When composing emails in Outlook Express, the I-Beam cursor regularly stops flicking and subsequently, if I am typing at the time, no text will appear. To start typing again, I must click the mouse in the window. Do you know what could be the problem? I have updated to Outlook Express 6 and have an updated version of Window 98 SE. (more…)

Recently I replaced an older Pentium PC running Windows 98 with a new HP 534a running Windows XP Home Edition. I also have a 3 year old HP4509 running Windows 98. Prior to this replacement I had a successful 2 computer local network with a computer to computer direct link. I have not been able to set up a similar network with the two HP computers - although I follow the network set-up wizard (Windows XP) and thence a set-up disc on the other. Running the ‘Repair’ program under the ‘Control Panel’ > ‘Networks’ > ‘Network Connection’ > Repair facility brings up the following message ‘The following steps of the operation failed: Renewing the IP address. Contact your network administrator or ISP’. Hope you can help. (more…)

When I type a wrong internet address in the Internet Explorer address bar, a page appears displaying ‘This page cannot be found’. How can I change it back so the MSN search appears? Also, I am also having problems with Lop.com. I visited some websites but have not downloaded their fixes as I do not know whether it is safe. Can you advise? (more…)

Until recently my computer behaved normally when switching on. Now, as the machine starts, the first page appears with the message ‘Floppy disk(s) fail (40)’. At the bottom of the page I am instructed to ‘Press F1 to continue’ and having dutifully pressed F1 the machine loads as normal. How do I get the computer to load without the fail notice? Second thing is when I download updates, particularly from Microsoft, the machine tells me that I have to reboot to get it all to work and asks whether I want to reboot now. When I click ‘Yes’ the machine shows a message that something illegal has happened and the computer will be closed down. After closing down I am never sure if the download has been successful or not as there are numerous occasions when the download has failed. Do you have any idea what the illegal action may be and how do I repair it? The computer ‘gets along alright’ according to a technician who recently replaced a part. (more…)

How can I change the speed of the Windows XP slide show? I suspect that the change will have to occur in the Registry. If this is the case, how would it be done? (more…)