windows and that nasty and, as you note, dangerous, random dialing will stop, Mr. G.

 

You will either find the Dial-Up Connections folder in the My Computer folder on your desktop or in the Control Panel folder, which also appears in the My Computer folder.

 

Find the icon representing your dial up connection and right click.U Pick Properties from the next display and then click the tab marked Dialing. There you will find a set of check boxes that will let you stop the computer from initiating dialing on its own.

 

 

 

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I purchased a Dell laptop about eight months ago. It was shipped with Windows ME as well as XP Office. I seemed to keep encountering instability with Word and Excel, so I upgraded my operating system last month to the Windows XP operating system. Everything is stable now, but I would like to free up hard-drive space by deleting my ME backup files. But am not sure if it is safe to do so. -Chris Southerland

 

There's no hard-and-fast rule on how long to keep the backup files from an earlier operating system. For instance, since I have plenty of space free on the hard disk of my home computer, mine are still around. But if you need the hard-disk space and your system has been stable for a month or so, I think you'd be safe in deleting the old files.

 

 

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A few to several weeks ago, you recommended a file-viewing program that got into many different file formats. No, I don't remember the name, but it was under $40, I believe. Could you repeat the name? -Urban Thode

 

Even though I continue to be an avid fan of Multimedia Xplorer from Moon Software (www.moonsoftware.com), it is worth noting that folks who move up to Windows XP get a file viewer built into the system that is almost as good as the file viewer in this program. The idea is to simply find a way to display each image in a folder as a full-screen presentation that can be delivered as a slide show.

 

In Windows XP, one simply opens a folder and right-clicks somewhere inside and picks the View option from the pop-up menu that appears. Select Thumbnails, and Windows XP generates a small picture of each image file in the folder.

 

Go to any thumbnail and give it a click, and the image comes up in the Windows File and Fax viewer, which has handy arrows to permit moving from one message to the next with a mouse click or tapping the Enter key. Each displayed image can be enlarged by tapping the Plus key on the keypad or decreased with the Minus key.

 

 

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Text printed from the Internet always seems to come with an extra page with little or no information on it. Why is this? Is it just me? - Paper Chase

 

Yes, it's just you. None of the rest of us have that problem.

 

A Web "page'' doesn't fit any standard paper size. It stops where it stops, and if that just happens to be at the top of a fresh piece of paper, you just inadvertently helped to kill another tree. If you want more control, cut and paste stuff from the Web page into your word processor.

 

 

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I have an HP Pavilion 7920 that came with Windows Me. I don't care for Me, so I reformatted the hard drive and installed Win98. Now I can only get 16 colors in the display. HP said, "Tough, that's the way all bundled computers are made.'' - Colorblind

 

Well, I hate to be the one who said, "I told you so,'' but ... No, wait! I love doing that, so here goes: When you buy a $700 computer, you've got to accept some compromises.

 

In your case, you got a lousy little video adapter that's integrated with the motherboard. Hey, it saved money, and as long as you don't expect to run any hard-core games, you should be OK. Well, not really.

 

Now that you've loaded Win98, you've probably discovered that HP doesn't have a video driver for you. Me and XP only. Without that driver, you're stuck with Windows' generic 16-color display.

 

The quickest fix would be upgrading to XP, since there's actually a driver available. I agree that Me should be relegated to the trash, but if you're dead-set against progress and want to stick with Win98, you can always buy a separate video card and disable the onboard one.

 

 

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I am running Windows XP Home Edition on a Compaq Presario 5000. I have received several photos via e-mail which I would like to save on a floppy disk and/or a CD. How can I send them to the "My Pictures" folder so that I can transfer them to a floppy or a CD? I enjoy your column and have gotten a lot of helpful information from the questions and answers. -Elizabeth Hawkins

 

It's amazing--and very good for this column writer--that Microsoft Corp. didn't deign to include a proper manual with its Windows operating system. Had there been such a book you could have simply turned to P for pictures and found what I can tell you here.

 

When one opens an e-mail with a photograph attached, the picture gets displayed in a pane just below the e-mail message proper. If one looks closely at the displayed photo, one will see an icon for a small paper clip. If you click that icon you get choices to either open the picture or "Save Attachment." Choose Save Attachment and you will see a box with the file name and a Browse icon. Click that and then go through the folders that get displayed until you find My Pictures and pick that one. From then on all pictures will be sent to My Pictures when you use the paper clip icon.

 

One should also note that it is possible to move pictures to new folders that one creates or to other places on the machine, such as the desktop, using this command.

 

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I downloaded TrueType sign-language fonts so I can communicate with my deaf grandchild, but I can't figure out how to get them into a word processor. Is this possible or am I expecting too much? - Missing Font

 

It's never just as simple as acquiring the font. That would be too easy. I sometimes think Microsoft software engineers' salaries are based on how many steps it takes a user to get something done. The font guys must not be making much, because this is an easy one.

Once you have the font stashed on your hard drive, go to the Control Panel (from Settings in the Start Menu) and double-click on Fonts. You'll see a list of currently installed fonts. Open the File menu, click on Install New Font, then locate the file in the folder-navigation display. If that's too confusing, there's an illustrated guide at www.microsoft.com/truetype/ttfinst/ttfinst.htm.

 

 

 

 

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How would I set up my PC so I can do either a shut down or restart with just one click?--steve

 

Try following these steps:

 

One Click Shut Down or Restart

 

To Shut Down or Restart Windows with one mouse click:

 

1. Right-click the Desktop and select New > Shortcut

2. In the Command line box type:

 

rundll.exe user.exe,exitwindows

(for one click shut down)

 

rundll.exe user.exe,exitwindowsexec

(for one click restart)

 

rundll.exe shell32.dll,SHExitWindowsEx 0

(for one click Log off)

 

3. Click Next and give it the appropriate name (Shut Down or Restart)

 

To change the icon on the shortcut, right-click on the shortcut, and select Change Icon. Some nice icons can be found in \Windows\System\shell32.dll.

 

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Why does my machine index stuff every time it's idle? -Suspicious Activity

 

One of the nasty little surprises people encounter after installing Microsoft Office is that their drives suddenly start chugging along by themselves.

 

Relax. It's not Big Bill Gates searching your hard drive for incriminating evidence. He already has that. Office includes an indexing program that always runs in the background. The index it builds on each of your drives allows for faster searching with some advanced options if you can't find your manifesto by file name alone.

 

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/online/cybrsmrt.htm

 

 

 

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In the Add or Remove Programs window, I found the following: "Windows XP Hotfix." It was repeated 25 times, except the information following it was different for each one. I want to remove these. - Hot About Fixes

 

No, you don't, buckaroo. Those are bug fixes, security patches and compatibility updates installed by the Critical Update Notification dealie. Leave 'em alone or suffer the consequences.

 

The info accompanying each Hotfix refers to a Microsoft Knowledge Base document that explains what was goobered up and what got fixed. If you're absolutely determined to remove the fixes, be my guest, but when you're oevrrun by viruses, half your programs won't work and smoke starts pouring out of your computer, don't come crying to me.

 

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/online/cybrsmrt.htm

 

 

 

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Is it possible to select printing in black only on a color printer? -Jeann

 

Yes, many printers come with software that lets you choose whether you want to print with black ink only or in full color.

