PC Problems

Simon Zerafa once again pops into our Haverfordwest studio to answer listeners questions: Louis Dias says "I've been trying to index my external hard drive with Google Desktop Index, so far with no luck. The hard disk is a Lacie Safe fingerprint USB drive. I have set up read/write permission on the drive. As it did not index the drive I tried Adding the drive using Preferences, Local Indexing, Search These Locations. I get an error saying it's not a USB hard drive, which it is. Tried running Google diagnostics, reporting to Google Support with no luck so far. Any ideas as to how I can fix this? Simon says: This type of drive somehow encrypts the information on the drive until you swipe you fingerprint across the scanner. Assuming this problem doesn't happen with a normal USB flash drive or other external drive (perhaps the listener can get back in touch about this?) - the problem seems to relate to the encryption software which may be affecting how the PC sees the drive. Send more info to mousemat@bbc.co.uk. A second question from Fred: My local PC shop offers "Format & Reload" - is this worth trying to speed up my aging PC? Simon says: This involves backing up your hard-drive, then wiping it clean and installing a fresh Windows. Check with the shop to see exactly what they offer as part of this service. It can be useful if you have suffered a bad virus or spyware infection

Modern Girl

"Lonely Girl 15" who gave the impression to many users of video site YouTube that she was a genuine lonely girl in need of friends, later revealed as a hoax - has evolved into Kate Modern, a fictional 19 year old whose day to day life will evolve on social networking site Bebo. Sunday Times journalist Stephen Armstrong discusses the ways in which the web is trying to re-invent entertainment.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites