FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  372 (15/07/03)

Q

In Boot Camp (24th June) you described how to backup the Address Book and E-mail messages in Outlook Express. Can you tell me, please, how I may backup these files in the program I use, viz. Microsoft Outlook in Office 2000? I have already lost this type of data on a previous occasion when I upgraded from Windows 2000 to XP, and I wish to avoid repeating the experience.
Tony Parsons

A

It’s actually a lot easier in Outlook because all of your data (email messages, address book etc.) are bundled together in one ‘personal’ file (extension *.pst). It moves around a bit, depending on your system configuration but the easiest way to find it is to right click on the Outlook Today icon in the Shortcuts menu and select Properties then on the General Tab click the Advanced button and its location will be shown in the Path window. Simply copy this file to your chosen backup media and if you need to restore it, or transfer your data to a new PC, paste it back into the same location.

Q

I recently set up a new PC for a computer illiterate friend using Windows XP Pro as the operating system. This lady wants to use Netscape as her browser but I am not very familiar with this software. On her previous computer, when she launched Netscape, it auto-dialled the Internet connection.  I have set this up to happen on Internet Explorer 6 and Outlook Express 6 but I'm at a loss to see how to do this for Netscape.  I've looked in lots of different places for a box to tick but cannot find one!

Ian Baker

A

Netscape only connects to the Internet automatically if it is set as the default browser. To make the change close all browser windows then go to Internet Options in Control Panel and select the Programs tab. Deselect the item ‘Internet Explorer should check to see if it is the default…’. The next time you open Netscape you should get a dialogue box asking if you want to make it the default browser. If that doesn’t work go to Network Connections in Control Panel, select the Advanced menu and click Dial-Up Preferences. Select the Autodial tab and make sure the checkbox next to your ISP is checked then click OK.

Q

My wife bought a PC, which has MS Works pre-loaded - it starts up every time the PC is turned on. How do I stop it?
Derek Greenly

A

There are two ways programs load automatically with Windows. The first is via a shortcut in the StartUp group (Start > Programs > StartUp), in which case simply right click on the shortcut icon and select Delete. Otherwise it is included in the Registry StartUp list. To edit it type ‘msconfig’ in Run on the Start menu, select the StartUp tab, uncheck the item and reboot.

Q

I recently received funding to start my own company and immediately went online to order some stationery - living in the wilderness of the Western Isles I had no other option. However, loads of search engines threw up a selection of sites, which were no more than glorified price lists.

I was hoping there would be a site where I could design my own cards, letterheads and with compliment slips online and my stationery would then be printed professionally and mailed to me. Does such a site exist and, if so, which one should I use?
Beverley Turner, Outback Hunting Gear, Stornoway

A

We featured a similar request in Over2You last year and from the may replies we received the following web sites received the greatest number of recommendations from satisfied readers so take your pick:

www.surfprint.co.uk, www.printing.com, www.iprint.com &  www.previewprint.com

Q

Since the beginning of June, often on dialling-up, the dial tone does a sort of 'hiccup' in the middle and I get the message that  'the number is not recognized.'   Sometimes the message is in a foreign language. The ISP has run various checks and says the fault lies with my modem. My computer supplier has run checks, both at the shop and also at home and says that the problem is with the server and related to traffic overload. Who is likely to be right, and if I change my server will I have the same problems?

Sue Tremeer

A

The modem is mis-dialling so the problem must be at your end; your PC never connects to the Internet so excuses like ‘traffic overload’ are clearly nonsense. The main suspects are your modem, its driver software or Windows Dial-Up Networking. Try re-installing the driver from Add New Hardware in Control Panel, follow the prompts and when it asks to search for ‘devices’ click ‘No I want to…’ and Next, select Modem from the list, then Next and on the next screen click ‘Don’t detect…’ and Next again. After the ‘…Windows builds a database’ screen click ‘Have Disk and load the modem driver disc that came with your PC and reboot. If that doesn’t work find out the make and model of your modem and if you can get access to a working Internet PC visit the manufacturers web site and download the most recent driver, load that on your PC and try again. If it still won’t work the fault is either with the actual modem or deep seated in Windows and the quickest and simplest solution is to buy a new modem. It’s not worth messing around, nowadays internal 56k modems, which fit into a spare PCI socket on your PC’s motherboard sell for less than £10