When I try to shut down my computer using the power button on the front of the case, the screen goes dark and then the monitor shuts down, but everything else just keeps running. I hear the fan and I see the lights flashing. I have to hold down the power button to turn it off or hit the reset button to restart. What is causing this and how can I fix it? I’m using Windows Media Center Edition.

Only an outfit that built an operating system that requires one to click on Start to shut things down could have come up with the feature that so vexes you, Mr. G. There actually is a setting in Windows to make your computer act like that on purpose. Go figure.

Anyway click on Start and Control Panel and click open the icon called Power Options. In the tabbed menu this summons, select the Advanced item. There you will find the setting that causes your computer to go on standby when the power button gets pushed. Options available for the power button include “Hibernate,” “Shutdown,” “Stand by,” “Ask me what to do” and, my favorite, “Do nothing.” Take your pick.

By the way, I assume you just do this type of shutdown only when there is trouble. The proper way to shut down, as I already mentioned, is to click on Start and then select Shut down.

I would like to find out how to send just part of a file, one page or part of a page in my e-mails. I send schedules, etc., to other members of the club I am president of. I can attach the complete file but that usually isn’t necessary. I would appreciate help.

All you need to do is use the Windows clipboard feature to copy the part of a file you want to e-mail and then paste just that section into the body of the note instead of attaching a file.

For example, you could put the cursor at the start of this message and hold down the Shift key and then tap the down arrow key to paint line by line of text until you get to the end of what you want to send. Then hold down the Alt key and tap C for copy.

Now start a fresh e-mail message, address it, give it a subject line and put the cursor at the start of where text is entered. Next tap Control + V (for move) and the text you painted will appear in the body of the message. Selection also can be done with the mouse by holding down the left key and dragging the cursor arrow over stuff.

It’s that simple for text, Mr. H. However, for pasting images, formatted text with headlines, tables and such, you need to set your e-mail software to use the format called HTML for e-mail. After that you can either use the mouse or Shift + down arrow method to copy a document with images, or just select an image and copy it with Control + C.

To activate the HTML setting in Microsoft Outlook Express, open the e-mail program and select Tools and Options and then open the tab for Send in the menu that pops up. There you will see radio buttons to set send messages in HTML or Text.

Contact Jim Coates via e-mail at jcoates@tribune.com

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