FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  384 (07/10/03)

Q

Over the last few weeks an unnamed file with a tilde underneath appears on my desktop for no apparent reason. At first, not knowing what it was I deleted it. However it reappeared. This time I did a virus scan with Norton 2002, which checked out ok. I opened it with Notepad to find it contained a list of all the addresses in my address book. It seems to reappear when a new address is added to my address book. I am using Windows 2000 but a friend has a similar problem with his Windows 98SE system. Is this something to worry about and if not why should it suddenly occur?

Larry Hunter

A

There’s no need to panic, the mystery file is an automatic backup of your address book, placed there by a recently installed Microsoft update to fix vulnerability in Outlook Express. There’s a bug in the patch file, which occurs if you have a shortcut to OE on your desktop. You can remove the patch (see MS Knowledgebase article 330994) or simply leave it alone (it does no harm). It could prove useful if your system suffers a virus attack so why not copy the file to another location or better still, to a floppy disc. Microsoft are aware of the bug but as yet hasn’t released a fix.

Q

Is it possible to password protect a PowerPoint presentation, and if so how?
Nick Gowrley

A

PowerPoint 2002 (part of Office XP) has built-in password protection but on earlier versions you have to resort to alternative strategies. There’s a very good article at: www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00038.htm, which has a number of suggestions, including changing file extensions, zipping and converting presentations to Portable Document Format (PDF).

Q

I have a Ricoh CD-RW, which appears to have a problem. The indicator light flashes during boot up but when I check 'My Computer' it has disappeared from the list of devices. Is this likely to be a hardware or software problem? I've tried reinstalling the driver but it has no effect.

Stephen Tickner

A

It may be something as simple as the plugs on the data cable that connect the drive to the motherboard, coming adrift or developing an intermittent contact. If you’re comfortable poking around inside your PC switch off, disconnect the mains cable and remove the cover. Remember to ‘ground’ yourself to dissipate any static charges on your body and clothes by touching the metal chassis then carefully avoiding any other cables gently remove and reseat the plugs on the ribbon cable in the back of the drive and on the motherboard. If that doesn’t work then it’s possible the drive is faulty and may need to be replaced, so get it checked by an engineer. 

Q

Various ISP's now charge for use of their 'free' dial-up access numbers after one hours connection time. It is difficult to remember to disconnect and re-dial after 59 minutes, is there any software around that will either alert me to the fact that I have been connected for a given length of time, or better still disconnect the modem?

Roger Cliffe

A

There are plenty of freeware Internet timer utilities available; have a look at Timesup at: www.timeupsoft.com/English/timeup/index.htm and Achronet at: www.home.acenet.net.au/

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Q

Is there any reason for me to worry about potential hacker or other intrusion into my computer during the period from the switching on of my computer to the complete activation of my antivirus program just before completion of the boot up routine?  If this is a real rather than a theoretical vulnerable period, the answer is simple, disconnect the phone line until boot up is complete.

Peter Stovin

A

In most cases an automated connection to the Internet, whether dial-up or broadband, is one of the last steps in the boot-up sequence. If you are concerned then always connect manually, To cancel automatic connection open Internet Explorer then go to Tools > Internet Options and the Connection tab, check the item  ‘Never dial a connection. On some broadband set-ups you may need to remove the connection shortcut, which you will find in the Startup program group (Start > Programs).

Your Internet address changes every time you log on it so it is highly unlikely that a deliberate attempt could be made to hack into your PC immediately after boot up. It is possible that a spyware or Trojan program downloaded onto your PC might attempt to access your connection but this can be prevented by running Spybot and installing a decent Firewall program (see Boot camp 294). Make sure your antivirus program is kept up to date, follow all the usual precautions about not opening unexpected email file attachments and you should be safe.

Q
I recently forgot the golden rule 'if its not broke don't fix it' and downloaded Windows 98 updates to my desktop. While I have sorted some little problems that came with the downloads, I am left with Windows Critical Updates Notification in my Scheduled Tasks folder complete with warning that it was created by Windows Critical Updates Notification program and should not be removed. Apart from the feeling of paranoia, the thing is a nuisance and also interferes with the proper running of my Norton AntiVirus. I went to MS help but they seem to suggest I should remove all other programs on my computer to sort out the problem! In short is there any way to get Critical Updates Notification out of my system?
Dorothy Hall, via email

A

The Critical Update Notification utility can be easily and safely removed. Double-click Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel, look for 'Microsoft Critical Update...' on the list, highlight and click Remove.

 There’s more information on the Microsoft Knowledgebase, type Q224420 into Google’s search field.