FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  278 (30/08/01)

Q

My computer has an annoying habit of suddenly ticking the Overtype mode box in the Editing Options box on the Tools > Options > Edit screen of Word 2000. Is there any way to prevent this happening?

Brian Lawrence

A

It's a real nuisance usually caused by a finger accidentally brushing the 'Insert' key on the keyboard. You can try to retrain your fingers or better still, banish this accursed (and totally useless, as far as I am concerned) function from your keyboard. Go to Customise on the Tools menu and click the Keyboard button, select All Commands in the Categories menu, scroll down the list in the Commands pane, highlight Overtype, and click Remove.

Q

I recently downloaded Real Player Basic from the Internet to experiment with listening to radio stations. Whilst this enables one to listen to any BBC station among others, I was rather surprised to find that it is not possible to listen to Classic FM despite visiting the web site and clicking the “listen” button.  In fact it prompts you to download a different programme called Hiwire Web Tuner. Why is this?  I would have thought that Real Player would support any UK station.

Norman Evans

A

Internet radio, or more accurately 'audio streaming' has evolved in a fairly haphazard manner and consequently there are no set standards. Real Player just happened to be one of the first and by default became the most popular system, though maybe not for much longer. Windows Media Player 7 which has a very powerful web radio utility is tipped to take over, it is bundled free with all new versions of Windows, and the software needed to set up a web radio station is readily available. Hiwire has become quite popular with broadcasters – mostly in the US -- because it allows them to insert advertisements into the audio stream.

Q

I recently attempted to uninstall the pre loaded Windows ME from my computer and install Windows 98. I successfully loaded Windows 98 but was only given two VGA colour formats; namely 4 bit and 8 bit - the options for High Color and True Color not being available - which has resulted in the poor display or graphics etc. I wish to keep Windows 98 installed on my computer - how do I and where do I reload the necessary information to allow me the options for True and High Color to improve the display on my monitor.

Paul Mason

A

This suggests that you haven't loaded the correct driver for your PC's graphics card or adaptor; it should be on a CD-ROM that would have been supplied with your machine. Try running the Add New hardware utility in Control Panel, when prompted to do so choose 'No I want to select…' click on Display Adaptors from the list and follow the instructions.

A

I currently use Windows 98 and when I want to use Kodak Imaging, or Quick Cam, I am told that the file MFC42.DLL is missing. How can I rectify this error?

John Rose

Q

This is a known problem caused by some digital camera and web cam software. The installation program overwrites the Windows shared DLL (dynamic link library) file and replaces it with an incompatible version. The trick is to remove and reinstall the Imaging utility. Go to Add Remove Programs in Control Panel and select the Windows Setup tab, you'll find it listed under Accessories. Deselect Imaging to Remove it then reselect it to reinstall and the error message should be no more.

Q

I have several files larger than can fit on to a floppy disc (i.e. bigger than 1.4Mb) on my old PC that I would like to copy across to my new one. Can you recommend any software that will operate with Windows 3.1 that I can use to transfer the files to my new Windows 98 PC?

Neil Joy

A

WinZip 6.3 for Windows 3.1 should do the trick, this will let you compress and 'span' large files across several discs. It can be downloaded from: http://www.winzip.com/downlo16.htm

Q

I am interested in letter frequency and codes.  Are you aware of any web sites or programs that count the number of different letters and numbers in a Word text?

Tim Eyre

A

Word has some rudimentary text analysis tools that might be of interest. Properties on the File menu gives a general breakdown and you can count the instances of a character using Find and Replace on the Edit menu (simply repeat the letter or number in the Replace With field and it will tell you how many times it appears). However, for more powerful utilities I suggest you have a trawl through the software listed on the following web sites: 

http://www.intext.de/TEXTANAE.HTM

http://www.content-analysis.de/

Q

I am shortly moving to Tasmania, Australia - taking with me my computer, which is about six years old. I know from previous personal experience, that the internal modem will not work in Australia.  Is there is anywhere in this country where I can get a conversion connector to take with me.  I also need a similar connector for my external fax machine.

Mrs J Walters, Harpenden, Herts 

A

As far as I am aware there is no reason why a standard modem wouldn't work in Tasmania, apart from the differences in the design of the phone socket. You can buy adaptors and cables online, try Videk at:

http://www.videkonline.co.uk/

SubSections.asp?sectionID=85.

Q

There seem to be a variety of devices/software for transferring photos from digital cameras to CD but is there a simple way of putting them on video tape so that I can show them on a television to someone who does not have a computer - buying a laptop seems somewhat extreme.

Peter Kilkelly,

A

It depends; if your digital still camera has a video output socket that lets you connect it directly to a TV – and many models do these days -- then you can also connect it to a video recorder. You may need a phono to SCART adaptor module or lead but this is something that your local TV/Video dealer will be able to help you with. Details of how to record from an 'external source' will be contained in the VCRs instruction manual.

Q

I produce a large number of Word documents (using Windows 95), which contain many small sums, which I total using either a short solid continuous line or a short line of equal signs.   When I go down to the next line, these short lines immediately extend to the full width of the page and are impossible to get rid of except by forcing them down to a new blank page.   How can I keep my short total lines?
Iris Brixton,

A

If you type more than three hyphens, underlines or equals signs in succession at the start of a line Word assumes that you want to create a page wide line. You can press Ctrl + Z to 'Undo' the action or stop it happening by going to Autotext on the Insert menu, then Autotext, select the AutoFormat As you Type tab and deselect 'Borders'.