FAQS! FACTS! FAX! 152 (11/03/99)

NAME CHANGE

I know it's not a big problem but I am getting increasingly irritated by the name 'Mesh Customer' popping up whenever I install a new piece of software on my Mesh PC. Is there any way I can replace the name of the manufacturer with my own name?

Andrew Chambers, Hastings, Sussex.

A

Yes, and we've had similar requests from several PC users who misspelled their names whilst installing Windows and others who have bought second hand machines and want to remove any traces of previous ownership. Generic names like 'Mesh Customer' put in by the PC manufacturer since it would be difficult if not impossible for them to assign a user name on machines sold with pre-installed software. The procedure involves making changes to the Windows Registry, and we advocate making a backup before you begin.

Go to Start then Run and type in Regedit. Highlight the entry  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, on the Registry menu, click Export Registry file, give it a name (e.g. regbak) and save it in an empty folder. If anything goes wrong clicking on regbak.reg will restore the original settings. Go back to Regedit and click on the plus '+' sign next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, to expand the listing. Go down the list that appears and look for 'Software', click the plus sign next to it, find 'Microsoft', click its plus sign, find 'Windows', click the plus sign, find the folder called 'Current Version' and click on it, to open it up in the right hand window. Look down the list for 'Registered Owner' with the entry you want to change next to it. Double-click on the adjacent icon and a dialogue window opens with a text field called Value Data. Delete the old entry and put in the new name, click on OK and close Regedit. Check to make sure the change has been made by going to Start > Settings > Control Panel > System, and selecting the General tab.

FORGETFUL FILE

I have just purchased a 56K bps modem, and am fairly new to the net. When I first downloaded sound files, a message appeared asking if I wanted to either open the file from its current position, or download it to disk. It had a checkbox which said "Don't ask me this again", and I foolishly ticked it when "Open file from its current position" was selected. Now I can't download files, as it automatically opens them. How can I change this setting so I am asked what I want to do with a file? Please help - It's driving me crazy.
Joe Abberley

A

We're not surprised, the option to bring back the original dialogue box is very well hidden. Open Windows Explorer (Start > Programs), click on the View menu, select Folder Options and the File Types tab. Scroll down the list until you get to the appropriate file extension (probably 'Zip' or 'Winzip') and double click on it. In the bottom right hand corner of the dialogue window you'll see a checkbox marked 'Confirm Open after download', put in a tick and the save to disc option should return.

COMPU-SAVE

I have given up my CompuServe account and moved to Freeserve. I am also changing computers. How can I save all the hundreds of documents stored in the CompuServe Filing Cabinet somewhere else, without having to open each message individually and then save it? Is there any way of getting into Filing Cabinet?
John Charnock-Wilson

 
A

The contents of the CompuServe Filing Cabinet is readable as plain text. Use Windows Explorer to open your CompuServe folder (it might be stored under Program Files), look for a sub-folder called FCabinet, open that and double-click on Fcabinet.dat. This will open WordPad and you'll be able to treat is as one long text file. Alternatively, find and open Fcabinet.dat with your preferred word processor.

POCKET PAUCITY

I recently purchased a 'Handheld PC' (Compaq 810C), which has the MS Windows CE operating system. The software supplied will allow the transfer of 'Word' & 'Excel' files, etc., but won't convert games. Advertising blurb from the US indicates that Microsoft produces game software for Windows CE but I cannot find any retailer who stocks it. Do I have to purchase Windows CE software from the States or can you advise me of a source in this country?

Paul Roberts

A

Although Windows CE is designed to look and work like Windows 95/98, and certain types of files can be transferred between the two operating systems, they are actually quite different so games and program files have to be specially written for Windows CE. A growing number of software titles are becoming available in the UK but at the moment they're most sold through specialist shops and the Internet; here's a couple of sites to get you started: www.sticky.co.uk and www.widget.co.uk

SPLIT DECISION
Early last year I took advantage of a BT offer to install a second line at half the normal half price, specifically for linking to the Internet. I happened to be at home when the BT engineers called and was amazed that the entire process took only 20 minutes. The major part of the job seemingly to be the fitting of large plastic box adjacent to the main BT junction box. This, they told me, was something to do with "DACS" which is a system for converting a single line into two lines. It seems to have worked and I have had very few problems connecting to the Internet, through my 28800 modem. I have recently seen on a newsgroup I subscribe to, that, if using a "DACS" line, you cannot use a modem faster than 28800kbps. Does this mean it is pointless upgrading my modem!

Clem Clemett

A

The DACS or digital access carrier system splits a single line into two; a DACS is normally only fitted when there is insufficient capacity for a second line. A BT spokesman assured us that it shouldn’t have any effect on modems up to 33.3kbps but he went on to say that BT salespeople are supposed to ask the customer what they intend to use the line for. If it is for fast Internet access they should be advised to consider the Highway or ISDN digital options. His advice was that if you are having problems with faster modems ask BT to check the installation. We would be interested to hear from any readers who have had direct experience -- good or bad -- with a split line.

IN THE GROOVE

I wish to transfer some of my classical vinyl records to CD. Could you advise me on the process, including hardware and software required?

Danny Parashchak

A

For once a PC is not the obvious answer. The quickest, simplest and cheapest way of transferring LPs to CD is to connect a CD recorder/player to your hi-fi system. Prices start at around £210 for the Philips CDR-760. If you want to use a PC it will need to be a fairly recent Pentium or Pentium class machine with plenty of RAM memory (at least 32Mb, preferably more), plus it will have to be fitted with a CD writer drive (circa £200). Virtually all CD writers come with data and audio CD recording software and once installed is not difficult to use, assuming you are familiar with the ways of Windows.