 

The method for choosing your print options varies from printer to printer. But generally, you start by clicking on the File menu in the program from which you are printing and then clicking on Print.

 

Let's say you have a fairly new Hewlett-Packard printer. After clicking Print, you would then click on the Properties button in the Print dialog box, then the Paper/Quality tab.

 

Finally, you would click on the Black & White option.

 

Other printers offer a similar approach. If your printer's options don't give you a choice, update the software. Doing so may give you the flexibility you want.

 

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/online/cybrsmrt.htm

 

 

 

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Reader Tip!

 

Organizing the Start Shortcuts:

 

Windows 98 has added the capability of customizing your taskbar using the right mouse button. You can now cut, copy, and past items in your taskbar. For example if you wanted to move a shortcut in a folder to another folder you can click on the shortcut with your right mouse button and choose the cut option (Note when clicking on cut the icon will not disappear until you paste into another location). Once you have chosen the option to cut find a folder that you wish to move the shortcut to and choose paste and your shortcut should now be in the folder that you have pasted it too. You can also do this with other shortcuts that are elsewhere on the computer such as your desktop, as well as moving them from your taskbar to your desktop.

 

 

 

 

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I downloaded the IncrediMail program and I think it's amazing. A friend just told me it's spyware and I should get rid of it. - Special Delivery

 

Sorry, but you never get anything for free. IncrediMail's agreement states they gather info ``to create aggregate, non-personal, demographic reports'' and ``provide users with certain content that may be of interest.'' Translation: ads.

 

That may not qualify as spying, but at least I never get pummeled with ads from Microsoft when I use Outlook Express.

 

I think you should dump it on general principle: IncrediMail allows you to clutter your e-mail with treacly backgrounds, sappy sound effects and irritating graphics designed for people who think dotting an ``i'' with a heart is a pretty cool thing to do. If that wasn't bad enough, all that stuff balloons the actual message size, eating up valuable bandwidth that would be better expended on Viagra spam

 

 

 

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Reader Tip!

 

Through the use of the run dialog of Windows, you may quickly and easily send email through the use of your default email program. To send an email from anywhere in windows, follow these steps:

 

-Open the run dialog by pressing windows key r

-Type "mailto:" without the quotes

-Insert the email address of the indvidual to whom you would like to send the email. For example: mailto:classes@accesstechnologyinstitute.com

-Press Enter

 

A new email form will be loaded. Simply fill in the subject, type your message and send as usual.

 

 

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My problem occurs when I try to print a Word document after sending a fax via Phone Tools. The printer won't print, and the Send Fax screen keeps coming up every time I try. This only occurs after shutting down the computer and then sending a fax before printing a document after start-up. If I print a Word document first, I don't have the problem until restarting the computer again. I am running Windows 98 on a Gateway computer and have an HP LaserJet 6L printer. -Lanny Smith

 

You can tackle this irksome problem by tinkering with the printer default settings in Windows 98, Mr. S.

 

I suspect it's as simple a matter as making sure your LaserJet printer is registered with the operating system as the default printer, the one that gets used whenever a print job gets ordered from software on the computer.

 

Click on the My Computer icon and look for the Printers folder. When you open that you will find icons for the LaserJet and the fax software. Computers send faxes by treating them as though they were documents being fed into a printer. So to send a word processing document to a fax machine, you click on File and pick Print to Fax on fax-enabled machines.

 

On your machine, this print-to-fax command is getting set as the default printer. Your word processor, on the other hand, is set to work with the LaserJet. So when you run the word processor, the documents are OK until you run the fax program that gets set as the default.

 

Hopefully the problem will disappear when you use the Printers module under My Computer to set the LaserJet as the default printer.

 

 

 

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Some time ago I installed a screen saver that had fish swimming. I wanted to get rid of it because instead of an arrow, it had a starfish, which makes it difficult to figure out exactly where the arrow should be. I uninstalled the screen saver, but I still have the little diver instead of the hourglass, and I still have the starfish. Can you help me? -Barry Wolfe

 

You can pull the plug on that diver and saw off that starfish simply by using the Control Panel for Mouse. Click on Start and then Settings and pick Control Panel (Windows XP users can click Start and then Control Panel). Click on the Mouse icon and you get a menu with a tab called Pointers.

 

There you will find a drop-down menu for so-called schemes. You can probably pick any one of these various ways of displaying the mouse cursor and fix the problem. You also can click on the icon you want to change, such as the hourglass, and then pick Browse. This calls up a menu of all possible icons for the same function as served by the hourglass for most of us and by that little diver for you, Mr. W.

 

 

 

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Reader Tip!

 

Restart the System without Rebooting:

 

If you are having problems in your current Win98 session, such as the Explorer crashing or a lot of GPFs appearing, you may be able to "fix" the problem by merely restarting your computer. This, however, can take a while, especially if you have a slow system or devices to load in your AUTOEXEC.BAT and/or CONFIG.SYS files. You also may be able to solve the problem by just restarting Win98 and not your computer.

 

To do so, hold down your left SHIFT key and keep it pressed throughout this tip. Click the "Start" button, selecting "Shut Down." Choose "Restart Your Computer" from the dialog box that appears, then click "OK." You may now release the SHIFT key; Win98 will proceed to shut down.

 

 

 

 

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We purchased an NEC Celeron computer in December `98 outfitted with Windows 98. We replaced the motherboard last May and upgraded the tower as well. Since that visit to the repair shop, the computer has been very unreliable with Internet connections. It is slow to connect and sometimes locks up. The vendor of the upgrade said everything was OK, that the problem must be in our Internet connection. We are ready to chuck this system. Any pointers? -Coopsport87

 

A few days ago, a friend reported a similar problem. I went over and replaced the telephone cable between the modem and the wall -- doing that because it was the easiest thing to check -- and presto!

 

I'll confess I got lucky. But the principle is a good one. Start your troubleshooting with either the most likely cause of the problem, if you know that, or with whatever is easiest to test.

 

At the very least, before chucking your computer you'll want to make certain the problem isn't in the phone line, the cable between the wall and the computer or the modem. Try a different computer, even a friend's laptop, on your line to see if that computer has similar problems. If it does, the problem is either in your telephone line or, perhaps, at your Internet service provider.

 

Because your computer is freezing up, however, I suspect the problem is inside your computer. Any time you replace a motherboard, you run the risk it may have some incompatibilities with other devices you use. Apart from trying a different motherboard, about all you can do is to make sure you have the most recent BIOS for that motherboard.

 

 

 

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Reader Tip!

 

Bypassing Startup Programs on bootup:

 

There may be a number of applications which add themselves to the "startup" of your computer. this means that they all launch and stay in the bakcground when you boot your computer. If you wish to boot your computer without any programs running aside from the operating system, just hold down the shift key as the computer finishes booting, all programs within the startup will be bypassed.

 

 

 

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I own a Hewlett-Packard Jornada 540 series Pocket PC hand-held computer. I am able to synchronize "my files" onto my desktop PC, but am unable anymore to sync my calendar, contacts and tasks. I use the sync software "ActiveSync 3.1" that came with the PDA itself. I was wondering if you knew how to make it possible to sync everything? -Jedd Rizzun

 

As a weary veteran of fixing my own Jornada with a bit of help from Microsoft's technical support, I can tell you and owners of other Pocket PCs as well that the easiest way to fix them is to render them dead and then start over from scratch.

