FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  416 (25/05/04)

Q

After reading the Boot Camp article on Tuesday 11th May, I downloaded Zone Alarm.  Now I am very frustrated as I keep getting pop-ups from Zone Alarm asking if I want to allow various connections.  I've tried asking for more information but the information given is usually a number which doesn't tell me who is trying to connect so I have no way of knowing whether to say yes or no.  What should I do?

Don Holdstock, via email

A

Zone Alarm is simply doing its job. Immediately after installation it will ask you every time a program on your PC, like Internet Explorer or Outlook Express tries to connect to the Internet. This is a once-only check and once you have either given permission, or refused a connection it will not ask again. Zone Alarm will also alert you when someone, or more likely an automated program tries to hack into your PC, so always say no! This will happen a lot if you have a broadband connection and again Zone Alarm is only doing what it is supposed to, protecting your PC. However, once the novelty of seeing these failed attempts to infiltrate your PC has worn off you can safely switch this warning message off as it can get quite tedious.  

Q

I recently downloaded the Microsoft Fax Component. Although the Wizard confirmed that installation had been completed successfully I am unable to send or receive Faxes “Due to no dialing Tone” A number of people have told me that because we use BT Broadband we will be unable to use this Fax facility as it needs a conventional modem.  Is this correct or do you have any other suggestions? We use XP Professional – not too much jargon please, I am new to this!

S. Barker, via email

A

You could subscribe to an email to fax service like efax (http://www.efax.co.uk/) but sending and receiving faxes via broadband direct from your PC is nigh on impossible. Your advisors are correct, the problem is that your PC lacks the necessary modem needed to dial the phone number of the fax machine you are trying to contact. The simplest solution is to install a dial-up modem, and you can use it to send faxes whilst the PC is connected to the Internet via broadband, but it is a bit of a palaver and you are probably better off buying a fax machine.

Q

I have a Compaq DeskPro running Windows Professional 2000 and with a hard drive partitioned three ways 'C', 'D' and 'F'. I regularly have problems in trying to save files or data to drives 'E' and 'F' which can sometimes disappear from the system until the next reboot. Also, from time to time, I get a warning that I have "illegally disconnected device ST 32122A". Are you able to shed any light on these apparently related problems?
Philip Smith, via email

A

ST32122A is the model number of your hard disc drive (made by Seagate in case you are interested…) so there is little doubt that the error message and the disappearing partitions problem are connected. It could be something as simple as a loose data cable plug on the back of the drive or motherboard, and this is quite common on older PCs due to ‘contact creep’, where connectors can work themselves loose due to constantly cycling temperatures inside the case. If you are comfortable delving inside your PC, disconnect the power, open the case and re-seat the disc drive data cables. If that doesn’t solve the problem then there is a possibility of a fault on the motherboard or the hard disc drive is failing and your PC is in need of prompt expert attention; either way take it as an omen and make sure that all of your irreplaceable data is safely backed up.

Q

I had to have my drive cleaned some time ago and when I got my PC back I found that the keyboard has gone slightly awry. The quotes and @ symbols are now transposed and when I press the pound sterling sign I get a 'hash' sign instead. How can I get my keyboard back to normal?

Micheál O'Hynes, via email

A

Whoever worked on your PC didn’t bother to reset the keyboard language from the default setting of English (United States). Go to Regional/Language Options in Control Panel > Regional Settings and change it to English (British/United Kingdom) and all should be well once again.

Q

I very much enjoyed the Build Your Own PC series, and fully intend to try.  However I do have one question: when I buy a motherboard which is designed for a specific processor, does the processor chip come with the purchase of the motherboard, or do I have to buy the chip separately?  I don’t want to buy two processors by mistake!

David Scott-Jones

A

Normally motherboards, processors and memory modules are sold separately, however a few companies sell motherboard 'bundles' which include a suitable processor but you’d be very unlikely to buy one without realising it. All motherboards are clearly marked as to what type of processor family they are designed to use (the commonest types are Socket A, Socket 478, Socket 754 and Socket 940) but if in doubt just ask.

Q

A friend of mine recently bought a new mouse because hers had 'died'. I know it is possible to cope without a mouse, using the keyboard how is it done, please?

Mrs G. M. Brown, via email

A

Windows has a built-in facility called Mousekeys, which is part of the Accessibility functions. Once installed you can activate MouseKeys and control the mouse pointer using the arrow keys on the numeric keypad by pressing Alt + Left Shift + Numlock. If the Accessibility functions haven’t been installed go to Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel, select the Windows Setup tab then check Accessibility, click OK and follow the prompts.