FAQS! FACTS! FAX! 015 (23/07/96)

JET SET

I’m considering buying an ink-jet printer, probably a Hewlett Packard model but I’m concerned about the cost of replacement ink cartridges. Can you tell me how long they last and whether the refill kits I’ve seen advertised in computer magazines are any good? Will they invalidate the manufacturer’s guarantee?

K.T.P., Swindon

A

How long a cartridge lasts depends on what you print. Generally speaking images and graphics consume more ink than plain text. HP’s Deskjet printers tend to work best with the manufacturer’s own cartridges, which contain specially formulated inks, that resist clogging and suit a wide range of paper types, but they are quite expensive. Some of the refill kits are very good though, and can work out as much as fifty percent cheaper than buying new cartridges. That could be quite a significant saving if you’re going to be doing a lot of printing. You’ll definitely void the cartridge’s guarantee by refilling it, but it shouldn’t affect the printer’s warranty as the cartridge is a separate, disposable item.

There are good and bad refill kits, some of them are quite messy; cartridges seep ink for several minutes after refilling. Kits that come with jigs or stands are generally easier and cleaner to use. The inks in some kits can be slow drying, or thin, so they’re more readily absorbed by the paper; fine detail or very small text can appear ‘hairy’. A lot depends on the quality of the paper too; cheaper, more fibrous paper tends to be more absorbent. It’s worth experimenting with a couple of different kits but you’d be well advised to have an HP cartridge standing by, in case it goes wrong...

DIRTY OLD ROM

I’m experiencing difficulty with my CD ROM drive which has become very unreliable. I keep getting messages, saying the machine cannot read from the drive; I suspect it may be due to dirt on the pickup. I would like to know if it’s safe to use an ordinary audio CD cleaner, or do I need a special kit?

M.L., Honiton

A

The drive and pickup mechanism in a CD ROM drive is basically the same as those used in audio CD decks, so you can use a regular cleaning kit without any problems, though they may not always remove really stubborn contamination. The fan inside the PC’s power supply sucks in air, some of it through the gap around the CD loading tray, significant amounts of dust can accumulate inside the drive after just a few weeks. There are several purpose-designed CD ROM cleaners on the market. The Hama Pro-Scan, (£14.99) is worth trying for if a regular cleaner doesn’t clear the problem. This one has a pair tiny brushes set into the disc, that sweep the lens clean. This particular cleaner also includes software on the disc, to test the computer’s monitor, sound card and speakers. Contact Hama UK, telephone (01256) 708110

WANDERING MOUSE

I have been experiencing problems with the mouse on my 486/66 PC. Every so often the pointer goes walkabout, drifting up towards the top right hand corner of the screen. I’ve had it looked at, but it never seems to do it when anyone else is watching. The second problem concerns moving blocks of text in Word For Windows 6, sometimes nothing happens, until I give the mouse a shake. Is this a problem with the mouse, the PC, or the software?

R.N.G., Sutton

A

These effects are not necessarily connected. Some mice can be affected by strong light, that interferes with optical sensors inside the mouse. Is there a desk-lamp nearby? The next time it happens shade the mouse with your hand, and see if the pointer stops. If so, the simple solution is to move the light. The other one is a bit of a mystery, and it can sometimes happen on other Windows software. One possibility is that moving the mouse forces a screen redraw, jerking the application back into action, but we’re open to suggestions on this one.