FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  310 (23/04/02)

Q

Having changed to a new PC with Windows XP I cannot install a number of programs, which I used with Windows 98. Can I section the hard disc and install Windows 98 or do I have to remove and lose XP?

Ken Ashton

A

Windows XP has a very useful facility called ‘Compatibility Mode’, which allows older programs, designed for Windows 9x to run under XP. It doesn’t always work but it’s definitely worth trying. To start the Compatibility Mode Wizard go to Windows Help and type Compatibility into the Search field. If that doesn’t do the trick check the software manufacturer’s web sites to see if there are any XP patches, upgrades or newer versions available.

Dual booting – where you have two versions of Windows on the same disc drive – is a last resort. It can’t normally be done retrospectively and will almost certainly involve splitting the drive into two sections or ‘partitions’. You will loose everything on the drive and Windows XP and 98 and all of your applications will have to be reinstalled from scratch so it’s not something to be taken lightly. There’s a helpful article on the subject on the Microsoft web site at:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/ pro/using/howto/gettingstarted/multiboot.asp

Q

I have a Shinwa CP80 dot matrix printer and I wish to use it with my computer. However it is not listed on the “add printer” program list.  Can it be used with my machine?

James Wall

A

Probably… I cannot find any Windows drivers for this model but you may be able to use it for routine text printing jobs by using a ‘generic’ driver. Go to the Printers folder and click Add New Printer then when prompted to do so select Generic from the list of makes and follow the instructions.

Q

Roughly one in eight times when I boot up my PC I receive the following message: "Primary Master Hard Disc Fail". I have found by chance that by simply switching off and on again a normal boot up occurs. What does this mean and what if anything can I do?

Charles Pearson

A

This could mean several things but the most likely one is that your hard disc drive is about to fail and you should immediately back up any valuable data. There is a small chance that the data cables connecting the disc drive to the motherboard have worked loose and it’s something that you or a PC savvy friend might like to investigate, otherwise the drive will need to be replaced.

Q

My daughter recently downloaded a ‘cute’ monkey called "Bonzi Buddy", well I can tell you, cute is not a word that springs to mind! The problem is, even though the monkey has long since been put out of his misery, every time I log on I get a most annoying Bonzi Buddy home page along with all it's pop-ups.  Is there something that I have missed, and if not is there a way of getting rid of this awful home page and back to my regular one? I think that even David Attenborough would approve of this particular culling!

David Anderson, Belfast, N.Ireland

A

Bonzi Buddy’s antics has irritated a lot of people. The trouble usually occurs when an attempt is made to delete it without using the program’s own uninstaller, in which case bits of Bonzi will be left behind. The trick, unfortunately, is to re-install it then uninstall it from Start > Programs > Bonzii Buddy. There’s more information on the PC Hell web site, (http://www.pchell.com/support/

bonzibuddy.shtml) and you might like to install a freeware utility called AdAware (http://www.lsfileserv.com/), which will seek out and destroy annoying ‘adware’ and ‘spyware’ programs.

Q

I have Microsoft Access and when I try to go to the Wizard in any of the Tables, Queries, Forms or Reports, I get an error message which says 'ActiveX component can't create object'. Any ideas?

Michael Shaw

A

It’s a known problem and there’s a list of causes and possible solutions on the Microsoft web site at:

http://support.microsoft.com/

default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q296205

Q

How do I stop persistent Spam and fraudulent messages coming from people using yahoo addresses? I’ve recently received another one of those ‘Nigerian diplomat, pots of money if you give me your bank account number’ scam messages. It’s no good blocking the address because they change every time.
Oscar Heini, via email

A

Unfortunately there’s not a lot you can do, apart from never replying to spam messages and as an extreme measure, changing your email address. Most spam originates outside the UK, from companies using anonymous email services, when one is closed down they simply open a new account. It’s worth having a look at Yahoo’s Mail Abuse Help page at: http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/mail/spam/, which also contains an address for reporting spam emanating from Yahoo Mail account holders.

Q

Having just replaced my EPSON 200 colour printer with an EPSON C40SX printer and loading the new software I have the following problem. The printer will not print when using my Print Artist programme but shows Program Error As Stack Overflow. I have checked the printer drivers, which seem OK, as the printer works with all my other programs.

Chris Thompson, Chulmleigh, Devon

A

This is a fairly common problem in Windows 9x, caused by programs and devices squabbling over your PC’s memory resources. Fortunatlely it’s usually quite easy to resolve, have a look at the Stack Overflow Troubleshooter on the Microsoft web site at: http://support.microsoft.com/ default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q145799

Q

I am setting up a franchise business from home and need an e-mail address for it. I am already connected to the Internet through a server operated my fiance's employer, which has lent us a computer, and have a personal Hotmail e-mail address. I don't therefore need a server to link me up with the Internet, but do need a business e-mail address. Is there anyone who supplies business e-mail addresses without being taken on as a server first? Also Hotmail seems to attract such a lot of spam I'd like to avoid signing up with them if possible.

Heather Tyrrell

A

Why not register your name as a domain name? This typically costs around £7.50 for a .co.uk name, and £25 for a .com registration for two years (see http://www.lowcostnames.co.uk/), and you can use the automatic redirection facility – this is usually free – to send all email addressed to, say, heather@heathertyrrell.co.uk to one of your existing email addresses. Registering a domain name is really easy and only takes around five minutes.