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Q. I have a USB Western Digital solid state hard drive that is FAT 32. I wish to use it as a destination drive to back up images using Vista Ultimate (Backup and Restore Center). I need to convert it to NTFS. When I bring up the command prompt to convert (Convert x: /fs:ntfs where 'X' represents the drive which I want to convert) I get a message re the "volume". I cannot make any positive progression. Can I convert and if so how do I do so? A. This should be a straightforward procedure to carry out. Bring up My Computer; right click on the desired drive; select Format which will then allow you to convert to NTFS. Once you have converted, you cannot easily revert back to FAT. Q. (Email message) I am in Outlook Express Inbox. I highlight one e mail, select DELETE. It doesn't delete. It just stays there??? I go to another e mail and it will delete. Then another and it will NOT delete. I have tried about 25 now and more than half won't delete? What should I do? A. (Actually the questioner solved this situation himself after submitting the question. He had thousands of emails in the Delete Items Folder which apparently was corrupt. He deleted Outlook Express's Deleted Items.dbx folder. This solved the problem.) A corrupted Deleted Items folder in Outlook Express can cause such difficulty. By deleting the Deleted Items.dbx folder, it will "rebuild" a new one. To find this folder, click on Start; click Search; type in Deleted Items.dbx. If you have difficult using the Search tool, do the following: Open Outlook Express; click Tools; click Options; select the Maintenance tab; click the Store Folder button where a box should appear that contains the address (path) of all the .DBX files. For example, in my computer it is: C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{07A22484-B4C5-4C33-8E61-47AA41F844C9}\Microsoft\Outlook Express. Select, copy (CTRL + C) then paste (CTRL V) into the Address bar of Windows Explorer. All the .DBX files should appear in the left pane. Right click on the Deleted Items.dbx folder and select Delete. It is imperative that you not allow any Folder in Outlook Express to accumulate "thousands" of messages as this questioner did. It is also important to compress all the OE Folders when asked to do so. Q. I just installed Vista after using Windows XP for years. At my advanced age, among other things I find it difficult to manipulate the Start menu in the new operating system. Can you help? A. We know what you mean. A new operating system always takes time to learn. Until you get more acquainted with Vista, use the Classic view (similar to Windows XP) of the Start menu. To accomplish this, right click the Taskbar; click Properties; click the Start Menu tab then select the Classic Start Menu radio button and click Apply or click Customize to access further desired options. As you use Vista, you will gradually learn to use it more adeptly, including the Start menu. The following URL, which includes videos, is very helpful: http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/windows/en-us/demos.mspx Q. (Email message) Problem: Outlook Express has gone berserk. I no longer have the header for the home page that makes it easy to reply, forward, write new messages or delete. Don't know how it got lost but I can't find a way to retrieve it. Help would be appreciated. A. In reality, Outlook Express has not gone "berserk". You have simply lost the Toolbar. Bring up Outlook Express; click the View menu; click Layout and then check Toolbar and other items (NOT the Show Preview Pane) that you desire. This situation also applies to Window Mail in Vista. Q. Wanting to reduce the space that System Restore takes by default, I took steps to reduce this to about 400 MB. However, when using the imaging backup in Vista Ultimate, I ran into much difficulty. I then attempted to increase System Restore space to 4GB but was lost in trying to do this. A. This problem was experienced by me, creator of this column. One of my computer club colleagues, Gael Miller, solved this frustrating situation by sending me the following URL: http://www.vista4beginners.com/System-Restore-Space-Used. This Web page points out in order to configure the amount of space used by System Restore, you need to use a tool called Volume Shadow Copy Administrative Command-Line Tool (or vssadmin.exe). I am now able to use Vista Backup and Restore successfully. This state of affairs typifies how Vista has changed in certain situations from Windows XP in accomplishing the same thing only in a different manner. In this circumstance i.e. manipulating the System Restore hard drive space, the previous operating system actually is much simpler. Q. (Email message) We have had a spam email coming to us daily for the past 2 or 3 weeks. We know how to "Block the Sender" but now the sender keeps changing their email address but the Subject line has always been the same. Does anyone know how to block the Subject Line? A. (The questioner is using Outlook Express). Obviously, you unknowingly made your email address available to this particular sender. These "bad guys" have unique ways to sending spam e.g. changing one letter which renders the "block" useless. You might share your problem with your ISP e.g. Suddenlink.net. Set your Internet browser security settings appropriately. As we have stressed in this column, never open email from someone you do not know especially attachments. Never click on pop ups. Never reveal your email address on Internet sites or boards. If the subject line contains an obvious word that offends you e.g. sex, Viagra , you can bring up Outlook Express; click on Tools; click on Message Rules; select Mail; select Mail rules; click on New; click on select conditions for your rule then Where the subject line contains specific words. It seems as though using Block Sender for spam is usually fruitless e.g. the spammer can change one letter resulting in a block that does not work. You always have the option of changing email
programs but the spammers will mostly likely find you
again. Many of us use several email programs. A. I am sure that you have heard the old adage i.e. "if it ain't broke don't fix it". Generally, this is true. Obviously, you should consider an update if you experience a performance or operating problem with a device. However, it is wise to occasionally go to the manufacturer's Web site to review the situation with updates. There might be available a more recent one that will enhance the performance of your device. If you download a new update and experience difficulty, you can always roll back to the previous update. This can be accomplished by going to the Device Manager. In Windows XP, right click on My Computer; click on Hardware tab; click Device Manager. In Vista, right click on Computer; click Properties; click Device Manager in left pane. Q. (Email address) Is the following procedure safe? Worth it? Go to START/RUN type in "PREFETCH" When you get the long list select all and hit delete. Next XP boot will rebuild the list with only those applications actually used. Will make boot up time faster. CORRECT? SAFE? WORTH IT? A. (The questioner uses Windows XP). The procedure that you outline to safely empty the Prefetch is essentially correct. Microsoft created this special folder to supposedly assist in starting programs more rapidly. The possibility arises that this process will make this folder bloated and then actually slow down your computer. Some argue that if you "clean out" this folder that some programs will start more slowly as you state, the list will be rebuilt. If you have many programs that you no longer use, this purging procedure may be very helpful. Admittedly, this is a controversial issue. I personally empty the folder periodically and have not noted any difference one way or the other. As a retired physician, I compare the procedure to using an enema in patients with a bloated gastro-intestinal tract. _______________________________________________________________________________________ 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: |
