Here are some questions and answers for common computer issues many users encounter. If you'd like to submit a question of your own, just fill out the form located at the bottom of the page.

• Can I use AOL Messenger if I don't use AOL Service?
  
• What is a battery backup and do I need one?
  
• I've seen some people with internet on their laptops no matter where they go, even if it's outside. How do I get that?
  
• How do I create a folder?
  
• How can I make my computer faster?
  
• What's the difference between Intel and AMD?
  
• Is it possible to create an Internet link in a Microsoft Word Document?
  
• How can I connect multiple computers in my home to the Internet?
  
• What does "Open Source" mean?
  
• How do I open a Word document attached to an email in Outlook?
  
• How do I recover a deleted file?
  
• How do I replace all instances of a name in a Microsoft Word document?
  
• What's the difference between "Reply" and "Reply to All" with regard to email?
  
• How do I request a delivery receipt for my email messages in Outlook?
  
• How do I send email in Outlook without disclosing all of the recipients?
  
• How can I open a Microsoft Word 2007 file when I have Microsoft Word 2003?
  
• What is T9 messaging?
  
• What is VoIP?
  
• Why is it that I cannot open a Microsoft Word file when I have Microsoft Word?
  

Question: Can I use AOL Messenger if I don't use AOL Service?
Answer: Yes. Unlike using AOL email, AOL Service is not required to use AOL Messenger.

Question: What is a battery backup and do I need one?
Answer: A battery backup is a power strip that has a built in battery. In the event of a power failure, the devices that are plugged into the battery backup will remain functional for a period of time allowing you to safely shut the device off to avoid power surge problems. It is strongly recommended that all of your major electronic devices such as TVs, computers, monitors and gamming stations such as an Xbox are all plugged into battery backups.

Question: I've seen some people with internet on their laptops no matter where they go, even if it's outside. How do I get that?
Answer: Cellular service providers now offer cellular signal internet. The concept is fairly simple, wherever you receive cellular signal you will have access to the internet. For more information contact your service provider.

Question: How do I create a folder?
Answer: Just follow the following steps:

• Right mouse-click where you would like the folder to be and a pop-up window will appear.
• Scroll your mouse over "New".
• Select "Folder".
• Your new folder will appear. Type in the name for the folder and then left-click anywhere but the folder. Your new folder is created and called what you want.

Question: How can I make my computer faster?
Answer: There are many ways to improve the speed of your computer. One way is to defragment the hard drive. To defragment your hard drive, do the following:

• Click on Start --> All Programs --> Accessories --> System Tools --> Disk Defragmenter
• Select the (C:) drive from the list.
• Click on the Defragment button.
• It should be noted: Defragmenting a hard drive may take several hours. While the hard drive is being defragmented you should be doing nothing else with the computer. It is a good idea to let the computer defragment over night.

Question: What's the difference between Intel and AMD?
Answer: Intel and AMD are both computer hardware manufacturers. They are most known for their Central Processing Units (CPUs), which are the microchips inside computers that act as the "brain" of the computer. Different users will have preferences of one over the other. In most cases, users would notice no difference between the two manufacturers.

Question: Is it possible to create an Internet link in a Microsoft Word Document?
Answer: Yes. It is as simple as typing the full link www.example.com. In order to go to the link you must hold down the "control" key while you click on the link.

Question: How can I connect multiple computers in my home to the Internet?
Answer: In order to connect multiple computers to the Internet simultaneously, you must use a device known as a router. Routers are very common and most electronic stores that carry computer equipment and they will be able to help you assess your needs and get you the right equipment.

Question: What does "Open Source" mean?
Answer: Open Source refers to programming code. The term specifically means that the code is open to anyone in the public to be able to look at and modify or update the program. This is commonly used by companies designing software so that programs that don't necessarily work for them can create updates or adaptations of the software. Typically this software is free to use. Purchased software is typically not open source, meaning that only employees of the programming company may see or edit the code.

Question: How do I open a Word document attached to an email in Outlook?
Answer: Open it the same as any other email message. Once in Outlook, click on the email message to open it. Double-click on the attachment to open it. To save the attachment while viewing the message, click on "File". Click on "Save". Select the location where you choose to save the Word document.

Question: How do I recover a deleted file?
Answer: When a file is deleted it goes into the recycle/trash bin. Provided you have not year cleared the bin, you can recover a file by repeating the following:

• Double-click on the recycle bin icon - this will open the bin
• Select the file you wish to recover.
• Click "Restore This Item". The file will be recovered to the same place it was deleted from.

Question: How do I replace all instances of a name in a Microsoft Word document?
Answer: Just go through the following steps:

• While in Word, press Control-F to bring up the "Find and Replace" window.
• Select the "Replace" tab at the top.
• Type in the name you would like to replace in the "Find what" box and type in the replacement name in the "Replace with" box.
• Click on the "Replace All" button at the bottom.

Question: What's the difference between "Reply" and "Reply to All" with regard to email?
Answer: At times you will receive an email that is sent to yourself as well as multiple other recipients. If you select the "Reply" button, you will reply only to the sender of the email. If you select "Reply to All" you will reply to all recipients of the original email. Example: you receive an email from Bob that goes to yourself, Mary and John. If you select "Reply", you will reply only to Bob but if you select "Reply to All" you will send a reply to Bob, Mary and John.

Question: How do I request a delivery receipt for my email messages in Outlook?
Answer: Just go through the following steps:

• After opening a new mail message, click the "Options" button.
• Place a checkmark in the box beside the request a delivery receipt for this message, located under “voting and tracking” options.

Question: How do I send email in Outlook without disclosing all of the recipients?
Answer: Just go through the following steps:

• Open a new message. Click on the "Options" button to the right and the “down arrow” to select “BCC:” (click here to see image).
• The BCC (blind carbon copy) field should now be displayed below the CC field.
• In the BCC field, enter email addresses that you would like to send to but not disclose. When you send your message, addresses entered into the BCC field will not show up as addresses in the email.

Question: How can I open a Microsoft Word 2007 file when I have Microsoft Word 2003?
Answer: You can either upgrade to Microsoft Word 2007 or you may download a free Microsoft Word Viewer here.

Question: What is T9 messaging?
Answer: T9 messaging refers to an option for text messaging on your cell phone. We will demonstrate using the word "car".

• If you wanted to text message "car" without T9 messaging you would press "2" three times, then "2" once, and then "7" three times.
• With T9 messaging, you would simple press 227 and the phone would automatically correct the lettering to spell "car".

Question: What is VoIP?
Answer: VoIP is short for Voice over Internet Protocol. This process means that instead of your telephone signal coming across standard phone lines it comes through a high-speed Internet connection. When using a VoIP phone, users cannot tell the difference between the VoIP service and standard telephone service. There is no need for a special phone to use VoIP, the change comes in adding a special VoIP service box as part of the setup.

Question: Why is it that I cannot open a Microsoft Word file when I have Microsoft Word?
Answer: With the release of Microsoft Office 2007 (which includes a new version of Microsoft Word) the format that the file is saved is now different. If you are running Microsoft Word 2003 or older, there is a good chance that this is why you cannot open the file. If this is the case, to open the file you will either need to upgrade to the new version of Microsoft Word or have the person who originally sent you the file resave the file as a Word 2003 document.