Getting Along With Your Computer

More of your email - By Cate Eales

Thank you once again to everyone who contacted me with questions. They are all good questions, and every so often I batch them up and answer them in this column. Here’s a sample.

Q: I bought a new computer and it works great, but how do I get my email and my Internet Explorer Favorites onto my new computer?

A: Windows XP includes a File and Settings Transfer Wizard which makes this almost completely painless. The Wizard will guide you through the process. Begin by going Start All Programs Accessories System Tools File and Transfer Wizard on the new, XP computer. I don’t know why the boys at Microsoft hid that. It should be a big, bright, icon on the desktop of every new computer with Windows XP. You can also use this Wizard to create a copy of your files and settings on the new computer in case you ever need to reload Windows XP.

Q: I have a group of documents in the computer and carefully put them in the proper order and transferred them to a folder. When I copy them, they come out in an entirely different sequence. I have also placed them in order on the screen and again copied them to a CD and again they just seem to go in random order. I really need them in a correct sequence.

A: You can display the documents in a folder any way you want to, but in the end, "the computer" is going to sort them alphabetically. If it's important to you that they be in a certain order, you can do that by renaming each of the documents so that a number is in front of the name and the computer will sort by that. If you have more than nine docs, you have to start with 01, then 02. Otherwise it will sort 1, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 2...

So, rename your documents something like:
01-documentname
02-documentname
03-documentname
and so on.

To rename a document, just open the folder it's in, place the cursor so the document is highlighted (don't click to open it). Then right-click and select "Rename" from the context menu. Type in the name you want. When you have done that, click anywhere else in the folder, on the desktop, where ever, and you should see the document's new name.

Q: When my computer is on standby, or asleep (is that the same thing?), is it vulnerable to hackers?

A: This is an interesting question, and it’s been a challenge tracking down an answer. There are several states in which you can place your computer. One is ON another is OFF. Those are pretty easy to understand. The more complicated states are STANDBY and HIBERNATE. The more I read on this the more difficult it became to answer the question. Why? Because different computer manufacturers mean different things by STANDBY and HIBERNATE. So you would have to check the documentation for your computer (look in the section on power management) and see that means for you.

But the very best answer I can give you is that if you are connected to the internet, and your computer is in some other state than OFF, you should be running a firewall to decrease the chance of being hacked. Windows XP has a built-in firewall. If you have an older version of Windows, or if you want better protection and/or more flexibility than the built-in one offers, there are several free firewalls that are perfectly adequate for home users. Your anti-virus package may also have a firewall. There is a good definition and discussion of personal firewalls.

Q:I have been using the Firefox browser and I really like the features, but it’s a pain to update it, and sometimes I even miss the updates.

A: Firefox puts a yellow or red icon at the top of the browser when you’re supposed to update something, but you’re right --- it’s easy to miss that. The way it works now, you have to download a whole new version of the browser every time there’s an update. The good news is that there is a major upgrade to Firefox on the way. Now in beta, it will be in general release to the public next month, and one of the improvements will be automatic upgrades and a more graceful way to install them.

Thanks again to everyone who wrote in. Please keep the questions and suggestions coming!

Cate Eales has been helping people make online computing safe, accessible and fun for over 20 years. She lives in Kelowna with her husband, Eric, and her dog, Sandy. Cate is a partner in Real Life Internet Solutions, helping individuals and small businesses with virus, spyware and malware eradication personal computer training and management digital image management music transfer and website design, hosting and management. Email Cate with your comments, suggestions, or questions. To browse the column archives, visit the Real Life Internet Solutions website.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.