When I attempt to empty the Deleted Items folder in Microsoft Outlook 2007 a confirmation message appears saying “Are you sure you want to permanently delete the selected item”. When I click “Yes” another message appears saying “Unknown error has stopped deletion” and none of the messages are deleted. How can I delete messages from Outlook? The computer is running Windows Vista. (more…)

My newly purchased computer runs Windows Vista. After having been totally familiar with the workings of Windows XP I now need to learn all the new Vista features. In particular, one Vista “feature” is causing me great problems. I have downloaded two simple programs, which I frequently used on my old Windows XP computer, and Vista is refusing to install these programs. Whenever I double-click on the installer file a message appears saying “The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect”. Both installers are located on the Desktop in the C:\Users\\Desktop folder (the default folder for downloads). (more…)

There is an excellent free utility offered by Sysinternals (now owned by Microsoft) called Process Monitor. This allows you to monitor changes happening to files, Windows registry, network and processes in real-time. This is a fantastic utility for finding what files or registry entries a particular program or process is modifying. I used this recently so I could change some configuration settings for a program installed on my computer and then figure out which file was being used to save those settings. I could then copy that configuration file to other computers so they would have the same settings. Process Monitor is available for free download from

When my computer returns from sleep or standby mode the attached Canon LIDE 25 USB scanner loses connection to the computer. This can be remedied by unplugging and reconnecting the USB cable. How can I stop this from happening? Changing the USB cable and the USB port does not fix the problem. The computer is running Windows XP. (more…)

An intermittent problem with my CD/DVD has become chronic. The drive has on occasion been unable to read CDs, particularly games CDs. When I insert a CD into the drive Windows does not recognise the CD and Windows Explorer simply shows the CD drive as empty and not having a disc inserted. However, if I leave the CD in the drive I am able to launch games which need to use the CD, yet Windows will not recognise the CD as being inserted in the drive. Windows Device Manager says the drive is operating correctly and when I insert a CD the drive light blinks indicating that power is going to the drive. Uninstalling then reinstalling the drive does not fix the problem. I have also blasted the CD drive internals with compressed air, in case there was any dust or alike clogging the internals of the drive, but this has not fixed the problem. The computer is running Windows XP SP2. (more…)