InBox

Andrew's live updates for Norton Antivirus 2005 have run out, so he wants to install AVG Antivirus Free Edition instead. Does Andrew need to uninstall Norton or does he leave it on his computer?

If you don't intend to subscribe to Norton for updates - uninstall it. Antivirus software is hungry and will consume excessive amounts of available resources if you leave two antivirus programmes running. AVG is reliable; but a little restricted on features, whereas most paid software such as Norton, Mcafee and PC-Cillin come as a complete internet security suite with firewall, data security, antivirus, and anti-spam. Trend's PC-Cillin for instance, has a feature that protects your credit card information, and passwords that you don't want broadcast. Be aware, most paid products have a free 90-day trial available so you have nothing to lose testing a few before settling for the free one.

Vic's Windows XP has suddenly developed a delayed response to right clicking. The delay is about 15 seconds long, when before it used to be almost instantaneous. He searched the internet for other programmes and found them to have similar delays. Vic thought a possible solution would be to involve clearing a registry conflict.

There should be no need to mess with the registry. Try turning off the transition effects for menus and ToolTips: Start/Control Panel/Display/Appearance/Effects. Remove the tick from Use the following transition effect for menus and tooltips - once this is done, click OK twice. Search for 819101 at: http://support.microsoft.com for the pertinent Microsoft page on this issue.

Martin would like to have a shutdown shortcut on his desktop. He has tried creating a desktop shortcut to shutdown.exe, but the PC flicks past a quick black screen and doesn't shut down. How can he get the shortcut to work?

You are missing a command switch Martin. Right click the shortcut you created, and choose Properties. In the Target box, append the command line with the switch: -l (log off), -s (shut down), or -r (reboot). For example, in shutdown, the line should read "C:\Windows\System32\shutdowns.exe -s".