Beerbrain asked the Answer Line forum about a mouse cursor that automatically moves to the Yes button when a dialog box opens.

Normally, opening a dialog box does nothing to the mouse cursor. You have to drag the mouse manually to the box.

Alvin Hurd asked if he can restore a Vista backup in XP. I answer both his question and the reverse one: Can one restore an XP backup in Vista?

I've never been a fan of Windows' built-in backup programs. They always come with one or another essential flaw that makes them almost useless--like Vista backup's inability to back up or skip particular folders. And they've often used proprietary archive formats that aren't supported by older--or even newer--versions of Windows.

Amgpac has a PC that hasn't been used in three years. He asked the Answer Line forum about any precautions he should take before booting it up.

The most important thing is to make sure it's clean on the inside. If there's dust blocking any of the air passageways, the PC might overheat and damage itself.

Foxylady48180 asked the Answer Line forum about Vista's tool for measuring hardware performance.

You'd think that a feature called Windows Experience Index, first introduced with Vista, would ask how you like your Windows experience. Maybe Microsoft is scared to ask that question of Vista users. So instead the Index examines and scores your hardware's ability to handle the operating system and certain types of applications.

After changing a startup setting in Msconfig, Tim Byrne gets an annoying System Configuration Utility message box each time his PC boots.

Don't you just love Windows? You want to stop a program from loading automatically, so you uncheck it in Msconfig. That stops the program's autoloading, but now, this message comes up with every boot. And when you click OK, up comes Msconfig.

After reading Ditch Cable and Satellite for Free Internet TV, Warren Kernaghan asked where on the Internet he can find television programs comparable to what's on cable.

I should have been clearer when I wrote that article (which became the lead Here's How article in the October print edition of PC World). Internet television isn't a perfect substitute for cable or satellite--just a cheaper and acceptable substitute. Among its shortcomings:

Julie Darrigan wants to back up her desktop and her Internet Explorer favorites.

If you're using Vista, most of your Favorites are probably in C:\Users\yourlogon\Favorites, where yourlogon is the name you pick when you log onto the computer. Other Favorites might be in C:\Users\Public\Favorites. Your desktop files are in C:\Users\yourlogon\Destop and C:\Users\Public\Public Desktop.

A41202813 asked the Answer Line forum if programs' uninstallers leave junk behind, and whether poor uninstalls could leave software companies open to lawsuits.

The uninstallers that come with Windows programs are, for the most part, notoriously sloppy. A typical application's installer will sink its talons deep into Windows. Then the uninstaller clips those talons, leaving them in the operating system's wounded flesh.

Petrie asked the Answer Line forum how to move Outlook Express messages to a new PC.

It's worth noting that Outlook Express is not an independent program, but a part of Windows, and that Windows XP is the last version to come with this particular email client. Therefore, how you move your inbox depends on what version of Windows you're moving it to.

Michael Kobus asked how to send mail to undisclosed recipients.

Every email program has three fields for recipients:

Phillip2167 can't find any 64-bit programs for his new PC. He asked the Answer Line forum what programs are compatible.

You don't have to worry about x64 applications. The old, 32-bit x86 applications work just fine. They can't take full advantage of the 64-bit architecture, but they won't perform any worse than they will on a 32-bit x86 system. In fact, they may be faster if you have enough RAM--x64 systems don't suffer from x86's 4GB limitation.

When Dick McGraw checks Windows Update, he wonders which patches he should download and install.

It's confusing. Microsoft throws a lot of stuff at you, often with little information. And somehow you have to figure out what you really need, what you might like, and what Microsoft wants you to have for their own purposes.