 

Don't just follow the manual and use a paper clip or your little plastic stylus that came with the hand-held device to press the "reset" button. Instead, find the little backup hearing-aid-type battery and remove it. Then remove the main batteries, wait a tad and replace them, and then replace the hearing-aid battery. This completely removes all software and data from the device.

 

Next you want to use the Windows Add/Remove Control Panel to erase the ActiveSync software from your desktop computer. You can find Add/Remove by clicking on the My Computer icon and then opening the Control Panel folder.

 

With the PDA restored to its out-of-the-box state and your PC cleansed of the misbehaving ActiveSync software, log on to the Microsoft Web site and download the latest version of the ActiveSync software. To do that, point your browser to www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.asp and use the pull-down menus to find the ActiveSync software, which has been updated from your version.

 

By restoring your PDA to its original configuration and updating the ActiveSync software, you will be able to run the program as it should run. ActiveSync will lead you through the process of synchronizing your PDA with Microsoft Outlook, and your hand-held device once again will be the tool it was intended to be.

 

 

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Gender and Computers

 

Top nine reasons computers must be female:

 

1. Picky, picky, picky.

2. They hear what you say, but not what you mean.

3. Beauty is only shell deep.

4. When you ask what's wrong, they say "nothing".

5. Can produce incorrect results with alarming speed.

6. Always turning simple statements into big productions.

7. Smalltalk is important.

8. You do the same thing for years, and suddenly it's wrong.

9. They make you take the garbage out.

 

 

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Some time ago, I saw a program on television that showed a scanner to scan 35 mm negatives. Do you know where I might find one of these? What information might you have on one of these? -Charles Draper

 

As computer owners flock to take advantage of digital photography, most scanner manufacturers have built film-scanning capabilities into their products. And the costs are pretty low considering the great benefits that come from being able to move a lifetime worth of 35 mm slides and photos onto a computer. Go to the Canon USA Web page (www.usa.canon.com) and take a look at the $150 Canon D123OUF, a scanner that I recently reviewed.

 

This model has an adapter built right into the lid for digitizing film strips or slides. You just place a four-shotA strip or a couple of slides in the rack and scan as usual. Included software creates 1,200-by-2,400 dots-per-inch images that are amazingly faithful to the detail created by conventional cameras on celluloid film.

 

Once digitized, your slides can be tweaked by photo darkroom software, cropped and transformed into slide shows that can be viewed on your own PC, or placed on a CD that can be sent to friends for viewing on their PCs. Or you can just e-mail the photos and be done with it.

 

A cautionary note should be sounded, Mr. D. Anybody who ever set out to scan a shoebox full of slides will tell you that the process becomes mighty time consuming and tiring. It takes at least 3 Useconds to scan each pass of the machine and then one must do things like crop each shot and move the files to the proper folders.

 

The joy of a finished job is great, but when you get done with the required effort you will have deserved every bit of that joy.

 

 

 

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Reader Tip!

 

Why on earth do you need the Recycle Bin if you're sure you want to remove a file from your computer? Forget the Bin. Next time you decide to zap a file into oblivion, just highlight it, hold down the Shift key, and press Delete. It's gone, and it DOESN'T go to the Recycle Bin first!

 

 

 

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I just got a Compaq Evo n600c laptop on loan from a client. Naturally, I did not get a user guide with it. I cannot figure out how to change the contrast, and it's driving me bonkers because I can barely see shaded items, such as scroll bars. I did figure out that holding down the function key plus F10 plus the up/down/left/right arrow keys affects the brightness, but I cannot figure out how to change the contrast. I looked for a user guide online but no luck. Any ideas? -G.G.

 

Hate to be the one to break it to you, but there is no contrast control for the screens of most modern-day laptop computers. By modern-day, I mean a laptop with an active matrix screen.

 

There are two types of LCD screens that you can buy: active matrix and passive matrix. Active matrix is also known as TFT, which stands for thin film transistor. Passive matrix is the cheaper of the two types.

 

The difference is in the number and placement of transistorsU behind the pixels of the screen. Active matrix screens look brighter and have a greater angle of view. They are slightly more expensive but have come down in price in the last year. The vast majority of LCD screens, including yours, are active matrix.

 

You can change the brightness of an active matrix screen but not the contrast.

 

It will be easier to right-click on the desktop and change the desktop's theme to adjust the color of the scroll bars.

 

 

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I have Windows 98 Second Edition. To find and eliminate cookies, I simply click on Tools, then Internet Options, and a window comes up with a button that offers to delete cookies. The problem is keeping the "good" cookies. Is there a way to do that without opening and looking at each individual cookie? -Fae

I'll suggest two strategies. First, with Internet Explorer, cookies are saved in separate files in the Cookies subdirectory under your userUname in the Documents and Settings directory. If you've visited PC World, for example, the name of the cookie will be your.name@www.pcworld. In other words, it's pretty easy to tell where most of the cookies are from without opening them.

Second, you can go to the Privacy tab in the Internet Options dialog box, found under the Tools menu, to fine-tune what kinds of cookies Internet Explorer will accept. That should help keep the number of cookies on your computer down to a more manageable number.

 

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Reader Tip!

Emergency Recovery

You have just finished your assignment or project. Then due to system instability, Windows suddenly won't respond and you haven't saved your application yet. You know that any further doodling will bring up either the blue screen of death or the "Illegal Operation" error. Shut down and your precious assignment is gone. Now what?

If the Ctrl+Alt+Del combination will respond, then you are fortunate. Check which program is not responding. Select the faulty program and click End Task. If not, select Explorer and the click on End Task.

Wait for about 20 seconds. There will be a dialog box stating that Explorer is not responding. Click on End Task again. Windows will do something like a "full refresh". Chances are, you can now safely save your assignment.

 

 

 

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Is an ATM card a smart card? -M. Harket

Not according to the International Standardization Organization. They set world trade standards and state that only cards with computer chips count.

 

 

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Reader Tip!

Installing a Windows 98 Upgrade CD without a Previous OS installed

Begin the windows install as if it was the full version, during the install you will be prompted for a previous operating system, at his point put your old operating system CD in the drive and browse to the WIN95 folder. Click ok, the windows upgrade will confirm this is a full version and continue with the upgrade (after you replace the upgrade CD).

 

 

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My wife received an e-mail from an unknown addressee with an innocent subject line. The first sentence in the body said, `For more info, click here,' which she did. Up popped an advertisement for teenage-girl porn. It also imbedded its program `Live Shows' in my system.

When we boot the system, the first thing on the desktop is its legal disclaimer. An icon is on the desktop, and it is listed in the taskbar. I've tried deleting the folder from the C drive (it reappears at the next bootup). I've lost the incoming e-mail. Can you help? I am running Windows 98. -Harry Jones

If your mom sends you an attachment marked "I Love You," don't check it out, eh, Mr. J? Your vexation certainly should warn others about opening anything attached to any e-mail unless you know the person who sent it and what the attachment is.

You probably can clean this mess up by checking the Windows Control Panels for Add/Remove programs. There you will find a listing for whatever program gets run on bootup to blast you with those porn pitches.

