When my screen freezes and I execute a ctrl-alt-del to end the task and unfreeze the screen, I cannot believe how many programs or tasks are apparently running in the background. Is this normal? What on earth are all these programs? Why are they running? How can I determine what they are and if I need them? And, how do I get rid of them if I don't need them?
This is one of the main causes of the awful stability problems with Windows 98. The Microsoft operating system allows way too many programs to run invisibly in thebackground, draining resources and sucking up memory. Some of these are sensible and even necessary. For instance, anti-virus programs operate that way, so they can maintain constant vigilance. And some system functions run in the background. However, every software company, including Microsoft itself, likes to load up the PC with a lot of background junk that runs secretly. Many of them do things you'd never approve of, if given the chance - like remembering to nag you to register, or making it easier to launch programs you hardly use.

So why not just kill them off? Well, as you've observed, it's not that easy, because Windows lists them by technical names, not English ones, and you can't be certain which is vital and which isn't. As I write this, my PC has about 20 such mysterious programs running, including "Frext" and "Vsstat" and "Wkcalrem."

One way to weed some of these programs out is to look in the StartUp folder under Programs in your Start menu. If you see things there you don't need, deletethem. There are also some third-party utility programs that make more sense of what's running, and let you block some background programs.

Finally, Windows 98 includes a helpful, but hidden, "System Configuration Utility," which allows you to exert some control over what's running in the background. To use it, select the "Run" command from the "Start" menu, then type in "msconfig" and hit return. But even these three steps require you to know something about the way Windows, and your programs, work.

Which Instant Messaging program would allow me to send messages across various Internet-service providers? I mean something that would allow me on WorldNet to IM a friend on AOL, another on MSN, and a third on a government server in Canada.
None of the branded, proprietary instant-messaging programs will do that, mainly because AOL, which is the leader in the field, has blocked various competitors who try to tie into its system. AOL says it favors inter-operability, but only if it's worked out by anindustry committee, and it considers attempts by others to build links unilaterally as invasions of its servers. The competitors, who have relatively few members and crave access to AOL's huge user base, dismiss AOL's concerns and say inter-operability should be the rule.

There are some instant-messaging systems that are Internet-wide and make no distinctions among Internet providers, but all of your friends would have to register with them. The most popular of these broad services is ICQ, which is owned by - AOL.

My wife envies the Palm VII carried by most of her friends. I understand there are rivals: Windows CE and the Visor. Prices aside, how do I choose?
Yes, there are rivals to the basic Palm organizers. I wouldn't advise getting a Windows CE device, but the Handspring Visor, which uses the identical software as the Palm, is good value. However, the particular model your wife is pining for, the Palm VII, has no direct competitors. The Palm VII has a built-in wireless radio and antenna soit can send and receive e-mail messages and data to and from the Internet. No Windows CE handheld, and no Visor model, has this integrated capability. The closest thing would be the RIM 850 wireless pager, a very fine product. But the RIM is primarily an e-mail machine and it's much smaller, with a much tinier screen. It lacks the Internet-data capability of the Palm VII, and has a much weaker calendar and address book function.

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