FAQS! FACTS! FAX! 094 (29/01/98)

PRIVATE PRACTICE

Is there any way of removing the list of previously visited web sites on my internet browser?

Tim Pattle

A

In addition to the list of most recent internet addresses or URLs (uniform resource locator), your browser creates several other, much more detailed records, of where you’ve been and what you’ve been looking at, including copies of actual pages. Apart from the privacy aspect -- which could be important if your PC is shared with others -- it takes up a lot of hard disc space. Pretty well all browsers maintain a cache file where graphics and details of pages are stored. Microsoft Internet Explorer hides its cache in Windows Temporary Internet Files folder, Netscape Navigator’s cache is in the Navigator folder. Unless you actually want to keep these files its a good idea to clear the cache every so often. Explorer can do this automatically; click on the View menu, then Options and Navigation.

Internet records are also stored in a History folder. Netscape for Windows 95 has its own, called netscape.hst; MS Explorer creates one in the Windows 95 directory; entries can be deleted by highlighting and pressing the delete key, or by dragging them to the recycle bin. Cookies are another way of finding out what you have been up to, they’re small files that contain details of the workings frequently visited sites and can be safely deleted. Explorer keeps them in the Cookies folder in Windows, Navigator’s can be found using the Find utility on the Start menu, to find it type in cookies.txt. Internet browsers also squirrel away internet information in the Windows Registry, though unless you know what you’re doing they’re best left alone. Don’t forget that anything you put into the Recycle Bin will remain there, until it is emptied. Finally, if you’re feeling really paranoid, it’s worth bearing in mind that when you delete files and data from your PC, you’re basically only removing the entry in a contents listing, the actual information remains on the hard disc and can still be read, until it is overwritten by new data.   

POWER SAVE

My screen saver turns itself on after the set time.  The problem is that the screen goes blank after about 5 minutes.  What is the reason for this, and what can I do to rectify the problem?

Denise Lawrence

A

It’s not a problem as such. You are using an Energy Star compliant monitor and your computer is trying to cut your electricity bill, by turning off the monitor on the assumption that it is not being used. The timer control for the power save feature can be found by clicking on the Start button, then Settings and Control Panel. Double click on the Display icon and select the Screen Saver tab. Uncheck the Shut Off Monitor box, or increase the time setting. 

BRAND LOYALTY

Do you think there is much difference between one internal modem and another?  I notice that many manufacturers ship machines with unbranded modems, so one has to assume that these devices are perfectly adequate, yet the difference in price between branded and unbranded is enormous. Which should I go for?

T. Nabili

A

A lot of internal modems are actually made by the same companies, and use the same chips, as products from the better known brands. After sales support for unbranded modems can be patchy or non-existent, they may lack some more advanced features, or come with different software packages but in our experience there’s comparatively little variation in performance between most modems operating at speeds up to 33.6 kbps.

WRONG ICONS

The desktop icons for My Computer and Recycle Bin have changed to the Windows icon. Is there a way of reinstating them to their original form?

Mary Goodwin

A

You have three options: edit the Windows Registry, re-install Windows 95, or obtain a copy of the Windows 95 Plus Pack. Option one is not recommended, we had our knuckles rapped the last time we suggested meddling with the Registry... Option two will do the trick but it’s a lot of trouble to go to, just to restore a couple of icons. That leaves option three; the MS Plus Pack contains lots of useful utilities, it costs between £20 to £30 and once installed you will have full control over your icons once again.

MONEY TROUBLES

I upgraded from MS Money 97 to MS Money 98. This has caused all sorts of problems with on-line banking (Barclays doesn't work with Money 98). When I uninstalled Money 98 and re-installed 97 it could not read the files. Is there some way of converting the files back to Money 97 format?

F. J

A

No problem. When you upgraded to Money 98 the file extensions were changed from .MNY, to .MN5, (or possibly .MN7, depending on the version). In order to read the files, now that you’re back to Money 97, the extensions have to be changed back to .MNY, which you can do from My Computer or Windows Explorer.