FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  407 (23/03/04)

Q

I have been using the excellent AVG virus scanner for some time now but lately I haven’t been able to download updates. I keep getting a message saying that there’s no connection to the Internet, despite there being one as my browser is accessing web pages. Has AVG given up supporting the free edition?

Sam Keene, via email

A

I had a quite a few queries about AVG recently and there does seem to be a bandwidth problem with the main Czech server computer. It’s worth trying to download updates during off-peak periods, early morning or late at night. Otherwise you can change to another of AVG’s update web sites by editing a text file in the program folder. In Windows Explorer go to C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG6 and look for  ‘url.ini’. Click on it and it will open in Notepad. Change the Server Name line from 1-free.grisoft.cz to ‘1=www.grisoft.com’ (without the quotes of course) then change the Server URL line from 1=http://free.grisoft.cz/softw/60/fe  to

‘1-http://www.grisoft.com/softw/60/fe’. Save the file then exit AVG (right click the icon in the System Tray, next to the clock), relaunch AVG and try again.

Q

I have often wondered what happens to my email when I press the "Submit" button when I need help on a website. The form used varies from one site to another. My sent messages are nowhere to be found.

Peter Burgess

A

Messages types into boxes on web pages bypass normal email and go direct to the website without leaving a permanent copy on your PC. In future if you need to keep a record of a message, copy and paste the text from the box into a word processor document or you could take a screen grab of the page by pressing the Prnt Scrn key. Open Windows Paint and press Ctrl + V to paste the image then save the file in a safe place.

Q

In Windows XP, the list of File and Folder Tasks offers the facility of printing a file, once it is highlighted, without opening it; at least it did when it was new.  If I try now, the file begins to open but doesn't complete the job and the screen stays grey.  I then get a little window headed (in the blue title bar): "Microsoft Visual Basic" which says: "Ambiguous name detected: TmpDDE" and offers a choice only of "OK" or "Help".  Needless to say, the "Help" isn't any!  Can you help me sort this problem?

 Jeremy Quinlan, via email

A

I suspect this is due to a misbehaving Word Macro, there are a couple of solutions involving deleting the offending macro and renaming Word’s Normal.dot document template. Both procedures are explained in MS Knowledgebase article 165860 (just type the number into Google).

Q

When I was editing a project comprising some 70 pages of A5 text I found that every word throughout the document, which should have contained the letter "z", had it missing. I am not conscious of doing anything which would have caused this calamity but I was, at the time, working alongside the numeric pad which could have had one of its keys pressed inadvertently. I have had to read the text diligently to reinsert the letter; is there some way by which it can be replaced wholesale?

S. F. Brown, via email

A

I can’t see any reason why using the numeric keyboard should affect the z key, a more likely explanation is that there’s something wrong with the keyboard; try tapping 'z' a few times in a blank document; if it proves erratic then it’s time to replace your keyboard. As for the missing letters try running your word processor's spellchecker, which will offer to correct the errant words. Incidentally, if the letter z were replaced by a character, symbol or space then you can use the Find and Replace function on the Edit menu of most word processors to correct the mistakes.

Q

I have recently acquired a new computer from a friend. Following the instructions in the "Boot Up Rescue" book I have replaced his name in the Windows Registry with my own. However when I open Word 97 or Excel 97 his name still appears as the registered user.  How can I change this?

Noel Gould, via email

A

Since you don’t mind tinkering with the Registry try this. Open Regedit, make a backup using Export on the File menu then go to Find on the Edit menu and type in the previous owner’s name, as it is shown in Word and Excel. Right-click on each instance, choose Modify and change it to your own name, close Regedit and reboot.

Q

The text on the General Tab of System Properties for the Registered owner of my PC now shows: 'Not You, no longer'. Does this mean the PC has been hacked? I've checked with anti-virus software and can't trace any virus. I've also installed a firewall.
K Smith, via email

A

Several worms and viruses carry payloads that make changes to the PC’s registered owner entry but I haven’t found any that use those specific words. However, unless your PC is accessible to others and you’re the victim of a prank the chances are that your PC has been infected. If you have recently updated your virus scanner and it still hasn’t identified the virus then it’s time to change to another one. You should also give your PC the once-over with ‘adware’ and ‘spyware’ cleaners like AdAware and Spybot (free from www.lavasoftusa.com and http://www.safer-networking.org/), and try to keep your PC virus free by never open unexpected email attachments.

Q

I listen to BBC7 through the web. I would like to record some of the programmes to disc so that I could listen to them in my car.

Bob Weir, Dundee

A

It’s not a problem but first you need to install a program on your PC to record the web casts. Try Total Recorder or Loop Recorder, trial versions can be downloaded from the following web sites: http://www.highcriteria.com/products.htm and http://www.looprecorder.de/tut_webradio.php

Once that’s done you can copy the recording to a disc in CD-A (CD Audio) format – popular CD ‘burner’ programs like Easy CD Creator and Nero have this facility built in.