InBox

June writes to warn that users should not open any email messages with an attached file called "Invitation", regardless of who sent it. It is a virus that opens an Olympic Torch that burns the whole hard disk of your computer.

Ignore it - it's an old hoax that returns periodically in different forms. Its roots date back to around 2000, when it was known as a Virtual Card hoax. A Google search for Invitation Virus produces a wealth of knowledge on the hoax, but the facts claimed just don't stand up. The CNN, McAfee and Microsoft references are almost word for word from the 2000 hoax, and the hard drive burn is just a colourful choice of words to panic users. Hoaxes can, however, cause as much bedlam as a true virus when enough people pass them on. They effectively slow internet traffic to a crawl. Of even more worry is the possibility that the warning itself contains a virus - it's happened before so don't propagate this possible tool to a point where it's used to spread precisely what it warns about. Just in case some misguided soul creates such an email-based virus - though a hard drive burn is an unlikely scenario - use a little vigilance before opening any attachments.

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Bill recently upgraded from Windows 98, where Outlook Express had an automatic spell checker. He can't seem to figure out how to set up that same automatic function with XP Pro.

Open Outlook Express/Tools/Options/Spelling and place a tick beside Always Check Spelling Before Sending. This should automate the process as soon as you press the send button. Outlook - the version that comes with Office - checks as you write. This is by design to help sell components of Office. Being a free product, Outlook Express doesn't have these extras designed in.