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I have no volume on my PC.

Since I am not sure if you have no sound or if the volume icon is missing, I am going to provide you with several options for resolving sound problems. Hopefully, once you follow the suggestions, your problem with sound will be resolved.

Troubleshooting Sound Problems

Problems with the sound on a computer can have a variety of reasons behind them. Take the time to check each of the following suggestions:

• Look at the cables or cords for any of the sound devices that you have for the PC. Make sure that they are securely plugged into the PC.
• Check that the cables are plugged into the proper ports. Typically, the ports are identified by a small icon or they are color coded.
• If it is a specific device such as a set of computer speakers that is giving you trouble, borrow an alternate set and see if the problem persists.
• Check the documentation for each of the sound devices that you have installed and make sure that it is compatible with your computer’s operating system.
• Check the volume control on the monitor, laptop, speakers, headphones, etc, to make sure that it has been turned on.

Troubleshooting Missing Volume on PC: Checking the Volume Setting

One of the first strategies that you should try is to look at the volume setting to determine where it is set at. To open the volume control, follow these steps:

• Click on “Start.”
• Click on “All Programs.”
• Click on “Accessories.”
• Click on “Entertainment.”
• Click on “Volume Control.”
• Adjust the setting if it is set on “Mute.”

Troubleshooting Missing Volume on PC: Muted Devices

If you have accidentally or even purposefully muted one of the sound devices on your PC, it could be responsible for muting the sound for all of your devices.

Troubleshooting Missing Volume on PC: Audio Performance Settings

In order to check the audio performance settings, you need to open the volume icon in your systems tray. Follow these steps:

• Right-click on the volume icon that is located in the lower right-hand corner of the screen.
• Click to select “Adjust Audio Properties.”
• Click to select “Hardware” and go through the list of devices, checking each one. If you notice that a problem is listed, follow the suggestions to correct it.
• Once you have checked each device, select “Performance” in the section labeled “sound playback- advanced.” Either make your own adjustments to the settings or select “Restore defaults.”

Troubleshooting Missing Volume on PC: Missing Sound/Volume Icon

If you want to replace a missing volume icon in the systems tray, follow these directions:

• Navigate to “Start.”
• Select “Control Panel.”
• Select “Sound and Audio Devices.” Click on “Volume” if it isn’t the section that you arrive in.
• Click on the small box in front of “Place volume icon in the taskbar.”
• Select “Apply.” The volume icon should now show in the systems tray.

Troubleshooting Missing Volume on PC: Diagnostic Section

Most sound cards today provide a handy diagnostic section that you can use to troubleshoot problems with sound. Run the diagnostic for your sound card to see if any advice pops up that you can try. You can also visit the website for the manufacturer of your sound card and look for an online diagnostic tool.

Troubleshooting Missing Volume on PC: Windows Vista OS

Computers that use Windows Vista have been noted to experience sound issues if they are also using Adobe Flash Player. If you fall into this category, try uninstalling and reinstalling Adobe Flash Player.

I have created ad copy from a Microsoft Works word processor. The magazine wants it sent to them in jpg. I have been unable to figure out a way to do that. I don’t have much computer know-how, and I don’t see jpg as a choice to save my document. Thanks.

Converting Text into a JPG Image File

You are correct, Microsoft Works does not have a Save As > JPG option. Even Microsoft Word 2007 with its huge array of features doesn’t provide an easy way to save the file as an image. However, there are a few tricks that you can perform to convert your text into a JPG image.

Copying the Text into Paint

Sure, you could buy a text to JPG converter but why go through the hassle and expense for this one time deal? Your computer has the tools you need to do this small job on your own. First, open Microsoft Paint (or any other image editing software that you use). Next, copy and paste your text into the paint program. Crop the image as needed and then chose File > Save As and pick JPEG in the list. Give your file a name and Bingo! there you have it.

Using the PrintScreen Command

Another way to create an image from text is to use the Print Screen button. Go into your Works document and then look on your keyboard for the key labeled “PrtSc.” Press PrtSc + Alt. This will create a copy of your currently open window. Now, paste this image into Microsoft Paint by going to File > New and then Edit > Paste. Use the cropping tool to crop your image before saving it as a JPG file.

Using PowerPoint to Save Text as a Picture

If you have PowerPoint on your computer, you can use it to convert text into a JPG image. Simply copy your Works text and then open a blank PowerPoint presentation. Click a blank slide and choose Paste Special > Picture (Enhanced Metafile). Once the picture is inserted into the slide, right click it and choose Save As Picture. Choose JPEG from the list and give your new file a name.

