Q.  I recently had to reinstall XP. Now I can not receive emails unless I click on send/receive. They send okay but not receive. I know there is something to do that makes it receive, but I cannot find it.

A. Assuming that you are using Outlook Express, click Tools, options, and check the box in front of Send and Receive messages at Startup if that is what you want to do. If you want to send the massage as soon as you click Send, click the Send tab, and click the box in front of Send messages immediately.

I find that sending and receiving emails at startup to be counter productive. Suppose that you want to quickly write and send an email. You open Outlook Express, and there are several emails available, and one of them has a large attachment.

Now, you have to wait until ALL the messages are received before you can start to write your email. Hardly quick!.

Also, I find the Send Immediately feature to be less than desirable.  Suppose that you want to write several email messages in this session. If the send immediately feature is active, you have to wait until the first one is sent before you can start the next one.

To me it is like writing several letters that you are going to send via SnailMail. However, instead of writing them all before taking them to the post office, you write one, take it to the PO, come home, write the next, take it to the PO , come home, etc., etc.

I find that sending or receiving email when I am ready and want to do it to be better. I much prefer clicking the Send/Receive to accomplish this when I say so rather than having Outlook Express do it when it wants to. But, to each his/her own.

Q. I updated to Internet Explorer 7, and now the email icon is no longer there. How do I get it back?

A. Right click the tool bar to the left of the little house. Choose Customize Command Bar, then Add or Remove Commands. Find Read Email on the left, highlight it, and click the Add button. You can then move it up or down in the list. Up in this list is left when it is displayed on the toolbar. If all the icons are not displayed on the toolbar, you can drag the divider to the left until they are.

While I'm at it, after right clicking the tool bar, you can also choose to display the Menu Bar which is turned off by default. This is the bar at the top that contains the text for File, Edit, View, etc. Pressing F11 will then toggle this on and off. You can also choose to auto hide everything on the top if you like. After pressing F11, right click on the X to the right of the address blank and select Auto Hide.

Q. Recently, I have been unable to get my screen saver to run. I can see the screen savers while in display properties and select preview but they will not initiate after time selected has gone by...Any ideas?

A. Well, a quick search of the Microsoft Knowledge base revels that the most likely cause is that you recently installed something like the Microsoft Wireless Comfort Keyboard 1.0A Model: 1027, or the Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 2.0 Model: 1008, and possibly third-party programs are causing driver conflicts. Click HERE to read the entire article directly on the Microsoft support web site.

This detection process is a little complicated and involved, but fully explained and easy IF you follow directions. I suggest that it be printed so it can be followed exactly.