Ask the Experts
by John Polich (January 1998 )

Q: What are “temp” files? Where are they found? Should I delete them?
A: Temp files are scratch or temporary files that applications (programs) develop in the process of creating documents and then usually disappear. They may also be caused by improperly turning off your computer. Some programs are notorious for creating them. Sometimes they stubbornly remain and may even accumulate taking up valuable storage space on the hard drive. They are usually located in the Windows folder (directory) but may be located elsewhere. They usually have a tilde (~) that precedes the name and have the extension “tmp’. If you have difficulty finding them, go to the Find menu, insert asterisk, dot, tmp (*.tmp). Once you have identified them, feel free to delete them as long as they don’t carry the current date.

Q. I want to use the Internet. Should I use an on-line service such as AOL or Prodigy or should I go with a Provider such as Earthlink or Infinet?
A. This is strictly a personal preference! The answers vary depending on whom you ask.

If you feel insecure re searching the Internet and want a proprietary format you ought to use an on-line service. The information is usually readily available, well organized and easy to find. Many of these on-line services, in order to get subscribers, offer “free” up front connections for a number of hours or for a month. You can always use one of these trial subscriptions to get better acquainted with the Internet.

Internet Service Providers simply give you access to the Internet using whatever browser you select e.g. Netscape or Explorer but you are on your own in your search of Cyberspace. 

Regardless of which method you use, take advantage of our excellent weekly Internet SIGs to get answers to all of your questions.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich (February 1998)

Q. Once I have identified desired shareware on the Internet, how do I download it?
A. First read any available download information, then do the following:

  1. Make certain that the target disk has sufficient storage space i.e. hard drive, floppy or zip.

  2. Left click the appropriate “download” button.

  3. Select the target folder (designated or you can create a new one). 

  4. Be patient as the downloading occurs (you can cancel at anytime during this process).

  5. Once the downloading is complete make certain that you have done a virus check prior to executing.

  6. Execute the file.

  7. Be sure to read the “read me” text to get better acquainted with the downloaded material. 

Q. I enlarged the icons and print on the Windows 95 Desktop by choosing Standard (Extra Large) from Scheme in Display Properties. I now want to go back to Window Standard but am unable to get to the OK button which is below the monitor screen. I tried the combination of alt + space + m to get the four-headed arrow (this allows you to move a window by using the keyboard arrow keys) but this did not seem to be effective. What should I do short of re-installing Windows 95?
A. Depress alt + a (keyboard) to use the Apply button which will then allow you to use the OK button to put in effect the Window Standard Scheme.

You could also use the Tab key.

Q. How do I examine the Registry in Windows 95 and what precautions should I take?
A. The Registry is not a site to be tinkered with by the beginner! Leave this to the more experienced computer user. 

  1. Go to Start button, then Run and insert “regedit”. 

  2. Don’t do any editing in the the Registry until you first back up the Registry.

  3. Use cfgback.exe to backup the Registry. This small program is found on the Windows 95 CD - ROM. The path to it is Windows \Other\Misc\Cfgback. Create a folder e.g. “Config” on your hard drive and copy the two files found in cfgback to it. To create a Registry backup double click on Cfgback.exe and follow the directions. The backup, since it is compressed, can be saved to a floppy or to your hard drive. If saved to your hard drive it will be found in your Windows folder. The file will have the extension .rbk.

  4. Multiple backups, up to nine, can be saved in this fashion. To restore the registry, run cfgback.exe, select the backup to be restored and click on restore.

Another way to backup is to click on Export Registry File in the Registry menu. Name the file (it will have an .reg extension) and save it to the Desktop or elsewhere.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (March 1998)

Q. In Window 3.xx how can I determine the amount of RAM my computer has?
A. As your computer boots up, if yours eyes function quickly, you should literally be able to see it “count” the memory. A better way is to type mem at the DOS prompt which should show e.g. “Total memory 16,384K” (16 MB RAM). This will work for Windows 95 also. 

Q. How do I prevent my CD disk from automatically starting when I put it into the drive?
A. Simply depress the shift key at time of insertion of the disk into the drive.

If you want to make this occur each time (without using the shift key) go to the Control Panel, left double click on the System icon then click on the Device Manager, then select the CD ROM icon, expand it by left double click on the CD ROM, then click the Settings tab, turn off the toggle switch to “auto insert notification”.

Q. What is a virus?
A. A virus is not an infective biologic micro-organism as we encounter in medicine (e.g. the cause of a common cold). It is rather a program that is written by “bad guys” to cause trouble with your computer. They may even disguise as useful tools. Some are even meant to be humorous. Like medical viruses, they replicate causing minor annoying problems but also can create devastating situations (e.g. Michelangelo virus). They tend to be hidden. A boot sector virus hides in the boot sector of a floppy or hard drive and loads into memory when a computer boots from the drive. (Some years ago our own Computer Club Lab experienced a boot sector virus called “Monkey Virus” which Ed Ash and Art Tanaka had great difficulty in eradicating). A file virus attaches itself to other programs and does damage when the program is used. A macro virus duplicates itself in macro languages especially in Microsoft Word and Excel.

Be careful in the exchange of floppies or programs with others and in the execution of downloaded files from the Internet. 

Several new viruses are reported almost daily. The best protection is to install an anti-virus program and to keep it updated. Some of these are the Norton , McAfee and Dr. Soloman’s Anti-Virus installations.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (April 1998)

Q. How do I get rid of unwanted programs in Windows 95? 
A. The process was clear cut and precise when we used DOS but is much more complex with Windows. 

Uninstalling is often associated with the leaving behind useless residue in system files or in the Registry. These useless files could accumulate over a period of time thus taking up valuable storage space on your hard drive. While uninstalling it is possible to remove files e.g. .dll files that are shared and are necessary to run other programs.

The following methods are listed in reversed order of preference:

  1. Using Windows Explorer to do the job by deleting the selected program folder may work at times. This method often leaves orphan files scattered throughout Windows. This method is probably the least desirable.

  2. Going to the Control Panel and Add/Remove is better but many programs don’t appear on the list and this method was found to be much less than perfect.

  3. You could find the “uninstall.exe” file associated with the program and execute it.

  4. The general consensus seems to be that the best method is to use an uninstaller software. These seem to be associated with less residual problems. Studies indicate that “CleanSweep Deluxe struck the best balance re effectiveness, speed, and easy to follow interface”.

Q. How do I find a “lost” file in Windows 95?
A. This question was addressed very nicely at one of our recent Beginners’ Koffee Klatches by Dick Wright. I will use his response (with some modifications).

  1. Open the Application (Program) that was used to create the file
    Somewhere should be a list of recently opened files, usually at the end of the File menu 
    If file is there, left click to open
    If file is not there, go to 2.

  2. Click on the Start Button on Task Bar 
    Left click on “Documents”
    If file is there, left click to open
    If file not there, go to 3.

  3. Click on Start Button again 
    Left click on “Find”, then “Files or Folders”
    “Find” menu appears with 3 tabs
    a. “Name and Location” which by default searches the Master drive
    -be sure to check “Sub folders” toggle switch
    -type in any part of the file name you remember
    -click “Find Now”
    b. “Date Modified” 
    -normally set at “All Files”
    -type in the date created and click “Find Now”
    c. “Advanced”
    -normally set at “All Files or Folders”
    -type in box “Containing text” key word or phrase 
    -click “Find Now”

  4. Once file is found, open it or use “Quick View” (to review the file without using the application that created it)
    You can also get to “Find” from Windows Explorer or use F3 on keyboard

  5. Don’t forget to look in the recycle bin. If there it can be restored.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (May 1998)

Q. How do I use “SendTo” (in Windows 95)?
A. Do the following:
Right click on a folder or file. This brings up a context menu. Left click on “SendTo” then left click on the desired target e.g. you can copy (or move by holding down the shift keyboard key) a file from the hard drive to a floppy. 

One method used to put other targets into the Sendto folder is as follows. Open Windows Explorer/ Windows folder/SendTo. Don’t open it. Simply use right mouse button to drag desired shortcuts into this folder.

Some other worthwhile targets are the zip drive, an anti-virus program, mail recipient, Notepad and Wordpad.You will find this method of copying files especially useful when copying from your hard drive to a floppy or to Notepad/Wordpad (for editing text).

Q. If I use “Find” (Start/Find) to locate a “Hidden” file will I succeed? If not, how to do I change the “hidden” attribute of this file?
A. No, you can not locate a file with this attribute using this method. To find a “hidden” file bring up either My Computer or Windows Explorer, click on the View Menu, click on Options, click on radial button that reads “Show all files”, then OK. Right click on the file in question and change its attribute by clicking on Properties, then unselecting the “Hidden” toggle switch. 

Q. How do I print a paragraph(s) from a lengthy email message or text on the Internet without printing its entirety?
A. Select the desired text, click the Edit menu, use Copy command, bring up word processor and paste (using Edit menu again) where the cursor is. You can then format if needed and then print.

Q. How often should I scandisk my hard drive and how do I accomplish this procedure?
A. Scandisking is performed to maintain “health” of the drive. A “thorough” process should be carried out when your pc is new, repeated every 4-6 months and after an abnormal termination of your computer e.g. after certain crashes. A “standard” method should be done perhaps once a week (at least once every month). To run ScanDisk (Windows 95), click Start /Programs/Accessories/System Tools and click ScanDisk. Select the desired disk you want to fix, select type of test, check “Automatically fix error”.

Q. I inadvertently selected a password to open Windows 95. Now I must use this password to allow me open Windows 95. What can I do to eliminate this procedure?
A. You can do the following:

  1. Click the Start button/Find/Files and Folders

  2. Insert *.pwl in Named box

  3. Insert hard drive in Look in box (include subfolders)

  4. This will give you the path of the sought password file

  5. Delete the password file found (in the Windows folder)

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (June 1998)

This question and answer is provided by Ray Ellerman, a fellow Computer Club member. This learning experience stresses, once again, the importance of thinking of the obvious when faced with a computer problem:
Q. Over a period of six weeks I shared with many sources a problem that I was experiencing with my PrintMaster Gold Deluxe program. The program would start in its normal way but after 2 or 3 minutes it would come to a virtual stop, moving forward very, very slowly. Even the sound disappeared. Following advice regarding my dilemma, I Scandisked and Defragmented the hard drive and even installed 32 additional MB of RAM. None of these suggestions helped. 
A. I borrowed a CD of the same application from a friend. His worked perfectly. I concluded that the problem had to be my CD.

More than three weeks after writing PrintMaster Gold company (and more than five weeks of frustration) I received an answer. It was suggested that I use a clean, soft cloth to clean the CD. If a damp cloth is used, be sure the CD is dry before using. It worked!.

Suggestion: Make certain that your CD is clean, especially if you encounter a situation as I did.

Q. What hardware do I need to install Juno? Is it really free? Do I need an Internet account?
A. You need a modem with at least 28.8 K speed. You do not need to be “hooked up” to the Internet. It is free but you will receive some advertising. The software (for Windows 3.xx or Windows 95) is very simple to install. Once installed it is easy to use and even has a spellchecker. A major disadvantage is the inability to send or receive attachments. You can only use your account on computers that have Juno software installed.

Q. I have a program that automatically starts when my computer finishes booting up. I have Windows 95. How can I prevent this from occurring?
A. Try going to C:\Windows\Start\Programs\StartUp to see if there is a shortcut to the program there. If it is there , simply delete it. There are other places to look. Take a peek at the Win.ini file “load=” and “run” lines. Also look at the Config.sys and/or Autoexec.bat files. Your problem could also be in the Registry. There now is available software that makes it easier to deal with this area of the computer. However, as mentioned in a previous column, if you are not familiar with the Registry, ask for the help of an expert before entering it. 

Q. How do I back up my Registry?
A. Go to Run and type in Regedit. This will allow you to enter the Registry. Then go the File Menu and Export to a location of your choice.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (July/August 1998)

Q. May I install and use 2 browsers i.e. Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer 4 on my computer at the same time? Are there any advantages in doing so?
A. Yes to both questions. Make certain that you have enough storage space on your hard drive. Some of our Computer Club member have both in their computers without experiencing any difficulty. Both are available as free downloads from the Internet. Both enjoy certain advantages over the other so that you can relish the best of both. Only one is registered as the default but you can make the other the default if you desire. A more comprehensive answer is available Smart Computing (July, 1998).

Q. How can I uses the keyboard to print Windows screen images?
A. Depress the Alt and Print Screen keys. This will send the image of the active window to the Clipboard. Start Paint (Windows 95 applet) then Paste. Then use the Print command from the Paint File menu.

Q. I want to send a voice recording i.e. a .wav file as an attachment to electronic mail. How do I record the sound and save it as a file?
A. Depress the Start button, go to Programs then Accessories then Multimedia then Sound Recorder. Record the sound using a microphone. After you have completed your recording bring up the File menu/Save As. Give the file a name and save it in a folder you designate (Remember that sound can use a relatively large amount of storage space.) Bring up your e-mail program, create you message and then attach the file. Most email programs allow you to use attachments, however Juno does not. 

Q. I used the Clipboard to Paste some selected text in a Word Perfect document to a MS Works document. This resulted in a box like structure around the pasted text. What did I do wrong?
A. You embedded the text into the MS Works document. You should have used Paste Special instead of Paste and then selected the Formatted Text (RTF) option. Note the Results area at the bottom of the dialog box as you select this option.

Q. How do I bring up “Safe Mode” in Windows 95?
A. When you boot up, look for the message "Starting Windows 95". At this time press F8. You are now in “Safe Mode”. Once in this mode, Windows uses default settings with minimum device drivers that are necessary to start Windows. You will be able to use the mouse and VGA monitor. However you will not have access to the CD-ROM drive. Other devices e.g. the printer will not be able to be used. While in this mode you can access the system files, win ini, autoexec.bat, config.sys, etc. You will still be able to back up the Registry dat file.

This does not apply if you are using Windows 98. There you should hit the Ctrl key when you see text on the screen during the boot process. Windows Magazine says that “pressing F8 still works, but Win98 doesn’t include a Starting Windows 98 prompt, so it’s hard to know when to press the key.”

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (September 1998)

Q. I am happy with Window 95 and with my present Internet browser. Should I buy and install Windows 98?
A. This question when posed to many of our computer club members elicited a variety of responses. 

My wife and I were very contented with Win 95 and felt very comfortable using it with Netscape Communicator browser. However as the writer of this column, I felt somewhat obligated to install Win 98. When I record answers given by our knowledgeable members relative to Win 98 I should be better acquainted with this operating system.

Several of our members have had difficulty in installing Win 98 and in configuring their peripherals. One member even reported that he contacted Microsoft about an installation problem and was told that there were some defective CDs that had been shipped. Two days later he had a replacement CD and the installation went very well. Fran Wise also solved her installation problems by using a different CD. However, Win 98 still refused to recognize her Brother laser printer, even though Win 98 contains a driver for this printer. The solution, which she found after much searching on the Web, involved changing the designation of the LPT1 printer port. As Fran points out, “sometimes it takes a lot of patience to solve a problem with your computer.”

Some of the positive improvements of Win 98 are the easy use of Internet integration, increased speed, increased storage space using FAT 32, USB (universal serial bus), support of DVD (digital video drive), better maintenance using the Wizard, faster shut down, availability of drivers, etc.

If you already have the latest version of Internet Explorer (using “Active Desktop”) and Win95 (with FAT 32) and have downloaded available updates including Power Toys you already have the “poor man’s” version of Win98. This is especially true if you also have a maintenance program such as Norton Utilities. Admittedly this will not produce the full version of Windows 98 with all its features. Only you can decide whether it is worth $90 to you to upgrade to Windows 98?

Q. Will I be able to use my old DOS programs in Win98?
A. There is some controversy re the correct answer. However the consensus is that you will be able to use them.

Q. Will I be able to install Win98 update over Win3.11?
A. Yes 

Q. I have Win95 and want to install Win98. Should I do a “clean” installation or simply upgrade over Win95?
A. If your are having some difficulty with your present Win95, do a “clean”. But back up adequately e.g. bookmarks, drivers, application , etc.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (October 1998)

Q. How can I decrease the volume of my internal modern as it is dialing?
A: Start/Settings/Control Panel/System/Device Manager/Modem/dbl. click on name of modem/lower “speaker volume” with the slider.

Q. What is “DVD”?
A. This acronym means Digital Video Disk(s). These are high-powered CDs. They are capable of storing a large amount of information i.e. more than 176 GB which obviously dwarfs the capacity of the hard drive. They are especially suited for sound and video and are capable of running full length movies, encyclopedias, games, huge databases, etc. You must have a digital video drive. You must also have a cooperative operating system such as Win98.

Q. I don’t have a clipboard viewer in my computer with Win95 . How can I install it? 
A. Go to Start/Settings/Control Panel/Add-Remove Programs tab/Windows Setup tab/left click Accessories and go to Details and use toggle switch to select Clipboard Viewer and follow instructions.

In Win98 go to Start/Settings/Control Panel/Add-Remove Programs tab/Window Setup tab/System Tools/click details/follow instructions re Clipboard Viewer

Q. Many of our club members have used “Beta” versions of software including Win98. Would you explain what this is?
A. A “Beta” version is a “trial” copy which is used prior to the release of the final rendition. Usually only experienced users are issued these, at no charge, for evaluation. Inherent problems, including serious ones, may have to be dealt with. Constructive criticism to the creator(s) is welcomed. 

Q. Can my computer become infected by a virus through electronic mail?
A. No, it can not be infested with a virus by just opening the message and reading it. However e-mail attachments can carry viruses and can create difficulty once they are opened. We try to emphasize the importance of using an anti-virus program e.g. McAfee or Norton especially if you receive files attached to e-mail or download files from the Internet.

Q. How do I remove some file names from the Documents menu but not all of them?
A. To remove all of them go to the Start button/Settings/Taskbar/Start button tab/ follow instructions. To remove some go to Start/Find/Files or Folders (on the hard drive)/type in “recent”/Find Now/double left click to open the Recent folder, delete files as you desire.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (November/December 1998)

Q. I want to change the default margins in MS Works. How do I do this and make these default settings available for future documents? 
A. You can’t. You must go to the File Menu, choose Page Setup and change the margins each time you create a new document. You can change the default in more sophisticated word processors, such as MSWord. 

Q. I have spreadsheets that were created in MS Works. Recently I purchased MS Excel. Can I convert these to the Excel format? 
A. Yes. Bring up the MS Works spreadsheet document then go to the File Menu and choose Save As. In the Save In box be certain that the name of the folder you want saved is displayed. In the File Name box type a name for the document and in the “Save as type” box click the down arrow and check Excel SS and then Save. 

Q. What is “MIME?” 
A. This acronym stands for “Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions.” It is a standard that allows you to send attachments in electronic mail. 

Q. Can my computer “catch” a virus while copying (to the clipboard) and pasting text from a site on the Internet? 
A. No. Pure text can’t carry a virus. 

Q. How do I tell what version of software I have? 
A. Click on the Help menu within the software and then “About ... ” 

Q. I have the Norton AntiVirus Program. How can I make certain that the program is active when I download from the Internet? 
A. You should have an icon on the Taskbar in the System Tray which should say “Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect Enabled” when the mouse pointer rests on it. 

To make certain, press the Start button, choose Programs, then Norton AntiVirus. Click Tools Menu, select Options and click on the Auto-protect tab and check “Load Auto-protect at startup.” 

Make certain that you have the most recent “Live Update.” There are more than 100 new viruses introduced each month. 

Other antivirus programs have similar protocols. 

Q. How can I increase or decrease memory and/or disk cache in my Internet browser, Netscape Communicator? 
A. Bring up the browser, then in the Edit menu select Preferences. Click the + in front of Advanced and click Cache. This will bring up the memory and disk cache settings that you can change according to your preferences (in KBytes). The Memory Cache is related to RAM. You can also Clear Cache here. Note the path (address) of the Disk Cache which can be changed to another drive if necessary. 

In Netscape Navigator 3.0 go to the Options menu, select Network Preferences, and click On Disk Cache. 

Q. I want to create more or less space to store Internet temporary files using Internet Explorer 4.0? 
A. Bring up the browser, then go to the View menu and select Internet Options. Click on the General tab. Select Temporary Internet files, click on Settings and use the slider as desired. You can also delete these files here. 

With MS Internet Explorer 3.0 or older go to View menu, select Options.Click on the Advanced tab and use the slider as desired. 

Q. I have Netscape Communicator. I want to use another home page, such as Yahoo when going to the Internet. How do I accomplish this? 
A. Bring up the browser, go to the Edit menu, select Preferences. In the Home Page section of the dialog box, select (highlight) the Current Page URL (address) present or enter the Yahoo address (or whichever one you prefer). 

In Internet Explorer 4.0 go to the View menu, select Internet Options. Click on the General tab and enter the new URL in the Home Page field. 

In Internet Explorer 3.0 go to the View menu and select Options.Click on the Navigation tab and enter your preferred Home Page address.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich (January 1999)

Q. How do I use my Internet browser to open graphic files?
A. (I would like to quote from ‘Smart Computing’, Oct. 98, page 66)
You can use MS Internet Explorer and Netscape to open a wide range of files. The programs, besides opening regular World Wide Web pages in HTML format, will open text files as well as .JPEG and .GIF graphics files. To open these files with the latest versions of Navigator or Explorer, you can drag and drop the files onto the program icon. You also can open files by using the File menu’s Open (Open Page in Netscape) option. Select Browse in Internet Explorer and Choose File in Netscape. Change the file type to All Files instead of HTML files and select the file you wish to open.

Q. I keep getting the current date whenever I bring up a letter that I had previously created in MS Works. How do I prevent this from occurring?
A. Go to the Insert menu in the document (letter) and uncheck automatically updated when printed. Similar procedures are available in MS Word, Word Perfect and other word processors.

Q. In Win98 I have a Control Panel toolbar at the top of the desktop. How did it get there and how do I get rid of it.
A. One way to get this toolbar on your desktop in Win98 is to right click on the Taskbar, left click on Toolbars then New Toolbar then My Computer then Control Panel then OK. The icon will now appear on the Taskbar. You can left drag to the top or sides of the Desktop. To remove right click on a clear space on that toolbar. This will bring up a context menu from which you can choose Close.

With the Desktop visible it is also possible to left drag any of the programs to the Desktop edge, creating another toolbar. To remove right click on the toolbar as stated above. 

Q. In Win98 how do I get rid of the folder On Line Service (contains short cuts to installing AOL, Prodigy, etc) from the Desktop? 
A. Go to Start/Settings/Control Panel/Add-Remove Programs/Windows Setup tab/scroll to On Line Service, deselect the ‘toggle’.

Q. How do I change a Field Name in the MS Work Database?
A. Go to List View/select the Field Name in question/Format menu/click on Field/type in new field name (up to 15 characters)/OK. The new name will also be changed in Form View. Other database programs are similar.

Q. In attempting to download a file from the Internet I received a security alert. This was followed by a message that said in effect that security settings don’t allow this file to be downloaded. What goes on?
A. It is possible that you may have set the security level too high re being notified about any potential security problems from a Web site. Click on the Start button/Settings/ Control Panel/Internet/click on Security tab and lower the Internet Zone security level.

Q. I don’t have a ‘startup’ diskette for Win98. Should I have one and if so how can I create one?
A. You should absolutely have a startup disk(s) in case of an emergency. This is practicing good preventive medicine. There are multiple ways of creating this process including using a floppy and zip cartridge (in a zip drive). 

There is an excellent article in Smart Computing (1/99) relative to this subject with a ‘step by step’ instructions on how to make a ‘New & Improved Startup Diskette’. Win98 provides the mechanism that allows you access to your CD-ROM drive. Go to the Start button/Settings/Control Panel/Add-Remove Programs/Startup Disk tab and carefully follow instructions. This a great improvement over WIN95.

Q. In order to handle a special printing job, my commercial printer has asked me to send him a floppy with 2 specific fonts (copies) from my computer. How do I accomplish this?
A. Make sure that you have a floppy in the A drive. Go to the Control Panel/Fonts/select the font(s) desired/Edit menu and choose Copy (ctrl + c). Open up the A drive. Go to the Edit menu and choose Paste (ctrl + v).

Q. Recently you wrote about a “clean” installation of Win98. Would you define what you mean by this type of installation and how do I progress in accomplishing this?
A. This procedure is a new installation and not simply an upgrade over a previous version of Windows. This is a major surgical procedure. THIS IS NOT FOR THE NEOPHYTE TO ATTEMPT WITHOUT HELP. 

You first remove all other applications, data, etc. making sure to first backup your data.

There are several ways to do a “clean” install. Some are rather complex. It does require a higher level of technical expertise because most methods require you to reformat your hard disk and later reinstall all your desired applications and data. It may require re-installing drivers for your hardware, even newer ones. This process requires much more preparation and takes much longer than simply upgrading.

This fresh start (‘clean install’) has certain advantages including a computer that will run a bit faster, save some space on your hard drive and have fewer configuration issues. 

You can use the Windows 98 ‘upgrade’ CD. If you're installing it onto a blank formatted hard disk you will need MS-DOS–based files required to boot to a command prompt. This ‘start up disk’ must include the CD ROM drivers. Once you've inserted the installation CD for Windows 98 you will be directed to insert your Win95 or Win3.x CD or floppy disk to prove you're ‘upgrading’.

Obviously using the upgrade method is simpler, faster and requires less experience.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich (February 1999)

Q. What happens when I select the Apply button vs the OK button e.g. in Display Properties?
A. If you select Apply the command is obeyed saving the changes you have made while the Display Properties window remains in view. When you select OK the command is also obeyed but the Display Property window closes.

Q. Someone told me the erratic behavior of my mouse pointer may be due to my graphics driver. How would I diagnose this possibility?
A. You might disable your video card incrementally (with a poorer responding performance) by going to the Control Panel/System/Performance/click Graphics button. Note the slider with four settings and the messages that come up as you slide it to the left. Remember that none of the settings produce results as would a fully compatible driver, which can be downloaded from the Internet if necessary.

Q. I want to remove some icons from the system tray (right-hand area of the Taskbar). I have Win98. How do I accomplish this? (Irene Padretti nicely answered this question recently via email)
A. To remove icons from the system tray: Start/Run/type "msconfig" /click Startup tab/ uncheck the one(s) to be removed/OK. Never uncheck ‘System tray’. After re-booting they will be gone i.e. until you repeat the process and check the one(s) you want displayed. 

This is a very easy way to remove all of the TSRs (terminate and stay residents) when installing a new program as well. But don’t forget to re-check the ones you want to remain in the System Tray after the installation. 

Q. I lost my driver for my sound system. What can I do?
A. One thing that you can do is download the driver (software) from the manufacturer’s Internet site. A good site to find drivers (used by and recommended by Ed Ash) is ‘http://www.conitech.com/windows/’

Q. I just bought a new computer bundled with Win98. I keep hearing about ‘extensions’ to files. None of the files in My Computer and Windows Explorer show any extensions. What goes?
A. You can go to the View menu/Folder Options/click View tab/un-check ‘Hide file extensions for known file types’/OK

Q. I downloaded a file from the Internet and ‘put’ it in a special folder on the hard drive. What do I do next to ‘use’ (activate) it?
A. If it has an .exe extension, double click on it and usually the file will ‘find’ its proper niche. You can then delete the file from the folder that you initially down-loaded it to.

If the downloaded file has a .zip extension (meaning that it is compressed) then you must use an unzipping utility e.g. WinZip or ZipMagic.

Q. What are Internet cookies? Can I safely delete them?
A. They are small files with bits of information e.g. a password you may have set up on an Internet site or some preferences you selected when using this site. With a cookie the nest time you visit the site you don’t have to re-enter the same information.

You can view cookies in a word processor e.g. Wordpad or Notepad.

Deleting them usually is not harmful but really frees only a small amount of hard disk space

They are stored in COOKIES and TEMPORARY folders in the WINDOWS folder. 

You can open Internet Explorer then go to View/Internet Options/click Advanced tab and scroll to set of options labeled ‘cookies’ where you may always accept, ask for a prompt before accepting or disable all cookies.

In Netscape Communicator go to Edit menu/Preference/Advance/Cookie where you find similar options. 

Q. I’m donating my older computer to a charity. How can I make sure that all my data files are really gone.?
A. Use Defrag after deleting the folders.

Reformat unconditionally by going to the DOS prompt and type in format c:/u/s erasing everything.

Norton Utilities Wipe Disk, without formatting, would completely wipe out residual traces of any files you have erased.

Q. What is a ‘portal’ site on the Internet?
A. A ‘portal’ site can best defined by citing an example. Yahoo is such a site by providing news, games, shopping, yellow pages, etc.. Other examples are Netscape Netcenter and Lycos. They emulate commercial on-line services such as AOL, Prodigy and Compuserve.

Q. I am on AOL which uses Internet Explorer as a browser. I would like to use Netscape Communicator 4.5 as my browser. How do I do this?
A. Download Netscape from the Internet. It is free. Once you have installed Netscape on you computer it can be used as desired. Bring up and minimize AOL then bring up Netscape.

Q. What is the Registry in Win9x ?
A. It is a storehouse in the computer for holding essential system information. It is a site for configuration values and settings that are used to determine how applications operate and keeps track of hardware. It is crudely analogous to the cerebral cortex and other areas of the human brain. Think of it as being a huge structured database that keeps track of information e.g. if you install a new application (program) or add a new printer. 

It consists of 6 main branches that can be further expanded much like the ‘tree’ pane (left portion) of Windows Explorer (the file manager). 

It can be accessed by clicking the Start menu/Run/typing regedit.

As emphasized so many times in this column, unless you have available a very experienced user, don’t attempt to change any settings in the Registry. This could result in disaster.

Q. I have about 20 icons in my Hperterminal folder e.g. Compuserve, Prodigy, etc. Most of them I do not use. Can I safely delete them? 
A. Yes you can but do not delete Hpertrm.exe and the .dll files. The usual path is: C:\Program Files\Accessories\Communication\Hyperterminal

Q. I have Windows 98. I primarily use MS Works as my word processor. By default (initial software setting) all my newly created documents want to save and open in "My Documents." I would rather save them in a special folder (e.g., "Personal") that I have created on the hard drive. How do I change this default? 
A. Right click on the MS Works Shortcut, click on Properties, click on Shortcut tab. In the Start in box, type path (address) of desired default folder (e.g., C:\Personal), then click OK. You can carry out the same process for WordPad. 

In MS Word, go to the Tools menu and choose Options, then go to the File locations tab. Select file type, click Modify, go to "Look-in" then navigate to the folder of your choice. Click OK. 

In WordPerfect, go to the Tools menu and choose Settings, Click on Files icon and type path of the desired default folder next to "Default document folder." Click OK. 

Q. I use Eudora Light as my e-mail program. How can I avoid entering my password each time I want to use it? 
A. To enter your password automatically, bring up Eudora Light then Tools/ Options/Checking Mail (left pane). Check "Save Password" and click OK.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (April 1999)

Q. Would you list the shortcuts to system functions that are available when the Windows 95 key (the one on the keyboard with the Windows logo) is used in combination with other keys? 
A. Here they are (from Windows Magazine): 

Q. I would like to use Works instead of Notepad to bring up .txt documents. How would I accomplish this? 
A. Go to Windows Explorer or My Computer, then click on the View menu/Folder Options (Options in Windows 95)/File Types tab. Scroll to and select "Text Document." Depress Edit and then Edit in the next window. Click the Browse button to browse the hard drive until you find the path for MSWorks.exe. Select and then click OK. 

Q. In Windows 98 what is a safe way to get rid of .tmp files? 
A. Click the Start button (on Task Bar) then Programs/ Accessories/System Tools/Disk Cleanup. Select your hard drive/Disk Cleanup tab. Check files you want removed. Click OK. 
We discussed the question of removing temporary files via Windows (system and Internet) at great length at a recent Kaffee Klatch with some controversy. An article in Internet Surfer of February 1999, page 18 was often referenced. It states that to eradicate these files more thoroughly it is necessary to go to DOS. 

Q. How do I create SCSCC as the home page on my browser? 
A. In Internet Explorer (off line) go to View, then Internet Options/, then the General tab. Then go to Home page area and type in the correct URL (address) for SCSCC. Click OK. 

In Netscape Communicator (off line) go to Edit, then Preferences, then Navigator. Push the Home page button then type in the SCSCC address in Home page Location. Click OK. 

You'll need the exact URL to reset the start-up page. You could get this by bringing up the SCSCC home page in a browser, then copy and paste it. 

Q. I just purchased a new computer with Windows 98. When I don't use it for about 15 minutes, the monitor screen gets black. I can get the image back by pressing a key or moving the mouse. What's wrong? 
A. Nothing is "wrong." Most likely your computer has Power Management and it is functioning properly, i.e., this feature powers off your monitor after 15 minutes of inactivity. Moving the mouse or pressing a key on the keyboard restores the power. Since the monitor uses a great deal of electricity when it is on, this is a very worthwhile process. 

Of course, if you find this feature a hindrance, you may wish to turn it off altogether or increase the delay time before the monitor powers off. Open the Control Panel (select Start, Settings, Control Panel), and double-click Power Management. To prevent the monitor from powering off altogether, click the down arrow next to Turn Off Monitor and select Never. To increase the delay, select a new time in this same list. Either way, click OK, and the new setting will be applied to the current power scheme. 

Q. Can I change the icons on my Windows 98 Desktop, e.g., My Computer, Recycle Bin and My Documents? 
A. Yes. Go to Start/Settings/Control Panel/Display, Choose the Effects tab and select the icon(s) you want to change. Click the Change Icon button and in the new window select the icon you want. Click OK. 
For a wider selection of icons you can click Browse in the Change Icon window and navigate to Windows\System\ Shell32.dll (or Pifmngr.dll). Select an icon, then click Open. Click OK 

Q. I often enjoy listening to music CDs with the Audio CD player. However, during this time I don't want to hear the annoying sound scheme. What can I do to temporarily mute the scheme? 
A. Right click on the yellow speaker icon in the System Tray (far right on the Taskbar) then click Open Volume Controls. In the Wave (.WAV files) box, check Mute button (it is a toggle), then close the dialog box. (You may also get to the Volume Control by going to Start/Programs/ Accessories/Entertainment/Volume Control.) To get the scheme to return, just go back and uncheck the Mute button. 

Q. I have Windows 98. Will defragging my hard drive speed up the start of my applications? 
A. Yes. This is a great improvement in Windows 98. It includes an option to speed things up. Go to Start/ Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Defragmenter. Select the drive, click the Settings button and be sure to select "Rearrange program files so my programs start faster." Click OK and again OK. 

Q Since I have added many new applications and perhaps many more fonts than I will ever use, I would like to remove some superfluous ones. How do I accomplish this and are there any precautions? 
A. (Part of this answer is taken form a Kim Komando newsletter.) Go Start/Settings/ Control Panel/Font Folder. Find the font you think you want to remove and -- this is very important -- double-click it and check the font preview window to ensure that this is in fact the font that you want to remove. 

Warning: Do Not Remove Any of the Following Fonts 

When you're sure the font is one you want to delete, close the Preview window, and from the Fonts window menu choose File + Delete. Click Yes to confirm that you want to delete the font.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (May 1999)

Q. While my thirteen year old grandchild is visiting our home, I would like to keep the screen saver active on my computer. I want to use the password protection. How do I do this? 
A. Click on the Start Button, click on Settings and open the Control Panel. Click on the Display icon. Click on the Screen Saver tab. Then check the Password protected box. Click "Change password and confirmation." Click OK. Of course your grandchild could re-boot the computer to circumvent this "protection." 

Q. I have created a spreadsheet using MS Works. I have a name in its header but also would like to include the current date to come up in the right portion whenever I bring up this document to modify and print it. How do I do this? 
A. Open the Spreadsheet document. Go to View on the Menu Bar. Select Headers and Footers. Type in &r&d in the header area. Click OK. 

Q. I have Windows 95. When I go to the Start button/Programs I no longer have the Windows Explorer listed in the menu. When I go to Find and type in explorer.exe I see that this file is located on the C:\ drive in the Windows folder. How do I restore the Windows Explorer shortcut to the Programs menu? 
A. To restore this shortcut, left click on the explorer.exe file which you have located in Find. This will bring up your Windows Explorer. Go to C:\ drive and select the Windows folder. Find explorer.exe in the right (contents) pane. Click the + beside the Start Menu folder. Right drag the Explorer.exe file to the left pane until Programs is selected (highlighted) and release the right mouse button. Select "Create Shortcut(s) Here." 

Q. The icon for the hard drive (C:/) is missing in My Computer but is displayed in Windows Explorer. What has happened? 
A. The icon is probably hidden somewhere. Try going to My Computer. Click on View on the Menu Bar or the Toolbar. In Arrange Icons select Auto Arrange. 

Q. I have a digital camera which creates files on a floppy. How do I convert one of these photos into a Wallpaper pattern for my Desktop? I use Windows 98. 
A. Try right clicking on a 'free spot' on the Desktop. In the pop-up menu which appears select Properties. Select the Background tab. Choose Browse. Find the file in question. Select Open. (I have created Wallpaper patterns using .jpeg , .gif and .bmp files.) 

Q. I would like to have larger icons on my Win98 Desktop. How can I accomplish this? 
A. Right click on a blank spot on your Desktop. In the pop-up menu which appears select
/Properties. Click on the Appearance tab. In the Item category, use the small down arrow to find and select Icon. Increase to the desired size. Click OK. 

Q. I am impressed with the appealing screen savers available with Windows 98. Do they have any functional value? 
A. No. They are moving images that can be set to come on after a set period of time. Years ago they served a very useful function, i.e., preventing a static image from burning itself into the phosphorus creating permanent 'ghosts' on the monitor face. They are now used for cosmetic reasons or to prevent someone from seeing your data. 

Q. I have Win98. How do I decrease or mute the volume of my internal modem? 
A. Click on the My Computer icon. Click on Dial-Up Networking. Right click on your Internet Service Provider icon. Click on Properties. Choose the General tab. Click the Configure button in the Connect Using section of the dialog box. Adjust the Speaker Volume slider bar as you prefer. Some modems will not allow you to do this. 

Q. I want to eliminate "autorun" while installing a new program on a CD because I want to virus check the CD first. How do I do this? 
A. Keep the Shift key depressed when inserting the installation disk until lights stop flickering on the CD-ROM drive. 

Q. I recently installed MS Word. Now whenever I open a document with the .doc extension, it opens in MS Word whereas previously it opened in WordPad. I would prefer the latter. 
A. Both of these word processors use the same extension. Open Windows Explorer. Click on View on the Menu Bar. Click on Folder Options then click on File Types. Scroll to "Microsoft Word Document" and select it. Click on Edit. Under Actions, click Open. Choose Edit, then Browse and find the WordPad program (usually C:\Program Files\Accessories) and select it. Click OK. In the Description of Type Field write "Word Pad." Click on Close. 

Q. While in Windows Explorer I accidentally moved a file. How do I figure out what folder it went to and undo the move? 
A. Immediately click the Edit menu and select Undo. Win98 will then restore the program to its former location. You also can perform the Undo command on the Desktop by right clicking on any empty spot on the Desktop. Select the Undo option. (Ctrl + Z is the keyboard equivalent of the Undo command). 

Q. I want to add a shortcut to the Quick Launch toolbar. How do I do this? 
A. Right click on an empty area of the Taskbar. Select Toolbars. Then select Quick Launch (the Quick Launch toolbar will appear on the Taskbar). Open My Computer or Windows Explorer and use the File Finder to locate the .exe file of the program that you want to add (.exe represents the "execute" file). Select the file, hold down the left mouse button, and drag the .exe file on to the Quick Launch toolbar. To delete a shortcut, right click on the icon and make that choice from the menu. 

Q. I lost my speaker icon in the system tray of the Taskbar. How can I get it back? 
A. Click on the Start button. Go to Settings, then to Control Panel. Double left click on Multimedia. Left click the Audio tab. Place a checkmark (a toggle switch) in "Show volume control on the Taskbar." 

Q. There are two useless icons on my Desktop left over from a utility program that I uninstalled. I have tried various methods in an attempt to delete them without success. What goes? 
A. These are called "ghost" icons. To eliminate them go to Windows Explorer. Select the C:\ drive, then select the Windows folder. Locate and delete the ShelllconCache file. Make sure that you have the option to "show all files" checked because the latter can be "Hidden," i.e., go to Windows Explorer then to the View menu. Click on Folder Options (Options in Windows 95).

