This month I have had a few questions over the email so I thought I would answer them here. Thank you to those of you who took the time to get in touch. If you have any questions you would like answering in your Gazette then email me caroline@putertutor.co.uk
My new laptop keeps asking me to make an Acer Backup disc, should I do this? Joyce, Castle Bromwich
Yes definitely! When you buy a new computer they don’t come with the restore discs, unless you request them and pay extra. Luckily most new PCs allow you to make your own. This is become increasingly important as Windows 8 has code written into the microchips inside the computer. These means you HAVE to use a manufacturer created disc to restore your computer in the event of a major software failure. It usually takes 4 DVDs or a large USB pen drive.
I hate having so many passwords to remember, do they all have to be different and I have been told not to write them down, but at my age I can’t remember them all. What should I do? Peter, Coleshill
With the latest data leak hitting Ebay, passwords are back in the spotlight. It is really important to have different passwords for your email, online banking, and sites that store your credit card (eg Amazon). However you can make life easier. You could use the same word, with different numbers on the end, for example Puter1 or Puter2. You can download an app called “safe in cloud” which allows you to store all your passwords in one place, strongly encrypted. Then you only need to remember one password, to access a page of all your other passwords!
My new PC doesn’t come with Works, only a trial offer of Microsoft Office and I don’t want to pay hundreds to type a letter. Can you recommend a cheaper alternative? Maureen, Kingsbury.
Microsoft Office can be expensive but fortunately there is a free alternative. It is called OpenOffice and you can download from www.openoffice.org. Make sure you click on the correct link, and check the file name before you run it to avoid downloading unwanted software.
Until next time, Happy ‘Putering
