IT Queries: Computer problems answered

Is there a type of email that has a time expiry to it – so that it refuses to allow itself to be seen again after a particular elapsed time after viewing it ?

But no matter how many time we do go back, that same message is all we get.

The problem is the email, or the images in it, are hosted on your friend’s server. This means the email isn’t actually on your machine, but sits on your friend’s Internet provider’s server.

It is possible your friend’s ISP has deleted the message however it might also be the email program you are using is blocking access for security reasons.

Try opening your email account through webmail and see if it works.

Incidentally, this problem can also appear with Firefox not displaying certain web pages or images. Internet Explorer doesn’t seem to have this problem. Again, this is probably a security issue.

All told, it might be better to get your friend to re-send the message and to make sure any images are embedded in the document.

I have just bought a Ipod shuffle and have not been able to sync my music and I get an error message unknown error 1418. I have tried with out success is any one able to help??

It sounds like there is a problem with the disk format. The first thing to do is format the disk. On the Mac do the following;

Open the Disk Utility: In your hard drive, go to Applications, Utilities and Open the Disk Utility, your iPod should appear on left hand side.

Erase the iPod: Hightlight the drive, click the “Erase” tab, choose Volume Format as “MAC OS Extended (Journaled) if you only use it on the Mac, or MS-DOS if you might connect the iPod to a Windows system.

If you want to be sure the iPod has been fully wiped tick the “Zero Out Data” in the security options. This can take hours and you must not interrupt it.

Finally click Erase, leave it until it is wiped then eject it. Restart your computer, update iTunes and try again.

If it still doesn’t work on the computer, try it on another. If that still fails return it to the shop for a replacement.

I have just bought a Ipod shuffle and have not been able to sync my music from my desk top (windows XP sp2) error messages are, could not find required disk and unknown error 1418. I have tried with out success is any one able to help??

It sounds like there is a problem with the disk format. The first thing to do is format the disk. In Windows, open My Computer, the iPod should appear there as a device. Right click it and choose Format.

The format settings should be as follows;

Capacity: The full size of the iPod.
File System: FAT 32
Allocation Unit Size: Default Allocation Size
Volume Label: Can be anything you like

The format options are important, none of the options should be ticked.

Click start, leave it until it is reformatted then eject it. Restart your computer, update iTunes and try again.

If it still doesn’t work on the computer, try it on another. If that still fails return it to the shop for a replacement.

I can receive email through Outlook express but can’t send so I have to go through my server account which receives and sends. What is the problem please and how can get back sending through Outlook ?

Philip

Hi Philip,

This sounds like a firewall problem. The firewall has decided it doesn’t trust Outlook Express to send data so it blocks access to the net.

To resolve this, you’ll have to reset the firewall, tell it to trust your email provider or manually allow Outlook Express to send outbound data.

With the built in Windows firewall, you can allow this by clicking Start, Settings and opening the Control Panel. In there, you can go to Window Firewall.

In the Windows Firewall settings, click on the Exceptions tab, scroll down to Outlook Express and ensure it is ticked. In the advanced scope section ports 21 and 25 should be allowed from all Internet addresses.

If you are using a different firewall, you’ll have to check Outlook Express is listed as a trusted application. You should also add your Internet provider’s mail server as a trusted address.

Usually we find it’s easier to just reset the firewall and then put up with two days of being nagged when your computer tries to get anything off the network or Internet.

Troubleshooting these programs can be difficult as every one is different, if you do find yourself stuck then you should call for a tech to help out.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays from IT Queries.

If you are struggling with setting up a new computer, visit our sister website PC Rescue for a quick check list on what to do if you’re being challenged by a Christmas gift.

I can only get to the internet via dial-up as I live outside a country town too far from the exchange for ADSL.

My problem is quite often my connection is clogged up with (I assume) downloading updates for the various “nasty checkers” I have loaded, ie. the status window is showing constant traffic in both directions (mainly down). Is there any way that I can check what this traffic is and where its coming from, and how to stop it until I don’t have more pressing matters.