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (June 1999)

Q. At times while running Scandisk the scanning procedure stops and then it restarts the process. Why? 
A. A very possible etiology is that some activity on your hard drive is interfering with the scanning completion. Before beginning the scan, close all other running programs, including the Screen Saver. You should also carefully depress the Ctrl and Alt and then Delete keys (this maneuver is called "the triple salute"). Make certain that all keys are depressed at the same time. This will bring up the Close Program dialog box. Click (to select) one at a time on each of the names listed. Do not close Systray and Explorer. These are required to run Windows. In each instance, a dialog box will open containing a button to End Task. Click on this button. Sometimes a window opens asking you to verify that you wish to close the particular program. 

Q. I want to add a program (e.g., MS Word) shortcut to the Quick Launch toolbar. I have Windows98. 
A. If Quick Launch is not on the Taskbar, right click on an empty area of the Taskbar, then click Toolbars. Place a check by Quick Launch (the Quick Launch toolbar will appear on the Taskbar). Click on the Start button, then click on Program. Right drag the desired Program (e.g., MS Word) to the Quick Launch area. 

To remove the icon in Quick Launch, right click on the icon and click on delete from the context menu. 

Q. I lost my speaker icon in the system tray of the Taskbar. The speakers are functioning normally. How can I get it back? 
A. Click on the Start button, then Settings and then Control Panel. Double left click on Multimedia. Left click the Audio tab, then place a checkmark (a toggle switch) in "Show volume control on the Taskbar." 

Q. After dragging a document to the printer's shortcut on the Desktop, a message appeared stating that I must create an association. How do I create this association for this document? 
A. Windows doesn't recognize which application (program) is necessary to open the document. To establish an association, select (highlight) the file icon in question, depress and hold down the Shift key. Then right click on the file icon which will bring up a context menu. Click Open with..., then select the program that you want to open the document with. Click the box in front of Always use this program to open file then click OK. 

Q. I would like to print part of a picture of a window that is open on my computer to a word processing document. 
A. Depress the Print key (on the keyboard) to send the image to the Clipboard. Click on Start, click on Programs, click on Accessories, then click on Paint. Click on the Edit menu, then on Paste in Paint (Paintbrush in Win95). In the Paint program you can "dress up" the picture as desired, then select it and copy it (click on the Edit menu then click on Copy). Bring up your word processing document, place the cursor where you want to paste the finished picture, and then click on the Edit menu and then Paste. 

Q. How does Windows 98 keep itself stocked with current drivers and such? 
A. There is a new Windows Update feature that can be found by clicking on the Start menu and then clicking on Windows Update. You will be connected to Internet Explorer (a browser). It automatically takes you to a central Web site featuring a wizard that scans your hard drive, notes out-of-date drivers or other system files, and then downloads and installs the newest versions. Get familiar with all the excellent features of Windows Update in Windows 98. It is a great improvement over Windows 95. Look over the list of files with descriptions and approximate download times. See what's already installed on your system and whether or not updates are available. Click what you need and the files are downloaded. You should use this utility about once a month. 

Q. I have Windows 98. Recently I changed to a higher video resolution by right clicking on the Desktop, and clicking on Properties. I clicked on the Settings tab and moved the slider to the right. Now menus and other screen items are too small for comfortable reading. What can I do and still preserve the higher resolution? 
A. Right click on the Desktop again, click on Properties, then on the Settings tab. Click on the Advanced button, then on the General tab. In the Font Size section, select Large Fonts.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (July/August 1999)

Q. have Windows 95. How do I ascertain what version I have? 
A. The initial version was issued in August of 1995. There have been three upgrades since. Each has different operating features. 

To determine which version you have click the Start button, click Settings, click Control Panel, double click System icon which opens System Properties. The General Tab lists the version number starting with 4.00. The original is 4.00.950 followed by 4.00.950A (Service Pack 1Update or OEM Service Release); 4.00.950B (OEM Service Release 2); 4.00.950C (OSR 2.5). 

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) versions are only available on computers purchased directly from a vendor. If you have the original version, you can download Service Pack 1 from the Internet at http://www.microsoft.com. 

Q. I created a letter with my word processor. I "put it somewhere" but can't find it. (One of the most common problems encountered by beginners is the "loss" of a document.) 
A. Please refer to this column in the April 1998 issue of The Gigabyte Gazette. You can also go to http://www.scscc/bkk (an Internet site for beginners created by Jean-Pierre Denis and Ed Ash) and read two fine "handouts" created by Dick Wright on "Finding Lost Files." If you are a beginner, I strongly suggest that you visit this Internet site, peruse all of these basic computing files and print them out for future reference. 

There is an improved Find feature in Windows 98. The reader would benefit from reading an article that appears in Smart Computing magazine (July 1999) regarding this matter. 

To get to Find, click the Start button and then Find. In Windows 98 you have several options including finding information and people by accessing various Search Engines or searching for files and folders. Get acquainted with this procedure. It is easy to use and very valuable. 

Q. (This question is addressed quite often at our Kaffee Klatches and always seems to open up the proverbial "can of worms".) When I go through the usual routine to shut down my computer, it gets "hung up" with the Windows logo. It never gets to the screen that says "It's now safe to turn off your computer." How can I correct this situation?  
A. The solutions presented by our Club members are numerous. Many have alleviated the problem by disabling the Norton Antivirus Auto-protect when shutting down. In Windows 98 another possible solution offered is to click on Start, then Run and type msconfig. Click OK, click the General tab, then click the Advanced button and check the box labeled Disable fast shutdown. 

One of the possible etiologies, and apparently much more common in Windows 95, is that this may be associated with a program in the StartUp menu. To rule out this possibility, depress the Shift key during the boot up process (starting up the computer) at the time you initially visualize the blue Windows logo. Keep the key depressed until you see the Desktop. This maneuver prevents the objects in the StartUp folder from starting automatically and the shut down process should be normal. 

If the problem is associated with one (or more) of the programs in the StartUp folder, right click on the Start button, left click Explore (this will open the Start Menu), click the + next to Programs and scroll to the StartUp folder. Left click on StartUp folder to open it up and move all but one of the icons into another separate, newly created folder. (For example, bring up Windows Explorer, click on the Master drive, click on File menu, click on New, click on Folder and type in StartUp1.)
Reboot the machine with one of the shortcuts in the StartUp folder. Keep adding one at a time and re-booting until you create the shutdown problem. This should point to the program that is responsible. New users should seek help if they aren't comfortable moving and creating new folders and moving files. 

There are other possible etiologies, e.g., corrupt or conflicting device drivers, config.sys or autoexec.bat files, exit Windows sound file, etc. 

Advanced power management in the systems may be the culprit. 

Whatever the cause, there should be no adverse effect if you manually wait for a few minute then shut off your computer, but wait until the light on the hard drive goes out. 

An excellent URL is http://support.microsoft.com/support/windows/tshoot/. At this Internet address you can read and follow a "trial and error" approach to possibly diagnosis and treat this problem. 

To reiterate, if you are a tyro at computing seek Help. 

Q. I want to delete documents without putting them in the Recycle Bin. How do I accomplish this? 
A. Select (highlight) the document(s) name, depress the Shift key while tapping the delete key. This maneuver will bypass the Recycle Bin. You can bypass "permanently" by right clicking on the Recycle Bin icon, then click Properties and check the box Do not move files to the Recycle Bin. Remove files immediately when deleted. 

Generally speaking it is wiser to use the Recycle Bin, storing documents there until absolutely certain that you no longer want the document(s). Once you remove files from the Bin it is impossible to recover them unless using a special utility program, such as Norton Utilities. 

Q. would like to create a Desktop shortcut for MS Works. How do I do this? 
A. In Windows 98 with the Desktop showing, click the Start button, click Programs, right drag (depress the right mouse button) the program name, i.e., Microsoft Works to the Desktop. Release the mouse button and click on Create Shortcut(s) Here. 

It's a little more complicated in Windows 95 as you must find the program (executable) file. Click the Start button, click on Programs, then click on Windows Explorer to bring up the "file manager." Once you are in Explorer (you will have to click the Restore button in the upper right-hand area of the Title Bar so that you will be able to see part of the Desktop), click the + in front of the Master (usually C:) drive icon, click the + near the Program Files, scroll down to the MS Works folder and click on its icon to "spill" its contents into the right pane. Then right drag Msworks.exe (a program file) to the Desktop, release the mouse button and click on Create Shortcut(s) Here. You must use the program's executable file (.exe) to create the shortcut. 

There are other ways to accomplish putting a shortcut on the Desktop besides the ones listed above. You can create shortcuts for objects other than programs (applications), e.g., files, printers, drives, Internet providers and browsers, and more.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (September 1999)

Q. I have Windows 98. Up until recently, when I right﷓clicked on my Start button, I would get four choices, in the following order: Open; Explore (which took me to Windows Explorer); Find; Scan with Norton AntiVirus. Now, although all four appear, Explorer is grayed out, so I can no longer get to Windows Explorer from a right﷓click on Start. The other three remain active. How do I correct this?
A. One possible therapeutic approach may involve TweakUI. Go to Start, click on Settings, click on Control Panel, click on TweakUI, click on the My Computer tab, then check(toggle) any un-checked drives then click OK.

Q. I have just installed Windows 98. I want to get rid of a password box that comes up whenever I start my machine.
A. (Many possible solutions have been discussed at the Koffee-Klatchs, etc. the following is suggested by Kim Komando) When the password box comes up, enter a user name and a password. Click on Start, then click on Settings, and double click on the Control Panel icon, double-click Passwords icon, and on the Change Passwords tab, click the Change Windows Password button. Type your current password in the Old Password text box, press Tab, then type it again in the New Password text box. Press Enter, and you'll see a dialog box telling you that your password has been changed. This should get rid of the annoying password box.

Q. When I boot up (turn on) my computer I want an application to start but minimized on Taskbar. The shortcut is in the StartUp folder. How do I do this?
A. Right-mouse click on the shortcut, choose Properties, and click the Shortcut tab. On the Run line, click the drop-down arrow to display your three possible options--Normal window, Minimized, or Maximized. Select Minimized, click OK, and from now on, that application will shrink out of site when it opens at start up.

Q. How do I change the appearance of a shortcut icon on my Desktop-
A. There are many suggestions offered. One solution is to right click on the icon, left click on Properties, click on Change Icon button, click on desired icon, click OK. To find more selections in the File Name area type in C:\windows\moricons.dll, click on icon you want to use, click on OK.

Commercial software is also available to allow you to select even more icons.

Q. While printing a document of some 90 pages, my printer ran out of ink at page 21. My printer output consisted thereafter of blank sheets. What should be my course of action?
A. A simple but effective approach would be to abort the procedure by removing loose paper in the paper tray, replenish the ink supply, bring up the document, initiate the printing process again (File menu, Print) and select the proper pages in the print dialogue box e.g. pages 21 to 90.

Q. I find a certain web site particularly helpful. How do I create a desktop shortcut to it?
A. (This answer is based on responses via e-mail messages by Carol Warman and Dick Jones) Create a new shortcut on your desktop by right clicking on an empty space on the desktop, click New and then click Shortcut. When the Create Shortcut wizard comes up, put the URL (Internet address) in the command line. You can either type in the address or select (highlight) it, copy it by using ctrl + C on the keyboard to copy it to the Clipboard and then ctrl + V to paste it in the command line. Click “next”, give your shortcut a name on the next screen and finally click “Finish”. 

Here is another method for putting a URL shortcut on the desktop, assuming the URL is in your Favorites folder. Open the Favorites menu in Windows Explorer. Right Click on the desired URL which brings up a context menu. Click on “Send To” and Left Click on “Desktop as Shortcut”.

Q. When formatting a floppy disk there is a choice between ‘Quick (erase)’ and ‘Full’. What is the difference?
A. ”Quick Erase” removes all the files but does not check for damaged areas. With a ‘Full’ format the damaged areas are marked so that they will not be used to store information. The ‘Full’ method is a safer procedure even though somewhat more time consuming.

Q. I have Window 98. Should I buy Windows 98 Second Edition?
A. (A concise article in Smart Computing dated Sept. 99 and going to the Microsoft Web site are recommended to get a more complete answer). If you have been routinely downloading Microsoft Updates and are not interested in a new feature called ‘Internet Connection Sharing’ (ICS) then it probably would not be necessary to spend the $20. 

ICS is a built-in improved support for home networks and multiple, simultaneous Internet connections. This allows several computers to access the Internet over a single connection.

Q. How can I use the keyboard to launch a program in my computer? 
A. Right click on the shortcut for the program you want to make a keyboard command for. You can use shortcuts from the Start menu’s Programs list. From the pop up (context) menu, click on Properties. Then click on the Shortcut tab. In the box associated with Shortcut key, type in the letter that you desire to associate with program. When you depress Ctrl + Alt along with the letter you selected the program should automatically come up.

Q. I want to forward a message (e-mail) to someone. How does one eliminate all of the names & addresses (header) that came with the original message? In other words I want to forward a message, but to just one person.
A. Although you did not identify your electronic mail program, one answer to your problem is to select (highlight) just the original message itself (not the header), click Ctrl + c keyboard keys (this copies the text to the Clipboard) then paste the message into the 'new' email Message area by using the Ctrl + v keys

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (October 1999)

Q. I have a bubble jet printer. I noticed that it is capable of printing in a ‘draft' mode. What does this mean?
A. The ‘draft' mode allows the printer to print as fast as possible. This setting allows an increase in speed because it is using a lower resolution thus preserving ink. The quality of the printing is acceptable for ‘everyday' text processing.

Q. How do I check an attachment to e-mail for a virus infestation? I have Windows 98 and use the Norton Anti-virus program. 
A. Save the attachment to a special folder before you execute (open) it, right click on it to bring up a context menu, click on Scan with Norton Antivirus., wait a short while for the results which will appear on the screen.

The McAfee program works essentially the same way.

Make certain that you update the latest definitions. If you are downloading files from the Internet regularly, you should update almost weekly. On average, two or more new viruses per day are created. 

I understand that the new Norton Antivirus (2000) program will automatically check attachments to email.

Q. At times I get the message General Protection Fault. I am forced to turn off my computer thus losing newly created data in the process. What is going on?
A. General Protection Fault (GPF) is a warning that the particular program (application) that you are using has tried to reach a portion of memory that it is ‘not supposed to' or that program is trying to perform a function it simply cannot execute. This error then forces you to exit the program & re-start (re-boot) the computer.

This is one of the many reasons to save often when creating a document, especially a lengthy one. 

Q. What is the difference between a virus and a worm?
A. The distinction between the two is academic because either is capable of creating havoc with your computer. Proper prophylaxis, including an anti-virus Program is essential. The following was copied from the Web http://cis.gsu.edu/~rbaskerv/cis8680/Lessons/virus/index.htm :

Virus:

Worm:

Q. I have Windows 98. I want to use ‘Send To' to copy/move a file from the hard drive (C:) to a cartridge in the Zip drive. When I right click on the file to bring up the context menu the Zip drive (D:) is not listed. What shall I do?
A. You can add the Zip drive to the menu. There are several ways to do this. One way is using Windows Explorer (the file manager) by clicking on the Start button (on Taskbar), click on Programs, click on Windows Explorer. You will see two panes. Click on My Computer in the left pane opening up its contents onto the right pane including the icon for the Zip drive (D:). Next, scroll down the left pane (tree pane) until you see the Windows folder and click on the + next to it then scroll down further until you see the SendTo folder then right drag (depress the right mouse button without releasing it) the icon of the Zip drive (D:) into the left pane over the SendTo folder until it is selected {changes color) and then let go of the right mouse button. You should then select create a shortcut. 

Q. I have a folder on my hard drive named Win95set. It contains mostly .cab files. Apparently this folder was created by a local vendor from whom we bought our computer for the purpose of re-installing Windows 95 if necessary. It consumes about 80 MB of space. Now that we have Windows 98 would there be any harm done if I were to delete this folder with all its files? 
A. You should not encounter any difficulty after deleting this folder. 

Q. I tried unsuccessfully to install a new modem. Windows 98 did not have the proper driver (software that allows the modem to communicate with Windows). I do not have the disk that came with the modem. What should I do?
A. You might search for the driver by going to the manufacturer's Web site and download the proper software (if necessary you can ‘borrow' a computer which has Internet) or call the manufacturer to mail the driver to you. 

Q. My visiting grandson was ‘fooling around' with our computer. He changed the appearance of many of Desktop icons, including the Recycle Bin, My Computer and My Documents. They do not appeal to us. How can we change them?
A. Right click on a blank area on the Desktop then click on Properties, click on the Effects tab (note the large display of icons), select the preferred one by clicking on it, click Change Icon, select the icon you prefer and click OK. 

Q. While ‘defragging' my hard drive (C:) after 10% into the process it stops then re-starts again to 10% than stops again and then restarts and may go up to 90+% and stop altogether with my computer ‘freezing'. I have Windows 98. I have been told that this ‘malady' may be associated with the Task Scheduler.
A. Apparently some underlying computer activity is interfering with the defragmentation. It could be the Task Scheduler. Prior to using the Disk Defragmenter right click on the icon for Task Scheduler in the System Tray (right side of the Taskbar) and disable it by left clicking on (choosing) Pause Task Scheduler. 

Many of our Computer Club members do not use the Task Scheduler but scan disk, defrag, etc manually. To discontinue the use of the Task Scheduler click on the Start button, click Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, click Scheduled Tasks, click Advanced and then check Stop Using Task Scheduler. You can select one or more tasks to come on automatically e.g. we have our virus program scan the hard drive on our computer every Friday at 8pm, a time that our computer is likely to be turned on.

Q. You have mentioned TweakUI in previous columns. What is it? I have Windows 98 but can not find it on my computer. 
A. It is a very useful utility that allows you to ‘fix' a few annoying things on your computer without going into the Registry.

If you do have Tweak UI installed, you should find its icon in the Control Panel. (Click the Start button, click Settings and then click Control Panel.) 

If you do not have it installed you can do so by inserting your Windows 98 CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive, and close the Welcome screen if it appears. Right-click the Tweakui.inf file in the Tools\Reskit\Powertoy folder, and then click Install. Follow the instructions on your screen to install the TweakUI tool.

Once installed and you want to use it, simply go to the Control Panel and click on its icon.

If necessary you can download it from Microsoft's web site. There is available a version for Windows 95. Don't attempt use the Windows 95 version in Windows 98.

Q. I've been told that I need ‘WinZip' to handle zipped files that I have downloaded from the Web. What is ‘WinZip'? I don't have it installed on my computer. 
A. WinZip is one of a number of compressing (zipping) programs. Many files (really folders with files in them) that you download from the Internet will have a .zip extension and have a unique vise like icon. Before you can use a compressed file you must unzip it i.e. separate the files. You can also use this handy program to compress a large file or a number of files e.g. to reduce the amount of storage space required when backing up data to another storage media.

Evaluation versions are available on the Internet at www.winzip.com .

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (November/December 1999)

Q. We recently purchased a new computer (with Windows 98) which the salesperson told us has a USB port. What does this mean? How do we use it?
A. ‘Ports’ are situated on the back of the computer where external hardware e.g. printers, modems, etc. can be plugged. Communication occurs between the computer and the hardware. Parallel (LPT) and Serial (COM) ports are what most of us presently have. USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a special type. Several devices can communicate with this single port. It is much faster than using serial and parallel ports. The hardware can be attached even while the computer is on.

Those members of our computer club who have used USB seem very pleased with it.

Another fresh innovation, ‘Fire wire’, is being touted as even more useful as a means of connecting peripherals. 

Using infra-red light instead of cables is also a technology that seems worth watching.

Q. I would like to print a list of files in a folder on my hard drive (C:). 
A. Display the contents of the folder e.g. Start button, click Programs, click Windows Explorer, click on the desired folder in left pane to ‘spill’ its contents into the right pane. Click the Start button then click Run and type in the following: command /c dir >dirlist.txt., click OK. The new file dirlist.txt will be added to the right pane of Windows Explorer where all the files are listed. This .txt file can then be printed. 

You can actually print out a list of the folders & files on your entire hard drive if you desire to do so.

Q. Up until this morning, I could right click Start, and one of the options I had was Explore. Clicking Explore took me directly to Windows Explorer. But now this option is grayed out. I can't figure out how to get it back. Can you help?
A. A possible ‘cure’ might be the use of TweakUI (see my column in Oct 99 Gigabyte Gazette). Click on the Start button, click on Settings, click on the Control Panel and bring up TweakUI, click on My Computer tab and make certain that all the boxes (toggle switches) are checked.

Q. My vision has deteriorated recently (Macular Degeneration). I understand that help is available to better see the text, etc. in Windows 98.
A. There are some excellent features to help you better visualize the information on your computer screen. Click on the Start button (on Taskbar), click on Programs, click on Accessories, click on Accessibility Wizard and/or Magnifier. Follow the instructions.

The Magnifier allows you to use the mouse pointer (or keyboard) to direct your vision. Other options also are available.

You can even create a Magnifier shortcut on your desktop. The program file is Magnify.exe. Select (highlight) this file, click Ctrl + C keys (on keyboard) to copy it to the Clipboard. Right click on the Desktop, click on New, click on Shortcut, paste i.e. Ctrl + V keys this into the Command Line, click on Next and select a name for the shortcut, click Finish.

Q. I would like to add Microsoft Word to Quick Launch. 
A. Be sure that Quick Launch is visible by right clicking on the Toolbar, click on Toolbar and check (toggle switch) Quick Launch. Click on the Start button (on Taskbar), click Programs, move the mouse cursor over Microsoft Word thus selecting (highlighting) it, right drag (depress the right mouse button) it to the Quick Launch area on the Taskbar and release the right mouse button, click Create Shortcut(s) Here.

Q. I have created an ‘appealing’ drawing with my Windows 98 ‘Paint’ (an applet that comes with Win9x) that I would like to use as wallpaper for the Desktop.
A. While showing the drawing in ‘Paint’, click on the File menu, select ‘Set as Wallpaper’ (centered or tiled). You can customize so that your “masterpiece” will be the same size on the Desktop as it appears in Paint. 

Q. When I print the text from Windows 98 Help (click Start button, click Help, click the Options menu, Print) the font size is small. How can I print this text in a larger font size?
A. Simply select (highlight) the desired text, copy it to the Clipboard (Ctrl + C) then paste it to your favorite word processor then once again select the copied text (Ctrl +A on the keyboard) and choose a larger font size and then go to the File menu and click on Print. 

Q. I want to use Yahoo (Internet search engine) as my Home Page in IE 5?
A. Bring up IE (Internet Explorer), click on the View menu, click on Internet Options, click the General tab then type in the Yahoo address in the Home page area.

The process is essentially the same if you use Netscape as your Internet browser by clicking on the Edit menu, clicking on Preference and typing the Yahoo address in the Home page section.

You can use any Internet address as your home page.

Q. I have just upgraded to Windows 98. Should I convert to FAT 32 (File Allocation Table)? 
A. Yes, unless you feel that you might return to Windows 95, which is unlikely. Since the advent of large multi-gigabyte drives conversion is a good idea. FAT locates files on disks. FAT 32 improves the organization of data in smaller clusters (groups) to help reduce ‘wasted’ space. Partitioning a single drive greater than 2GB (Gigabytes) is no longer necessary with FAT 32 (unlike the situation with FAT 16 which can only support drives up to 2GB).
An often cited example of conserving disk space is the following. If you had a 33KB (kilobyte) file and FAT 16 using 32KB clusters the data would ‘spill’ into a second cluster wasting 31KB. In FAT 32 with 6KB clusters storage occurs in 5 clusters wasting only 3KB.

To diagnose whether you have it, double click on My Computer, right click on the Master Drive (usually C:), click on Properties, click on General tab. 

If you have FAT 16 and want to convert use the ‘Drive Converter’ Wizard. Click on the Start button, click on Programs, click on Accessories, click on System Tools, click on Drive Converter (FAT 32), follow instructions.

Q. I would like to single click (the same way I do when on the Internet) instead of double click to open folders and files in Win98.
A. You can use single﷓clicking in two ways: with or without underlining icons and titles. 
In My Computer or Windows Explorer, click the View menu and select Folder Options. On the General tab, select Custom, Based On The Settings You Choose, click the Settings button, and then click Single﷓click To Open An Item. Next, choose the underlining style you want. If you want to see items underlined the way they are in your browser, click Underline Icon Titles Consistent With My Browser Settings. If you want to underline items only when you point at them with the mouse, then select Underline Icon Titles Only When I Point To Them.

Q. I would like to embed (make a copy of a file so that I can edit it without changing the information in the original) an entire file into a letter that I am creating in MS Works 4.5.
A. One approach is to choose the Insert menu while in the document, click on Object, click the radial button Create from file, then specify the file name by browsing your computer until you find the file and then insert it.

You can essentially do the same using MS Word, Lotus and Word Perfect.

Q. I would like to use Imaging (part of Windows 98) as a viewer for graphic files, e.g. .gif and .jpeg documents. 
A. There are several ways to accomplish this. 

Using ‘Send To’ is an excellent way so that when you get a graphic file just right click on it to bring up the context menu then click on the Icon for Imaging. To do this you must put a shortcut for kodakimg.exe (the program file) in the ‘SendTo’ folder. Click on the Start button of Taskbar, click on Find, click on Files or Folders type in the name of the above file. Click on the Start button again, click on Run, type in SendTo and press the Enter key.

You will now have two windows (Find and SendTo) open on your Desktop. Select (highlight) the above file in the Find results box, click the Edit menu, click copy, then click on the SendTo area, click on its Edit menu, click on paste. 

Another way is to right click on the graphic file name while depressing the shift key then click on Open with then scroll down and select Kodaking, click OK.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich (January 2000)

Q. How do I use the keyboard to bring up MS Works? 
A. Right click on any shortcut for MS Works ( e.g., on the Desktop), click on Properties, click on the Shortcut tab, type in the keyboard letter you desire, e.g., m, click OK. Now when you depress the Ctrl, Alt, and m keys, MS Works should appear. You can select whether you want to open the program as: Normal window, Maximized or Minimize.

You can follow the same procedure to bring up other applications using your keyboard. 

Q. An application that I recently installed keeps crashing. Why? 
A. (This a frequent question that comes up in our Kaffee Klatches and evokes many responses.) 

To answer, I will paraphrase and quote from an excellent and succinct article that appeared in the December 1999 issue of Smart Computing magazine.

There are multiple etiologies of this frustrating malady including missing files, file version mismatches, memory conflicts and exhaustion of the user or Graphics Device Interface (GDI) resources. Depending on the cause, you may be notified of an Illegal Operation or see the Blue Screen of Death. This experience may be transient, i.e., solved with a reboot (with possible loss of data) or may present a more persistent problem with a complete system failure.

First, make sure the problem isn't the result of malfunctioning software by checking the vendor's Web site for patches or updates. Next, try a simple reinstall over the existing app. This usually preserves any settings changes you made but will correct erroneous settings and replace corrupted .dlls. If a simple reinstall doesn't work, try completely uninstalling the errant software, then rebooting and reinstalling from scratch. A clean start will often correct pernicious problems.

Five Steps to Prevent Software Malfunctions: 

  1. Research compatibility of your system and software before you install a new program. 

  2. Protect your existing DLL shared files before you install a new program. 

  3. Watch for patterns when you have Illegal Operations or blue screen errors and research the cause. 

  4. Monitor your system resources. 

  5. Use uninstall programs to remove installed programs

Q. I don't have a Windows 98 Startup disk. How do I create one? What is it for? 
A. (When you initially install Windows 98, you are asked if you want to create one.) In your situation, to prepare this valuable tool, put a floppy disk n the A drive. Click on the Start button, click on Settings, click on Control Panel, click on Add/Remove Programs, click on Startup and follow instructions. You will be asked to place your Windows 98 Installation disk in the CD-ROM drive. 

This very important disk may be necessary if you can't start your computer normally. By putting it in your floppy drive and turning on your distressed computer it allows you (or someone more experienced) to access several tools that are crucial to recovering a system.

Once created, write-protect it (look for a sliding tab in a square hole on the diskette and slide the tab so it does not cover the hole), label it and put it away in a safe place.

Q. I prepared a Windows 98 "boot disk" when installing Windows 98. When I tested it, I got a DOS prompt. Since I am not well versed in DOS commands I became confused. Where can I get information on this matter? 
A. You are to be commended for testing your Windows 98 startup disk before a catastrophe occurs. This is practicing good preventive medicine.

Using proper commands at the DOS (Disk Operating System) prompt is essential when using the Windows startup disk. Be prepared by printing out and reading a file in your Windows folder. Click Start, click Programs, click Windows Explorer, click the + next to the Windows folder in the left pane, click the + next to Command, click on the EBD folder to open its contents in the right pane, then open the Readme.txt file which text should appear in a word processor (usually Notepad). Click the File menu in the word processor and click on Print.

An excellent article appears in Smart Computing Magazine, January 2000 issue, regarding the use of this useful boot diskette.

Q. I often lose good control using the mouse when selecting (highlighting) text. How can I use the keyboard in this situation? 
A. Position the cursor at the start of or end of the text, depress the Shift key and the arrow (or Page Up/Page Down) keys. Using the keyboard in this manner allows you better control of selecting and is especially efficacious while selecting text on the Internet. 

Q. After removing a program I got the following window "Could not find Fmedia.exe. Specified in the WIN.INI file. Make sure the file exist on your computer or remove the reference to it in the WIN.INI file." How do I get rid of this annoyance? I have Windows 95. 
A. Click on Start button, click on Run, type in sysedit (this will bring up a cascade of windows), click on C:\WIN.INI window and type in rem (remark) and a space in front of the line that has Fmedia.exe in it. Get help from a more experienced user if necessary. 

Q. What is Dr. Watson (in Windows 98)? Is it worthwhile? 
A. Dr. Watson is a Windows 98 diagnostic tool and is very worthwhile whenever your computer experiences a system fault. It behaves much like a medical doctor in taking a history, getting a snapshot of your system, identifying the failed software and possibly offering a diagnosis and a course of therapy. Even a consultation is available with Microsoft Technical Support using Dr. Watson as a tool to aid in the evaluation of the "disease." 

Open Dr. Watson by clicking Start, clicking Programs, clicking Accessories, clicking System Tools, and then clicking System Information. In System Information, click Tools, and then click Dr. Watson. An icon will appear in the system tray.

To obtain a system snapshot, right click the icon in the system tray then click Dr. Watson. Type a short description of the steps you took that initiated the error. Click the File menu and click Save As then click Save. Contact Microsoft Technical Support for assistance re determining the cause of the problem found by Dr. Watson.

Q. How do I find out which version of Juno I have installed in my computer?
A. Click on the Help menu and then click on About Juno. This technique to find out which version you are dealing with is applicable to essentially all applications. 

Q. For what possible reason(s) would I install Juno when I could use a superior e-mail program, such as Outlook Express or Eudora Pro? 
A. It is true that e-mail programs like Outlook Express offer higher quality electronic management, e.g., handling attachments, HTML, special formatting. Many of us who use an ISP (Internet Service Provider) also use Juno as a "constant" email address, for example your ISP may be "down" or you may change ISPs. Juno also does not require that you be on the Internet when using the program, i.e., you simply use the modem for a brief period to receive and send email. Another handy feature is the ability to import your account to another computer, e.g., when visiting another area of the country. Although Juno is available "free" and does not require an ISP, you must be willing to tolerate supporting advertising. 

If you have an ISP you can use free electronic mail services, such as Yahoo, Hotmail, and Freemail. These are also supported by advertising. Commercial on-line services, like America Online, Prodigy and CompuServe, also provide electronic mail capabilities.

Q. 2000 (Actual email message) "I am trying to run the HP DeskJet Printer Software to a new computer. All I get is "install in exec.setup." I have no idea what that means and cannot find it any of the manuals! Suggestions!! Many thanks." 
A. (This true case exemplifies that whenever you have a computer problem think of the obvious initially) The case was diagnosed and 'cured' with a house visit. The problem turned out to be an unattached cable to the printer. Always rule out the obvious first!. 

Q. In Windows Explorer, when I click on the File menu and then select New, I get a very long menu of selections. Is there any way to remove some or all of these items? 
A. (Provided by Sy Bensky with some modifications.) Yes there is. Click the Start button, click Settings, click Control Panel, Double click on "TweakUI.", Click on the "New" tab. A list of the applications that appear on the File, New menu will appear. For each item you wish to remove, click on the check mark (a toggle switch), to clear it. This will remove the items from the File - New menu. If you want to add some of the items back to the File - New menu, bring-up Tweak UI as explained above and click on the check box. 

Tweak UI is a very useful tool. Please refer to this column in the October 99 issue of the Gigabyte Gazette for more information on Tweak UI.

Q. (Actual email message) "I don't know how I did it, but my quick launch icons disappeared. I can get them if I click  on the task bar but I can't get them back on the quick launch. I can't get anything to go onto the task bar. If I could, I would just reinstall them. I have W98. Thanks." 
A. Try right clicking on a blank area on the Taskbar, left click Toolbar, and click (toggle) Quick Launch.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich (February 2000)

Q. I never use the Desktop folder called My Documents. Can I safely get rid of it?
A. Yes you can. Simply right click on the Desktop icon which will bring up a context menu. Click on Remove from Desktop. Even though you remove this folder from the Desktop it will still be available on your hard drive (usually C:\) in the My Documents folder.

To restore the folder, right click on the Desktop, click on New, click on My Documents Folder on Desktop.

Q. Recently whenever I start up my computer it goes into "Safe Mode." What is going on?
A. There are many etiologies for this situation. You may have inadvertently changed important Windows settings or installed a device incorrectly. Windows may start in Safe Mode (diagnostic mode) automatically if there is a start-up hitch, e.g., application requests, incompatible drivers, a corrupt Registry.

You can use this mode to fix the underlying problem. It is really a "skeletal" version of Windows. You won't be able to access your CD-ROM drive and peripherals, e.g., printer, modem and sound card. The display (monitor) setting uses the standard VGA (video graphics array) with only 16 colors. No items in the StartUp folders can be started in this mode.

If necessary you can boot up (start your computer) in this mode by depressing F8 (function key) on your keyboard during the booting up process. Be certain that you consult with a "specialist" p.r.n. (as necessary).

Q. I was "fooling around" in the Registry (Win98) and did not back it up properly. How can I restore the settings?
A. Fortunately Windows 98 backs up the Registry the first time it boots up each day. It also keeps copies of the five most recent backups.

One way to restore one of the copies is to reboot (start) your computer. Depress the Ctrl key during the boot up process. The Setup Menu should appear. Select the Command prompt option. Type scanreg/restore at the C: prompt. The Registry Checker appears and displays previous settings (.cab files). Select the setting used successfully recently. This process is truly a great improvement and could be "life saving."

Q. What is a .cab file?
A. This is a cabinet file used by Microsoft to compress (compact) and store installation related programs and files on hard drives. These files can be viewed by clicking on them in Windows Explorer.

Q. I uninstalled a program from my computer but when I click Start (on Taskbar) then Programs, the name of the program is still displayed. How do I remove it?
A. One approach is to click on Start, click on Settings, click on Taskbar & Start Menu, click on the Start Menu Programs tab, click Remove which will bring up Remove Shortcuts/Folder window which lists all the items on the Start/Programs menu, select the desired item, click Remove, click Close then OK.

Q. (Actual e-mail message) "I have Word '97 C drive documents as "my documents" which I have backed up on A drive floppies as "my documents" (Windows '95).
I expect to purchase a new computer with Windows '98 and Word '97 pre-packed.
What' s the best and fastest way to transfer the information on my floppies to my new C drive, maintaining their integrity ........?
A. There are several ways to accomplish this. One technique is to insert your backup floppies in the A drive, then bring up Windows Explorer (the file manager) then scroll in the left pane and click on the A drive icon to show its contents in the right pane then select (highlight) all the files on the floppy then copy them to the clipboard (depress the Ctrl+c keys on the keyboard) then scroll down in the left pane and select "My Documents" folder then paste (depress the Ctrl+v keys) the files from the floppy into the "My Documents" folder.

Q. Can I use the same ID (identifying name) and password for different e-mail programs?
A. Yes you may. You cannot use a password if someone else using the same e-mail program is using it.

Q. My new computer will have at least one USB (Universal Serial Bus) port. According to your recent article all I have to do is plug my HP Office Jet Pro printer (I bought it in '97) into my computer and it will automatically find the printer engine without further ado?
A. Peripherals, e.g. printers, scanners etc. must be "USB ready" to use a USB port. It is very doubtful that you could simply plug in your "old" printer. The most cost effective way for you is to continue using a parallel port for the present time.

Refer to previous issues of The Gigabyte Gazette, i.e., September 98 and November-December 99 regarding USB.

Q. I want to create a folder to organize and store items in the Start menu.
A. Click on Start, click on Settings, click on Taskbar and Start Menu, click on Start Menu Programs tab, click on Advanced, click the + next to a folder to display subfolders, click on the folder (displaying its contents) that you want to contain the new folder. Right click on a blank area of the contents pane, click New, click Folder, type in the desired name and then depress the Enter (return) key. You can now drag items into the newly created folder.

Q. Why don't I have a speaker icon in the system tray of Taskbar? I do have sound.
A. Click on the Start button, click on Settings, click Control Panel, click on Multimedia, click on the Audio tab and make certain that Show volume control on the taskbar box ( a toggle) is checked.

Q. At a recent Kaffee Klatch we were discussing sound cards. The name "duplex" was often used. What does this term mean?
A. This label refers to an audio (sound) card that uses two DMA (Direct Memory Access) channels to play back and record sound simultaneously. While using the Internet this allows voice communication to sound more like a "normal" telephone call where callers can speak at the same time (unlike radio communication).

DMA is a computer resource allowing a device to communicate directly with the computers memory. This accelerates the processing of information.

Q. I have MS Works. I received a letter from my son with an embedded picture that he created using the applet "Paint." Can I change some of the drawing?
A. Yes, as long as you both are using the same application, i.e., MS Works and if he used Paste Special to embed the picture. If this is the case you should be able to double click on the picture (object). You than will get the Paint toolbar, etc. allowing you to edit (change) the object (embedded picture).

Q. I deleted a file from a floppy disk. I assumed that it would go into the Recycle Bin. I opened up the Bin but could not find the file to retrieve it. Why not?
A. You cannot use the Recycle Bin when erasing file(s) from a floppy disk or any removable disk. This holds true also for "deleted" electronic mail or using the DOS command to delete

Q. I would like an "easy" way to arrange Programs alphabetically (descending order) after clicking the Start button. I have Windows 98.
A. You can manually move a Program by click-dragging it to any position you want. Also, if you have Windows 98 and Internet Explorer 5.0, simply right click on the Programs list and select "Sort by Name." Apparently this maneuver doesn't work with earlier versions of Internet Explorer.

Q. When using "Backup" to back up files to my zip drive in Windows 98 I have a message saying there were "errors" when comparing my original files to the files I was backing up. Why?
A. A Microsoft Backup is a great tool to back up data (even compress it) to storage media, e.g., floppy disks, tape and to a zip drive. Click Start, click Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools then "Backup." Many of us don't take advantage of this "easy to use" implement.

When the process of backup is completed, the Backup compares the original files to the backed up files to make certain that the procedure was a success. A possibility that went wrong in your case is a faulty cartridge that goes into your zip drive. Try inserting a fresh cartridge.

Q. When I use WordPad (a word processing applet that comes with Window 9.x), the documents that I create are stored in "My Documents" on the Desktop. How can I change this situation so as to save them in a special folder that I have created called "Letters" on the hard drive (C:).
A. To change this default setting, right click on "My Documents," click on Properties, click on Browse, click on the + next to the C: drive, click on the created folder, i.e., "Letters," click OK.

Q. Can I copy the Windows folder to a Zip disk?
A. Yes. The data copied will include the Registry.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (March 2000)

Q. I just installed Norton Antivirus 2000 and then downloaded the latest NAV (virus definitions) update. How do I find a list of the total number and names of all the viruses being checked and providing protection against?

A. Go to Programs, click on Norton 2000, click on Reports on the left side of the dialog box, click on View the list of viruses that Norton AntiVirus is protecting you against. Click Open. In late January there were nearly 47,000 names listed. McAfee has a similar procedure to follow.

Q. After using the Window's Backup Utility, can I make a printed, hard copy of a backup list of numerous files?

A. Yes. Making a report of your backup is an appropriate idea. Windows Backup Utility is an excellent tool for backing up files. The Windows 98 version is improved over the Windows 95 model. It is probably underutilized by our members. To bring it up click the Start button, click Programs, click Accessories, click on System Tools and then Backup. After you back up, view the report by clicking the Backup Process window, click the Report button. A Notepad window appears and shows the report. Click File menu, then click Print.

Q. I have created a document in MS Works. Can I select part of the text of that document and print it selectively?

A. No. You could select the desired text, copy it and paste it to another document and then print it. However more sophisticated word processors, e.g., MS Word, WordPerfect allow you to print selectively by selecting (highlighting) the desired text, clicking on the File menu, clicking the Selected text radial button and then OK the printing.

Q. I was trying to copy 356 files to a 100MB zip disk drive cartridge but it would copy so many and then would stop with the message, "Error. Unable to create this file titled (then the name of the file)." I was unable to copy any more files to the zip drive. There was still plenty of space available on the disk. I tried inserting a new cartridge and began the process again only to get the same results. What happened?"

A. There is a limit to the number of objects (files and folders) that you can put in a root directory.

(After a great deal of discussion with Computer Club members most did not remember the exact number of objects involved.) You should create a folder(s) on the zip and put the files in the folder(s) in an organized manner.

Ed Ash was kind enough to go the Internet and come up with the following: "You can continue to add directories at any level of the structure, as long as there are no more than 512 files and directories in the root directory of your hard drive. A root directory on a floppy disk can hold fewer files and directories. Other directories can contain as many files and directories as needed. However, MS DOS runs more slowly if there are more than 150 or so files and subdirectories in one directory." Ed then quotes further: "Don't create files or directories with long file names (LFN) in the root directory. Why Not? An LFN uses one directory entry for the DOS name of the file and one directory entry for each 12 characters in the LFN. The root directory is limited to 512 file and directory entries. It is possible to run out of directory entries"

Q. Can I edit the system file (config.sys, autoexec.bat, system.ini, win.ini) in Win98?

A. There are several ways to do so but be sure to back up the files first. Click the Start button, click on Run, then type msconfig. Click the General tab and select Create Backup. Click the tab for the system file that you want to change, click Edit, do the editing, then OK.

Let the novice user be forewarned that system files should not be tampered with unless proper guidance is available.

Q. What are some good general rules in selecting a password?

A. Make it one that would be difficult to guess but not so difficult that you will forget it, e.g., use your mother's maiden name in it. Use a mixture of uppercase and lowercase. Combine it with numbers and other characters. It is very important that you remember it. Keep it stored in a safe place.

Q. (An actual message) I have Windows 98 and Microsoft Office 2000 on my computer. My friend has Windows 95 and uses MS Works. She has material which I need to transfer to my computer. She copied the files onto a floppy, but I cannot access them on my computer. I had understood that Works and Excel would be interchangeable. Any suggestions or thoughts as to what I might be doing wrong?

A. Works and Excel are interchangeable. Your friend should bring up the files in question on her computer, click on the File menu, click on Save As, use the down arrow in the dialog box and select the latest Excel extension, e.g., Excel 97-2000 (*.xls). You should then be able to insert the floppies in your floppy drive and open them using your Excel program.

Q. (This Q & A is quoted from e-mail sent via our Chat line by Avery Hughes) "This question always comes up. How do you save or transfer Bookmarks/Favorites?

PROBLEM: You have a new computer and want to copy the Favorites list in Internet Explorer from your old machine to the new one.

SOLUTION: First, choose File, Import and Export to save the Favorites list (or one of its folders) as a HTML file. Next, copy the HTML file either to a floppy disk or a network folder or attach it to an e-mail message. On the computer receiving the Favorites list, choose File, Import and Export.

Note: The same technique works for Bookmarks in Netscape Navigator."

Q. (This a question commonly asked by beginners.) When should I use the right button on my mouse versus using the left button?

A. Whenever in doubt use the right button which brings up a context menu that applies to whatever you have selected (highlighted). This menu gives you a list of options including open, cut, copy, create a shortcut, deleting, etc. Usually single clicking the left button selects the object and double clicking will initiate an action, such as opening a file or folder. You can customize the left clicking so that a single left click will activate a folder or file (refer to my column in the November/December 1999 issue of The Gigabyte Gazette).

Q. I noticed that I have more than 300 cookies in the Windows/Cookie folder. Should I delete them? If yes, how do I do this?

A. Most of us accept them and do not delete them because they do no damage. Generally speaking a cookie is data that a Web site puts on your hard disk so that it can remember something about you at a later time. Your identity cannot be found unless you specifically yield information about yourself. Cookies are records of your preferences, e.g., your password, your buying habits, etc. They actually help to serve you more quickly and better. They take up very little storage space on your hard drive.

You can actually view them by clicking on them but trying to interpret them may not make much sense. Internet Explorer stores each cookie as a separate file under a Windows subfolder. Netscape stores all cookies in a single "cookies" text (.txt) file.

Deleting all of them may prevent some online service from operating. You can deal with them to fit your personal situation. If you have Netscape Communicator 4.7, click Edit, then Preferences, then Advanced (left pane), click on your preferred option, e.g., Disable cookies.

For Internet Explorer 5.0 click the Tools menu, click Internet Options, click the Security tab, click Security Setting, scroll down to Cookies and choose your option, i.e., Disable, Enable or Prompt. You can also right click the Internet Explorer icon, select Properties and do essentially the same thing.

Q. (Thanks to Louis Laussade, one of our Computer Club "gurus", for this Q&A) "I have an unusual intermittent shrill that seems to be coming from my computer. The sound continues off and on even when the computer is turned off. What goes here? I called Compaq and they led me through a number of computing exercises but the noise continues." (Louis was then called for help. After reviewing the situation over the phone Louis scratched his head and admitted that he did not know the answer. He felt it possibly was a hardware problem and suggested taking the computer into a shop and to call Louis the results of this bizarre situation.)

A. The owner disconnected the various cables, power cord, etc. from the computer and removed it from the desk. He then observed that the noise was emanating form his wife's pager that was located in a drawer immediately under the computer tower. Sometimes a computing diagnostic "problem" is not due to the computer!

Ask the Experts
by John Polich (April 2000)

Q. I'm a beginner and have trouble double clicking my mouse to open a file or folder. Do you have any suggestions?

A. "Practice makes perfect." Keep working on it. You might try slowing down the required speed in double clicking by clicking the Start Button, click on Settings, click on Control Panel, click on the Mouse icon, click on the Buttons tab then move the slider to the left until you can comfortably move the "Jack in the box" in the Test area.

There are some alternatives to accomplishing the same end. After selecting (highlighting) the file/folder with a single left click, click the right mouse button which opens a menu and left click on Open. Another method is to single left click on the file/folder, then depress Enter on the keyboard.

Q. I now have a new laptop as well as my regular desk top computer. I want to use Briefcase so that I can transport documents between the two computers. How do I restore the Briefcase icon (I had removed it a few months ago) on my Windows 98 Desktop?

A. Right click on the Desktop, click New and select Briefcase. You can create as many as you desire. It is installed by default on portable computers.

Q. I have two printers. How do I set one as the default?

A. Click on Start, click on Settings, click on Printers (note that the default printer icon has a check mark). Right click on the desired printer icon, click Set on Default, close the window.

Q. I have created numerous documents using the MS Works word processor. These have been stored in different folders on my hard drive. How can I find all of them in a single list?

A. Click the Start button, click Find, click Files and Folders, click the Name & Location tab and select C (hard drive) in the Look in area. Click the Advanced tab, use the down arrow and select Microsoft Works Word Processor and click Find Now. The list will also include Templates.

Alternatively you go to Find (as above), click Name & Location tab and type *.wps in the Name area and select the hard drive. Then click Find Now.

Q. At many of our Internet SIGs and Kaffee Klatches members have mentioned "free" Internet providers. Would you list a few? What's the catch?

A. Netzero, FreeI, World Spy, AltaVista, Yahoo, Blue Light, are a few. Even "free" DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is being offered. They usually contain supportive advertising, such as banners. Many club members are pleased with certain individual "freebies" but you should remember the old adage about a "free lunch."

Q. I have copied some material on the Clipboard that I would like to save as a file in a folder that I created on my hard drive. How can I accomplish this? I have Windows 98.

A. Click Start, click Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, then click Clipboard Viewer. This should display the copied material. Click the File menu of the Clipboard Viewer, click Save As, name the file, find the folder that you created and save the copied material in it.

Q. I bought my computer several months ago with Windows 98. How can I find out if I have the Second Edition version?

A. Click the Start button, click Settings, click Control Panel, click on the System icon, select the General tab. Included is information about your computer's Windows 98 version.

Q. Should I purchase Windows 2000 now that it is available? I have Windows 98.

A. This new "upgrade" (really a successor to Windows NT) represents a large change from Windows 98. Most of our members (as well as reference material) that addressed this question felt that this new operating system was "too heavy" for home use. At the price of about $300 you should probably "sit tight" for the present time unless you are operating a large business.

It is thought to be faster and safer, yet has a similar interface to Windows 98. It even provides the "plug and play" feature. It is more stable so that even if a specific program crashes, the machine itself won't. It supports DVD (Digital Video Drive), USB (Universal Serial Bus) and other upcoming hardware technologies. Better device drivers are available.

Upgrading can be difficult with fewer peripheral supports. It is more complex with more options but will not run older programs such as DOS (Disk Operating System). At least 64MBs of RAM is suggested.

A "Millennium" version of Windows (Windows Me) will probably be available some time later this year. It appears that Me will be more practical for most home users. Apparently, this operating system will still have DOS although not "pure DOS." Restoration to a previous condition will be possible with a "click" of a button.

Q. How can I add an option to open a Text (.txt) document file type with WordPad in addition to keeping the default action? I use Windows 98.

A. Click the Start button, click Programs, click Windows Explorer, click the View menu, click Folder Options, click the File Type tab, scroll to select Text Document then Edit, then New, then type open in Action Text box. Type WordPad in the "Application used to perform action" text box. Click OK.

Q. When not using my computer for about 15 minutes I can't "awaken" it by moving the mouse or pressing a key on the keyboard. The power is "on." I have Windows 98. I understand that my computer is on "standby" during this time but I am required to re-boot to again use it . . . Some members have recommended that I turn off "Power Management." What should I do? I have Windows 98

A. The idea of "power management" is to reduce the amount of power consumption by the computer by putting the monitor and/or hard drive(s) in a "Standby" or sleep mode when it is not being used for a specified period of time . . . It was designed with the idea that the computer could then be awakened by pressing a key or moving the mouse.

Many of our Club members have experienced this situation, i.e., the computer going into a "comatose" state. It may be due to incompatibility of your computer with the power management feature, such as a faulty driver (software that "talks" to the hardware). Try contacting your vendor or the manufacturer for a possible upgrade.

Prior to disabling power management (many of our members have had difficulty doing so) click the Start button, click Settings, and click Control Panel. Then click Power Management and select the Power Schemes tab. There you can do some simple selective tests by trying to see if some of the individual features work (for example., "turn off monitor"). If none of these seem to function properly select never in the box that is labeled Turn off the hard disk and do the same with System standby and Turn off monitor.

If the above is not fruitful, you can go into the BIOS (Basic Input Output System). Most computers will allow you to do this by pressing <del> (delete key) as the computer is 'booting up'. Turn off "Advanced Power Management" completely. Do this with expert help as you can create serious problems if changes in the BIOS are made incorrectly.

Q. My computer functions very well when I initially turn it on but after awhile begins to act "screwy." I get Illegal notices and even the notorious blue screen. The computer will freeze, etc. If I turn it off for a few hours or initially turn it on in the morning it does well and then goes through the same cycle. Would you help me?

A. The history in this situation suggests the cause is an overheated computer. After a great deal of frustration and time (we should have paid closer attention to the history), an examination (by Louis Laussade) revealed that the fan on top of the microprocessor was not working. This resulted in a very hot microprocessor (we could hardly touch it) which then malfunctioned. Replacement with a new fan resulted in a therapeutic triumph.

Making a differential diagnosis re a problem in computing is analogous to the practice of medicine. Even as medical students we were taught that we should elicit a thorough history and listen closely. The patient is trying to tell us the possible diagnosis even before the physical examination is carried out. In this case the history revealed that the computer acted well initially and then erratically after being used for a period of time. With such a story as the above the differential diagnosis should include an overheated computer, e.g., a defective motor fan or microprocessor fan or putting the computer in a poorly ventilated environment.

Q. We were surprised to find out that the Spreadsheet in MS Works 4.5 was not Y2K compliant. When we entered 2/12/00 it recorded 2/12/1900. We had downloaded a Y2K patch from the Microsoft Works Web site late last year. Early this year we installed and then uninstalled MS Works 2000 and reinstalled MS Works 4.5. Any suggestions?

A. Download the patch again. It is still available. The Y2K problem may involve software, hardware or the operating system. In this case it was the software. It is prudent to make certain that you visit the Internet sites for all the software on your computer to make certain that you have downloaded the latest patch(s) from the vendor.

Q. I just bought a new computer which came with a "Microsoft IntelliMouse". The mouse has a wheel-like structure. What is this for"?

A. This wheel allows you to scroll through information like the scroll bar that you see on a normal Window. It will only work on the most recent versions of Microsoft programs.
 

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (May 2000)

Q. (via email) "Tried to use Win 95 Uncompress feature (Drivespace) to uncompress my Drive C (Primary) and was advised: Cannot uncompress...The following file is in both C (Primary) and F (Uncompressed Host for C) drives: _PS1SAVE.DAT Rename file and try again.
Problem: Cannot find above file either by using FIND (on both drives) or DOS. Can anyone help?"

A. This file is, by default, "hidden". Go into Windows Explorer (the file manager), click on the View menu, click on Options (Folder Options in Windows 98)and check the radial button that reads show all files. The file should be in the root directory (Drive C). Once found, select (highlight) it, right click on it and select Rename. Type in the changed name using no more than 8 characters before the .dat extension.

You may have to go "pure" DOS (Disk Operating System) also to rename the file.

Q. The button tool bar in Windows Explorer does not have labels under the buttons. It did at one time. Why not? How do I get the labels back?

A. You must have in-advertently changed the default (set when you initially installed Windows) setting. Click on the View menu, click on Toolbars then select (a toggle switch) Text Labels. Without the labels you have more window area for the right and left panes of Windows Explorer. Even with unselecting Text Labels you can rest your pointer on each button to find out its function.

Q. I am in the process of installing MSN (Microsoft Network) as a provider. During the installation I was instructed to utilize small fonts. How do I accomplish this?

A. Right click on the Desktop, click the Settings tab, click on Advanced, click the down arrow at Font Size and choose Small Fonts.

Q. I find the Channel Bar on my Desktop very annoying. How do I turn it off?

A. Simply close it by clicking the X in the upper right hand corner of the display. You will be asked if you want it launched automatically. You can also click on Start, click on Settings, click on Control Panel, click on Display, select the Web tab and de-select Internet Explorer Channel Bar.

Q. What is the Online Services Folder on my Desktop? Can it be safely removed? I have Windows 98.

A. This folder provides shortcuts to executable files that are in the Online Service folder which is a sub-folder of the Program Files folder. They include AOL, AT&T, CompuServe, MSN and Prodigy Internet providers. The executable files install software used to connect to each of these services. It is perfectly safe to delete the folder.

Q. How do I pause my printer? Can I pause it while it is printing a document?

A. Click on the Start button, point on Settings and click on Printers. Click on the appropriate printer icon, select the document in question, click on the Document menu and select Pause Printing.

You should not pause printer while it is actually printing a specific file as this might cause a "freeze". If you need to, pause all the files in the queue (line up) except the one currently being printed by selecting the files not being printed , click the Document menu, click Pause Printing. To resume, click the Document menu again click Pause Printing. To cancel a file (not actually being printed) select it, click Document, click Cancel Printing. The file will disappear.

To cancel all printing, click the Printer menu, click Purge Print Documents.

Q. While dragging a file in Windows Explorer from the right to the left pane I accidently moved it but am not certain where it went. What should I do?

A. If it just occurred go immediately to the Edit menu and click on Undo. The file should be restored to its previous location. The keyboard equivalent is to depress the Ctrl and Z keys and can also be used in nearly any other area "undo".

These accidents can occur when dragging. We usually instruct beginners (depending on the individual instructor) to use the Clipboard to copy (Click the Edit menu, click Copy) or move ( click Cut in the Edit menu) and then paste the file or folder to another location (click Paste in the Edit menu).

Refer to previous columns for an answer on finding "lost" files (Apr 98; Jul/Aug 99).

Q. I would like to make a copy of my Favorites in Internet Explorer to a floppy. I plan to use them in another computer in the future. How can I accomplish this?

A. Put a floppy into its drive, click on the Start button, click on Find, click the Name and Location tab, type "Favorites" (include the quotes) in the Named area and Look in Hard drive. Right click on "Favorites" and use the Send to option to target the floppy drive. (The path or address of the Favorites folder is C:\WINDOWS\FAVORITES). Usually the diskette will provide sufficient space i.e 1.44MB.

You can do the same with Bookmarks in Netscape. The bookmarks are kept in a file called Bookmark.htm. (The path in Communicator 4.7 is C:\PROGRAM FILES\ NETSCAPE\... )

These files can also be Sent to a zip drive if necessary. Internet Explorer is capable of reading Bookmark.htm. They could also be saved as zipped (compressed) files.

Q. (e-mail) "Where could I find a list of all the keyboard shortcuts for WIN98."

A. (e-mail answer by Dick Kling) "Try the Help utility." (Click the Start button, click Help, click the Index tab and type in keyboard shortcuts. This email answer by Dick may seem rather obvious but the excellent Help feature in Windows 98 is under-utilized. Look over the three tabs in Help i.e. Index, Contents and Search. You can print any "answer" for reference. Going to a Microsoft Web site for help is also available here.)

Q. I have recently switched to Cable as a means to get on the Internet. Because I will now be constantly connected to the Web I am worried about intruders accessing my computer. Should I be concerned and if so what can I do for protection?

A. Because you now use a fixed Internet connection your computer is more vulnerable to unauthorized connections. This is also true with DSL (Designated Service Line). You should install firewall software. Three of these are Network Ice, ZoneAlarm and Norton Internet Security 2000.

Many of our members have experienced being "hit" even with dial up connections and advise using a firewall software in this situation. A "freebie", ZoneAlarm, is available as a download from http://www.zoomlabs.com.

Q. Can a file with a .rtf extension carry a virus?

A. Very rarely. Most problems are files with .exe, .doc, xls and zip extensions.

Q. Can normal Internet browsing pick up a virus?

A. No. The problem occurs when you download and execute files from the Internet.

Q. When I boot up my computer instead of opening to Windows 98 it displays Setup with Normal highlighted. When I click this selection Windows comes up. How can I change this situation so that the normal Desktop will open?

A. Try going to Tweak UI in the Control Panel by clicking the Start button, click Settings, click Control Panel and click on the icon for Tweak. Select the Boot tab and in the Boot menu section make certain that the box in front of Always show boot menu is NOT checked then OK.

I have mentioned Tweak UI many times (Oct 99, Jan 00) in this column. It is an excellent, easy to use tool to "fix" many computing problems without going into the Registry.

Q. I have just purchased a new bubble jet printer. I want to connect it to the parallel port (LPT1) where the present one is connected. How do I install it and get rid of the old one? I have Windows 98.

A. Delete the old printer by clicking on the Start button, click Settings, click Printers, right click on the printer icon, and press delete key (Be sure that you select yes when asked if you want to delete the printer files from your computer). Disconnect the printer cable to the parallel port.

Always read the instructions manual prior to installing the new printer because the situation may be variable.

With Plug and Play Windows will usually identify your new printer when you restart your computer and may ask you to insert the disk(s) supplied with the printer. Follow the instructions.

If you have difficulty, click the Start button, click Settings, click Add Printer and use the Wizard. Click Next, select Local printer, choose the manufacturer and model or use the driver disk (software that "tells" the computer what to do) that came with the printer, choose port i.e. LPT1, click next, name your printer, click option to print a test page, click Finish.

Q. I have Window 98. At times I get a message stating that there is a "Stack Overflow". What does this mean?

A. "Stacks" are areas of reserved memory that the computer uses to handle hardware tasks. The messages indicate that your computer does not have enough memory to cope with what it is trying to do. This results in "Stack Overflow". Hardware conflicts or insufficient memory are possible culprits.

Click on the Start button, then Help, then the Index tab and type memory. Select problems with, troubleshooting then Click Display. You should be able to get some tips on how to free up space or make better use of what memory you have.

Adding more RAM i.e. memory to your computer may be indicated. Too bad that we can't similarly add more memory to our aging brains.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (June 2000)

Q. Would you review some of the keyboard "shortcuts" available in Windows 98.

A. As pointed out in my previous column (April 2000) using the Help menu is a good source for a detailed list of shortcuts. The following key shortcuts were recently listed on Kim Komando's Web site:

ALT + TAB: Cycles through open applications
CTRL + ESC: Brings up Start menu
ALT + F4: Shuts down the selected program.
CTRL + Z: Undo
CTRL + Y: Redo
CTRL + A: Select All
F1: Help

Web pages:
Page Up -- Moves the page up one screen at a time
Page Down -- Moves the page down one screen at a time
Space Bar -- Moves the page down one screen at a time
Alt + D -- Places your cursor in the address bar.
F4 -- History of recently typed in addresses.  (Your browser also keeps a record of recently typed in addresses, to see this history)
Ctrl + W -- Closes the active window
Ctrl + H -- Opens history
Ctrl + F -- Opens the find dialogue box
Ctrl + N -- Opens a new browser window

To open a link on the current page in a new window: Place the cursor over the link you want to open in a new window, then right click on your mouse button and select, "Open in new window."

Q. I often get "hung up" while using Windows 98 i.e. I can move the pointer but nothing happens when I click the mouse. What is the cause of this situation?

A. (From Smart Computing Apr2000 page 86)

Causes:

·Prevention:

Solution: go to Knowledge Base (http://support.microsoft.com/search)


Q. (E-mail message) "DOES ANYONE KNOW T0 RESTORE THE PANEL THAT SAYS "WAIT UNTIL YOUR COMPUTER SHUTS DOWN".IT'S THE LAST PANEL BEFORE SHUT DOWN. I JUST RECENTLY LOST IT, AND GET A MATTED DESIGN, WHEN I SHUT DOWN THE COMPUTER. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

A. (Answered by Sy Bensky) "There are a couple of files named something like logos.sys and logow.sys. They should be in the Windows subdirectory. If they are missing, look for them on your windows CD."

Copy these files into the Windows subdirectory (folder) even if they are there as they could be corrupted.


Q. What is an Optical mouse?

A. This new innovation by Microsoft has no moving parts thus no ball that operates on friction with a pad. There are lights on its bottom. There are numerous operating buttons. According to Dave Alexman it is the most advanced mouse for complex CAD and detailed graphic art designers. The Optical Fiber Engine eliminates inaccuracies and deficiencies of the mechanical computer mouse. It is especially useful for larger monitors e.g. 21" and with higher resolutions i.e. 800 x 600 and above.


Q. What is Adobe Acrobat reader?

A. This is proprietary piece of software with which you can view .PDF (Portable Document Format) files that are created by Adobe Acrobat. It allows you to read and print .PDF files directly from an Internet browser e.g. Explorer or Netscape.

There are versions for a multitude of operating systems including Windows. You can obtain it as a "freebie" by downloading it from Adobe and other Internet sites.

Viewing a PDF file allows you to see the document with the exact layout as intended by the author. This is an advantage over other formats e.g. HTML where the resulting layout can vary depending on the software used.

You can even choose the language by using a special kit. However you cannot save or edit while in the Adobe Acrobat reader.

The purpose of Acrobat is to give a digital document the same look and feel as paper. These documents are called PDF files. Adobe Acrobat Reader is the software that you need to look at PDF documents. Usually, anywhere you can download a PDF file, you'll find a link back to Adobe's home page to download the free Reader programAcrobat Reader can also integrate itself with your Web browser, so that when you click on a Web-based PDF, its contents are displayed in your browser window.

Q. Last month in your column you suggested the use of Tweak UI and stated that its icon is in the Control Panel. I don't have it (Windows 95). What do you suggest?

A. There are several ways to download Tweak UI in Windows 95. One way is to go to www.winmag.com/win95/software.htm and download it to a newly created folder e.g. Tweak. Double click on the .exe file which should expand to 5 different files. Right click on tweak.inf. then click on Install. You should then see the icon in the Control Panel.

Below is a quote from my column dated October 1999 re Windows 98:

"If you do not have it installed you can do so by inserting your Windows 98 CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive, and close the Welcome screen if it appears. Right-click the Tweakui.inf file  in the Tools\Reskit\Powertoy folder, and then click Install. Follow the instructions on your screen to install the TweakUI tool. Once installed and you want to use it, simply go to the Control Panel and click on its icon.

If necessary you can download it from Microsoft's web site. There is available a version for Windows 95. Don't attempt to use the Windows 95 version in Windows 98."

Q. Would you review how to select files in Windows Explorer? I have Windows 98.

A. It makes a difference whether you are using Web style which allows you to simply point your cursor at the file icon to select it and a single click to open the item.

Classically to select one file simply click on its icon. To make random selections depress the Ctrl key while clicking on specific file icons. To make a group selection click the first file in a list, depress the Shift key and then select the last listed file. You can also use the "lasso" technique in selecting a group of files by pointing the cursor in an area outside the group, keep the left mouse button depressed and drag the cursor around the group. You can also select all or a group of files and then deselect one or more by pointing the cursor at the file icon and depressing the Ctrl key.

By practicing the above it becomes relatively easy to select file(s).

Q. How do I erase evidence of what I have been viewing using Internet Explorer 5 browser?

A. Click on Start, click Settings, click Control Panel and double-click Internet Options. (Another method is to open the Internet Explorer window and click View, click Internet Options). Select the General tab, click Clear History under History, then click Yes. This will erase the contents of the History folder and also the drop down list of URLs associated with the Address bar.

With Netscape Communicator 4.7, bring up the browser, click on Edit, click Preferences, click Clear History under History.

Q. I have been given a computer by a good friend. How do I change his name as the "owner" to mine in the System Properties page (this page is found by right clicking on My Computer, clicking on Properties, selecting the General tab)?

A. (Dick Kling covered this question in an overview of the Registry in June, 1999 at the Advanced Windows SIG. His "handout" is available on that SIG Web site).

If you are an experienced user go into the Registry which is a hierarchical database. Click on the Start button, click on Run, type in "regedit". This should bring up the Registry. It resembles Windows Explorer with left and right panes. Note the six root keys (folders) in the left pane. Click the root key HKEY-LOCAL-MACHINE, click the + next to Software, click the + next to Microsoft, click the + next to Windows, click on the Current Version folder, Right click Registered Owner, select modify, type in correct information i.e. your name. The new information will appear in System Properties box.

This column has repeatedly warned of the dangers involved in "fooling around" in the Registry. However if you bring it up and look it over without doing any editing i.e. change any data you, won't create a computer disaster. Before you do any "neurosurgery" know your limitations and seek adequate consultation as needed.

Q. In installing a relatively old program it copied a different .DLL (Dynamic Link Library) file over an existing one. Certain programs are now mal-functioning and I get error messages stating that a. DLL is missing. How can I remedy this situation? I have Windows 98.

A. DLLs are often shared by different applications. It is possible that your old program has copied and older version on top of an existing one that had been working well. If the error message lists the DLL involved you can restore it.

Among several therapeutic approaches you might try copying the file to its proper folder (e.g. C:\Windows\System) from another computer. Another approach would be to Click on Start, click on Programs, click on Accessories, click on System Tools, click on System Information, click on the Tools menu, click on Version Conflict Manager. If you find the missing .DLL , follow instructions to restore it.

There is software available that contains an inventory of .DDLs allowing you to find and replace them as needed.

Q. I downloaded the most recent anti-virus definition (.exe file) from an Internet site (Symantec) directly to the Desktop. I doubled clicked on it to execute it. May I now delete this Desktop file?

A. Once this file is executed your virus list is 'up to date' and you may safely delete it.

Q. "Is there a way to hide letters, so no one else can read them? My grandchildren use my computer sometimes and wouldn't want them reading my business letters. Thanks Shirley"

A You can change the attribute of a file to Hidden. Right click on the file (letter), select Properties, and check box in front of Hidden (under Attributes). You must also bring up Windows Explorer (the file manager) click on View, click on Folder Options, (Options in Win 95), click on View tab and check radial button that states "Do not show hidden files".

By default (original software setting) certain files e.g. important system ones are hidden. In order to view these hidden files you must make the above changes in Windows Explorer.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (July 2000)

Q. (Email message) ”My two top toolbars do not appear together in my Windows '98 software (MS Word 97). I tried clicking View (View menu) Normal Toolbars to no avail. What do I do to get both toolbars to operate together. They are important shortcuts (button bar) i use in word processing.”

A. Click on View, click on Toolbars, click Customize and then select the tools that you want. The process of customizing the Toolbar is available in all word processors. You may have to search around a little.

Q. I have a friend who has some very great looking Wallpaper (Windows 98 Desktop) that she found on the Internet. How can I save pictures like she did?

A. Place your mouse pointer over the Internet image that you want as Wallpaper, right click on it, select Save Picture As (in Explorer) or Save Image As (in Netscape) on the context menu, then select Set as Wallpaper. You can actually make the image look better by right clicking on the Desktop Wallpaper, click on Properties, click Background tab to Center, Tile or Stretch.

Q. My keyboard is “dead”. Why?

A. (Always think of the obvious when things don’t work well in computing. To answer this question I would like to quote a rather humorous history sent to me by PeterTsang, one of our computer club members):

“As promised, here's an experience which might be worthy of inclusion into your interesting collection.

The other day, I helped setting up Bill Schneider's (one of our members) New PC.  The new PC was all setup. We had both his new PC and Old PC sitting on the desktop, ready for transferring files from the old pc to the new.

I was establishing an Internet account for his NEW PC, when it came to passwords, I asked him to type in the password himself. I got up from the desk and he took over.  He tried to type in his password in the box, but found out the keyboard was dead. So, I tried, and the same result!  So, the next best thing to do was restart the pc, which we did, but still not successful in typing in the password.  We were both scratching our heads wondering why all a sudden the keyboard quit working on us - was it due a corrupted "driver", I wonder?  Just when I was about to look into the device manager, Bill's wife came in and said she was impressed to see both sets of PC's on the desk side-by-side, with TWO keyboards in all!

Finally it dawned on us that when I first turned over the keyboard to him to type in the password, he automatically went for the keyboard hooked up to the old pc! That keyboard was still in its normal downtown desk!  And, when I went back to type, of course, I also went for the old keyboard he had just left me with!  Feeling dumb and embarrassed (and hopeful), I asked Bill to try again, but this time, with the NEW keyboard; voila, it worked!!!  What a relief!  We both felt a bit comical and stupid, BUT very HAPPY!”

Q. I have been receiving a message to use “Disk Cleanup” on my computer (Windows 98). Why? What should I do?

A. When the available space on your hard drive reaches a low level usually between 15 to 60 MBs (depending on its size) the operating system provides this warning. You should click on Start, click Accessories, click System Tools, click Disk Cleanup and follow the instructions.

Q. I am running low on hard drive space and would like to compress my hard drive. I recently converted to FAT 32 (File Allocation Table) in an attempt to create more space.  Should I use DriveSpace to gain more?

A. No! You cannot compress with FAT 32 (a file system that improves the organization of data on the hard drive). You should try to create more space by “pruning” e.g. removing programs, temp files and other “junk”files that you no longer use. Using ScanDisk and Disk defragmentation  regularly may help (see the following Q & A re scandisking and defragging). Consider adding another hard drive (if your machine will allow it). The cost of new hard drives has become very reasonable. 

Q. (Email message) ”Linda use my Presario 2100 with Win 95. I tried to help her scan the C Drive for errors and Defragment which hasn't been done in 6 months. The Capacity is 1.966B -Free Space 895 MB. For both Scan Disc and  Defragment the same message comes on "Your computer does not have enough memory to complete this task" Linda can still use the computer quite well. The Norton anti-virus still works.”

A. You should do a "standard" Scan Disk about once every week or so and do a "thorough" one (“standard” test plus physical test of disk surface) about every 4-6 months. Some experts advise doing a “thorough” scan once a month depending how often you use your computer. In Windows 95 you should defragment when the disk becomes about 3-5% fragmented. Defrag about every 1-2 months in Windows 98. Always do a Scan Disk prior to using the Defragmenter.

There is has an excellent “handout” ( by Art Tanaka) on the Beginners’ KK Web site re scanning and defragging.

To answer your question, make sure that you have turned off all your active programs prior to attempting to scandisk and defrag. Turn off your Screen Saver (right click on Desktop, click on Properties, select the Screen Saver tab and select None). Depress Ctrl, Alt and  the Delete keys to show Close Program window then End Task all programs (select each program, one at a time, and depress the Delete key) except Systray and Explorer. Right click on the items in the Systray (far right) on the Taskbar) and then close or disable those objects (except the Clock and Speaker). Now go ahead and do a Scan Disk and then Defrag.

Q. There are occasions when I would like to become better acquainted with MS DOS commands that can be used with Windows 98. What is a good source for this information? A recent presentation by Ed Ash (a former member now living in Georgetown, TX) has stimulated my interest in DOS.

A. A good source for these commands is to go to the MS DOS window (click Start, click Programs click MS-DOS Prompt) type cd c:\windows\command to open folder of commands. Type dir that lists them. To find out what each does, type name of command followed by /? ( e.g. move/?).

Q. I am in the process of writing a book (autobiography) with about 12 chapters (files) using MS Word. Even though each chapter has a file name I find it difficult to remember specific details of each. It is very time consuming to open each as they are listed in Window Explorer.

A. Right click on the file's icon in Windows Explorer, click on Quick View from the context menu. This allows you to peruse the file without bringing up the document’s application i.e. MS Word. You cannot edit a file in this view but you can bring up the application which in turn will bring up the file if you so wish.

If not present on your computer you can install Quick View from the Windows 9x installation CD. Insert your CD-ROM disc (some vendors install the contents on the hard drive) into it’s drive, click the Start button, click Settings, click Control Panel, click Add/Remove Programs, click the Windows Setup tab, click Accessories, click Details and check the box in front of Quick View then click OK.

Many of us have installed Quick View Plus which allows you to do many more things e.g. displaying more correctly the fonts, page numbers, headers and footers, tables, more file types, print, etc.. This utility is available as a download from http://www.inso.com

Q. I often get asked what hardware my new computer has inside it. Is there some way to get this information and print it out?

A. This type data, though difficult for the average computer user to understand, is very important to have available e.g. if the computer crashes, the need to call tech support, etc.. There are many ways to do get this data.

Click on Start, click Run, type “HWINFO /UI”, click OK. Click the File menu then Print Text. Be aware that this printout is very lengthy!

Hardware information on your computer is available in the Device Manager (Right click on My Computer, click on Properties and click on the Device Manager tab). To print out the desired information click on the Print button and select the radial button appropriate to the Report desired then click OK.

Shareware is also available e.g. Belarc Adviser (a “freebie”) which can be downloaded and installed from the Internet. This utility automatically goes over your computer’s configuration and even makes recommendation re memory types, hard drive and software applications that will run on your computer. This data is kept on your own computer. Its runs on Win9x and NT.

Q. I am a beginner and regularly attend the Beginners’ KK. I have no problem getting to the Beginners KK Web site. How do I download the “handouts” listed there and print them?.

A. You can save each file by right clicking on it then click Save Target As....  Save to a folder that you desire e.g. create a folder on your hard drive and call it “Beginners’ KK”. These “handouts” i.e. files use a RTF (Rich Text Format) extension allowing you to use most word processors to show them and then to print them.  

Ask the Experts
by John Polich (August 2000)

Q. What is DSL? Is it available here in Sun City?

A. DSL is an acronym which stands for Digital Subscriber Line or Digital Subscriber Loop. It is very much like Cable allowing you an Internet connection without needing to “dial up”. Regular copper telephone lines are utilized. You can be on the Internet and use the telephone for regular conversation (even send faxes) at the same time. A router (often referred to as a modem) is used to transmit data via the twisted-pair copper wire that exists between a home and the network service provider’s central office.

The following is a quote from Kim Komando’s Web site: “xDSL services can offer such fast connections because of the way they squeeze capacity out of a telephone line. Using sophisticated digital coding, xDSL packs data into copper wires through a process called modulation, where data is blended into a carrier signal. The DSL modem sends out a modulating message signal that alters the carrier signal and forms a modulated wave. Because of this modification, a greater amount of data can be carried for longer distances over copper lines than would be possible without.”

The speed is similar to Cable Internet and depends on the distance from the central telephone office (the limit apparently is three miles) and other factors. This is very fast compared to a regular “dial up” service with traditional modems (maximum speeds of 56 Kbps) but is more expensive. An even more costly installation will get you a faster speed which is targeted primarily for businesses.

The situation regarding accessible hookups in Sun City is confusing. Our Computer Club was addressed recently at a monthly meeting by a Sprint representative but his answers to our questions were rather vague. At the time of this writing there were at least four homes that were using DSL. I talked to Walter Petrie, one of our Club members, who has DSL. He is generally pleased with it.

Q. I would like to use a default folder to download material from the Internet. How can I create one?

A. You should definitely have a “download” folder and name it accordingly. It is relatively easy to “lose” a downloaded file somewhere among the thousands of files and folders already present in your computer. Here you can check downloaded files for viruses prior to executing them i.e. right clicking the file(s) and requesting a virus scan. This viral check is practicing good preventive medicine. (Take note that if you have AOL as a provider, there is a download folder already in place.) Unless you have a special reason to keep these downloaded files, you should delete them once they have been executed. Otherwise the “download” folder’s content may accumulate causing confusion and taking up un-necessary computer space.

This folder may be situated anywhere in your computer but the Desktop is my favorite site. Right click on the Desktop, click New, click Folder and name it “Download” then press the Enter key. Hereafter, download the Internet file directly to this folder i.e. when the Save As window opens, select your special “download” folder.

Q. Does it make any difference if I use upper or lower case in an Internet URL (address)?

A. Any part of the address after the domain name (.com, .org etc.) is case sensitive. This apparently includes any directory name(s) that precede the file name.

Q. Starting just recently, when I try to use my modem (Lucent winmodem) to connect to the Internet it doesn't dial out. I get an error message telling me it is already in use. How can I get my modem to work properly, again?

A. (This “real-life” situation was handled with a house visit by Sandy Mintz in which he used “Solution two” to successfully treat the problem. The following is the answer fashioned by Sandy). 

For some reason, your modem didn't "hang up" after the last time you used it. Here are two solutions. Either one should resolve the problem.

Solution one:
If you have Windows98, go to Start, Settings, Control Panel, System, Device Manager, View Devices by Type. Click on the + in front of the Modem folder. Highlight your modem which should now be visible as a subfolder under the Modem folder. Click on properties near the bottom of the window. On the General tab, place a check mark (by clicking ) in the small white box in front of Remove from this hardware profile. Click on OK. Reboot your computer. It should automatically detect the presence of your modem as an item of hardware that is not installed and automatically proceed with re-installing it properly.

Solution two:
Go to Start, Programs, Accessories, Communications, HyperTerminal and double left click on the file, Hypertrm.exe. Create a new connection (naming it anything you wish). Click OK. Enter the phone number from which you are dialing. Click OK. Click on Modify. Click on Configure. Click on the Connection tab. Click on Advanced. Enter ATH (a DOS command) in the Extra Settings box near the bottom of the window, then click on OK. Click on OK two more times. Click on Dial. The modem will proceed to call your number. Upon completion, your modem will be properly "hung up."

Q. I have noticed that at our Hardware SIG (Special Interest Group) the “Device Manager” is often referred to. What is it? How to you get to it and how is it used?

A. This useful diagnostic tool allows you to view hardware information thus helping you (possibly with a consultant) to identify a problem and render the proper treatment. The hardware devices are arranged into categories e.g. disk drives, modems, mouse, monitors, etc.. A red “X” or yellow ! (exclamation mark) may be associated with the hardware icon if there is a problem thus simplifying the diagnosis and therapy. It can be especially helpful when installing new hardware e.g. a modem or a CD ROM drive.

You can open the Device Manager by right clicking on My Computer, selecting Properties and checking its tab.

Q. I am starting to use Microsoft Backup and am confused re the difference between “differential” and “incremental” backup. Would you explain?

A. “Differential” backup only involves files that have changed since the last full backup and is larger and slower than “incremental”.

“Incremental” backup only involves files that have changed since the last backup and is smaller and faster.

“Full” backup restores all files and should be done whenever you install a new program or make any important changes in your computer’s settings.

Q. I have MS Works 4.5. I want to “link” a spreadsheet chart to a letter (template) so that every time I make a change in the spreadsheet it appears in the letter.

A. Bring up the chart that is associated with the spreadsheet, click the Edit menu, select Copy, bring up the letter, put the cursor where you want the chart pasted, click the Edit menu, select Paste Special, then select (radial button) Paste Link.

This process is similar in other applications e.g. Microsoft Office using Excel and Word.

Q. What is plug & play?

A. “Plug and play” is technology available in Windows 9x that automatically detects and installs hardware. The user simply connects the device to the computer. Windows has the ability to search for and use the appropriate driver. The installed device itself must also support “plug and play”. You don’t have to adjust any of the settings on the device which in previous operating systems was very frustrating at times. If a P&P device e.g. a modem is installed in your computer a dialog box will appear displaying the name of the device found. Simply click the name and follow instructions.

Q. I wanted to restore a recent Registry in Windows 98. I re-booted my computer by clicking on Start, selecting the radial button Restart in MS-DOS mode, then OK then using the Scanreg/restore command. I was surprised that the five choices available were all dated some four months ago. Why weren’t more recent Registries listed?

A. By default each time you boot up (start) your computer the most current Registry is listed. The last five are then available. You must have deselected this option. The option to make these choices current are in the Startup group. Click on the Start button, click on Run, then type msconfig in the box after Open, click OK and click the Startup tab. Click the box in front of ScanRegistry (a check mark). The rest of the line reads: C:.exe/autorun.

Q. I recently deleted a file from a floppy. Later I wanted to restore it from the Recycle Bin but could not find it. How can I recover this file?

A. When you delete a file from a floppy it does not go into the Recycle Bin. To “undelete” this file you must use special software e.g. Norton Utilities and do so before more data is put on the floppy. (See this column dated Feb 2000)

Q. I have recently started using Netscape Navigator as my Internet browser. I have been using Internet Explorer 5.0. How can I share the list in Favorites (Internet Explorer) with Netscape?

A. Bring up Explorer 5.0, click on the File menu, click Import and Export..., click Next then Export Favorites then select Favorites then Next and select the radial button that reads:

Export to an application which should include Netscape Navigator.

Q. When I right click on an icon (folder or file or shortcut) I get a context menu which includes the line Add to (name of the icon) .Zip. What does this mean?

A. If you click on this choice the Zip icon appears on the Desktop with name of the object. This object is now in a zipped form. You can now store this data as a back up. You must have Winzip installed on your computer.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (September 2000)

Q. What is MIME?

A. This is an acronym standing for Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension. It is the standard format that is used for attaching non-text files to email messages e.g. graphics, spreadsheets, audio and video. This protocol is a far cry from the early days of electronic mail when it was assumed that text only would be used.

MIME codes files for easy transmission dividing the message and attachments into separate parts. Each has its own description e.g. a message with no attachments is designated “Content-Type: text/plain.” These words may be seen in your E-mail headers.

To transfer an attachment via E-mail, both the sender and the receiver must have MIME-enabled E-mail programs. Some quirks with the system still exist, however, and not all E-mail setups support MIME.

Q. I removed My Documents from the Desktop. Now I want to restore it. How do I do this?

A. Right click on the Desktop, click New, click on “My Documents Folder on Desktop”.

Q. When I click the Start button one of the options is “Logoff ...my name” How can I eliminate this from the Start Menu?

A. You should probably leave this option as it is. Logoff allows you to set up a new user’s configuration by getting out of the current user’s setup. This option appears if you have a network or have enabled user profiles on your computer.

If you are serious about removing this command you must do some “neurosurgery” on Registry which as mentioned many times in this column requires a great deal of expertise. You can go directly to the Registry and edit it or you can create a text file with a .REG extension and execute it so that it imports (thus overwriting) information in the Registry.

ALWAYS back up the Registry prior to editing it.

If you are a brave soul you can go directly to the Registry Editor. Click the Start button, click Run then type in Regedit. This will bring up the Register Editor. Click the + sign next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER. then in turn click the + signs in front of  Software, Microsoft, Windows, Current Version User, Policies. Highlight the Explorer folder and click on it to open its contents into the right pane. Click on the Edit menu select New then Binary Value (zeros and ones) naming it "NoLogoff" (without the quotes) and hit enter. Then right click it and select modify. After the 0000 that comes up, enter 01 00 00 00, then OK out of it. There are no spaces in NoLogoff but there are spaces (as shown) between the numbers. Reboot your computer. It worked on our computer.

Q. After using my computer for awhile (usually while surfing the Internet) the picture on the screen changes. Initially the text gets indistinct and then the icons get the same way. After shutting down the computer and then re-booting the problem disappears. The problem then re-appears intermittently. Could this be due to low resources?

A. Your computer is “pixelating”. It is doubtful that the etiology is due to low resources. It could be the monitor itself that is at fault but this seems unlikely. It is highly likely that the video card (adapter) is at fault with video RAM i.e. memory going bad. You might try a installing a new video card making certain that you install the proper driver (software that “talks” to the hardware and computer) for it.

Q. I sent some an e-mail message with attachments to a friend. She received the messages but could not bring up the attachments. Why not?

A. Your friend apparently did not have a similar application (program) like the one with which you created the attachments (files) you sent to her. For example if you send a MS Word file to her without a word processor that will read Word formats, your friend may experience a great deal of frustration. This also applies to graphic attachments e.g. if you send a graphic with a .gif extension, the recipient must use an application that is capable of opening a file with this extension.

It’s probably a good idea to mention the type of file you are attaching. This way she can better decide how to open it.

Instead of sending her an attachment of text material e.g. a joke, you can select the text, copy it (Ctrl + c) and then paste (Ctrl + v) into the body of the e-mail message.

Q. What is a “Trojan horse”? How does it differ from a virus?

A. Like a virus or a worm, a Trojan horse (a general term) can be very destructive even though it masquerades as something benign or even very desirable. It is not a true virus as it does not replicate itself. Unlike a worm it needs to be executed to get control. However its contents could be a virus or worm.

Software e.g. The Cleaner is available to search out Trojan Horses and eradicate them from an “infected”  computer. The Cleaner cleans up over 1000 dangerous Trojan Horses that can attack your computer.  A thirty day trial is available at http://www.moosoft.com.

Q. I would like to change the appearance of the screen that appears with the Windows logo at time it’s Safe to Turn off Your Computer.

A. Click Start, click Programs, click Accessories, click Paint. In the Paint program click the File menu, click Open and at the ‘Files of type’, click on down arrow and select ‘All Files’.  Click the ‘up one level’ button which should show the master drive (usually C:). Select the Windows folder by scrolling down. Open the Windows folder and scroll until you come to the logo.sys and logow.sys files and click on either. Use the Paint program to change either or both as desired.

Q. When I receive forwarded e-mail it may have a large number “>” marks, lengthy headers and fragmented lines. How can I change this to make it more readable?

A. You could copy and paste selected (high-lighted) text into a word processor and edit it by deleting unwanted text, using the Find and Replace tool, using backspace, etc. Most word processors have an Auto Format feature. Probably the best course to pursue is to us eCleaner. Many of our members use this method and like it. The following was copied from the utility’s Readme.txt.:

“Cleaner v2.01 is a freeware utility that you can use to 'clean up' your e-mail messages by:

To install the program, just run the installation program clean102.exe.  It will copy the program to your hard drive and create an shortcut icon for you on your desktop, as well as on the IE Taskbar (if available).

To clean an e-mail using eCleaner requires the following steps:

  1. From your original e-mail message, select and copy the desired text (to Clipboard) that you want to clean.

  2. Run the eCleaner application.

  3. Hit F1 or click on the Smiley Face icon.  The program cleans up your message and then automatically copies the changes back to your clipboard.

  4. From your e-mail application, create a new message and paste (from Clipboard) in the reformatted text.”

Q. (email message) “How can you save a file that is too large to fit on one disk to several disk(s)? I get a message that the disk is full and the file is not saved. Is it possible to save just the information in the file and not the program? This is a Microsoft Works file. Anyone have an idea?”

A. We will assume that you are talking about a 3 ˝ floppy disk that will store about 1.45 MB (megabytes) of data and you are referring to text and not a graphic file. When you save a file (document) you do not save the program (application) itself i.e. MS Works.  Unless you use a special utility, you can not  “split” a file to put on separate disks if there isn’t space available. Many of us use a utility called “FileSplit” in a situation such as you experienced.  It is available as freeware and will split large files into smaller ones that can then be more easily copied to diskettes.

Q. I use Netscape 4.7 as my Internet browser. I can not now change fonts, color, etc. because for some reason I no longer have the tool bar with the new message composition window.

A. Bring up the browser then click on Edit menu then Preferences then click the + on Mail & Newsgroups, click Formatting. Click the radial button in front of Use the HTML editor to compose messages.

Q. I never use screen savers that come with Windows 98 and therefore would like to delete most of them.

A. These are files with the extension .scr residing mostly on your hard drive in the System folder which is located in the Windows folder. To find and delete them click the Start button, click Find, click Files and Folders, click Name & Locations tab, type *.scr in the Named box and select the Hard drive, usually C (C:). You can take a look at each file by clicking on it. If you then definitely decide to eradicate them, select them and depress the delete key. You might consider saving them in case you might later change your mind and want them restored. One way to accomplish this is to select them, use a right click to bring up a context menu, click on Send To, then choose the storage medium e.g. the A drive or Zip drive. Depressing the shift key as you use the Send To will move (not copy) the file(s).

Ask the Experts
 by John Polich  (October 2000)

Q. Can I use my computer for other functions while my printer is active?

A. Yes. When you initiate the printing procedure, a file is created and stored on the hard drive until the printer is ready. The file is then sent to the printer. This course of action is called "spooling". Because of this default process you do not have to wait for the printer to print your documents prior to using the computer for other functions.

Q. I have an old DOS (Disk Operating System) game program. The installation disk is a 3 ˝ floppy. Can I set up and use this application in Windows 98?

A. Generally you can. Place the floppy in the drive (usually A:) and take a look at its contents. Locate the installation file for the program, which will have the name install, setup or go. Double click on this file and follow the instructions. Stick with the default choices. Refer to the install.txt or readme.txt files. They can be very helpful. If the view appears "pinched", press the Alt+Enter keys to fill the screen.

Another way to put this program in your computer is to use "Add/Remove" in the Control Panel (Start button, click Settings, click Add/Remove ). Click on the Install  button after putting the floppy into the floppy drive then click on Next. Follow the instructions displayed by the Wizard, which will show the proper command in the "Command line for installation program" box. Click Finish.

Q. (Actual email message) "when I turn on the computer in the morning, a message says "terminating thread due to stack overflow, problem recently installed has consumed too much stack space. Increase the setting of Min SPS in system, ini or remove recently installed VXD's. There are currently 4 sts allocated. What does this mean, and what should we do?"

A. (See this column date May 2000) These messages point out errors in device drivers. There has been an internal overflow of the stacks (memory). If a device driver uses more than 4 kilobytes (one page) a "stack overflow" situation occurs.

Proper therapy consists of editing the System.ini file. Seek help if necessary in editing (changing) any of the System files. Click the Start button, click on Run, type in Sysedit, click on the System.ini title bar, add the line "MinSPs=4" to the [386 Enh] section, click the File menu, click Save then re-boot your computer. You may have to increase the spare stack pages by 4 e.g. 8, 12, etc. if the problem persists.

Q. (Email message) My mouse cursor has been "misbehaving". It is difficult to control with the mouse. Is it due to the mouse pad? I have used several clean ones but the situation remains.

A. Make sure you clean your mouse. To do so turn the power to the computer off then unplug the mouse. Unscrew the piece that holds the ball into place. Carefully clean the ball with rubbing alcohol. Carefully use a picking tool e.g. tweezers to remove any foreign material from the rollers inside the housing as a great amount of debris can collect on them. Use the rubbing alcohol on a Q-tip to clean the rollers and cavity. Let everything dry thoroughly, replace the ball and secure it.

It is possible that a faulty mouse driver may be responsible. To establish this diagnosis, right click on My Computer, click on Properties, click on the Performance tab, click on Graphics, move the slider one notch to the left and click OK and reboot your computer. If the problem disappears, you may very well have a mouse driver conflict necessitating the need to replace it with an updated version.

Q. I have abbreviated file names that appear cryptic and associated with a tilde (~). What is the significance of this? I have Windows 98.

A. These file names are a carry over from the DOS (Disk Operating System) prior to Window 9x, which allowed no more than eight characters before the extension.

To see the full names Click on Start Button, click on Programs, click on the MS-DOS Prompt. Type the command dir/p at the prompt. Note the shortened file names on the left with the tildes and the long (complete) file names on the right. Type exit to get back to Windows.

Q. It seems as though many members of our Computer Club are using digital cameras. I am thinking of purchasing one. How do they differ from regular ones?

A. There are many advantages of digital cameras over the "old fashioned" film varieties. These include the accessibility of pictures instantaneously; the ability to "fix" any flaws with the aid of your computer and photo-editing software; sending pictures via e-mail or putting them on the Web; making prints without delay or depending on a photo shop.

With a digital camera, the light shines on an image sensor (CCD or charge-coupled device) creating an electric charge allowing an A-D converter or ADC (analog-to-digital converter) to take over. This permits digital cameras to have a direct relationship with computers. It is at this stage that the two types of cameras are so different. There is no roll of film to insert or remove for "finishing".

They usually have a LCD (Liquid Crystal Density) for previewing or reviewing the shots taken. These measure about 1 ľ to 2 ˝ inches in size.

If you are interested in purchasing one, check out the number of pixels in the CCD. In general, the larger the number of pixels available the better the quality. Get one with at the very least a million pixels (megapixel)

After taking the pictures, transfer them to your computer or a printer. Many cameras can link directly to your computer by serial port or by USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector. Other options include an adapter that has a slot for the camera’s memory card and connects to the computer. You can also take the memory card to a photo shop

Q. Now that Windows Me (Millennium) is available, should I buy it? I have Windows 98.

A. Most of our Club member feel that Windows Me is a minor upgrade to Windows 98. Some feel that it is a great improvement over Windows 9x citing a large number of enjoyable enhancements. Information from the Internet and other sources seems to indicate much less excitement then with previous Windows upgrades. Some reviewers have reported installation problems, crashes and crippled programs.

As with the advent of Windows 95 and then Windows 98 I feel obligated to buy it so as to better answer questions in this column relative to its use.

It is based on the Windows 9x kernel (the main part of its operating system) with no real mode DOS. Apparently this will be the last version of the Windows operating system, as we have known it.

There are several new wizards and tools for easier and faster computing. It features a good system restore function that allows you to bring back your system to a previous satisfactory state of operation. It comes with the latest Internet Explorer i.e. version 5.5. Windows Media Player 7 and Movie Maker application is available. An optional automatic software update (without the user being aware of it at the time of its occurrence) is a new feature. Hardware and software compatibility is much improved.

The basic (minimal) installation requirements are: 28.8 Kbs modem, CD-ROM drive, sound card, speakers or headphones, compatible pointing device e.g. a MS mouse, VGA or higher resolution monitor, Pentium 150MHz processor or better, 32MB of RAM, 295MB free hard-disk space

Will this "upgrade" situation ever stabilize? Even now Microsoft plans to introduce various new consumer versions of Windows 2000 (based on Windows NT). Whistler begins testing this fall. Blackcomb will follow.

To answer your question re whether to buy the upgrade, the consensus seems to be that if you are happy with Windows 98 you should pass or "wait and see" unless you have a special need that is met by this new version. Remember the old adage: "be not the first to give up the tried and true nor the last to accept the new".

Q. I would like to back up everything on my present computer. How do I proceed? If this is not possible what are my options? I do have an internal zip drive (100 MB).

A. You could use your Zip drive but a 100 MB drive would require scores of disks. This is an excellent method to back up critical data however.

To back up "everything", other options are available. One choice is to install a second hard drive. The cost of hard drives has become very realistic. At our Hardware SIG (Tuesday afternoons at 1 PM and ably led by George Lobue and Louis Laussade) we have assisted many Club members to install second hard drives. We have two physical hard drives in our own computer i.e. a "master" and a "slave". My wife and I periodically make an entire image of our "master" drive on the "slave" especially just prior to installing a new program. This is done with a utility called Drive Image. Many members including JP Denis and Avery Hughes, who maintain the computers in our lab and classroom, use Ghost, which is a Symantec product.

Using a large capacity removable drive as storage is another approach e.g. if your hard drive is small enough you could use an Orb (Castlewood) drive which holds 2.2GB of space. There are many others on the market.

CDRW (Compact Drive Read Write) with proper software will permit you to copy up to 640-700 MB at a time on CDs, which are hardy and have a long life expectancy. Using a CDRW DVD (Digital Video Drive) with storage space of about 18 GB (or more) looks promising but needs further development for practical use.

Tape back up e.g. Colorado drive can be used. Although rather slow this method is still used by many of our Club members.

Ask the Experts
 by John Polich  (November 2000)

Q. In Windows Explorer, on my hard drive, there is both a TEMP folder and a TEMPORARY INTERNET folder. Both of these have sub-folders, which contain many files. What folders and files may I safely delete? 

A. You can safely delete everything (using Windows Explorer) in the TEMP folder including sub-folders and files not having a current date. The same holds true re the Temporary Internet Files folder although some of the cookie files in this folder contain data including passwords to your favorite Internet sites which you may then have to reenter on later visits to these sites. (See my column Feb 99 and Mar 00 re cookies)
    The Temporary Internet files can be removed (without removing the cookies) by right clicking on the Internet Explorer icon (NOT the shortcut) on the Desktop, selecting Properties and clicking on the General tab and then Delete Files. Here you can also set the amount of disk space to be used in the Temporary Internet Files folder (C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files) by clicking the Settings button.
    Another way to do the above is to bring up Internet Explorer, click on Tools, then click on Internet Options then the General tab.

Q. Is Tweakui available for WinMe? 

A. Yes. There is now a new version (Tweakui 2000) available i.e. http://www.windows-help.net/windows98/tweakui2000.shtml (thanks to John Palubinskas for giving us this URL). This edition is also known as 1.33.0.0. and can be used with Windows 95/98 and NT.

The differences from TweakUI (98) (copied from the above Web site):

● All tabs are visible 
● The "bugs" in the release version of TweakUI (98) are fixed 
● All the mouse-related items now appear on the mouse tab 
● Mouse Wheel settings added 
● The X-Mouse delay setting has made a welcome return 
● More options in General > Effects 
● Prevent application from stealing focus setting added (General tab) 
● Active Desktop Enabled is now Allow Active Desktop to be turned on/off (IE tab) 
● IE4 Enabled has been changed to Shell Enhancements (IE tab) 
● Added Show Links on Favorites menu (IE tab) 
● Special Folders now appear on the My Computer tab (was General tab) 
● Renamed Network tab to Logon tab 
● Repair hotkeys added to the Repair tab, Repair URL History is removed 

Make certain that on the IE tab you do NOT deselect the check box Show Control Panel on Start Menu settings or you will not have access to the Control Panel!
(See Sep 99, Oct 99, Jan 00 and June 00 columns re TweakUI)

Q. I want to change the name of some folders that I did not create. Is this safe? I have Windows 95.

A. No! If you alter the name of certain folders e.g. program or system folders, Windows (the operating system) will NOT be able to find them and will operate improperly.

Q. I would like MS Works to open automatically when I start the computer. How do I achieve this? I have Windows Me.

A. There are several ways to accomplish this. The aim is to put a shortcut to the MS Works executable file in the StartUp folder. 
    Bring up Windows Explorer (file manager) and make certain you are dealing with the hard drive (usually C:) click the + in front of Program Files, click on folder MSWorks to open it (“spilling” its contents into the right pane), scroll until you find MSWorks.exe. In the left pane click the plusses (+) next to the Windows folder, then the Start menu, then Programs, scroll down until you see the StartUp folder. Right drag the MSWorks.exe file over the StartUp folder until it is highlighted, release the mouse button and select Create Shortcut. 
    You can do this with other files and objects e.g. MS Word, Paint, etc.. 
    By right clicking on the shortcut in the StartUp folder you can choose how you want the object to open i.e. Minimized, Maximized or Normal window.

Q. When I attempt to move icons on my Desktop (Windows 98) they snap back to where they were. Why? How do I correct this situation?

A. You apparently selected Auto Arrange re the icons. This arrangement is preferred by some users. To de-select this option, right click on the Desktop, click Arrange Icons then de-select Auto Arrange.

Q. With Windows 98 we used Drive Image to periodically create an image of our C drive to a “slave” drive i.e. D drive. We inserted a boot up disk to get to the floppy drive (A:) and then used a DOS command to carry out his procedure. Will we be able to continue doing this with WindowsMe?

A. Yes, you will. Several members of our Computer Club members have used it successfully without any dire side-effects. This situation applies also to Ghost, which is a utility similar to Drive Image.

Q. I have many shortcut icons on my Windows 98 Desktop that I never use. Can I safely delete them?

A. Yes. When you delete a shortcut (icon with a curved arrow) you do not delete the file itself. 

Q. In a previous column you stated that using Quick View was a good way to view a file without bringing up the application that created the file. When I right click on files I do not see this option listed. Why not?

A. Most likely Quick View has not been installed. Some files, however, cannot be previewed in this manner. 
    To install Quick View, click the Start button, click Settings, click Control Panel, click Add/Remove Programs, click the Windows Setup tab, click on Details and check the Quick View box. You may have to put the installation disk in for Windows 98.

Q. For some reason I “lost” some the program names in my Program Menu. These programs are still on my hard drive e.g. I can open MS Works by double clicking on the Msworks.exe file in Windows Explorer. Is there a way to place these program names back in the Programs menu? I have Windows 98. 

A. One way to proceed is to click on Windows Explorer, find the executable (program) file e.g. to MS Works (usually C:\Program Files\MSWorks\Msworks.exe) as you pointed out in your question. Right click on it and choose copy, go to the Desktop, right click on an empty spot and choose paste. This will put a copy of the icon on your Desktop. Drag that icon to the Start button, continuing to hold and drag it up over the Programs listings. A line will appear showing precisely where the icon will fall when releasing the mouse button. 
    The above procedure creates a shortcut to the executable file, which can be renamed if you wish. To rename, simply right click on the shortcut e.g. Shortcut to Msworks.exe, click Rename and call the program MS Works.

Q. How do I copy my Favorites (Internet Explorer) from my desk top computer to a laptop? I have Windows 98.

A. One way to do so is to click on the Start button, click on Find, click the Name and Location tab then in the Look box select the hard drive (usually C) type in Favorites. Right click on the Favorites folder (C:\Windows), click on Send to from the context menu and select the floppy drive (usually A).
    From the floppy, copy (Ctrl + C) the Favorites folder and paste it (Ctrl + V) into the Windows folder on the C drive of your laptop. 

Q. I have a new computer with the Windows 98 operating system. When I use the usual shut down procedure (Start button/Shut Down/etc) the Window logo comes up but I do not get the “OK to shut down” message as with my previous computer. The computer does seem to shut down however. How do I correct this?

A. A “correction” is not necessary. No need to fret about it as long as the computer shuts down properly. Our own home computer shuts down as yours does.

Q. I have Windows 98 and bring up some games by going to Start, Programs, Accessories and then the Games folder. I have shortcuts to two games on my desktop that I would like to transfer to this Games folder. How do I accomplish this?

A. Right click on the Start button, click on Explore, click on Start Menu folder, click on Programs folder, click on the Games folder to open it. Depress the Restore button at the right upper corner of the window and adjust the size of the window so that you can see the Desktop. Right drag each of the game shortcuts into the Games folder, release the mouse button and select Move Here. 

Q. While “pruning” data on my hard drive, I noted that there are a great number of files named “Mscreate.dir”. Are they important or can I delete them?

A. They are important so do NOT delete them. When you install a Microsoft application e.g. MS Word the “Mscreate.dir” file is created in every folder that the installation process puts on your hard drive.

Q. I just installed Windows Me and cannot find the Windows back up tool. With Windows 98 I could go to Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools and use this fine utility. Is it available?

A. Yes it is still available and we agree that it is a great tool. 
    In order to install it you must use your Me installation disk. Insert the CD into the drive, which should automatically open giving you the choice to Browse This CD, click on add –ons, click on MSBackup folder, install it using the program file called Msbexp.exe. Be sure and read the accompanying file backup.txt for details.
    After installation you should find it as you did with Windows 98.

Ask the Experts
 by John Polich  (December 2000)
 

This column was initiated almost three years ago. The past year it was only available on our club’s Web site. It will now, once again, be available as a hard copy.

Although it’s title is “Ask the Experts”, I would like to emphasize that I am not the “Expert”. Most of the questions and answers are those that I glean from Computer Club activities e.g. SIGs (Special Interest Groups), coffee klatches, seminars, house calls and electronic mail. The answers may include my own personal opinion, calls to some of our more experienced users, Internet information, perusing literature etc.

If you have any questions and/or answers that you think might be of general interest to your fellow computer club members, call (256-0551) or send me e-mail. 

For the present I would prefer to retain the column’s present format i.e. a potpourri of questions and succinct answers.

 

Q: How can I organize my Favorites in Internet Explorer?

A: One approach is to click on the Start button, click on Run and type in Favorites. You are now in the folder that contains all of the Internet Explorer Favorites. Here you can organize the folders and files in Favorites and even create new folders as needed. You obviously must have some knowledge of file management.

To create a new folder, right click on a blank area of the Favorites folder, click New, click Folder. You should now have a “pulsating” selected folder called New Folder. Type in the name that you desire. Files can then moved into this newly created folder. You can even create sub-folders if desired.

Another method to organize Favorites is to bring up Internet Explorer (browser), click on Favorites then select Organize Favorites and follow the instructions.

           

Q. With all the free ISPs (Internet Service Providers) available, why should I pay for this service?

A. Obviously you must give up something for the use of free Internet access. You might be subjected to distracting ads, unreliable performance, improper technical support, less personalized features, etc. Will the “freebie” you choose still be viable in the future e.g. Freewwweb and WorldSpy are no longer available?

An excellent review of this material is addressed in the December 2000 issue of “Smart Computing” magazine. The article delves into how they work, what they offer, how reliable they are and other considerations. The best knowns are listed.

Peter Tsang, one of our very informed computer club members on this subject, conducts a seminar on free ISPs. He also has a “handout” available at our club’s Internet site. Check with him if you are interested in learning more about these “freebies”.

 

Q. I downloaded, from the Internet, a zipped file (to install a utility program) to my “Download” folder on the Desktop. When I double click on it, the Win Zip window comes up containing many files. What do I do next? I have Windows 98.

A. (See the columns of Feb, Oct and Nov-Dec 1999 re WinZip) Zipped (compressed) files allow for faster downloads. Double clicking the downloaded "zipped" file brings up WinZip, which unzips or un-compresses it. What you are seeing are the files necessary to install the utility program that you wanted. You must extract these files by using the “Extract” button on the Menu bar.

Before you extract these files you should create a new folder on your C drive perhaps giving it the name of the utility program. The next window will ask where you want to extract these files. Extract to this new folder. You can then work with these files, as you would with any files in your computer One of them will include the “setup” or installation file. Usually they will include a help file. Read it for installation instructions!

You can then safely delete the “zipped” or original downloaded file from the “Download” folder once Win Zip has unzipped it and you have safely installed the downloaded utility.

Art Tanaka has written an outstanding  “handout” on this subject and it is available at the Beginners’ Internet site.         

 

Q. Do I need Adobe Acrobat Reader? What is it?

A. You should definitely have a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer. It is a program that allows you to view and print .pdf  (Portable Document Files) files directly from your Internet browser.

The trend is to use .pdf more and more as a format to create Internet files so that the Adobe Reader is quickly becoming a standard for viewing these highly formatted documents on the Web. Good examples are the viewing and printing of IRS forms or a company brochure or a user manual.

It is available free from the Adobe’s Internet site. Make certain that you have the latest version.

Sy Bensky, a Computer Club “guru”, has an excellent “handout” re Acrobat Reader on the Beginners’ KK Web site.

Adobe Acrobat (not to be confused with the Reader) allows you to create .pdf files. It is not free. It allows you display documents exactly as they appear in printed form, storing all the fonts and formatting information with the document. It can create .pdf files from any program. Our Computer Club is using this fine program with increasing frequency e.g. creating “handouts” for various SIGs and seminars. George Looney, Editor of the Gigabyte Gazette, uses it to help fashion each issue.

           

Q: In one of our recent Coffee Klatches it was suggested that I use the System File Checker in Windows 98 to perhaps prevent my computer from crashing again. What is this and how do I use it?

A. A problem may occur whenever you install application programs replacing crucial system files with outdated or incompatible versions.  System File Checker (SFC) is a utility that compares your present system files with the original ones. It can find corrupted, changed or missing files and versions of system files older than the ones on the O/S (operating system). You can use SFC to repair damaged system files.

To use this utility, click the Start menu, select Run and type SFC in the dialog box then OK.  Once the System File Checker appears, follow instructions to scan for altered files. Replace file(s) if necessary. Click the Settings button to adjust options that let the utility do its work more effectively.

Run it every couple of months or after installing new applications to prevent unexpected problems.

It is also available on Windows 95. Windows Me does not include SFC. SFP (System File Protection), unique to WinMe, continually scans key computer files for changes that occur when you install new programs, automatically restoring files if necessary.

 

Q. I want to change the drive letter for my CD-ROM drive. My operating system is Windows 98.

A. Right click on My Computer, click on Properties, click the Device Manager tab, click on the + next to CD-ROM, click on the CD-ROM that you desire to change, click on Properties then on the Settings tab. Use the arrow where it says “Reserved drive letters” to select the desired drive letter (not already taken) then OK.

 

Q. I have a folder with picture files in it. What and how would I use the “Thumbnail view”? I have Windows 98?

A.  You simply “tell” that folder that you want to view the Thumbnail view.

Right click on the folder that you want to use this handy option, select Properties and use the General tab, check the box that says Enable Thumbnail View, click OK. Double click the folder, click on the View menu, select the Thumbnails option.

 

Q. How do I find out which version of Windows 98 that I’m using?

A. Right click on My Computer, click on Properties, click the General tab. You can also get the name of the registered owner, type of CPU (microprocessor) and the amount of RAM in your computer.

 

Q. I have lost the Show Desktop icon from Quick Launch on the Taskbar. Can I recover this useful icon?

A. I’m not certain how you managed to lose this icon. You can restore it however.

You may need help from someone more experienced to help you accomplish the following:

1. Use Notepad (Start, Accessories, Notepad) and create a Text file as follow:

[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop

2. Save the above as SHOWDESKTOP.SCF on your Desktop. Select (highlight) this file, depress Ctrl + X (on keyboard) which moves it to the Clipboard.

3. Bring up Windows Explorer. Click the plusses (+) on the hard drive (C:\), Windows, application Data, Microsoft, Internet Explorer then click on the Quick Launch folder. Depress Ctrl + V (on keyboard) to paste the above text file.

 

Q. I have both the Netscape and Internet Explorer browsers on my computer. I want to make IE my default?

A. On your Desktop, right-click on the IE (Internet Explorer) icon, click on Properties, click on the Programs tab. At the very bottom of the tab, check “Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browse.” Then click OK.
 

 

Q. What is the difference between “freeware” and “shareware”?

A. Freeware, as the name implies, is free and is available via the Internet or elsewhere. The user can use it without any charge. The creator, however, retains the copyrights.

Shareware is also copyrighted and available on the Internet or obtained from satisfied users. It can be distributed and copied by anyone. Usually it can be used for a trial period. If the user wants to continue using it, he/she is expected to pay.  The registration fee, usually rather modest, compensates the developer for time and money spent. It also encourages the developer to release new products. Unfortunately only a small percentage actually pays the fee. Some developers have built a “crippling” or disabling function into the shareware to go into effect after a certain period of time if the product is not registered.

Public domain software can be used freely by anyone. A private party no longer owns it, even though it is copyrighted.    
 

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (January 2001)

Although the title of this column is “Ask the Experts”, I would like to emphasize that I don’t profess to be the “Expert”. Most of the questions and answers are those that I glean from Computer Club activities e.g. SIGs (Special Interest Groups), coffee klatches, seminars, house calls and electronic mail. The answers may include my own personal opinion, consultation with some of our more experienced users, Internet information, perusing literature etc.. 

If you have any questions and/or answers that you think might be of general interest to your fellow computer club members, call (256-0551) or send me e-mail. 

For the present I would prefer to retain the column’s present format i.e. a potpourri of questions and succinct answers.” 

Q. (E-mail re Windows 98) “my problem: every time I open my desktop a reduced size "My Documents” window appears on my desktop identical to the one found in "My Computer”; it drives me nuts. I remove it by pressing the button next to Start but every time I turn the computer on there it is again. How do I get rid of it? “.

A. It sounds like you inadvertently created a toolbar of the My Documents folder with its contents. Right click on a blank area of the toolbar and select “Close”. Toolbars can be very functional. By creating one you can rapidly get into the objects therein e.g. using a folder in which you have stored frequently used files.

To create a new toolbar on the Desktop, bring up the folder that has in it the items you want ready access to. Left drag (keep the left mouse button depressed while you move the folder) the folder to the edge of the screen. You may have to click the arrow at the bottom of the toolbar to view all the items. Once created, you can move it by left dragging to any edge of the Desktop.

Q. I understand that Windows Me (Windows Millennium) does not use DOS and that it is a 32-bit operating system. Is this correct?

A. Even though the MS-DOS prompt is not evident, Windows Me is still based on the DOS (Disk Operating System) and it is a 16 /32 bit operating system. Missing in Windows Me is maintenance for 16-bit Real Mode DOS, which is rarely used anymore anyway.

Future Microsoft Operating Systems apparently will not use DOS. To quote from my October 2000 column: “It (Win Me) is based on the Windows 9x kernel (the main part of its operating system) with no real mode DOS. Apparently this will be the last version of the Windows operating system, as we have known it”. Many of us will miss working with DOS.

Q. When installing a new program a notice appears saying that all “active program should be closed”. Aren’t all active programs displayed on the Taskbar?

A. No. Windows may run programs that are not on the Taskbar. To view the complete listing you must bring up the Close Program dialogue box by depressing the Ctrl, Alt and Delete keys (at the same time). End task all programs except Systray and Explorer by selecting each program, one at a time, and click End Task.

You should also turn off your Screen Saver (right click on Desktop, click on Properties, select the Screen Saver tab and select None). Also, right click on the items in the Systray (far right on the Taskbar) and then close or disable those objects (except the Clock and Speaker). The listings in the Close Program dialogue can seem cryptic. Even our most experienced Computer Club members don’t really understand what all of them represent.

Q. How do I prevent Windows from asking for a name and password at startup?

A. (See my column dated September 1999) this question is a very common one that keeps coming up at many of our Computer Club sessions. Many solutions have been offered with varying results. The following can be attempted on a “trial and error” basis:

Reboot the computer. If the password is requested, leave the password line empty and press <Enter>.

Q. Is there a way to close (or hide) all open windows on the Desktop with a single or double keystroke?

A. There are several ways to do so:

Q. I have Windows 98. Somebody at one of our Kaffee Klatches demonstrated how to create an icon on the Desktop that will allow you to shut down Windows. Would you tell me how to do so?

A. Right click on the Desktop, click on New, click Shortcut and type c:\windows\rundll.exe user.exe,exitwindows. Give the shortcut a name e.g. “Shut Down” and click Finish. Depressing the ALT and F4 keys at the same time, choosing a shutdown option, and pressing ENTER will also work.

Q. One or two of the keys on my keyboard seem to stick causing unwanted repeat characters. Do I need a new keyboard?

A. You may need a new one but most likely you have foreign material e.g. dust, hair, dirt, etc. in the key switches. Before buying a new one try cleaning it first. Turn off the power to the computer, disconnect the keyboard from the unit (usually the connection is on the back of the computer), and very gently shake out any foreign material while turning it upside down. Use compressed air between the keys. Clean the keys with a moist cloth.

If the above doesn’t cure the problem, carefully pry off the cap(s) of the involve key(s) and once again use the compressed air to the area. If you are still having a problem, invest in a new keyboard. Depending on the type that you purchase, they are relatively inexpensive.

Q. I don’t want my wife to see the areas that I have browsed on the Internet. How do I remove the list of URLs in Internet Explorer that are viewed with clicking the down arrow?

A. (Spontaneous laughter occurred when this question came up at a recent Kaffee Klatch.) Bring up Internet Explorer (not necessary to be on the Internet), click the Tools menu, click on Internet Options, click the General tab and click Clear History. This action will empty the History folder that stores the shortcuts to Web sites that you have viewed.

 

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (February 2001)

Although the title of this column is “Ask the Experts”, I would like to emphasize that I don’t profess to be the “Expert”. Most of the questions and answers are those that I glean from Computer Club activities e.g. SIGs (Special Interest Groups), Kaffee Klatches, seminars, house calls and electronic mail. The answers may include my own personal opinion, consultation with some of our more experienced users, Internet information, perusing literature etc.

If you have any questions and/or answers that you think might be of general interest to your fellow Computer Club members, call 256-0551 or send me e-mail. For the present I would prefer to retain the column’s present format, i.e., a potpourri of questions and succinct answers.

Q. Is it possible to save and edit a .PDF file that was downloaded from the Internet?

A. (Note the excellent articles covering Adobe Acrobat Reader by Margie Wolf in the December 2000 and January 2001 editions of The Gigabyte Gazette.) The .PDF format is highly proprietary and I believe can be directly saved and opened only in Acrobat Reader or Adobe Acrobat. The latter is rather expensive. Word processors, e.g., MS Word do not recognize it under “Files of Type.” You can use the Clipboard in Windows 9x to copy the text and then paste this into a word processor. I was able to do so in MS Word, MS Works and WordPad.

I downloaded a .PDF file from the Internet and put it in a folder. I brought up the file in Acrobat Reader, clicked on the View menu, clicked on Continuous – Facing, clicked on the Edit menu and clicked on Select All. I clicked on the Edit menu again and selected Copy. I brought up a new blank document in the word processor, clicked on the Edit menu and selected Paste Special, using .RTF (Rich Text Format). I now had the file in text (no graphics) format, which could be edited.

Another method is to open the file in Acrobat Reader, print it, scan it and save it as a graphic file. Using an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) program, you could then create a document that could be edited.

Q. (Actual Email) “I have AOL. Wanted to print only 1 para. from article.  Highlighted it and press print at top of window.  Whole article printed.  What didn't I do right?”

A. One method to accomplish this is to do the following: After you select (highlight) the desired text, depress the Ctrl and C keys (keyboard) simultaneously. This copies the text to the Clipboard. Bring up a word processor (e.g. MS Word, WordPad), place the cursor where you want to place the text, and depress the Ctrl and V keys simultaneously to paste it from the Clipboard. Once pasted you can tidy up the text as desired. Click the File menu of your word processor and select Print or depress the Ctrl and P keys simultaneously.

Q. (Actual Email) “What could be preventing the C drive from defragmenting? When I click on the defragment now button, a panel appears indicating that defragmenting is in process but the percent complete meter remains at zero percent — even after a very long period of time. I can still defragment floppies in the A drive.  Is there possibly a setting that might have been accidentally changed?”

