Computer problems and/or advice 2012

[Alan_b]

Go to Windows Update and manually run the updates one at a time.  Restart the computer after each update completes.  At the very least you will identify which update is causing the problem (my bet - something to do with .net).  You might even find they all work if installed this way.

[brianw]

If I check the error code on each of the 9 updates that fail, it is allways 80071A90. The MS help on this suggests to me that Norton, which I currently use, is locking up something that MS wants to access on startup.
Mr Fixit seems to correct something but if I run it and then install updates again it still fails to reconfigure after a restart, and does another restore.
Never tried a "Clean Start" which MS suggests.

??

[Alan_b]

The "Clean Start" is mostly about temporarily disabling Norton, and anything else of that ilk that might be interfering with the update.

I'd still go with my advice of one update at a time, not all 9 together.

If necessary you can temporarily uninstall Norton.  Use the removal tool here https://www-secure.symantec.com/norton-support/jsp/help-solutions.jsp?docid=20080710133834EN&product=home&pvid=f-home&version=1&lg=english&ct=us .  This will work very well provided you don't have a very slow or expensive internet connection because it's quite a big file download when you come to re-install.  You might even find your Norton software is out of date and you get a free upgrade to the latest version as a side-effect.   

[brianw]

I have got so used to autoupdate doing things for me I cannot remember how/where to find and do 1 at a time. Assuming I ever knew. I see someone elsewhere has found this routine to work in pairs so would like to try.

[Alan_b]

If you have Vista or Windows 7 (and it sounds as if you do) then it's:
Start > All Programs > Windows Update
Start is the big round icon at the bottom left of your screen and you may need to scroll through the list of programs to find Windows Update.  All the important updates will be selected by default so click in the ticked boxes to remove the tick until you only have one  or two remaining then click okay.

[brianw]

Thank you Alan. 10 updates in ones and twos and no problems. Just 1 did not require a restart so took some time, so I was glad to have a reasonably fast computer.

Brian

[brianw]

Another problem; MS Word 2010 this time.
I am trying to create a map from a screen dump, with instruction labels and arrows etc. on. I can add multiple arrows, and the 1st text box alongside the first arrow OK. But when I try and add a second text box alongside the 2nd arrow it insists in overlaying the first text box. So far I have failed to reposition the 2nd text box where I want it. Is this something to do with layers?

[Maggi Young]

 Brian,I'm passing this message from Ian ....
he says double click on the text box you want to move....... and on top tool bar go to "wrapping" and choose "square"... this should allow you to move it .

[brianw]

Hi Maggi. I can see lots of options to wrap text around pics etc. but nothing that relates to moving a text box on top of a pic in the text wrapping area. I normally just drag and stretch them around 'till they are what I want, but adding a second text box to the same pic has never come up before.
I must be missing something?

I suspect the answer is don't use Word.

[Diane Clement]

I suspect the answer is don't use Word. 

Agreed.  Things like this are possible in Word, but far easier to do in Excel - just ignore the cells and use it as a canvas.  You've got all the same tools, but the text boxes and pictures don't jump around like they do in Word. 

[Lori S.]

You could also do it in Powerpoint, if you have that, and then save the whole thing as a jpeg, pdf, or in some other format to use it in other applications.

[brianw]

Surprising that Excel and PowerPoint have come up. Many years ago I used PP for oddities but never thought of Excel.
I frequently use a screen dump {Alt Prt Scr] into a Word doc, and trim it back to the picture. Docs are fairly standard to send to contacts, Excel and PP files less so. Not all of my contacts have the software to open them.

[Alan_b]

You should be able to select the text box then drag it to the position you want.  To select the test box I think you need to click on or just inside the edge of the box.  When it is selected you should see markers at the four corners of the box.

[brianw]

Amazing. No matter how many times I tried previously I could not find the exact spot to get the 4 arrow symbol in such a small box relative to the display. If I enlarge the display several times I can find it and move the box as I expected to do the first time I tried. Thanks for making me try again.

[Lori S.]

I frequently use a screen dump {Alt Prt Scr] into a Word doc, and trim it back to the picture. Docs are fairly standard to send to contacts, Excel and PP files less so. Not all of my contacts have the software to open them.

As I mentioned, you can save a powerpoint as a jpeg, pdf, tiff, etc. and send that, so that your contacts don't need to have Powerpoint to open it.  Or you could put the jpeg, pdf, tiff, etc. into a Word document and send that if the annotated picture was part of additional text.  You can also copy an excel spreadsheet and put it into a word document, and it will not require that someone have Excel to open it.