FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  513 (14/05/06)

Q. Using a program called Key Express I have organised it so that pressing ALT + V puts my XP computer into Hibernation mode. I would now like to have an icon on the screen, which will use that combination. I thought I could find a way but no success so far, any ideas.

Ian Pizer, Switzerland

A. It may well be possible but there’s a much easier way to do it from within Windows XP. Just right-click on the desktop then select New > Shortcut. In the ‘Type the Location…’ box cut and paste the following line: ‘C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState Hibernate’ (minus the quotes). Click Next, give the shortcut a name and click Finish. To set up a keyboard shortcut right-click on the newly created desktop icon, select Properties, enter your preferred key combination in the Shortcut box, click OK and it’s done!

Alternatively, hold down the Shift key when you click on the Shutdown menu and a Hibernate icon will replace the Standby button. You can also configure the PC’s Power Off button to put the PC into Hibernation mode from Power Options in Control Panel.

Q. I'm trying to copy VHS tapes to DVD, using my computer. The PC has a Sempron 2400 processor with 1.5Gb of RAM and runs Windows XP SP2. I have a Mercury TV Tuner card and use the software that came with the card to capture video and Nero to burn the DVD.

My problem is that no matter what format or setting I use, the sound is always badly out of sync. Would a different card or different software help?

I've tried using a SCART to S-VHS lead, but I only get a black and white picture. The only way I can get colour picture is to use a Composite video lead.  I'm told that a S-VHS connection is superior, so I'd like to be able to use one. Is there some secret Windows setting that I might have overlooked?

Peter Simon

A. I can’t see anything wrong with your PC’s specification and Windows XP was designed to handle demanding jobs like video processing so it all points to the capture card and its software. Budget cards tend to be fairly rudimentary and either try to do too much internally or they farm out all of the hard work to the CPU and software. All it takes is a few dropped frames, due to the CPU momentarily performing another task, and the sound and picture will part company. Sometimes you can get around the problem by reducing the quality settings -- not a problem when processing VHS material -- and this can reduce the burden on the card and the PC to the point where the video and audio will remain in step, but in the end I think you are going to have to upgrade to a more sophisticated card and capture software. 

The black and white picture is due to the fact that an S-Video signal is made up of two parts: the Y or luminance (brightness) component and the C or colour information (the S in S-Video stand for separated). Keeping the two signals apart reduces interaction and moiré patterning in parts of the picture with a lot of fine detail, but it has no direct impact on picture quality.  In your case only the Y signal is getting through, so there is either a fault with the cable or plugs, the capture card or a there’s a setting in the capture card’s software. As far as I am aware there’s nothing in Windows that could have this effect.

Q. I have recently bought a Motorola V3 Mobile phone. I had hoped to transfer pictures from the phone to my laptop, but every time I try install the driver, I receive the following message: ‘The software you are installing has not passed Windows Logo testing to verify its compatibility with Windows XP’.

I wrote to Motorola for help but the message back from them is totally incomprehensible to me, as it was to the staff of the shop where I bought the phone. They gave me another driver disc but even with that I still get the same message. At one stage I took the risk and continued with the installation, but did meet with serious difficulties a few days later, which entailed my having to send the laptop away for repairs.

Hendrik Woolf, via email

A. The Windows Logo and Driver Signing Program was a key element in the launch of XP. Hardware and software companies had to submit their products to Microsoft for testing, to ensure compliance with XP, and to allow them to use the Windows XP logo on their packaging.

It has started to fall into disuse, though, and I’m seeing a growing number of new products that flag up this warning during installation. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred you can just click the ‘Continue Anyway’ button, the program installs without further incident and runs normally. I’m confident that the software for your phone is fully XP compatible and the fact that your laptop packed up several days afterwards suggests to me that something else was amiss.

I would try again but before you start make sure you set a new System Restore Point (Start > Programs Accessories > System Tools), make sure that you exit all running programs before you start and follow the instructions to the letter. Alternatively, you can do away with the PC connection software and use a Bluetooth link between the PC and phone to transfer your picture files. Bluetooth ‘dongles’ that plug into your PC’s USB port are readily available from PC suppliers for around £25.00.  

Q. I would like to know if and how it is possible to wirelessly connect a computer to an LCD TV. I would also like to keep the computer connected to its own flat screen monitor and just switch between them when required or display on both.

Simon Howell, via email

A. You’ll need a graphics adaptor card with a TV/Video output facility; this can then be connected to a wireless TV/Video ‘sender’, with the receiver unit connected to your TV. Virtually all such graphics cards come with a software utility that will let you switch the TV/Video output on and off. 

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© R. Maybury 2006, 0905