FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  366 (27/05/03)

Q

I'm trying to incorporate a bitmap image of a crest into certificates. However, the white areas in the image print as transparent so that the areas that should be white are whatever colour the paper happens to be. I would like to use a coloured paper and have the logo print white, where white should be. I am truly puzzled.

Dave Null

A

When you think about it inkjet and laser printers cannot print white. As you know when you mix red blue and green light you end up with white light but if you mix coloured inks you end up with a muddy brown colour. Normally there’s no need to print white, if you want white lettering or graphics on a coloured background the printer just prints the background and the white of the paper shows through. It’s possible someone somewhere sells white ink and the white bits could be filled in on a second pass through the printer but it would be very tricky to achieve so if anyone else has any bright ideas, apart from using white paper, please let us know.

Q

Whenever someone sends me a Word document, it appears in my inbox as a ‘.dat’ file, which I cannot open no matter how many options I try. Can you help please and let me know how I can open and read such documents?
David Page

A

The chances are whoever is sending you the Word documents is using Outlook as their email client. This has a feature called TNEF (Text Neutral Encapsulation Format), which, if enabled converts documents into a ‘winmail’dat’ file, which can only be opened if you are also using Outlook. Either switch to Outlook or ask the senders to switch off TNEF, which they can do just for you by editing your Address Book entry (Tools > Address Book, select you entry and click Properties), or disable it altogether (Tools > Options > Mail Format tab and select Plain Text)

Q

During start up, just prior to the Windows jingle, there’s about two seconds of stuttering coming from the speakers of my Windows ME computer. If I need to restart the PC during a session the sound does not reoccur. I have no other sound problems.

Mike Trimmer

A

The stuttering sound can be due to a number of things so if you want to stop it happening I’m afraid you’re going to have to do a bit of detective work. McAfee’s virus scanner has been implicated with this behaviour in the past so try uninstalling it to see if that makes any difference, and don’t forget to re-install it afterwards, if it turns out to be innocent. Visit your sound card manufacturer’s web site to see if there are any updated drivers available and install the latest version of DirectX from http://www.microsoft.com/ windows/directx/default.aspx. Otherwise try disabling the programs that load with Windows one by one by going to Run on the Start menu and typing ‘msconfig’ (without the quotes. Select the Startup tab and uncheck one item at a time (except Systray and Explorer), and reboot each time. Don’t forget to re-enable them afterwards if the sound problem persists. With a bit of luck you’ll find the culprit, which you can try re-installing or check the manufacturer web site to see if it’s a known bug and hopefully there will be a fix for it.

Q

I wish to convert documents and databases created using MSWorks into MS Word documents. I know that this can be done, but don't know how to do it.  Some help would be appreciated.

Geoff Spikins, Southampton

A

You are almost spoilt for choice. If you have Office/Word 2000 or later then use the Batch Conversion Wizard in Word, which you’ll find by going to File > New and select the Other Documents tab. Click the Wizard icon and follow the prompts. Otherwise you can download file converters from the Microsoft website, for documents created using Works 2000 go to:

http://www.microsoft.com/products/ works/homepages/ ProductUpdates.asp#Works2000Conv

For all other versions:

http://office.microsoft.com/

downloads/2002/wp6rtf.aspx

Q

Isn't it about time that Microsoft did the decent thing with Windows XP and provided every user with a set of up to date disks containing suitable installation programs to make the thing work correctly and securely? Today once again I went to Windows Update, to look for security updates that I haven't got, and again it said that I needed to install SP1, despite having installed it from a disk. However, this version is called SP1 (Express) and I assumed that it was some odd bits that would load quickly; in fact that is what I believe "Express" implies.  Having a slow line it took 18 minutes to download (that was okay) and then it wanted 568 minutes to complete the installation.  I hit the cancel key!

Bernard Severn, Darlington

A

Since you’re using a dial-up connection you should try downloading the update at a quiet time, preferably very early in the morning, before the Internet gets busy but it’s also possible that that SP1 wasn't installed properly first time around. The solution is to uninstall it, which you can do by using System Restore, to return your PC to a date prior to loading SP1 – assuming you haven’t made too many changes since then -- or use Add/Remove in Control Panel, then re-load SP1 and try again.

Q

I have been successfully downloading DV video tapes from my digital
camcorder and editing them using Windows Moviemaker in XP. I now wish to download my old analogue tapes from my 8mm camcorder, edit them and convert them to CD and/or DV film. I can't get any conclusive or 'intelligent advice' from the high street shops. They simply point me to the most expensive kit and software. Because I shall not need long-term use of any purchases, can you please advise me a cost-effective solution?
Denis Micallef

A

You may already have everything that you need, check to see if the DV capture card fitted to your PC also has analogue audio and video (AV) inputs. Many do, or they have provision for one using an adaptor lead. Otherwise you’ll need a widget like the Pinnacle Linx, which plugs into your PC’s USB port and converts the analogue AV signals coming from your camcorder into digital data, which you can then edit on your PC in the same way as your digital video footage. The Linx adaptor usually sells for around £50 and can be obtained from video dealers or online from Amazon.co.uk, which is currently selling it for £45.00.