Q–My problem involves moving some 7-year-old word processing files from my old computer to my brand new HP Pavilion 6630, which was a replacement for my old IBM. I was using Microsoft Works 2.0 and the HP now has Microsoft Works 5.0.
I am unable to open the files created in MS Works 2.0a in the MS Works 5.0 version. Do you know of a way I can use all my old files?
After transferring the files to my new computer, I can do a “quick view” to see the text (right-click the file and choose “quick view”), I just can’t open the file for editing.
JoAnn Vacko @msn.com
A–Two solutions, Ms. V. One is the el cheapo approach of returning to your old IBM, opening every one of those Works 2.0 files and then saving each in the .txt format, which virtually any word processor or text editor on earth handles without fail. To do this use the Save As feature under the File menu.
As you have discovered, the Quick View software bundled with the Windows operating systems that displays, but does not copy, files is a limited version of a commercial product called Quick View Plus V, which costs $60. (www.jasc.com). The full version lets you copy text from one file’s display and then paste it into another file.
I consider Quick View Plus one of the best tools I own because it lets me open more than 200 file formats and then move them into the clipboard for subsequent pasting into other applications. With a bewildering array of formats holding pictures, words, spreadsheets, databases, e-mail, Web pages, animations and such, Quick View Plus may be the universal can opener that no kitchen should be without.
Q–I took a class on introduction to the Internet a couple of years ago and the first thing the teacher did was to have everyone in the class sign up for the free Hotmail service.
During the first five weeks of the new century I have accumulated no less than 159 new messages in my Hotmail, all of them spam–unsolicited junk mail. I want to know how to terminate my Hotmail account, because it is worthless. How do I get my name off it?
More Top Picks Fujifilm Instax Mini Link
Nothing in this world is free, and it is obvious that the people who run Hotmail are selling their clients’ e-mail addresses to the gravy-sucking pigs who are sending me spam. Beware of wolves offering “free” e-mail services.
Robert Matthews @hotmail.com
A–If a tree falls deep in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound? If you never again log on to www.hotmail.com to see your spam, will the gravy-guzzling porcine senders have spammed you at all?
I think not. All you really need to do is walk away, Mr. M. No see; no spam.
Beyond that bit of philosophizing, all I can offer is that Hotmail does offer a pretty robust e-mail filtering feature (click the Filter tab at the top of the Read Mail screen) that would let you stop all mail from past spammers.
On the Read Mail page you also can check a box for “Select All Displayed Messages” and then click a delete box for near-instant spam cleaning.
Q–When I send an e-mail message to a friend, at various times in the copy she gets “–” and “”” and “”” They come where I have a space. Why does this happen? Is it because of something I am doing?
Ted Sielaff, San Jose, Calif.
A–You are using an e-mail program that creates messages in the same formats as Web pages are written, a feature that gives e-mail attractive formats, just like on proper Web sites.
The bits of gibberish your friend is getting are called Hyper Text Mark Up Language (HTML) tags. The ampersand is HTML code to indicate special punctuation characters, such as dashes and quotation marks.
To stop this, you need to reset your e-mail software to create text only, rather than HTML documents. Of course, you could also advise your friend to set hers to read HTML.
Q–In response to an earlier question you said, “I recommend www.excite.com, which makes it very easy for you to fill out a simple form and then receive a copy of all e-mail sent to your Microsoft Network address on any Web browser at hand.” Does that work only on the Microsoft Network or can you set it up to receive mail from any server, i.e. my server at work?
If I am using AOL at home, can I go to excite.com and set up a new identity or profile with my work e-mail address?
Ellen Stein, Baltimore
A–Absolutely correct, Ms. S. The feature you’re describing is called popmail and it can be used to bounce copies of one’s e-mail at many different accounts to one of the Web-based e-mail services like Excite and Hotmail.
Afterward you can fire up America Online’s software and use the built-in Internet browser to go to the mail site (i.e. www.hotmail.com) and read e-mail forwarded from popmail at other accounts like your one at work.
To set this up, you fill out forms on-line asking the name of your mail server, the screen name you use there and your password for that account.
Your employer almost certainly offers popmail as do most e-mail servers, including the Microsoft Network.
Forwarding popmail to Web e-mail sites is a particularly tidy trick for people who subscribe to AOL because executives there refuse to allow popmail because doing so would let subscribers avoid advertising messages when reading their e-mail.
Q–Is there a way to transfer 8mm video from camcorder to PC and eventually record on CD-ROM?
Ninh Dzoan @hotmail.com
A–The good news is there are many devices already on the market designed to let camcorder owners move their videotapes onto hard drives for sophisticated digital editing. That’s also the bad news because the variety makes for some vexing confusion.
Hands-down easiest is the new $1,300 Apple DV iMac with iMovie software that lets owners of digital camcorders turn tapes into high-quality movies using the ultrafast IEE 1334 (FireWire) connections built into the newest cameras.
Far cheaper are a variety of Windows movie systems including the $150 WinTV by Hauppauge Inc. and Matrox Corp.’s $400 G400-TV system. Both make quick work of digitizing home videos and storing them on the hard drive and both come with superb movie editing software from Avid Inc.
You also would need a CD-recording device in order to create disks. Most people, however, prefer to simply record the movies they create on videotape. The iMacs allow users of digital camcorders to move finished films back onto the camcorders to create master tapes.
More Top Picks Hp Officejet 3830
The Matrox product allows video-out as well as video-in. The WinTV product does not offer video-out, so users need to buy another device for that function.
———-
Contact Jim Coates via e-mail at [email protected] or via snail mail at the baiduhai, Room 400, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611. If you think you’ve got a better answer to any of these questions add your point of view at chicagotribune.com/go/askjim.