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Question submitted by wjekberg @ cs.com:

I have a list of names, and am trying to see if there is a way that I can get excel to randomly pick groups of 3, without using any name more than once. Also, with the RAND and RANDBETWEEN functions, can I set it to use each number only once?

Answer from Ray Blake:

Read my two ABC articles which cover randomisation
and answer these questions.

http://personal-computer-tutor.com/abc3/v30/ray30.htm

And

http://personal-computer-tutor.com/abc4/v35/ray35.htm

Reply from wjekberg:

I have a list of say 26 names, I used your random number macro to randomly generate 26 numbers, with one number per name. Is it possible
to have Excel, search for #1 and then display the name?

Answer from Ray Blake:

I'm not quite sure what you mean by getting Excel to search for number 1
and then display a name, but I imagine somewhere you have created a list of 26 numbers, from 1 to 26, in a random order. Let's say this is in the
range A1:A26, and looks like this:
23
9
2
14
1
...
etc
...

Elsewhere, you could give Excel your list of names. In column E, type the names in order from 1 to 26. So in E1, type the first name, in E2 the second and so on.  Now back to your random numbers. In order to match the numbers in column A to the names in column E, use an INDEX formula. In B1, type this:

=INDEX($E$1:$E$26,A1)

Either drag this formula down as far as B26 or (if you don't know how to do that) copy and paste it from B1 into all the other cells from B2 to B26.
That should do what I think you're trying to do.

Question submitted by thue:

In preparing to discard my PC (moving to Mac), how can I wipe clean (erase) everything on my hard drive so that nobody can glean anything about my info on the computer? Is there some freebie software that is available to accomplish this?

Answer from Hal Cardona:

It is almost impossible to completely remove all traces of data from a hard drive with out physically destroying the drive.  There are varying degrees of destruction that can be achieved. Simply reformatting the drive makes it difficult for the average user to recover the data. Repartitioning the drive and then formatting it makes it even more difficult. Writing a pattern over the drive makes it even more difficult, doing it several times makes it VERY hard (and expensive) to recover the data.  A quick search located the following free program VAIOSoft DriveEraser 1.0 that will do a decent job of erasing the data on the drive. Personally I use Tuff Test Pro for this.

Question submitted by Irisjol @ aol.com:

On occasion, I am asked to insert my Windows XP disk, and I can't find it.  I have been told I can use the i386 directory instead of the disk. Will you explain to me what the i386 directory is, where I can access it, and how it would be used in this instance? What would I do with it when I am asked to insert the disk? I can't find anyone who knows anything about it. Also, what do I have to do to obtain another XP disk? I am glad you're back! I was just reading your current issue and found an answer to something that has been bugging me. How nice!!

Answer from Hal Cardona:

The I386 folder is on your hard drive. There are several of them the one I think people are referring to is located in C:\WINDOWS\Driver Cache or C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles. These are not complete versions of the Windows XP set-up files though. You may have a folder that does contain all of the files on your hard drive, but whether it exists or not is dependent on how Windows was installed on your particular PC.  I recommend that you either locate you windows XP CD or contact your system's manufacturer or Microsoft for a replacement CD.

Reply from Irisjol @ aol.com:

Dear Hal: Thank you for answering so quickly! I assume the i386 directory is a list of Windows files. I would like to look at them. In the meantime, I will see if Dell can supply the disk. Thank you very much!

Question submitted by Lilian:

 I have a toolbar which appeared it says Real [The search] Search Web Rolling Stones Radio Music Games Sports News How can I get rid of it please.

Answer from Linda Johnson:

Where is this toolbar? Is it in Internet Explorer or in Windows? If it's in Internet Explorer, right click on a blank spot on your toolbar at the top and see if it's in that list ... if it is, just click on it to remove the check. If it's in Windows, right click on a blank spot on your Windows Taskbar (at the bottom of your screen) and find Toolbars in that list and click on it to remove the check  If that doesn't work ... It sounds to me like it's Real Player (which is a player for music, etc.) See if you have a Real Player icon next to your clock...if you do, right click on it and see if there's a "preferences" or "options" setting there ... if so, click on that and see if there's somewhere where you can turn that toolbar off  If you can't get rid of it that way, then it could be spyware and you will have to use a spyware removal tool to remove it. Search ABC for Mike Baynes' articles on spyware removal if you don't know how to use them.  Good luck.

Reply from Lilian:

Thank you, thank you. It worked, no more tool bar and I have learnt something else.

Question submitted by patti:

Hi I just have some questions about Dvd Shrink & Dvd Decryptor   Does anyone know how to use these programs and  what they are used for. Some times I like to rent a dvd movie and  try to burn it for my own use at home but it is copied righted I  heard you can use these programs to make it so you can burn on to a dvd. Thanks

Answer from Vic Ferri:

You use DVD Decryptor to copy (rip) your dvd to your hard drive and then you can use DVD Shrink to make it fit on a standard 4.7 gb dvd - or + .(commercial movie dvds are 9.5 gbs but about half of that is extra features, just the movie itself can usually fit on a 4.7 gb disk with little or no compression depending on how long the movie is. Or if you have a dual layer burner, you can use the more recent 8.5 gb disks (though they are quite expensive still compared to 4.7 gb disks) to copy the dvd completely with no or little compression. See here for a complete tutorial and be aware that what you want to do may be considered illegal in your country.

