FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  254 (16/03/01)

Q

While trying to clean up and make space on the PC I came across a very large file, apparently created by the system itself, called user.dat whose purpose I cannot understand. It appears to have registered every instruction and setting since the beginning of time. What is its purpose and is it possible or safe to delete it or reduce it in size?

David Dove, Dove@feeline.demon.co.uk

Touch it at your peril! User.dat is one of two critical files in Windows (the other is called System.dat) that make up the 'Registry', which controls every aspect of Windows and all of the software on your PC. For more information have a look at the two Boot Camp articles on the topic (126 and 127).

Q

Every time I boot up, the process stalls with a message telling me that "A device file that may be needed to run Windows or a Windows application" is missing. "If you deleted the file on purpose, try uninstalling the associated application using its uninstall or setup program. If you still want to use the application...try reinstalling...to replace the missing file. C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VMM32\vflat.vxd. Press a key to continue." Can you please suggest what this file is and where I might start looking for it?
Ken Robinson

A

It's a long and complicated story, and a fairly common complaint that affects a lot of Windows PC causing shutdown problems, crashes and mouse misbehaviour. Suffice it to say you can replace the file from your Windows CD, and several others that your system may be missing, using a simple utility called vxdfix, obtainable from the following site:

http://users.megapath.net/~revolution/vxdfix.html

For a fuller (though not necessarily very clear) explanation of the problem have a look at the site's FAQ.

Q

As a result of changing resolution and font sizes to run various children's programs requiring differing settings, I have somehow got stuck with a resolution of 640 x 480 256 bit and large fonts. This means that when I try to alter the settings the Display Properties box is also large, with the result that the "Apply" button is not accessible, even after moving the box upwards as far as it will go. It appears that this box cannot be resized or minimised, only moved. Also, I cannot access all of the "Programs" menu because of the large fonts. Is there any way I can restore the Display settings to normal? I am using Windows 95.
John Wainwright

A

It shouldn't be a problem, make your changes in Display Properties and press Return on the keyboard, which has the same effect as clicking OK or Apply. If you are still having problems restart your PC in Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key after switch on, you can then go to Display in Control Panel and change the settings back to the Windows default, reboot and you can reset them to their original condition.

Q

How do I copy the address book from Outlook Express 5 onto a floppy disc? If I select Outlook Express, File, Export I get "Microsoft Exchange Personal Address Book" or "Text File (comma separated values)", whatever that is! But if I select the address book itself and select file - export -I get "Address Book (WAB), "Business Card (vCard)" and "Other Address Book". If I do a straightforward 'copy' I just seem to get the folder without the contents. Where am I going wrong?
Allan R. Bradshaw

A

I agree it does seem needlessly complicated but it's actually quite simple. Click Export, highlight Text File (Comma Separated Values), then Export and use Browse to save it to a Floppy disc as a '*.csv' file. Comma separated values simply means it is a text file with all of the names and addresses separated by commas, so the next program you load it into can put them into their correct locations. In the case of Outlook Express use Import on the File menu and choose 'Other Address Book' from the list of options.

Q

My PC has just been upgraded to Win.98. Now I can no longer "Print" directly from Outlook Express; the PC tells me to re-install OE. Seems simple! but how do I do this? OE is not on the Add/Remove Programmes list on what CD is it to re-install? I have tried Windows Update, I have browsed Microsoft Downloads it seems for hours, but can find nothing. I am running a version 5 of IE, and a version 4 of OE. Is this the cause of the problem? Please can you help a very embarrassed PC user!!

Brian Chapman

Running Internet Explorer 4 and Outlook Express 5 together is not a good idea and could well be the root of your problem. You should update Internet Explorer to version 5 and at the same get the latest release of Outlook Express. You can download them both from the Microsoft web site but it'll take forever, better yet, they are routinely included on the freebie cover-mount CD-ROMs on magazines such as PC Pro and PC Magazine. 

Q

How do I arrange to make standard letterheads with my name and address on the right side, and then type the recipients address on the left, without the "home" address (mine) jumping about and "word-wrapping".  I was able to do this reliably in an old DOS-based program (First Choice), but cannot achieve it in Word.  I know it's something to do with Templates.

Barry Martin

You could mess around with templates, however a far easier method is to switch to Print or Page Layout on the View menu, open the Drawing Toolbar (right-click into an empty next to a toolbar and select Drawing from the menu), click 'Insert Text Box and use the crosshair to place and draw a box for your home address. Fill in the details and save the document, e.g. 'letterblank'. The text box may have a border, if so you can get rid of it by highlighting the box outline and go to Line Style on the Drawing toolbar, click More Lines and choose 'No Line' on the Line Colour menu.

Q

I believe that you gave a web site address a few weeks ago, which enabled users to check whether their holdings of Premium Bonds had ever won a prize. I have lost the note I made and would be most grateful if you would let me have the address.
Robert Botcherby

A

http://www.nationalsavings.co.uk/

en/premium-bonds/prize-finder/

Q

I am writing a book and need to be able to provide a comprehensive index. Is there any software that would allow me to highlight names and places to an index and also list the page where the words can be found?

David Pointer

A

It can be easily done in MS Word, entries are marked using Alt + Shift + X, but read the Help file on Creating an Index first.