FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  424 (20/07/04)

Q

Using my digital camera I have successfully copied 65 concert programmes, which I have downloaded to my computer in date order. I have now added two more programmes, which appear at the end of the file and out of date sequence. How can I move them to first and second position at the beginning of the file so that the chronological order will be preserved?

Alan Fletcher, Gilwern

A

Windows Explorer and most applications that use an Explorer-type window to show lists of files allow you to display the contents of a folder in a number of ways. This is controlled by clicking the heading label in each column, so for example if you want to display files in alphabetical or numeric order click the ‘Name’ label. Click once and it sorts the list in ascending order (i.e. A to Z or 1 to 10), click again and it sorts them in reverse order. The same applies to the Date column, click the header once and they are sorted with the most recent entries at the top, click again and the order is reversed.

If you need to force the order in which files are displayed then the easiest method is to rename them and sort alphabetically or numerically. Windows XP has a little-known and simple to use batch renaming facility that will allow you rename as many files as you like in one go, automatically assigning each one an ascending numeric code. Highlight all of the files that you wish to rename by holding down the Ctrl key and highlighting each one in turn, or Ctrl + A for every file in the folder.  Alternatively hold down Shift and use the cursor up/down keys (one at a time) or Page up/down keys to highlight files singly or in blocks. Once that is done right click on the top entry and select Rename. Type in the new name, remembering to include the extension (e.g. newfile.jpg), and hit Return.

Q

When I highlight a block of text in Word 2000 and click bold, italics or underline, the attribute is applied to the whole document, not just the highlighted text. The problem also occurs if I use keyboard shortcuts Ctrl + B, I or U. I suspect something has been checked or unchecked but I can't, at present, find anything amiss.

Guy A. Massey, via email

A

Somehow you’ve managed to enable an obscure feature in Word that applies text changes globally when using the Normal document style. Fortunately it’s easy to switch it off, go to Format > Style, make sure ‘Normal’ is highlighted then click the Modify button, uncheck the box ‘Automatically Update’, click OK then Close and all should be well once again.

Q

I need a new scanner and I wondered what are the advantages or disadvantages of having a USB powered scanner as opposed to one that uses an AC Adapter, which seem to be in the minority these days. It's only for general-purpose home use, photos etc.
Alan Doyle, West Midlands

A

Performance wise there are no differences and the reason you're seeing fewer mains powered models is twofold: USB powered scanners are easier to install since there’s only one cable and they're cheaper to make, plus as a an added bonus they are also slightly more energy efficient. The only thing to watch out for is that they should be be plugged in to one of the PC's USB ports, rather than a hub as even some 'powered' hubs cannot supply enough power to drive a scanner.

Q

 My daughter has had a problem whereby through pop-up windows when on line she was directed without her knowledge to a premium 0909 number resulting in a hefty phone bill. I therefore installed Spybot S&D onto her computer. It found fourteen threatening programs, all of which have been zapped except one, which stubbornly refuses to go away. It is called DOS Exploit and has five entries. Any Ideas?

Tony Wagerfield, via email

A

I think you mean DSOExploit, which is a nasty little piece of spyware that makes use of a security loophole in Internet Explorer. This was fixed some time ago so it would appear that you haven’t been keeping your PC up to date with the latest Windows Updates. Shame on you... You should do this immediately by going to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/. There is glitch in Spybot which may flag the problem up again, apparently they are working on it but you can stop it showing up by opening Spybot, click Advanced on the Mode menu then select the Settings button in the bottom left hand corner, select Ignore Products then deselect DSO Exploit on the list.

Q

I am from the UK but live and work in Thailand for six months of the year. I have many dealings with UK concerns i.e. Inland Revenue, Banks etc. and I scan all my correspondence onto my UK Windows 98 PC and also keep all my emails. Since I cannot haul large amount of paperwork around the world I would like to know if it is possible to take the hard disk out of my UK PC and install it in the one I keep in Thailand? Would I have an exact copy of my home PC with all of my programs and data?

Richard Podger, via email

A

It might work but unless your second PC had an identical specification you will have to go through a lengthy reconfiguration exercise involving re-loading all of the second machine’s drivers. However, it’s not advisable and carries a very high risk of data loss. If anything happened to your hard drive you could loose everything. It would be far better to copy the data you need to transport onto a CD or DVD. Alternatively, if you have an allocation of free web space from your Internet Service Provider then use that and upload your data and access it when you get to Thailand.