FAQS! FACTS! FAX! 113 (11/06/98)

LOST FOR WORD

When I open a blank document in Microsoft Word it is in the form of the 'Normal' template, with the title Document 1. I prefer an alternative font to that which appears, but I have been unable to alter the template, which necessitates my changing the font every time I open a new document. Can you please tell me what to do so that my preferred font appears? I am sure there is a simple solution, but I cannot find it.

S.F.Newey, Stroud, Gloucs

A

In both Word 6 and Word 97 the option to choose the typeface, font size and style for the Normal Template can be found on the Format drop-down menu. Choose the Font option, make your selections and then click on the Default button. The dialogue box will ask you to confirm the change, click on Yes, and it's done.

FLYING BY WIRE?

I have a similar problem to Geoff Plumtree  running Flight Simulator 98 on my ageing 486. It runs perfectly on my recently purchased laptop PC though, but the screen is too small to see the controls clearly -- necessary for flying a Jumbo Jet... I think there must be a way of using the larger monitor on my PC in conjunction with the power of my laptop. I've tried with Laplink on "remote" but it still uses the PC system. Any suggestions? I've crashed three Jumbos and a Cessna already!

Derek Coltman

A

It would have been helpful to know the make and model of laptop you're using, but virtually all notebook and portable PCs have a VGA socket, that will allow you to connect it to a PC monitor, using a standard cable. Some models also have a TV output as well, though you may find that the display quality is not sharp or stable enough for text-based applications, though it should be okay for games and simulation software. You should also be able to use a higher resolution setting, than the LCD screen would normally permit. This facility can be found in Control Panel, double click on the Display icon and choose the Settings tab.

PORT WHINE

I have just purchased a UMAX 1210P scanner. It cost £99 and I thought I had a bargain. As soon as I loaded the software and rebooted the computer, the mouse stopped working and the screensaver came on and wouldn't go away. The manual seems to indicate that I need to upgrade the printer port to an EPP interface. What does it mean and which is easier? Isn't it appalling that even with a recently bought computer, Windows 95 and a relatively new scanner, I still can't get started? What happened to Plug and Play?

Lindsay Talma

A

The EPP (Extended Parallel Port) setting on your PC allows a higher data rate. Fortunately it's a relatively simple matter to set-up, though it will involve you making a small change to the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) program, that configures your PC, every time it is switched on. To access the BIOS look for a message when the PC boots up; something like 'press DEL to enter set-up', (or a similar combination of keys). When the BIOS menu screen appears look for an option called 'Chipset Features', or 'Integrated Peripherals' and select it using the up/down arrow keys, or the mouse pointer, if it's working -- the instructions for making menu selection are normally at the bottom of the display. Now look for a line that says 'Parallel Port', 'Onboard Parallel Port' or 'Parallel Port Mode', the adjacent setting will probably say normal or standard. Highlight the line and change the selection, normally by using the Page Up and Down keys. Do not change anything else! Press escape and that should take you back to the main menu, where you can select the 'Save Changes and Exit' option. Select OK or Yes and the machine will continue to boot up as normal.

REMOVAL BUSINESS

A number of my programmes have an uninstaller file. As a rule of thumb, when

deleting a program, is it usually better to use such a file or the Add/Remove Programs facility on the Control Panel? Or doesn't it make any difference?

Vivian Dunn

A

The best way to remove unwanted programs is to have an uninstaller program, such as CleanSweep, Uninstaller, WinDelete etc., on your PC from day one. They actively monitor each new installation, recording all system changes and keeping track of where all the new files go, so they can be safely deleted.  In theory a program's own uninstaller utility should also do a thorough job of cleaning up after itself, and some do, but a lot don't. Unfortunately there's no easy way of telling beforehand. The Add/Remove facility in Control Panel only works on software specifically written for Windows 95; it's also a bit variable and depends to a large extent on the time and trouble taken by the program's author or publisher.

TIME TO CLEAN

Six months ago I purchased a Time Colossus Cyrix 686 based PC with a 24x speed CD drive. Initially all was well, but recently the CD drive performance has

deteriorated. Increasingly it fails to load anything from CD, and when I do manage to load a programme it runs hesitantly. The PC sits under my desk, so I wonder if dust or temperature could be a problem. However, I am not sure if this is a hardware or software fault. How do I go about diagnosing the problem and getting a solution?

Nigel Holmes

A

Try a CD or CD-ROM cleaner kit first, it only takes a speck or two of dust on the CD-ROM's optical pickup to affect performance. Airborne contaminants are sucked in by the PC's cooling fan, through gaps around the loading tray, though dust also gets a free ride in on the surface of your CD-ROMs, so make sure they're always stored in their jewel or slip cases when they're not being used.

THE MEANING OF LIFE

I read you reply to Mark Kimbers concerning connecting a scanner to the PC's parallel printer port. I recently purchased a scanner and find that in order to use the printer I have to leave the scanner switched on. Obviously this shortens the life of the lamp in the scanner; do you have any information on their life expectancy?

M. Taylor, Kings Lynn, Norfolk

A

Most scanners use a miniature florescent or 'cold cathode' tube and they're normally switched on a few seconds before the scan actually begins. Some models require a short warm up period, to ensure colour accuracy. We contacted several manufacturers, to get an idea of tube life and the figures were quite revealing. The minimum life expectancy on budget models was 20,000 scans, the maximum, from Canon, who use a long-life xenon tube in their models, was 100,000 scans. Tube failures can and do occur, however, it seems likely that most users will replace or upgrade their scanners long before the lamp wears out.