FAQS! FACTS! FAX! 157 (15/04/99)

WRITE TO LIFE
I have bought a CD-Writer and installed it on top of my existing CD-ROM, the idea being that I would use both and reduce wear and tear on the (expensive) CD-Writer. However, I cannot seem to get any sound from the CD-ROM drive. Can you help? Does using the CD-Writer for bog standard CD-ROM functions reduce its life?

Robert Li

A

If you have suddenly lost the ability to play audio CDs on your original CD-ROM drive it is likely that the audio cable was dislodged during installation. It plugs into a small socket on the back of the drive the other end goes to the sound card or a socket on the motherboard. You will only be able to hear audio CDs on one of the two drives (the one with the audio lead). In general wear and tear is not an issue with CD-ROM drives and CD Writers, there are only a few moving parts and the disc never comes into contact with the optical read/write head. You needn't worry about shortening its life by using it, in any case the technology is likely to be outmoded by DVD-ROM/RAM and other components in your PC will probably fail long before your drive will have a chance to expire.

LOST LINE DOWN

I have a problem with Word 97. I used to be able to highlight text with the shift/arrow keys, but after I upgraded to a larger hard drive and re-installed the programs, this does not work. I have re-installed Word again to no avail. Have you any ideas?
John Wilkinson

A

The keyboard command you describe is called LineDownExtend, we can't think of any good reason why it is disabled. On the assumption that other Word functions are working normally you should be able to re-instate it by selecting Customise on the Tools menu, click the Keyboard button and in the Categories window scroll down to find and highlight All Commands. In the Commands window look down the list for LineDownExtend, highlight it, click a cursor into the Press New Shortcut Key field and press the shift and down arrow keys, click assign and all should be well.

DATE WITH A VIRUS

It seems that many viruses are date sensitive. Since computers are very literal, if one turned off the computer from April 25th to April 27th, say, would a virus that is set to trigger on April 26th still be activated or would it just wait until April 26th next year?
Sheila Sherwood

A

Virus behaviour varies enormously, leaving your PC switched off on a trigger date may well prevent infection of some varieties but this is hardly an effective strategy. It is far better to have up to date virus scanner software on your machine and use it, along with taking sensible precautions when loading programs or data onto your PC.

MULTIPLE ISPS

I have been connected with OrangeNet since last May. You may be aware that it has gone into liquidation but Onet is continuing the service. Is it possible to connect to more than one ISP (as there are several free ISPs around) to avoid being completely disconnected as I was for nearly a fortnight last month? Are there any problems likely to arise by using more than one ISP?
Chris Dursley

A

It depends on your browser and e-mail client software but if you are using plain vanilla Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator you can sign up to multiple ISPs. Difficulties can arise when using custom browsers or versions supplied by the ISP. Some of them mess around with settings, change the browser's appearance and even disable other ISP accounts. It is often possible to sign up on-line by going to the ISP's web site, rather than using an installation CD-ROM. Normally it is quite straightforward -- especially if you've signed up to an internet account before -- and you shouldn't get any unwanted icons or buttons.   

LEAVE WELL ALONE
Having, in a moment of total mental aberration, done the unthinkable and deleted an unwanted application by sending it to the Recycle Bin, what is the best thing to do now? Unsurprisingly, the Bin is full of hundreds of strange looking titles. I hesitate to empty it, although everything seems to be working OK and I think, maybe, I have got away with it. What is your advice?
Jean Wright

A

Unless you actually need to recover disc space you might as well leave emptying the bin until you next run Scan Disc and Defrag (see Boot Camp on Spring Cleaning April 1st). If it 'ain't broke don't fix it, if your machine and software are behaving normally leave well alone. If you do change your mind, or the PC starts acting up, you can re-instate anything in the Recycle Bin by highlighting the item and clicking on Undo Delete on the Edit menu. 

IRRITATING ICON
Further to your previous correspondence on the subject of getting rid of the WnetGetUser message, I followed the instructions (F!F!F! March 25th and April 1st) and now find I have a "Network Neighbourhood" icon on my desktop. How can I get rid of this (not having a network)?
Robert Budd

A

The Network Neighbourhood icon is protected so you can't simply delete it; it's doing no harm so you might want to leave it alone. If you are determined to get rid of it use Tweak UI. This handy utility is available from the Microsoft web site, magazine cover-mount CD Roms, or your Windows 98 installation disc.

CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS

Your reply to Peter Gray's request for an anagram solver (F!F!F! April 1st) missed the Rolls Royce of the genre, Anagram Genius: http://www.genius2000.com/. Within a minute or so I found for 'Connected' CE contend? and Decent con!
Mick Tully

I can recommend Chambers dictionary on CD-ROM. It does not deal with anagrams but it is possible to search the whole dictionary for headwords or a particular word, words or a pattern of letters in the definition.

Charles R. Wass

There is an excellent program called "Crossword Maestro" by Genius 2000 Software (www.genius2000.com/) that not only creates grids but also solves cryptic clues, telling you how it reaches its conclusion. Highly recommended!
Colin Payne

Peter Gray may be interested in 'WordWizard' from Coda Software phone: (0161) 330 0184.
Joe Guerin

I use PuzzLex from PuzzLex Ltd., phone (01782) 287962.
Howard M. Knight, Portishead, Bristol

The crossword and anagram solver I prefer is Turbo Solve Pro, which was included on the cover disc of the November 1998 Personal Computer World.
H. H. Shipley, Letchworth Garden City, Herts

Take a look at www.bryson.demon.co.uk and The Electronic ALveary (TEA). It is remarkably powerful, has an easy to use GUI interface (unlike your recommendation). Bill Parker

I recommend "Crossword Companion" by Future Trend Enterprise (fte.service@net.ntl.com), which I have found to be an excellent shareware program for finding words with letter gaps. It can be downloaded (2.8Mb) from http://fteservice.hypermart.net/ftecwc41.zip.

Brian Walker

 I have been using Crossword Finisher from Simple Software at (http://www.simplesoftware.co.uk), it's a great programme and one that enables you to print the results of the search.
P. Adams

A

Very many thanks to everyone who wrote in.