Computer problems and/or advice 2012

[Paddy Tobin]

In the task bar at the bottom of the screen is there an icon for the default language? Mine shows "EN". If you have such an icon and click on it, it should give you the option of changing the language settings.

On the other hand, you may be using Internet Explorer 9 and, as announced by the IT people of the German government today, you are simply totally f...ked.

Paddy

[David Nicholson]

No, there is no default language icon at the bottom of my screen that I can I see.

This is driving me off my trolley, every spell check now entails looking at nearly every word

[Maggi Young]

Having spent a bit of time poking around the OE tools etc last night, to no avail, I decided to see whatthe internet had to say on David's problem.
It seems this is a recognised glitsch.....
http://www.outlook-tips.net/tips/tip-379-office-2007-and-oe-spell-check

http://help.wugnet.com/office/Outlook-Express-spell-checker-stuck-French-change-ftopict1052576.html
http://blog.chron.com/helpline/2007/04/outlook-express-language-setting-stuck-on-french/
and so on......


 -  Ihaven't yet fully read how to fix it but it seems that there is a remedy out there, David!

[Maggi Young]

this page may help.....
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932974

[David Nicholson]

Thanks for all your help Maggi. I did in fact replace my ancient Microsoft Office 2000 with Office Home and Student 2010 on Monday evening and it was after I had done the update that my spell checker problems started. Here is an extract from the Microsoft Site Maggi posted a link to above.

"When you upgrade an earlier version of Office to a 2007 Office system or Office 2010, the old spelling checker files are removed for the following languages:
English
Spanish
German
These files are replaced with newer versions that are included in the 2007 Office system. The new files are incompatible with Outlook Express.
You can resolve this issue by installing Windows Live Mail.
Windows Live Mail is downloadable from http://download.live.com/wlmail       "

I despair of Microsoft!

[Paddy Tobin]

And, Windows Live Mail takes a few days to get used to.

[mark smyth]

what's this that has been popping up on lots of web sites I use. First time seeing this today.

[mark smyth]

In the next few weeks I'll be buying my new computer. Because I have programmes on my old hard drive that no longer come with computers, office, front page and Outlook, can my hard drive be installed in the new one?

[JohnLonsdale]

You should certainly be able to install your (reformatted) existing hard drive as additional storage in your new computer, assuming you have spare HD bays and the format is compatible with the new machine.  Depending on the age, specifications and capacity of the HD, it may not be worth it though. Assuming the HD you are talking about is your current boot drive, you will lose all of the programs installed on it - they were installed on the computer in the registry, various folders and other dark places.  To use the programs on your new machine you will need to re-install all of them from the original media or a download, and need all the serial numbers where necessary.  In short - back up all the data from your old computer and find/buy all of the programs you will need to re-install on the new machine.

[mark smyth]

Thanks John and there is the problem. I no longer have the discs I need. I suppose I can get them on Ebay

[Alan_b]

I have programmes on my old hard drive that no longer come with computers, office, front page and Outlook ...

These programs never came free with computers.  A version of Office that included FrontPage would probably have cost several hundred pounds so if you no longer have the discs that was quite a bit careless of you, Mark.  If your old hard drive still forms part of a working computer you need to download and run Belarc Advisor http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html and record the product key(s) so that you can re-install these programs if you can track down the installation discs (or copies thereof).  It's the actual product keys that have a monetary value.

[mark smyth]

5+ years is a long time to lose and find discs again

Anyone offering 

[Alan_b]

I might (and it's only a might) be able to track down the installation discs if you can identify the exact version of Office you were using BUT you will still need the product key codes to actually get the software to run and (AFAIK) you can only extract those from your old hard drive if your old hard drive still forms part of a working computer.

[David Nicholson]

Thanks for all your help Maggi. I did in fact replace my ancient Microsoft Office 2000 with Office Home and Student 2010 on Monday evening and it was after I had done the update that my spell checker problems started. Here is an extract from the Microsoft Site Maggi posted a link to above.

"When you upgrade an earlier version of Office to a 2007 Office system or Office 2010, the old spelling checker files are removed for the following languages:
English
Spanish
German
These files are replaced with newer versions that are included in the 2007 Office system. The new files are incompatible with Outlook Express.
You can resolve this issue by installing Windows Live Mail.
Windows Live Mail is downloadable from http://download.live.com/wlmail       "

I despair of Microsoft!

In case there are others with the same problem Google "Vampireinfo Spell Checker for OE" Be careful when downloading as you will be offered other sofware that you might not want!

[Alan_b]

With a name like 'Vampireinfo' I'd run that one past your security software in case it has a hidden agenda of sucking all the email addresses, passwords, credit card data etc. out of your computer.