In Box highlights

Compiled by PETER SINCLAIR

Welcome to InBox, where we attempt to answer your internet questions.

Weekly virus updates are essential these days, but Frank J. Venczellak has a problem with his: "After Norton updates, my system runs very slow with Antivirus enabled. Is there a fix for this, please?"

Symantec replies: "It is possible that the download was corrupted in some way. This would cause Norton AV, when reading the definitions, to fault. Generally, downloading the latest version of the definitions with LiveUpdate should rectify the problem. Should you have any further difficulties, do not hesitate to have your readers contact our support team on 0800 442 795."

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John Jones writes: "My friend in Adelaide is becoming increasingly sight-impaired ... I am running Windows 95, Explorer 5.5 and am connected to Z-free. How can I enlarge my e-mail fonts, so that he can read them better?"

Not a problem, John - in Outlook, go to Tools/Options/Mail Format/Fonts and up the default size to 14pt or more. If you send your e-mail in HTML format, you can do this on the fly from the toolbar, and if necessary select the whole e-mail and click on B (bold). You might also suggest your friend clicks on Settings/Control Panel in the Start menu and clicks the first icon, Accessibility Options. Select Display/High Contrast and check the box.

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John Scott is investigating the alternative to Microsoft: "What are the limitations of Linux? I assume you can send and receive e-mail, using Xtra or Ihug, or do you need special software for that?"

I'm no expert on Linux, John, but this web address should answer all your questions: www.linuxdoc.org/FAQ/Linux-FAQ.

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Chloe Davison has had a Hotmail address for a year. "Last week, for the first time, I received at least eight advertisements. I have not subscribed to anything - how have these businesses got my address and how can I stop them sending me junk?"

No one really knows how this happens, Chloe. Spammers have thousands of devious ways - from hacking to just guessing - to capture addresses. Solution: grin and bear it, or change your e-mail address.

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The Too-Hard Basket: readers with baffling, complex and technically abstruse problems - I'm thinking here of people like Bill Meijs, LEO, and Ken Runciman.

Take a trip to www.protonic.com, where almost nothing is insoluble.

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* More of your InBox questions will be answered Wednesday in CyberLunch, on air 12:00-1:00 with Murray Lindsay and Peter Sinclair on Classic Hits 97FM.

If there's anything you want to know about the exciting world of the web, just e-mail inbox@herald.co.nz.