CD hazard
I have transferred my (legitimate) music collection to my MP3 player. But this week, I bought a CD that, due to copy protection, my CD ripper won't recognise as containing audio files. I only listen to music on my iPod, so the CD is useless to me, but the shop won't take it back as it was opened. Thomas Barry
Jack Schofield replies: The key question, according to Bryan Lewin from the Trading Standards Institute, is: "Did the person know in advance that the goods would not work as expected?" If the packaging has a warning such as "Will not play on PC/Mac", then you can't really complain. If not, take the CD back to the shop, tell them it is corrupt and that you would like a refund. The disc is corrupt by virtue of its copy protection system, which means it will not play properly on your PC, and also means the shop cannot simply provide a replacement copy.
You may need help from your local trading standards officer: you can find the nearest officer by typing your postcode into www.tradingstandards.gov.uk. If the officer is unsympathetic, see if the copy-protected CD carries Philips' "compact disc" trademark logo, which should also be inscribed on your CD-Rom drive. Copy-protected CDs do not meet CD-DA standards, so you can argue that this is selling by misrepresentation (see www.ftd.de/tm/hs/8935468.html). If all else fails, return the CD to the record company.
The Campaign for Digital Rights has useful information at http://ukcdr.org/issues/cd/quick and a page of "Known Bad CDs". Also look at Fat Chuck's site in the US at www.fatchucks.com. It is wise to check before buying because some CD drives have apparently been damaged by copy-protected CDs. Also, Apple has updated its SuperDrive software following problems ejecting copy-protected CDs.
No Gain
I find Gator very useful, but Gain, its accessory, is an irritant - all those ads and offers for the US. Can I keep Gator and uninstall Gain? Barbara Cummins
JS: You can't, within the terms of the licence agreement. Gator and Gain (Gator Advertiser Information Network) work together to provide pop-up advertisements. They are installed with many free Windows applications, especially media players and file-sharing applications. Gain is designed not to be uninstalled separately. However, if you uninstall all the programs that use Gain, it should uninstall itself. See www.doxdesk.com/parasite/Gator.html.
Ticks online
If you have a noticeboard, you can put up a list and ask family, colleagues, etc, to either sign up for things or tick things off (eg who'll bring quiche). Is it possible to use a web page in the same way? Jennifer Howard
JS: I tried using eBoard, an online pinboard, when it was free, but now it is being sold as an educational tool. The best alternative looks like Online Home Base, which is designed for single users, but has a share/collaborate button. Office PinBoard looks like massive overkill. You could also try doing it as a Wiki, but it is not as suitable as OHB, and anybody can change or delete a Wiki page.
Cash in
I'm a self-employed sole trader and can't find a suitable simple accounting package. I have tried running a simple schedule in Excel but have found it too fiddly. Nick Reynolds
JS: The most popular personal accounts programs are Intuit's Quicken and Microsoft Money, and both can be used by sole traders. However, you may do better with something like DO$H Accounts for Windows, which can be used as a stand-alone program or in conjunction with DO$H Cashbook and/or DO$H Invoice. It costs £99 but you can download a trial version. Although keeping accounts is inevitably tedious at the time, it makes it much easier to create the appropriate paperwork later.
Backchat
· Jon Terry says: "I have come across some freepost envelopes provided by the British Red Cross that allow you to send back old inkjet cartridges to be recycled. They receive £1 for each inkjet cartridge returned. Email freepost@redcross.org.uk or call 01638 552 082." You can also donate old mobiles to your nearest British Red Cross shop or call 0800 015 3576.
· Dean Williams asked if he could use an Apple Cinema display with a PC. I couldn't guarantee it would work and, in an unpublished answer, suggested he buy two 17in LCD screens. He went the Cinema route and reports that it does work with his Sony RZ221 PC via an ADC (Apple Display Connector) to DVI adaptor www.apple.com/uk/displays/adapter. He says: "It is much better than two 17in monitors for video and desktop publishing, etc." An alternative converter is Dr Bott's DVIator www.dviator.com. You may also need to buy a graphics card with a DVI port.
