Reader question of the week:
Each week or so, I answer a question sent by readers. Keep scrolling down this page to see all the questions I've answered recently; my Tips page has even more answers.Printing a page on this Web site
Q: Perhaps on your web site you
could install a "print" function for corrections so that we can print
them and insert the hard copy in the book for reference?A: That's a good idea, as the Web page for each of my books contains a detailed list of corrections. (Nobody's perfect.) However, you can easily print any page by clicking your browser's File button and choosing Print. When printed, the page loses its images and prints only the page's text, conserving your printer's ink.
To see what any Web page will look like when printed, click File from your browser and choose Print Preview.
Microsoft discontinues Windows XP
Q: I keep reading that Microsoft is planning to phase out support of Windows XP later this year. Sad to say my computer is old, and it will need just about everything upgraded to run the most basic version of Vista. The upgrades would cost me more than a new PC with Vista installed.So, when Microsoft stops supporting XP, what should I do to keep the computer operating without problems?
A: Don't worry about what you read about Microsoft killing off Windows XP. Sure, Microsoft won't sell Windows XP after June 30, 2008. But that doesn't mean they'll stop supporting it. Microsoft will still support XP until April, 2009. And Microsoft will still offer security patches until 2014.
Chances are, you'll be itching for a new PC way before then. And by 2014, Microsoft's new operating system will have appeared, letting you conveniently skip over the ill-fated Windows Vista.
In short, you have no immediate reason to upgrade to Windows Vista.
"All Programs" disappeared from my Start menu!
Q: My friend has lost his "All Programs" button on his Start menu. How can we reactivate it? We tried going to oldest "System Restore" point, but that didn't work. Since he didn't have desktop icons for those programs, he's running on borrowed time. Can you help us?A: This sounds suspiciously like your friend accidentally switched to XP's "Classic" view, which makes Windows XP look like some older versions of Windows. Switching to Classic view has a side effect of dropping "All Programs" from the Start menu.
To switch back to the "normal" view, right-click the Start menu and choose Properties. When the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties page appears, shown below, choose Start menu (rather than Classic menu) and click OK.
That should solve the problem.
Gagging Microsoft Narrator in Windows Vista
Q: I've had a laptop for some while now, and I would like to know how to get rid of Microsoft Narrator. She is driving my wife and me around the twist! Thanks for any help you can suggest.A: The Windows Vista's Narrator reads everything displayed on your screen, letting you work without having to see the monitor. While she's undoubtedly a boon to the blind, she's difficult to turn off once she's started speaking: She begins reading the screen whenever you stumble onto the Control Panel's Ease of Access Center.
If your computer's stuck in Narrator mode, here's how to turn it off:
- Click the Start button and choose Control Panel.
- Choose Ease of Access
- Click Ease of Access Center
- Choose Explore all Settings
- Choose "Use the computer without a display."
- Finally, uncheck the checkbox by "Turn on Narrator" and click Save.
Shrinking Desktop icons to fit small laptop screens
Q: I recently purchased a Dell XPS420 with Vista. How do I get the desktop icons to a small size? Dell told me the current size is the smallest I can have with my graphics card. But my old laptop that runs with Windows XP is four years old and has a much cheaper graphics card, yet I can shrink its icons to a nice small size. What gives?A: Vista's desktop icons are larger than those in Windows XP, and sometimes they hog too much real estate. Vista offers several ways to shrink them to a manageable size, however.
- While displaying the desktop, click one desktop icon. Then, while holding down the Ctrl key, move the wheel on your mouse. The icons will shrink as you turn the wheel one way; they'll enlarge as you spin it the other.
- No wheel on your mouse? Then try changing back to XP's "Classic icons" by right-clicking the Desktop, choosing View, and choosing Classic icons.
- If neither of those options satisfy you, switch to a higher screen resolution, by right-clicking the Desktop, choosing Personalize, choosing Display Settings, and sliding the Resolution bar to the right. Click Apply to try see if the resolution works for you.