There are a number of programs that can do this for you. A favourite free one is Netlimiter. However the results won’t tell you much unless you are an experienced computer user.

Unfortunately a lot of websites and Internet applications are demanding on your Internet connect and require a broadband connection to get all their info down.

Another problem is many applications are constantly ringing home to check for updates. It’s best to turn off automatically loading programs like Quick Time, Real Player and Java that can slow your computer down. We describe how to use the Microsoft System Configuration Manager to turn these off in a previous post.

You can also disable the Windows automatic update by going into the Control Panel, by clicking the Start Button, Settings and Control Panel. Then choosing Automatic Updates and changing the setting to “Notify me but don’t automatically download or install them”.

Finally, you might have a virus or trojan infection on your computer. We’d recommend following our removing a Trojan instructions to make sure your computer is clean.

If all of this is too much, you may want to call in a computer tech to have a look at how your computer’s performance can be improved.

I have a problem using the Drop Down Form Field in Microsoft Word. After I input the required data and lock it in, the whole form is locked. No further input is allowed anywhere on the form.

I go to “VIEW”, “TOOLBARS”, “FORMS”, a small toolbar is displayed; I then select the third option from the left “DROPDOWN FORM FIELD”. After the required data is input I then click on the lock symbol. It all looked great until I tried to do further input outside the area of the drop down form field.

The problem is your document is locking, this is to protect the form from being altered by users filling it in.

To unprotect the document, you need to click the Tools menu and Protect Document. Under editing restrictions you can turn off the protection.

The protection is a good idea if you are going to use forms for people to fill in. You can get around the problem of not being able to enter any more information by breaking the documents into sections.

To do this, click Insert, Break and insert a section. You can insert as many sections as necessary and apply document protection only to those sections.

I am getting a series of errors appears when I boot up my PC.
Error loading C:\\PROGRA~1\\MYWEBS~1\\bar\\5.bin\\MWSBAR.DLL

thanks – Grahame

You have some spyware on your computer, or at least the remnants of it. It sounds like the My Web Search program has been partially removed but Windows still wants to start it. The first step is to scan your computer for spyware.

Once you’ve cleared your computer of any spyware infection, you need to use the MSConfig function to check what’s starting up.

Spyware can be a difficult thing to remove, if you find you are stuck then call an experienced tech

The Microsoft System Configuration utility tool is a handy program built into Windows versions since Windows 98. It allows you to change how Windows starts and what programs run with it.

This is a very useful function if you are trying to diagnose what’s slowing a computer or to get rid of an irritating message.

To start it, click Start and Run and type MSCONFIG. In Vista do the same except type MSCONFIG in the Search box.

For most people, the important part of MSConfig is the Start Up tab, this lists all the programs starting up with Windows and lets you turn them off with a tick. If you find an important function stops working, then you can undo it simply by ticking the box again.

There are millions of programs that can start with your computer, if you’re not sure what one is then you can search it’s name on the Sysinfo website.

Note though that more sophisticated spyware and viruses hide themselves deeper in the system or hitch hike on legitimate programs, so not everything that starts up will be listed.

The other important part for novice users is the General Tab where you can choose diagnostic startup which is the equivalent to Safe Mode.

The other tabs in the tool are for more advanced users. If you don’t know what you are doing, then you should call for an experienced tech.

I have been given a Canon MPC600F/400 printer/copier/fax and cant connect it to my computer which operates on Ubuntu. I am unable to get the disk to read as it is for Windows OS. When I try to install the printer driver is not listed and don’t know how to proceed.

I only require the copier not fax.

The printer driver and instructions are available at the Canon website. Unfortunately it appears only printing is officially supported by Canon.

There is a scanner utility for Canon PIXMA multifunction units, but it does require a level of competence in using the Linux terminal functions.

It may be better to consider a different scanner. A full list of Ubuntu compatible scanners and how to scan in Ubuntu is available on the Ubuntu wiki.