FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  358 (08/04/03)

Q

After a problem with a virus I have lost the ability to check spelling prior to sending an email. Going to Outlook Express > Tools > Spelling, I have ensured the "Always check..." box is ticked.   How can I regain the spell-check feature?

Gerald Webb

A

This is quite a common problem and several things can cause the spellchecker facility to disappear but they are all connected with the Windows Registry. There is a relatively simple fix that involves poking around inside the Registry, it’s not difficult but this is a critical system file and you must back it up first. Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q224176 covers the whole procedure in detail and you’ll find it at:

http://support.microsoft.com/

default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q224176

Q

I was recently hit by a virus that rendered my PC inoperable. I transferred the hard disc drive to another PC and was able to save all of my personal files onto a CD-R. Having re-formatted the HDD and added all the various software I tried to transfer the files on the CD-R back to My Documents.  Whilst I can open these, I am unable to amend them without saving them under a different title. Is there any way that the files can be changed from Read Only so that I can amend and save them in the normal manner?

Peter Fincher

A

You can remove the Read-Only attribute by opening the folder in Windows Explorer then highlighting all of the files by pressing Ctrl + A, right click onto the highlighted files and select Properties, deselect Read Only and click Apply then OK.

Q

I am being driven to drink by the antics of my Web Pages.   I run XP, have
updated all of the advised updates, including SP1, have disconnected Firewall, have checked Internet Options to ensure that I have selected Show Pictures, but still find that every time I bring up a web page, all of the graphical images are just shown as a white square with a red x within it. This prevents me using the web fully, as even if I use the mouse to select Show Pictures, they do not always come up and of course they do not reappear
the next time I go to the web page.
Tony Taylor

A

I’m guessing that you had Norton Internet Security 2002 on your PC when you installed Service Pack 1, in which case there is a known bug that conflicts with IE6 and puts all those red X ‘placekeepers’ where your pictures should be. There are two possible solutions. Try switching NIS 2002 off from the configuration menu and then back on again. If that doesn’t work uninstall the program, re-install SP1, then reinstall Norton Internet Security.

Q

My Spam reception is growing and the Mailwasher Top Tip (Boot Camp March 25th) is encouraging. I have Norton Anti Virus running on Windows XP Home). Is Mailwasher compatible with Norton? 

George Pearce, Dorset.

A

Mailwasher doesn’t actually download email so Norton doesn’t get involved. The program simply shows you the contents of your mailbox on your ISP’s server computer, giving you the choice of whether to download messages, via your usual email client program, otherwise you can delete the undesirable emails whilst they are still on the server and they’ll be automatically zapped the next time someone from that address sends you an email or you can ‘bounce’ then back to wherever they came from, marked them as undeliverable in the hope that your address will be removed from the spammers mailing list.

Q

I purchased an external CD rewriter recently. The blurb that came with it says it needs "Windows 98 Second Edition" only. Since I could not load the software I guess that I don't have "Second Edition". Please tell me how I get it, without buying a new computer.
Ralph Simpson

A

Windows 98SE was released in June 1999, a year after the launch of Win 98 and it incorporated a number of bug-fixes and enhancements, including, presumably, one critical to the working of your CD-writer. Fortunately you don’t have to buy a new PC, simply obtain a copy of Windows 98 SE (but not ME, which would also work but can be a bit finicky...) and install it on your PC. Windows will treat it as an upgrade so all of your existing programs and data will remain intact, though it’s prudent to backup anything that is irreplaceable. Windows 98 SE now effectively obsolete so you’ll have shop around but there’s plenty for sale on auction sites like ebay (www.ebay.co.uk), typically selling for around £25 to £30 for a new unregistered copy. 

FOLLOW UPS

MEMORY CARD READER FOR WINDOWS NT

I had similar problems to those of Mr Wolstenhome (Connected 25/03/03), in that the software supplied with my Olympus digital camera would not run in Windows 95, although I had USB ports. The problem was solved by the purchase of "Flashpath Smart Disc" which runs in NT 4.0. This comes with a CD to load the software, and a floppy like disc, which will run in a normal floppy drive. It has built in software and a slot into which the memory card may be inserted. It behaves like a normal floppy disc and allows the images on the card to be downloaded onto the PC.
Norman H Taylor

Thanks to Norman Taylor and several other readers who suggested floppy disc memory card readers

DELETEING ATTACHMENTS IN OUTLOOK EXPRESS

In Boot Camp of March 25th you say there is no way of deleting attachments from within Outlook Express. It can be done by replying to the e-mail. The window that appears no longer has the attachments and the message can be saved in the Drafts folder (File>Save) from whence it can be dragged to whatever folder is required.

Maurice Leyland

If you want to delete all email attachments in Outlook Express and keep the emails, go to Tools > Options > Maintenance and check the box under Virus Protection, next to ‘Delete all Attachments that may contain a virus’. You have no choice with this though; it is not very selective and seems to delete all attachments.

Nicholas Brownl

Surely the easiest way is to do it is to select the message, press Ctrl + C to copy it, then paste it into a word processor file. This can then be saved in the usual way and you can safely delete the original email.
S. Rosebery

I am grateful to everyone who came up with simpler alternatives to my somewhat long-winded method of removing email attachments.