Windows Tips

Infopackets Reader Fred G. writes: " Dear Dennis, I love your newsletter. I just finished reading the last issue of the Gazette (regarding how to sort the Start Menu) and have a related question. I know there is a way to alphabetize your all ... programs menu -- but is there a way to apply this setting for all users that log into the computer? If so, can you please list the instructions again in the newsletter? Thanks again and keep up the great job! " My response: As far as I understand, the Start Menu appearance (with respect to how it is sorted) is different for each user account ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Diane M. writes: " Dear Dennis, When I go to Start -> Programs, the list is so big, I find it hard to navigate and find the application that I want to launch. Is there a way I can organize the information in my Start Menu? " My ... response: Yes. Click Start -> place mouse over top of Programs Folder, then right-click the mouse and choose 'Explore All Users'. An Explorer Window will appear; simply organize your list of programs into a hierarchy and delete the ones you don't need. Note that deleting the icons in your Start Menu will not remove the program from ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader John L. writes: " Dear Dennis, I recently used Windows Movie Maker to create a video compilation. When I was finished editing the project, I clicked the 'send to CD' button, which then launched a Movie Maker Wizard. The wizard ... took me step by step and explained how to convert my project into a Windows Media Audio/Video file and ultimately burn it to CD. I chose to burn the file to CD-R so that I could play it in my DVD player; however, near the end of the burn, Windows Media Maker reported that the project "did not save successfully". After I clicked OK, I ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader John W. writes: " I have a Dell PC and it came with Jasc Paint Shop Pro [picture editor software] installed. After a few months of operation, a screen came up and told me that the trial period for Paint Shop Pro (PSP) had expired. ... I had never used it, so I uninstalled it as PSP cost over $100 to buy the program. After doing this I could no longer open attachments in my Outlook Express. I guess that part of Paint Shop Pro was used to view my email image attachments for Outlook Express. I went searching for a viewer to install and came across a page on the Internet that ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Fran K. writes: " Dear Dennis, I have used some of my DVD-R disks to copy some of my old family movies, a couple I messed up on and won't let me copy anything else to them. Is there any kind of program that will let you recover or ... reuse the DVDs? " My response: Good question. The simple answer is that it is not possible to reclaim space on DVD-R or DVD+R media. However, providing that the disc you made is multi-session (IE: you specified that you can write more than once to the disc the first time you wrote to it) *and* you have a considerable amount of space ... (view more)

Recall -- Last week , Infopackets Reader Paul H. had problems accessing his Kodak camera after upgrading to the latest revision of Kodak Easy Share camera software. Paul wrote: " I have a Kodak DX3600 camera equipped with a 'docking' unit. I ... upgraded the camera software (from version 1.2 to latest revision), but can no longer transfer pictures from my camera to the computer (I am using Windows 2000, by the way) ... Are you aware of any fixes, or should I just use this thing for a fishing weight? " In my response, I suggested that Paul upgrade his USB driver in hopes of resolving the ... (view more)

Recall -- Yesterday , Infopackets Reader Bill 'Mr Full Service' asked if there was a way to search for text inside of multiple documents (stored in multiple areas) on his computer: " I have a question for you about bookmark managers, or similar ... software. Do you know of any program that can search MS Word documents on your computer for web links (URLs) [or any text, for that matter]? Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated! " In my response , I suggested Bill use the built-in Search function in Windows XP, which has the capability to locate certain text in document files. I ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Paul H. writes: " Dear Dennis, I have a Kodak DX3600 camera equipped with a 'docking' unit. I upgraded the camera software (from version 1.2 to latest revision), but can no longer transfer pictures from my camera to the computer ... (I am using Windows 2000, by the way). To resolve this dilemma, I sought a local computer 'expert' to contemplate my problem, but he could not produce a solution. I have done everything that Kodak has suggested over at their web site with no luck. I am one of several people in my area who has the same problem with their Kodak software. Are you ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Bill 'Mr Full Service' writes: " Dear Dennis, Great newsletter! I've enjoyed it for a couple years now. I have a question for you about bookmark managers, or similar software. Do you know of any program that can search MS Word ... documents on your computer for web links (URLs)? Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated! " My response: If you own Windows XP, you can search for text in documents by using an advanced option in the Search dialogue menu. To do so, click Start -> Search -> Files / Folders -> Documents -> use Advanced search options - ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Ted B. writes: " Dear Dennis, I'm stumped! An elderly lady recently came into the shop and needed help with wireless networking (802.11) between her older Hewlett Packard computer (running Windows 98SE) and her XP notebook. ... Unfortunately, we could not get the connections working. She had opted for a wireless network because she did not want to run a long cord from her bedroom to her living room to connect the two computers. The representative at the Motorola help-desk told me (several times) that we had to buy a router as a source point before the two computers could ... (view more)