A. (Please refer to columns in the October 1999 and July 2000 online issues of the Gigabyte Gazette on defragging.) You did not mention what operating system you have but generally, when you have such a problem it is due to something "running" in the background.

Prior to doing a defrag procedure you should do the following:

(1)    Right click on the icons in the Systray (right side of Taskbar) and disable anything there including an anti-virus program and Task Scheduler but not the clock and speaker.

(2)    Depress the Ctrl, Alt, Delete keys simultaneously to bring up the Close Program dialogue box and "End Task" (one at a time) each item EXCEPT Systray and Explorer.

Note: A very handy free program, EndItAll, allows you to do this more readily, including not terminating Explorer and Systray. It is available for download at: http://www.zdnet.com/downloads/stories/info/0,,0011NB,.html)

(3)  Discontinue the Screen Saver

(4)  Do a Scan Disk

(5)  Initiate the Defragging process

(Note: In this case, the questioner solved his problem by removing a recently purchased screen saver.)

Q. I have Windows 98. Recently it seems that whenever I go to Start and then double click on a program, the hourglass seems to show on the Desktop “forever” (over 5 minutes) before the program begins. My computer is less than a year old with plenty of RAM, disk space, etc..

A. As long as the hourglass is showing, your hard drive is “working”. You must have a large amount of background activity going on. In all probability, you have many icons on your Taskbar including the System Tray. Some programs are notorious for inserting short cuts thus creating activity in the start up process. 

To eliminate specific programs from auto-starting, click on the Start button, click Run, type msconfig, click the Startup tab and un-check any of the programs that you don’t want to be present when you boot up (start) your computer. These are all shortcuts so that if you un-check them you do not remove any of the actual programs from your computer.

Program and Internet temporary files may accumulate over time. It is wise to periodically remove them. To do so, click on the Start button, click on Programs, click on Accessories, click on System Tools and select Disk Cleanup. Also make certain that you routinely do a scandisk and defragmentation of your hard drive.

Q. I installed WinMe on my computer about three weeks ago. I like it. Is it now safe to remove Windows 98? How do I do so?

A. If you are contented with WinMe, you can safely remove Windows 98 if you chose to save it during the installation of Windows Me. To do so, click on Start, Settings, then Control Panel. Click on Add/Remove Programs, and delete Windows 98. This properly clears the Registry.

Q. I want to install the Norton Antivirus program to replace McAfee. How should I accomplish this?

A. You should probably uninstall McAfee first although this is not necessary. We had both on our own computer and seemed to experience some minor conflicts. According to J-P Denis, at one time the computer in our Computer Club classroom had both programs installed at the same time without any un-toward effects.

To remove McAfee, several choices are available. Using an uninstaller program like CleanSweep is probably the best. You can go to the Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel (Start, Settings, Control Panel) and make the removal. The other alternative is to go to the Registry. The latter is fraught with dangers as pointed out many times by this column.

Louis Laussade and I (during house-calls) were impressed how many references there were to McAfee in the Registry even when we used the Add/Remove Programs and Windows Explorer to attempt to rid the computer of McAfee. There were well over 40 references. Obviously, the program inserts its presence rather extensively in the Registry.

Q. I have quite a collection of Web addresses listed in Favorites. How should I save them elsewhere as a safety measure? I have Internet Explorer 5.

A. It is a good idea to back up these URLs (Universal Resource Locators) to another media, e.g., a floppy disk or Iomega Zip cartridge. Bring up your Internet browser, i.e., Explorer 5. Click on the File menu, click on Import and Export, follow the instructions in the wizard then choose Export Favorites specifying the name and location for storing the backup file. You can repeat the process with Export Cookies if you desire.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (March 2001)
 

Although the title of this column is “Ask the Experts”, I would like to emphasize that I don’t profess to be the “Expert”. Most of the questions and answers are those that I glean from Computer Club activities e.g. SIGs (Special Interest Groups), Kaffee Klatches, seminars, house calls and electronic mail. The answers may include my own personal opinion, consultation with some of our more experienced users, Internet information, perusing literature etc.

If you have any questions and/or answers that you think might be of general interest to your fellow Computer Club members, call 256-0551 or send me e-mail. For the present I would prefer to retain the column’s present format, i.e., a potpourri of questions and succinct answers.  

Q. I have Windows Me. Can I boot to the DOS? If so, how?
A. By default, you can’t boot (or reboot) your computer into the DOS (Disk Operating System) because the WinMe (Windows Millennium) operating system does not include a Real Mode DOS. However, by using a WinMe boot disk you can boot to a DOS prompt.
To create a boot disk, if your haven’t already done so, click the Start button, Settings, Control Panel, click the Add/Remove Programs icon, click the Start up Disk tab and then Create Disk. Having an available boot disk a “must”.

Q. (Email) In the Close Program dialogue box, what are Systray and Explorer? What happens if you accidentally close one or both of them? Are there any long term bad effects if you do so?
A. If you inadvertently End Task Explorer, all your icons on the desktop disappear. You most likely won’t be able to reach the Start button (on Taskbar) and even if you do and click on it, nothing happens.
If you End Task Systray, i.e. the System Tray which displays items that are running in the background and is located on the right side of the Taskbar, will disappear. 
Actually there are no long-term ill effects. After re-booting, everything apparently returns to normal.

Q. I would like to create a shortcut to the Clipboard on the Desktop of WinMe.
A. Click on the Start button, then Search, then select For Files or Folders, type in Clipbrd.exe, select the Restore button (right side of the Title Bar) to be able to view the Desktop, right drag the above file to the Desktop, release the mouse button and select Create Shortcut(s) here.

Q. I just scanned a photograph and would like to use it as Wallpaper on my Desktop. How do I accomplish this?
A. Save the file as a .BMP (Bitmap) format. Copy the file to the Clipboard by selecting (highlighting) it, then depressing the Ctrl + C keys (on keyboard). Open Windows Explorer; click on the hard drive (usually C:), open the Windows folder by left clicking on it. Paste the file into this folder by depressing the Ctrl + V keys. The image should appear on the list of available Wallpaper.

Q. I have some missing or corrupted files on my computer. I would like to reinstall Windows 98. Will I lose any of my recently installed programs if I do so?
A. No, you should be able to re-install Windows without any loss of programs or data. Many of us have often done so without losing applications or files. Obviously you need the installation disk for Win98 and the product key number. 
As mentioned in a previous column (December 2000) there is a utility, i.e. System File Checker, in Windows 98 that will scan your files and instruct you as to which ones are corrupt. You are then given the option to recover the file(s) off your installation disc without having to reinstall the complete system. 

Q. I have Windows 98. How do I get rid of the name of a program in the Add/Remove Program (Control Panel) that I long ago un-installed and know that it is gone?
A. Once again Tweak UI can come to the rescue without going into the Registry. Click on Start, then Settings, then Control Panel, then Tweak UI. Select the Add/Remove tab, select (highlight) the program desired then Remove, then Yes. 
Please refer to this column for information (including installation) about Tweak UI i.e. Sept 99, Oct 99, Nov-Dec 99, May 00, Jun 00 and Nov 00.

Q. I have Windows 98. The Desktop of my computer is crowded with icons, shortcuts, My Computer, Recycle Bin, etc. How can I squeeze more in?
A. It’s possible to adjust the icon spacing by right clicking on the Desktop and clicking the Appearance tab. In the Item drop down box you can select both Icon Spacing (Horizontal) and Icon Spacing (Vertical). Reduce the numbers by 10 or 20. This will reduce the amount of space between icons, creating extra space.
An improved way to construct a better-structured Desktop is to create folders (right click on the Desktop, click on Folder, give it an appropriate name, click OK) on the Desktop then move similar shortcuts into these folders. For example, create an Internet folder and move related Internet shortcuts into it e.g. browser(s), Internet provider(s), electronic mail program(s), etc. As an example of a well-organized Desktop take a look at our classroom Computer Club computer. 

Q. What is the difference between using a program like Drive Image or Ghost and using the Restore utility in WinMe? 
A. There is a great deal of difference between the two. 
Drive Image and Ghost make an “image” from one drive to another i.e. a sector-by-sector copy. This includes ALL files without exception i.e. data files, system files, etc. These utilities copy the structure of the drive contents e.g. if you image the hard drive when it is defragged, the result will be included in the target drive. This is an excellent way of backing up from one physical hard drive to another.
WinMe System Restore is also an excellent tool but is designed to monitor and record changes made to system files and the Registry. It allows you to undo a change that may have caused a problem, allowing the restoration of your computer back to the point in time when it functioned properly. System Restore monitors the system files with the extensions .exe, .dll, .com, vxd and .sys and then restores them. It does NOT restore data files (e.g. .wps, .doc, .txt, .xls extensions), the Recycle Bin, Temporary Internet files, and My Documents folder. An excellent time to use this modality is when you experience difficulty after installing a new program.

Q. I am making a presentation to our Computer Club. I would like to make a “handout” of my presentation outline to those attendees who wish one. The outline is on a floppy disk. What is the best way to do so?
A. One way to do so is to create a folder on the Desktop. You can then copy (Ctrl + C) the presentation file on your floppy to the Clipboard then paste it (Ctrl + V) to your newly created Desktop folder. Insert a target floppy (of the attendee) into its disk drive (A), then right click on the presentation file and use the Send To option to copy the file to the floppy drive.
You can take advantage of putting handouts on the Internet prior to your presentation e.g. a seminar, Word SIG, Beginners’ KK for the attendees to download and print out prior to the session. Check this out. 

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (April 2001)

Although the title of this column is “Ask the Experts”, I would like to emphasize that I don’t profess to be the “Expert”. Most of the questions and answers are those that I glean from Computer Club activities e.g. SIGs (Special Interest Groups), Kaffee Klatches, seminars, house calls and electronic mail. The answers may include my own personal opinion, consultation with some of our more experienced users, Internet information, perusing literature etc.

Q. In a previous column, you detailed how to use “msconfig”. I am running W95 and cannot find it. I went to Start, Run and typed in “msconfig”, as you suggested. I want to get to where the programs are loaded at startup and temporarily disable certain shortcuts. Where do I look?
A. Using this technique to disable shortcuts is very useful but Msconfig does not come installed with Windows 95. It is component of Windows 98 or WinMe. You can, however, copy the file, msconfig.exe to a floppy from Win98 or WinMe. (Have a friend with one of these operating systems provide this for you.) Paste the file in the C:\Windows\System folder of Win95. I have successfully done this many times (Hardware SIGs and on house visits) on computers with Win95 as the operating system.

Another place to look is in StartUp folder of Win95 (in Windows Explorer, click on the hard drive, click on Windows, click on Programs, open the StartUp folder). These are all shortcuts. 

There are many sites (about 6 different ones) where programs are launched during start up including the Registry. Obviously, it is difficult to disable all of these shortcuts. 

You might install “StartupCop” as an alternative. It is a “freebie” and is available at http:/ / www.zdnet.com/ pcmag/ pctech/ content/ 18/ 08/ ut1808.001.html. If a start-up program from any of the above sites causes difficulty apparently you can use “StartupCop” to disable it temporarily. I have not used it personally but from what I have learned it seems to be very worthwhile.

Q. I notice that my clock is losing time. I want to replace it. What precautions should I take prior to replacing the battery?
A. If your computer is still under warranty, have a technician do the work. 

Refer to the computer’s manual re the type of battery needed. Prior to installing the new battery, document your computer’s CMOS (Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) settings. To access the CMOS, depress either the Esc, Delete or F1 key noting which key it is by watching the screen when you boot up (start your computer) i.e. to enter Setup. Do not change any settings unless you are absolutely certain you know what you are doing! 

Write down and save the findings on a piece of paper for reference prior to altering any of the settings. There is software available that will allow you to save these settings or you could take pictures of them with a digital camera. 

Q. (Email) Is there any advantage in downloading “WINDOWS CRITICAL UPDATE NOTIFICATION?”
A. (See this column dated Jun 99 re the Update utility in Win98.) Yes. You most certainly should download critical updates. WinMe (Windows Millennium) allows you to automate this updating process by detecting when you are on the Internet and then downloading updated material that your computer needs. By going to the Control Panel (Start, Settings, Control Panel) and clicking on Automatic Updates you can:
1. Automatically Download Updates And Notify Me When They Are Ready To be Installed.
2. Notify Me Before Downloading Any Update And Notify Me Again When They Are Ready To Be Installed.
3. Turn Off Automatic Updating. I Will Update My Computer Manually


Q. I have been trying to print a picture of what is on my computer screen by using both the Print Screen and the ALT + Print Screen keys on the keyboard. I have a HP Printer (898Cse). Why won’t this work? I have Windows 98.
A. You cannot begin the printing process simply by depressing these keys. Using these keys will copy the picture to the Clipboard. You must then paste the picture into a graphics program e.g. MS Paint (an applet in Windows). You can use the Ctrl + V keys to do the pasting. Once in the graphics program, you can then print and modify the screenshot as you desire.

Print Screen Copies the total Windows display to the Clipboard. ALT + Print Screen Copies only the currently active window to the Clipboard.

Q. How do I protect my computer against the recent outbreak of the Kournikova virus?
A. This infestation i.e. the Kournikova virus is a VBS (Visual Basic Scripts) worm. It is a dangerous one because as a “script” virus Windows itself executes it. Others in the same category are those with the extensions, .JS, .JSE, .SCR, SHS and SHB. This column has repeatedly stressed the importance of NOT opening any attachment before you check it for a virus. You should have an anti-virus program installed and kept current re the latest antivirus updates.

Extra protection can be obtained by changing the file associations for files with the above extensions to another program e.g. Notepad. This is a relatively easy process and is spelled out at an Internet site as pointed out to us by Helen Perryman i.e. http://windows.about.com/library/tips/bltip187.htm. To quote from this site: Changing the default action causes the script to open in a Notepad window when you double-click it. If your attention is down and you inadvertently double-click a script file, you don't have to worry about getting infected, because a Notepad window will open showing you exactly what's in the file. That way you can inspect the code for suspicious instructions.

Q. What is the difference between Restore in WinMe and Goback?
A. (Ken Cole made an excellent presentation of GoBack at a recent Advanced Windows SIG) First of all the difference is the price. Restore is a feature that comes “free” with WinMe while GoBack is software that comes with a price tag. They both run constantly in the background saving Windows settings at regular intervals. They allow you to restore settings to a previous point. However, they do this in different ways.

Restore (see my March 2001column) monitors most of the system files with extensions e.g. .exe, .dll, .com, vxd, etc. but NOT data files created by applications e.g. MS Word, Excel, MS Works, etc. and the My Documents folder, Temporary Internet files, Windows Swap files and the Recycle Bin files. 

GoBack, however, tracks all the changes that occur on the hard drive, including data files, then uses this information to restore the computer to a previous and hopefully working state. It is much more sophisticated than Restore accomplishing all the things that Restore plus much more. It can restore individual files, versions of files, or the entire system to a designated time. 

Q. What are all those programs that are listed when you use the “triple salute” i.e. use the Ctrl + Alt + Del keys and the Close Program Window comes up? I have Windows 98. 
A. As listed, the names of the programs are rather cryptic. To get a better idea of what they mean, click on the Start button, click on Programs, click on Accessories, click System Tools, click System Information, click the + next to Software Environment then open “Running Tools”.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (May 2001)

Although the title of this column is “Ask the Experts”, I would like to emphasize that I don’t profess to be the “Expert”. Most of the questions and answers are those that I glean from Computer Club activities e.g. SIGs (Special Interest Groups), Kaffee Klatches, seminars, house calls and electronic mail. The answers may include my own personal opinion, consultation with some of our more experienced users, Internet information, perusing literature etc.  

Q. How do I make a restore point in Me just prior to installing a program?
A. (see previous last two columns re Restore). With WinMe, you can make a "Restore Point" by clicking Start, then Programs, then Accessories, then System Tools, then System Restore and select "Create a restore point", click Next, type in a restore point description. The current date and time are automatically added to your restore point. This way, you can get back to where you were before something went awry.

Q. Recently my grandson paid us a visit. He fooled around our computer and made everything smaller on the monitor. The picture is now more centered and framed.
How do I correct this?
A. Right click on a blank area of your Desktop, click on Display Properties then the Settings tab. Change the resolution (move the slider) which probably is set higher e.g.1024 X 768 to 800 X 600. Restart you computer, if necessary, for the change to occur.

Q. I have an HP computer purchased about 3 years ago. It has been working well until today. When I start the computer the HP logo comes up then some text until it stops with the statement that to get to “setup” use the F1 key. No further activity occurs. I have tried re-starting several times and get the same situation. Help?
A. This questioned was answered with a house visit. Despite trying the F1 key and a few other things we got the same results i.e. no further progress in the boot-up process. Using a startup disk was impossible. Obviously we could not get into Safe Mode or into the BIOS (Basic Input Output System), etc.. 

After some frustrating moments, the problem was solved when my astute colleague, Louis Laussade, noted that there was a CD (compact disk) in the CD drive and it was upside down! When the CD was removed, the computer functioned normally again.

Once the pathology was corrected we went into the BIOS and noted that it was setup to look at the CD drive initially and then the C: drive. Usually the normal sequence is for a computer to check the floppy drive (A:) initially prior to accessing the hard drive (C:) Interestingly there was no way to change the usual boot up process.

Once again, we learn that the answer to a “bizarre” situation is often obvious.

Q. What do COM 1,2,3 and LPT 1,2,3 mean? How are they used to install modems and printers?
A. These are hardware ports which communicate with hardware devices e.g. modems and printers. A port is a device or a “plug-in” usually found on the back of the computer. It allows access in and out of the computer for cables.

COM Ports are serial ports, named so because the bits are transferred serially or one at a time. They are chiefly, but not solely, used by modems and mice. 

LPTs are parallel ports transferring bits in broader manner then serial ports. They are chiefly used by the printer and external zip drives. 

Both of the above ports are set up with IRQs (Communications routes within a computer reserved for carrying interrupt signals, which tell the CPU (Central Processing Unit) to halt its current task and await further instructions). COM ports usually use IRQ 3 or 4 while LPT ports use IRQ 7. With “plug and play” in the newer operating systems, you usually don’t have to be concerned with this. Occasionally when there is a conflict, e.g. a modem and mouse trying to use the same IRQ some adjustments would have to be made. Get advice in this regard from one of our more experienced members.

Q. I have trouble shutting down my computer. I have been told to do a clean boot, whatever that is. How can I do a this in Windows Me?
A. (Thanks to Allan Pogensky for help in this answer) A “clean boot” is a method used to temporarily strip away files that contain system and device information. Using Microsoft’s system configuration tool allows you to selectively eliminate and then restore these files until the problematic one(s) is/are isolated, thus aiding in diagnosing and treating the shut down problem. 

To do so, click the Start button and select Run, type msconfig.exe and then click OK. Click the General tab click radial button of Selective startup. Click to clear all of the check boxes under Selective startup. On the Startup tab, click to select the *StateMgr check box. Click OK. Restart your computer.

Once your computer has restarted then go back to Start, Run and type msconfig then OK. Make sure all boxes of General tab are still clear! If you see a disable or gray check box, your pc is not truly “clean-booted” and you may need assistance from the manufacturer of the program that places a check mark back into Msconfig.

After you verify that your pc is clean-booted, you can isolate the possible cause. If the original issue does not reoccur after the clean boot, select one item at a time under Selective startup, and then restart the pc to see if the additional entry reproduces the original difficulty.

To return from a clean boot state click Start then Run then type msconfig then OK. On the General tab, click Normal startup then OK then restart computer.

Categories that are disabled in a clean boot: 

  1. System.ini entries

  2. Win.ini entries

  3. Static virtual device drivers (VxDs)

  4. Startup items

  5. Environment variables for MS-DOS emulation

Q. How can I forward an attachment to others that I receive with my e-mail. I don’t want to send the other part such as the text, etc.? 
A. You could simply select Forward, select a recipient and delete the body, etc. of the message. You could also download the attachment, saving it to a folder then attach it to the e-mail you are sending.

Q. For some reason, when I create and save a file in Word and then open it, the file comes up in WordPad. Why? I want to use Word. 
A. I’m not sure why this occurred. However you can “fix” the situation.

You will notice that both WordPad (an applet that comes with Windows) and MS Word produce documents that have a the common extension i.e. .doc. To associate your .doc files with MS Word, right click on one of them while holding down the Shift key. When the context menu comes up click Open with, scroll down to WINWORD (Microsoft Word for Windows in WinMe) and click on it. Next, check in the box next to Always use this program to open this type of file, then OK.

Q. I recently had a Hubris virus infection of my computer and thought that we had gotten rid of it using Norton AV program. I now get a notice saying that the machine cannot find wsock32.dll. I can not open Juno or my AV program.
A On a house visit we went to Find and were able to find wsock32.vir (detailed as a virus infected file) but not wsock32.dll. After copying the wsock32.dll file from another computer and installing it into the C:\Windows\System folder, everything functioned well again. We deleted wsock32.vir. 

Apparently the virus had damaged the Winsock file (WINdows SOCKets), which is a translator between TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) and Windows based Internet software. This resulted in not allowing opening of the Juno program and the Norton Anti virus program.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (June 2001)

 Q. I would like to see the List view of my files when I bring them up in Windows Explorer. They keep coming up in Large Icons even though I close showing List view? I have WinMe.
A. Open Windows Explorer. Click on the View menu, select which viewing option you desire for your default i.e. List, click the Tools menu (View menu in Windows 98), click Folder Options, click on the View tab, then select Like Current Folder, click OK.

Q. I downloaded Tweak and un-zipped it to show four files. How do I install the program?
A. (see Oct 99, Jan 00, May 00, Jun 00 Nov 00 issues of this column) The four files should be, tweakui.cnt, tweakui.cpl, tweakui.hlp and tweakui.inf. To install, right-click on the tweakui.inf file, which will give you a context menu. Click on the Install option. You should now have the icon, Tweak UI, in the Control Panel. Simply left click on the icon to bring it up. 

Q. I bought a computer recently which displays the name of the previous owner. The applications, such as MS Word, have his name registered. How do I get rid of his name?
A. You can do so by going into the Registry with great care, making certain that you back it up first. Click Start, click Run and type in Regedit. Once in the Registry, Click on the Edit menu, then Find. Type in the previous owner's name and then click Find Next. Where his name appears, right click the heading and select Modify. Type in your own name and then OK. Click the F-3 key and repeat the same process in the next instances until search process has been completed. 

Q. At one of our MS Word SIGs, the SIG leader brought up a new blank document and typed something that brought up some paragraphs starting with “The little brown fox….”. What was it?
A. He apparently typed in =Rand (x,x). This is a keyboard command specific for MS Word in which the first x stands for the number of paragraphs and the second x stands for the number of lines in each paragraph. This will result in the line: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. For example if you desire 5 paragraphs, substitute 5 for the first x. If you desire 5 lines in each paragraph, substitute 5 for the second x. Interestingly, the line contains all the letters in the alphabet.
Using this procedure is an excellent method in bringing up text rapidly for demonstrating formatting techniques, etc. in word processing using MS Word.

Q. For some reason my CD ROM drive is listed as being drive G as seen in My Computer. I would like to make it my E drive. I have a hard drive C: and an internal Zip dive D. 
A. Right click on My Computer, click on Properties, select the Device Manager tab, click on the + beside CD ROM, right click on the CD drive in question. Click on Properties. You should now have another Properties window. Left click the Settings tab. At the bottom of the window i.e. below Reserved drive letters select the letter E using the down arrow in both the Start drive letter and End drive letter.

Q. We have just installed a CD-RW recorder in our computer (thanks to the Hardware SIG) and are confused whether or not we must format a RW disk prior to using it for backing up data. Is it necessary to format?
A. You can use either a CD-R or CD-RW disc but you can’t erase the CD-R. In order for you to write and rewrite, a CD-RW disc needs to be formatted. It is an easy process. Once you have formatted a rewritable disc for Packet Writing, you can use the drive as you would a zip or floppy drive i.e. stop and start it periodically. This is an excellent method for periodically backing up and editing your data since you will have over 650 MB capacity plus the length of life of this media is much longer than obtained with zip or floppy discs.


Q. When I go to Start, Run and type in msconfig, select the Startup tab and see the list of items in the Startup group, I get confused. Which are safe to de-select?
A. Admittedly this situation is confusing. Go to the following Internet site (suggested by Avery Hughes): http://www2.whidbey.net/djdenham/Printerdesktop.htm. If you decide to print “Startup Problems” out, use the “landscape” view or copy and paste the material into a word processor and format it re the margins so as to be able to use the “portrait” view.

Q. I get the following warning sign: "Your internet connection is not optimized. Download internet BOOST 2001 now ". What does this mean? 
A. This banner message, while on the Internet, is strictly an advertising scheme and not part of your operating system. Don’t click on it! Some of our members have “fallen” for this and have had difficulty in saying “no” because further windows come up in an attempt to sell something.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (July 2001)

 Q. I have some neat screen savers on my old computer that I would like to move to our new computer. How do I do this?
A. Click on Start, then Find (Search in Windows Me), then For Files or Folders, type in *.scr, look in the hard drive (usually C:). This should present you with a list of all screen savers on the hard drive. You can click on them to see what they look like. Select those that you want, right-click on them, click on Send To from the context menu, then select a floppy or zip drive. Once saved, you can copy them to the C:\Windows\System folder on your new computer.

Q. Why will a CD that I recently burned play well in my home CD player, but not in my automobile player?
A. This problem is not unusual. Using a better brand of disks and using one that is made primarily for audios may be helpful. Burning the music CD at a slower rate, e.g., 2x, is also helpful. It is usually not a problem with your hardware or the software.

Q. How can I put the Favorites folder in my Start menu? I have Windows Me.
A. Click on the Start button, then Settings, then Taskbar and Start Menu. When the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties Dialogue box opens, select the Advance tab. In the very first box, put a check mark in Show Favorites (click inside the box with your mouse). Click OK.

Q. I received a JPG file attachment with some e-mail. When I attempt to open it, my computer wants to associate it with a program that I no longer have. Can you help?
A. Select the file, depress the Shift key and right-click on the file. This should give you a context menu. Click on Open with and select a graphic program you want to use.

Q. I am a SIG leader in our Computer Club. I would like to create a group address consisting of the SIG members so that I can send each e-mail. I have Outlook Express.
A. Bring up Outlook Express. Click Address Book on the Toolbar, click New then New Group, type a name for your SIG, click Select Members, double-click the name of each person from the address book that you want listed in the group and click OK. Note the area that displays the name of each person selected. Click OK and close. The SIG name appears in the Address Book. Simply using this Group address, you will be able to send a message to everyone in the group.

Q. How does Acrobat Reader 4.0 differ from 5.0?
A. Acrobat Reader 5.0 gives you more security, re changes, (even adding a password), and allows you to make electronic comments within the browser, use digital signatures, convert Web pages to PDF files with all links intact for offline viewing, convert any document to PDF format and create interactive Adobe PDF forms.

Q. I created some letters some time ago using MS Word. Now when I open these I get the current date. How do I figure out when these were created?
A. You can right-click on one of the documents (letters), click Properties and note the creation date or the last date edited.

Q. I recently bought a new computer that is working well. I would like to remove the hard drive from our present one and put it in the new one as a “slave” drive. I was told that there was room in the new computer to be able to do this. Is this difficult to do? Will I be able to copy files from the old to the new hard drive?
A. The process is not difficult, especially removing the hard drive from your “old” computer. It’s a matter of shutting the “old” hard drive down and any peripherals, e.g., printer, scanner, and opening the covering and unhooking the hard drive’s power supply and its cable. Remove the screws that secure the hard drive and remove the drive from its bay. Make certain that you have the proper applications available on your new computer to bring up the files (from your “old” drive).

The following procedures are generalizations and require some expertise in carrying them out. Fortunately, the Hardware
SIG under the leadership of  George Lobue and Louis Laussade can guide you during one of their sessions on a Tuesday afternoon. However, you should be aware that tampering with your new computer will most likely nullify the warranty, so check with the vendor prior to removing the computer covering.

Open the case of the new computer after you have shut it down. Insert the old drive into the new computer, making certain that the jumpers (small plastic blocks on the back of the hard drive) are set to make it the “slave.” Secure the drive and connect the power and cable. 

Close the case and restart the computer. At this point, you must get into the BIOS to use the setup options, adding the second hard drive. Your operating system should detect the drive and assign a letter for it.

You, hopefully, are now able to copy files from the old to the new drive. One way to do so is to use Windows Explorer. It would be wise to create a few folders on the new drive to copy to. Obviously, you must have the proper applications (programs) in your new drive to handle the copied data.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich (August 2001)

Q. What is the compressed folder feature associated with WinMe?
A. This valuable feature, novel in WinMe, permits you to easily compress your files and add protection to them as well.

This special folder is not present by default. To install: Click on the Start button, click on Settings and choose the Control Panel. Double-click on Add/Remove Programs. Select Windows Setup tab. From the Components list select System Tools, then Details and check Compressed Folders, then OK.

Once installed, it becomes part of the context menu associated with a right-click. Choose New and click on Compressed Folder. Note the unique folder with a vertical zipper. Rename it if you wish. It is compatible with other zipping software, e.g., Win Zip. You can compress files by copying them (or dragging them) to the folder. Information, e.g., size of the original file(s), the compressed size(s) and ratio(s) are listed in the detailed view. The original file is left intact.

To encrypt (a great way to protect important files), right-click on the folder, select Encrypt from the context menu and specify a password. Then, if someone tries to copy, move or access a file in the compressed folder, WinMe will ask for the folder password. (Carol Warman and Dick Wright demonstrated this process recently using email with an encrypted compressed folder attached.) Clicking on it and selecting Decrypt from the File menu can decrypt the folder. If you forget the password, there is no way to recover the file or decrypt it.

An excellent review article is available in Smart Computing (August 2001, Page 28).

Q. I would like to use a family photo as wallpaper on my Desktop that I have scanned and saved as a file on my hard drive. I have WinMe.
A. Click Start, Programs, Accessories, and then Paint. In Paint, click the File menu, then Open, and then open the folder where you have saved the photo file. Select the file, which should then appear on the Paint screen. Click the File menu again and click either Set As Wallpaper (Tiled) or Set As Wallpaper (Centered).

Q. When I attempt to install a program by inserting a CD into its drive, nothing happens. What should I do?
A. First make certain that you have auto start selected, re your CD drive. Right-click on My Computer, click on Properties, then click the Device Manager tab, click the + in front of CD ROM icon, double-click on your CD ROM, click the Settings tab and make certain the box to “auto insert notification” is checked.

If this doesn’t work, one of the things that you can do (with the CD-ROM in its drive) is to click My Computer and select the CD drive. This will open up the CD. Search for a file called Setup.exe or Install.exe. Double- clicking on the .exe (executable) file should initiate the installation process.

Q. (Email) My son emailed me several .pcx files that I can't read? 
A. Paint, an Applet in Windows 9x and Windows Me, should “read” .pcx (bitmap) files. Imaging, another Applet with Windows, will also open them. Your Internet browser should also do it. To find out which program (application) will read the file, open Windows Explorer, click on View (Tools in WinMe), then Folder Options, then file types tab and scroll down to .pcx.

On our own computer we installed both Quick View Plus and Irfanview, which are effective. The latter is free and is available at http:// www.pcworld.com/ fileworld/ file_description/0,1458,5648,00.html.

Q. I have two computers. They both have Outlook Express 5. How can I transfer the address book from the one to the other?
A. We were successful doing a transfer on our own computers by opening Outlook Express and doing the following:
1. Click on the File menu, select Export and then Address Book, then Text File (Comma Separated Values) and click Export.
2. In the Save Exported File box, type in a name, click Browse and choose the floppy drive (make sure there is a disk in place). Click Save. Click Next, then select the desired field names to export and click Finish.
3. Open Outlook Express in the destination computer with the floppy that you created in the A: drive. Open the File menu, then select Import. Then click Other Address Book. Click Text File (Comma Separated Values), then Import.
4. Click Browse and in the Look In box, click the floppy drive. Double-click on the file name and then click Next.
5. Note the checked boxes in Map the fields you wish to import, then Finish.
6. If you get the message, “Would you like to replace the existing entry with the import entry?” click Yes To All to replace all duplicate entries.

Q. (This Q&A came up in a recent Hardware SIG). Each time we booted up a computer, it would open into the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System). BIOS routines manage the startup procedure and other basic functions such as the keyboard, display and disk drives. It is most commonly initiated by depressing the Delete key early during the boot. There was no active attempt to depress any of the keys during the process.
A. After a great deal of head scratching, this conundrum was solved when it was observed (Alan Pogensky) that we were dealing with a keyboard that had a defective delete key which was stuck in a depressed state. Obviously, this situation created a great deal of levity among all of us in attendance.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (September 2001)

Q. (Email ) I followed directions from Access magazine and about.com and right-clicked a photo on a Web page, then selected Set as Wallpaper. Sure enough, the next time I returned to the desktop, there was the picture I selected. However, when I went to the Displays control panel and changed my wallpaper choice, the Web photo was deleted. I assumed it would remain on the list of choices. Are these photos meant to be temporary? I'd appreciate anyone's help on this.
A. One approach is to create a new folder on your hard drive, e.g., in My Documents, and entitle it "Wallpaper.” Right-click on the Web site picture, select Save Picture As, then in Save Picture dialogue box, go to Save in and locate the new folder that you created called "Wallpaper" and at Save as Type (bottom of the dialogue box) use the down arrow to select Bitmap and click Save. At the time you want to use the picture, right-click on Desktop, then click on Properties and click the Background tab. Then select Browse, then Look in box to find the Wallpaper folder with the picture file. Double-click on it, and then click OK.

Q. (Email ) What is the difference between a start up disk created in Add/Remove Programs and the rescue disks created with Norton Antivirus program? I have NAV 2001.
A. Either is used in case of a computer crash to resuscitate, hopefully, your computer to a viable state. The essential difference is that the NAV rescue disks are created to restart your computer without risking spreading a virus with its dire consequences. The disks should be up-dated periodically. According to Norton, these disks contain a backup copy of all information necessary to restore your computer to an uninfected state. If you do not have Rescue Disks, you may not be able to restart your computer without risk of spreading a serious virus infection and causing damage to other files on your disk.
    Before the emergency arises, read about the restoration process. Bring up the NAV dialog box; click on Help; click on the Index tab; click on Rescue Disks, using; click Display; click on more information; click on Restart a shutdown computer; click Display. You might print this information and set it aside for future reference.

Q. I’m on the verge of purchasing a new CD-RW drive especially to make backups. Can I install it in an empty bay and use my “old” CD drive also? I also have an internal Zip drive.
A. Yes, you can use the empty bay and take advantage of both CD drives. The new drive need not replace the present CD-ROM. Typically you can have as many as four distinct devices attached to the motherboard. Most likely you would use the same cable for the new CD-ROM and your hard drive. The Zip drive and your present CD drive could then be on the same cable.
    It seems that second to adding memory to computers, adding CD-RW drives has been the most common activity at our Hardware SIG. Why not? The costs of both have been significantly reduced the past year.

Q. You have stated many times in your column to be very cautious when opening the Registry. I have removed a program using Add/Remove in the Control Panel. There are still some traces of it in the Registry. Is it OK to delete these? I have WinMe.
A. Back up the Registry prior to doing so. Go to Start, Run and type in Regedit. Click on the Registry menu, select Export, give it a name and save it, e.g., to the hard drive or Zip drive. (On our computer this takes over 9 MB of space). Using the Edit menu again, click on Find and put in the name of the Program you want to exterminate, delete it, depress the F3 key to search further and delete as needed until you have exhausted your search. Do this very cautiously then reboot. If things do go awry, you can utilize the backup. Remember that you can also make use of the Restore feature (see this column dated March 2001), if you “goof.”

Q. When I am on the Internet, the print is very small and difficult to read. I use Internet Explorer 5. Any help? 
A. In IE, click on the View menu, then Text Size. Select a size you are comfortable with.

Q. Whenever I click on the Internet Explorer browser, Netscape comes up. Why?
A. You have Netscape selected as your home page. Go to Start, Settings, Control Panel. Click Internet Options, then select the General tab. Change your home page to the address you prefer, e.g., http://www.scscc.com.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (October 2001)

Q. Because of rather poor vision, I would like MS Word to create documents with a font size of 14. Is this possible? I have Office 97.
A. (It also applies for MS Word 2000.) On the Menu bar, click Format, click on Font, make whatever font changes you desire and then click Default (lower left hand corner). Doing this will change the Normal.Dot template, thus reflecting the changes you made. You should get this message: This change will affect all new documents based on the NORMAL template.

Q. I want to delete the Norton AV icon from the Systray (on Taskbar). How do I accomplish this?
A. By right-clicking on the icon you can disable it for that particular boot-up. To prevent the icon from appearing in subsequent boots, click on Start; click Run; type in msconfig; then OK. Select the Startup tab and de-select Norton Auto Protect. I would recommend that you not remove the icon because this is Norton’s real-time scanner for viruses, which is so important in dealing with email that has a virus-infested attachment.

Q. I have a Gateway computer that is about three years old and out of warranty. I want to add 64 MB of RAM. How do I go about doing this myself?
A. Adding RAM is a relatively easy project. Make certain that you purchase the correct type, e.g., EDO, SIMMs, DIMMs. Each machine has specific require-ments, including the type and the proper method of inserting RAM. You need to know the motherboard configuration ar-rangements for memory. Check out your owner’s manual, which will instruct you specifically, including the capacity limit. You might go to http://www.crucial.com, to search for what you need by inserting the Gateway name and model number. If necessary, check with our cheerful and cooperative Hardware SIG leaders, George Lobue and Louis Laussade. Do so on a Tuesday afternoon at the Lab.

Q. I have not been able to bring up AOL. I get an “illegal” message saying something about a driver and a file called wsock32.dll. The computer freezes and I must re-boot. A “virus” message also came up but I have McAfee virus protection.
A. This situation resulted in some frustrating experiences for a few of us. Initially at our Computer Club Lab we were able to go to http://housecall.antivirus.com/pc_housecall and do a free virus scan that showed a Hybris worm virus and then supposedly deleted it. Since McAfee had expired and no updates were carried out, a new McAfee AV disk was purchased and installed but we were unable this time to get on the Internet with AOL. A message stated that Wsock32.dll (a file necessary to communicate with the Internet) was unavailable.

In this case, apparently, the Wsock32.dll file was infected and modified, thus preventing us from getting an Internet connection. We used a protocol suggested by McAfee to eradicate the virus, including copying a “healthy” Wsock32.dll file into the Windows/System folder on the hard drive. Once on the Internet we were able to update the anti-virus definitions and the computer functioned normally.

As illustrated in this case, many have the false feeling that because they have an AV program, e.g., McAfee, that this is all that is necessary to prevent a viral invasion. On house visits, especially this past year, we have seen some catastrophic conse-quences as a result of this impression.

Some general rules, especially for beginners, regarding good prophylaxis are:

Q. Recently my computer would do a scandisk whenever I did not shut down my computer properly. I no longer get the message Improper Shut Down either. I would like to correct this situation. How?
A. Click Start and then click Run and type in msconfig. Click the General tab; then click the Advanced box. Remove the check in the box that says Disable Scandisk after a bad shutdown.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (November 2001)

 Q. I would like to be able to single click instead of double click when using the mouse. I have Windows Me.
A. One option: click on Start, click Settings, click Control Panel, click Folder Options, select the General tab, click (place a dot) next to Single click to open an item (point to select). If you are implying that you have difficulty double clicking to open an item, try a single click and depress the enter key.

Q. (Thanks to Helen Perryman for Q & A) Every time I bring up a document in MS Word the Norton AV program (2001) does a virus check. This is time consuming and I feel is not necessary. How to prevent this?
A. Although designed as an option specifically to prevent virus infestations, especially the Macro virus, I agree that this may be an “over-kill”. Bring up the Norton AV program (usually by clicking on the Desktop shortcut), click on Options, select General (left sided column, under Other). On the line that reads MS Office plug in, click the box to uncheck it. 

