FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  395 (23/12/03)

Q
I use Word 2000 and recently typed a document, which successfully printed. My problem is that every time I open Word that document appears on the new document and to start anything new I have to delete the copy and then continue. How I can get rid of the old document?
Mark Perry, Macclesfield

A

When you open a new blank page in Word you are seeing the ‘Normal’ document template. To restore Normal, to normal as it were, you have to open it, delete the text then resave it. Word squirrels it away; in Windows 9x it’s usually C:\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates. In XP try C:\Documents and Settings\<yourname>\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates. Otherwise you can find it by going Options on the Tools menu, select the File Locations tab, double-click User Templates and take note of the file path displayed. Open Normal from the location you’ve noted down and edit the document back to a blank page. To finish off go to Save As, keep the name ‘normal’ but in the Save As Type box choose Document Template.

Q

How can I remove Internet site addresses I don't use any more from the list that grows ever longer when I go into new Internet sites?
Miriam, via email

A

Presumably you’re referring to the drop-down menu that appears next to the Address bar in Internet Explorer. If so, and you are using Windows 9x (95/98/ME/SE etc.), close down IE and go to Start > Settings > Taskbar & Start Menu. Select the Start Menu tab then click the Clear button next to Documents Menu. In Windows XP, also with your browser closed, go to Start > Control Panel > Taskbar and Start Menu. Select the Start Menu tab, click the Customize button, select the Advanced tab and click Clear List button.

Q

I'm plagued by the ‘Startpage.W’ Trojan. I keep deleting the afflicted files using Trend Micro's Housecall service, but I keep finding newly infected files. How can I permanently clean it out?

Dean Glover, via email

A

This is a particularly virulent infection and complete removal entails some Registry editing. If you’re comfortable with this procedure and follow the rules – especially the one about making a backup first – then you’ll find a set of instructions at: http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/ (type ‘startpage.w’ in the Search window).

Q

I use IE5 and Outlook Express. I can keep OE in a reasonable state because the files can be sorted by date, name etc; they can be selected and deleted in groups, moved around by drag and drop in a fairly convenient fashion.  However in IE5 none of this seems to apply. Favorites can only be deleted singly or moved singly because multiple files cannot be selected. Selection by date or name isn't available and drag and drop is a weird experience. Am I missing some of the finer points of IE5 file management or is it truly as limited as described above?

R Ball

A

No, you’re not missing anything and yes it is that crude but there is a quick and simple solution. You can organise Favorites to your heart’s content by opening the Favorites folder in Windows Explorer. From there you can delete them – singly or in groups -- save them in different locations, move them around and create new sub-folders to store them in.

Q

I am running Windows XP with AVG and Zone Alarm.  My machine recently went back to the manufacturers following two hard disc failures within 30 days. I now have it back and for the first time I have an unknown Icon in the bottom right hand bar. All of the other icons respond when I right-click or pass the mouse pointer over them but not this one and I am a bit concerned as this icon doesn't correspond with any program that I know about. The PC is also behaving differently when it crashes. I just wondered whether there might be a connection with this peculiar icon?

Stan Oxendale, via email

A

It’s probably quite innocent and the icon is associated with some sort of diagnostic utility that was installed, but not removed when your PC was being fixed. You should be able to find out what it is called by checking on the programs that are loaded with Windows. Go to Run on the Start menu and type ‘msconfig’ and select the Startup tab, the program representing your mystery icon should be listed there. Any entries you are not sure of you can check out at: http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php. If the icon persists then contact the manufacturer’s technical support for more information.

Q

In my local computer store there seem to be several different types of DVD, i.e. DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW and DVD-RAM. What is the difference - apart from what the assistant helpfully described as 'different formatting'?

Trevor Watson

A

Operationally there’s comparatively little to choose between the formats but the devil is in the detail. The way files are organised and structured does vary considerably, which means there can be compatibility problems when you try to read data discs created on one PC on another machine, or video recordings, on homedeck DVD players. There’s an outline of the various recordable DVD formats in Boot Camp 256, and

http://www.proactionmedia.com/

dvd_media_formats.htm

In the early days there was some hope that one system would prevail and a damaging format battle would be avoided. That seems unlikely now and the three formats are likely to be with us for some time to come. Fortunately it is becoming less of a problem and most new DVD-writers are ‘multi-format’, as are most recent DVD players and they can handle all of the different disc formats so put this at the top of your ‘must-have’ feature list when shopping around for hardware.