I’m using Windows 95 and have been told that it creates a lot of temporary files and that I should remove them from time to time. How can I do this? - N Barker, Leeds.

A

A temporary file is created by a program such as Word as a way of keeping track of what is happening. Temporary files can sometimes be useful following a computer crash as they contain some of the information from the moments before the crash and allow you to reclaim it.

However, they can also be a nuisance if they are not deleted by the program that created them when it is closed down. This is a known problem with Windows 95. Windows 98 incorporates a utility designed to clean them up. Temporary files have the suffix .tmp and you should have a very low number of these on your hard disk. The chance of problems, such as a printer not printing, rises as the number of temporary files increases. You can clean them up by making sure all your applications software is closed down and then using Find to identify all files of the type *.tmp. You can then delete these, although if you have 25 or less you probably don’t have a problem.

Q

When using Word 7, I want to keep all my documents in a particular folder. How can I make sure this happens automatically without having to change the location each time I save a file? - B Richardson, Huntingdon.

A

It is possible to set a default folder for your Word files so they will always be saved there. Open the Tools menu In Word and select Options and then File Locations. Under File Types, highlight documents and select Modify. Change the folder name to the folder you wish to use for your Word documents.

Q

When I start up my Apple Mac, it displays a date of 25 August 1956. Even if I reset this it’s fine while I am using it, but reverts to 1956 when I boot it up next time. What can I do? - P Ward, Driffield.

A

To “remember” the date and time, Macs have an internal battery that powers the clock even when switched off. It sounds like your battery is flat. Apple dealers always have the batteries in stock and they are fairly easily replaced.

Q

I have to tidy up the mess of files on the classroom Windows 95 PC. I know how to select file icons and drag them into folders, but I often need to move several and it’s tedious doing them one at a time. Is there a short cut? - A Jones, Liverpool.

A

There are many ways of selecting files in Windows Explorer. If you wish to move all the files in a particular folder you can highlight them all by opening the Edit menu and choosing Select All, or alternatively by using the keyboard short-cut CTRL and A. To select a block of adjacent files you can highlight first one and then, while holding down the SHIFT key, click on the last one. All the ones between will become highlighted. If you want to select files which are scattered around the list you can click on the first one then, while holding down the CRTL key, click on any further file names. When you have selected the files by any of the above, simply drag them to a new folder.

Questions are answered by Les Watson

If you have any computer problems you can’t solve, write to Qamp;A, TESOnline, Admiral House, 66-68 East Smithfield, London E1W 1BX or email:TES_Online@newsint.co.uk.