FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  561 (17/04/07)

Q. I know you have explained how to copy messages from a computer using Outlook Express to a new XP computer but is it the same procedure to transfer to a new computer running Vista Home Premium?

Roderick Mitchell

A. More or less. Although Windows Mail in Vista bears a strong resemblance to Outlook Express under the bonnet there have been some major changes in the way messages are stored. There’s also been big improvements to security with new anti Spam and Phishing measures but the way messages and contacts are transferred follows the same basic procedure.

As before (see Boot Camps 309 & 310) the first job is to make the Outlook Express Store Folder more accessible so it can be copied to the new PC, along with the OE Address book ‘.wab’ file. Once the message folder and address book file are on the Vista PC’s hard drive (and I wouldn’t recommend trying to copy data from a CD-R or pen drive) open Windows Mail and go to Import on the File menu. Select Messages, then Outlook Express. Browse to your message Store Folder, select the message files you want to copy and click OK. To copy your Address Book in Windows Mail go to File > Import > Windows Contacts, select Windows Address Book File (Outlook Express), navigate to the .wab file and click OK.

Incidentally, going back the other way, i.e. transferring messages from Windows Mail to Outlook Express might not be so easy; it’s something I’m looking into. Stay tuned for a Book Camp on moving to Vista very soon.

Q. My Packard Bell laptop is 3 months old and on someone’s good advice, I installed AVG Internet Security. I’m now seeing an error message that says: "DLL user32.dll was relocated in memory. The application will not run properly. The relocation occurred because DLL:\Windows\ system HHCTRL.OCX occupied an address reserved for Windows Systems DLL's. Vendor supplying DLL should be contacted for a new DLL". Can you help?

Pat Edwards, via email

A. Over the past few days my inbox has been bursting at the seams with similar queries and the first thing to say is that in spite of what the message says it has nothing whatsoever to do with AVG or any other programs on your PC.

It’s all the fault of Windows XP security update 925902, which was released a few days ago. Two of the files in the update (Hhctrl.ocx and User32.dll) conflict with one another, and quite a few other programs, it seems.

Microsoft has been fairly quick off the mark and it has come up with a downloadable patch, though only if you know where to find it. You will find the link to the patch on the Microsoft website at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/935448/

Q. My stolen laptop was replaced by my insurance company with a new one, with Windows Vista instead of XP. I now have a security problem. On the old laptop I used McAfee 7.1 security, supplied by my office. Vista will not allow me to load McAfee, so I am using Norton (free for 90 days), which was included with the laptop.

The problem is with the Firewall, which tells me my computer is at risk, with a nice red cross against protection updates and spyware definitions. Is there a way of getting McAfee to work, as I would rather have a security system that is compatible with work?

Brian Greenham, Bracknell

A. There shouldn’t be any problems with McAfee’s Internet Security Suite, or indeed any of its current product line-up, which are all compatible with Windows Vista. It may be that there was a conflict with the existing Norton installation, so you should remove that completely, before trying to install any other security software.  

Q. I need a new laptop to replace my aging Sony Vaio. I'm off to the States in a couple of weeks and the exchange rate is still good. Are there any pitfalls to buying a decent laptop over there?

Les Munro, Edinburgh

A. Yes, several and the biggest one is the meagre £145 allowance for goods, gifts and souvenirs bought into the UK from outside the EU. Unless you manage to find a laptop costing less than this (and if you do, get me one too please…) you will have to declare it at UK Customs. The 17.5 percent VAT on your shiny new PC could easily wipe out any savings (happily there is no import duty on laptops). If you don’t declare it, and you are rumbled, you may be prosecuted and your laptop confiscated, making it the most expensive laptop you’ll never own…  (See UK Customs website for more specific advice)

If you do decide to go ahead there are a few other things you should be aware of. If it goes wrong it’s a very long way to take it back and you may have problems finding anyone in the UK to honour the warranty, especially if it’s an obscure make. The keyboard will be a US layout, so there won’t be a pound symbol and several of the keys will be in the wrong place. You can learn to live with that and use a shortcut for the pound symbol or it may be possible to replace the keyboard or the ‘keycaps’ if the PC is a common type but this could prove quite expensive. The chargers supplied with pretty well all laptops work on any mains supply (110 to 240VAC 50/60Hz), though obviously you will have to change the plug but other than that there shouldn’t be any problems…    

Laptop prices in the UK are at an all time low (PC World has been selling very respectable machines for less than £300 recently) and I seriously doubt that it will be worth the effort.

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© R. Maybury 2007 1004