So first of all, take a look at the names of the stuff that comes up for clues to what the program might be, such as "Live Shows." Then click on Start and Settings and Control Panel. With the Control Panel folder open, click on the Add/Remove Programs icon and check the names that are listed for programs installed on your machine. Find the one or ones with suspect names and remove them. Almost all Internet junk programs like you describe can be removed this way.

If this doesn't work, click on Start and then Run and type in msconfig, which in Windows 98 and above calls up a list of all of the startup programs that get listed in the taskbar. Find the suspicious listing there, and you will find a check box that lets you disable it during future bootups.

 

 

 

 

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Can I boot Windows Me to a DOS prompt? -Jan

No. Windows Me doesn't include Real Mode DOS, so it's impossible to boot the system into DOS mode or reboot the system into DOS mode. You can, however, use a Windows Me boot disk to boot into a command prompt.

 

 

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Does Roxio GoBack do anything that I can't already do if I restore the Registry by starting in Safe Mode and selecting a previous one? -Take Me Back

Scanreg in Win98 and System Restore in ME and XP do pretty good jobs of restoring system files if you've simply done something stupid that affects the way Windows runs, such as messing up file associations.

GoBack does that as well as archiving documents, allowing it to restore things like erased copies of e-mails to columnists that outline duplicitous schemes to mess with somebody's head. It takes up more disk space, but since the wife in question is likely to get the computer in the divorce settlement, that shouldn't be a concern.

 

 

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Q: Can I upgrade any Windows version with Windows Me? What about Windows Me to Windows NT or Windows 2000?

Question 1: You can upgrade Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows 98 Second Edition to Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me).

Question 2: No. But you can upgrade Windows Me to the next version of Windows 2000.

 

 

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Reader Tip!

Restoring Your Registry

Has your registry recently been damaged? To determine whether your registry was recently damaged, restore the registry from the previous day's backup.

To restore the registry from the previous day's backup:

Hold down the CTRL key as you restart your computer.
On the Startup menu, select Safe mode command prompt only.
Type C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\SCANREG /RESTORE, and then press ENTER.
When you are prompted, select Previous Day's Registry.

Note: If you restore a previous registry, you may need to reinstall any programs that were installed after the registry backup was made.

 

 

 

 

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Reader's Tip: Scheduled Tasks

If you always forget to scan for viruses, update virus protection, run Disk Defragmenter, or run any other system tool, then look to the Task Scheduler for help.

By using Task Scheduler, you can run programs and tasks at a time that is most convenient for you. Task Scheduler automatically starts when Windows boots up, and it runs as a background application.

Here's what you can do with Task Scheduler:

1. Schedule a task to run daily, weekly, monthly, or at certain times (like during system startup).
2. Change the schedule for a task.
3. Stop a scheduled task.

To take full advantage of this service, make sure that the system date and time for your computer are accurate before you add a task.

Schedule your own tasks:

1. Go to your desktop and double-click My Computer.
2. Now, double-click the Scheduled Tasks folder.
3. When the folder opens, double-click Add Scheduled Task.
4. This will launch a wizard that will walk you through the process.

The wizard will load a list of everything that's installed on your machine.

 

 

 

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Occasionally, I have to make a selection of staff to receive a perk. I have used names in a hat drawn as lots but twice the same people won, so I think the process may be less than random. I searched many sites on the Web looking for a "Random Name Selector" program to no avail. Any ideas? -William Davis

Just about everybody with a computer at the office (and most home users, too) have a superb random number generator tucked away in the spreadsheets that are part of Microsoft Office, Microsoft Works and AppleWorks. It does take a tad of explaining, but here is how you can use the spreadsheet on your computer to pick a lucky worker's number with nearly perfect randomness.

To generate a random number type the formula rand() in a single cell. Every time you recalculate the spreadsheet by adding a new cell or by hitting F9, a random number between 0 and 1 will change. To set this up so that the random number is picked from among a given number of workers you need to assign a number to each employee starting with 1.

Then you multiply rand() by the number of workers to pick the lucky winner. Because of a quirk in the arithmetic you need to set it up like this:

Say you have 50 workers. Type 1+50*rand() in the appropriate cell. Now gather the staff around the PC and hit enter. Viola! You will have a winner with no suspicions about who is holding the hat.

The rest of the staff can then take turns hitting F9 to see how long it would have taken for each of their numbers to come up.

 

 

 

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Recently, you suggested quieting the computer enclosure to quiet a noisy computer. Is there any way to quiet the fan itself? -Jeff

I consulted an acoustic engineer, who told me his tests showed that much of the noise was due to the flow of air through the typical stamped-metal vent cover over the fan. He found that putting a piece of screen mesh over the opening reduced this noise. You can also install rubber washers on the fan mounting screws, between the fan and the surface it is mounted on.

 

 

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My computer just crashed. What's the first thing I should do? Then what? -Bill

Unless you heard unusual noises such as grinding, reboot the computer several times. Be sure to unplug the computer -- or remove its batteries -- between each rebooting and, copy any messages that the computer gives you as you boot. If your computer does not recover, take a deep breath.

Most computers contain data that is business critical. Has it been saved on a back up? If not, call a professional. There are many ways to attempt recovery of your data ranging from simple software utilities to physical level recovery. The costs range from low hundreds of dollars to thousands depending upon the nature of the failure and amount of data involved.

 

 

 

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My computer is five years old and is going slower and slower. Should I upgrade it or move on? -Alee

If your computer is five years old or older, think hard before pouring money into it. Computers age about 16 years for every human year. The accelerated aging is due to technology changes and increasing or changing demands of newer software. The change of technology can obsolete the components inside your computer. These may need to be replaced. The demands of new software on your system can many times be addressed with more memory, a check-up to clean up files and system software, and upgrades to your computer software.

One caution, don't underestimate the cost of moving on! Not only will you need to buy a computer but also will need to re-install and configure your software, and transfer your data. Many times old programs will not be supported on newer machines. You need to evaluate which ones will need to be replaced.

 

 

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My I hate the arrows that Windows puts on your desktop shortcuts. I have always used TweakUI to take care of this problem, but recently my computer burped, and now I have the arrows back. - Broken Arrow

Dear Broken: I sure would like to meet the dunderhead at Microsoft who thought it would be a really keen idea to trash up desktop icons with tiny little arrows so users would know those were shortcuts to programs instead of, well, I have no idea what else they could possibly be.

Needless to say, they tick a lot of other people off, too, so it's no surprise that one of the most requested cosmetic changes to the desktop is an arrow-ectomy.

TweakUI, the handy little annoyance-fixer developed - but not supported - by Microsoft, was a great way to dump the arrows as well as take care of several other irritating user-interface design goofs. With the subtlety of a steamroller, however, a recent Critical Update patch hammered that hack, and the arrows came back.

You can either live with them or take a chance on killing your computer by fiddling with the Registry.

Choose Run from the Start menu and type in Regedit. Once it starts, open the Edit menu and select Find. Look for ``IsShortcut'' (Leave the quotes off, Fester), and delete every instance of it. Did I mention you should back up the Registry first in case you do something stupid? Shut down and restart. Either the problem will have gone away or you will be the proud owner of a $2,000 paperweight. Either way, you'll have eliminated those nasty little arrows.