Q. I installed a modem but my computer does not recognize it. I was told that I need a driver for it. I don’t have one. What should I do? 
A. A driver is software that imparts instructions to hardware e.g. your modem. If you know the name of the manufacturer (carefully look at the modem for a name) contact them via phone, e-mail or download the driver appropriate from their Internet site. It’s even possible that one of your acquaintances may have the crucial driver.

Q. How do I forward an e-mail message using Outlook Express but not all the addresses of people who had received the e-mail prior to me receiving it? 
A. One method is to highlight (select) the message only, depress the Ctrl and C keys (this copies the text to the clipboard), click Compose Message, which opens the New Message window, make sure that the cursor is in the body text area, depress the Ctrl and V keys (this pastes the copied message), then send to the intended recipient. 
    Another method is to click the message you desire to forward then select Forward, select the names, etc that you desire to delete, depress the Delete key, type in the E-mail address of the intended recipient and the Subject, then Send.
    In a previous column (Sept. 2000) I mentioned eCleaner as a useful means of “cleaning” e-mail. 
    My wife, Shirley, and I have agreed to delete any frequently forwarded mail without even opening it because this can be a source of a virus or worm infection.
    Mark Lechleiter, one of our more astute members, recently answered a similar question (Helping Hands): When you read a message you are in the READ MODE and you CAN NOT make any changes to the message including deleting the addresses. When you FORWARD a message you shift to the WRITE MODE and can make any additions or remove unwanted items. Put your cursor at the start of the addresses and hold down the shift key and then use the down arrow key to highlight any addresses you want to remove. Then hit the delete key and they are gone. In a similar manner you can use the arrow keys and the shift key to delete any unwanted text.

Q. I have Internet Explorer 5.5. I would like to speed up surfing the Internet by not bringing up the graphics. How do I do this?
A. In Internet Explorer, click the Tools menu, click Internet Options, click the Advanced tab and then scroll to Multimedia. Uncheck the box in front of Show picture. Note the other options that you can turn off: Videos, and Sounds and Play Animations, 

Q. Following the advice in a Review Journal column on how to hide files, I practiced by hiding an important financial file by right clicking on its name, going to properties and changing the attribute to Hidden. Now I can’t find it? I have Windows Me.
A. By default, Hidden files e.g. system files are hidden from view. Click Start, click Settings, click Control Panel and select Folder Options. Click on the View tab. Select the radial button next to Show hidden files and folders. While in the same window, it’s probably a good idea to check the box next to Display the full path in title bar and uncheck the box next to Hide file extensions for known file types.

Q. Since I installed Cable Internet, on booting up I now keep getting a Windows network log on screen, which I have to check. Our computer is not on a local network. How do I handle this?
A. Click on Start, click on Settings and then Control Panel. Click on the Network icon. Where it says Primary Network Login, use the arrow so that you can see Windows Logon and select the latter. 

Q. I have Outlook Express. How can I retrieve E-mail that I recently deleted? 
A. If you have not deleted E-mail messages in the Deleted Items Folder you can retrieve them. Open Outlook Express, open the Deleted Items folder and right click on mail you want to retrieve then select Move to folder and select the Inbox folder and OK.

Q. When I open Windows Explorer in Win98, I no longer have icons in the left (Tree) pane but icons are present in the right (Contents) pane. Clicking the X in the upper right hand corner of the pane, makes the "blank" pane disappear completely. Clicking the View menu, Explorer Bar, Folder is checked. Is there a remedy short of re-installing Windows?
A. This is an unusual situation but was experienced by one of our long time members, Jerry Russell. He had Internet Explorer 5.5 on his machine and “it was corrupted somehow and when I reinstalled it, the problem was corrected. Apparently, windows Explorer and IE share some code. This info thanks to MS Knowledge Base.” 
    According to Microsoft, this situation “can occur if the Explorer Bar value in the following registry key is damaged: HKEY-CURRENT-USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main”. The therapy involves using the Registry Editor to delete the item ExplorerBar value in the above Registry key, if it is there, and restarting the computer. Obtain competent help, in this situation, if you are not knowledgeable in editing the Registry.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (December 2001)

 Q. Should I upgrade my computer to Windows XP?
A. Many of our Club members have been using Microsoft’s new operating system and have no qualms about recommending it.. The Internet and computing literature is rife with pros and cons regarding its usage. Microsoft, obviously, is using lots of hype in promoting its “latest and greatest”. In my medical practice, I was always reluctant to immediately accept new medical techniques and pharmaceuticals. In the same vein if you're running Win9x/ME and are reasonably happy with it, resist the hype and wait awhile. The following is a quote by Tom Burt, one of our Club’s bona fide gurus who has been using Windows XP for months: 
For most Windows users in the club, I believe upgrading isn't an immediate necessity. The upgrade to the Home edition is relatively expensive at $99. Further, the upgrade can be technically challenging. It's likely XP upgraders will also have to buy updates to other software products, such as Norton antivirus and Easy CD Creator. Also, older hardware and peripherals may not be supported under Windows XP. I'd recommend users wait a while until more is known about upgrade problems and how to resolve them before they take the leap. We expect to present some additional Windows XP seminars later this year and early next year to help members sort all this out and to choose the best upgrade path.

Q. I have MS Word 2000. I vaguely remember changing written text to either upper or lower case. Can you enlighten me?
A. With the document open, click on Format on the Menu bar, click Change Case, click one of the radial buttons to get the following options (top to bottom):

  1. Capitalizes the first letter of the first word in selected sentences.

  2. Changes all selected text to lower case

  3. Changes all selected text to capital letters

  4. Capitalizes the first letter of each word in the selection

  5. Changes all upper case letters to lower case and vice versa

Q. I no longer have Window Explorer listed in the Start Menu Programs. How do I correct the situation? I have Windows Me.
A. One approach is to open Windows Explorer then open the Windows folder in the left pane (on the C: drive usually), select (highlight) Explorer.exe file in the right pane, depress the Ctrl and C keys, click the + next to the Windows folder, scroll down and check the + next to Start Menu, click on the Programs folder to open it, click the Ctrl and V keys which should paste Explorer.exe in the right pane. You can then re-name it e.g. Windows Explorer.

Q. While on the Internet (Cable) I keep getting a message about a “proxy server”. What does this term refer to?
A. The following is a quote from Smart Computing: 
Proxy server acts as an intermediary between the Internet and users on a private network. The proxy server receives Web page requests from a user, fetches the page from the Internet, and then serves it to the computer that requested it. The process is transparent to the user, but by breaking the connection between that user's computer and the Internet, security is ensured. The proxy server prevents hackers from using the Internet to gain access to computers on a private network. Proxy servers are part of a firewall.

Q. I have Outlook Express. I received the attachment: Still Flyin1.pps(555 kb). When I try to open it I get the following message: This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. 
A. The message is telling you that your computer lacks the program required to open the file. In this case, you are dealing with a file that has a Power Point Slide extension (.PPS) and needs Power Point Viewer to open it. Fortunately, the Viewer is a “freebie” and is available at this URL, http://office.microsoft.com/downloads/2000/Ppview97.aspx. Scroll down to [PPS] - Microsoft "PowerPoint" Slide Show. Follow the instructions on downloading. Once installed, open the .PPS file using the Viewer. 

Q. I am thinking of upgrading to WinXP. Will this new operating system support some of my older DOS programs?
A. Apparently WinXP will do so in most cases. Some of our Computer Club members (e.g. Avery Hughes) have been running DOS applications using this operating system. A more thorough answer can be found in Smart Computing (Dec 02, page 100).

Q. I just purchased a new printer (HP 1000) which included an installation disk. The operating system on my computer is Windows 98, which was installed about two and a half years ago. Should I use the installation disk that came with the new printer?
A. Chances are that the installation disk (driver) that came with the printer is of a more recent vintage than what is now present in your computer. Use it. You can always go to the Hewlett Packard Internet site to download a more recent driver if necessary.

Q. When I Shutdown my computer or defragment it, a short lasting searching noise can be heard coming from the floppy A drive. I have Windows 98. Is this serious?
A. Usually this is not serious. Your computer checks the drive during the booting process for a disk with the proper system files. It searches the floppy drive initially then the hard drive. Your BIOS (Basic Input Output System) is apparently set in this manner, which is perfectly normal. The same holds true for the defragmentation procedure. 

Q. I use MS Backup in Windows 98 to backup data files using 100MB Zip disks. Can I keep a written record of what I have backed up? If so, how?
A. Using MS Backup is a great way (but under-utilized by our members) to back up files. As you finish the backup process, click the Report button in the Back up Progress window. This should display a report in Notepad, an applet. This text file then resides at C:\Program Files\Backup\reports folder. If you want a hard copy of the files, click the Files menu while in Notepad and click Print.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (January 2002)

Q. Sometimes when I click on the left mouse button, it behaves like a right-click. I get the context menu. I have Windows Me. The Device Manager shows that I have a “PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port.”
A. Right-click on My Computer, click Properties, select the Device Manager tab, click on the + next to Mouse, then Remove.
At this point you will not be able to use your mouse, so you will have to use the keyboard to shut down your computer, i.e., depress the Ctrl and Esc keys, then depress the U key, then the Enter key, which should close down the computer. Reboot.
Hopefully Plug and Play will find the mouse, and it will function properly. If necessary, you might try installing an up-dated driver for your mouse. If this doesn’t work, install (with the computer shut down) a new mouse.

Q. How can I put the Favorites folder in my Start menu? I have WinMe.
A. Click on Start, then Settings, then the Taskbar and Start Menu. When the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties Dialogue box opens, choose the Advance tab. In the very first box, put a check mark in Show Favorites (click inside the box with your mouse), then OK.

Q. When attempting to use MS Update on my Windows 98 computer, I get the message “Cannot Display Page.” Why?
A. According to Microsoft, the cause of this situation is:
“Periodically the Windows Update Team refreshes the Windows Update site with new controls or site architecture. When this happens, you may still have an earlier version of the site control in your browser cache or in the Windows Update folder, which may cause this error message to occur.” 
The resolution:
“Empty out the Temporary Internet Files and History and delete the configuration files within the Win-dows Update folder. Then remove and reinstall the Windows Update ActiveX control.
The Windows Update folder and the ActiveX control will be restored using new copies of their files from the Windows Update Site once the Product Catalog can be accessed successfully.”

Q. What are files with the BAK extensions?
A. These are backup files that many applications automatically save. This process allows you to recover a “backup” version of a file. Although in this era of huge hard drives, space becomes less of a problem, these files do utilize lots of space. By in large, you really don’t need them.
They can be found on your computer by clicking on Find (Search in WinMe), looking in the hard drive (usually C) and inserting the following: *.BAK. Once the file names appear in the Find (Search) window, you can delete them with no probable ill effects.

Q. I recently installed WinXP. Should I replace FAT 32 with NTFS?
A. In most instances, this would be the appropriate thing to do. NTFS (NT Filing System) is more powerful and provides much better security. A succinct article explaining the difference of FAT 16, FAT 32 and NTFS is available at:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/columns/russel/october01.asp 

Q. I have a file that contains confidential financial data. How can I password protect it? I have Windows Me.
A. One method is to utilize the Compressed Folder feature (See my column dated August, 2001), which is unique to WinMe. Create the folder by right-clicking in the area where you want the folder to be, e.g., on the Desktop.
When the context menu is dis-played, click on New then click Compressed Folder. Rename the folder to any name you desire. Copy the confidential file to the Clipboard (Ctrl + C) and paste it (Ctrl + V) into the opened Compressed Folder.
Once the file is in the Folder, you can encrypt by right-clicking on it and selecting Encrypt. You must then type in a password. In order to open the “secret” file, one must type in the correct password.

Q. (Email) One of our computers, running with Windows ME, seems to have lost the clipboard. We’ve had messages that the clipboard is full, but we can’t find the clipboard to empty it. The message occurs, on occasion, when we close MS Works.
We followed the procedure to search for and restoring the clipboard that was given in a previous Ask the Experts column, but clipbrd.exe was not found.
We can cut and paste - which I think indicates that the clipboard is some-where on the computer, but we can’t actually locate it. Can you offer some suggestions about how we can find the clipboard?
A. You are correct in assuming that the Clipboard is present in your computer. The Windows Clipboard “empties” itself when you shut down your computer and the contents are replaced whenever you copy new data to it.
You could, for example, copy a single letter to it, which should replace the contents. Click on Start, click on Settings, then Control Panel, then Add/Remove Programs, then the Windows Setup tab, then System Tools, then Details and check the box next to Clipboard Viewer.
To bring up the Viewer, click on Start, then Search, then Files and Folders and look in the hard drive, usually [C:]. Type in clipbrd.exe. When this file appears, click on it to bring it up. Once you have brought up the Viewer, you can empty it by click-ing on its Edit menu, then Delete.

Q. I somehow lost the Show Desktop icon from the Quick Launch area of the Taskbar. How do I get it back?
A. Bring up Windows Explorer to locate the file in the C drive, i.e., C/Windows/System folder. From the System folder, right drag the Show Desktop file to the Quick Launch area of the Taskbar and click Copy.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (February 2002)

Q. I have Outlook Express. Can I read the email without opening it or using the preview pane?
A. Yes, you can. Right-click on the unopened message, click Properties, then the Details tab, then Message Source. Do NOT attempt to do this with attachments. Of course, you will also get much information other than the message itself. We tried this with Juno and Yahoo to find that this method did not work. Of what value this is, such as preventing a virus contamination, is not clear.

Q. In CD discs, what is the difference between CD-R and CD-RW?
A. CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable) can only be written (recorded) once. It cannot be erased and new data recorded. CD-RW (CD-ReWritable) is a CD that can be edited and written many times. The latter is somewhat more expensive but all have become less the past year or so. Frequently, we personally use CD-RW technology to back up valuable data, which can be over-written as needed. CDs supposedly will last much longer than other media, e.g., floppies and zip disks.

Q. (Email) I have Windows 98. My clock has been slowing more and more every day. Is this a symptom of something seriously wrong with my computer? How do I fix the problem? Manually adjusting the clock through the control panel does not work. Please advise. Thank you.
A. You did not state how much time was lost and how old the computer is. In general, however, a significant loss of time may indicate that it is time to change the battery, which is positioned on the motherboard. These batteries are standard and usually very easy to replace, although some are soldered in place. The life span of these batteries averages three to five years.
    (The questioner, a Computer Club member, brought his three-year-old computer into the Hardware SIG where the battery was replaced without difficulty.)

Q. I enjoy playing a live card game, Mah Jongg, over the Internet but get cut off after about 20 minutes. Is there anything that I can do to correct this? I use Internet Explorer as my browser and Net Zero as my ISP.
A. Open My Computer, click on Dial-Up Networking, right-click on the icon of your ISP (Net Zero); click Properties, click on Dialing tab and uncheck the box beside Enable idle disconnect. The process is the same in Juno and very similar with other ISPs. Many ISPs use “timeouts” and set time limits.

Q. Does Zone Alarm work with WinXP?
A. The new version of Zone Alarm is compatible with WinXP and can be downloaded from: http://www.zonelabs.com.

Q. I have Windows Me. I am unable to drag the Taskbar to the side of the Desktop as I could with Windows 98.
A. Usually, you can drag the Taskbar from its default position, i.e., the bottom of the Desktop to the other edges of the screen by putting the pointer on a blank portion of it, dragging it to where you desire and then releasing the mouse button. It sounds like the option to do so has been disabled in your computer. Try clicking on Start, click Settings, and then click on Taskbar and Start menu. Click on the Advanced tab and make certain that the box in front of Enable moving and resizing is checked, then click OK.

Q. While trying to Defrag, the process went to 55% and then the computer froze completely. I then turned off the power to the computer. When I tried re-starting several times, it would get to the HP logo and go no further. Can you help?
A. On a house visit, we experienced the same situation, i.e., trying to reboot (even in the Safe mode), resulted in a “frozen” machine that got no further than the HP logo. We then rebooted the computer with a Windows 98 Startup disk inserted in the floppy drive. This boot up disk establishes a virtual drive in RAM. This allowed us to use DOS commands.
    We then changed from the A prompt to the C prompt (hard drive). We then changed the directory to C:\Windows\Command. By typing in Scanreg/restore, we were able to bring up five previous Registries. Fortunately, by going back to a date when the computer had worked well, we were able get a functioning computer.
    The teaching message in this case is two-fold. First, if possible, do NOT turn off the power to your computer while it is in the process of defragging. Many times the procedure will stall for a while and then resume. Secondly, make certain that you create and always have available, a Startup disk, which contains advanced tools to repair major damage.
If you encounter difficulty with a scandisk and de-fragmentation, try using Safe mode (see my column Sept.1998 and Feb. 2000). 

Q. I have MS Word 2000 with Windows 98 as the operating system. I have to change the default font size of 12 and the font type every time I create a new document. Is there any way to change these defaults to size 14 and type to Arial?
A. Click on Start, then Find (Search in Windows Me), select Files and Folders and look in the hard drive (usually C), then type in Templates. When the folder icon appears, click on it. This should display the file Normal.dot. Click on the file to open MS Word. Change the font size to 14 and the font style to Arial. Click the File menu, click Save As, saving it as Normal.dot.

Q. I am about to install a new application in Win Me. I want to play it safe by creating a restore point before the installation. Would you review how to do this?
A. This is an excellent idea. If things go awry with the installation, you should be able to restore your computer to a point where you know it was functioning well. Click Start, then Programs, then Accessories, then System Tools, then System Restore. Choose Create a restore point, which I can restore to later. Type in a name for the point, click OK, then Done.

    If you have any questions and/or answers that you think might be of general interest to your fellow Computer Club members, send an email to: jpolich@yahoo.com.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (March 2002)

Q. How do I disable script writing in Internet Explorer? I have Windows 98.
A. Open Internet Explorer, select the Tools menu, and then Internet Options. Click on the Security tab, and then click the Custom Level button. Check Disable (or Prompt) for the options under Active Scripting, Scripting of Java Applets and Active X. By doing this, you may alter the functions of some Internet sites.

Q. Some time ago you had shown how to create a shortcut on the Desktop in Windows 98 that would shut down the computer. Is there a similar procedure in Windows XP?
A. You are referring to the column dated January 2001. In Windows XP, right-click on the Desktop, select New and click on Shortcut. In the Shortcut window type: shutdown -s -t 0.

Q. Many times you refer to one of your previous columns. How can I bring up one that is, for example, dated more than a year ago?
A. Go to the following Internet address: www.scscc.com/ASK. You will find all of my previous columns since I began writing them, i.e., from January 1998.

Q. I tried, unsuccessfully, to install Windows XP over Windows Me on my wife’s computer. I got the following message: "Remove any newly installed hard drives or hard drive controllers. Check your HD to make sure it is properly configured and terminated. "
I then formatted the hard drive and tried using a Windows Me Start up disk and got the message that the operating system could not be loaded using DOS mode. I then re-installed Windows Me. How can I install Windows XP?
A. (This problem was solved by the questioner himself by first going into the BIOS and changing the boot sequence, so that the boot up process first searched the CD drive. By re-booting the computer with the installation CD for Windows XP in the CD drive, he was able to then successfully install XP.)

The Windows XP CD installation disks include the start up files. So, as was done in this case, it is necessary to change the boot sequence in the BIOS (Basic Input Output System), so that the CD drive is looked at first. Most commonly the computer “looks” at the floppy drive initially, then the hard drive for an operating system.

You can get into the BIOS by tapping a keyboard key, usually Delete, during the boot up process. Don’t go into this area unless you know for certain what you are doing.

If your computer cannot be made bootable using the CD drive (we have seen this in a couple of instances), download six Setup boot floppy disks from Microsoft at: 
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;q310994

Q. I have Windows XP. After experiencing difficulty when I installed some new software, I attempted to restore to a previous version of the Registry. I was not able to do so. Why not?
A. (Check this column in issues dated April and May 2001, re: Restore) One of the possibilities is that you don’t have enough free space on your hard drive. At least 200 MB is necessary to run the Restore function.

To check out how much free space you have on your hard drive, right-click on the hard drive icon in My Computer and then select Properties.

You might also right-click on My Computer, click on Properties, click on the System Restore tab, click on Settings and move the slider appropriately to make certain that you have sufficient space available.

Q. I just purchased and installed Windows XP. I’m confused about “product activation.” What is this?
A. WPA (Windows Product Activation) is a new procedure adopted by Microsoft in an attempt to prevent the illegal use of the product, Windows XP. Even though you make a purchase of it, legally you are only licensed to use it. You do not own it.

Once you have installed this operating system, you must activate it within 30 days or it will cease working. Once activated, a “snapshot” is made of the serial number and the components of your computer. Microsoft then has access to this information.

You can only use it on a single computer. If you install some new components, this may be interpreted as the operating system being put on another computer. Microsoft states that you will be able to call them on a toll-free line to convince them accordingly.

Q. (E-mail) When I turn on my computer, the mouse and keyboard lock-up. Sometimes I can receive and send e-mail, but when I click on a link nothing happens. I used System Restore several times, successfully, but mouse and keyboard would still not work. No virus found. What would you suggest I try?
A. On a house visit, we verified that indeed the mouse and keyboard were acting intermittently as described. Even using another mouse yielded the same results.

We were able to get to the Internet at: http://www.antivirus.com and scan the hard drive to rule out a virus that was perhaps destroying certain executable files. No virus was detected.

Once again, my colleague, “Computer Doctor” Louis Laussade, displayed his acumen when he noticed that the Cox Cable modem was blinking excessively and suggested that this might be the etiology of the pathologic process.

We disconnected the modem to see what effect this would have on the behavior of the mouse and keyboard. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that this resulted in normal behavior. Each time the modem was re-connected, the mouse and keyboard would misbehave. A Cox Cable technician verified the diagnosis that was made, i.e., a “diseased” cable modem. Successful therapy was obtained with the transplantation of a healthy one. The technician said that this was a rare event.

We have never experienced this situation before. Have you?

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (April 2002)

Q. I have Windows XP and use Cox Cable as my Internet provider. What is the “firewall” that is provided by this new operating system?
A. Window XP’s ICF (Internet Connection Firewall) is a new innovation as part of the Windows operating system. It supposedly blocks attempts of malicious hackers from probing your computer. You are especially vulnerable since you are using a broadband Internet connection i.e. Cox Cable. ICF supposedly opens ports to your computer for Internet activity only long enough to complete requested activity and no longer. ICF can't prevent a hacker from infecting you with a virus via e-mail or a Web site. It does record any intrusions in a log file. To activate ICF, click on Start, then Control Panel, then Network Connections. Right click on your Internet connection, then click on Properties then click on the Advanced tab. Click in the box next to Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet. To learn more about this process, click on the hyperlink Internet Connection Firewall.

According to some of our more knowledgeable Computer Club members, you should not rely completely on Window XP’s ICF but rather install protective software e.g. Zone Alarm or Black ICE Defender. You should also use anti-virus programs such as Norton or McAfee.

Q. I have Windows XP. After experiencing difficulty when I installed some new software, I attempted to restore to a previous version of the Registry. I was not able to do so. Why not?
A. (Check this column in issues dated Apr and May 2001 re Restore) One of the possibilities is that you don’t have enough free space on your hard drive. At least 200 MB is necessary to run the Restore function. To check out how much free space you have on your hard drive, right click on the hard drive icon in My Computer and then select Properties. You might also right click on My Computer, click on Properties, click on the System Restore tab, click on Settings and move the slider appropriately to make certain that you have sufficient space available.

Q. I would like to make a backup of my address book files in Outlook Express just in case something happens to my PC. I can also use the backup to transfer these files from one computer to another computer.
A. (Check this column dated Aug 2001) Open Outlook Express, click on the Addresses menu, click on the Help menu and About Address Book. You should then see the path (address) of the address file in the File box. Write down this path. Open Windows Explorer and follow this path on the hard drive (usually C). The files will list your user name with a .wab extension (in our address book it is John Polich.wab). Right click on the user name and use the Send To option to copy this file to a floppy drive.

Q. I recently installed Internet Explorer 6.0 on my Windows 98 computer. Since the installation, my computer acts peculiar. For example I lost some of my games and I get many more pop up Internet ads, etc.. I would prefer to go back to Internet Explorer 5.5. What should I do?
A. Go to the Control Panel, click on Add/Remove Programs and Remove IE 6. This will bring up a window that will give you the option to Repair. Check the appropriate radial button and OK. This might result in a better behaving browser for you. If this doesn’t satisfy you, go back to a previous Registry (prior to installing IE 6) by Clicking on the Start button, then Shut down to MS DOS. After the reboot, change the prompt to CD\. At the CD\ prompt type Scanreg/restore. This should give you a selection of five previous Registries. Select a date previous to the installation of IE 6 and then follow the instructions.

Q. At times when I use my mouse, the pointer has vertical lines on either side of it and certain icons look funny. Why?
A. You might try to download the latest driver for your video card but most likely you have a defective video card. Replacing it should solve the problem.

Q. My computer has only a 2GB hard drive. I am running out of space. In a few months we plan to get a new computer with plenty of hard space. Would you list the ways that I can acquire more useable space on our present computer? I have Windows 98 SE.
A. Try the following:

Q. What is FireWire?
A. FireWire (a Mac term) or IEE 1394 is a high speed serial bus. It is similar to USB. To learn more about it read a fine summary in the March issue of Smart Computing on page 104.

Q. I want to stop receiving mail from a specific sender. I use Outlook Express.
A. Select a message from a sender you want to block, click on the Message menu and click Block Sender and OK Remember that this process applies to standard POP E-mail and not to HTTP E-mail or IMAP messages. If you change your mind, click on the Tools menu, click on Message Rules, click on Blocked Senders list and then Remove, OK.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (May 2002)

Q. What is the difference between a boot disk & a startup disk? Aren’t they the same thing? I have Win98.
A. There is a great deal of confusion in defining these disks. Using either modality requires some knowledge of DOS.

Windows 98 startup or emergency start/boot disk contains advanced tools to repair major damage as well as the basic system files. It also has the generic CD-ROM drives (unlike the Win95 version) allowing you to have access to the CD drive. Having access to the CD drive allows you to install or reinstall Windows using the installation CD. All user data, i.e., documents that you have created such as letters, spreadsheets, graphics, etc., should remain unless you have formatted the hard drive.

It creates a virtual disk, i.e., RAM disk, which is temporary and disappears with a reboot when you remove the disk from the drive, usually (A:). It is imperative that you have a startup disk available even though you may not presently know how to use it. If you don’t have one, go to: Start/Settings/Control Panel/Add/Remove Programs; click the Startup Disk tab and click Create Disk.

On the other hand, a boot disk (usually a floppy) is one that has the files (at least three) on it needed for your computer to boot up (start) with. It may not contain all system files necessary for full recovery but can be edited and augmented which is a procedure too complicated for the average user. When you power on your machine with the boot disk in the A drive, you will get a prompt (A:) with a blinking cursor ready for DOS commands.

When faced with a start up problem you should initially try booting up into Safe Mode (see this column dated July/August 1998 and February 2000) or use the Restore function (see this column dated February and October 2000; August 2001; February, March and April 2002) thus perhaps avoiding the utilization of the Start Up diskette.

Q. I have a shortcut on my Desktop in Windows XP for Norton Antivirus 2002. When I click on it, I get a minimized version in the Taskbar. How can I make it appear Maximized?
A. Right-click on the shortcut, click on Properties, click on the Shortcut tab. On the Run line, click on the down arrow and select Maximized.

Q. How do I create a folder to download files from the Internet on my Windows 98 Desktop?
A. One way to do so is to right-click on an unused area of the Desktop, click New, then Folder. You will see a generic folder with a blinking name “New Folder.” Type in the name you desire, e.g., “Download,” and hit the <Enter> key.

Q. I just activated WinXP. Now I hear that there is a possible security threat using Plug and Play and it has been suggested that we disable it. How do we do so?
A. Yes, this is true if you are networking. For an explanation of this critical information and the possibility of downloading a protective patch go to: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms01-059.asp.

To disable P n P, click on Start, then Control Panel. Click on Add/Remove Windows Components. Click on Networking Services, then Details. Uncheck the box (toggle) in front of Universal Plug and Play. The same procedure can be used in WinMe but cannot be disabled in Win9X. You might refer to an excellent article in Smart Computing, May 2002, page 55.

Q. I had a new hard drive installed on my computer at our Hardware SIG. After some frustrations we were successful and the computer functioned normally. We then put the outer panel back on the computer and I took it home. I was chagrinned to discover that when I booted up, I received a message about an “invalid system disk” and would stall there. There was no floppy in the A drive.
A. The questioner himself discovered the etiology after he shut down, removed the exterior panel again and noted an insecure connection of the hard disk cable to the motherboard. Once this connection was made secure, his computer behaved normally. This situation illustrates that “serious” computing problems are usually not obscure. “Think of the obvious first.”

Q. The other day I received an Email from my daughter, containing a picture of her family. When I finally downloaded the picture it was too large to fit on my monitor screen.
A. Apparently your daughter sent the graphic that was larger than 72 dpi (dots per square inch). In order for the picture to fit properly, you must use the appropriate software, e.g., Imaging in Windows 98 and Windows Me. More sophisticated software includes Photoshop.

Q. I bought a CD-RW drive for my Win98 computer. There is a CD-ROM drive present now which is the only one attached to the secondary header on the motherboard. Should I remove the present one or use both CD drives?
A. If there is a bay (an area in front of your computer where disk drives and CD-ROM drives are located) available you should probably leave both drives, especially since you have an available header (attachment) to the motherboard. With only the CD-RW accessible you would have to initially save all files on the hard drive. Having both will make it simpler, more convenient and faster. To Disk Copy, you need both. You could make the new drive the master and the old one the slave. Make certain that you have audio feed to the sound card, i.e., a connection between the drive and the sound card.

As I have mentioned many times in this column, the Hardware SIG led by George Lobue, has been very helpful with the installation of such hardware.

If you have any questions and/or answers that you think might be of general interest to your fellow Computer Club members, send an email to: jpolich@yahoo.com.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (June 2002)

Q. I just installed WinXP. I don’t have the volume control slider in the Systray. Why not?

A. Apparently, on installation of WinXP, the Volume icon is not put in the Systray. You can do this yourself. Click Start, click Control Panel, then Sounds and Audio Devices. Select the Volume tab, and then check the box (toggle) Place Volume Icon in TaskBar and OK.

Q. I have a grandson who recently installed a game on my WinXP without my permission. He then played with it, then un-installed the game. After this occurred, things got fouled up so badly that it required a “house call” and formatting of the hard drive and the re-installation of Windows.

A. Everyone using WinXP must have a user account. Make yourself the Administrator (even assign yourself a password), so that he or anybody else will not be able to install any programs without your permission. You could make your grandson a Guest. To do this, click Start, click Control Panel, click User Accounts and follow the directions associated with the wizard.

Q. When I turn on my computer, it makes a high-pitched noise which persists as long as the power is on. Is this serious?

A. This could be a sign that your hard drive is suffering from incipient “cardiac failure” and may die. Your computer may need a transplant (new drive). Do a ScanDisk on your hard drive.

Before much more time elapses, however, you should back up your data as soon as possible. This can be done on various types of media that you have available, e.g., floppies, Zip disk, CD, etc. Consider installing a second hard drive. These are relatively cheap and very worthwhile unless your computer is very old. Consider bringing it into the Hardware SIG for evaluation and possibly transplanting a new drive under “surgical” supervision if necessary.

Q. Whenever I open Web pages, they look different including no background colors. I have IE 6. Any help?

A. Open Internet Explorer, click on Tools, click Internet Options, select the General tab, select Accessibility on this page, uncheck all the boxes, then OK.

Q. I have a HP 895Cse printer. It always prints the last page first. How do I correct this so that it will print the first page first?

A. With the document showing, click the File menu and click Print. When the dialog box appears, click Properties, check the Layout tab; click the radial button next to Front to back. Most printers allow you to select either option.

Q. I use Outlook Express. When I delete E-mail messages they re-appear even though I had deleted them. Can you help?

A. Open Outlook Express. Click on Tools, click Accounts, click Properties, then Advanced. At bottom of the dialog window make certain that the box (toggle) in front of Leave a copy of message on server does not have a check mark. If you desire to check this box, note the two other options, removing from the server.

Q. I just installed Window XP. As I view the Desktop, there are no icons for My Computer, My Documents, Networks and Internet Explorer. Why?

A. Right-click on a “blank” area of the Desktop, click Properties, click the Theme tab, use the arrow and select Windows Classic.

Q. When I boot up my Windows 98 machine I get the following message: Cannot find a device file that may be needed to run windows or a windows application. The Windows registry or System.INI file refers to this device file but the device file no longer exists. If you deleted this file on purpose, try uninstalling the associated application using its uninstall or set up program. If you still want to use the application associated with this device file, try reinstalling that application to replace the missing file C:\windows\system\VSHINIT.VXD Press any key to continue.......
Is there anyway to get rid of this annoying message?

A. (On further questioning, it was learned that the questioner began having this problem after she had McAfee AntiVirus removed from her computer and Norton AntiVirus installed.)

Initially, bring up the System.ini screen by clicking Start, click Run and type in SYSEDIT. Click on System.ini file, scroll down the entries and if you find VSHINIT.VXD, type REM at front of the line.

Most likely you will have to go to the Registry, i.e., click on Start, click on Run and type in REGEDIT. You should now see the Registry window. You should then export the Registry by clicking on the File menu, give it a name, e.g., registry1.reg and export this file to your hard drive or to a floppy.
Next, click on the Edit menu; click Find and type in VSHINIT.VXD and search for it. At each find, delete the file then depress the F3 to continue the search. When no more new ones are found, exit the Registry. Restart the machine.

As stated so often in this column, do NOT attempt to edit any system files or the Registry unless you are experienced in doing so. Computer Club help is readily available.

Q. Many of our Computer Club members use “blind carbon copy” when sending E-mail. When I bring up the New Message dialog box using Outlook Express I see To: Cc: but no blind carbon copy area.

A. Try using the Help menu in Outlook Express for more details. Briefly, using Bcc hides the E-mail address from others receiving the same mail. Bring up the New Message box, click the View menu and make certain that there is a check mark in front of All Headers. You should now see four boxes i.e. To:, Cc:, Bcc: and Subject:.

To send a blind carbon copy simply put the recipient’s address in the Bcc boxed area. Most E-mail programs have a blind carbon copy option.

If you have any questions and/or answers that you think might be of general interest to your fellow Computer Club members, send an email to: jpolich@yahoo.com.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (July 2002)

Q. I am thinking of building my own computer from scratch. I am an intermediate user. What do you think?

A. Some of our Computer Club members have "built" their own computers. Essentially, what these people have done is to procure all the components and then assemble them. This can be a challenging, yet enjoyable experience. However, unless you are a very astute bargain hunter with plenty of time, you will find that you won’t be able to save much money by doing so.

Prior to committing yourself, consider taking the class offered by your Computer Club, i.e., Building a Computer. A large number of Internet sites are accessible for advice and buying the necessary hardware, e.g., bring up http://www.google.com and type in "Building a Computer."

Much literature is also available that you can delve into, e.g., the June 2002 issue of Smart Computing has an excellent series of articles on How to Build a PC. It includes a shopping list based on whether you want to build a "budget PC," "small office PC" or a "multimedia PC."

Q. My ISP is a dial up connection. Previously, whenever I was on the Internet, I would get the icon with two monitors in the Systray. For some reason, I no longer get this icon. Can you help? I have Windows 98.

A. Try this: Click on My Computer, click Dial Up Networking (DUN), click on your ISP (Internet Service Provider), click on Properties, click the General tab and note the modem icon with Configure adjacent to it, click on Configure and in the Options tab check Show Modem Status.

Q. Can I have more than one Internet browser on my computer? I use Netscape at the present time. I have Windows 98.

A. Yes, you can have many on your computer. They are usually compatible. We have three on our computer at the present time, i.e., Internet Explorer 6.0, Netscape and Opera. There are many other less known browsers that are available, e.g., Amaya, Mozilla, OmniWeb, Konqueror and Lynx.

Q. I installed WinXP on my computer some time ago with FAT 32. I would like to convert to NTFS. How?

A. Remember, once you convert to NTFS, you cannot usually switch back to FAT 32 unless you format your drive and then re-install WinXP. (Supposedly, Partition Magic can do so). To change to NTFS, click on Start; click Run, type in CMD then type in help convert, then type in the appropriate command as recommended.

Q. I received an announcement that my "subscription" to my Norton Antivirus 2001 program would expire in another week. What are the steps in installing Norton Antivirus 2002 which I just purchased? I have Win 98.

A. When you open Live Update you should see a small window from Symantec just prior to the expiration date offering you the option to renew. The charge for renewal is $9.95 per year.

Since you have opted to use NAV 2002, you must uninstall NAV 2001 prior to installing the new application. To uninstall 2001, click on Start, Programs and then Norton and utilize the uninstall choice. After the uninstalling process you must reboot.

Prior to the new installation, make certain that you don't have any open programs. Take off Screen Saver, i.e., right-click on the Desktop, click Properties, click the Screen Saver tab and use the scroll arrow to select None.

Click on Ctrl plus Alt plus Delete which should bring up the Close Program dialog box. Select the Applications, one at a time, click End Task at the bottom of the Window, but do NOT "End Task" on Explorer and Systray. (Refer to this column dated Feb 2001, re, EndItAll). Insert the NAV 2002 CD into its drive which should auto-start. Follow the instructions.

After the installation, you must update the virus definitions, etc. This might take a little time so don't get impatient.

Q. (Thanks to Peter Tsang, a very erudite member of our Computer Club, for this Q & A) I have two ISP email accounts, NetZero and ATT, on my Outlook Express (O.E.). I can retrieve emails from BOTH accounts, using either ATT or NetZero ISP. However, when I send, I frequently get an error message, and I cannot send my email out. This happens most often when I use the "Reply" button to answer an email.

A. Most ISP's such as NetZero, Prodigy, ATT, MindSpring, Earthlink, etc. (but not AOL, Juno, CompuServe) will let you retrieve emails from various accounts via Outlook Express, as long as you are connected to the Internet, using any one of your ISP accounts. But, the ISP you use to connect to the Internet will ONLY send emails with this ISP's Own Account Address.

In other words, your email address (in your FROM box) must be the same as the ISP account you are using for Internet connection at that time, i.e., when connecting using ATT, only your emails with your ATT address (in the FROM Box) will be sent, and not those with the NetZero address. The reason for ISPs to do this is they do not want people to use them (ISP) as mail servers for sending out SPAM or JUNK mails with different sender email addresses that they cannot control.

Q. I have Norton AntiVirus 2002. On two occasions recently this program found viruses and wants to quarantine them. Why won’t it simply delete them?

A. Apparently, Norton can’t repair them, so they are quarantined. However, they are not dangerous to your computer because they are "encrypted" by the program. You do have a Reports Option by which you can send the viruses to Norton (Symantec), and, if new, you will be told how to get rid of them. To delete them, click the View Report button next to Quarantined items, select the Quarantined Items in the right pane and delete.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (August 2002)

Q. I have been frequently getting E-mails infected with W32.Klez.H@mm virus. Norton AV seems to find the virus which I then quarantine and delete. Is it possible to find the culprit who is sending it?

A. This virus (worm) apparently is sending out these messages from someone’s infected computer that has your name in its address book. According to Symantec "This worm searches the Windows address book, the ICQ database, and local files for email addresses. The worm sends an email message to these addresses with itself as an attachment." This is done in a random manner and your address was unfortunately selected. For more detailed information use a good Internet search engine e.g. Google and search for Klez. Some of our Computer Club members have unjustly received criticism for being the culprits in initiating the infective process when in reality they too are victims as well.

Q. (Email message) EVERY time I boot up, the computer goes back to the A Drive and RE-CHECKS it for exactly 40 seconds - no less - no more. The only way to stop it is that when it starts to check A Drive for the second time is to insert a floppy disk into the drive. This is not only annoying but it wastes a lot of time. Is there a fix for this problem?

A. The fix may prove difficult to diagnose with many possible etiologies. Generally you must use the "trial and error" method to treat this annoyance. We have discussed this problem at the KK many times and members have cited various examples of causes of this problem in their computers. Try using the Internet as a source for your answer e.g. Microsoft Knowledge Base, Protonic.com.

