FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  307 (02/04/02)

Q

I work at a rehabilitation centre in Stanmore where we teach people with various disabilities to use computers. For those unable to use our different types of mice and trackballs there is a facility in Windows where you can set up the keyboard so that when using the arrow keys in the numeric keypad the mouse pointer will move smoothly in any direction.  This covers most requirements, but we have been unable to find a function that replicates the mouse "Drag" facility when using only the keyboard. Can you help?

Michael Collin

A

Once you have enabled ‘MouseKeys’ in Windows (Accessibility in Control Panel) the ‘0’ and ‘*’ buttons along the bottom of numeric keypad work like mouse buttons. Place the cursor next to the object or text block you want to move and press zero, use the mouse keys to highlight the selection, then press asterisk key followed by zero key to ‘pick it up’, use the mouse keys to ‘drag’ it to the new location and press asterisk to ‘drop’ it.

Q

I have recently got an ADSL broadband Internet connection.  Will the Firewall in windows XP be sufficient protection from malicious hackers or do you recommend further software such as ZoneAlarm Pro?

Stephen A Howell

A

The Microsoft Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) is fairly basic, it does a fair job of protecting your PC from hackers trying to gain access to your computer via the Internet but it’s not so effective against programs on your PC making unauthorised use of your Internet connection. These include nasties like spyware, adware and Trojans, which can be downloaded unwittingly on the back of emails and web pages, or installed maliciously. Unless you need the extra facilities of the Pro version the free (to home users) edition offers a very high level of protection. You can test your PC’s vulnerability to intrusion on Internet security expert Steve Gibson’s web site at www.grc.com, click the ‘Shields Up!’ logo and follow the links.

Q

I have recently cancelled my old Internet account when broadband became available. My problem is that Internet Explorer has been personalised by the old ISP with logos on the top and bottom of the frame, with the message "Microsoft Explorer provided by ….". Is there any way I can get IE to revert back to its original condition?

Warner Nolan, Reigate

A

This is called ‘Branding’ and most of it is quite easy to remove. The logos are contained within a folder called ‘Signup’ which you will find in C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer, simply delete the ‘.bmp’ files. The name on the title bar is contained in the Registry. Bearing in mind the usual warnings about tinkering with the Registry, you’ll find the relevant key at: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\

Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main.

Right click on ‘Window Title’ and you can edit or delete the wording. Branding often affects Outlook Express as well, you can remove the name on the title bar in a similar way, by modifying the Window Title Registry key at: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\

Outlook Express

The branded ‘Infopane’ at the bottom of Outlook Express can be found at: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\

Outlook Express,

simply right-click and remove the key ‘BodyBarPath’.

Q

My son loves to look at the PlayStation game sites. However, when he goes onto the site very often pornographic sites load as well. Could you please tell me if there is any way of stopping this?

Sandra P

A

There are a number of web filtering programs that can prevent your son viewing pornographic web sites, have a look at NetNanny and Cybersitter (www.netnanny.com & www.cybersitter.com) but they are not infallible and sites can include offensive or disturbing images in the form of banner advertising, which web filtering software won’t necessarily intercept. Pop-up ads, which appear without warning are another concern and these can be stopped with utilities like AdAware and NoPops (www.lavasoftusa.com/downloads.html & www.jpsoft.dk/uk/freeware.html), but in the end the only sure way to protect your child is to keep an eye on him, when he’s on the Internet.

Q

When I try to open outlook express I get the following message: Outlook Express could not be started because MSOE.DLL could not be loaded. Microsoft Outlook is still working fine could you please help?

Robert Forde, Inniscarra, Co Cork

A

This error message is almost always caused by a conflict between different versions of Outlook Express, remnants of which can be left behind during upgrades or reinstallation of Windows. The solution is to make some simple changes to the Registry. It’s not difficult but it’s not something you should attempt unless you know what you are doing! There’s some useful advice along with a step-by-step guide on the Microsoft web site a the following address:

http://support.microsoft.com/

default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q232480

Q

Is there anywhere I could buy a small 5 to 10-inch preferably flat screen TV? I am mainly interested in receiving Teletext information.

Tahzib Rizvi

A

I’m not aware of any flat screen TVs that small with Teletext decoders but you can easily add that kind of functionality to your PC with a TV adaptor card. The Hauppauge Win TV Go, for example allows you to capture and export Teletext data to spreadsheets etc. and it only costs around £40 from on-line dealers like www.jungle.com

Q

Outlook Express has suddenly stopped putting sent e-mails into my "Sent Items" folder.  I have checked that the appropriate box has been ticked in the settings.  Looking in Windows Explorer I note that Outlook Express is not shown on the C Drive.  Is this relevant? Can you solve my problem?

Brian Wike

A

Are you sure it’s not working? You may have inadvertently set it to show emails in ‘reverse’ order (i.e. the most recent ones at the bottom of the list), or they may be being sorted alphabetically, in both cases you can resort the order by clicking on the ‘To’ and ‘Sent’ buttons at the top of each column. Outlook Express is normally to be found in the Program Files folder and all of your email messages are in a sub-folder in the Windows folder. You can check the location of any of your email boxes by right-clicking on one of them and selecting Properties.