FAQS! FACTS! FAX! 163 (25/05/99)

PASS FRIEND

Do you know if it is possible to password protect a home PC at the top level, i.e. prior to reaching the Windows 95 Desktop? It is surprising that this is not a standard feature.

Wayne Porter, Derbyn

A

There are a number of programs that will stop Windows from loading, unless a password is first entered, there's a good selection at: www.download.com/ look under Utilities and then Security & Encryption. A small freeware program called Jammer 1.5 might be just what you are looking for. However, this type of software offers only low level protection since it is very easy to access and copy files on the PCs hard disc, before Windows is loaded. A lot of PCs have a password protection facility built in their BIOS programs. This is a much better bet since it stops the PC booting up, preventing access to the hard disc drive. Check your PC's manual for details or (for more experienced users) follow the on-screen prompts after switch-on, to enter 'setup'. However, the only sure way to stop a determined hacker is to encrypt sensitive data, so that even if the files are opened they cannot be read. You will find a number of suitable encryption programs at the web address mentioned earlier.

KEY NOTES

Your answer to "Key Questions" (F!F!F! May 13) solved some of my problems, but I still have to deal with things like accents and cedillas when I occasionally use foreign words. Help in Word 97 offers a cumbersome solution via "type international characters", but this can involve up to 4 key-presses. My previous computer (I am a reluctant refugee from Acorn RISC-OS) had available a small window in which all the symbols and characters which I could possibly want were available at the click of a mouse, in whatever font I happened to be using.
Peter Baldwin

I find it useful to have the Character Map directly on the Desktop (F!F!F! May 13th).  However, is there a simple way to use say, a degree sign, in a Word document? I usually put it on to the clipboard before I start via the Select and Copy instructions and Paste it when I need it. This precludes being able to use the clipboard for anything else meanwhile! The key assignment is Alt+0186 but I can't get this to work, what am I doing wrong?
Ken Mason, Loughborough

A

You can assign a frequently used symbol or special character to a keyboard shortcut. In Word 97 click on Symbol on the Insert menu, select the font and then the character you want to use, click the Shortcut Key button and choose a key combination, Word will tell you if it has already been assigned. The 'Alt + XXXX' command only works with the numeric keypad on the right side of the keyboard, first press Num Lock, press and hold the Alt key, then tap in the numbers.

GRID LOCKED

Could you help a person who is paralysed from the neck down and who enjoys trying to solve crosswords, but has to rely on someone to write in the solutions. She uses a voice-activated programme and has a scanner. The problem is to scan the crossword skeleton and put it on the monitor screen in Word in such a way that she can fill in the clues with the voice activator. Is there any way that the crossword skeleton can be scanned so that the answers can be written in on the monitor screen?
Michael Rhodes

A

This proved to be quite a challenge but we have come up with two possible solutions. The first is to recreate the grid with the Table function in Word, using the Fill function on the Drawing toolbar to black in squares. The second method is a bit more complicated. Scan the grid and save it as a JPEG image file, we used PaintShop Pro to tidy it up. Next open a new page in Word in Page Layout mode, create a text box (Insert menu), size it so that it is roughly the same size and shape as the grid and go to the Table menu. Click on Insert Table and enter the appropriate column and row numbers. You can drag the edges of the table and use the Distribute Rows and Columns Evenly commands on the Table menu to get square-shaped 'cells'. Go to the insert menu and Insert the picture onto the page. Call up the Picture Toolbar (View, Toolbars) and use the Set Transparent Colour tool to make the white squares see-through; we found it was necessary to repeat this step two or three times. Drag the now see-through image of the grid over the table and re-size so that the squares line up with the table behind. It’s a good idea to leave the edge of the table exposed so you can click in a text cursor. It should be possible to move the cursor around the table and insert characters using most voice recognition packages that are compatible with Word. It's not very elegant but it works. Needless to say we will be happy to pass on any simpler solutions.

POWER TRIP
When we returned from the USA we found that our Epson Stylus 600 could only work on USA mains power, not the 240 volts used in the UK. Where can we buy a transformer, either here or in the States, which would allow us to use it?
Thomas C. Jamieson

A

Most good electrical suppliers should be able to provide you with a US to UK mains converter. In case of difficulty you can order one from Maplin Electronics, they stock several models. The Tacima Autotransformer (part no NJ98G) should do the trick. It's built into an UK mains plug adaptor module, with a US style socket on the back and it costs around £20. Maplin Electronics can be contacted on (01702) 554000 or: www.maplin.co.uk

POSTAL PROBLEMS?

Has anyone else been receiving e-mails, via Freeserve, that were not addressed to them, but had their surname as part of the address? I have recently received three that were all addressed to someone else with the same surname as mine. I thought that this was not supposed to happen. This may not be unique to Freeserve and so it would be interesting to know if it is happening with other servers.
Len DesBois

A

In the past few weeks we have heard from only two other Freeserve users receiving other people's email, so there doesn't seem to be a major problem, considering the number of people now using the service. In fact we would be surprised if one or two messages didn't go astray, nevertheless, a Freeserve spokesperson insisted that there is no fault in the system, senders are simply putting in the wrong addresses. Unless we hear differently we'll leave it at that…

PRINT HINTS

As a new PC user I could fill your column with questions but one thing I would like to know is how to print an e-mail photograph, on glossy paper, without having to print a couple of pages of text?
Robin Kenneth Pinder

A

Right-click on image icon in the mail window and select Print, or right click the image, select Copy to send it to the Clipboard. Paste (or use Ctrl + V) the image into a blank word processor document, or page on your chosen paint or graphics program, then size and print it from there. Or, drag and drop the image onto an open word processor or paint program window.