FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  450 (25/01/05)

Q

A problem that keeps bugging me, and I suspect a few others, is how to get rid of the ‘180 Search Assistant’ when browsing.  I have followed a few links on the net but still have the problem.  Do you have any ideas?

John Dean, via email

A

This  is ‘malware’ and normally I'd advise a run-though with AdAware and Spybot but I presume you've tried them already so here's something new to try. Microsoft has just put together it's own free Spyware eraser, I've been trialling it for the past couple of weeks. So far I’m very impressed and it caught several things missed by AdAware and Spybot.  It's currently in its pre-release ‘Beta’ testing stage, so you use it at your own risk but it seems pretty safe (so far). If you would like to try it the link is: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/

security/spyware/software/default.mspx. I would be very interested to hear from readers who have used it with their views.

Q

I am having a problem creating a list of all the music titles I have in two separate folders. I have been putting new music into these folders and want to be able to compare what is in each to be able to consolidate them into one so as not to replicate any copies. I have tried using the Search facility to generate a list but I can't paste this into a Word document. Can you help?

G. Wood, via email

A

The simplest method would be to Copy all of the files from one folder (Ctrl + A) and Paste (Ctrl + V) them into the other one, Windows will tell you which ones already exist and give you the option to replace them or not. Otherwise you can use an old friend, the freeware utility RJH Extensions (www.rjhsoftware.com/products.html), which, amongst other things, adds a Print/Save Directory list facility to Windows Explorer’s right-click menu.

Q

Is there any way I can create new submenus in the All Programs section of the Windows XP Start Menu? My list of Programs is getting longer and longer and I would like to tidy it up by regrouping some of them. When you load a new program you get the option of which submenu you want you place it in, say Accessories. However, if there are several items to a program these are not always grouped in a further submenu.

Carl Shortman, via email

A

It’s really easy, just right-click on All Programs on the Start menu and choose ‘Explore All Users’. This opens a standard Explorer type window. Double click the Programs folder then go to the File menu and select New > Folder, give it a name then drag and drop the shortcuts for your new group into the new folder.

Q

One of my trainees has accidentally deleted her database and as usual in these situations now understands the benefits of backing up files.  I used to have a Norton utility for undeleting any files in the days I used the old DOS system. Are there any freeware programs for Windows XP?

Tim Morris, via email

A

Not a regular reader eh? Well, on condition that promise to become one from now on I’ll point you in the direction of a small recovery program called Restoration, which was included in the recent Boot Camp freeware and shareware roundup. It works on all versions of Windows and can be downloaded from: www.geocities.jp/br_kato/index.html

Q

I took your advice in Boot Camp 342 (Change your email program) and installed Thunderbird then copied all the settings from Outlook Express. Thunderbird receives messages but will not send. It repeatedly asks for my password, which it will not accept. The error message reads  'Message could not be sent because connecting to SMTP server failed ...'. I checked settings in Zone Alarm Pro, which are OK and have also disabled ZA but Thunderbird still won't send. Any suggestions will be welcome.

David Taylor, via email

A

It sounds like a fairly simple configuration problem, there’s a helpful article on the Mozillazine web site dealing with Thunderbird setup issues at: http://kb.mozillazine.org/

Thunderbird_:_Issues_:_Cannot_Send_Mail

Q

I have spent the last three and a half hours trying to get rid of all the ‘ >’ quote symbols from forwarded e-mail messages. I know there is a program to remove this pest and I filed it somewhere in my computer, however my file system broke down on this one and I can't find the solution.

Miguel  Lanigan, via email

A

There are several programs that can remove those annoying angle brackets, have a look at a freeware utility called Quote Stripper, which you will find at: www.webdez.net/quotes/.