FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  473 (05/07/05)

Q

I am currently working on a project, which I would like to produce in my own handwriting on the computer in Microsoft Word (Windows 98). Is this possible and what software would I require?

Freda Schaffer, via email

A

You could do it manually, using specialist font design software but this is laborious and the programs can be quite expensive. The simpler, quicker and cheaper alternative is to pay someone to do it for you and one of the best deals at the moment is Fontifier (www.fontifier.com/), which will produce a TrueType font, based on a sample of your handwriting, for just $9.00. You need to download and print out a template sheet that you fill in. You then scan this into your PC, upload the image to the web site and in just a few seconds it will generate a sample font. If you like what you see pay the fee (credit card or PayPal) and you can download and install it on your PC straight away.

Q

I am trying to install some new software, but it needs Internet Explorer version 5.1 or greater to be in place.  I am using IE version 5.00.2, which came with the operating system, but I have a disk with IE V5.5 on it. However, when I try to install this later version, I get a message stating that the previous installation was incomplete and suggesting that I restart the computer. This has no effect, and there is no option to uninstall Internet Explorer in Add/Remove Programs. I have also tried to install Internet Explorer version 6 from the Microsoft web site, but with the same result.  My OS is Windows 98 SE. Do you have any suggestions?

Les Bowler, via email

A

You are stuck in a loop and the only way out is to re-install version 5.0 that came with Windows. This should rebuild the missing Registry entry that will allow you to remove it from Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel, or upgrade to a later version; however, I wouldn’t bother with V5.5, instead revisit the MS web site and install version 6.

Q

In last week’s Boot Camp you recommend deliberately misspelling words to obtain all the misspelled bargains. It is certainly a good idea, and there is a website that takes all of the hard work out of it. Try: www.fatfingers.com, which will do the misspelling for you. Typing "clarice cliff" gets you over thirty different misspellings - and one hit!

John Robotham, via email

A

Brilliant! Thanks for that.

Q

Recently the Address Bar has disappeared from my Internet Explorer screen. The Toolbars menu still shows the Address Bar ticked but I am unable to resurrect it. Any suggestions gratefully received.

Eric Knapper, Stoke-on-Trent

A

There are several possibilities, the most common one being that the Address bar is there but it has been pushed off the side of the screen. Try this first. Right click on the Windows flag in the top right hand corner of the screen and uncheck ‘Lock The Toolbars’ and make sure ‘Address Bar’ is checked. If it still doesn’t show properly look for an Address Bar button immediately below the flag and drag and drop this to the left side of the screen. If that doesn’t work go to Run on the Start menu and type ‘regsvr32 /i browseui.dll’ (without the quotes, and watch for the spaces) and this should reset the toolbars to their default state. Finally, if all else fails go to Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel, select Microsoft Internet Explorer and try the Repair option.

Q

Being of a certain age, I sometimes forget to enter anything in the Subjectline when sending emails. OE used to warn me of the omission before the mail was sent - this no longer happens and I can't find any way to make it do so. Can you help?

C Hobson, via email

A

When the dialogue box appears there’s a checkbox that says ‘Don’t warn me again’, which presumably you ticked. Doing so creates a Registry entry and the only way I know to get the warning message back is to delete the entry, so if you are not happy about tinkering with the Windows Registry please do not attempt this procedure. Go to Run on the Start men and type ‘regedit’ (without the quotes) and work your way to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Default\Identities\

ID\Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express\5.0\Dont Show

Dialog\Mail empty subject warning

Right click on the Mail empty… entry, select Delete, exit Regedit and reboot.

Q

My DVD Recorder tells me it uses DVD+R/RW discs.  My computer seems to prefer DVD-R/RW. Can you explain, so that an old codger can understand, what is the difference?

Michael Wraner, via email

A

This is an old problem that goes back to the early days of DVD when rival manufacturers failed to agree upon a single standard or format for recordable DVDs. It’s not too bad these days as many new DVD video recorders and most PC DVD Writer drives are multi-standard and can read and write both  DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW discs. The simplest solution is to change the DVD writer drive in your PC to a multi-standard type; prices start at around £40 from online retailers. This will allow you to read discs created on your DVD recorder and record DVD+R/RW discs on your PC that can be read on the DVD recorder.