 

 

 

 

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Like a fool, I downloaded Microsoft's newest Outlook Express. Now I can't open most attachments. - Detached

Yeah, wasn't that a nasty little surprise? It's really hard for me to get ticked at Microsoft over this "enhancement," which is designed to prevent you from opening files that potentially could be viruses. It would have been nice if they had warned us about it, though. Maybe they did, but it must have been some mighty fine print. If you poke around the menus long enough, you'll find where to turn it off: Open the Tools menu, pick Options and click on the Security tab. Uncheck the box labeled "Do not allow attachment to be saved or opened."

 

 

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I am trying to download the Windows XP Service Pack 1. I let it run all night, and it did not finish. The remaining time shown never changes. I have an AOL dial-up connection with a 56k modem. Can you help me? -Tired of Waiting

Sure. Got 10 bucks? No, it's not for me, it's for poor Microsoft, whose owners and employees are so cash-strapped that they have to light their cigars with hundred-dollar bills instead of thousand-dollar ones.

You're making yourself crazy. The full XP service pack, containing bug fixes and security updates, is supposed to be 30 megabytes big, which theoretically takes 90 minutes to download at 56K. Nice theory, but in reality it can take a lot longer than that. Maybe you're only connecting at 28K. Maybe phone-line noise is garbling the download so that the sending computer has to try and try again. Maybe AOL's goofy, stripped-down browser is a piece of garbage. Whatever the problem, is it worth the aggravation?

Pull your credit card out and go to www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/Uservicepacks/sp1/ordercd.asp. If you don't want to do that, just download and install all the "hotfixes" available at windowsupdate.microsoft.com, and that should take care of a lot of the things the service pack was intended to fix.

 

 

 

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What makes an Etch-A-Sketch work? -Ayla

The Etch-A-Sketch "Magic Screen" has nothing really to do with magic. A grayish mixture of aluminum powder and plastic beads coats the reverse side of the screen, while a metal stylus connects to the turning knobs, which move it up and down or left and right. As the stylus moves, it pushes aside the gray mixture and lines appear where the powder had been. Holding the box upside down and shaking causes the mixture to redistribute evenly, and the lines disappear.

The idea for the Etch-A-Sketch dates to 1958, when a garage mechanic from Paris, Arthur Granjean, toyed with the idea of an automatic drawing toy that could run without batteries. His invention was called "L'Ecran Magique" (The Magic Screen). The possibilities were amazing--you could draw letters or pictures, then clear the images quickly.

Ohio Art purchased the rights for $25,000 and has produced the Etch-A-Sketch for over 30 years. The design hasn't changed a bit since its debut in 1960. Today they produce a host of variations on the theme, including travel and pocket sizes.

 

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I have files on my computer named File0001.chk, File0002.chk and so on. Can I remove them? -Matz

These files are leftovers from Windows ScanDisk, which is software the keeps your computer's hard drive operating properly. ScanDisk will bundle up any lost file fragments and place them in a file or files on C:\. You can find the files that end in CHK and open them by using Notepad. Delete the files after examining them.

 

 

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My father was telling me about firewalls and mentioned you knew of some good free firewalls to download. I was wondering if you could give me those e-mail addresses and any info about the benefits of firewalls, as this is a relatively new term for me. -Tiffany Bastian

If you have Windows XP, you have a free firewall, built into the program. You can find out how to turn that firewall on (the default setting, when you install XP, is off) by typing the word "firewall" in when you call up the Help program with Windows.

For others, my favorite of the free firewalls can be downloaded at www.zonelabs.com. Look for a program called Zone Alarm. And be warned: From experience, I know that some readers will have trouble finding the download. Zone Labs also sells commercial versions, so you'll need to search out the free one. Look at the bottom right of the page for the link to the free one. You'll see text that says: "Also available: Zone Alarm free download."

 

 

PREGUNTA:

Is it worth the money to upgrade a hard drive? Is this something that I can do myself? -Justin

If you're running out of space on the drive and you've had it for more than a couple of years, it might be time to consider an upgrade. Installing a second hard drive is easy. Things get trickier, though, if you replace your existing hard drive. In this case, you'll probably want to clone your old drive onto your new drive. That entails installing the new drive, cloning the old drive using software such as Symantec's $99.96 Norton Ghost (www.symantec.com), removing the old drive, adjusting ''jumper'' settings and moving the new drive to the old slot. If you're not comfortable working inside your PC, have a computer service center or dealer do it for you

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

Camera-store people tell me that opening TIFF and JPEG files causes a loss of resolution. Is that true? -Kylie

That can happen with JPEGs, but not TIFFs.

The most popular compression for pictures today is JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), which removes nonessential image data to compress a picture file to a manageable size. When it's done properly, real-world photographers can't tell the difference. But it's possible for an image to lose additional detail if you open it, then edit it in some way, forcing an additional round of JPEG compression.

To preserve all of a photo's details you should use TIFFI(Tag Image File Format) instead of JPEG. Another option is to save a working copy of a photo in another format while you edit it. When you're done, you can save it as a JPEG or a TIFF, depending on how much detail you need to keep.

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

I like to use my laptop in bed. What can I get so it doesn't move around while I type?

That can happen with JPEGs, but not TIFFs.

One way is to place your laptop on a standard folding bed tray typically used for eating. These cost less than $20 at your favorite bed and bath store. But if you are more into form and function, check out Intrigo's (www.intrigo.com) $70 to $140 Lapstation. These folding trays include dual mesh pockets, expansion ports and gel-filled wrist pads. If you simply want to rest your laptop on your legs, RoadTools' (www.roadtools.com) $20 Coolpad will keep your laptop steady on your legs, and also on airplane tray tables.

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

Is the video created by digital cameras any good?

A digital camera is made to take still pictures. While some of today's models allow you to shoot videos, too, they're not replacements for a camcorder. First, a digital camera's video is typically very short, no more than a minute or two. In addition, the resolution is around 320 by 240 pixels and the frames per second are half of a camcorder. And if your camera doesn't include a microphone, your movies will be silent. All this adds up to a very grainy, short and not-very-satisfying experience. So when you're buying, don't give this feature too much weight.

 

 

PREGUNTA:

I'm trying to install Microsoft Works Suite 2002, and I keep getting a message that says, "Error 2349: Copy Resumed With Different Info." What is causing this error, and can I fix it?

According to Microsoft, this is a problem with having a dirty or damaged CD. To clean the CD, just spray the silver side (the data side) with a non-abrasive cleaner such as Windex. Now, take a lint-free cloth and wipe the CD from the center to the outer edge. Don't wipe the CD in a circular fashion (or with a paper cloth) because this will scratch (and possibly damage) the CD. Try the installation again, and if it works then you have nothing to worry about. But, if it doesn't work, then you may have a damaged CD. You can try installing the software on a second machine, or if it is a new CD then you can take it back to the store and get a new one to try on your computer. Sometimes if the CD is severely scratched, you may be able to make a copy of the CD with a CD-RW drive, and then you will have an unscratched CD that may work. Hopefully this will point you in the right direction and alleviate your install problems.

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

In the past two weeks, a system pop-up gray screen has been appearing constantly, referring to an astrology site called clickspring.net, and driving me to distraction in the process. -David Elderkin

That appears to be a virus-like advertising program that can be smuggled onto your computer with a program called Purity Scan, which purports to search your hard drive for "offensive" material and delete it. To give Purity Scan its due, it appears to disclose the fact that you'll be bombarded with advertising as a condition of using the program. But it puts it in the text of a license agreement that's long, hard to understand and easy to skip over.

