Inbox

Compiled by MICHAEL FOREMAN

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

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Neil has subscribed to a list group that sends him regular bulletins compiled from members' e-mails, but some of the messages contain HTML (hypertext markup language) code that Outlook Express does not display properly - the raw code is shown instead. "Can OE be configured to display HTML correctly?" Neil asks. "I see it can be set to send messages in HTML, but there's nothing about reading."

Sometimes HTML e-mails can be scrambled in transit or by the sender's system, if it is not set properly. It's a common problem and we doubt that a setting on your machine needs to be changed, but you can check by sending a blank e-mail to HTML@wopr.com. This free service will confirm that your PC is configured properly to receive HTML e-mails. You will receive an automatic reply that also contains some helpful information on the subject.

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Colin and Anita have two small problems, which they have "been living with for a while." The first occurs when their PC boots up. "After about 10 seconds and a few black and white screens which are filled with information, we have to press F1 for the process to proceed. Then our clock system goes back to the beginning of the year 2000." Their second problem is that web pages selected from their Favourites menu are old pages, not the present version. "The only way to get the latest page is to go via a search engine such as google. Any ideas?"

The first problem could be caused by a fault with your PC's Bios settings, which tell the PC how it should behave after starting up. Your PC's battery may also have run flat. We recommend taking your PC to a computer dealer for a Bios tune-up and perhaps a battery replacement.

Your second problem is much easier to fix. If you click the refresh button at the top menu it should always bring up the latest version of a page. But to correct this problem permanently within Internet Explorer click on to tools/internet options. In the second box down under the general tab click on the box marked settings under the heading temporary internet files. Now look at the check boxes beneath the words "check for newer versions of stored pages." If the box marked "never" or "automatically" is ticked, change that to "every time you start IE" or "every visit to the page" and your pages should come up fresh every time.

Links:


HTML@wopr.com

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