FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  556 (13/03/07)

Q. Some emails I receive on Outlook Express have attachments that, when I try to open them, bring up a message: 'This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the Folder Options Panel.' Can you tell me how to do this please?

Dr Garth Hill, Berkhamsted

A. This poorly worded message is basically saying that Windows doesn’t recognise the file type and cannot open the attachment because the program needed to do so is not installed on your PC. For example, to open a Word document, sent to you as an attachment, you need to have a copy of Word on your computer. Some files can be opened with specialised 'viewers' and to find out which one you need ask whoever sent you the file, or Google the file's 'extension' (i.e. doc. xls, .pps etc).

If it turns out you do have the right program on you machine then you can manually create an association by open My Computer or Windows Explorer. Go to Tools > Folder Options and select the File Types tab. Scroll down the list to find the attachment’s file extension, or click New if it isn’t shown, then highlight the file, click the Change button and select the program from the list.

Q. When I retired just over 5 years ago, I bought a new Toshiba laptop. At the time it was fine for what I wanted but now my long time hobby of photography has changed from film to digital and the small hard drive and slow processor is very limiting.

New laptops and desktops are now being sold with Windows Vista but I don't want to take a chance and prefer to wait a year until the inevitable bugs have been sorted. So can I buy a new Toshiba PC and load my old XP Home disc, and replace Vista?

Brian Enstone, via email

A. It’s a palaver but possible, provided you have a retail XP installation disc and not an OEM version that only installs on a specific make or model of PC. You would have to reformat or partition the new drive as Vista won’t let install an older version of Windows but I think it would be a mistake. Vista is actually much better at handling picture and video files than XP. If you later decide to upgrade then it could get messy, and there’s always a risk of carrying problems across to the new installation. I don’t think there are going to be any major structural problems with Vista following unprecedented trials lasting more than two years. There’s bound to be a few patches and bug fixes along the way but so far stability and reliability seem very good indeed, so give it a try.

Q. I have been trying to learn more about my network configuration with a view to improving my Internet security. According to one utility my Ethernet connection has been assigned a Media Access Code or MAC. Can you please tell me if this is the same as the MAC number required for switching from one Broadband ISP to another?   

Bryan Bennet, via email

A. No, they are two entirely different things. The Media Access Code is a unique and normally fixed ID for any device attached to a network. A Migration Authorisation Code is simply a temporary reference number, handed out by ISPs to make it easier for people to switch broadband suppliers.

Q. I am a fairly new home computer user and I have Norton Security installed on my laptop. Today I had a message from Symantec regarding an online update, which I duly obtained and installed. On reflection how could I have been sure this message came from Symantec? It was not on a usual web page or email message, which I could check on! I could have been loading something nasty onto my computer.

David Turgoose, Arundel

A. Good question, and you are wise to be cautious. That update notification would have been generated by a ‘Service’ component, installed by your Norton software and launched automatically with Windows. It run in the background, periodically checking with Norton to see if there are any updates available.

Many other programs use the same mechanism, to check for updates and send information to Microsoft and hardware and software manufacturers, often without you knowing anything about it. Viruses, Trojans and worms also work this way but generally speaking they don’t ask first, nevertheless so it is vitally important to maintain your defences.

A decent Firewall will alert you, and ask you to authorise any attempts to use your Internet connection. Incidentally, the Windows XP Firewall doesn’t do this and only blocks incoming attempts to access your files. You should also run a weekly or fortnightly check with a malware cleaner like AdAware, Spybot S&D and Windows Defender (all free, download links here), and together this should keep your PC free of nasties. 

Q. I recently purchased a laptop with a built-in wireless adaptor and I want to use it with a wireless router, which is connected to my Windows XP desktop, which has a broadband connection. The problem is I cannot connect the laptop to the Internet, even though I have a good signal and have entered the correct network key. I get the message on the laptop 'limited access'. Could you please advise?

Malcolm Dobell

A. When this happens the trick is to switch off encryption then carry out a sequenced reboot. Start by accessing the Wi-Fi router’s setup menu and disable encryption then do the same with your new laptop. Next switch everything off, including the router and any other PCs connected to your network. Power up the router first then your desktop PC and when it has finished booting make sure you have a working connection. Now you can fire up the laptop and hopefully the Internet connection will work. If so you can re-enable encryption on the router, then on the laptop and carry out another reboot.

Failing that download and install a Windows 2000 utility on the laptop called Wnticpfg (it works fine on XP). It will manually release and renew the ‘sticky’ network settings that may be causing the problem.

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© R. Maybury 2007 0603