In a previous column you outlined how to sort Internet Explorer favourites by name. However, when I go into Internet Explorer then open the “Favourites” menu and right-click on a folder to sort there is no option to “Sort by Name”. Instead the only options are: Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, Rename, and Properties. The computer is running Windows XP with Internet Explorer

This is certainly strange, as you should definitely have the “Sort by Name” option in the menu. The most likely explanation for this issue is because you are right-clicking on a folder in the Favourites menu. Instead of right-clicking on the folder try right-clicking within the folder. For example, if you wish to sort the folder “Cars” within your Favourites menu then highlight the “Cars” folder so it expands, and then right-click on a shortcut in the Cars folder. You should then be presented with a menu which has the option to “Sort by Name”. This should be the second-last option in the menu, directly above “Properties”.

If you still do not have a “Sort by Name” option the only other explanation is there is something wrong with your installation of Internet Explorer, although I find it unusual that a problem with Internet Explorer could result in a complete feature being lost. I suggest that you try updating to the latest version of Internet Explorer which, at the time of writing, is Internet Explorer 8. This can be downloaded from Windows Update (windowsupdate.microsoft.com). In any case, it is always advisable to update to the latest version of Internet Explorer since it is tightly integrated into Windows and the latest version offers many more enhancements, particularly security improvements, over previous versions.