FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  480 (23/08/05)

Q

My EMachine 633, with 15 gigabyte hard drive is now nearly 5 years old and, seems to be getting slower every time I use it. Do PC's have a 'get rid of’ age? I have done the recommend checks and all seems in order. There is at least 10Gb of free space and I have deleted or copied to disc, all superfluous files. Is it perhaps time to buy a replacement? At nearly 76, I would be loath to spend too much and then depart for other spheres! A friend has BT Broadband and, I must say, things really move. I have installed OnSpeed but don't seem to note much improvement - could it be because of above ageing? I estimate that I spend around 3 hours per week online for an outlay of £2 pw. Apart from the convenience, would broadband be financially worth it - or is there a pay as you go alternative, to the fixed monthly fee?

Ken Allcroft, Bedford

A

The reason for the slowdown has nothing to do with ageing components, though inevitably computer parts, like our own bits, wear out and are more liable to failure as they get older. Five years is a good age for a PC -- late middle age in human terms -- so you might want to start thinking about a replacement in the not too distant future. However the easiest way to rejuvenate an old PC is to save all of your data, format the drive and reinstall Windows. This will remove all of the clutter and redundant Registry entries that are causing the sluggish performance. With a fresh installation it should feel like a new PC once again. 

As for broadband, I think you will find it a worthwhile investment and there are some very competitive rates at the moment, some of them not much more than you are paying for a dial up connection and OnSpeed. In addition to the much faster data rates there is also the added benefit of being able to use your phone while you are on line. I can’t make any specific recommendations as prices and packages are changing so quickly but have a look at the comparison charts on the following web sites for the latest deals: 

www.adslguide.org.uk/

www.broadbandgenie.co.uk/

www.uswitch.com/

Q

I set my browser home page as ‘Blank’, but after around 4 to 5 weeks, lo and behold an MSN page replaces my Blank setting. This has happened for the last 12 months or so. It is obviously easy to go back into Internet Options etc. and set Blank as default, but is there any way to stop Microsoft undermining my settings like this?

David A. Fryer, Leeds

A

It might not be Microsoft’s doing and any number of spyware and adware infections can reset your browser’s home page, so the first thing to do is run a complete scan with malware removal tools, I recommend Spybot and AdAware, and remember to run them both at least once a week. After that download and install a freeware program called Startpage Guard and this will prevent I happening in future, it’s available from: http://pjwalczak.com/spguard/index.php. However, as I have pointed out on numerous occasions you can avoid this problem altogether by switching to a more secure browser, like Mozilla Firefox (free from www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/).

Q

My computer has taken to re-booting itself at random times, without notice. I cannot get my anti-virus program, spyware programs or defrag to complete their scans. When the computer finishes rebooting I get an error ‘Signature’ message that includes the following line: C:\DOCUME~1\Robert\LOCALS~1\

Temp\WER3789.dir00\sysdata.xml

Robert J. Boyne, via email

A

This particular error message is sometimes associated with a faulty RAM memory module, however a far more likely explanation is that your PC has an ATI Radeon video adaptor and is using the wrong driver. The solution is to install the correct driver, there’s a more detailed explanation and a link to the ATI Support website in Microsoft Knowledgebase article 318023 (just type the number into Google Search box).

Q

I have an extensive electronic library of photos with inevitably a large number of file names.  To sort them into slide shows I want to be able to list them into Word or Excel and annotate the list to help decide which I want in what sequence. However, I can't find how to copy filenames from Explorer in an editable format.  If I use Copy, the photos are copied.  I can use PrintScreen but that is not editable.

Peter Smith, via email

A

This is another job for our old friend RJH Extensions, an incredibly useful little utility that, amongst many other things, adds a Print Directory List function to Windows Explorer’s right-click menu. It’s freeware, compatible with all versions of Windows and you will find it at: www.rjhsoftware.com/rjhextensions/

Q

The case cooling fan on my 3 year old Mesh computer has failed and despite several requests Mesh are unable or unwilling to help me source a replacement.  I have not been able to find any fan of the same design and even fans with similar dimensions cannot be used because of the fan grille pressed into the rear case wall. Any ideas?

Gerard Parsons, Salisbury

A

It will probably be easier (and possibly cheaper) to replace the entire power supply unit (PSU). Most manufacturers use standard off the shelf modules. Suppliers like Maplin (www.maplin.co.uk) and Aria (www.aria.co.uk/) stock a very wide range with prices starting at less than £12.00. If all else fails you could re-house the PC; a new case complete with power supply, can cost from as little as £18.00 from online vendors.

Q

I use an external hard drive as a backup. However, I have to disconnect it from the USB socket every time I switch the computer on. Is there any way I can change this in Windows XP.

David Ager, via email

A

My guess is there’s a problem with the driver for your external drive. I suggest that you visit the manufacturer’s web site and download the latest software