FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  300 (12/02/02)

Q

When I add a web page to my list of Favorite sites, an icon relevant to that page is also added, but on rebooting my PC that icon is lost and replaced with the Internet Explorer ‘e’ icon. Is there any way of retaining the original downloaded icon?

Ged Legge

A

They are called ‘Favicons’, Internet Explorer (version 5 and above) automatically displays them when you add a web site to your Favourite list. The icons are stored alongside viewed web pages in the Temporary Internet Files ‘cache’ folder and they will be lost if you are using a program like Tweak UI, set to automatically empty the Temporary Internet Files at boot up, or the cache memory limit is set very low (Tools > Internet Options, General Tab, Settings). A little shareware program called ‘Favorg’ will keep them safe for you, see: http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/ mandias/tips/favorg.html

There’s also a DIY method, create a new folder (call it something like ‘favicons’), copy the icons from C:/WINDOWS/Temporary Internet Files, right-click on an icon on the Favourite list, select Properties, click Change Icon and use the Browse button to specify your newly created Favicon folder.

Q

On entering Internet Explorer > Tools > Internet Options I get the following message: ‘…this operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your System Administrator’. I suspect I may have tweaked something, as it has been okay in the past.

Tony Lewis

A

This warning message is normally associated with a set of Windows tools called System Policies, which are used to stop users of networked PCs tinkering with critical settings, accessing programs they’re not supposed to or loading unauthorised software. However, it is impossible to load System Policies on your PC by accident (see Boot Camp 141 at www.telegraph.co.uk, click the Search button, select Connected and use ‘Poledit’ as the keyword). A more likely explanation is that a file called ‘Inetcpl.cpl’, which normally lives in the Windows System folder is damaged or missing, or the PC pixies have somehow changed an entry in the Windows Registry (the important system file that controls how your PC operates). Either way, this errant behaviour is known to Microsoft and it has produce a Knowledgebase Article that shows you how to correct it, have a look at: http://support.microsoft.com/

default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q216583

Q

I need to reinstall MS-DOS on a computer with a 486DX processor. The only disc set I can get is for a clean installation, and the machine appears to be demanding an upgrade set. Is there still a source of either MS-DOS 5 or 6 still available?

Philip Stokes

A

This might be referring to the ‘Step-Up Files’ upgrade, which may be necessary when reinstalling MS-DOS 6, this is still available from Microsoft at: http://support.microsoft.com/

default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q117417. Alternatively, have a look at online auction sites like ebay (www.ebay.co.uk) a recent search revealed at last half a dozen people selling various versions of MS-DOS, typically for just two or three pounds.