Question submitted by David:

I know you are very busy, and may not have time to read this, but if you can help, I would really appreciate it. I just finished reading your Mail Merge tutorial which I found with Google. I have Windows 98 Second Edition and Word 2000/ Microsoft Office. I have NEVER done a mail merge, and I don't want to!!! My problem is that when I click on "tools" in the top tool bar, the drop down box has about 50 instances of "Mail Merge", all of which lead to "create merge". Any idea how I can remove these?  Thanks for any help you can give.

Answer from Linda Johnson:

Go to Tools>Customize ... while that box is open, you can add and remove stuff from your menus and toolbars .... so keep that box open and click on your Tools menu and just drag them off the menu one at a time until they're all gone but one.  However, that's pretty unusual behavior so I'm thinking you must have some kind of add-in or something in Word that is adding them, cuz I've certainly never seen that kind of thing before.  Good luck ... wish I could help more .... hopefully, once you've drug them off that menu they won't come back.

Reply from David:

Thank you VERY much for taking the trouble to reply!! Problem solved!

Question submitted by Graham:

I work in a school and we are putting the reporting procedure on to our network.  We get basic personal data about students on an Excel spreadsheet from a separate timetabling package. Version 1 of our setup used this SS, with report info inputted manually, as the data file for a Word Mailmerge. Version 2 has now linked this SS to various Access forms for Stage 1 (Subject Tutor (ST)), Stage 2 (Personal Tutor (PT)) and Stage 3 (Programme Manager (PM)) report info inputting.  All works fine except that Stage 2 comments get "cropped" at 255 characters/spaces when read into the Access forms for Stage 3 reference, even though more recent versions of Excel accept far more than that in a "Text" formatted cell. Also Mailmerge "crops" Stage 2 AND Stage 3 comments in the same way. We can't go down the full Access route because we need "live" spreadsheet Functions and Formulas in ST data content, and we need Mailmerge because we teach students from all over the world and reports are issued to parents in their home language. Can anyone out there suggest a way round this restriction when working between the programmes in the Office suite?

Answer from James La Borde:

Graham,  The reason your data is being truncated is that Access text fields have a limit of 255 characters. One way around this is to make the field you are importing into in your table a memo field. This allows for text greater than 255 characters.

Reply from Graham:

Hi James and thanks for the input. Unfortunately the whole question arose due to the fact that we do not IMPORT the data!  We know of the truncation question (which no longer occurs with text in the latest versions of Excel, as I said), but are using the Link Table option in Access so that Forms for data entry retain a "live" link to the spreadsheet. Access creates a linked table for its own purposes, but you cannot modify much in Data Types and Field Properties clearly because these are stipulated in the Excel "source" document.  In any case, as I also mentioned, we don't want to import the data because the spreadsheet is needed later as a data file for MailMerge in Word, which is MUCH MORE user-friendly than Access Reports, for creating table-style templates containing over 160 data boxes!

Answer from James La Borde:

Graham,  One other option is that if you do import the data, you can use your Access table as the data source for your Mail Merge in Word. Other than that the only other option would be to limit the input in Excel to 255 characters so that it is linked correctly.

Question submitted by Michael:

Hope you can help. I'm editing Microsoft Word documents in revision mode, and the changes I'm making are being highlighted and summarized as made by my wife, to whom our computer is registered. Computer is a Sony Vaio, Windows version is XP. Any suggestions? Thanks very much.

Answer from Linda Johnson:

I assume you are referring to "track changes"? If so, your wife's information is coming from the "User Information" tab in Tools>Options. 
Go to the Tools menu in Word and click on Options ... then click on the User Information tab and change the info in there from your wife's to yours. You may need to close Word and reopen it for it to take effect.

Reply from Michael:

Linda: Your advice worked, thank you.

Question submitted by J Smith:

how to alphabetize my favorites list

Answer from Linda Johnson:

Click on your Favorites menu at the top of your screen in Internet Explorer (the menu, NOT the Favorites button). Then right click on the menu once it is expanded and choose Sort by Name. If you are viewing your Favorites on the left of your screen, you may have to exit Internet Explorer, then re-open it to see the results.  However, whenever you add new items to your Favorites, they will be added at the end again, so you have to do this every time. If you want your Favorites to stay alphabetized permanently, you need to edit your Windows Registry. If you are comfortable with doing that, the instructions are here:
http://personal-computer-tutor.com/registry.htm  Good luck.

Question submitted by Camille:

i want to how to "enable your cookies. I got on a website and it said I have to enable my cookies.

