FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  329 (02/09/02)

I am using Internet Explorer 6 and I like to set up my favourite websites on the Links toolbar for easy access. I have quite a few sites I use regularly, so I have grouped them in relevant folders. Unfortunately, if I have multiple Internet Explorer windows open and select a site from a folder on the Links toolbar, it opens up the website in the first IE window, irrespective of which window I'm currently working in. How can I make IE open up the site in the window I am using?

Simon

A

This is a known glitch with Internet Explorer and the only workaround that I’m aware of – alternative suggestions welcomed – is to click and drag the link into the Address box.

Q

For some time now my PC has been plagued by "illegal operation" error messages. On clicking for details, it shows that they are concerned with modules Kernel32 and Wininet.   The Wininet one in particular interferes with my broadband connection through my Alcatel Speed touch USB modem causing it to disconnect. The only way back in is to shut down the computer and reboot. What can I do to clear this problem?

 J. Stollenwerk

A

There are several possibilities, the most likely one being that Outlook Express is still trying to make a dial-up connection whilst your broadband connection is active. This and other possibilities, along with various solutions are outlined in the following Microsoft Knowledgebase articles: Q274474, Q225096 and Q187965. Simply type the code into Google’s search field (www.google.co.uk), or go direct: http://support.microsoft.com/ default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q274474&

Q

I have an HP 959c printer and at the end of every print job, it will insist on printing a test sheet. It has got to the point of me having to count out the number of sheets of paper fed into the tray, to match the number required. This is, after all, 2002. Surely somebody can enlighten me as to how to cure this problem.

Bryan Cuddy, Helston, Cornwall

A

If you are cancelling print jobs as soon as it starts printing the test page, don’t allot it to finish and you shouldn’t be bothered again. Otherwise it could be a problem with the alignment of the ink cartridge and that should disappear as soon as it is replaced.

Q

I have been trying to network a Windows 98 PC to a Windows XP PC.  I have the same workgroup, the IP Address on the 98 is 192 168 0 1 and on the XP is 192 168 0 2 and the sub net mask is 255 255 255 0. File and printer sharing on both PCs is activated.

The icon on the XP says that a network is connected at 100mps. The 98 can see and talk to the XP, file transfer and printing to the XP printer is okay. The XP says that:"PC2 (98) is not accessible. You do not have permission to use this network resource. Any ideas?

Ian Towle, Cirencester

A

It’s quite common and is usually caused by unfathomable glitches with network protocols. You obviously know your way around Windows networking so if you are using NetBeui remove that from both machines and install IPX/SPX instead, or vice versa.

Q

I have an OAP friend who has been given an old Intel 386 powered PC (a venerable old timer itself) and he would like to get on the Internet and have email. It is running Windows 3.1 and has external modem that has been used for sending and receiving faxes, a floppy drive and small hard disk. However, there is no browser or email client installed and whilst I have those on CD, I cannot find them on floppy and I am also concerned they are a little large for the hard drive. Consequently, I was starting to wondering if the PC will be up to the job and of so, where we could get a browser and email client of a small file size so that I can install them on his PC.
John Cummins

A

It can be done but you would be doing your friend no favours whatsoever. Such an ancient PC is much more likely to fail and as you have pointed out, the disc drive is small and liable to fill up very quickly indeed. Moreover old browsers and email clients capable of running under Windows 3.1 will lack the facilities to display the content of some multimedia-rich web pages and emails.  If you are determined to go ahead there’s an archive of old browsers and email programs at: http://browsers.evolt.org/, which you can download on your PC. To get around the problem of loading large programs on floppy discs use WinZip (www.winzip.com), which has a disc ‘spanning’ utility

Q

My wife does some part-time programming work for a local software house. She connects to their mainframe via an AOL dial-up connection to the Internet, then using a terminal emulation package. This has been reliable, and bandwidth is not a problem (character-based terminal emulation, no large downloads). The only problem is that the mainframe has a firewall with a list of 'trusted' IP addresses and her connection allocates a different IP address each time. This means that she has to contact the mainframe operators by 'phone, give them her IP address, and wait while the firewall is reconfigured. It would save a lot of time and inconvenience to have a static IP address. Do you have any suggestions?

Pete Sadler

A

AOL, like most other  ‘consumer’ Internet Service Providers automatically assigns a ‘dynamic’ IP Address to your PC every time you go on line, the only way around this is to change ISPs and sign up for a business account with a static IP Address, or get a broadband connection. The IP Address still changes when you log off and on but if you set up a spare PC to act as a server you can stay permanently connected and retain the same IP Address indefinitely.

Q

My computer has a Pentium III 500 Processor, I use Windows ME and I have 256 Mb RAM. During and after booting up the machine either freezes or shuts itself down. I have tried numerous cures such as powering off, waiting 10 seconds and re-booting; pressing restart button and even kicking the thing! (Only joking, I'm really very careful.) This problem is a nuisance because eventually, once it gets going, it behaves well enough. Is there something I can do to rectify?

Lionel Kent

A

You’d be surprised how often a good kicking gets things working again, if not at least you’re no worse off and it makes you feel better… Windows ME has a bit of a reputation for startup and shutdown problems and Microsoft has gathered together a selection of useful tips and solutions in Knowledgebase article Q273738: http://support.microsoft.com/

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