Solutions: What's an Internet newsgroup?

Q. Your Nov. 9 column about fighting a virus mentioned newsgroup downloads. Please explain what you mean by that phrase. Would www.sptimes.com be a newsgroup?

A. Good question. No, the St. Petersburg Times' Web site is not a newsgroup. Newsgroups are part of the Internet referred to as Usenet. They are message forums that are separated into and cover almost any imaginable topic. Just as you need a browser to access the Web, you need a newsreader (such as Outlook Express) to access the Usenet newsgroups (although some are browser accessable through HTTP). Access to newsgroups is provided by your Internet service provider. Your ISP can provide specific settings for you to configure your newsreader (for example, in Outlook Express look under Tools, Accounts, News tab).

Once connected, you can search topics to find newsgroups that match your interests. Newsgroups are usually unmoderated and uncensored, and the content of some newsgroups may not be appropriate for everyone. This includes programs that can be attached to newsgroup messages and may be viruses, such as what I refered to in the earlier column. However, one of the more useful purposes of newsgroups is to provide user-based technical help for many hardware and software issues.

Startup diskettes for upgrading

Q. I'm interested in upgrading to Windows XP, but can I do a clean install of the XP upgrade if my Windows 98 SE is an upgrade as well? And does XP come with a boot floppy so you can boot to it, then run the setup program from the CD? Or can I just use the Win98 boot floppy that I have?

A. You can use any floppy boot disk that includes real-mode drivers that will allow you to read your CD-ROM. From there you can run the SETUP.EXE program on the CD-ROM to initiate installation. Use a startup diskette made from a Windows 98 or Me system; the real-mode CD-ROM drivers are automatically put on this diskette along with other disk formating tools you may need for your clean install. These startup diskettes also can be created from downloads at www.bootdisk.com.

Taming icons that scurry

Q. AT&T Global referred me to you with my problem. My desktop icons have suddenly begun to wander by themselves. If I attempt to put my mouse on one, it moves to another location as they all scramble. What's causing this and how do I correct it?

A. It sounds as if you have the W32.Magistr.24876@mm virus. You need to contact your antivirus software vendor to make sure you have the latest virus definition updates and for detailed instructions on removing it. This virus arrives as an executable, or .EXE, file. You must have run it from within an e-mail attachment or from a newsgroup download. I can't overemphasize this point: Never run an .EXE file that you receive in an e-mail or from a newsgroup download, whether you know the sender or not. Icons on the desktop that move when the cursor passes over them indicate the system is infected with this virus. For more information, check securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.magistr.24876@mm.html.

A password fix for Word

Q. I am writing a book in Windows 98 with no problem until recently when I must have inadvertently pressed a wrong button. Now when I go to write, it prompts me for a password. I have never had a password there and cannot get into the book. I have tried everything. How can I find the password?

A. If you have inadvertently put a password on a Microsoft Word document, you will need third-party software to unlock it. Two programs from Intertek Electronic Commerce -- WordLockSmith and WordReadOnlyFix -- are available for less that $5. Check the Web site at www.intertek.org.uk/downloads.

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