www.MrModem.com
Dell’s Dilemma
Q. I heard that some Dell laptops have defective batteries that have been
recalled. How do I know if I’ve got one of them in my computer, and if so, what
do I do?
A. First of all, though the recall involves more than four million batteries,
according to Dell, there have only been six reported cases of “overheating” that
resulted in property damage, but no injuries. (I suspect the term “overheating”
is being used in the same manner that a physician says, “You may feel some
slight discomfort,” just before the searing pain begins.)
This battery problem stems from flaws in the production of lithium-ion batteries
made by Sony and used in Dell’s Latitude, Inspiron, XPS, and Precision mobile
workstation notebooks that shipped between April 1, 2004 and July 18, 2006.
To determine if you have one of the batteries in question, other than the
ability to toast marshmallows over your keyboard, go to the Dell Battery Return
Program Web site (www.dellbatteryprogram.com)
and enter the 20-digit ID number located on your battery. If your battery is a
candidate for free replacement, you’ll be directed to an online request form.
You can also call 866-342-0011.
If you do have one of the batteries in question, it is recommended that you
remove the battery and use the computer exclusively on AC power until you
receive your replacement.
Q. I’m having trouble printing ZIP Codes that begin with a zero in Excel. My
spreadsheet displays zeros in the ZIP Code column, but when printed, it drops
the zeros every time. Can you help?
A. Excel is doing what it normally does in this instance, and that’s dropping
the leading zero because it’s assuming that the ZIP Code is an actual number.
Since 1 and 01 have the same numerical value, Excel thinks its doing you a big
favor by dropping the “unnecessary” zero.
This is easily resolved by instructing Excel that your ZIP Code column is not
comprised of arbitrary numerals, but rather that those numbers are ZIP Codes. To
do this, first highlight the entire column by clicking the letter at the top of
the column, then click Format > Cells > Number tab.
In the Category section, scroll down and select Special, then ZIP Code from the
Type section, followed by OK. Your ZIP Codes should now print correctly, with no
disappearing digits.
Q. When removing programs and the question appears, “Do you want to remove a
shared file?” should I answer “Yes” or “No”?
A: Shared files display the extension .DLL, which means they’re Dynamic Linked
Library files. That’s just a high-falootin’ way to let you know that the file in
question is possibly being used by one or more other programs. For example, a
word processor and spreadsheet may share a .DLL file, so removing a shared file
may cause one or more programs to function improperly.
Removing a shared file can also result in an “XYZ file cannot be found” error
message. If that appears, it’s usually because the missing file was removed when
a shared file was deleted as the result of uninstalling another program.
If you’re asked if you want to delete a shared file, just say “No.” It won’t
hurt anything to leave the file alone, and it’s better to err on the side of
caution rather than risk accidentally disabling another application.
Mr. Modem’s DME (Don’t Miss ‘Em) Sites of the
Month
eLibs.com
Do you remember the wild and wacky Mad Libs books, which invited readers to
provide words that were ultimately incorporated into a quasi-amusing story?
Think of eLibs.com as the online equivalent of Mad Libs. If you fancy yourself
as a writer, you can even try your hand at creating your own eLib, then share or
inflict it upon others.
www.elibs.com
Free Information Society
Here you’ll find free MP3 downloads of historical speeches, interviews and other
significant moments in audio history. Listen to Spiro Agnew waxing expansive
about long-haired hippies, Mahatma Gandhi speaking about peace, Mr.
Modem explaining quantum physics, or Amelia Earhart
ruminating about flying. The site is divided into topical sections, so it’s easy
to find just about any voice from the past.
http://tinyurl.com/266scl
Make Your Own Kaleidoscope
This site reminds me of the Beatles’ Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. Such
mind-blowing lyrics. Remember “The girl with colitis goes by”? They don’t write
‘em like that anymore. Copy and paste the URL to any .jpg file into the Image
field, click the Load button, then hold down the left button while moving your
mouse to enjoy the groovy kaleidoscopic images. Far out! It makes me feel like I
had a hit of tofu. Man, that’s good veggie.
http://tinyurl.com/2dywn4
Mr. Modem provides prompt, personal answers to
computer and Internet questions by email, plus easy-to-use PC tips, including
Windows Vista, for subscribers of his weekly computer-help newsletter. For more
information, to view a sample issue, or to subscribe, visit
www.MrModem.com.