I cannot access my MSN Money portfolio. I have used it for years. Now, I get something like the basic Money Portfolio which just displays today’s openings but not my history!

MSN Money

MSN Money is an online financial management tool, often used in conjunction with Microsoft Money software. Recently, Microsoft introduced a few changes, including a “new” MSN Money Portfolio interface. My hunch is that you may need to relist your accounts in the Money Portfolio in order to see your history. However, in researching this further, I have found that there are several possible reasons behind your lost history files.

Known Issues with MSN Money Portfolio

Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 213873 details several known issues with missing MSN Money Portfolio Manager data including:

• Missing, incorrect, or outdated Portfolio Manager contents
• Only sample accounts are displayed in Portfolio Manager’s window
• Only the MSN shared stock list account (MSN Stock List) is displayed
• You may be prompted to create a portfolio

These issues have several causes and fixes. For example, if you recently upgraded or switched Web browsers, it’s not uncommon for Portfolio Manager to have trouble locating your most recent data file. In addition, this data file may have become corrupt or been deleted. In either of these cases, you can restore your backup data file. The Microsoft Knowledge Base article discusses how to restore the backup file.

Another common problem is resolved by resetting the connection to MSN Money Central. This involves shutting down the Internet connection, rebooting the computer, and then connecting to: http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor. If this displays your history properly, make sure to change all of your shortcuts so that you go to this page instead of the other one.

New MSN Money Portfolio Types

To further complicate matters, the MSN Money Portfolio Manager interface now comes in three different configurations: Essentials, Investment Toolbox, and Portfolio Manager Preview. The Investment Toolbox is being phased out. Each option has different features, so read through the features list and choose the Portfolio Manager type that best meets your needs. When in MSN Money, click the Portfolio link and you should see a list of the three different tools.

With these changes, came a new set of missing MSN Portfolio data. For example, MSN Money has forced updates on accounts with 90 days of inactivity which replaced local information with the older information stored on MSN’s servers which led to outdated information showing up on some users’ computers. Resolving this involves restoring the file from a backup and is addressed in this MSN Portfolio FAQ list.

Apparently the MSN Stock List is being moved to new servers as well, so that information is not currently available in the new MSN Portfolio Manager Essentials view. With so many changes underway, it’s not surprising that your Portfolio isn’t viewable. Make sure that you are signed into MSN with the appropriate Windows Live ID, try resetting your connection, and read through both the Knowledge Base article as well as the FAQ list mentioned above to further troubleshoot the issue.

I’m thinking of buying an upgraded netbook from someone I don’t know personally. Could there be security issues with this? If so, is there a way to check or prevent it? I will be purchasing separate optical drive to install Norton and other CD/DVDS.

Security Issues Involving Selling Used Computers

Normally, the security issues involved in a used computer transaction is on the seller’s end. For example, when selling a used computer, it’s wise to completely destroy your personal data so that the new owner doesn’t gain access to your sensitive financial information. We recommend using a product such as Privacy Controls to completely wipe the hard drive clean of sensitive data. This product makes it impossible to retrieve deleted data, even using data recovery tools.

Security Issues Involving Buying Used Computers

Hopefully the seller has permanently deleted his personal data from the used netbook so that you don’t have to worry about stumbling across information that is not yours or having a hard drive cluttered with useless files. Ideally, the seller will have also reset the netbook to its factory settings as well. If not, you’d be smart to do so because the computer may be loaded with viruses or spyware.

Ask for all of the original documentation and any factory discs that came with the netbook. If the seller has not wiped the computer using the factory reset discs, take the time to do so once you bring it home. This is fairly time consuming in that you have to reinstall the operating system and then update the computer so that it is fully patched with all of the latest security fixes since it left the factory. However, this is your best bet to ensure that your new computer is free of malware and customizations that don’t suit your needs.

About those Upgrades

You say the netbook has been upgraded, so before you use the factory reset disc, you may want to consider what’s involved in making sure the upgrades work. If the hardware has been changed dramatically, the factory restore discs may cause more problems than they solve. In this case, invest in a good antivirus/antispyware product and run a complete system scan to ensure that they system is clean.

