Houston We Have A Problem 101, 24/04/10

Flipping Nuisance

I have a Flip video camcorder, which I find very convenient and easy to use. My problem, though, is that I would like to download the videos direct to my Windows XP laptop but I have had problems installing the Flipshare software.

Mrs F. Attree, by email

There are several commercial programs that convert Flip videos, recorded in MP4 format into the .wmv or .avi formats preferred by Windows Movie Maker. However, by far the simplest option is to use the supplied Flip software as this installs the MP4 codec (coder/decoder) files that Windows Movie Maker needs to open and edit your Flip video files. Have another go at installing the Flip program, (there’s some helpful tips in the FAQ on the Flip Support website http://tinyurl.com/ya8v4wh) then use it to download your video from the device and save it to your computer. Once that’s done launch Windows Movie Maker, go to File > Import, select your video, which should now open as normal.

Brought to Book

I realise that I will soon have to replace my faithful radio/cassette player in my kitchen, which I use to listen to talking books. The problem is that I have been unable to locate a radio/CD player that will keep its place on the CD when I switch back and forth to the radio. Do you have any suggestions?

Linda Hambling, by email

The feature that you are looking for is called Bookmarking but as far as I am aware very few CD players seem to have it, and it’s rarer than hen’s teeth on CD-Radio combis. If anyone knows of a suitable model please let me know and I’ll pass it on.

Otherwise I suggest that you get an MP3 player – the ubiquitous iPod certainly fits the bill -- and a simple docking station with a built-in radio. Most if not all MP3 players resume playback from where you left off when you pause or switch off. There are tens of thousands of audio books that you can download from the web or you can make your own. All you have to do is connect your tape or CD player’s line audio output to your PC’s line input and using a free program like Audacity or MP3 My MP3 (links at http://tinyurl.com/2m8jcr), record your talking books, save them as MP3 files and download them your player.

Double Click Trouble

I recently had to re-install my copy of Windows XP on a new hard drive. During the installation one is offered the option of single-clicking instead of double-clicking to open desktop icons. As a result of selecting this option the icons on the desktop are underlined. I somehow missed selecting the single-click option, and now I cannot find any way of selecting it from Control Panel, or from anywhere else. Is there a way of selecting it once Windows XP is installed?

Leigh Hart, by email

There is but it’s not where you expect to find it and for some reason best known to Microsoft it lives in Windows Explorer/My Computer. Just go to Tools >  Folder Options > General Tab and under ‘Click Items As Follows’ select Double-click to open..’ then click OK or Apply.

Lose the Logon

I recently purchased a new Windows 7 computer. During the initial set up I was prompted to create a password, which I now have to input each time I start the computer. I am the only user; no one else has access so I would now like to disable the password?

Syd Perks, by email

Windows 7 is big on security but it can be done, however, first ask yourself what would happen if someone broke in to your home or office and pinched your computer? Windows password protection is not infallible but it does provide a degree of protection, which is important if you use your PC for online banking, making purchases online or for storing personal or private information

If you really want to disable this genuinely worthwhile feature press Winkey + R to open the Run dialogue box and type ‘control userpasswords2’ (without the quotes). This opens a hidden User Account dialogue box. At the top uncheck ‘Users must enter a user name…’, then highlight your account name and click OK. On the Auto Log On box that appears enter your normal logon password, and once again in the Confirm box then click OK. To reinstate the logon screen repeat the above steps and re-check the ‘Users must enter…’  box.

Spider on the Web

Since a Windows update in November for my Dell Vista PC I have been unable to play Spider Solitaire, when I move from one game to another an error message appears, the game closes down and I have to start from scratch.  Are you aware of a solution for this problem?

Penny Bottoms, by email

I doubt that the update had anything to do with it but it’s clear that your copy of Spider Solitaire has become corrupted, in which case try uninstalling, then reinstalling the program. Go to Start > Control Panel > Programs and Features and click ‘Turn Windows Features on or off’. Click the plus sign next to Games, deselect Spider Solitaire, click OK and restart the computer.  After the reboot repeat the procedure and this time select Spider Solitaire on the Turn Windows features on or off list and follow the prompts. If that doesn’t work, and you know someone else with a Vista PC you can copy the complete program folder (SpiderSolitaire), which you will find in C:\program Files\Microsoft Games, to a USB memory stick and paste it to the same location on your computer. Alternatively there are plenty of free Spider Solitaire downloads on the web, try 123 Free Solitaire, which you will find at: http://tinyurl.com/y8wjr32

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© R. Maybury 2903 2010