A. ActiveX is a Microsoft
technology that enables interactive
content for the programs, relegated
mostly these days to the web. Before
ActiveX, content was usually static,
existing of primarily 2-dimensional text
and graphics. Active X allows multimedia
effects, interactive objects, and
applications that create a user
experience and also ties together other
technology that can produce "active" and
"interactive" Web sites.
In your case, the ActiveX
component on your computer cannot do
whatever the program wants it to do.
ActiveX can be used by rouge software to
install malware on your computer, or try
to obtain information from your
computer. It looks like your SpyHunter
anti-spyware software is blocking it
because it is using ActiveX.
If you are sure the
software you are trying to install is
legit and then disable SpyHunter while
you do the installation, and it should
install OK. Don't forget to re-enable it
when you are through.
A.
You will need to open the bitmap file in
an application that allows you to change
the format. Most likely, the bitmap will
have a .bmp extension although it could
have a .tif, .dib or .tiff. Windows
comes with an application called MSPaint
that is installed by default. Since
Windows 98, MSPaint has had the ability
to save files as .jpg files.
So,
open MSPaint by clicking on Start, then
Run, and entering mspaint and click OK.
Locate the bitmap file you want to
convert and open it. Then using the
"Save As" option in MSPaint, save it as
a .jpg file.
MSPaint also allows opening or saving
files in three different .bmp formats
and in .jpg, .gif, .tif or .png formats.
NOTE:
jpg and jpeg are the same format as are
tif and tiff.
Q.
When I'll be out for just 1 to 3 hours,
is it good to turn the monitor off to
save electricity--or is so much turning
on & off too much wear & tear on the
device?
A. Turning the monitor off to
conserve electricity becomes a
concern when you use a CRT type
monitor, but much less if using a
newer flat panel type.
I
wouldn't bother to turn the monitor
off if you are only going to be away
for a few hours if you are using a
flat panel monitor as it doesn't use
much electricity. It probably draws
around 40 watts. At an average of 8
cents per KWH, Kilowatt Hour,
the monitor will cost about one
quarter of a cent per hour.
It's debatable if turning it on and
off as frequently as every 3 or 4
hours will shorten its life. It is
difficult to determine as the normal
life of a flat panel monitor is
usually stated to have a MTTF "Mean
Time To Failure" rating of about
300,000 hours of continual
usage. That's over 35 years.
How much that its life may be
shortened by turning it off and on
is debatable. I have two that are
over 10 years old that I leave on
except at night, (the bright light
disturbs my sleep), and they are
still working well. Either way,
leaving it on or turning it off for
a few hours probably doesn't make a
whole lot of difference.
