your net:// inbox highlights

Compiled by PETER SINCLAIR

Welcome to InBox, where we attempt to answer your internet questions.

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Bud is connecting through attglobal.net and using Netscape as his browser. He can't seem to specify his choice of home-page: "it always defaults back to the ATT home page when I log on??"

It looks like what's happened, Bud, is they've given you a proprietary version of Netscape - Xtra used to do that too, in the early days. All we can suggest, if you really hate it, is to download a copy of Netscape Communicator 4.7, or else the new IE5.5, uninstall the browser you've got using Add/Remove Programs, and install and configure the new one. It's a hassle, but I can't see what else you can do.

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Most computer-users are a bit paranoid, so we can all identify with John Macfarlane: "I have noticed on occasion things are downloading when I connect to the internet even though I have closed the browser down. I can tell it's still downloading as the tell-tale at the bottom of the screen is flashing… Is there any way to determine what is downloading?"

It could be several things, John – your emailer checking your account, your antivirus program or Windows updaters phoning home… there's a program called NetMedic which will at least tell you which server the bytes are coming from. If you like, email me for a copy of OptOut, an anti-spyware utility, to put your mind at rest; but I certainly wouldn't read my web column this week if I were you…

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A plea from The Rajman: "I would like to know how to operate my CD-Writer. For some reason when I create CDs they will not play on the stereo, even when they are .WAV files. Help me PLEASE."

Uh-oh – you're using the wrong bit of your software for the conversion! Click on the 'Audio' tab and take it from there…

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Links:

Netscape Communicator 4.7

Internet Explorer 5.5

NetMedic