FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  549 (23/01/07)

Q. I am thinking about changing my broadband supplier but I would like to compare it with another one before cancelling my subscription. Is it possible to run two broadband accounts on the same line and would asking for the MAC code from my existing ISP cancel that account?

Jim Chambers, London.

A. An interesting idea and whilst it is theoretically possible for two broadband connections to use the same phone line, it cannot be done at the moment. That’s because all current broadband systems use the same fixed frequency spectrum to transmit and receive data, moreover, there is only provision for one DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer) module at the exchange. This is the box of tricks that allows broadband signals and POTS (Plain Old Telephone System) calls to share a line. Requesting your MAC (Migration Authorisation Code) code may result in your service being cut off or suspended.

Q. I have just finished building the DT MK2. It worked first time and I am very pleased with it but I’m having problems with Word 2000. It opens quickly but if I select a file it can take up to a minute before anything appears on the screen, though only for the first document. If I subsequently select another file it opens instantly. Word also locks up if I click on something when I am waiting for a file to open. I have tried all the usual things, including reinstalling and renaming the Normal.dot document template. This seemed to help but it started again after a couple of reboots. Printing is also now very slow; though this could be because I am using a network printer connected to my other PC. Do you have any ideas?

Stuart Keeler, via email

A. You have tried most of the things I would have suggested, however, you also mention that you are using a network printer, which it is working slowly and I wouldn’t mind betting that has something to do with it.

If you installed the printer using the XP setup Wizard, rather than the software that came with the printer, then Windows may be using the driver on the remote PC and this can significantly slow down file opening and printing. Delete the network printer from the list on Start > Printers & Faxes and see if this makes a difference. If so remove the network printer icon from Printers & Faxes. Next, connect the printer your PC and install the supplied software. Finally reconnect the printer to your network PC and re-run the Add Printer wizard.

Q. A lot of files, usually preceded by a cedilla and a dollar sign, have suddenly started to appear on my computer. Can I safely delete these files?  My grandchildren have been unable to tell me anything about them.

Audrey Campbell, Burnham, Bucks

A. You didn’t say exactly where the files are being stored on your computer but if they are in your Windows folder then they are almost certainly log or uninstall files for Microsoft patches and updates. Whilst in general they can be safely deleted some of them might be needed one day so unless you know what you are doing they are best left alone.

If the mystery files are appearing in the ‘root’ of your C: drive and they are made up of a string of random numbers and letters then these are probably also leftovers from updates and patches, but they shouldn’t be there. Double-click on one of them. If it opens the file in Notepad and in the first few lines you see references to ‘msxml.enu, msmxl.exe and msmxl.msi then these are log files for security updates and they can be safely deleted. The reason you are seeing them is because a patch they relate to was not installed properly. If you want to have a go at fixing the problem there’s more information in Microsoft Knowledgebase article 927978

Q. When I shut down my computer I get the error message oxc0000142. Any ideas?

Brian Rhodes, via email

A. This type of error message is quite common but it’s almost impossible to say where it is coming from without knowing a lot more about the software installed on your PC. Nevertheless you may be able to track it down and possibly fix it using a process of elimination. The chances are the error message is coming from a program or ‘Service’ that launches with Windows, in which case you should be able to find it using the Windows configuration utility.

Type ‘msconfig’ into Run on the Start menu (without the quotes). Select the General tab and check the item Selective Startup. Next uncheck the first box ‘Process SYSTEM.INI File’, click OK, restart the PC then exit Windows and see if the error message is still there. If not go back to msconfig, recheck the box, deselect the next one on the list and try again.

At some point the error message should disappear indicating where the problem lies. So, for example, if unchecking ‘Load System Services’ makes it go away, reselect it, click the Services tab and work your way through the list, deselecting items, rebooting each time until it disappears again.

This particular list is quite long so the trick is to deselect the top half of the list first. If the error message persists the fault lies in the second half of the list. Reselect half of the unchecked items and try again, repeating the procedure until you find the offending item. Once you have it Google the name to find out what it is, whether or not you need it and hopefully what you can do to fix it.

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© R. Maybury 2007 1601