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Q. I can no longer put my computer in suspend mode in Windows 98. I don't know what happened.
A. Did you install any new hardware or drivers? Some drivers are not able to enter the low-power state. If this is the case, contact that vendor's tech support site to see if there are updated versions. Older versions of Iomega Zip drives are one example of hardware that may cause this problem.
Microsoft has a utility called Pmtshoot that will help identify the program or device driver that is preventing your computer from entering a standby or suspend mode. It is on the Windows 98 CD-ROM under \tools\mtsutil\pmtshoot\. However, you may be better off by downloading the newest version. Go to support.microsoft.com and search for article Q185949. It will contain the download and instructions on how to use it.
Installing Automatic Updates
Q. I read the article (Aug. 25) about the critical updates notifications. I did as instructed but could not find the Automatic Updates tab (Windows 98 Second Edition).
A. You may not have it installed. Go to Windowsupdate.com and have it scan your PC for required updates.
Problems updating IE
Q. I have tried a half-dozen times to install Internet Explorer 5.01, 5.5 and 6.0 upgrades. I can get the IE Setup.exe files, which are pretty small, but all of them give me the message "Setup was unable to download the required components." I am at wit's end! Several friends and computer experts can't help, and I got frustrated spending hours browsing through Microsoft's Update Web site.
A. Unfortunately, this is a tough problem, and it is time-consuming to troubleshoot and fix. I've been there many times with this problem. Go to support.microsoft.com and search for KB303399. It will outline the extensive troubleshooting procedures that will be necessary. But you can win; stick with it.
Preview Pane perils
Q. A question was posed (May 19) about how to delete e-mail without having to view some of it. Your response was that the Preview Pane was activated and should always be turned off. I followed the instructions - Tools, Options, Read and un-checking "Automatically download message when viewing in the Preview Pane" - and figured I was okay. Later, when trying to fix another problem, I was in View, Layout. I noticed a Preview Pane section, with a toggle to "Use the Preview Pane to quickly view a message without opening a new window." Can you clarify the proper (safest) set-up? Is it safe to view after downloading?
A. The "Automatically download message when viewing in the Preview Pane" in the Read options area of Outlook Express controls whether the message is downloaded from your Internet service provider's mail server to your PC. It is still opened regardless of whether this option is checked or not when you have the Preview Pane enabled.
The Preview Pane option should be turned off. This is the safest method. Some viruses will activate when you open them, and using the Preview Pane does just that.
Of course, many of these could be caught with an active up-to-date antivirus program. But even the best antivirus programs have to act in a reactionary mode when new virus strains are released, and you may not have the update in time.
Removing ISP branding
Q. You addressed the issue of Internet service provider branding, and I was able to remove the Earthlink ID from the window title by doing the registry edit you explained. But I cannot delete the animated floating globes in the upper right corner of my Internet Explorer and Outlook Express windows. Can you offer any suggestions?
A. The floating globe is a normal part of Internet Explorer. As far as I can see, there is no way to remove it. Don't worry about it.