If you want to fix it yourself, you can look for a reference to "winservs.exe" in your Startup folder and delete it. If all else fails, run the uninstaller program from clickspring, by following the link to "opt out of interstitial advertising" (!) at www.clickspring.net/cs/pop4/frame.html

 

 

PREGUNTA:

I am using Norton Systemworks 2002. Is there I any way to stop the incoming e-mail virus checker from stopping and waiting for the Finish button to be clicked? - Unfinished Business

Irritating, isn't it? Your checker does a great job of intercepting viruses before they even make it into your inbox, then you have to get rid of the notification screen before you can get the rest of your mail. I just want the stupid thing to do its job and leave me out of the loop.

The brainiacs at Symantec must have been reading their hate mail, because they quietly fixed that little annoyance a while back. Do a manual Live Update session to make sure you have the patch installed, then go to the e-mail options screen to enable either a ``silent'' quarantine or deletion. You'll never have to interrupt your martini-mixing to finish downloading your mail again.

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

I have trouble hearing the beeps and other system sounds in Windows XP. What can I do to be advised of these warnings? -Laurie

Windows includes a utility called SoundSentry. Once activated, it will alert you visually with a flashing bar, active window or desktop. You also can make programs display captions for the speech and sounds they make. To use SoundSentry, open the Control Panel from the Start menu. Double-click on Accessibility Options. Select the Sound tab. Check ''Use SoundSentry'' and choose the type of visual warning you'd prefer. You also can check ''Use ShowSounds'' here, too. Click OK for the changes to take effect.

 

 

PREGUNTA:

How can I get my home page to show up on search engines?

There are many search engines out there, but you will do well to focus on the most popular ones or the top search site of them all, Google. If your site shows up in searches there, the odds are that it will appear in other searches before long.

First, you need to make sure that Google knows your page exists by submitting your Web page address to www.google.com/addurl.html. The tricky part, however, is getting your page to show up prominently in a Google search.

How does Google rank pages? Rather than employing a horde of scholars to surf the Web, Google sends out small programs called "robots" to examine the Internet. They try to see how many other sites link to a given page, a statistic that Google uses to indicate how relevant or interesting people found your page. If many other people point to your site, then it will climb in the ranking order at Google.

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

I have pictures of my kids on my hard drive. Can I use these as my Windows XP screen saver? -Karelia

Sure. Place the pictures in the My Pictures folder. Right-click the desktop, select Properties and the Screen Saver tab. Click the arrow under Screen Saver. Select My Pictures Slideshow. Click Settings and choose the interval between each picture and any transition effects.

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

I am attempting to download Microsoft Works into a Dell laptop with Windows 98, but the downloading stops due to "no share.exe file." -John Malloy

Your old Works requires a file that Windows no longer has. Create a dummy share.exe file. Click on Start, Programs, Accessories, Notepad. Click on File, Save As, change the drop-down box to show your C: drive and type share.exe in the File name box (erase anything else there). Click Save.

 

PREGUNTA:

I am donating an old computer to my church. I've deleted my personal files. Is this enough? -Jack

Using a program designed to permanently delete files is best. Consider Symantec's $99.95 Norton SystemWorks (symantec.com), which includes WipeInfo. OnTrack's $29.95 DataEraser (www.ontrack.com) offers a similar feature, as does Jetico's $39.95 BCWipe (www.jetico.com).

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

I am attempting to download Microsoft Works into a Dell laptop with Windows 98, but the downloading stops due to "no share.exe file." -John Malloy

Your old Works requires a file that Windows no longer has. Create a dummy share.exe file. Click on Start, Programs, Accessories, Notepad. Click on File, Save As, change the drop-down box to show your C: drive and type share.exe in the File name box (erase anything else there). Click Save.

 

PREGUNTA:

I accidently left my computer on overnight, and it went into some kind of mode that corrected some start-up problems. I was telling a buddy about it and he said, "I thought everyone knew that you are suppose to leave your computer on overnight every now and again to correct internal problems." Was he pulling a "snipe hunt" on me?

When I first read your note, my inclination was to say someone is pulling your leg. But as I started to type I realized that _ in a tangential way _ your friend is right. Here's why.

Many programs in computers have the ability to get needed information in a scheduled and automated way. Let me give you a couple of examples. Most anti-virus programs will log on to the manufacturer's Web site _ without any action on your part _ to check for updates. Some of the maintenance programs within Windows itself can be set to perform defragmenting of the hard disk and other clean-up tasks on a schedule. Scheduling these tasks is up to you, but some people do schedule them for times they'll be away from the computer.

For instance, besides updating itself, your anti-virus software can also be scheduled to check your computer for viruses during the night. That may make sense for some users since that process slows down your computer greatly.

So in that way, and that way only, your friend is right. However, keep in mind that you do the scheduling, so you could just as easily schedule these tasks for other times.

 

 

PREGUNTA:

The menu bar disappeared from Microsoft Word on my computer. ALT key sequences will not bring up the menus. I still have the menu bars in Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. I uninstalled and then reinstalled Office and the menu bar is still missing in Word. How can I got the menu bar back? -Billy

Uninstalling programs does not always remove program information from your system. A large amount of configuration information is stored in the Windows registry and is often left behind by program uninstallers. There are several articles on support.microsoft.com regarding disappearing menu bars. Some issues can be solved by renaming the normal.dot template file,Occasionally the menu bar accidentally is dragged out of the program window and can be found hiding in a separate window. The Word menu bar registry setting is found in the H KEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Word\Data key.

You can repair a menu bar setting by using the regedit program to rename the Data key to something such as oldData, then exit regedit and restart Word. Word will rebuild the Data key with the correct values, and you should get your menu back.

 

PREGUNTA:

I just heard about webcams. If I have one and our grandchildren have one, can we see each other and talk to them? My USB port is occupied; what else is required? -Adam Lawall

Yes, if you and your grandchildren have webcams, are online and are using the same software, you can see and talk with each other. How good the transmission is depends on how fast your Web connection is, what camera you use and how much Internet traffic there is.

The easiest way to get started is to pick up two cheap cameras. Logitech sells a QuickCam Express 2-pack for $69.95 at www.logitech.com. That includes the software to connect over the Internet, though you'll usually also need a microphone. The Logitech QuickCam Messenger ($49.95) has the microphone built in if you don't already have one.

Like most webcams, these do use a USB port, so you'll need a USB hub ($20-$40), which gives you more plugs.

Install the cameras and software according to the directions, and you should be off and running.

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

When I get the ``You've got mail'' message while in front of the computer, I get a ringing sound in my head. This is now happening at random and gets much worse when using the computer. Any suggestions? - Aspirin Gobbler

As the eminent philosopher Henny Youngman once remarked, ``Does it hurt when you do this? Then don't do it!'' Computers churn out all sorts of electromagnetic stuff that can potentially mess with your head, as well as sounds pitched too high for anyone but your dog to hear. Try shutting off the sounds and see if that helps. Or see how you react sitting at a friend's computer in case it's something inherent in your hardware.

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

Reader Tip!

