FAQS! FACTS! FAX! 109 (14/05/98)

MOBILE MONITOR

I keep my computer in my study but quite often I would like to work in a different room, or even in the garden. What is the longest lead I can use with the monitor and keyboard, so that I could move them but leave the computer undisturbed?

John Powell

A

You would have to provide a mains supply for the monitor, and an extension cable for the mouse as well, but increasing the length of any of the leads connecting the various devices attached to your PC is not advisable. The data and picture signals passing through these cables are very weak. Increasing the cable lengths by more than a few metres would weaken them still further and render them liable to interference and corruption. The only viable alternative is a second PC, have you thought about a laptop? Basic models, suitable for word processing and similar routine applications can be brought for less than £500. You might even consider a palmtop PC, though the keyboards on most models are rather small and not conducive to fast typing.

PICTURE POSER

I have a Windows 95 PC. When I received graphic files through my E-mail my present installation was not able to deal with them all. It can display '.jpg' files, others I have been able to convert through the Wang Imaging program that was part of the original package. However, I am unable to decode '.tga' files, whatever that means! So my question is, how or what do I do to obtain the necessary converters to deal with this and of course any other strange files that I might receive in the future? Does this problem suggest the need for standardisation with these types of graphic files?

Henry Jennings Westoning

A

At the last count there were more than sixty different graphics file formats in PC land, including dozens of propriety formats, specific to various programs. Fortunately only a relatively small number of them are in everyday use, (.gif, .bmp and .jpg are the most frequently encountered), they're each suited to a particular application, hence the lack of standardisation. PaintShop Pro can open, convert and save files in all of the common formats, Version 4 lists 39 different types, including '.tga' (Truevision Targa, since you asked...). Shareware versions of PaintShop Pro are regularly featured on magazine cover mounted CD ROMs, and it is available from the Jasc web site: www.jasc.com

SWEEP ASIDE

Some time ago you featured the cure for Quarterdeck CleanSweep persistently accessing the Internet for an update, and displaying a dialogue box you just can't cancel. I used your 'fix' at the time and it worked but now I have updated hard disks and the menace has returned. Could you remind me how it worked?

Stan Oldfield

A

The automatic dial-up program is called Update-It and you'll find it in your Start Up folder. From the Start menu select Settings, click on Taskbar, then the Start Menu Programs Tab. Select Remove, then use the Browse button to bring up the directory tree, locate and open the StartUp folder, highlight UpdateIt and press the delete key.  

WORD ON THE WEB

I have been following the instructions in Boot Camp for designing a web page. I have Microsoft Office 95, which includes Microsoft Word, but I have not got the Web Page Wizard. Do you know where I can obtain it or any other software that can do the same job?

Vincenzo Biccarino

A

The Web authoring facilities we mentioned are included in Word 97, which is part of Office 97, or available separately, so you will have to upgrade to Office 97, or get hold of a copy of Word 97. Several readers have also told us they can't find the Web Page Wizard on Word 97, that's usually because it's not loaded by default when Word 97 is installed for the first time. To get it on to your PC insert the CD-ROM and click on the Add/Remove button. This brings up a list of components, check the box marked Web Page Authoring and the relevant files will be loaded.

SPACE SAVER

Like a lot of people I live in a small house and have a problem with where to install a PC. A standard 'home' PC can be ugly and intrusive in a small room, occupying a disproportionate amount of space for the amount of time it would actually be used. Notebook or laptop machines would be a solution but they are extremely expensive and designed primarily for the business user.

My requirements are for a machine that can handle personal finances and investments, Internet and E-mail, word processing and accessing information on CD-ROM.  I do not need games or other entertainment facilities. Looking around there seems to be a gap in the market for a compact machine, aimed at private individuals. Do you have any suggestions?

Peter Davies, Berwick on Tweed

A

Almost any PC made in the past three or four years would be capable of doing what you ask -- as far as the applications are concerned -- but finding a machine to fit your very precise physical specifications is going to be difficult. You are going to have to make one or two compromises. As far as desktop PCs are concerned the bulkiest component is usually the monitor, a slim-line system unit doesn't take up much room, or it can be tucked away out of sight. If money was no object we'd suggest a system with a flat screen LCD monitor, but they are still horribly expensive (£1000 plus…). The alternative is a laptop PC, but the cost may not be as high as you imagine. Discontinued and end of line products often sell for a fraction of their original cost. Even quite recent models with built-in CD-ROM drives can now be found for significantly less than £1000. A recent issue of Micro Mart magazine, which specialises in that kind of thing, threw up several possibilities. They included one from a well-known manufacturer featuring a 12.1-inch colour screen, 133MHz Pentium processor, 16Mb RAM, 1.4gigabyte hard drive and 8x CD-ROM drive. It was brand new, in its original box for £880, including VAT.

MILENNIUM UPDATES

I have a 486 PC with DOS 6.2 and Windows 3.11. I recently heard on the radio that Microsoft had admitted that some of their programs would not work after the year 2000, unless they were updated. I have Microsoft Works, Money and Publisher and I should be glad to know if you have any information as to whether these programs will need updating? Just for the record I tried out the millennium test shown on Tomorrow's World recently and my machine registered the date change correctly.

Rachel Nield, Malvern Link, Worcs.

A

Without knowing what versions of each program you are using it is difficult to be precise but there's a good chance that most of your software will continue to work as normal, post millennium. Microsoft has a constantly updated list of year 2000 compliance issues on their web site, along with any necessary 'patches'.  If you or a colleague has Internet access the address is: http://www.microsoft.com/ithome/ topics/year2k/default.htm