HOWZAT

A. Your PC is probably using the QuickTime movie player to run .mov files, but it sounds as though the program has become corrupted. First, delete the old player: go to the Start menu, select Control Panel then Programs, and uninstall Apple QuickTime. Then visit www.apple.com/quicktime to download and install the latest version of the free player. This should cure the problem.

Q. We have a house in France without a telephone line or broadband, so we use our mobiles for voice calls to the UK and an internet cafe for access to our e-mail — and it’s expensive. Is there a more cost-effective way to do both?

DR, via e-mail

A Visit a French mobile phone shop and ask for a 3G SIM card on an unlimited data deal. This can be used in a mobile phone for voice calls, and in a 3G modem to get a computer onto the internet. The shop will want to sell you a handset, but if you already have a 3G phone the card should work with it, once unlocked ­— a service available on most British high streets. You can also unlock some 3G modems, or go with the one the shop recommends. For a how-to guide, see tinyurl.com/mszu8s.

Tech Tip: How to speed up a home broadband connection

Broadband speeds seldom match their advertised claims. To find out how far short your broadband falls of what you thought you were paying for, go to a website such as www.thinkbroadband.com.

To increase your speed, first ensure that all the ADSL filters (the little boxes that sit between the telephone wire and the wall socket) are working properly. Unplug all land lines except for the one connected to the modem and try out each ADSL filter on that line, rechecking internet speeds as you go.

Tweakmaster software (free at www.tweakmaster.com) enables you to try out different combinations of connection settings on your computer.

Another good option is to add an iPlate onto your home’s master phone socket. This deactivates the bell wire, an obsolete part of telephone wiring that was once used to make phones ring, but now merely creates electrical interference. These plates can boost ADSL line speeds by around 60%. You can buy one for €9.15 from www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk.

Finally, consider upgrading your modem/router or your computer by adding more RAM or updating the operating system.

dontpanic@sunday-times.co.uk

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