Keep off!
How can I keep other people out of my computer? The Windows password can easily be got round by hitting Esc. Are there any other ways of ensuring that only I can get in? I'm using Windows 98. Rob Walsh
robis@discemail.fsnet.co.uk

Jack Schofield replies:
The Windows log-on provides useful personalisation but, as you say, nothing in the way of security. For that, you could try a combination of a boot (start up) password and a password-protected screen saver.

To set a boot password you need to access your PC's BIOS set-up screen, possibly by pressing the Del key during the start up process. (Instruc tions are shown on screen when your PC is turned on.) The computer will not run unless the password is typed in.

However, if you forget a BIOS password, it could be difficult to regain access to your PC. Also, a BIOS password provides no protection once your PC is running. For that, you need to use a password-protected screen-saver as well.

If you just want to protect certain files or folders, there are dozens of programs that will do that: www.davecentral.com/encrypt.html lists shareware or free examples. You could look at Encrypted Magic Folders, Folder Guard, Kremlin and Ixis Software's Security Administrator www.softheap.com/secagent.html )

Desktop abuse
Just why is it "best not to save files on the desktop" (Ask Jack, March 29)? Robin Usher
robin.usher@btinternet.com.

JS: Why is it best not to keep groceries on the kitchen table? It is better to store things where they belong, rather than cluttering up your workspace with them. It is just as easy to save files in a directory called My Downloads as it is in Desktop. It is also quicker than saving them to the desktop then moving them later.

Here's how to make things magically appear on and dis appear from the Windows desktop. Open Windows Explorer and go to the C:\Windows\Desktop directory.

Try using the mouse to move one or two files into this directory, and out again.

Frustration
I have been reading the Irish Times online. The front page and leading articles download correctly, but recently, readers' letters have appeared from previous issues. Despite clearing the history file, maverick items keep coming back. Can you explain? Albert Moore
armoore@welwyn28.freeserve.co.uk

JS: When asked for a page, web browsers look to see if they already have it in their cache memory (from the French cacher, to hide). In Internet Explorer's case, this is the Temporary Internet Files folder in the Windows directory. It is cleared in IE5 by selecting Tools|Options and clicking the button, Delete Files.

If this folder is empty, you might assume fresh data would be fetched from the server. However, your ISP (internet service provider) is almost certainly caching pages as well. This saves fetching the same page repeatedly, for different users. Unfortunately not all these "proxy caches" are refreshed often enough, and some continue to ship pages long after they should have expired. In theory, the browser can check whether a page has been updated. In IE5, go to Tools|Internet Options and click the Settings button. This is where you can tell IE to check for new pages. You should also be able to force a fresh page by holding down the Control key and clicking Refresh, or by pressing Ctrl-F5. But often, this does not work either.

One trick to force the server to revisit the site you want is to add ?123 or something similar (the numbers don't matter) to the end of the address (eg www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/?123). If there is a more recent version of a page, this will usually get it.

Alternatively, try reading the page via Safeweb ( www.safeweb.com ). This is slower but normally gets the very latest content. It also means your ISP can no longer see what you are reading.

Address saver
How can I transfer my Outlook Express address book on my PC to OE on a new laptop? Amanda Parkyn
parkyn@clara.co.uk

JS: Outlook Express normally uses the Windows Address Book (Wab.exe) program. Click the Addresses icon in OE and it should appear. Select File|Export| Address Book (WAB) and save your addresses with memorable name, such as Amanda01 (the .wab will be added automatically).

Copy this file from My Documents (or wherever you saved it) to My Documents on your laptop and do the reverse. That is, open the Address Book, select File|Import| Address Book (WAB), and import the file called Amanda01.wab (which will probably be the only file visible).

You might also get away with copying your current .wab addressbook file from the desktop to the same directory on the laptop. You can find where it is stored by looking under Help|About Address Book. It will probably be in the C:\Windows\ Application Data\ Microsoft\Address Book directory.

You can also run Windows Address Book separately from OE. Go to Start|Run, type wab in the Open box, and click OK.

Crosswords
In my more youthful days with an Atari, I picked up a piece of freeware which constructed a crossword given a collection of words for insertion.Where does one find something shareware or free? Geoff Saul
geoff@gmsaul.freeserve.co.uk

JS: Try the About guide to puzzles hosted by Dave Fisher. He reviews several crossword compilers starting at http://puzzles.about. com/ games/puzzles/cs/ puzzlesoftware/ There are also useful selections at http://thinks.com/software/crosswords.htm and the Open Directory.

Quick key
I'm using IE 5.5 and I'm pretty sure that in some earlier versions you could just type something basic in the Address Bar and it would add the requisite www and com. Please help my typing fingers. Mark Paterson
m.paterson@bristol.ac.uk

JS: The trick is easily forgotten. Type in the name of the site, such as Google, then hold down the Control key while pressing Enter. Result: www.google.com

Mail delivery
In the last Start Here column, I described how to set up Outlook Express to collect email from a POP3 mailbox. However, Iain Noble points out that one leading online service, CompuServe, uses the IMAP mail protocol instead. "This has caused considerable problems for CompuServe 2000 users," writes Iain, "and has led to my writing a set of instructions." They can be found at www.forumscentral.com/email/imap.htm