At one time you might have had Windows check for a file in the A: drive and not instructed the operating system to stop looking. The next time Windows accesses the A: drive put a floppy into the drive, double click the C: drive and then remove the floppy.

Your Norton Anti Virus program may be configured to scan drive A automatically.

Perhaps something on your Recent Documents list makes Windows check the floppy drive. Erase everything in that folder by right-clicking the taskbar, click Properties, click the Start Menu Programs tab, ( In WinXP, click Customize, click the Advanced tab and click the Clear List box) click Clear in the "Documents menu" box, and then click OK.

Check to see if there are any shortcuts leading to your floppy drive anywhere on your computer (the PIF, SendTo, and Startup folders are the most likely offenders). Check Load or/and Run in Win.ini and System.ini. Delete them, if possible.

You might have to go into the BIOS and turn off "Floppy Seek" function

Examine System.ini, Autoexec.bat, Config.sys, Win.ini, and the Registry, regarding commands calling on the floppy drive.

Reinstall the operating system?

Q. I am confused with what I might safely remove from the Startup group in MS Config? I have WinMe.

A. Apparently you are referring to the System Configuration Utility Startup group which is seen when you click on Start then Run then type in MSCONFIG and click on the Startup tab. To allay your confusion go to the Internet i.e. www2.whidbey.com/djdenham/Uncheck.htm. You may want to print out the five pages in color so that you can then review your own listings and act accordingly.

Q. When viewing a page on the Internet, I don’t see any pictures rather a small rectangular figure with a small figures inside. I have IE 6. Why not the pictures?

A. When you are viewing the page, click on Tools, click on Internet Options then click the Advanced tab. Scroll down to Multimedia and make certain that there is a check mark in Show pictures.

Q. Many times, I am asked what components my computer contains. How can I readily provide this information? I have Windows Me.

A. Click on Start, click Run and type in MSINFO32 then click OK. You can print out any information by clicking on the File menu then Print. This process is also available in Windows 9X and Windows XP. Many of us use Belarc Advisor which is a free utility available at http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Q. I have Windows 98. Trying to learn about my computer, I right clicked on the Desktop and clicked on Display and Appearance tab. I deleted the scheme dealing with Windows Standard thinking that I could retrieve it if necessary. Now I’m stuck with huge icons because I no longer have the option that I deleted. Re-booting my computer doesn’t help. Will you help?

A. The problem was solved with a house visit. Using a Windows 98 Startup disk we were able to restore a previous Registry which corrected the Display problem. This situation illustrates that there are certain areas in Windows that when you use the delete process, the Recycle bin is not in effect. Another important point is that one of the most important recovery tools that you should have readily available is a Startup disk. We have used it several times for trouble-shooting e.g. see this column dated Jan 99; Feb 2002; May 2002.

Q. I have Windows 98. Whenever I bootup my computer I get an annoying "Startup Menu" with choices that include Normal and Safe Mode. When I click on Normal, everything is OK. Any solution?

A. One of the first things to try is to click on Run in the Start Menu, type in msconfig, click on the General tab, click Advanced, and uncheck the box in front of Enable Startup Menu.

Q. I want to print just the first page of a 3 page spreadsheet. I am using MSWorks. How do I do this?

A. Bring up the spreadsheet document, select (highlight) the area that you want to print, click the File menu, click Print Area, click Set Print Area and click OK. Click Print from the File menu. You can follow a similar procedure in Microsoft Excel.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (September 2002)

Q. I have Windows 98. Recently whenever I try to bring up Juno I get a message stating that Juno is "verifying E-mail, please wait" and the computer gets hung up. I can use the CTR+ALT+DEL keys to End Task the situation and can then use my computer but not Juno. The situation keeps recurring. Can you help?

A. During a house call, we discovered that in Windows Explorer there was a folder in Juno that contained a Delete folder loaded with nearly 600 Megabytes of E-mail messages. This included graphic files. We moved this folder to the Desktop. This allowed the questioner to then be able to use Juno again without getting the above message. Apparently, Juno has a limit as to the amount of storage in its folders.

Q. From the Internet, how can I paste only text and not the surrounding table, etc. into a MS Word 2002 document? I use Internet Explorer 6.0.

A. You are pasting HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) into a word processor. After you select the text, copy it to the Clipboard using the Edit menu (or utilize the keyboard shortcut, i.e., Ctrl+C); open the Word document; click the Edit menu; select Paste Special and select Unformatted Text; and click OK.

Q. My computer is behaving very erratically. Help!

A. On a house visit we verified that indeed the computer did behave erratically with inability to execute files, frequent freezing, etc. His machine was essentially worthless.

We suspected a virus infection, especially since he had no antiviral program installed on his computer. He commented that he was "very careful in only opening email attachments from friends," etc. Fortunately, we were able to go to the Internet site: http://www.trendmicro.com. At this site you can click on Home users, click on Scan your PC FREE and follow the directions.

The scanning process revealed that his computer was infected with five different viruses involving 335 files e.g., exe files, system files, temporary files. The results were disastrous. The culprits were: Nimda, PE CIH.1003, Trojan HAIA, Worm BYMER.A and BKDR>NEWBIERD.A. Many of the infections were not treatable.

He had another internal physical drive installed in the same computer a few months ago. This drive had been cloned using Ghost about a month or so previously and, fortunately, was free of viruses. We formatted the "diseased" drive. We then used Ghost again to make an image (clone) of the good drive on the formatted one.

This dramatic case illustrates the devastating effects of computer virus infections, which could have been prevented with proper viral prophylaxis. It also exemplifies how good back up techniques can pay off, which in this case was the utilization of two separate cloned physical hard drives. Ghost (Symantec) was used. The employment of removable trays encasing the hard drives would have been even better.

Q. I am trying to build my own computer. I bought the motherboard via the Internet. The sound card is built in and requires a driver i.e. the software that I don’t have. Any suggestions?

A. Go to the Internet site of the manufacturer of the motherboard and download the integrated sound chip. If this creates a lot of difficulty, go into the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) and disable the integrated sound chip.

You can then buy an appropriate sound card to insert into the PCI slot. Remember that you can always receive guidance from people in the Hardware SIG, especially where the BIOS is involved.

Q. I have a couple of CD disks filled with MP3 music files. I would like to be able to convert these to CD-R disks using only WinXP with Media Player 8 and its CD burner. We want to be able to play the tracks in our automobile CD player.

A. (Be certain that you are acquainted with the legal aspects of copyright protection when copying audio files).

The idea is to copy the MP3 files from the CD onto a folder on your hard drive and then use Media Player to complete the task. You may accomplish this in several ways.

We completed this task on our computer doing the following: Bring up Media Player and delete the files that may be in the Media Library Send to Playlist; exit. Put the CD with the MP3 music in the CD-RW drive. Select Open folder to view files and click OK. Select (highlight) the files that you want to copy.

Click Copy the selected items (left panel). Another dialog box comes up allowing you to copy the files to the My Music folder (or create a new folder and give it a name). Open My Music folder or the new folder and select the tracks (songs) to be copied; right click and select Copy to audio CD.

Select the appropriate files by using the check boxes. Make certain that the total isn’t greater than the available destination CD-R. The files (.CDAs) will be larger, so don't expect to get as many on a disc (we average about 15-20). Media Player comes up. Insert a blank CD-R in place of the source CD. Click the red Copy Music button (upper right corner) then be patient until the job, i.e., burning is done.#OCT02

For more details attend one of the excellent mini-seminars given by Tom Burt.

Try the following web site for a good recent article on CD burning in Windows XP: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/focuson/cdburning.asp

Excellent add-on software is available for burning CDs and managing audio files. Favorites include Nero, Roxio, NTI and MusicMatch. Also try: http://download.com.com/3001-2140-10118231.html  for good quality shareware and freeware titles.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (October 2002)

Q. How can I activate automatic update on my Windows XP computer?

A. Usually automatic update is available in Windows XP by default. In your case click Start, click Control Panel and then click System. Click the Automatic Updates tab and then check the box (toggle) to download the updates automatically noting the different selections available.

In Windows 98 and Windows Me, there is usually an Update selection available on the Start menu. If not, click Start, click Settings and then click Windows Update.

Q. When I right click on a file it brings up "Send To". How do I add the CD-RW drive to the "Send To" list? I have Windows XP.

A. One means of accomplishing this: Click Start; click Run and type in Sendto and then OK. This will bring up the Sendto folder showing its contents. Next click on Start again and click on My Computer. Right click on the Taskbar; choose Tile Windows Horizontally.

You should now have the contents of the Sendto folder and My Computer displayed horizontally. Right drag the icon for the CD-RW drive (My Computer folder) into the Sendto folder and select Create Shortcut Here.

Q. I use Outlook Express. We have used its block sender but this has not prevented us from continuing to be bombarded with spam. What can we do?

A. Outlook Express allows you the option of automatically moving messages from certain senders to the Deleted folder. You can do this by going to Outlook Express; Tools; Message Rules; Blocked Sender List; Add Sender.

This option does not prevent the sender from sending more mail. It simply deletes the mail prior to you previewing it. Personally, I simply use the delete key prior to opening anything that looks like spam. Admittedly, this gets tiresome but I am always wary about using third party utilities.

To acquire more information, go to an Internet search engine e.g., http://www.google.com. Type in the word spam. Many of our members have been using Mail Washer. Recently Dick Kling gave an excellent review of this "freebie", available at: http://www.mailwasher.net.

Q. What is Hibernation as seen in WinXP and how does it differ from Standby? Is it useful?

A. When you choose Hibernation at the time you turn off your computer, it ceases all activity. However, it safely writes whatever is in RAM (Random Access Memory) and certain CPU (Central Processing Unit) settings to your hard drive.

The next time you boot up, your computer "awakens" omitting the usual more prolonged boot up sequence. Your computer resumes exactly from whatever state it was in when Hibernation began. Even the files left open and unsaved (not recommended) will still be present exactly as you left them. However when you select Standby, your machine does not power off but goes to "sleep" and can be awakened with movement of the mouse, keyboard, etc.

Most of us in the Computer Club do not use Hibernation even though we might save a little time in the boot up process. Apparently it conserves battery usage in a laptop.

Q. Most of the icons in My Computer and some on the Desktop have changed in appearance spontaneously. Why? Our computer is about 3 ˝ years old. We are using Win98.

A. Apparently the icon cache (a bank of high-speed memory set aside for frequently accessed data) is not properly updated or is corrupted. You can delete ShellIconChache located as a hidden file in C:\Windows folder. This file should then rebuild itself.

According to Microsoft Knowledge base you might have to go into the Registry i.e.:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer and add the value and value name Max Cached Icons = 8000 to the key. Do this with expert help if necessary.

Q. My computer was involved with the "Hybris F" virus. This has resulted in a corrupted Wsock32.DLL file. We tried re-naming the file and reloading another Wsock32.DLL in its place without success. What shall we do?

A. (The questioner has Windows 98). You can restore this important .DLL by using the System File Checker. Click on Start; click Run; type in SFC; press Enter and choose Extract one file…. Type c:\windows\system\wsock32.dll. Click Start and where it states Restore from choose the location of your Windows 98 (Precopy 1.cab) or cab files on your hard-drive. Where it says Save file in, type c:\windows\system; press Enter. You should then reboot.

Fortunately, this virus infection resulted in a happy outcome since only the one file was involved. However, we have seen far too many virus disasters in members’ computers. These are preventable with common sense anti-viral prophylaxis emphasized often in this column.

Q. (Thanks to Sandy Mintz for providing this Q & A) I recently used Drive Image to clone the contents of one hard disk onto another. Although Drive Image indicated successful completion, now I can no longer boot up to my desktop. Instead, GoBack is displaying error messages to me about my hard disks being in MS DOS compatibility mode.

A. Because GoBack (Roxio) records all changes to your hard disk (to provide for possible subsequent reversion of your disk to an earlier point in time), you should always disable GoBack before attempting any cloning or de-fragmenting operation. Such operations are too large for a program like GoBack to accommodate. After completion of such operations, you can always re-enable GoBack.

In this instance, a file was found on GoBack’s home page that provided the means of uninstalling GoBack through DOS. By copying that file onto a CD (using a separate computer), inserting that CD into the CD-ROM drive, booting from a Windows boot disk with CD-ROM support, and entering the command gb_prog/u, GoBack was successfully uninstalled. Once uninstalled, the computer became operational, again.

Although System Properties now indicates that both hard disks are using the MS-DOS compatibility mode file system and "compatibility-mode paging reduces overall system performance", the computer appears to be functioning just as it did before the problem occurred.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (November 2002)

Q. I would like to create a password in WinXP. I am the administrator.

A. Click Start on the Taskbar; click Control Panel; click User Accounts; pick out the account to change i.e. your name (Computer administrator); click "Create a Password" and type in a password that you will easily recall; repeat the password in the second box; type in a hint.

Q. My computer was recently involved with several viruses, including the Klez. We were able to get rid of the viruses. However when I am on the Internet (ATT), I cannot write into the different entry areas such as search in Google. We have no problem with the Address (URL) box or typing in my word processor. I have Windows 95 and IE 5.5.

A. On a house visit, after a great deal of frustration, we downloaded Internet Explorer 5.01 Service Pack 2 from: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/recommended/ie501sp2/default.asp. This resulted in a "therapeutic triumph".

Q. I no longer have the Run option when I click on Start. I have Windows XP.

A. Right-click the Start button on the Taskbar; click Properties; click Customize; click the Advanced tab; scroll down to Run command and make certain the selection box is checked.

Q. If I format the hard drive that is infected with a virus, will that eliminate the virus? I have Windows 98. How do I accomplish this?

A. This is radical surgery to eliminate a virus. However formatting your hard dive will accomplish the task. Make certain there is not another therapeutic approach available e.g. using an antiviral program or a virus removal tool. To accomplish the format, insert your Start Up disk in the floppy drive; boot up your computer; you will eventually get an A: prompt; at the prompt type fdisk/mbr (this, in case the virus has affected the Master Boot Record); then type cd C:. This should give you the C: prompt. Type format c: and follow the instructions. To reiterate, formatting a hard drive should NOT be done simply to remove a virus.

Q. I, accidentally, blocked a sender from sending messages in Outlook Express. How can I correct this so that I might once again receive messages from him?

A. Open Outlook Express; click on the Tools menu; click Message Rules; click Blocked Senders List; select the sender’s name in question; click Remove; click Yes; click OK.

Q. What is "SP 1" for Windows XP?

A. This is a service pack that Microsoft has made available for Windows XP users. It is a huge download, consisting of over 300 security and other patches including a Java Virtual Machine. It is advertised as improving application and hardware compatibility, reliability of the operating system and security. Go to the following Microsoft Web site for more details: http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/pro/downloads/servicepacks/sp1/faq.asp.

Some have reported difficulty with their computers since installing the service pack e.g. problems with IE 6, blue screen of death and Adobe Photoshop Elements. Some computer manufacturers have recommended that owners of their computers e.g. Hewlett Packard, delay installation of SP1 "until further notice." I, also, plan to procrastinate for a while prior to downloading SP 1. Without SP1, your computer is not protected when clicking on a simple, but malicious, URL (that) can delete the entire contents of your directories. To protect against this frightening possibility without having to download the entire service pack you can download XPdite. This is a free utility available at http://grc.com/xpdite/xpdite.htm.

Q. We have Windows XP. When we click on Start and All Programs, the list is not in alphabetic order. Many of the recently installed programs are at the end of list while others are elsewhere. Can you help?

A. To arrange All Programs in alphabetical order, right-click on one of the listed names and click on Sort By Name. The folders first and then files (all shortcuts) will then be listed alphabetically.

Q. Is it a good idea to refill my ink jet printer cartridges? I can get a color refill kit for 20 bucks that is supposed to refill up to 10 times.

A. The answer to this question is very subjective and always opens the proverbial "can of worms" at our Computer Club sessions. Many have tried refilling used ink-jet cartridges but found this to be very messy and frustrating with clogged printer heads, cartridge leaking, etc. Some have been pleased with remanufactured cartridges. We go with the products recommended by the manufacturer of the printer thus avoiding any problem with the warranty. I understand that some manufacturers, e.g. HP and Epson, have inserted a chip in their cartridges to ascertain abuse.

Q. I have Windows 98. We have Gator embedded in our computer and just can’t get rid of it and the associated pop up ads. We have tried using the Add/Remove program, deleted it from the Start Up folder, etc. Should we simply ignore it? Is there a method to rid our machine of it?

A. I know how you feel. We had the same problem. Most likely, it was installed along with free software without you being aware. We tried all sorts of remedies short of going to the Registry to exterminate it. For an un-related reason, we formatted (NOT a recommend cure for this condition) the hard drive, which allowed us to purge the computer of Gator. Spyware removal utilities are available e.g., Ad-aware (a "freebie") and Spybot (a $5.00 donation is requested). They scan your computer memory, registry and hard drives for known components and remove them safely e.g. Gator. Some of our members prefer to use Gator. They use it e.g. to facilitate the filling out of Internet forms. If you want a form filler that does not result in frequent pop-ups, try Robo. It is free and available at: www.roboform.com.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (December 2002)

Q. Do you have an index or a search associated with your column?

A. Do the following to search a subject matter: Go to: http://www.scscc.com/ASK; click on the heading, Ask the experts. This should bring up all my columns, i.e., since January 1998. Click on the Edit menu and select Find; use the Find box to type in the topic for which you are searching.

Q. How can I backup Outlook Express messages and the Windows Address Book? I have Windows Me.

A. (Thanks to Dick Wright for help in answering this question, which frequently comes up at our Internet SIGs.)

Right-click on Desktop; click on New and then Folder; Rename the folder, e.g., My Backup Files.

Click Start; click Search; click on the All files and folders arrow. In the Look in box, click Local Hard Drives.

In the Search for file… box, type *.dbx; click Search Now. This should give you a list of files with the *.dbx extension. Click Ctrl- A keys; click Ctrl- C keys;

On the Desktop, open the My Backup File folder and click Ctr -V keys. Repeat the above but this time search for files with the *.wab extension, which will be for the Windows Address Book.

The procedure is essentially the same in Windows XP.

Q. How do I prevent my unread E-mail from being opened when I bring up Outlook Express?

A. You are apparently referring to the Preview Pane, which is an option in Outlook Express. To alter this preference, click on the View menu; click on the Layout; uncheck the box referring to Show preview pane.

Q. I am interested in finding software that will allow me to change bitmap files into JPEG files. I use Windows XP.

A. One of Windows Applets, Paint (Start; All Programs; Accessories; Paint), will allow you to carry out this function by opening the file and then Save As a JPG.

We use Irfanview, which is an excellent graphics editor to convert from one extension to another. It is available free at many Internet download sites. Another free one is Pixia 2.5. Many of our astute members use Adobe Photoshop Elements and are pleased with it.

To summarize, there is available a host of graphic software programs. These range in price from "free" to hundreds of dollars, e.g., Adobe Photoshop.

Q. I have two USB (Universal Serial Port) ports on the back of my computer. They are both in use. I would like to add two more USB peripherals. Can I do so?

A. The most economical solution is to purchase a standard four port USB hub. The hub plugs into one of the USB ports on your computer, allowing you to attach the new hardware. You can actually chain hubs together and get as many as 127 available ports. Use powered hubs, especially if you have un-powered peripherals like a camera and a mouse.

Q. How do I change the font setting in MS Word 2002 to make it permanent? I have WinXP.

A. Open the MSWord program; click on the Format menu; select the type of Font, Style and Size that you would like to make "permanent;" click on the Default button (lower left hand corner); click Yes.

Q. I have been using Netscape as my Internet browser. I now use Internet Explorer. How can I transfer the Bookmarks to Favorites?

A. Bring up Netscape; click on Bookmarks; click Manage Bookmarks; click Tools; click Export. Bring up IE; click the File menu; click Import and follow the Wizard.

Q. I have Windows 98. By mistake, I moved the Taskbar to the left side of the Desktop. I cannot even see it. With the mouse, I have tried to grab it and drag it back to the bottom of the screen. I have also tried to resize it by using the double-headed arrow to get a larger size. These attempts have failed. What can I do?

A. Using the Keyboard, click on Ctrl-Esc then click Alt-Space, S. You should now see a four headed arrow along the left border of your Desktop. Use the Right Arrow on the keyboard to resize the Taskbar. This should create a wider Taskbar, which should make it easier to drag to its default position at the bottom of the Desktop.

Q. I have WinXP with MS Word 2002. Recently, whenever I bring up what is supposed to be a "New Blank Document", I get one that that already has text on it. What goes?

A. You must change the template for a "New Blank Document," i.e., normal.dot. For some reason, you have data stored in this file. By default, when you open a new "blank" document it should have no text in it.

To remedy your situation, close any open documents and exit Word completely. Click on Start; click Search; click All files and folders; click Advanced Options; make certain that Search hidden files and folders is checked. Type in normal.dot in the Named box; select the hard drive in the Look In box and click Find Now.

When the normal.dot files appear, right-click on each one and rename them, e.g., normal1.dot. Close the Search window and close your computer. Restart your computer and open Word, which should create a new normal.dot.

Q. On my Windows XP Desktop, I have several plain folders that I created to store similar type files. I would like to change the appearance of each folder. How can I do this without using third party software?

A. Right-click on the folder; click on Properties; click the Customize tab; at the section of Folder icons, click Change Icon; select an icon from the list; click OK.

 

Congratulations and thanks to John Polich for 5 years of informative and helpful Ask the Expert columns.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (January 2003)

Q. What is the Internet address for checking the connecting speed of Cox Cable?

A. You can check the connecting speed of Cox Cable at: http://test.lvcm.com

Q. I have Windows 98SE as my OS. Is there a "System Restore" available as there is in Windows Me?

A. Yes, but using it is a bit more complicated than Windows Me or Windows XP. You can utilize a Windows Start Up diskette.

Insert the Windows 98 Startup diskette in the A drive; bootup your machine; when you finally get the A prompt, type "C:" and at the C prompt, type "cd windows"; at the c/windows prompt type cd command.

You should now have the prompt c/windows/command. At this prompt type "scanreg/restore". Do not include the above quotation marks when typing. Restore to one of five dates available.

If you do not have a Startup diskette, borrow one or make one yourself by going to start; Settings; Control Panel and then Add/Remove Programs and select the Start up tab.

Q. When downloading a file or program from the Internet, there are two options available. One is to open and the other is to save to disk. What is the difference?

A. When you select Open, the file is literally opened by an application, if available, on your computer e.g. Adobe Reader will open a .PDF file or a graphic program will open a .JPG file. When you download a program (application) and use Open, it will be installed on your computer or allow you to do so.

When you select Save, you are given the choice, Save in. Here you can choose the download site on your computer. We have created a folder on the Desktop called Download, into which we store downloads from the Internet. Prior to executing, we can then right click on this folder bringing up a menu selection to rule out a viral infection. After executing, we save downloaded files to a CD or Zip disk for possible re-use.

Q. (E-mail) A friend of mine is having a real problem with his computer and I want to go over and re-format (wipe clean), and then re-install his operating system. Is there a specific procedure to wipe it out and start over? Never having done it for anyone, I would like the steps and commands for the process. He has Windows 98.

A. I assume you are saying that your "friend" does NOT have a recovery disk e.g. Compaq, Dell or HP that would restore the hard drive to factory like condition. It usually includes specific drivers such as for video and sound. If not, do the following:

Q. I have Windows XP Home Edition. I previously used Windows Me and was able to use MS Backup to periodically back up my data files. I do not find it available on our computer now.

A. This back up utility is present, by default, with the installation of Windows XP Professional but not so with Windows XP Home. With the Home version, it is not even possible to install using the Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel.

You can install it in the Home Edition by using your installation CD. Insert it in the CD drive while holding down the shift key so that you don’t auto start the CD; open My Computer; right click on the CD-ROM icon; select Explore; a listing of the contents of the CD will appear; from the left pane click VALUEADD then MSFT then NTBACKUP; open the NTBACKUP folder with a double click. In the right pane identify and double-click the NTBACKUP.MSI icon, which should bring up an installer wizard; click Finish. Now you should be able to bring up the Backup program as you did in Windows Me i.e. Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Backup.

Q. How often should I defrag my computer?

A. I have held off answering this question for several months because my opinion may conflict with current thinking. Over the past year or so, Louis Laussade and I have seen at least three examples of hard disk failures occurring during defragging. These situations seemed definitely related with the procedure and not associated with power failure occurring during the event.

Some "authorities" will suggest once a week while others will advise once a month or even less often. Recently an article in Smart Computing recommended doing so when the drive is running above the 1% level of fragmentation. Previously I have stated, in this column, that you should carry out the procedure about once a month but that the frequency depends on how much you use your computer and whether or not you are constantly uninstalling and installing programs. The general feeling has been that "all the defragging in the world doesn’t hurt a thing with the result of getting a hard drive that works easier, faster, more efficiently, etc."

In summary, because we have seen a few computer disasters associated with the procedure, I plan to discontinue routinely defragmenting our personal computers. I feel that doing so results in a lot of read\write head activity. This trauma means a great deal of "wear and tear" on the drive thus outweighing any possible positive results. If you decide to use this utility, do so in Safe Mode or even in DOS if possible.

If you have any questions and/or answers that you think might be of general interest to your fellow Computer Club members, send an email to: jpolich@yahoo.com

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (February 2003)

Q. I have Win XP. I’m not sure whether I have FAT 32 or NTFS on my computer. How do I find out?

A. Click on Start; click on My Computer; right click the C: drive and select Properties; click on the General tab and note your File system i.e. either FAT32 or NTFS.

Q. (E-mail) I am not certain (actually, positive) that this is not a question anyone else will ever need to know, However, my friend has done "something" to her computer.

She lives in Utah so I can’t actually see what she means. She says her FM THUNK file is in her recycle bin and she cant get to it as her mouse wont work because of this...? Of course, this means nothing to me and may even be absurd.

I was wondering if you could tell me how to manually use the keyboard to retrieve files from the recycle bin. She has bought a new mouse and that won’t work either, so I believe that is why she thinks its related to this file

A. (I thought that this Q & A would be a good way to illustrate how you can use the keyboard to move about in Windows.) I am not sure how you got my name as I usually limit my answers to our own computer club. However, I will attempt to answer your question re how to use the keyboard to restore the file in question.

Using the keyboard, depress the Windows key + E (this should bring up Windows Explorer); use the down arrow key to select the Recycle Bin; hit the tab key to select the first item in the right (contents) pane; hit the down arrow key again until you find the FM THUNK file; depress the ALT + F key to expose the menu; with FM THUNK selected, make sure Restore is highlighted; depress the Enter key.

Q. I just installed WinXP. I do not like the bare Desktop. Is there a way to put My Computer and My Documents back on it as it was in WinMe?

A. Yes. One way to accomplish this: right click on the Desktop; click on Properties which should bring up Display Properties; click on the Desktop tab; click on Customize Desktop button; when Desktop Items appears, check the boxes in front of My Computer and My Documents; click OK.

Q. At one of our KK sessions, somebody suggested changing the CD drive letter. How do you do this? I have Windows XP.

A. Right click on My Computer; click Manage; click on Disk Management; in the right pane, click on the CD drive icon; click on Change drive letter and paths…; click the Change box and follow instructions.

Q. I am fed up with Norton Antivirus. I have heard that many of our CC members are using AVG as their antiviral program. How do I do this? Is it worthwhile?

A. For information about downloading this program go to http://www.grisoft.com/html/usdownl.htm. You can acquire a trial version or a free one. No technical support is available with the free version. Many of our Computer Club members use this application and seem pleased with it. Make certain that you uninstall Norton, prior to downloading any new antiviral program.

Q. I just installed Windows 98 and use Cox Cable as my Internet provider. How do I dump the software for other ISPs such as ATT&T, AOL, CompuServe and Prodigy?

A. As you inferred, now that you have an ISP (Internet Service Provider), you do not have any need for the software for other ISPs. To remove them, click on Start; click on Settings; click on Control Panel; click Add/Remove Programs; select (highlight) Online Services and click Details. Simply uncheck the services that you do not want.

Q. I have Windows Me. I would like to be able to print out the listing of files in Windows Explorer folders, for example names of music files listed in a folder.

A. Although there are other methods, including available third party software e.g. Widget Print Directory v 3.1 at http://www.moochers.com/index.html?w95print.html, one method to do so is to create a batch file.

Open Notepad (Start-> All Programs->Accessories->Notepad) and type (or copy and paste) the following:

@echo off

dir %1 /-p /o:gn > "%temp%\Listing"

start /w notepad /p "%temp%\Listing"

del "%temp%\Listing"

exit

Save the file as Prin.bat on the C: drive in the Windows folder and close Notepad; Open Windows Explorer; click Tools; click Folder Options; click File Types tab; select File Folder; click Advanced button; click Edit; click New; in the Action box, type Print Directory Listing; in Application used to perform action, click Prin.bat; click OK.

You should now be able to right click any folder in Windows Explorer and click Print Directory Listing (from the context menu) to print out a list of all the files in that particular folder.

Q. I am confused about the different types of RAM. Would you enlighten me as to the types and how much I need in my computer?

A. You did not mention the type of operating system you have so I will generalize. RAM is an acronym for Random Access Memory, which plays an important function in how fast, and efficiently your computer behaves. Most computers will run faster with more memory. If data can be stored in RAM instead of the hard drive, the CPU (Central Processing Unit) can manipulate it faster.

Admittedly, the categorization involving RAM is confusing but there are three general types:

SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic RAM), the oldest and slowest

RDRAM (Rambus DRAM), the fastest and most expensive

DDR SDRAM (Double Data Rate SDRAM), not as expensive but very fast

Check your computer manual for the type and the maximum amount that your computer motherboard can handle. If necessary, contact the company that made your computer or go to the Internet e.g. http://www.crucial.com or http://www.kingston.com. You can check to see how much RAM you have in your computer by right clicking on My Computer and click on Properties.

Adding RAM is a relatively easy exercise to carry out. In the February 2003, issue of Smart Computing (pg. 78) is a concise article with illustrations that guides you in the process of adding memory to your computer. Many of our club members bring their machines into the Hardware SIG to do so under supervision.

Q. (E-mail message) I have Windows XP and the latest version of Windows Media Player (vs. 9.0 for Windows XP). When I play an MPEG file I get sound but no video. Why no video?

A. If you have not installed DivX, do so by going to a search engine e.g. Google and type "divx" (without the quotes). Follow the instructions. Also, bring up Media Player; click on Tools tab; click Options; click on the File types Tab; see that the Movie file (MPEG) box is checked. Personally, I would uninstall Media 9 and go back to Media 7.1until all the Web sites support it.

If you have any questions and/or answers that you think might be of general interest to your fellow Computer Club members, send an email to: jpolich@yahoo.com

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (March 2003)

Q. (E-mail message) When I print emails or something from on line, I can't get the whole line to print. I lose 2 or 3 words on the right side of each line. Could you please help me to correct this problem.

A. Not knowing what browser you have and other essentials, I will make a couple of general suggestions. Try printing in landscape orientation. To do so, click on the File menu; select Page Setup; click on Landscape. While in Page Setup, you also have the option of decreasing the page margins. Before printing, check the situation by clicking the File menu then Print Preview. Another alternative is to select the material in question; copy it (Ctrl + C) to the Clipboard; bring up your word processor e.g. MS Word; click the Edit menu; click on Paste Special; select Unformatted Text and OK; with the text now pasted in the word processor, you can format, edit and print it out.

Q. I want to update the latest driver for my HP printer on my Windows 98 computer. How do I do this?

A. Initially, you should delete the present driver by clicking on Start; click on Settings; click Printer and right click on the printer icon in question; click Delete then when asked if you want to remove the printer software, agree to do so. Go to the manufacturer’s Internet site to find the driver for your model printer. Download the driver to your computer e.g. to the Desktop. Re-access the Printers window; click on the Add Printer icon, which should bring up a New Printer wizard that will prompt you to select the printer name and manufacturer; click Have Disk; browse to where you downloaded the new executable driver.

Q. (E-mail message) At present, I pay $9.95 to Juno for my internet connection and I use their e-mail program. So if I decide to get Cox Communication, do I stop paying Juno $9.95? What do I use for an e-mail. Juno has a free e-mail?? But if I don't want to use Juno's free (?) e-mail, what do I do for an e-mail program with Cox?

A. If you install Cox Cable, a broadband Internet connection, you would no longer need the $9.95 Juno program. When the Cox tech installs cable Internet, he/she will connect you to Outlook Express, which is an excellent e-mail program. If you want to use the free Juno e-mail, you can do so via the cable Internet connection. You can have as many e-mail programs that you want. We use three i.e. Outlook Express, free Juno and free Yahoo.

Q. I have WinXP. I periodically clone my removable hard drive to another one by using Symantec Ghost. I back up data nearly every day. I feel that I do not need System Restore thus saving the disk space. How do I disable it completely?

A. What you want to do, makes sense to me but may be considered an extreme procedure by many. To carry out the process, you should empty the System Volume Information folder, used by the System Restore utility. To do so, click Start; right click on My Computer; click Properties; click the System Restore tab; click the box (toggle) in front of Turn off System Restore; reboot the computer. According to the Langa Letter, "with System Restore disabled, you'll reclaim previously wasted disk space, and also avoid the CPU- and disk-intensive background tasks that System Restore otherwise automatically launches from time to time." Later, if you want to re-enable System Restore, you will be able to do so. Perhaps you might compromise by selecting the smallest allowable Restore area i.e. 200 MB.

You have other options with System Restore. An excellent Internet site re these issues is http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20020711S009

Q. I recently downloaded SP1 on my WinXP computer. Do I need to continue downloading "new" updates as they become available?

A. Microsoft offered SPI (Security Patch 1) to "fix" many problems in Windows XP but not to end new periodic updates. You should review and continue to download the critical updates that you feel are appropriate. Make certain that you are on the Internet. Click Start; click Programs; click Windows Update and follow the instructions to find the most recent updates and install them. You can have the Updates downloaded automatically by doing the following: Click Start; click Control Panel; click System to get the System Properties dialog box; click the Automatic Updates tab and click the radial button in front of the desired automatic method.

Q. I want to make some change in the Registry. You have warned about backing it up prior to editing it. How do I do this? I use Windows Me.

A. As a prophylactic measure, you absolutely should back up the Registry whenever you dare to do any editing in it. To do so, click Start; click Run; type regedit. This will get you into this huge database of information of all the software and hardware on your computer. Click the File menu; click Export; select the destination e.g. a folder on your Desktop; click Save. If you make any errors in attempting to change things, you will be in a positive position to restore the backed up copy. To restore, double click the backed up file; click Yes; click OK.

Q. (e-mail message) I have no idea what I did to remove the MY DOCUMENT ICON from my desktop. I am running WINDOWS ME. I cannot locate it anywhere and I would like to place it back on the desktop.

A. After using a "trial and error" methodology, the problem was finally solved by going to Windows Explorer; clicking on Tools; clicking on Folder Options; clicking on the View tab; checking the "toggle" in front of "Show My Documents on the Desktop".

Q. I have Window XP. I note that Update has listed a modem driver. Should I download the update? My modem seems to be functioning OK.

A. I am sure that you are aware of the old adage "If it ain’t broke…" We have instances where club members have troubles with the "updated" drivers and have had to roll back to a previous one. If you do want to roll back to a previous driver e.g. the modem, right click on My Computer; click on Properties; click on the Hardware tab; click on Device Manager; double click on Modem to bring up the name of the modem; right click on the name; click on Properties; click on the Driver tab and click on Roll Back Driver.

If you have any questions and/or answers that you think might be of general interest to your fellow Computer Club members, send an email to: jpolich@yahoo.com

 

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (April 2003)

Q. Instead of going through Start and Programs, I would like to put Photoshop Elements 2 in the Start Menu. I have WinXP.

A. Bring up My Computer; click on the hard drive (c:); click on Program Files; click on Adobe; click on Photoshop Elements 2; right click on PhotoshopElements.exe; click on Pin to Start menu. To remove, right click on the icon of the program in the Start menu and select Unpin from tart Menu.

You could also find PhotoshopElements.exe by clicking on Start and using the Search function.

Q. Why should I get "returned" Outlook Express mail that I have not sent? Someone told me that it is due to a virus. I have Norton AV 2003 and keep up on all the definition downloads. I use Cox Cable as my ISP.

A. A very definite possibility is that your Outlook Express e-mail address is on a computer contaminated with the Klez virus even though your own computer is free of a viral infection. The Klez virus has the unique ability to garner e-mail addresses from a computer’s address book. It then e-mails itself using the addresses in the From line. If you desire to identify where the e-mail originates, contact Cox Cable.

Q. Very often when I attempt to shut down my Win 98 computer it freezes. I often get the blue screen of death. This is often associated with a cryptic message.

A. This problem occurs too often with Windows 9X and Windows Me. It is much less common with Windows XP. There are many possible etiologies e.g. a corrupt sound file, a mismatched or damaged device driver, incompatible applications, etc. To make a proper diagnosis often requires a "trial and error" approach. With your situation, I cannot be explicit without obtaining more information. As a possible "step by step" solution, I suggest that you bring up the following Web site: http://www.aumha.org/a/shutdown.htm.

Q. At a recent Koffee Klatch we discussed the likelihood that Dell will soon introduce a PC without a floppy A drive. How will we be able to boot up using a start up boot disk.

A. Over the past years, we have used the versatile start up diskette to resuscitate moribund computers. I am certain that other methods will be available when the "good old" floppy drive disappears. We will be able to use a bootable CD drive or a small compact device utilizing a USB port. For the latter, the motherboard would have to be capable of booting to USB.

Q. I have many pictures taken at our computer social events, I would like to be able to create a photo album of these, using Power Point 2002. How do I do this?

A. Bring up PowerPoint. Click on the Insert menu; select Picture; click New Photo Album. Add your desired pictures e.g. the hard drive or digital camera; click Insert picture from to browse and select the pictures. Specify the appearance of the album under Album Layout; click Create. If, later, you want to modify the album, click on the Format menu; click on Photo Album and the Format Photo Album dialog box comes up enabling you to make changes. You can add sound, etc. if you so desire. For more information about using Power Point, attend the excellent mini-seminar presented by Sandy Mintz.

Q. (E-mail) "I have a Dell computer with Windows XP. I am having trouble opening attachments named ATT1. Whenever I try to do this I get a window called "Windows Pictures and Faxes Viewer", which prevents me from opening the attachments. Please help!"

A. I am not too certain how to answer but apparently the sender has sent you e-mail formatted in HTML and your e-mail program cannot display it. Possibly the following URL may help:

http://nsupport.elronsoftware.com/Support/miweb.nsf/1b4af9b5c0b55d9285256627005d535d/
02cac5872eb4c3c885256a930057c288?OpenDocument   

Q. I have WinXP. Recently I uninstalled a program. I have files that attempt to open using the program but instead get an error message. What should I do?

A. You must instruct the operating system to either not to use the uninstalled program or change the association to another program. Bring up Windows Explorer; click Tools; click Folder Options; select File Types. Note any file types that were associated with the uninstalled program. Select (highlight) the proper association; click Delete or Change (to use another program); click OK.

Q. My computer is about three years old with USB 1. Will a USB 2 card work OK in a computer of this vintage? Will it speed up my USB hardware that is also three years old?

A. Installing a USB card is possible. Carrying out this procedure will, most likely, NOT increase the speed of your present hardware. Your hardware most likely is not USB 2 compliant. They probably will work but at the speed of USB 1.

Q. Is there any way to track down the source of e-mail sent to me? I have Outlook Express.

A. Identification of the computer sending you e-mail is possible. All have an Internet Protocol address. The information, including the originator’s IP number, is available even though it may appear obscure. To get this data: bring up the message; click on File; click Properties; click the Details tab. The cryptic material is not that difficult to make sense of if you focus on the areas beginning with Received. As you scroll, note From. This should list the address of the sender.

In Outlook, click View; click Options.

Q. (E-mail) I have deleted my WordPad for my computer. I am running WindowsME. It's not in my Windows Setup files it's not in Accessories. So how would I get it back on my Computer? Could you Please explain this to me, I need your help?

