FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  541 (28/11/06)

Q. I have just upgraded to Internet Explorer 7 and want to import my bookmarks from Mozilla Firefox. I've tried to use the IE7 Import/Export Wizard, however the button for importing ‘Favorites from other browsers’ is greyed out and only ‘Import from a file or address’ is available. Any suggestions?
Mahomed Hajat, via email

A. That’s perfectly normal, all you have to do is click the Browse button and navigate your way to: C:\Documents and Settings\<yourname>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\default.xxx\bookmarks.html. Click Next, select the folder where you want them to be stored (or allow them to be stored in the main Favorites folder), click Next then Finish and it’s done.

Q. I have recently suffered a major hard drive failure on my Windows XP Home PC. Following your advice (PC Rescue, Boot Camp 403) I created a Knoppix disc, which shows all of the files I want to keep, which I have now managed to save. Several attempts at repairing/re-installing Windows XP by booting from the installation CD have failed as the process always freezes at the page that says 'Setup is now starting Windows', but it never does, it just hangs there forever (well at least 30 minutes!).

I have done this before and I would expect the acceptance screen and be asked to press F8 to continue, so I feel a bit stuck. The disk was NTFS formatted, so I do not know how I could restore the disk to its bare state. Do you have any ideas of how I should proceed?

John Mathias.

A. There is a known bug with PCs using motherboards with an Intel i815 chipset and the installation will freeze at this point if ‘Legacy USB Support’ is enabled in the BIOS and you are using a USB mouse and keyboard. Either switch to a PS2 mouse and keyboard for the duration of the installation or switch off Legacy USB Support in the BIOS.

Q. I have just bought a new Windows XP computer having previously used Windows 98 SE and I have tried in vain to locate a program called ‘Spider’, recommended by you some time ago, which I used to use regularly to delete visited web addresses. Does this still exist?

Brian Stephens, via email

A. Spider was a great little utility and the first widely available program to clear the infamous index.dat, which secretly records the address of every web site you have ever visited. It was written for Windows 98 but as far as I am aware a version for XP was never developed. Fortunately there’s something even better, a freeware program called CCleaner (Crap Cleaner to its many friends) and this clears not only the index.dat files but numerous other log files that track your on-line activities.

Q. I have a Toshiba laptop it is less than 6 months old, equipped with a wireless card and used exclusively at home. I use a wireless connection to an Inventel ADSL Modem/Router, supplied by my ISP. I have a problem using the built-in wireless card to connect to the router.

If I leave Windows able to use the Zero Configuration service and search for available wireless networks, it shows three within range. Two belong to neighbours and the third is my Inventel router. If I click to connect to either of my neighbour’s networks, after a moment there appears the ‘Sign in with the WEP key’ window. However, when I ask Windows to connect to my network, it displays a message to the effect that ‘this network may no longer be in range...’.

If I use an external wireless USB adapter (3Com) and disable Zero Configuration the 3Com application connects OK. My ISP 's Support, (I live in Spain) has privately admitted that they have never been able to get this model router to connect using a PC or laptop's built-in wireless card and suggest using the USB adapter provided with the router kit.
Roger Vernon, via email

A. Wireless connections can be infuriating. I have wasted hours fiddling with adaptors and settings. A small number just never work in a particular setup whilst others suddenly start working for no apparent reason. You could wade through the Microsoft Knowledgebase Wireless Network Trouble-shooter but judging by your ISP’s candid admission I suspect it is well aware of compatibility problem with the router, in which case your best bet would be to use the supplied USB adaptor or switch to another brand of modem/router.

Q. I have just downloaded a program called Soundman.exe from a well known website, which I consider to be safe. My husband went berserk saying it is a Trojan and I will lose all my financial details to a rogue! Can you reassure us that it is not so? 

Beryl Saville, via email

A. Unfortunately not and I can understand your husband’s concern moreover I find it odd that you would want to download this file in the first place. Soundman.exe is a Realtek audio card utility and it would normally only be installed on PCs that use a Realtek audio adaptor and the only time you would need to replace it would be if it became corrupted or after a reinstallation. The program is quite innocuous and puts an icon in the System Tray (next to the clock) and if you click on it you will see some extra audio controls.

However, the Soundman.exe filename has been hijacked and is also used by a Worm called W32/Agobot-JS. It’s not unknown for entirely respectable websites to be ‘spiked’ with nasties like this but they are usually found and eradicated very quickly. Also, if the file you downloaded was a worm it would have been picked up by your anti-virus program, provided of course one is installed on your PC and it is regularly updated… 

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© R. Maybury 2006, 2111