This tip is for those who store their documents in a different location to the default My Documents location (C:Documents and SettingsMy Documents) in Windows XP. You can change the target of the My Documents shortcut which is found in the Start Menu, Desktop, Windows Explorer, etc. To do this, right-click on the My Documents shortcut and click ‘Properties’. In the window that appears, click the ‘Target’ tab. Here you can change the target folder of My Documents. This can be useful if, for example, you store the My Documents on another computer in your house, such as a server computer. (more…)

Recently when deleting a few things from the Control Panel to help speed-up the computer, I mistakenly deleted ‘Multimedia Audio Device’. Now I have no sound on the computer. I have tried reinstalling the device but it does not work. The computer is running Windows XP. (more…)

After turning on the computer and starting Windows, there is a delay (approximately 2 minutes) before Internet Explorer runs and connects to the internet. However, there is no corresponding delay for Outlook, which seems to connect to my email account quickly and checks for emails straight away. Strangely, the delay is not experienced when I turn the computer on and wait 2 or so minutes before logging on to my user name (i.e. wait for the period of the delay). After I have waited in this fashion, and then logged on, Windows starts normally and Internet Explorer connects straight away. The computer is running Windows XP and connects to the internet using TransACT via a wireless router (although I experience a similar delay when directly connected via a cable). Why the delay for Internet Explorer connecting to the internet, but not for Outlook? (more…)

Recently I have been unable to access web pages and email unless I disable Norton Internet Security. The problem only occurred in the past few weeks, so I am unsure as to the cause. The computer is running Windows XP Home Edition. My ISP claims it is not their fault but is a problem with the Norton Internet Security configuration. (more…)

In the past I have set the Windows XP Power Options to turn off the monitor (i.e. put the monitor into power saving/standby mode) after 1 hour of inactivity. However, this setting no longer works. I have tried a few different time periods, and found that setting the turn off time to 1 or 2 minutes works, but it does not work for longer periods. (more…)