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Answer Line: Will My CD-R and DVD+R Discs Still Run in 10 Years?

Lincoln Spector

A Better PC Nag

How do I make my PC nag me at designated times?

Glen Dresser, North Hollywood, California

You can do that with Windows' Task Scheduler, but I know an easier and more versatile way. True, it involves putting yet another autoloading program on your PC, but in this case I think it's worth it.

Kirby Software's free Kirby Alarm utility is extremely easy to use and very thorough. You can use the program to set up alarms that recur every x number of minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or years. The alarm can be a pop-up, a sound, a pop-up with sound, a program launch, or an e-mail. If your system is off when an alarm should have sounded, it will appear (and/or sound) the next time Windows loads.

Though the program is free, it requires registration, and author Ian Cook welcomes donations. You can download Kirby Alarm. The more powerful Kirby Alarm Pro version costs $25.

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