Q: I tried to find out how to attach a document to an email in your book.

I followed the steps, but my email instantly changed to a “SkyDrive photo album.”

I’m trying to attach scanned documents, not photos. Your book doesn’t address any of this, and it doesn’t even mention SkyDrive. What’s wrong?

A: About a year after Windows 7 For Dummies was published, Microsoft released a new version of Windows Live Mail. The new version differs quite a bit from the older version of Windows Live Mail that’s described in the book. For example, Microsoft added SkyDrive, which is causing your problems.

The book’s being updated, but here’s what’s happening: When you e-mail photos to a friend, Windows Live Mail no longer sends the photos to your friend. Instead, Windows Live Mail uploads those photos to a storage space called “SkyDrive” that lives on Microsoft’s computers. Windows Live Mail only mails thumbnail-size images to your friend.

When your friend receives the thumbnail images, he or she can do any of these things: Click to read more »

Q: What is virtual memory? Windows XP keeps sending me messages that my virtual memory is low. Also, what does it mean when my computer says that I don’t have enough storage on my computer?

A: Windows uses memory to run the programs you see on your screen. When Windows asks for more memory than your computer can offer, Windows turns to something called “virtual memory.”

Virtual memory is a portion of your hard drive that Windows treats as “fake memory.” Windows grabs a portion of your hard drive, and treats it just as if it were the speedy memory installed in your PC.

Being made of mechanical, spinning platters, virtual memory is much slower than the real thing. But it’s better than nothing, so virtual memory lets your PC run those memory-hungry programs. And, virtual memory saves you from the expense of installing more real memory inside your computer.

Virtual memory really slows down your PC, though, so it’s meant mostly for folks on a budget who have a lot of patience.

Now, your second question: When your PC runs out of memory and hard drive space, there’s no room left to create virtual memory. So, Windows sends you the message, “Your system is low on virtual memory.” Similar messages may say, “System Process — Out of Virtual Memory,” or “Your system is running low on virtual memory.”

Regardless of the wording, these error messages all call for these same two solutions: Click to read more »

Q: Where can I buy one of those little rubber address stamps you describe on page 118 in your book Windows XP For Dummies, 2nd Edition?

A: Ah, the old rubber stamp trick. See, no matter how fancy a printer you buy, you’ll almost always be let down in one key area: Printers can’t print envelopes very well.

Envelopes come in a wide variety of sizes and thicknesses, and I’ve never found a printer that could handle them all. Or any of them, for that matter.

The envelopes either jam the printer, the printer smudges the ink, or the printer places the address upside down or in the wrong corner.

As I explain in the book, I gave up and bought a cheap rubber address stamp, customized with my own return address. The rubber stamp I bought came from junk mail: a tear-off strip attached to the return envelope of a credit card bill.

However, you no longer need to patronize junk mailers. Instead, you can buy a rubber address stamp from Amazon. They arrive customized with your own address, include a pre-inked pad, and they save many hours of frustration. Plus, they cost less than $10.

Think how much your time is worth, then simplify your life by buying a rubber address stamp. I bought mine back in 2003, and it’s still working fine. (In fact, it’s outlasted two printers, and way-too-many overpriced ink cartridges.) Plus, you can re-ink the pad yourself when the ink runs dry.

Q: I am about to tear my hair out! I’ve nagged the techs who set up this computer until they duck and run. My email name is spelled wrong, and I can’t get it changed on my outgoing emails. HELP!

A: When you’ve accidentally misspelled your own name in your e-mail program, how do you correct the mistake?

If you’re using Windows Live Mail, the free e-mail program I cover in Windows 7 For Dummies, changing your own misspelled name is fairly easy. Follow these steps to correct or change your name in Windows Live Mail: Click to read more »

Q: Windows Update says three important updates are available. But the downloads always fail, leaving an error code of 646. I’m frustrated.

Can I simply delete those updates? If they never install, what’s the point of my computer continually reminding me that they are available for downloading? What do you recommend?

A: Some updates not only refuse to update, they won’t go gently away into the good night. Instead, Microsoft’s nag system kicks in, telling you to try again. And when you give it another try, Windows Update botches the update yet another time.

When faced with a Windows Update that refuses to install, try solving the problem with these steps: Click to read more »