FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  418 (08/06/04)

Q

With the proliferation of USB pens drives I thought this would be the ideal solution to transferring data between PC's. However, the problem I have is that my work PC, which contains a great deal of data that I would like to keep (in the event of losing my job etc.) runs Windows NT and I believe the USB pen drives do not work with NT, I have tried one but it was not recognised.  Do you know of any way around this?  Emailing the data to a home account is out of the question as my machine does not have a CD writer.

John Doherty, via email

A

As you have discovered Windows NT does not officially support USB but a number of third party drivers have been developed. I am sure there must be others but I only know of one USB pen drive that definitely comes with NT support and that's the M System's DiskOnKey. You'll find more details and a list of UK and European suppliers at: www.diskonkey.com/. Incidentally, I feel duty bound to point out that you should ensure that you have permission to copy this data otherwise it could well be construed as theft.

Q

I have been using Outlook Express for all my emails for many years. If I recall when it was set up I selected "Make Outlook Express my default email". I have now decided to use Outlook for all my email, as it is also links to several applications I use. However I need to make Outlook my default email so that it will launch whenever I click on a link with in documents. I have searched in both programs but nowhere can I find a facility to make Outlook my default email. In the Outlook Express set-up the facility is greyed out and it won't let me undo the default selection. Can you advise?

John Miller, via email

A

As usual it's in the last place you'd expect, buried deep in an Internet Explorer menu. Open IE and go to Tools > Internet Options and select the Programs tab. On the Mail drop-down menu select Microsoft Outlook, click Apply and close the dialogue box.

Q

Could you please help me to find some "ticks". There was one in the Monotype Sorts font, but since I have now acquired a Windows XP rig, this font is not there. Have looked dozens of different fonts but cannot find anything that is a tick. This is for a chart I have in Excel showing which people are due to bowl on each different evening.

G. E. Slingsby, Horringer

A

In fact there are several ticks in the standard Windows fonts, which you can access from Character Map (Start > Programs Accessories > System Tools. The one in the Symbol font is a bit ragged around the edges but there's quite a good one in Wingdings and in a bold face it looks similar to the one in Sorts. Simply select the symbol then click copy and you can paste it into any application using the Paste command (Ctrl + V). If only the Sorts tick will do then you can download the font from: www.fonts.com/findfonts/detail.asp?pid=205653. However, be warned it will cost you $42, which is quite a lot just for a tick! Alternative suggestions for fancy ticks welcomed.

Q

I get a lot of information in pdf format. If it were originally created in a spreadsheet program it would be helpful to be able to save it in the correct format so that I could work on it. Could this be done by a self confessed amateur?

James Milligan, via email

A

It can and it's a fairly straightforward procedure using Excel's Text Import Wizard. There's an easy to follow step-by-step guide, in pdf format, at:

www.library.northwestern.edu/

govpub/resource/internat/pdfexcel.pdf

Q

Practically every time I've finished using the sound card on my Windows ME computer there is a buzzing sound whenever the mouse is moved. I've tried opening the volume control panel, muting the volume slider will stop it but none of the individual controls will.  What causes it and how can it be cured?

Derek Tatam, Forest Hill

A

There are several possibilities, from the mouse cable picking up interference to a problem with the driver or the actual mouse, so the first thing to do is re-route the mouse cable well away from the PC case and the wires going to the monitor, speakers and mains plug etc. If that that doesn't work visit the mouse manufacturer's web site and see if there's an updated driver and as a last resort, try a new mouse.

Q

I read your articles (Boot Camps 309, 310, 311) on moving Outlook Express

message folders and the Address Book and was wondering whether the same procedure could be used to transfer my Microsoft Outlook files, both messages and more importantly the contacts folder, from one PC to another? The current PC uses Windows ME and the new PC has XP Home.

David Ventham, via email

A

It's actually a lot easier with Outlook as all of the important files are stored in one folder, called 'outlook.pst'. You can use the Outlook's Export Wizard (File > Import Export > Export to a File) to copy the file to a CD-R - it will probably be quite large -- or to a new location on the hard drive from where it can be copied to the new PC using a network connection. Once there it can be imported, using the same Wizard on the new PC.

Q

I have an old Lexmark Winwriter 150 colour inkjet printer, which has never let me down until I upgraded to Windows XP Pro. The new operating system does not recognise this model, is there anything I can do or will I have to purchase a new printer.

Steve Davies, Bedlington

A

Bad news I'm afraid, there are no XP drivers listed for this printer on the Lexmark web site. Unfortunately this is quite common but to be fair this printer was getting on a bit long before XP came along so it is not altogether surprising. If you want to continue to use it and your old PC is still working then you could always it as a printer server, using a simple network connection to access it from your new PC.