This @!*# computer! How to handle ten common gripes.(Tech Life)(Column)

A crash may be the worst computer problem, but it's not the only one. Here, the ten biggest beefs from staffers and visitors to our web site, www.ConsumerReports.org--with our advice on ways to overcome (or at least cope with) each one.

(1) Why do start-up and shutdown take so long? Some boot-up time--for an antivirus check, say--is unavoidable. And shutdown takes longer than necessary if you don't close all open programs first. Of course, you can avoid a lengthy boot-up if you use standby or hibernation instead of shutdown. "Standby," available on both Macintosh and Windows computers, is a partial shutdown that lets you quickly return to readiness, often by pressing any key. Trouble is, standby may require a reboot anyway. "Hibernation," standard on the new Windows Me operating system, lets you return to the program you left when you power up.

(2) Why is rebooting necessary? Install new software or a new peripheral on a Windows computer, and an onscreen message will tell you to reboot. That's inescapable for new hardware or new driver software. But you may not need to reboot after installing a properly designed application. That's because the Windows Registry keeps track of the necessary files.

(3) I've got mail? Where? If you use, say, Microsoft Outlook at the office and a different e-mail program at home, you'll have to maintain multiple address books and two sets of message logs.

If you install the latest version of popular e-mail programs, you'll greatly increase the odds of being able to successfully relay messages--and attachments--between home and office. Programs like Eudora, Netscape, and Outlook Express can accommodate messages from other e-mail programs.

(4) What illegal operation? Both windows and Mac computers can deliver incomprehensible error messages. And dialogue boxes that pop up to help you through certain operations often present unclear or seemingly inadequate choices. Try using onscreen help for some of these onscreen bafflers. In addition, Windows Me provides connections to more-detailed help screens.

(5) Why isn't the printer responding? Plugging in a cable to link a printer with the computer doesn't guarantee that the two will work together. Be sure you're using up-to-date versions of the necessary driver software or extensions. They can usually be downloaded free from the peripheral maker's web site. Newer devices using a universal serial bus connection tend to have fewer communication problems. For newer printers, the cable designed to plug into a parallel port must ...