Working with a Freshly Restored Computer

After the netbook has been restored, not only will you need to update the operating system, you may want to add computer security products to it. Many netbooks use the Linux operating system and are less prone to threats, but others use Windows XP and should be secured. If you have one of the Linux-based netbooks, view this article covering antivirus for Linux.

The Nature of Netbooks

Netbooks minimal by design, so yours may not have a huge hard drive. These computers often use “cloud computing” rather than the traditional software installations that desktops and laptops use. For example, if your netbook’s hard drive is tiny, you might not have enough space to install Microsoft Office. Using a web-based suite of tools such as Google Documents solves this problem, though you must be connected to the Internet in order to work.

Can I allocate a key to reproduce my e-mail address whenever I push it?

As my e-mail address is exceeding long, I like this idea as it could avoid mistakes as well as save a lot of typing time in the long run. Let’s see what we can figure out.

Using Microsoft Word to Create a Shortcut

If you use Microsoft Word, you can use its AutoCorrect feature to quickly type your e-mail address. For example, you can instruct Word to replace any combination of letters (such as “em”) with your desired text (such as youremailaddress@emailaddress.com). Here’s how to do it in Word 2007:

• Click the Office button and choose Word Options.
• Click Proofing
• Click AutoCorrect Options
• Make sure that “Replace text as you type” is enabled
• Enter the letters that you want to replace in the “Replace” field
• Enter your e-mail address in the “With” field

Note: In Word 2003 and below, AutoCorrect is located under the Tools menu.

Try to choose a combination that isn’t something you would type normally. For example, “em” (for e-mail) might be fine as there’s no real word called “em” and AutoCorrect won’t replace “em” when it is part of a larger word such as “them.” However, if your company is called EM + C Squared Enterprises, then “em” wouldn’t be a good choice as every time you type your company name, your e-mail address would replace the “EM.”

Using Third Party Software

Another option is to use third party software such as AutoHotkey. This particular program allows you to expand abbreviations as you type, much like the AutoCorrect feature of Microsoft Word. The advantage here is that you don’t have to Launch Word every time you want to enter your e-mail address. The disadvantage is that you have to download, install, and learn a new program.

Using the Control Panel > Keyboard Icon

Depending on your keyboard, the Control Panel > Keyboard icon may have options available for customizing specific keys on your keyboard. Check to see if your Keyboard icon in the Control Panel has an option for configuring your keys. If your keyboard is configurable, this is probably your best bet. Unfortunately, not all keyboards support key customization, so it may not be an option.

If customizing the keyboard is not an option and you have Microsoft Word, try using AutoCorrect for now and then copying and pasting the e-mail address into other applications as needed. This may be good enough for your purposes. If not quite what you had in mind, try one of the third party keyboard mapping utilities such as AutoHotKey.

I use MS Vista 32. I am unable to install Adobe Flash Player. I have attempted to do so countless times and been in touch with Adobe’s troubleshooting service which I just do not understand and it doesn’t work. Can you help please?

Because you are running Vista, I’m thinking that it is a problem relating to the operating system. On computers running Vista, the program may actually be installed correctly, but you can’t view Flash content. To fix this, you need to run the utility that is included in the Flash Player download.

Run the Flash Player Utility

To run this utility, find the file: C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash\FlashUtil9d.exe The file name may vary slightly due to different versions being installed. Once you’ve found it, right click on it and choose Run as Administrator. The utility will give you step by step instructions to complete the installation. You will need to restart your system.

Uninstall Adobe Flash Player

If you’ve run the utility and you still can’t view content, you may have to completely remove any versions or partially-loaded version before you can try a new download. To do this, you need to use the Adobe Flash Player Uninstaller. Click on the download and save the file to your computer. To run the uninstaller, you must close ALL applications that are running on your computer.

Download the Flash Player

Now that you have removed any traces of Adobe Flash Player from your computer, you are ready to try a new reinstallation. Before you do this, check to make sure your browser settings aren’t set too high. For Internet Explorer, go to Tools and then Internet Options. Choose Security and then Custom Level. Ensure that “Download signed ActiveX controls” and “Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins” are set to “Prompt”. Once you have done this, go to the Adobe Flash Player Download Center, download the program again and run it on your system.

Download Optimizer

Is it possible that your download speed is too slow and your downloads are timing out before they are complete. You can try an Internet Download Optimizer like the one in the link that will increase your download speed as well as your chances for success.

I think the issue is with Vista and that using the utility will solve your problem. If you’ve tried all of these steps and are still having problems, please give us some specific error message information and we can try to help you further.