Copying E-Mail to Your Calendar

If you receive an e-mail regarding an appointment you need to schedule, simply drag that e-mail from your Inbox to the Calendar.

You will then have the option to change the date, time etc for that event.

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

I am 16 and have come across this site that sounds like a pretty good deal. They let you take surveys and make small amounts of money. My grandmother said I will get tons of spam mail and telemarketers will start calling, but I have given this a lot of thought and it doesn't sound bad. -Gullible

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I checked out the site. Doesn't it make you the least bit suspicious that if it values your opinion so highly, it charges you $30 to provide it?

Go back and read the fine print. Scams like this prey on the feeble-minded and innocent. For your 30 bucks, the site collects a lot of marketing information about you, monitors your surfing habits and fills your computer with a bunch of cookies that should ensure you see some really nifty ads. But, wait! There's more! It'll also peddle your name and information to other marketers, who may contact you; and if they do, they may compensate you with wonderful things like gift certificates for detergent or a sample of toothpaste.

Are you starting to get the drift? If you want some extra money, try slinging burgers instead of selling your privacy.

 

 

PREGUNTA:

Reader Tip!

Google reigns as the king of search engines. Still, if you think that repeatedly loading the home page is a royal pain, there are a couple of ways to perform quicker Google searches.

One of the best search-engine add-ons involves nothing more complicated than a hookmarklet, or favelet: a bookmark written in _JavaScript and kept in a browser's Favorites bar. Clicking on that bookmark displays a dialog box; just type your search term and get the results from Google. To make your own bookmark, create a bookmark in your browser with this: _javascript:void(q=prom ptf Enter%20text %20to%20search%20usi ng%20Google.',")) ;if(q)void(location.href='http://www.google .com/search?client=googlet&q='+escape(q))

You can also go to www.macworld.com/2003/01/macbeat/google/index.html for a link that you can drag into Internet Explorer's Favorites bar. Other bookmarklets are available at www.bookmarklets.com and www.favelets.com.

 

 

PREGUNTA:

My name is John, and I live in Greece. Could something be done to change a university's files? It is very difficult in my country to get into a good university, as you have to read a lot for hours and hours and hours. Do you know a man who could do it for money? - Slacker

Why, sure, pal! You can just send me all your money, and I'll make sure you get exactly what you deserve.

Listen, unless you're hoping to major in fraud at the nearest Greek prison, you'll actually have to pry yourself away from your computer games and chat rooms long enough to cram some knowledge into your empty head. Too much trouble to read? Oh, boo hoo hoo! Maybe they have some pretty picture books in the pen.

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

Reader tip!

Making your own icons

Here's how:

--On the Start menu, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Paint.
--On the Image menu, click Attributes.
--Enter 32 pixels in Height and Width.
--Create an icon using the paintbrush or pencil tools.
--Name and save your icon.

To replace an existing icon on your desktop with your new one:

--Right-click the shortcut on your desktop and then click Properties.
--Click Change Icon.
--Click Browse.
--Locate the folder containing the icon you created.

The icon you created will now replace the original on the desktop.

 

 

PREGUNTA:

What's Bluetooth and when will it materialize... what's it going to do for me? - Alison

Bluetooth is basically a wireless replacement for times when you would use a USB cable.

Well, to answer that first question, it's pretty much here. I say it's here because currently handhelds from Palm and Pocket PC and Symbian platforms all come in at least one configuration that integrates Bluetooth. All of them support the addition of Bluetooth via third-party expansion. Windows XP Service Pack 1 and Mac OS X (10.2 Jaguar) both support many Bluetooth peripherals without additional third-party drivers. You can get a Bluetooth USB adapter for around US$50, and you can get one for your PDA for around $150.

Now for that second question: Quite a bit. Bluetooth is one step toward getting rid of all the cables in your life. In some circumstances you may not care; in others it's going to be a breath of fresh air. Bluetooth is going to be used in peripherals like keyboards and mice, though it won't offer much competition to current RF solutions. Where Bluetooth will really shine is mobile technology.

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

When I leave my computer on overnight, something happens to the sound. When I change user accounts or log on to AOL, the greetings or announcements sound like Alvin and the Chipmunks, very fast and alien-like. When I reboot, everything is OK. This only started happening since I upgraded to Windows XP. Any suggestions? - Robert Cass

This is a known bug that seems to plague XP users who don't have the most recent driver files for the card inside their computer that produces sounds.

Visit the Web site of your sound card manufacturer -- you may find literature from that company in the packet that came with your PC, or you may be able to ask your PC maker -- and install the most recent drivers for your card.

 

 

PREGUNTA:

Recently I saw an advertisement for a home CD recorder, the kind that uses music CD-Rs and hooks up to your stereo system. It made an unkind reference to the quality of CDs produced by computer CD burners. Since then, I have been wondering whether the CDs I've been making for our car in my computer are inferior. -Warren Cox

Your PC can make CDs that are equal to, and in some cases better than, the CDs that you make with a stand-alone device.

The main advantage of the stand-alone recorder is ease of use. But where quality is concerned, your PC can run rings around most stand-alone units, because your PC can be customized.

Keep in mind that the quality is limited to what your playback setup can reproduce. An ordinary audio system can't capture the full range of soun Uof most CD recordings.

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

Reader Tip!

Speed-up the response of your Start Menu

Feel like your Start Menu takes just too long to open pop-up (sub) menus? This could delay could add up if you have to travel through a few pop-up menus to get to your word processor every day. Here's how you can speed thing up a little:

1. Run Registry Editor (regedit.exe in Windows 95 and regedt32.exe in Windows NT).
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop
3. Modify "MenuShowDelay" parameter to contain something from 2 to 20. If you don't see the MenuShowDelay parameter, add it as a string item and set the value.

 

 

PREGUNTA:

I get unwanted pornographic website pop-ups on my computer whether I'm working on the Internet or not. I have DSL, so I'm always connected to the Internet. - Anonymous

We tried a lot of things to track down the problem, including the usually dependable Ad-aware, a free utility from www.lavasoftusa.com to find the virus-like program that was bringing sleaze unbidden into your home. Finally you resorted to calling the offending website and got instructions on how to uninstall something called "Rapid Blaster," which appears to be new and may not have been detected by Ad-aware yet. At least it's satisfying to hear that this outfit not only won no business this way but had to pay someone to walk you through the steps to get rid of it.

By the way, if you get Ad-aware make sure to also get Refupdate, which will allow you to get updated reference files as new annoyance software makes the rounds. I don't usually recommend products; but if you download software from the Internet, these annoying add-ins are becoming a fact of life, and you need some protection.

 

 

PREGUNTA:

Reader Tip!

How to open your URLs without manually opening your browser

Select "Start | Run"
Type your URL (http://www.ChamisPlace.com for example) and press ENTER.

 

PREGUNTA:

Reader Tip!

Whoops! I shouldn't have done that!

If you change a device driver either by mistake or just to test it, and unable to restart your Windows NT system, you can use the "Last Known Good Control Set" menu (which appears during Windows NT bootup) to go back to where you were before the error occurred. The last known control set is able to do this by keeping a backup copy of [some of] the system configuration files from the last successful boot. This of course means that you can only go back to the settings which you had at the last successful boot.

 

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

Reader Tip!

