Ask Mr. Modem! – April 2007     
www.MrModem.com 

Q.  I read somewhere that I can enlarge my scroll bars, but I can't remember how to do it.  They're so skinny, I keep missing them with my mouse pointer. I'm using Windows XP, if that makes any difference.

A.   It's easy to expand the size of your scroll bars, which makes them an easier target for your cursor. Right-click a blank area of your Windows Desktop, then click Properties > Appearance tab > Advanced button.

Using the drop-down list under "Item," select "Scrollbar," then increase the value to the right to increase the size of the Scroll Bars. Your changes will be reflected in the little preview area at the top of the window. When finished, click OK twice, and your changes will take effect.

Q.  I have a new computer, but it doesn't have a floppy disk drive. How do I use a USB flash drive to transfer data from my old Windows 98 computer, which has a floppy drive, to my new computer?  Thank you for being there, Mr. M.  I look forward to your newsletter (www.MrModem.com) every Friday.

A.  If your old computer has a USB port and uses Windows 98, 2nd Edition, you can go to the Web site of your USB flash drive and download Windows 98 drivers. You'll find instructions on the site. With the drivers installed, plug in the USB drive and it should automatically be detected and installed. Once the drive appears in "My Computer," you can then drag files to it just like you would with a floppy disk, but obviously it has a much greater capacity than a floppy.

If your old computer does not have a USB port, you can purchase a USB floppy drive to use with the new computer. This is simply an external floppy drive that attaches to your computer by a USB cable.  External floppy drives are inexpensive and are available at most computer and office supply stores. As soon as you plug in the drive, Windows will recognize it and you'll be ready to go.

For easy data transfer between two computers that have USB ports, you can't beat the ease and convenience of The Tornado device at www.thetornado.com. 

Q.  Can you help me change the size of my mouse pointer?  I've looked everywhere I can think of, but I can't seem to find how to do it.

A.  Depending on the version of Windows you're using, click Start > Settings > Control Panel or Start > Control Panel. Double-click the Mouse icon, followed by the Pointers tab.  In the Pointer Scheme section, click the drop-down list and select the scheme named Windows Standard Large, then Apply > OK.

Mr. Modem's DME (Don't Miss 'Em) Sites of the Month -  April 2007

Airline On-Time Statistics
Who among us hasn't had the experience of racing to the airport to catch a flight, only to get there and wait, and wait, and wait? If you're flying into or out of any airport in North America, you now have access to statistics that may help you resolve that problem. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics provides detailed information regarding airline punctuality, or lack thereof. 
http://tinyurl.com/dlzlb

Polar Inertia
A self-described journal of nomadic and popular culture. This unusual online magazine is updated bimonthly with visuals and articles that record the ever-changing landscape of modern urbanism. The January-February issue featured Soviet bus shelters, Hong Kong mansions, street graphics, India's reclaimed construction, and more. My only criticism is that the site's default font is bifocal hostile. If you experience the same problem, click View > Text Size (or your browser's equivalent wording) and increase the size of the display font.
www.polarinertia.com

Trivia Library
Jeopardy fans and other trivia buffs will want to bookmark this library of interesting and eclectic facts. Categories of random facts include History, Religion, Words, Love, Psychics, Film, Sports, and many other topics.  Be sure to check out the Lists section which contains obscure lists, facts and figures such as the "Nine Breeds of Dog That Bite the Most," or "11 Missing People Who Disappeared."
www.trivia-library.com


Mr. Modem's weekly computer-help newsletter provides prompt, personal answers to your computer questions by email. Use Promotional Code 25810 and receive two additional free months (8 issues!) with your 12-month subscription. For more information, to view a sample issue or to subscribe, visit www.MrModem.com.