Q. (Email message) What is the difference between Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Outlook Express?
A. (The questioner is using Outlook Express and Windows XP). Most computer users, like you who use their computers for routine email usage, use Outlook Express which is part of the Windows XP operating system. I have used Outlook Express (plus Yahoo and Gmail) through the years and have found this to meet our own personal needs. Those who expect more of their email program e.g. businesses, tend to use Outlook. The latter is part of the MS Office suite.
The following URL lists the features found in Outlook not available with OE: http://tinyurl.com/2xpt4s. These are:
Another good URL is: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA101650261033.aspx:
Recently, Microsoft made Windows Live Mail available as a free download at http://get.live.com/wlmail/overview. It is a program which is similar to Outlook Express and Windows Mail (Vista). It has enhancements for those who want more in an email program.
Q. (Email message) What is the best way to erase a hard drive before taking your CPU to a recycle center? Thanks...
A. I have addressed this question several times in this column. It is wise to make certain that your old hard drive personal information is completely "erased" whenever you get rid of your old machine including taking it to a recycle center. Simply deleting folders and files is not sufficient to protect important data e.g. financial, business and medical. Even a full format of the hard drive is not sufficient prophylaxis as this process only erases the address tables. Methods are readily available to retrieve data under these circumstances. There are unscrupulous people who would love the opportunity and have the expertise to do so.
Many procedures have been advocated to insure destruction of data on the hard drive. These include physical procedures from using a sledge hammer to using software.
It seems to me that destroying a functioning hard drive should be avoided if possible. One good alternative is to use it as a backup on your new computer. I have used one of our old machines to install Linux (Ubuntu), a free open source operating system, on one of the removable drives. Windows XP is still on the other removable drive. There are even methods of retaining the operating system intact and yet making certain that the confidential data can never be retrieved. This might provide someone the use of a workable computer.
Disk wiping is a much more secure method than formatting prior to recycling or donating your computer. This process overwrites the entire hard drive (master boot record, partitions and all sectors with data e.g. zero (0) or one (1) many times. One of the most popular programs to carry out this function is Eraser. It is free and available at http://www.heidi.ie/eraser/.
Q. (Email message) I got a notice on my AVG virus scanner file that a virus had been located and put into the "vault". It said my computer was safe for now. How do I get rid of the virus in the "safe vault"?
A. Open AVG to its Control Center; select Virus Vault; click the Open button; click on the Action Menu then click on Delete Files(s) or Empty Vault. That should do it.
Q. I have a new computer with Vista. How can I tell if my computer's system is 64 bit or 32 bit?
A. One way to do so is open Vista, click on the Start Button, type in welcome at the Start Search (bottom of the window) and hit Enter to bring up the Welcome Center. Click on View computer details, look at System type. (This window also lists your Processor chip speed and amount of RAM.)
Q. (Email message) I have windows XP with IE7 but I get the message that internet explorer add ons are disabled. My questions is: How do I enable add ons in IE7. For the life of me, cannot find an answer. Your help is much appreciated.
A. The following is a quote from http://tinyurl.com/62fsyc:
"Your Add ons are disabled as a part of the Reset IE Settings feature. To get the Add Ons to work again, go to Tools --> Manage Add Ons --> Enable or Disable Add Ons. Change the Drop down to "Add Ons currently loaded in Internet Explorer". Click on Publisher column to sort the list by Publisher. Select individual rows and select the Enable radio button to selectively enable controls. Some toolbars may require a corresponding BHO provided by the same publisher to be enabled for them to work fine. Thus you might want to enable all controls by publishers you trust. Also, you can selectively enable controls to trouble shoot what could have caused the initial problem you were facing."
Q. (Email message) I want to send a Midi file within the message to a Birthday Boy. How do I include this file in Windows Mail?
A. (The questioner uses Window Mail (Vista) and wants music to come up when the message is opened). Open Windows Mail; click on Create Mail; click on the Format menu; click on Background from the menu; click on Sound then click on the Browse button. Find the Midi file desired and then choose the number of times you want the music to play; click OK. Send your message.
Q. (Email message) I have been wondering: Is there an easy way to find the largest programs on a hard drive?
A. (The questioner is using Vista and did not state why she wanted this information). In Vista, click on Start; click Control Panel (Classic); click on Program and Features; click the View menu (select Details); click on Size (Header) to arrange programs according to size. This will give you a "ball park" figure of the largest to smallest sized programs on your hard drive.
In Windows XP, click Start; click Control Panel then Add/Remove Programs. Arrange the size of programs as in the above.
Q. Using Windows XP, when I click on Run and type in "ipconfig", I get a window that comes then disappears quickly. How can I determine the ipconfig?
A. (The questioner uses Window XP) I have also experienced this problem. One way to determine your ipconfig is to click Start; click All Programs; click Accessories; click on Command Prompt. Type "ipconfig" at the Prompt e.g. C:\Users\your name. It is essentially done the same way in Vista. Another way in both operating systems is to click on Start; select Run and type in "cmd" to bring up the Command Prompt.
Q. I use Windows Mail (Vista). I would like to have it download new messages from my ISP (Cable) every one hour. How can I accomplish this?
A. Click on Start (Orb); select Windows Mail; click on the Tools menu; click on Options; click the General tab; deselect the Send And Receive Messages At Startup; check the box for Check For New Messages Every x Minutes then use arrows next to the Minutes field to select 60. You should then choose the desired option at the drop-down menu i.e. If My Computer Is Not Connected At This Time; click Apply and OK.
If you have any questions and/or answers that you think might be of general interest to your fellow Computer Club members, send an email to: