Answer Line

Sync Browser Bookmarks Between Windows and Android

Let's take this problem one PC browser at a time.

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Restore Your System When You Can't Launch System Restore

System Restore automatically backs up the state of Windows and your installed programs (but not your data). When Windows misbehaves, System Restore allows you to return the operating system to a previous condition. So when System Restore misbehaves, you may be tempted to pick up your laptop and smash it into the wall.

That's not recommended.

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Try Windows 8 Without Losing Windows 7

I wrote my opinion of Windows 8 last month. Many readers voiced their own, differing opinions. You can make up your own mind by installing the Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

But you shouldn't replace your current OS with one that's not yet ready to be sold commercially. You want to install Windows 8 in a way that leaves Windows 7 unharmed.

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I Can't Eject This Flash Drive (or External Hard Drive)

When Windows tells you that you can't safely remove a flash drive or other external storage media, it asks you to "Close any programs or windows that might be using the device, and then try again."

That's good advice, and the first thing you should do is follow it. Examine your taskbar and

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Can I Spread Wallpaper Across Multiple Monitors?

The first thing you need is a large enough photo. How large? As wide as the two monitors put together, and as high as the tallest of the two. For instance, if one monitor is 1600 x 900 and the other 1366 x 768, the picture's resolution must be at least 2966 x 900. If the picture is larger than that, part of the image won't be visible.

I explain why below.

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Can I Safely Open Suspected Spam?

I can't promise that it's always 100-percent safe, but with the right precautions, the chance of disaster becomes acceptable.

Some messages are obviously false positives (valid emails that are wrongly identified as spam). For instance, if you sign up for a newsletter and the verification email turns up in your junk folder, your filtering software clearly made a mistake.

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International Travel and Your Laptop

Many travel concerns are identical whether or not you're crossing international borders. I'll start with those and then go on to specifically international issues.

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