A pain in the hard disk

Helpline

I installed some software, then later decided to delete it from my hard disk. Unfortunately, I used the delete command instead of uninstall command. Now there are some unwanted files still in my hard disk. Can you help me to remove these files?

Getting rid of unwanted applications from your PC can be a real pain and is still one detail that hasn't been properly addressed in Windows. However, most vendors now provide an uninstall tool with each application that will safely remove it, and this option can usually be found with the program shortcut itself in the Start menu, or else under Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel. This should always be attempted first because a program could put files in various places around your hard disk and they will be impossible to identify manually. I'm afraid we can't help you, other than to suggest you invest in a third- party utility such as Cybermedia's Uninstaller, which may be able to track down unwanted files for you.

The Microsoft Money 97 online help seems to indicate that VAT calculations are automatic, but I have not found the vital switch that turns on the VAT routine. Can you tell me where I have gone wrong?

If no VAT box is visible in the transaction form it is because VAT has not been enabled for that account. In the Account Register, click the Account Details button (top right-hand corner). There is an option button "Account Enabled for VAT". VAT is enabled at two levels: individual accounts can be enabled or individual categories can be enabled. This allows a customer to, for instance, track business and personal expenditure in the same money file. If no VAT box is present in the Transaction form, it means that the account not enabled for VAT. If a VAT box is present, but it is greyed-out, it means that the account is VAT enabled but the chosen category or sub-category is not.

I recently had a problem with my computer when it was inadvertently turned off before Windows 95 was ready. When I tried to reboot my PC, it would always stop short of the message "loading Windows 95". I could not even boot up in safe mode. However, I could enter WinBios set-up. I am at a loss as to what to do as I am new to computers. I tried clicking on original default values, rebooting and also optimal values, all to no avail. I did notice that during the "part boot up", one of the lines read IDE-0. After looking at the set-up/advanced menu I noticed that there was an option to change the IDE-0 to IDE-2, then I reset the PC. The first thing I noticed was that it first tried to access drive A and then drive B. I put my Windows 95 recovery disk in and reset the PC. To my relief it started to run the recovery program and then loaded Windows. I then changed the IDE-2 back to IDE-0. Was there an easier way of curing my problem, and could I have caused any problems by doing this? I had previously tried to use the recovery disk, but it would not look at drive A. I have yet to notice any problems since I did this.

I guess that one or more system files had become corrupted when Windows was not allowed to close down properly. Using the recovery disk was the correct procedure to follow, although I'm not quite sure why your PC wouldn't look at drive A, as you claim. The PC's Bios deals with very low-level configuration of your system's hardware, and isn't the place to sort out problems with Windows - it could even make them worse if you don't know what you're doing.

Daniel Robinson is technical editor of `PC Direct' magazine.

Send your questions to Helpline, Network, The Independent, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5DL or e-mail them to network@independent.co.uk with Helpline in the subject field.