Here are questions from some of my clients and TBCS members, along with the best answers I could give them; most of my answers were arrived at by searching the Internet using Google.   In those cases where I say things nice or otherwise about a particular program, please note that I'm expressing only my opinion, and not necessarily that of TBCS, its members, or its board of directors.

How do I copy the Outlook Express Address Book from my Windows XP desktop computer to my new Vista laptop?

Open Outlook Express, click on  Addresses  »  File  »  Export  »  Address Book (WAB).  Select your desktop, type  WAB.wab  in the  File Name  box, then click  Save.

Right-click the saved  WAB.wab  file on your desktop, left-click  Send To  »  Mail Recipient.  Address the message to yourself, and click  Send.  If it doesn't send immediately, click the down-arrow next to  Send/Receive , click on  Send All , and close Outlook Express immediately.  (Otherwise, the automatic mail search might download the file back to the desktop before you have a chance to download it to your laptop.)

At your laptop, open Windows Mail.  If your messages don't download automatically, click on  Send/Receive  to download the message from yourself with your address book attached.  Click on the message to highlight it, then click  File  »  Save Attachments  »  Browse  »  navigate to your desktop  »  OK  »  Save.

Click  File  »  Import  »  Windows Contacts  »  Windows Address Book File (Outlook Express contacts)  »  Import.  Navigate to the desktop, double-click  WAB.wab.  All the addresses from your desktop Address Book will be copied into your laptop Address Book.  When it's done, click  OK  »  Close.

I believe there are people accessing my computer when I'm not at home.  How do I lock the computer so no one but me can operate it?  (One hitch:  I'm blind; I use the "Jaws" text-to-speech program to operate my computer.)

Control Panel  »  User Accounts.  Click on your account, then click on Change My Password.  Type in your old password, then press the TAB key.  Type in the new password, then press TAB again.  Type in the new password again, then press TAB twice more.  Type a hint for the new password, if you like, then press TAB one last time.  Press Enter to save your changes.  Press ESCAPE to get back to the User Accounts list.  Close User Accounts, then close Control Panel (I would do this by pressing Alt-F4 twice — press and hold the ALT key, press the F4 key, then release both keys).

There will still be a hidden account called Administrator, which is only visible when you're in Safe Mode.  I don't think Jaws will work in Safe Mode — in fact, without Jaws running, I don't know how a blind person could get into safe Mode — so you won't be able to change Administrator's password until the next time you have a sighted tech in.  If you really think someone is sneaking onto your PC, I recommend sooner, rather than later.  And obviously, I think you should hire me, rather than anyone else.

BTW, I understand the first version of  "Jaws" was written by TBCS member and guru, Charles Opperman.

Is there a simple way to add the email addresses of people who write to me into my Address Book?

In Windows Mail, right-click the email in the messages list, and choose  Add Sender To Contacts.  If there's more than one addressee, you can collect any or all by double-clicking the message to open it, right-click an address you want, and left-click  Add To Contacts.  Repeat as necessary.

In Outlook Express, the same methods will work; change  "Contacts"  to  "Address Book".

The 2nd method (opening the message in its own window) also works in Thunderbird; again, use  "Address Book"  rather than  "Contacts".

In Windows Live Mail...

...never mind.  Why would anyone be using Windows Live Mail?

I received this message.

"From: File Error Notification Subject: New Update to fix Windows File Errors in registry File Error Notification — Instructions To fix File Errors in your Registry: Your PC may be suffering from serious file errors in your WINDOWS registry which may be the reason why your PC is running so slow, or crashing and freezing from time to time.  Also, these can lead to major system problems and possible memory leaks. Below are instructions that will enable you to Increase Your Computer's Speed, Power, Stability and Reliability in just a few minutes. Press here to launch the Diagnostics Test download for no cost at all Once again, there are NO OBLIGATIONS for this FREE OFFER that includes our FREE Software, FREE Analysis, FREE Report and 24 Hour Support ! If after completing the free Diagnostic Test it is brought to your attention that your computer's registry does contain file "errors", then it may be in your computer's best interest to fix the potentially harmful file errors in your registry. Press here to launch the Diagnostics Test download now... To not receive future offers/promotions from "Error Nuker" please click here... Or send us a letter at:  [address followed]... Please visit this link to stop receiving this advertisement.  [link followed]... "

Is this legit?

This is a scam.  If you click the link, it will attempt to install the program to your computer, without asking for your permission.  And notice it doesn't say it will fix any errors it finds for free — only that it will scan for them.  Be prepared to pay at least $30, maybe more, if it finds any (and you can be assured it will tell you it found errors!).  And there's no way to know if it will fill you up with spyware and adware. Always delete any offer you get like this.  If you didn't ask for the information, then it is, by definition, SPAM.

'Postmaster' sent a failure notice in reply to a note I sent you on the 25th, so I'm sending you a note again to see if I am operational.

If you get a Postmaster reply when you send an email, that means your email is working as it should.  You may have addressed the message incorrectly.

I'm trying to set up a dial-up connection.  Saying it was the easy part; how do I actually DO it?

Click on  Start  »  Settings  »  Control Panel ; double-click  Internet Options.  Click the  Connections tab, then click  Add  »  Next  »  type in the phone number  »  Next  »  type a short descriptive name into the  Type a Name You Want For This Connection  window  »  Next  »  put a check mark next to  Automatically Detect Settings  »  type in your username and password  »  OK.

Now when you open Internet Explorer or Outlook Express, a window should pop open, calling your preferred connection by name; click  Connect  to dial them.  I recommend against having Windows automatically dial any time you need Internet access — that helps the spyware authors when they want to have your computer dial out in the middle of the night.

If any of this isn't clear, take it to the TBCS Resource Center and they'll do it for you, for free.  Or you could have me out, at my usual low rates — besides gathering content for my columns, I offer free help and advice via email so that I might make a buck on the stuff that requires a visit.