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Q: I tried to create Windows recovery discs but was unable to complete them.  The directions required I use 17 blank CDs, but did not specify that they be all the same brand.  After recording 7 discs, I tried to use a different brand than those I started with.  However, the computer then indicated I needed to use the same brand for the remainder of the recordings.  I then obtained more blank CDs identical to the first, but the computer would not resume recording.  How do I now make system recovery discs, because the directions indicate I can only make one series of discs?

– Jennifer P.
Shalimar, FL

A: The brand of disk is irrelevant, Jennifer.  It is far more likely that you accidentally put in a different TYPE of disc (i.e. – you started with CD-Rs, and accidentally switched over to CD-RWs).   If you didn’t create a viable set of discs, the system should have no problem letting you try again from scratch.  If it doesn’t, contact Compaq, and explain what happened, and they’ll step you through it.

Q: I have 2 Microsoft Office Professional 2003 Editions.  Each can service 2 computers.  Two of my computers crashed and are toast.  I need to know which version is on the current computers so I can use the unused ones.  You used to be able to go to start>programs>office and the top choice in the drop down was About this version (or something like that).  Needless-to-say, when I know what is on which machine, I will write it down!

– Frustrated Grandma
Niceville, FL

A: Dear “Grandma” – you can still access the information, and in Office 2003 it’s even easier than it was in earlier versions.  All you have to do is run one of the Office applications (Word, for example) and click “Help->About Microsoft Office {whichever application you ran}”.  In the dialog that comes up, you’ll see a box with the words “Product ID” inside it followed by the information you’re looking for.

Q: Emails forwarded to me often have multiple vertical blue lines along their left side which I would like to delete before forwarding them myself.  I can do this using the EmailStripper program (www.papercut.biz), but it also deletes any accompanying graphics as well. 

– Don S.
Shalimar, FL

A: Those blue lines represent quotations, Don.  Each time someone forwards or replies to the message, they are quoting the entire message as sent to them, and when a message is HTML formatted, the typical method is to indent the text and insert a blue line.  You can remove them by selecting the text, and clicking the “Decrease Indent” button on your toolbar.