FAQS! FACTS! FAX! 050 08/04/97)

COVER DISC CRASH

My problem concerns Microsoft Word Version 7. Whenever I use it my computer hangs, this happens after typing in a few sentences. I believe it started when I

installed ‘browser’ software for Word 7, from a magazine cover disc. I tried removing it but the problem persists. I've reinstalled MS Office, but to no avail. I’ve also checked for viruses, using McAfee Virus Scan, but no luck there either. I am getting desperate, any ideas?

Kavila Kwinga, Manchester

A

If it’s any comfort you’re not alone, many PC owners have suffered at the hands of freebie computer magazine discs. Whilst a lot of the software comes from reputable sources, and is usually checked for viruses, there’s plenty of instances of corrupted, unstable or half-finished programmes slipping through the net, causing all sorts of problems with operating systems and applications. We have seen numerous games and demos, that change important system files without warning, or seeking permission, and that is just asking for trouble. Few come with any sort of uninstaller, so they can be difficult to get rid of. It seems highly probable that there’s still a remnant or two of that Word utility lurking somewhere on your hard disc, most likely buried in the operating system. It’s quite likely that you will end up having to start from scratch and re-install Windows, but before you do, try running an uninstaller, like Quarterdeck Clean Sweep, which has some powerful utilities for seeking out unused files and orphaned components. It’s a bit late for you, but the obvious advice is to treat free or unsupported software with caution.

TIME FOR A CHANGE

My computer was recently upgraded to a Pentium with a new motherboard.Soon after it proved to be faulty and was replaced. Unfortunately there are still problems. The computer loses time, about a minute or a minute and half each day. Boot up messages are scrambled, they only becomes legible if I switch off and then immediately switch the monitor back on. I took this matter up with the chap who installed the motherboard for me. He maintains that a minute or so each day is within limits, but he has no explanation of the unreadable boot message. Regrettably he is an enthusiastic amateur and now that there are problems, has abandoned the matter and will not even answer his telephone.

Wallace Cressent, via e-mail

A

It is not unusual for the ‘software’ clock in Windows to drift by a minute or more throughout the day, though it should be more or less correct at switch-on, as it reads the time from a quartz-controlled, battery-powered ‘hardware’ clock, on the motherboard. This shouldn’t drift by more than a few seconds a week. If you are still using the same monitor and video graphics card as before then the illegible boot-up message is almost certainly something to do with the new motherboard or its configuration. Even though the board was not installed by an engineer or service centre you shouldn’t give up trying to have it replaced, though as this was a private arrangement you have limited redress in law. If you can’t pursue the matter any further, and otherwise the system performs properly, then it’s something you will have to live with.

NOISE ANNOYS

The cooling fan on my  IBM-compatible 486/66 PC has begun to make a very unhealthy, not to say annoying sound. It is long since out of guarantee. How easy are they to replace, is it something I could do myself?

Michael Woodward, Hitchin

A

The fan is usually built into the PC’s power supply module, which lives inside a metal case, at the rear of the system box. It’s the sort of job best left to a qualified service engineer, even though it’s not that difficult to get to the fan and remove it. The problem is finding a replacement, there are literally dozens of different types and sizes, though companies like Maplin stock a wide range, and you may be lucky. Failing that it might be easier to replace the entire power supply module, they are available from computer component specialists from around £20.

Maplin Electronics, telephone 01702 554000

RELIABLE READER?

A few weeks ago you mentioned the possibility of using a PC with a ‘scanner’ to read documents. How do they work, and how reliable are they?

J.F.Williams, Chingford

A

A scanner doesn’t read documents as such, basically it converts an image into a file format, that’s processed by optical character recognition software. OCR packages like Omnipage, Presto and Textbridge -- often bundled with scanner hardware -- work very well indeed, with an accuracy of more than 95% on neatly typed or clearly printed text. The converted file can then be imported into a word-processor package and treated like any other text file.  Scanners can do a lot more besides, including faxing documents, and black and white or colour photocopying, when used with a suitable printer. Scanners have been falling in price recently; there are some very competent A4-sized colour flatbed models -- that look like small photocopiers -- selling now for less than £200. Hand-scanners are even cheaper, though they can be quite tricky to use, and the narrow ‘head’ makes it difficult to scan larger documents or photographs in a single pass. Most recent flatbed scanners are simple to install, they usually come supplied with a dedicated  interface card, that also supplies the scanner with power.