Upgrading to Windows Millennium Edition Takes Some Adjustments
Q: I see the new Windows Millennium Edition is available and on sale for $49. I have Windows 98 Second Edition on my computer. Should I upgrade to ME? Will there be any problems?
--Justin B., Claremont
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Ai There are several software programs that will have compatibility issues with Windows ME. Here’s what you need to know.
Norton Utilities, Norton 2000: Windows ME was released after the latest versions of these were completed, so there are compatibility issues. Take a look at https://www.symantec.com for Windows ME upgrades for both programs.
Quicken: If you configured Quicken to use a printer other than the default printer, or if you use custom fonts, you may lose these settings after upgrading to ME. You can restore the settings in Quicken after the upgrade.
QuickBooks 3.0: If you have problems running QuickBooks 3.0 under Windows ME, use Find to locate the file QBW.INI in the QuickBooks folder. Right-click on the file and select Delete. That should take care of it.
Anti-virus programs: Your anti-virus programs should still be able to detect viruses, but may not be able to remove them. Upgrade your current anti-virus program to a version compatible with Windows ME.
Internet: You may have to reenter certain settings associated with any network interface card your system uses to connect to the Internet with a digital subscriber line cable modem connection. Your Internet provider can help you with this. For modem users, some Internet providers such as Juno offer updates on their Web sites. Check into this before doing the Windows ME upgrade.
Avoiding Windows ME Reinstalls
Q: If I install the Windows ME upgrade to my Windows 98 system, will I have to reinstall my programs all over again?
--Kevin S., Hollywood
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A: Install the Windows ME upgrade in the same folder as your current version of Windows (c:Windows, for example), and you won’t need to reinstall your programs. If you install the ME upgrade in a different folder, you’ll have to reinstall all of your programs.
Compatibility Issues With DSL
Q: I have an old PC that still works well for me. It’s a 486 33-megahertz unit with 8 megabytes of RAM and Windows 95. Will I be able to use DSL to connect to the Internet with this computer?
--Jay G., Tehachapi
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A: The minimum configuration suggested for DSL connections is a 486 66-MHz unit with at least 16 mb of RAM. About the best you can do with your system is to add more RAM, which will improve Windows performance.
You should consider upgrading to a newer and faster computer if you want to use a DSL Internet connection. Most computer vendors carry EMachine units priced from $395 to $595 for basic systems that include everything you need to get started. You may have to buy a new monitor (not included with the EMachine computer), but you can probably opt to use your current monitor.
You’ll have to buy a network interface card to connect to a DSL modem. I find that the Lynksys card that sells for $19.95 works well. It’s available at most retailers that sell computers. The tech support is very good.
Date-Time Stamps in Documents
Q: Is there a keyboard shortcut for inserting a date-time stamp into a Word document?
--Jeff M., Thousand Oaks
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A: To insert the current date at the current cursor location, press Alt + Shift + D. To insert the current time at the current cursor location, press Alt + Shift + T.
As I mentioned in a previous Q&A;, you can use Notepad to create a log for entries. Just open a blank page in Notepad (click on Start, Run, type Notepad and press Enter or click OK). On the first line type “.LOG” (without the quotes and in uppercase; don’t forget the “.” before the word LOG). Save the file, and each time thereafter when you open the file, there will be a date and time stamp showing the current date and time.
Preserving One’s E-Mail Privacy
Q: I use Microsoft Outlook Express to send and receive e-mail. Can other family members see any of the e-mail messages I send out?
--Florence N., Los Angeles
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A: Outlook Express keeps copies of the e-mails you send in a folder called Sent Items. If you don’t want other family members to read your sent e-mail, you can disable this default feature by clicking on Tools and then on Options. Click on the Send tab and then on the check mark in the first box, which is labeled “Save copy of sent messages in the ‘Sent Items folder.’ ” The check mark will be removed, and Outlook Express will no longer save copies of messages you send out.
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Jeff Levy hosts the “On Computers” radio talk show from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays on KFI-AM (640). He can be reached at jefflevykfi@hotmail.com.
