November
2004
Q: I have been given a Garden Design
CD-ROM which I would like to use. Having
installed it, I cannot find it anywhere. Can you explain how to use
these disks and also, how to remove the program if I don’t want to
keep it?
A: Sometimes, installing programs from
CD-ROMs will automatically add a link in the form of a small picture
or icon on your opening screen, the desktop. All you need do is click
it and press the Enter key (or double-click) to launch the program.
However, this is not always the case.
If you think you have
followed the instructions correctly and installed the program, look
for it in the list of programs available from the Start menu. It is
quite likely to be hidden inside a folder labelled with the
manufacturer’s name, so look very carefully (usually it is added at
the bottom of your program list) and then rest your mouse on this
folder to see the contents. You may find a Help or Read Me file (which
will give you technical advice or instructions on how to play) and
extra material that may be useful later. You should also see the link
to the actual game or program. Click this and the program will launch.
If you want to create a link to it on the desktop, right-click it in
the list and select Send to – Desktop (create shortcut).
Commonly, the main folder will also contain an Uninstall link. To
remove the program, click this link and all the files should be
removed. If such a link is not provided, you will have to open your
Control Panel (from the Start – (Settings) menu) and click Add
or Remove Programs. Find the unwanted program in the list of all those
on your computer and click Delete or Uninstall.
Q: I am being inundated with
spam e-mails. I have heard there are
programs you can install that will check mail for you. Can you
recommend any?
A: There is certainly software available
that checks and blocks e-mails and one free program recommended by
ComputerActive magazine is called Mail Washer available from
http://www.firetrust.com.
However, I have personally been put off using it as there is so much
work to do setting up which addresses to allow through, which to block
and then, if you are wrong, which to unblock etc. Perhaps someone who
uses it or a similar system can offer advice on whether it is worth
the effort. If you get a great deal of spam, it is probably the best
answer.
My practice is to set up a rule to block certain messages so that they
are sent straight to my Deleted Items folder. If you use Outlook
Express, do this in one of two different ways (most e-mail systems
offer similar options):
-
Select, but do not
open a message that is clearly unsavoury (you can usually tell from
the subject matter or unknown address) and then open the Message
menu and select Block Sender. In future, anything from this
particular address is sent to the Deleted Items folder. Sadly, many
people change their e-mail addresses slightly each time, so it often
only works for an individual message.
-
Open the Tools
menu and select Message Rules – Mail – New. You can now set
up a rule to send messages from named people, or with particular
words in the subject box, to Deleted Items. This can cover all the
messages you receive starting “Congratulations” for example! (To
change entries in any rule or blocked list, open the Tools –
Message Rules box, find the rule and edit or delete it.)
Another useful tip is to use
www.mail2web.com . This is a website that allows you to
check your mailbox from any computer – you just need the account
name and password your ISP gave you. Log in at any time and it will
show you the contents of your mailbox. As well as checking for spam,
you can log on in public libraries when you are on holiday in the
UK, in case a really important message has been sent to you home
computer, or when a large attachment fails to download properly.
Delete unwanted, large or unpleasant looking e-mails, and leave the
rest to download normally e.g. when you return home or next time you
click Send/Receive.
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