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Solutions: Here's help for new Office toolbars

Q. In the new Microsoft Office 2007 version of Excel, I cannot find the "Save As" command I used in the older version. Is there an equivalent command?

By John Torro, Times Correspondent
Published February 11, 2008

Q. In the new Microsoft Office 2007 version of Excel, I cannot find the "Save As" command I used in the older version. Is there an equivalent command?

A. I was using Excel 2007 for the first time on my wife's laptop, and I could not find the "Save As" command. As the rage within me built, a flash of inspiration led me to click the new Office Button very top left. Sure enough, there it was, along with all the other familiar menu items. I was able to regain my composure - that is until I went looking for the bullet toolbar in Word 2007. Is it just me, or does everyone else have a hard time understanding why Microsoft seems to move things around just as we get used to where they are?

Q. I have Windows XP and every time I sign on I get the error message "invalid backweb application id (1379039)." This started after I admittedly was playing around with programs I didn't really understand so I'm sure I created the problem.

A. BackWeb/BackWeb Lite is a generic downloading tool used by various software companies who incorporate it into their products to download data such as product updates. Technically, it is not spyware, but BackWeb is capable of collecting information from your PC to be delivered to the collection site. To get rid of it, try uninstalling using "Add/Remove Programs" in Control Panel. If there does not appear to be a uninstall program, use File Explorer to find and remove C:\programfiles\BackWeb. Next, run MSCONFIG (Start, Run, type MSCONFIG). Check the Startup tab and disable anything related to BackWeb.

Q. I am trying to copy old home movies that I have on VCR tapes to DVDs. I am able to get the tapes onto a DVD. I can replay it on my computer but cannot get any of my DVD players to recognize the format. I am using an HP DVD Writer dvd100i. That writer uses a DVD+RW format. The HP Web site says it should be compatible with most DVD players. We have three players. My son has three different models and a friend of mine has a different player. How can I get the format to be recognized without buying a different writer?

A. This usually indicates that the DVD needs to be "finalized," which makes it readable by other devices. After finalization, no other files can be added. Check the software you used to create the DVD to find how to finalize your disks. For future DVD burns, there is usually an option when complete to finalize the disk before ejecting.

Q. My computer is set to turn off the monitor after 15 minutes of no use, turn off the hard disk never and go to system standby after 20 minutes. If the monitor is off and the system standby is in sleep mode, will I be able to get 3 a.m. Windows Updates on the computer?

A. If your computer is in sleep mode at the time Windows Update is scheduled, the installation will not take place.

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 February 8, 2008, 20:51:35]