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Solutions: Sleep mode is a fine choice

Q. I recently joined the modern world, shedding my dialup for DSL. But I'm getting confusing advice on how to manage it. Should I continue to hibernate my computer and turn off the monitor overnight and most of the morning, or leave the computer and monitor on 24/7? Now that I can get all the megabyte files so quick and easy, I find I'm checking my in-box quite often and even during the evening.

By John Torro, Times Correspondent
Published January 21, 2008

Q. I recently joined the modern world, shedding my dialup for DSL. But I'm getting confusing advice on how to manage it. Should I continue to hibernate my computer and turn off the monitor overnight and most of the morning, or leave the computer and monitor on 24/7? Now that I can get all the megabyte files so quick and easy, I find I'm checking my in-box quite often and even during the evening.

A. It really comes down to a personal choice. As long as key power-drawing components turn off in sleep mode, I don't think there are any other compelling advantages to a complete power down or hibernate vs. sleep mode. And welcome to the 21st century!

Q. I am having trouble with links. Every time I go to open one I get an error message: "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe R6025 pure virtual function call." At the same time I could not receive MPEG messages. So I ran diagnostics and received error messages that the MPEG video test failed, perhaps because of an "Incorrect/unsupported driver" or an "Unsupported format." Both happened after following instructions for a new printer.

A. This type of error message is unusual. It's not a "user" error message. I would start by disabling add-ons in Internet Explorer (Tools, Manage Add-ons). If no luck, try going back to a Restore Point from before the printer installation, disabling Internet Explorer add-ons again and then try the printer installation again.

Q. I cannot clean up disk drive D, an HP recovery-type local disk with less than 12 percent free space. It will not defragment. How can I free up space on this drive?

A. Leave that drive alone. It is your recovery drive, which contains an image of your factory install to be used in the event that you are not able to boot from your C drive. You can find more specific information in the documents that came with your PC.

Q. Could you please help me with a problem I am having with Outlook Express? Ever since my son updated our program to the 2007 version I no longer have spell-check in English. Is there any way I can fix this? I'm not that great of a speller and always checked my documents and letters before sending them out.

A.Sounds like the CSAPI3T1.DLL file may have gotten overwritten or trashed. You can restore it from your Windows XP CD. Click Start, Run, type msconfig and then click OK. Click on the "Expand File" button in the bottom right corner of the System Configuration Utility. In the "File to Restore" box, type in CSAPI3T1.DLL and in the "Restore From" box type "D:\i386 \CSAPI3T1.DL_" (without the quotes and substituting your CD-ROM drive letter if it is not D). In the "Save file in" box type "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Proof" (again without the quotes) and click on the Expand button. If you cannot find your source CD, you can find a copy of the file at: http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?csapi3t1, then place it in that same folder from the above instructions. Note: The folder may be hidden. Click Start, Control Panel, Folder Options, View Tab and uncheck the box for "Do not show hidden files and folders." Remember to recheck this when you're done.

Send questions to personaltech@sptimes.com or Personal Tech, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. Questions are answered only in this column.

[Last modified January 18, 2008, 22:37:26]