When I boot up my computer, I get a message that the InstallCasino.exe file is corrupt and must be reinstalled. How do I do that? - Mhudak624@aol.com

The first step is to delete the file, which you said is in your Temporary Internet Files folder. Then go back to the Web site from which you originally downloaded the file and get a new copy. Then reinstall.

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

Do you have any idea why Google.com speeds through its various pages without a hitch while newspaper sites, Yahoo and others seem to take forever? Is there something wrong with my Internet access provider or my computer? - Mrnjea@aol.com

If there were a problem with your ISP or your computer, you would see the same sort of problem across the board. My guess is that Google's 10,000 servers - that's right, 10,000 computers - are responsible not only for finding answers fast, but also for delivering pages in the blink of an eye. As they used to say, do not adjust your set.

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

My system is extremely unstable. I have a Pentium 1.5 mHz with a Nvidia Gforce3 DDR64 card. The main problem is that when I am online, the computer will just stop, lock up and/or reboot. This happens every time, not just once in awhile. Most often this happens when I am scrolling, but it can happen when I do no input. It has rebooted on its own or locked up when not online, but usually it happens when I'm connected.

The only solution anyone has been able to help me with was Microsoft's suggestion to boot in VGA mode. At 8 bits the system seems to be more stable than at 16 or 32. This means my display is always big at 640 by 480. I am assuming there is some sort of conflict between my video card and Windows or Windows Iexplore.

Have you heard of this problem and is there a permanent solution that would allow me to still use the benefits of my video card? - Ron Ice

It's very likely that you have a faulty memory chip in your computer, maybe in the machine's RAM chips and maybe in the memory inside that graphics card, Mr. I.

You can nail down whether you've got this bit of bad news by downloading memory-testing software. I am assuming, hopefully, that you can keep your PC online long enough at low resolution to do the download.

Once you know that you have a faulty memory chip, the fix is easy but hardly inexpensive. You will need to either replace one of the RAM cards, called SIMMs, inside your computer or else get a new graphics card with a properly functioning memory chip.

The reason that this is almost certainly a memory chip glitch is because you can fix it by changing the resolution and thus reducing the amount of data that must pass through both the graphics card and RAM. There is no way of telling, however, if the manufacturing glitch is in the RAM chips or the graphic memory.

To find out, go to www.download.com and get Gold Memory 5.07, an easy-to-use memory-testing program designed to find chip-manufacturing errors whether they're in RAM or elsewhere in motherboards or other modules, which is what you need to know.

 

 

PREGUNTA:

My computer came with a 100-megabyte Zip drive. Can I use it with 250-MB or 750-MB disks, or am I limited to 100-MB disks? - Chuckie621@aol.com

The 100-megabyte drive is not forward-compatible, meaning you have to be satisfied with using 100-MB disks only. If the lure of a higher capacity Zip drive is overpowering, go for the 750-MB model. It will give you more storage room, and it will read your 100-megabyte disks, but will not write to them. The 750 will read and write 250-MB and 750-MB disks.

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

I give up. I have been trying for months to rid myself of a message that a file, wksgen.dll, was not found. I can't seem to do it. What is the secret? - jdon803220@aol.com

That .dll file is part of Microsoft Works. So if you are using Works, one solution is to simply reinstall the program. You may be getting the message because the installation procedure was not totally up to snuff. Reinstall Works even if you are not experiencing any problems with Works at themoment. Reinstalling will not affect data files you have created with the suite.

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

I have a PC running Windows XP. I would like to install Mandrake Linux PowerPack 9.0. Can I install Mandrake, with all its advanced features, without deleting Windows XP or losing any work that I did with XP? Will I still be able to do work as usual with XP after I install Mandrake? - LschsXplorer87@aol.com

To accomplish what you want, you will have to add a second primary partition to your hard drive and install Mandrake there.

PowerQuest's PartitionMagic will partition the drive without disturbing your original configuration. It will also be helpful in the installation of Mandrake.

PartitionMagic comes with Boot Magic. When you boot your computer after your Mandrake installation, Boot Magic lets you choose the partition in which you want to work.

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

I have a power-on (BIOS) password in place, but my 16-year-old seems to be able to get around it. This really irks me since he is installing junk like Kazaa that I have to clean out. Please advise me how to secure my system from him. - Father Knows Worst

You can't. There's no known force on the planet that can stand between a teen-ager and bootlegged MP3s.

Get over the notion that any sort of password is going to secure your computer. BIOS passwords, which are supposed to prevent anyone from booting your computer, are pretty much of a joke. Most BIOS chip makers put back-door passwords in them that are readily available over the Net. And, if there's no back door, there's always some little switch or jumper on your motherboard that defeats the password. I suppose the idea was to rescue morons who forget their passwords, but that leaves a mighty big hole in your security plan, doesn't it?

Software passwords -- like those that control the content watchdog on your browser or lock a document -- are pretty laughable as well.

Check the Internet if you don't believe me. I guess you could lock your computer in the closet, but he's probably got a key to that as well.

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

Where on the Internet can I get a driver file I need to reinstall my U.S. Robotics 56K Modem? - handnfine@comcast.net

You can't. There's no known force on the planet that can stand between a teen-ager and bootlegged MP3s.

Try the 3Com Web site. And if the driver you need is not there - it may not be if the Robotics modem is out of production or no longer supported - drop tech support an e-mail, asking for a copy. On the Web: http://support.3com.com/

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

I have a notebook with Windows 98. I have heard that I can improve performance by using the ScanDisk and Defragment tools. But I have also heard that these programs can ruin the data on the hard drive. Is that true? - mlnj2003@

I have used both Windows utilities - as well as the versions sold by Symantec and others - and have never lost data to the maintenance utilities.

But when it comes to computing, never say never.

Before you use ScanDisk and Defragment, back up your data. But do use them.

ScanDisk will stop file errors from accumulating.

Defragmentation will speed up your hard drive's performance - and, more important, give Windows the room it needs to create a proper swap file for use as temporary memory.

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

I have a notebook with Windows 98. I have heard that I can improve performance by using the ScanDisk and Defragment tools. But I have also heard that these programs can ruin the data on the hard drive. Is that true? - mlnj2003@

I have used both Windows utilities - as well as the versions sold by Symantec and others - and have never lost data to the maintenance utilities.

But when it comes to computing, never say never.

Before you use ScanDisk and Defragment, back up your data. But do use them.

ScanDisk will stop file errors from accumulating.

Defragmentation will speed up your hard drive's performance - and, more important, give Windows the room it needs to create a proper swap file for use as temporary memory.

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

I have a notebook with Windows 98. I have heard that I can improve performance by using the ScanDisk and Defragment tools. But I have also heard that these programs can ruin the data on the hard drive. Is that true? - mlnj2003@

I have used both Windows utilities - as well as the versions sold by Symantec and others - and have never lost data to the maintenance utilities.

But when it comes to computing, never say never.

Before you use ScanDisk and Defragment, back up your data. But do use them.

ScanDisk will stop file errors from accumulating.

Defragmentation will speed up your hard drive's performance - and, more important, give Windows the room it needs to create a proper swap file for use as temporary memory.

 

 

 

PREGUNTA:

Reader Tip!

Opening Attachments in Outlook Express

If you are unable to open any attachments in Outlook Express

Start the program
Go to Tools / Options
Click on the Security tab
Uncheck Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus