FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  362 (29/04/03)

Q

I have been given a hard disc and have tried to install it as a ‘Slave’ to my main disc drive.  I installed the second drive and tried to format it. The disk is 4.3Gb but only appears as 1.9Gb in Properties, it also appears as drive D and E, though Drive E is not accessible.  I assume that this is because the disc has been partitioned at some stage. How can I remove this partition and get full access to the disc?

Pete Fincher

A

Reformatting a disc only erase its contents, to wipe the disc completely, including all of the partitions you need to use the DOS utility fdisk. The safest way to do it is to temporarily disconnect your C: drive by removing the data and power cables. Now boot your PC using a Windows 9x emergency recovery disc. (If you haven’t got one find a blank floppy and go to Start > Settings > Control Panel click Add/Remove Programs select the Startup tab, insert your floppy and click ‘Create disc’). After the PC has booted to the A: prompt type ‘fdisk’ (without the quotes) and follow the instruction, using the default settings for a single partition. When it has finished format the disc using the ‘format C:’ command. Switch off, reconnect your C: drive and the new empty single partition drive will show up as drive D: in Windows Explorer.

Q

I use Freeserve as my Internet Home Page. On switching on the PC a porn site replaces Freeserve as the Home Page address in Internet Properties. I can alter the address back to Freeserve and it works okay whilst the computer is on. Switching on again after a shut down puts the porn site back as the Home page. I found 3 files containing the name of the porn site and put them in the Recycle Bin. This has stopped Freeserve being replaced but during the start up sequence there is a Registry Checker error message saying one of the removed files cannot be found. After closing the error message the PC operates normally. Can you help?

Roger Jaquiss

A

Remnants of this infection are still on your system and the simplest way to remove it is to download a spyware removal utility like Spybot Search and Destroy, (http://security.kolla.de/) or the newly updated AdAware (version 6 at: http://www.lavasoft.de/ and run a complete scan on your PC. It’s a good idea to run them at least once a week, to keep your PC free of these intrusions.

Q

I am having trouble with my mouse freezing.  I have tried one of your tips, which entailed pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete to see which programs are running and do not recognise some of them: 'Stimon', 'Watch' and 'Rnaapp'. The mouse revives when I 'End Task' Watch. Can you tell me what these programs are please and do I need them?

Sue Hamilton

A

Stimon (still image monitor) and Rnaapp (remote network access application) are both legitimate Windows components and should be left alone. However, I’m not sure what Watch is, several programs use this file reference. It appears to be something that’s loaded with Windows. To find out what it is and if necessary disable or uninstall it go to Run on the Start menu and type ‘msconfig’ (without the quotes). Click the Startup tab, scroll down the list and look for a reference to ‘watch’. This should tell you which program it is associated with; if it’s something you no longer use uninstall it, otherwise put a check mark next to it, close msconfig and reboot Windows and see if that does the trick.

Q

Recently in Boot Camp you explained how to save and transfer email messages. I was using Outlook Express 5 with Windows 98 on my old computer, but am now using OE6 with Windows XP on my new computer. I've saved the folder containing all the .dbx files, but have been unable to persuade OE6 to read them. The import menu only seems to give the choice of OE4 or OE6, not OE5.

Another annoying point with my new computer is that the title bar says ’Outlook Express provided by evesham.com’ - I dislike the advert each time I use the computer! 

Brian J. Edwards, Beaconsfield, Bucks

A

It sounds as though you have created a new store folder and given it a name or extension that Outlook Express doesn’t recognise or approve of. The solution is to go back to Import on the File menu and choose OE6 (OE5 and OE6 use the same filing system) then on the next window check the item ‘Import from Store Folder’ and point it to the folder where your files are kept.

Removing the ‘branding’ from the title bars in Internet Explorer and Outlook Express involves editing the Registry, you’ll find a useful how to do it article at: www.powerpageswebdesign.com/

articles_isp_branding_2.htm

Q

I find the Auto Complete entries facility in Internet Explorer really useful, but how can I access the entries and delete those I wish to?

Steve Waller

A

AutoComplete entries are stored in the Windows Registry, it’s not difficult to edit or remove them but you do need to take precautions before tinkering with this critical system file. Step one is to backup the Registry, just in case something goes wrong. Go to Run on the Start menu and type ‘regedit’ then Export on the Registry menu. Give the file a name (today’s date etc.) then click Save. If problems arise simply double click this ‘reg’ file and the Registry will be automatically restored.

The AutoComplete entries live in the following location: HKEY_USERS\Default\Software\Microsoft\

InternetExplorer\TypedURLs, simply right-click on any of the entries to Delete or Modify the web address.

Q

I appear to have lost my TWAIN driver, which has stopped my scanner and possibly other things working

Brian Short

A

The TWAIN (it stands for Technology Without An Interesting Name…) driver for your scanner will have been included on the CD-ROM installation disc. Try uninstalling the scanner software from Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel and run through the installation process again.