|
FAQS!
FACTS! FAX! 370 (01/07/03)
Q
My computer (W98SE) has recently refused to shut down about
1 in 6 times. You advised in a recent F!F!F! to use the Microsoft shutdown
trouble-shooter, but when I have restarted the machine manually I cannot tell
if the fault will be there on that occasion when
trying each test. Is there anything I can do other than to
wait until the fault becomes permanent?
W Ryan, Coventry
A
Not really, Windows 98 SE shutdown problems are many and
various and notoriously difficult to fix and the only sure way to do it is go
through the various solutions one by one. If the Microsoft article doesn’t work
for you, or you find it hard going have a look at the ’15 Step Shutdown
Troubleshooter’ at: http://www.geocities.com/
~budallen/98seshutdown.html
Q
Some time ago in this column (FFF) someone asked how to get
rid of all the previous entries, which show up in the Google search field when
an initial letter is typed. At that time this wasn't a problem so I didn't note
your reply. However after doing a lot of searching it has become a nuisance for
me so it would be appreciated if you would repeat the directions.
Brian Bartrum, Christchurch, New Zealand
A
If you have installed the Google Toolbar simply click the
Google logo and select Toolbar Options then Clear Search History. Otherwise
details of previous searches are kept by Internet Explorer, using a feature
called AutoComplete. To switch it off go to Internet Options on the Tools menu,
select the Content tab, click the AutoComplete button then Clear Forms.
Internet Explorer also has a feature that stores details of the web sites
you’ve visited. You can delete this information (superficially at least, but
that’s another story) by going to Internet Options on the Tools menu again,
select the General tab then the Clear History button, and while you are at it
you might like to adjust the number of days that IE stores these details, if
you set it to zero it will disable the function.
Q
My daughter has received an inappropriate e-mail on her
office PC. Is it possible to trace the e-mail address it was generated?
J. B. Corrigan
A
If the sender has a certain amount of expertise and
deliberately wants to mask their identity then it is unlikely you will be able
to track him or her down, moreover there is no way of knowing whether of not it
was sent from their own, or another's PC. Nevertheless, you can learn a lot
about the origins of an email and the route it took to your daughter’s PC by
right clicking on the message line in the Outlook Express Inbox and select
Properties and the Details tab. This will show a list of the server computers
it passed through, back to the one it originated on, which may help you to
track it down, or at least indicate the sender's Internet Service
Provider.
Q
I've tried to follow your suggestions in recent editions of
Boot Camp for turning old tapes into audio CDs. I notice that when
recording the tape sounds fine, but off the hard drive it has a hum. Is
there anything that can be done?
Steve Leighton, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario
A
You will have to do a few tests but I suspect the hum is
being generated by your tape recorder’s mains power supply and is present on
the audio signal going to the PC. The easiest way to find out is to make a
brief recording on your PC using a microphone and see if there’s any hum on
playback. If so -- and it would be very unusual -- it’s a lid-off job for an
expert computer fixer. If the microphone recording is hum-free then you need to
make sure the audio leads from the tape recorder to the PC do not lie next to
any mains cables. If necessary replace the leads and if that doesn’t work plug
the tape recorder it into a different mains outlet (not one shared with the PC.
Otherwise change the mains adaptor (if it has one) or if you have the option
run it on battery power. If all else fails try a different tape machine.
Q
I enjoy listening to the BBC World Service on medium wave
but every time I use the computer the interference makes it impossible to
listen to the radio even though they are in separate rooms. Is there anything I
can do to reduce the interference, and if it means I have to purchase a
new computer what should I look or ask for to prevent this in the future?
Stanley Cannings
A
Unfortunately most desktop PCs and CRT monitors generate a
lot of RFI (radio frequency interference), much of it on the medium wave band,
but normally the effect has a fairly short range and it’s unusual for the
effects to travel more than a metre or two. Try moving the radio close to the
monitor and PC to see where it is coming from. Most PCs are fairly well screened
by their metal cases, which are earthed, so check the mains connections on your
machines. If the PC is housed in a plastic case there should be adequate
screening inside the case but again this may be ineffective if the machine
isn’t properly earthed. If the monitor is an older model with poor or
inadequate screening then the only solution is to upgrade to a newer model, or
change to a flat-screen LCD type, which have much lower RFI emissions.
Q
I have attempted to install 'Power Toys' from the web site
given in Boot
Camp a while ago. I have downloaded it into C:\My Documents\Power but on right
clicking Install.inf and then install I get Copying Files with 0% shown and
superimposed on it the message: ‘Insert Disc and The disk labelled 'Power Toy
Collection' is now required. This disk is provided by your computer
manufacturer. Click O.K. to continue’.
I do not have a disk but on clicking OK. I get 'Copying Files' which tells
me The file 'Clock.exe on Power Toy Collection could not be found. I am
stuck. Please what do I do?
Bob West
A
There was a bug in early versions of the PowerToys installer
program and if you get the disk prompt message the trick is to specify the
location of your Tweak UI files, in your case
‘C:\My Documents\Power’ and the installation should proceed. If you’re
still having trouble try again with the latest version of Tweak UI, which you
will find at:
http://www.microsoft.com/ntworkstation/
downloads/PowerToys/Networking/
NTTweakui.asp
|