Answer from Linda Johnson:

Hi Camille. It depends what browser you are using. but, in Internet Explorer, go to the Tools menu at the top of your screen, then click on Internet Options. In that box, click on the Privacy tab. Then click on the Advanced button...in there you can set your browser to accept cookies. Or, if you don't want all cookies, but only cookies from this one particular site, instead of clicking on the Advanced button, click on the Sites button and just allow cookies from this one site. Take care.

Reply from Camille:

Thankyou very much I appreciate it

Question submitted by Ed:

What is the best way to remove all personal information from a PC before you donate it or give it away? Thanks Ed

Answer from Mike Baynes:

Hi Ed,  a program called "Eraser" has been often recommended.  "Eraser - Free secure data erase tool to wipe files on your hard drive. Secure Data Removal Tool to wipe, erase and clean files and history including index.dat."  www.heidi.ie/eraser/

Question submitted by Giza:

can anyone tell me how to check my power supply if it is broken or not. thnx

Answer from Hal Cardona:

I use an AT or ATX power supply tester. Similar to the ATX one available
from here: http://www.pcpowerandcooling.com/products/cooling/
tester/index.htm

Question submitted by Janet from San Antonio, Texas:

I've searched, used different workings, etc. since yesterday. I was attempting to click on disk cleanup. Next thing I knew I have a folder named System Tools on my desktop, and the listing, System Tools, has gone from the start menu. Something tells me that this will be a real simple deal, but for the life of me - I haven't been able to find the answer for hours.

Answer from Hal Cardona:

Janet,  The problem is relatively straightforward as is the fix, unfortunately the fix may seem kind of convoluted.  What you did was drag the folder System tools from the Start Menu and drop it on your Desktop.  To correct the problem, you will need to move it back to your start menu. Follow along step by step and we will get it done.

1. Right click on the System Tools folder on your Desktop and select Copy  (I know it could be cut, but we want to watch out for another mistake).
2. Right click on your Start button and select Explore All Users.
3. Expand the Programs folder on the Left hand side by clicking on the plus sign next to it and left click on the Accessories folder.
4. Right click in a blank spot in the right hand pane and select Paste. You should now see your System Tools folder (check the Start Menu to be sure).
5. If it is where it needs to be, close the window that opened when we chose to Explore All Users on the Start Menu.
6. Delete the System Tools folder from your Desktop.

Reply from Janet from San Antonio, Texas:

Hal, You are an absolute wonder! I want to thank you so much for responding to my email "plea for help."  Of course, your instructions worked beautifully -- I was not surprised because I can tell you guys know your "stuff."  Thank you again, you have been a very bright spot in my life this weekend.

Question submitted by Jack:

hey, i'm 16 years old and using excel for my Computing project i am currently doing, i was trying to write sum nested IF statements, but after i wrote 8 it wouldnt let me write anymore in the same box, is there a way i an sort this out?

Answer from Linda Johnson:

Right ... like my IF tutorial says, that's the limit. If you want more than 8, you have to use a VLOOKUP. Read my tutorial on VLOOKUPs here (scroll to the bottom of it and click on the link to read my full tutorial at TechTrax if this mini tutorial isn't enuf for you):
http://personal-computer-tutor.com/vlookup.htm

Question submitted by Joe in Tasmania:

I'm using Windows XP SP2. If I open Internet Explorer, click on Help and then on Tip of the Day, the windows opens at the bottom of the page with a black x on the left hand side, a globe with a ! 'and did you know ' and nothing else there except Next Tip in red on the right hand side. Can anyone tell me how to restore Tip of the Day please? I have also found that this seems to be effecting more than myself.

Answer from Hal Cardona:

This is known issue.  Try the fix referenced in the following MS KB article.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;841625

Reply from Joe in Tasmania:

Many thanks for your help, that resolved that problem. Can I ask a related question or would you prefer I posted a new query. Question is if there is any way that those tips can be saved to a folder?

Answer from Hal Cardona:

The tips are stored in a file called tip.htm. For XP it is located in the file folder c:\windows\web.  To get a print out of all the tips you will need to open the file for editing or view it's source and then print it. To open the file for editing right click on it and select edit (if available) if edit isn't available then you can select open with and select ?Notepad (or your favorite html editor). Unfortunately if you use Notepad, you will not seen a clean list of the tips, but the they will be interspersed with html code. To view the source open the file tip.htm and drop down View and select Source, the above caveats still apply.

Reply from Joe in Tasmania:

Thank you once again for your help. It's really great to be able to access such a valuable pool of information and it certainly helps me to answer some of the questions that I get from members of our Senior Group.

Thanks to all who submitted questions this month.  If you submitted a question and did not get an answer, and the problem still persists, try going here and submitting it again.  Just remember that we cannot guarantee that we will answer every question, though I think the Fleet did a bang-up job this month!  Thanks to all of the Fleet for your expert advice and your valuable time :-)