A. It sounds as though you deleted a shortcut to Wordpad (Start; Programs; Accessories). Try the following: Bring up Windows Explorer by right clicking on My Computer; click the + in front of C drive; click on + in front of Program Files; click on Accessories; note wordpad.exe and right click on it; click on create shortcut; note and select (highlight) shortcut to wordpad.exe; depress keyboard keys Ctrl and X. (This should move the file to the Clipboard). Close Windows Explorer and reopen it by right clicking the Start button (Taskbar) and clicking on Explore; click on the + in front of Programs; click on Accessories; click keyboard keys Ctrl and V. This should paste shortcut to wordpad.exe into the right pane, which can be renamed Wordpad.

If you have any questions and/or answers that you think might be of general interest to your fellow Computer Club members, send an email to: jpolich@yahoo.com

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (May 2003)

Q. My computer is 5 years old. It has Win98 with 128 MB of RAM and a 6 GB hard drive. I understand the Microsoft will no longer support Win98 after June 31 this year. Should I go to WinXP?

A. You are correct about the MS support. You could go to Microsoft i.e. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp .

At this site, you can determine whether your present computer, including the software is compatible with Windows XP. However, your present computer is relatively aged. The cost of the new operating system would be about $200, and you might have to upgrade hardware e.g. RAM or hard disk. Because of these factors, I suggest, if you can afford to do so, acquire a new computer.

Q. Is there any significance in the beeps that come from my computer as it boots up?

A. To the more advanced computer user, these beeps, indeed, have some significance. They are helpful in diagnosing computing problems; they have a language of their own. On our own computers, it is reassuring to hear one beep instead of prolonged beeping which we have experienced when our computer has gone awry. You should refer to the manual that came with your machine to ascertain what the different types of beeps mean. The manufacturer’s Internet site should also have this information available to you.

Q. I have just bought a new CD burner. What is the best way to connect the cables to the motherboard? There will be two removable hard drives, two CD drives. I plan, periodically, to clone to one of the removable hard drive as a backup.

A. Most motherboards have a primary IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) and a secondary IDE. It is best to make both of the hard drive masters with the use of jumpers; one coming off the primary IDE and the other off the secondary IDE. You can then make the CD drives, primary and secondary slaves. Remember that installation help is available at your friendly Hardware SIG every Tuesday afternoon. Many of our members, like you, are utilizing removable hard drives with the use of trays. Backing up on a regular basis with cloning is very prudent.

Q. (Email) I brought my computer in to the lab on Tuesday and had a new Power Supply put in. Today when I went to back up my machine with Ghost-the floppy drive doesn't work. Is it possible that the Power Supply is not hooked up to it? If so-what do I do, wait until Tuesday and bring it back to the lab?

A. (With a telephone suggestion, the questioner fixed the situation herself by making a more secure connection of the cable to the floppy drive.) This problem is common i.e. getting an insecure connection after working on the "inside" of a computer. After doing such work on your computer, make certain that the power connections are secure. Check the data cables connections to the drives and the motherboard (IDE connection). Also, see that the expansion cards fit properly in their slots. If you experience similar trouble, re-open the computer. If necessary, get more skilled user help.

Q. How do you turn off the annoying spelling/grammar check lines in MS Word 2000?

A. Personally, I find the spelling and grammar checks to be very valuable. I use these options to help prepare this column. However, if you want to remove this option, click Tools; click Options; click the Spelling & Grammar tab and uncheck the proper "toggle switch". Click OK.

Q. When I try to delete, copy or move a file, I get a message saying "Cannot Delete File: File System Error (1026). I have Windows 98."

A. The etiology of your problems can be the result of several factors. These include insufficient hard disk space; copying or moving a file, deleting a file then clicking Undo Copy or Undo Move; coping or deleting files on a network with the server having problems sending the files because of security or traffic. To help resolve this problem, go to this Internet site: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=208082 

Q. My computer freezes when I boot up associated with this message "Spool 32 This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down. If problem continues, contact vendor". Can you help? I have Windows 98.

A. Spool 32 errors usually involve printers and are involved with printer changes, software conflict or corrupted programs. A virus infection of the spool.exe program is another possibility. Make certain that you rule out this possibility with a virus scan of the hard drive.

Q. (Email) I have windows 98 and am on Cox cable.  When I pull up a web site it comes up in the minimize condition which is about a half inch short on each side of the screen which requires me to select the maximize box every time.  How can I get web sites to come up maximized?  Window files are okay it is only web sites that are a problem. Thanks for any help.

A. Apparently, when you open the Web Site, you are in the "Restore Down" position (with "about a half inch short on each side") because this is the view in which you had previously "Closed". You can expand the size by putting the cursor on the corner of the window until you get a double arrow and click drag outward. If you close from the Web in the Maximize position, the next time you go to the Web, you should be in the Maximize position. Depressing the F-11 (a toggle) key or double clicking on the Title bar will also expand the IE window to Maximum.

Q. I recently installed Windows XP. At the time, I chose FAT32 over NTFS. I feel that I should have chosen NTFS. Am I correct? How can I now convert?

A. FAT (File Allocation Table) 32 is a system that evolved from DOS (Dos Operating System). Many still use this system because it is more compatible with older versions of Windows. NTFS was initially developed for Windows NT, which is now the underlying system in Windows XP. NTFS (NT File System) seems to be more stable and more secure. You can still convert i.e. click on Start; click All Programs; click Accessories; click Command Prompt. At the command prompt, type convert C: /fs:ntfs.

If you have any questions and/or answers that you think might be of general interest to your fellow Computer Club members, send an email to: jpolich@yahoo.com

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (June 2003)

Q. In past columns, you have suggested URLs that remove some of the mystery using msconfig and the startup tab. Can you suggest something more current?

A. In previous columns, I have suggested Internet sites to help in better comprehending these startups (Start->Run->type msconfig->OK->Startup tab). Often the information available after selecting the Startup tab is obscure. You should not remove any that are important in the start up process although most are un-necessary. A few are essential for your computer to function properly. It is important to bear in mind that they are shortcuts. Un-checking one does not remove the program itself. We have seen many computers that have far too many checked, resulting in a prolonged bootup process. An excellent helpful Internet address, as suggested by Kim Komando, is:

 http://www.lafn.org/webconnect/mentor/startup/PENINDEX.HTM

After getting to this site, left click on the desired alphabetized item for specific information.

Q. I use Internet Explorer 6 to surf the Web. I have read and heard of some terrible consequences while downloading. What should I do to protect myself?

A. If you are alert and use common sense, there usually is no reason to be over-concerned. Practice sound prophylaxis. Download from only legitimate sites. I have pointed out many times in this column re the importance of using a good anti-virus application e.g. Norton, McAfee and AVG. Keep the antivirus definitions up to date. Using a good firewall, e.g. Zone Alarm is imperative especially if you use a broadband connection e.g. Cox Cable or DSL. With Internet Explorer click on Tools; click Internet Options; click the Security tab; click the Internet globe icon; set the security to Medium (default setting). If you set the security to High, you will find that your surfing is restricted with disabling of many enjoyable features even not being able to view certain sites. Next, click the Privacy tab and set the setting at Medium; click Advanced and handle cookies in the manner you prefer. Personally, I would use the default settings.

Q. (E-mail) When I forward jokes that have pictures in them, many of the recipients report they get the printed message but only get the squares with a small red x in the square rather than the picture(s) I forwarded. Why does this happen, and what can I do to make it work?

A. Since some are receiving the pictures correctly, the most likely problem is with your "many" recipients’ computers. They must make changes at their settings e.g., in Outlook Express, click Tools; click Options; click Security and uncheck do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus. You might try, when forwarding the message, going to the Format menu and clicking on Send Pictures with Message. Also try forwarding the e-mail with the pictures as an attachment i.e. right click the e-mail and select Forward as an attachment.

Q. For some reason I have lost Search from the Start Menu. I have WinXP.

A. To have it available again, right click the Taskbar; click Properties; click the Start menu tab and make certain that Start Menu is selected (radial button); click Customize; click the Advanced tab; at the Start menu items, scroll down until you see the Search box and check it; click OK twice.

Q. (Email) I just want to print the 2003 (Jan - Feb - March) "Ask The Experts". I don't want to print all the 117 pages. How do I set my printer to do pages 100 to 117? I have Hewlett Packard Deskjet 840C

A. There are a couple of ways to do this. Bring up my column by clicking on the title, "Ask the Experts". Click on the File menu; click on Print; list the pages (pages 100-117) that you want printed (I would select grayscale); click Print. Another way to accomplish this, select (highlight) the text that you want printed then command the printer to print the selected material. We were able to do this using our own HP 840C. A third way is to select the text, copy (Ctrl + C); bring up a word processor e.g. MS Word; paste (Ctrl + V) it into a blank document and print from there.

Q. I have Windows XP. Periodically, our computer automatically updates itself. How do we get more control of this irritating feature? Our Internet provider is Juno.

A. I can understand how this would be annoying, especially when using a dial up connection to the Internet. To get more control over the updates, click on Start; right click on My Computer; click on Properties; click the Automatic Updates tab. Under the Settings heading, you can select one of three preferences.

Q. We have our three computer networked wirelessly. We share the Internet. Because of security reasons, we would like to turn off the printer and file sharing. We have WinXP.

A. Click Start; click Control Panel; click Network; right click Local Area Connection; click Properties; click the General tab; clear File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks; click OK; close the window; reboot your computer.

In Windows 98 and Windows Me, bring up the Network icon; select Configuration; click File and Print Sharing; unselect file and sharing and print sharing; click OK twice and reboot.

Q. (E-mail) I've created a large database sheet in Xcel only to find you can't copy and paste into another program (MS WORKS). A long arduous task awaits me if I can't do it. Help!

A. I experienced no difficulty copying and pasting data from Excel to a blank MS Works spreadsheet. I have MS Works 6.0 and Excel 2002. Try it!

Q. (Email) What could possibly be wrong with my computer if it will not complete the defrag process. It constantly says "your computer has restarted 10 times, do you want to continue?"

A. Without more details, I cannot give a precise reason for your problem. However, "something" running in the background is interfering with the defragmenting process e.g. an anti-virus program etc. Try defragging in Safe Mode, which will eliminate many drivers, etc. Usually, tapping the F8 key (check you computer manual) during boot up will get you in this mode. Some even advocate doing the job in DOS. A few of our members use a special utility e.g. Norton System Works or Diskeeper to accomplish the defragging.


Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (July 2003)

Q. (Email) I keep getting pornographic material on Messenger, which I delete; the problem is I'd like to delete the Messenger as I never use it. Mostly, I turn it off, but after each reboot, sometimes I forget to do that.

A. I assume that you are involved with Windows Messenger and not one of the other Messenger programs e.g. MSN’s or AOL’s. Bring up Google (an excellent search engine), type in Q302089. This should give you a list of Internet sites with information on how to handle your problem.

The following is a quote from Smart Computing: Stop Windows Messenger from loading at startup . . . for good. For those of us who don’t use Windows Messenger for our instant-messaging tasks, this program is worse than athlete’s foot. No matter how often we try to eliminate it from loading itself into the System Tray at startup, it just keeps coming back. Among the many tweaks and Registry hacks we’ve seen circulating since Microsoft released WinXP, the following tip is the easiest way to keep Windows Messenger dormant.

Launch Outlook Express, open the Tools menu, and click Windows Messenger and Options. In the Options dialog box, choose the Preferences tab, deselect all the checkboxes found here, and click OK. The Windows Messenger icon will disappear from your System Tray immediately and stay away permanently. Keep in mind that installing a particular service update for Outlook Express or WinXP may activate the Windows Messenger options again, but Outlook Express is the place to go to shut it back down.

Q. I have WinXP. My computer keeps rebooting when I try to turn it off. I do not click the Restart button. It does this at times spontaneously. Why?

A. The origin of this activity is most likely the result of a System failure. In previous versions of Windows, under comparable circumstances, you would have received the BSOD (Blue Screen of Death). Initially change this Windows XP default behavior by clicking on Start; click Control Panel; click System; click the Advanced tab; click the Settings button under Startup and Recovery; clear Automatically restart under System Failure. To assist in diagnosing the etiology of the system failure, click Start; click Run; type in eventvwr and check the Events logs for error messages.

Q. I have an abundance of icons in the system tray. I understand that I do not need many of them. How do I get rid of some of them? I have Windows XP.

A. These icons are essentially shortcuts to programs and not the actual programs. Click Start; click All Programs; click Startup. Right click on those that you do not want and select Delete. You should also right click on Start; click Explore; click the + in front of Programs; click on Startup to open the folder; delete the shortcuts as desired. Next, click Start; click Run; type in msconfig; click OK; click on the Startup tab and deselect those that you want to remove. Try right clicking on the icons in the system tray to determine whether you might have an option to prevent them from appearing in the tray.

Q. I just installed Cox Cable and use Zone Alarm. Do I need an anti-virus program?

A. You most certainly do. Viruses are spread via e-mail i.e. attachments, so you should have an anti-virus program that is kept current with the latest definitions. Anti-virus programs diagnose and eradicate viruses. Zone Alarm is a good firewall that blocks data from being transmitted to intruders but does not block viruses from infesting your computer.

Q. My computer has a virus. How could this happen, when I have McAfee?

A. The questioner did have McAfee installed on her computer. The anti-virus program was bundled in when she bought it about two or three years ago. She had never updated new antivirus definitions. We have seen this situation many times with our CC members i.e. they fail to do live updates (definitions) assuming that the computer is protected simply because an antivirus program such as McAfee or Norton AV is installed.

Q. How do I get rid of the annoying balloons on the Taskbar? I have Windows XP.

A. You can rid your machine of these balloons by going into the Registry (Start->Run->type in regedit), which should be done with great care. A safer method is available with the use of TweakUI. If you do not have this fine utility, download it from Microsoft. Once on your computer, click Start; click All Programs; click Power Toys for Windows XP; click TweakUI; click on Taskbar; uncheck Enable balloon tips; click Apply; click OK.

Q. How can I speed up Internet Explorer 6 by increasing its cache?

A. Whenever you browse the Internet, an area on the hard drive saves the pages that you visit. When you go back, the last page visited is brought out of the hard drive storage area (cache). This process speeds things up so by increasing the cache, which should increase the speed of surfing. To accomplish this, click Tools; click Internet Options; click the General tab; at the Temporary Internet Files area click Settings; move the slider to the right to increase the cache; click OK; click OK

Q. (Email) I have lost my icon in the start up menu for the control panel. Also I cannot locate anything about the control panel in the menu at all. I am using XP. Therefore I cannot make any changes to screen saver, color etc.
Can you help me ?

A. Click on Start; right click on a blank spot of the Menu; click on Properties; click on Customize; click on the Advanced tab; under Start menu items, under Control Panel, click the radial button "Display as menu"..

Q. I have Windows XP My computer does not boot up properly. Instead, I get the following message:
 "Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
                 \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM."
I have used the Recovery Console to attempt a repair but this was not successful.

A. This is, indeed, a diagnostic and therapeutic problem. The etiology is due to a corrupt registry. Search the Internet for Q307545 and you will find an abundance of information and suggested therapy. I prefer using Google as the search engine.


Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (August 2003)

Q. (E-mail) I've been trying to download software from fuji film source to use a new USB for copying. It won't download giving me the message "...your current security setting does not allow these files to be downloaded." I've searched and fiddled and can't change anything. Hope you have the answer. Any suggestions?

A. Apparently, you have set security at a high level. With Windows XP, you can lower this to Medium by bringing up Internet Explorer; click on Tools; click on Internet Options; click the Security tab; click the Default Level box; move the slider to Medium. The procedure is essentially the same in Windows 98 and Windows ME. I notice from your e-mail that you use AOL as your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Contact them if the problem persists.

Q. (E-mail) I may have to Format C my hard disk and reinstall my Windows 98 operating system. Obviously, I can't do it from within Windows or even the DOS prompt from within Windows. To get to an appropriate DOS prompt (to Format C), do I just interrupt the normal boot process with one of the function keys? If so, will that key vary based on the particular computer?

A. One way to format a hard drive using the Windows 98 operating system is with the utilization of the Windows 98 Start Up diskette. This diskette is a valuable tool that all users of Windows 9X should have available. With the use of the Start Up diskette, a Boot menu is available with a created RAM (virtual) drive. Insert the diskette in the floppy drive when you boot up. Eventually you will get an A: prompt. Type in format C:.

Q. I get a message at times when I boot up my Win XP machine that "your password will expire in …. days". What should I do?

A. Right click on My Computer; click Manage; click + in front of System Tools; click + in front of Local Users and Groups; click the Users folder; right click on the user you want changed; click Properties; click the General tab; check the box in front of Password never expires.

Q. When we boot up our computer we notice a reference to SMART. What does this mean?

A. SMART is an acronym that stands for: Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology. This technology checks the hard drive during the boot up process. If there is a possibility of an impending crash, SMART will send you a warning.

Q. I have over 120 MB in the Temp folder (C:\Windows\Temp). I have been told that it is safe to delete all these files. Is this true?

A. I have mentioned many times in this column that it is safe to delete all these files. I do so every few days. If you are skeptical re this matter, leave the files in the Recycle Bin for a few days where they will be available for restoration if you deem necessary.

Q. I have a new laptop computer with Windows XP Pro already installed. I would like to encrypt some very confidential folders. How do I do this?

A. A potent tool available in Windows XP is EFS (Encrypting File System). You must have NTFS (New Technology File System) in order to utilize EFS. Usually, when you buy a computer with Windows XP, NTFS is also bundled in... To make certain, right click on My Computer; click Manage; click Disk Management; look in the right pane under File System.

To encrypt a folder, click on My Computer; bring up the folder you want to encrypt and right-click on it; click Properties; click the General tab; click the Advanced button in the Attributes area. In the Advanced Attributes dialog box, click Encrypt Contents To Secure Data; click OK. If the folder contains files or subfolders, you are prompted to choose either Apply Changes To The Folder Only or Apply Changes To This Folder, Subfolders And Files. Choose the latter option. If you choose the former option, WinXP does not encrypt files currently in the folder.

Q. (E-mail) When I try to attach something to a email, a new file that I have no idea where it came from, opens. I would like "My Documents" to open as the Choose File source. How can I make this happen? Thanks.

A. You did not mention which email program you are dealing with. In Outlook Express, when you bring up Attach (on the toolbar); click the down arrow at the Look in area to bring up My Documents and select the file that you want to attach; click Attach; then Send. The next time you want to attach a file in OE, the Look in area should show My Documents. Other e-mail programs have similar setups.

Q. (E-mail) I have a LINKSYS router. It is my understanding that this also serves as a firewall. If so, is it true that I do not need a ZONE ALARM type system. Also am I correct in thinking with a firewall NO ONE CAN ACCESS MY COMPUTER even if I am on all the time with Cox.

A. To be safe, you should also add Zone Alarm or a similar system. Linksys recommends this. A router, acting as a firewall, will hide your IP address from outside hackers. However when you go on the Internet, you may allow them some access to your machine Zone Alarm and other software firewalls grants or denies any program access to the Internet depending on how you set it.. Zone Alarm will protect you in case your computer becomes infected with spyware, not allowing it to send out information about your system and browsing habits.

Q. (E-mail) Would appreciate any help you can offer regarding my computer problem. All of a sudden, I lost all my icons on the task bar! The systray has all the icons it had before but the icons disappeared from the task bar. What could have caused this to happen? I would like to know how to re-install all of them. Thanks for any help you can offer.

A. You may have lost Quick Launch. Right click on a blank area of the Taskbar; click Toolbars; check Quick Launch.


Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (September 2003)

Q. (Email) I am an SA for the Sun City Computer Club.  I have a "customer" that has a Win 98 machine that continuously reboots.  It will stay in Windows from 1 to 10 minutes before this happens.  I have gone into msconfig and shut off all apps without success.  I also did a Goggle search with no success.  Any ideas?

A. In medicine, we would say that the etiology of this situation (disease) is multi-faceted i.e. there are many possible causes. The approach in making a diagnosis entails eliciting a good history of events leading to the problem and using a "trial and error" approach. A possible culprit is the recent installation of new hardware or software. Uninstall the possible offender. If this is successful, contact the manufacturer for advice including the possibility of installing a proper driver or "fix".

If the above does not produce positive results, click Start; click Run; type msconfig; click OK; click the Startup tab; click on the Disable All box; click Apply; click OK. Reboot the computer. Observe the situation for a while. If this works, restore the MS Configuration Startup items one at a time. If you get an exacerbation of the rebooting problem, remove the guilty program or contact the manufacturer.

If you still have not established the diagnosis, the pathology may necessitate "exploratory surgery" i.e. remove the covering of the machine and look inside. If your computer is still under warranty at this point, take advantage of it. If not and you feel inadequate in this area, consider obtaining a consultation at the Hardware SIG (Tuesdays at 1PM). Some problems that we have seen in the Hardware SIG or on house visits are defective or insufficient fans resulting in overheating, bad sticks of RAM, bad video or NIC cards.

(Note: Since this Q & A was submitted for publication, the MSBlast worm has been reported as a cause of spontaneous rebooting in Windows 2000 and Windows XP. It, apparently, does NOT affect machines with Windows 9X and Me.)

Q. I recently installed Windows XP. I cannot find Scandisk. Is it available?

A. The situation is a little different in Window XP from preceding Microsoft operating systems. Click on My Computer; right click on the C: drive; click Properties; click on the Tools tab; note Error-checking (scan disking); click on Check Now; check your choice of disk options; click Start.

Q. I have just installed WinXP. For now, I would like to switch back to the theme more like Windows Me until I am more acquainted with this new operating system. How do I do this?

A. Right click on the Desktop; select Properties; click the Theme tab; click Windows Classic from the drop down list; click Apply; click OK.

Q. I recently added a new CD drive to my computer. I would like to change the drive letter assigned to it. How do I do this? I have Windows XP.

A. Right click on My Computer; click Manage; under Storage, click Disk Management; right click on the CD drive icon (right pane) that you want to change; click Change Drive Letter and Paths: click Change; click Assign the following drive letter; click the desired drive letter; click OK.

Q. I am using WinMe. Frequently I get a message that says, "dangerously low on system resources". I had 128 MB of RAM. I added another 128 recently with no help. Should I install more?

A. RAM (Random Access Memory) is not the problem in your situation although I am sure that you have noticed that your computing is faster since you doubled the RAM. There is just so much memory allotted to system resources e.g. 128 kilobytes in Windows Me. This is a relatively small amount of the 256 MB RAM in your computer. A good deal of this memory is used by what is called the "Windows Experience" i.e. icons, menus, buttons, text boxes, fonts etc. Windows has to "keep track" of each of these objects e.g. location in memory, colors, status, etc. and make certain that they work efficiently. Because of this, you can still run low on system resources, even if it appears that you have plenty of RAM for your programs. Whenever you run programs (many that you may not even be aware of e.g. in Startup), open and close them, you use up more and more of the resources. Some programs are notorious for being "resource hogs". Some are very selfish with releasing them.

In your situation, rebooting the machine may help. You should be more careful about closing old windows and opening new ones frequently.

I have pointed out in past columns about removing unnecessary startup items by going to Start; Run; typing in msconfig; clicking on the Startup tab and un-checking items that are not necessary. These can use up resources.

Consider installing Windows XP. This operating system allots a much larger part of memory to resources and manages system resource more efficiently.

Q. (E-mail) Why is that some of my recipients say that they cannot read the message text of my e-mail? I use an aqua font for "compose". Some recipients have no problem. What am I doing wrong?

A. I assume that you are using Outlook Express since your email address indicates that you are on Cox Internet. One possibility is that your recipients do not have the same aqua font on their computers. The substitute just does not look the same. They probably do not have OE but rather AOL, Juno, etc. Why not be kind to them and use the Black font?

Q. (E-mail) I have been receiving messages (Outlook Express) from reliable sources with attachments and a message appears that access is blocked to open the attachment by something on my computer. What is this and how do I eliminate this blocking. i have Norton. Sorry to trouble you.

A. One possibility is that you have set a security setting in OE. To rule out this possibility, open OE; click on Tools; click Options; click the Security tab; uncheck the box in front of "do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus". I am assuming that when you state that you have "Norton", you mean the Anti Virus program. Make certain that you download the live virus definitions as they become available.

Q. How do I change the Windows XP message text to bold?

A. (Thanks to Allen Baer for bringing up this problem and solution at one of our Koffee Klatches) Right click on the Desktop; click on Properties; click the Appearance tab; click Advanced; click the down arrow under Item; click on Message Box; click on OK; click the Bold button; click OK; click Apply; click OK. Try this simple procedure. You will like it.


Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (October 2003)

Q. I have been reading about how computers are being infected by worms such as Sobig.F. What are these?

A. A worm is a malicious piece of code that infects a computer then uses e-mail addresses to utilize them to spread to other computers and networks. Sobig.F, as well as MS Blaster, is an especially ugly one. As with viruses, worms infest vulnerable computers i.e. those with no safeguards. We have tried to stress that it is important that you have a good anti-virus program, download all the critical Microsoft Updates, use a firewall and use extreme caution in opening e-mail attachments. Fortunately, the anti-virus companies often offer tools to clean already infected computers. Avery Hughes, JP Denis, Tom Burt and many other have been very helpful in providing timely explanations and instructions to our Computer Club members during the recent worm infections outbreak. They warrant our sincere thanks.

Q. As we know, the MS Blaster worm infected computers though port 135. What is the best way to close ports?

A. There are thousands of numbered ports available. Probably the safest method is to use a good firewall. A firewall is a program (e.g. Zone Alarm) or hardware (i.e. router or gateway) that filters information that comes via the Internet connection. If properly flagged, packets of Internet information are not permitted to enter these ports. Broadband connections e.g. Cox Cable or DSL are much more vulnerable than dial up Internet connections. Using the firewall that comes with Windows XP would not be adequate as a "stand alone" since it blocks only incoming attempts and not outgoing.

Q. (Email) My computer will not recognize the new WD (Western Digital) hard drive just purchased today. I made sure the connections were all tight and the HD jumper is exactly like the one that is working properly. The mobile rack is the same. The hard drives are exactly the same. Any suggestions?

A. When you purchase a new hard drive, generally it is unformatted. You must then format it so that it will hold data. The questioner had Windows XP. The problem was resolved with a house call. Initially we went to Disk Management (right click on My Computer->Manage->Disk Management) where we right clicked on the icon for the hard drive involved. This brings up a menu where you can select the format wizard. However, this only allowed us to format into NTFS (NT File System) instead of FAT 32 (File Allocation 32) which he desired. We then decided to use a Windows Me Startup Disk to carry out the task. As outlined in the next Q and A, the diskette allowed us to use DOS commands to format the new drive.

Q. I have purchased a new computer. I want to donate my old one (Win98) to a charity. First, I would like to delete all my data from it. What is a safe way to make the data no longer accessible?

A. Simply deleting the files (data), is not adequate. Formatting the hard drive would be a safer process. To accomplish this, boot up the computer with the Win98 Startup Disk in the floppy drive (I am assuming that the boot sequence in the BIOS is set to look at the A: drive first). When the menu appears, select Start Computer without CD-ROM support and hit Enter. At the A: prompt, type FORMAT C:\ and Enter. This usually is adequate. However to be positive that the information on your computer is no longer accessible, you should use software to overwrite your present files e.g. Wipe Info (Norton Utilities).

Q. (E-mail) I attached the e-mail sent to me . I downloaded it to my documents. When I then want to look at it I get a box that says this: C:.\MyDocoments\thankfulpps is not a Valid Win 32 Application. I have AOL version 5 and windows 98. Thank you.

A. (Further communication with the questioner revealed that the file in question had a PPS extension). The file "thankful.pps" was created by Power Point (note the .pps extension). You do not need the Power Point application to view this file. Instead, you can use the Power Point Viewer to visualize the file. Download it as freeware, from one of the many available Internet sites. Bring up a search engine e.g. Google and type in "Power Point Viewer" (without the quotes).

Q. I have Cox Cable Internet. Now, I am paying ten dollars a month to rent their modem. I have seen "cable modems" on sale by local retail outlets. Would it be worthwhile to buy one of these?

A. You should make certain that the modem that you buy "on sale" is compatible with Cox. Also, make sure that Cox will not give you the same deal on their modems. We recently installed a Toshiba model for one of our Computer Club members. Cox was very helpful via telephone in helping with the installation process. The member then returned Cox’s modem to their office.

Q. I use MS Word 2000. I want to see the full menu instead of the short menu whenever I left click on one of the choices on the menu bar.

A. Presently, you have the default situation i.e. the short menu. It lists the items used most often, which I utilize and prefer. To get the full selection menu, click Tools; click Customize; click the Options tab; below Personalized Menus and Toolbars, click Always show full menus; click Close.

Q. (E-mail) I am in MS Word on my WinXP computer. The Menu bar or lower row along the top of the window is in the middle of the page. Help!

A. You apparently have inadvertently moved the Menu bar to its present position. Click on the aberrant tool bar and drag it back up its default position. A double click on the toolbar should also return it to its previous position. Although I personally do not prefer this feature of using a toolbar in the middle of the document, some users like it.

Q. I keep getting messages from Microsoft asking me if I want to use Passport.net. Should I use it? I have Window XP.

A. Unless you use MSN e.g. Instant Messaging and/or Hot Mail, I do not see any advantages in using Passport.net. Doing so may be a security risk. If you do decide to utilize Passport.net, do not record any important personal information e.g. your credit card number or your social security number.

 

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (November 2003)

Q. (E-mail) He (a neighbor) went ahead and put me on what he felt was a better home page (Internet Explorer). I didn't have the heart to tell him I wasn't especially fond of it. I was so pleased he came immediately to our house to help me out. My problem now, Dear Abby, is: how do I "erase" the home page he set me up with and go back to having the default home page be MS IE? The latter is what I want to show up when I turn on my computer.

A. Open Internet Explorer; bring up the Internet site that you want i.e. "what I want to show up when I turn on my computer"; click on Tools (menu bar); click Internet Options; under the heading, Home page, click "Use Current".

Q. I got rid of Juno Internet some time ago. I now have Cox Cable Internet. However, now, whenever I bring up the browser I still get a heading saying that the Microsoft Internet Explorer is provided by Juno. How do I get rid of this Juno information? I have WinMe.

A. The "information" re Juno resides in the Registry, which is a huge database of user preferences, system configuration etc. If you want to change this, you must edit the Registry. (Start-> Run-> type regedit). Editing the Registry is analogous to doing neurosurgery i.e. one errant use of the "scalpel" may result in a crippled computer. Do NOT attempt to do so unless you know what you are doing. First create a backup copy of the present Registry i.e. click the File menu; click Export; name the file (it will have a .reg extension) and save it to the Desktop or elsewhere. The path in the Registry is HKEY-CURRENT- USER-> Software-> Microsoft-> Internet Explorer-> Main. Click on Main then scroll to bottom in the right pane until you see Window Title. Click on it, and you should see the Juno slogan. You can delete the "provided by Juno" or change it to something different e.g. "My Personal Browser".

Q. Often when I uninstall an application, I get a message about removing DLL files with a warning that if you do so you may prevent another program to run. Should I not remove these?

A. DLL (Dynamic Link Library) files are shared with other programs to provide common critical functions. When given this option, I do not actively remove them. Admittedly, I have inadvertently removed a few, as have many of our Computer Club members. If you get a message of a missing DLL, it is possible to recover it by reinstalling the program. Many free Internet sites, also, provide a source for recovering the missing or corrupt file e.g. http://www.dll-files.com/. Bringing up Google and typing in DLL will provide you with numerous Internet addresses for downloading these important files.

Q. (E-mail) I have no spell check in Outlook Express 6 since setting up OE in my new computer. I get message "Spell check was halted. Do you want to send anyway?" I have Works and Word (MS Word 97) installed (Spell check works ok in Word). First two options (Tools; Options; Spelling) are checked "Always check spelling before sending " and "Suggest replacement for misspelled words".

A. Apparently, this is frequent problem when MS Word 97 is installed using Windows XP as the operating system. It involves a .DLL (See the above Q & A) file. CSAPI3T1.DLL, is a required to enable spell checking in Outlook Express when using Microsoft Word 97. The site of this file is in the Proof folder i.e. C: / Programs/ Common Files/ Microsoft Shared/ Proof. We were able to solve the problem by downloading the file to a floppy, selecting (highlighting) the file, copying (depressing the Ctrl + C keys) it to the Clipboard then pasting (Ctrl + V keys) the file into the Proof folder.

Q. I just installed Cox and Outlook Express. All the e-mail that I attempt to send is "undeliverable". Why?

A. Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) i.e. Cox Cable routes all mail via a SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) server as do all ISPs. Usually when installing Internet, the Cox technician makes certain that Outlook Express is functioning properly. There are several possibilities why your mail is undeliverable. A likely possibility is that the address is wrong. Click Tools; click Accounts; click Properties; click the Servers tab; enter the address i.e. smtp.west.cox.net in Outgoing Mail (SMTP); click Apply; click OK and close. Other e-mail programs have similar procedures to enter the correct SMTP.

Q. (E-mail) After left clicking on "start" on desktop and then left clicking on "all programs" would like the subsequent window to display the programs in multiple columns instead of one vertical column which then requires scrolling down to view all the programs.....does anyone know how to do this?

A. Try this: Right-click Start; click Properties; click Customize; click the Advanced tab; at "Start menu items:" scroll down to "Scroll Programs" and un-check (toggle) the box; click OK; click OK.

Q. When I get a balloon message stating that "You Have Files Waiting to Be Written to the CD", what should I do? I have Windows XP.

A. This message indicates that you have used Windows to copy files to your CD "burner". Click inside the balloon to visualize them. To complete the task, put a CD-R or CD-RW into the proper CD drive and from the Task Functions (left pane) click Write These Files to CD.

Q. I just purchased a new Dell computer. How do I copy the folders in Outlook Express from my older computer to the new one?

A. (Thanks to Peter Tsang for help in answering this Question) Open Outlook Express; click on Tools; click Options; click Maintenance tab; click Store Folder button; note the address of the Outlook Express folder; e.g. Documents and Settings\John Jones\Local Settings\ Application Data\ Identities\ Microsoft: Outlook Express. Open Windows Explorer to locate the appropriate OE folder; copy that OE folder to a CD-R, Zip Disk or an external hard disk drive.

To restore the saved OE folders, open Outlook Express on your new computer with no new messages; repeat the above steps to identify the new address and empty the Outlook Express folder; replace it with the old one saved earlier; close Outlook Express and reopen it. All the old messages and folders will appear in the new OE.

Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (December 2003)

Q. I would like to get rid of the message that asks me if I want to notify Microsoft every time our computer "misbehaves". We use Windows XP.

A. Click Start button; right click My Computer; click Properties; click Advanced tab; click the Error Reporting button; select Disable Error Reporting; check the box in front of But notify me when critical errors occur; click OK, OK

Q. When deleting Sent files in OE using different methods, the files keep re-appearing. I have WinXP.

A. Open Outlook Express; click Tools; click Accounts; click Properties; click Advanced tab; at the Delivery Area, uncheck the box in front of "Leave a copy of messages on server".

Q. Sometime ago, you explained how to create a shortcut on the Desktop to Shutdown the computer. Would you explain how to do so in WinXP.

A. Right click on the Desktop; click New; click; click Shortcut; type SHUTDOWN –s –t 01(note the spaces); click Next; name the shortcut; click Finish. A similar process is available for Win9X and WinMe (See this column dated January 2001).

Q. I bought a new computer with Windows XP as the operating system. I am somewhat confused about the activation process. Can you help?

A. Microsoft instituted WPA (Windows Product Activation) requirement with the installation of Windows XP. They did this primarily to prevent "pirating" e.g. users from using the same installation disk on other computers. With Windows XP installation, a "picture" is taken of ten-hardware items i.e. IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics), RAM (Random Access Memory) amount, hard drive with its volume serial number, video system, SCSI (Small Computer System Interface), media access control address of the network adapter, type and serial number of CPU (Central Processing Unit), and CD or DVD drive.

This information, called one-way hash, is stored on the drive and becomes part of the activation process. Each bit of information is given one vote excluding the network adapter, which has three. In order to retain activation, seven must remain the same. To retain WPA, if the network card has not changed, only four other characteristics must be the same. The criteria for laptops are not as strict as with desktops.

If you deviate from the above criteria and are notified, you must telephone Microsoft to reactivate. If you fail to reactivate, the operating system will be functional for thirty days prior to failing. A few of our Computer Club members have had to call to reactivate. They report that Microsoft has been liberal and fair in allowing reactivation after extensive hardware changes even formatting the hard drive.

To get a more detailed view of WPA, open up the Help and Support Center (depress the Windows and the F1 keys). In the Search box, type activation.

Q. I just did a clean install of Windows XP. Now when I boot up to the Desktop, the only icon present is the Recycle Bin. How do I get the My Computer, Internet Explorer, etc. icons to appear on the Desktop?

A. By default, the only icon to appear is only the Recycle Bin. To add the others, right click on the Desktop; click Properties; click the Desktop tab; click the Customize Desktop button. Simply, check the boxes for those icons that you desire and OK.

Q. I bought a new computer at a "bargain" for about two hundred dollars from a local store thinking it had everything that we needed. It has a 30 GB hard drive, 733 megahertz CPU, 125 Mb of RAM, etc. However, I discovered that the operating system is Linux. I have the installation disk for Windows Me. Can I install this over Linux?

A. (Thanks to Louis Laussade for editing this answer) Practically speaking you cannot install Windows Me over Linux. You might check to see if you can return the computer for a refund if this is what you want to do. (The price of computers has decreased considerably so that you can purchase a "bargain" set with the latest operating system installed i.e. Windows XP.) You could also learn to use Linux. We have converted this "bargain" computer on several occasions to a functioning computer with Windows Me operating system. Insert a Windows 98 or Windows ME Startup Disk into the floppy drive and boot up the computer. When the boot up stops, type FDISK at the A: prompt; press Enter. When asked Do You Wish To Enable Large Disk Support, type y; select option 3 i.e. Delete Partition Or Logical DOS Drive; you will see four deletion choices. Keep at it until you find a combination that removes all the existing partitions; press Esc key; Press 1 i.e. Create DOS Partition Or Logical DOS Drive press 1 again (Create primary DOS partition ). Enter Y ( for maximum size and to make the partition active). Press ENTER. Press ESC . Restart the computer. Format the hard drive by typing format c:

Once the hard drive is formatted with FAT (File Allocation Table), with the Windows ME installation disk in the CD drive, type cd E: (if E is the drive letter for the CD drive.) Type SETUP at the prompt.

Once the Windows Me operating system is installed, you must install the necessary drivers e.g. for the video adapter, the audio, etc. To do so, use the CD that should have come with the computer.

Q. (e-mail) I lost my recycle bin icon on my desktop and wanted to know how to get it back on the desktop. I have emailed HP and they have given me a complicated procedure to get it back. My computer is an HP with XP and was purchased in 1-02.

A. One way to retrieve the Recycle Bin is via the Registry as per HP. If you feel un-comfortable editing the Registry, seek help. Bring up the Registry Editor i.e. click Start; click Run; type regedit; click OK. The path in the Registry is: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\Desktop\Name\Space.

(The Editor has the Keys in the left pane, listing folders and key. The right pane lists the details for a selected Key)

Right click the Registry key Space; select New; type 645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E; click Enter; click the Key that you created; double click the entry in the right pane; in the Edit String dialog box, type Recycle Bin in the value data box; click OK; quit the Registry Editor.


Ask the Experts
by John Polich  (January 2004)

Q. What is Hyper-Threading?

A. It is new improvement from Intel that increases the speed of the microprocessor i.e. it behaves as two CPUs (Central Processing Units) instead of one. It is available on high-end machines. The operating system sends two "threads" from the thread pool to the CPU at once. The hyperthreaded CPU will accept them both whether they come from different applications or a single one. This improves the process of multi-tasking. It allows the CPU to manage simultaneous requests from the operating system or software thus improving performance about 35%.

Do not confuse Hyper-Threading with Hyper Transport from AMD (Advanced Micro Devices), which involves the chip set on the motherboard.

Q. I would like to add another e-mail account in Outlook Express. How do I accomplish this? I have Cox Cable Internet as a provider.

A. Cox allows you have as many as seven e-mail addresses. To add another account, open Outlook Express; click the File menu; click Identities; click Add New Identity; type in a name for the new account; select Require a password; click OK. Click Yes when