FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  259 (18/04/01)

Q

My son has an old computer running Windows 95. He has cleverly managed to change the monitor settings and as a result, been left with a blank screen, although the windows logo does appear when the computer is switched on.

How do we "get in" to put the settings back to the original, which, he assures me, he can remember? I should add that as this is a second hand machine he does not have any system or backup disks.

D. S. McArthur

After having a quiet word with your son about the perils of fiddling with Windows settings, show him how to start the PC in 'Safe Mode' by pressing the F8 key just before the 'Windows is starting' message appears during the boot up sequence. Windows loads with a minimum configuration, in VGA mode, so you will be able to access Display Properties in Control Panel and change the resolution back to its correct setting. Shut down the PC and re-boot as normal and all should be well once again.

Q

I have recently been given a computer by a firm, which closed down. It has Windows NT and Office 97 installed and has been used in a network with a server. Nothing was done to it before it was passed on to me. I know the password to use the machine but not the one needed to alter its settings. At present it refuses to accept any new software and ignores instructions such as to format the hard disk. Ideally I would like to clear the hard disk and start afresh with the software I already have from my previous computer. How can I achieve this? Do I need to learn to use DOS?

Elisabeth Jordan

A

Your PC has probably been configured with System Policies, a Windows utility that stops network users tinkering with critical setting, so it would be a good idea to start over. You will need to use a couple of DOS commands but it's not difficult. Unfortunately, there's not enough room to go into it here so have a look at Boot Camp 99..

Q

In the near future I am planning to buy a new PC, but I don't know how to transfer my existing files from my old PC to a new one.  I know that using floppies may take about two million years to transfer all my files across.  Is it possible to connect the two computers together so I can access the old one, if so how can I go about doing this?

Joshua Williams

A

Probably not quite two million years, but I know what you mean. My own favourite method is to temporarily install the hard disc drive from the old PC in the new one, configure it as a 'slave' to your main hard disc and transfer files and folders across to the new drive using normal Windows copy and paste techniques. Networking the two PCs together is a little more involved but Windows 95, 98 and ME have a built in utility called Direct Cable Connection that can do the job for you. It can be quite challenging to configure – you may be lucky… -- anyway, all is revealed in Boot Camp 68.

Q

I have inherited a computer from my Son which has Freeserve installed on Outlook Express, but I wish to change this to AOL. Whatever I do I am unable to delete this information, thus I would welcome your help with the right way to send it to oblivion.
Shirley S

A

If you simply want to stop your PC dialling up Freeserve just remove the connection from Dial Up Networking in My Computer (right click on the Freeserve icon and select Delete). If, however, you want to remove all of the logos and 'branding' from Internet Explorer and Outlook Express you will have to edit some Registry settings, which is probably not a good idea if you are a novice. Full details on what to do can be found on the following web pages:

http://www.klawson.demon.co.uk/

articles/unfree.htm

http://www.beebware.com/internet/

help/freeserve/branding.html

Q

I recently had to kill a virus caught by Norton Anti-Virus software. Now when I start up the PC (Windows 98) I get error messages about a file called 'Inetd.exe'. I have tried to find the missing file in my Windows disc without success.  These messages are very annoying! Any ideas?

Eddie Guy

A

You have been infected by a nasty little email worm called Plage. Amongst other things it modifies the Windows system file win.ini, which it appears your anti-virus software may have missed. Full instructions on how to manually delete this intruder can be found at:

http://www.fireantivirus.com/

virusinfo/library/plage.htm 

Q

I have Word 2000 and have recorded a macro and put it on the toolbar.  How can I convert the 2-inch long description into a button only?

Betty Balding

A

It's actually quite easy, but you'll have trouble finding anything about it in Word Help. All you have to do is right click into an empty area of the toolbar and select Customize from the drop-down menu. This puts Word menus and toolbars into setup mode. Right-click on the button and you'll see a set of options, select 'Default Style' to get rid of the descriptive label.