For some reason I can no longer update Ad-Aware with the latest definition files. In an attempt to fix this problem I tried downloading the latest version of Ad-Aware from their website, but I could not find the free download link, only links for the paid versions. At the moment I am just running the old version on the computer with no updates. A second question relates to 2000 slides which I would like to scan and copy to DVD. One of my friends purchased a Canon Pixma MP800 that scans slides, but this is also a printer and a photocopier. I don’t really like multifunction products, as when one function breaks you lose the entire product until that function has been repaired. Are you aware of any dedicated slide scanners, and do you know anything about the resolution and quality of the scanned slide? Finally, I am looking for a small portable printer that I can use in the caravan when camping. Do such products exist?

You have certainly raised some interesting issues with your question! First, without knowing the exact error message you are encountering, it will be difficult to determine why Ad-Aware is not updating. As you have already attempted, you could try to download the latest version of Ad-Aware SE Personal (which is the free edition of the software) from the Lavasoft website (the people who make Ad-Aware). Occasionally the free version of such products can be a bit tricky to find on the manufacturer’s website, as they tend to promote the paid products a bit more than the free versions. When researching your question, I found that Lavasoft have recently redesigned their website making it much easier to find the free version. To find the free version of Ad-Aware, go to the Lavasoft website (www.lavasoft.de) and on the right-hand side you should see a graphic table with Personal, Plus and Pro. Under the ‘Personal’ heading click the ‘Get it!’ button. That will take you to the Download.com page where you can download Ad-Aware SE Personal. Before installing the newly downloaded version of Ad-Aware, make sure the existing version of Ad-Aware installed on the computer has been uninstalled. Once this has been uninstalled, install the newly downloaded version. Then, run the software and download the latest updates. If you still have problems updating the software then please contact me again with any relevant errors messages and I will try to help you further.

Regarding your second question, I have found multifunction devices these days are very good, and just because one function breaks this does not necessarily mean you can’t use the other functions. For example, if the printer function breaks this doesn’t always mean the scanner will not work (as it really depends on the particulars of the problem). The real advantage of using a multifunction device for slide scanning is that it is relatively inexpensive. For example, the Canon Pixma MP800 as mentioned in your question costs around $350 - $400. However, this has the major disadvantage that you can only scan up to 4 slides at a time. In contrast, if you wanted to purchase a dedicated slide scanner, such as a Nikon scanner, you would be looking at around $800 - $900. However, these can scan batches of around 50 slides at a time. That said, you need to consider whether this would be a worthwhile purchase since after you have scanned the 2000 slides do you need an expensive scanner and will it be worthwhile once you have scanned those slides? The bottom line is that both types of slide scanners, multifunction and dedicated are available, so the decision about which would suit you best is your decision. The quality of the scanned slides really depends on the scanner, so I would recommend having a look at reviews of the scanners prior to purchase to see samples indicating the quality of the scans.

Finally, you will be glad to hear that you can purchase compact footprint printers. As one example, you can purchase a Canon Pixma IP90 compact printer for around $450. Be aware, you will generally pay a premium for such small printers, given their smaller size and features designed for portable printing (such as infrared and Bluetooth connectivity).

As a final note, please be aware that I am not recommending the aforementioned products, as I have not had an opportunity to test the products. However, this does give you an idea about the availability of products that meet your criteria. Before purchasing, I strongly recommend you read reviews (especially user reviews) of the products, for an indication of how these products perform in the real-world and whether they might meet your needs.