Q. Is there a way to change the default Windows setting when using "Save As" from My Documents to the C: drive, and specifically to a Recipes folder that I use frequently? Thank you for your fantastic weekly newsletter and the humor that goes along with it.

A. Thank you. You can change that default location by right-clicking My Documents > Properties. In the Target field you can do either of the following:

Type in the path to the folder that you want to use, and then click OK; for example, C:\My Important Stuff. If the folder does not exist, a dialog box will appear. Click Yes to create the folder, then click OK.

Alternatively, from the My Documents Properties screen, you can click the Move button, then select the folder in which you wish to save your documents, then click OK twice. If you need to create a new folder, click the “Make New Folder” button, enter a name for the folder, then click OK twice.

In the Move Documents field, click “Yes” to move your documents to the new location, or click “No” to leave your documents in their original location.

Q. I'm using Windows XP. Please explain how to create a restore point.

A. If you’re using Windows ME, XP or Vista, the System Restore feature allows you to turn back the clock, if a computer problem arises, and return to a point when your computer was presumably working hunky-dorily. The point in time you can return to is called a Restore Point.

Your computer will automatically create Restore Points, but you can manually create them, as well. Always create a Restore Point, for example, before you install new software, in case the software changes your system’s settings or otherwise causes you to utter the time-honored, computer-user’s lament, “I wish I never installed that program; why didn’t I leave well enough alone?” I feel your pain.

To create a Restore Point, click Start > Programs (or All Programs) > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore. Vista will ask for your permission to continue so be sure to click “Continue,” otherwise there’s no need to read beyond this point.

On the System Restore screen in Vista, you’ll see a “Recommended Restore” selected as the default, or you can click to select “Choose a different Restore Point” to view a list of automatically created Restore Points from which you can select which date to use.

At the bottom of the screen you’ll see, “To create a Restore Point, open System Protection,” which is a clickable link, then follow the on-screen instructions.

System Restore does not affect your data files; it's only for preserving system settings and configuration issues. So if, for example, you write a letter and it's in your My Documents folder, if you go back to a Restore Point before the letter was created, the document will still be there for you.

Mr. Modem's Sites of the Week:

Rare Antique Telephones
In this era of miniscule cell phones, it’s easy to forget the somewhat clunky origins of the telephone. Take a trip back in time to this online exhibit of both common and rare antique phones. “Alexander Graham Bell holding on Line 1.” www.museumphones.com

Tombstone Generator
It’s a rather maudlin idea, but if for some reason you want to create a tombstone, either for fun or to test out some specific wording for a departed loved one, you can do it here. Type up to five lines of text, then choose a design. I thought this site was kind of creepy, but like any good headstone site, it’s not something I would take for granite. If you enjoy this site, click on over to the Church Sign Generator at www.churchsigngenerator.com. It’s a real knee-slapper. www.tombstonegenerator.com

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