FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  256 (29/03/01)

Q

We have just installed a computer in the local Heritage Centre. It will be used by the stewards when the Centre is open for a continuous display of archived items and occasionally by the public for research using CD-ROMs and, later, the Internet. Our problem is that we need to restrict both the stewards and the public from obtaining access to the main system, particularly the programs. The password system in Windows can easily be by-passed (unless we are missing something) and the 'help' provided is no help at all, unless the computer is on a network. Is there a way within Windows 98 to exclude particular users or a separate program that we can obtain?
David Prestage

This sounds like a job for the Windows System Policy Editor or Poledit. It is a set of utilities that can be programmed to restrict access to a wide range of Windows functions and programs. Poledit is included with Windows 95 and 98 but it's not installed by default; we covered this very topic in some depth last year in Boot Camps 140 and 141.

Q

Is there a way of reproducing typefaces larger than 72 point in Word 97?

Rick Pearce

A

Yes, simply click into the point size window and type in the size of your choice, up to a massive 999.5pt!

Q

I would find it very convenient to be able to see the current day on date on
screen. Is it possible to show this as a screensaver?
John Sheppard

A

The words 'clock screensaver' in www.google.com (easily the best search engine in my opinion), was particularly fruitful, here's a few to be getting on with; (My Corkboard from PC Dynamics looks particularly interesting):

http://www.pcdynamics.com/

http://www.zdnet.com/downloads/

stories/info/0,,001991,.html

http://www.ibmpcug.co.uk/~MapMaker/

sunclock.htm

Q

I am sure I have seen in your column a way to change the program list on the Start menu from a scroll to a full screen side-by-side configuration could you please enlighten me as to where I can find this info?

Colin Wardell

A

This tip appeared in our Boot Camp series on the Windows Registry (no's 126 & 127). It's a simple enough procedure but don't try unless you know what you are doing and have made a backup first.

Open Regedit and navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\

Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Advanced.

Right click in the right hand pane, click New then String Value, rename it to ‘StartMenuScrollPrograms’, double click the new icon and in the Value Data field type ‘false’, close Regedit.

Q

I am currently using my CD-RW drive to store data.  I need to periodically update the stored data. When I was using floppies to do this you had the option of overwriting the data currently stored with the new data.  However with the CD-RW drive this facility does not seem to exist as the new data is just added to the old data.  Is there any way of overwriting data on CD-RW drives?
Malcolm Stead

A.

Unfortunately no, data on a CD-RW disc is written sequentially, which basically means that when you update or replace a file the old one remains on the disc but the reference to it in the disc's table of contents (TOC) is removed. There's no way of selectively deleting data, but when the disc fills up the whole can be erased and you start over with a blank disc.

Q

How should I approach the problem of transferring all my files (photos, accounts and documents) from the old PC running on Windows 95?

John Stephenson

A

The simplest method is to temporarily install the hard drive from your old PC into the new machine, set the jumper connection to 'slave' and transfer data across to your new drive using Windows Explorer. It's not an especially difficult job there should be a spare power lead and data cable connection available in your new PC, however, it's a good idea to ask an expert or knowledgeable friend to help if you've never poked around inside a PC before.

Q

I seem to spend more time on the net than I realise - is there any way that I can have an "elapsed time" or "time connected" indicator somewhere on the screen when I am on line?

John N Walker

You can get an elapsed time readout instantly by right-clicking on the connection icon (flashing double monitors) in the System Tray (next to the clock), otherwise have a look at the huge selection of Internet timers on shareware sites like Tucows (www.tucows.com, search keywords 'internet timer').

Q

How can I send a large file, (8 - 15Mb), to a series of floppy discs? I can split the file into 1.4Mb chunks but as the process has to be repeated every few days it is rather frustrating.

Garth Hutchison

A

A compression utility like WinZip (www.winzip.com) should be able to reduce the number of floppies involved and makes the task of splitting large files across several discs a lot easier. However, using floppy discs to transport large amounts of data is unsatisfactory and you should be looking at higher capacity systems like a CD writer. Drives now sell for well under £100, and blank discs costs just a few pence; it's a fast, effective and highly compatible solution.

Q

With reference to the query about creating a letterhead in Word and your suggested solution (F!F!F! March 15th), a far easier solution, in my view, is to do a 2-cell table with no line border, and insert the relevant information in each cell.
Catherine Ryan

A

Thanks to Catherine and several other readers who wrote in with that useful tip.