Q When I played games at Pogo.com, a "pop-up" window used to tell me I was receiving 1,000 bonus points. But now I get a message that says I have pop-ups blocked. How can I unblock them?
How to clear a path for the pop-ups you want to see
March 23, 2011 at 1:36AM
BEVERLY COOK, MIAMI
A If you've upgraded your Web browser lately, that's probably the issue. New browsers block pop-up windows because they're often used for advertisements. But you can clear the way for pop-ups by turning off or modifying your browser's pop-up blocker feature.
For Internet Explorer, click the "tools" heading, choose "Internet options" and click the "privacy" tab. Beneath "prevent most pop-up windows from appearing" uncheck the box in front of "turn on pop-up blocker."
Alternatively, you could leave the blocker on and make an exception for www.pogo.com. Click the "settings" button to the right, type www.pogo.com in the window beneath "address of website to allow," click the "add" button and click "close."
In Firefox, click the Tools heading, select "options" and click the "content" tab. Either uncheck the box in front of "block pop-up windows" or click the "exceptions" button to the right of it. If you click "exceptions," type www.pogo.com in the "address of website" window, click the "allow" button, then click "close."
Q I've recorded my daughter's appearances on TV with a Dish Network digital video recorder (DVR) model 625. I want to copy the video to a VCR, but Dish says I can't do it with this model. Is there a way?
JANELLE LE MIRE, MIAMI
A You can copy video from the DVR to a VCR tape by using composite cables, which end in three connectors that are red, white and yellow. Connect the DVR to the VCR, and the VCR to the TV. (See tinyurl.com/4erdubh.)
Q I have an HP laptop, model dv5-1125nr, on which the screen won't work. When I turn on the laptop, the fan runs and some keyboard lights flash, but the screen stays black. I tried connecting the laptop to another screen, but it also stays black.
CARLOS GUTIERREZ, MIAMI
A You did the right thing by testing your laptop with an external monitor. The results suggest there's a problem with the PC's main circuit board, or motherboard. If that's the case, you'd have to replace the $365 motherboard (see tinyurl.com/4rsyoz6 or tinyurl.com/45eet82.)
Because a new laptop costs about $400, it would be more practical to buy a new PC than to fix this one. In addition, there's no way to guarantee that a new motherboard will solve all your PC's problems.
E-mail tech questions to steve.j.alexander @gmail.com, or write to Tech Q&A, 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488. Include name, city and telephone number.
