Q: I have a printing problem. My printer keeps on printing streaks across the page when I print something out.

A: This problem happens to all bubble-jet printers every now and then. The first thing is to find out how to activate the printer's self-cleaning mechanism. If that doesn't help, it could be the ink cartridge needs replacing.

Q: My company has three computers. Normally we swap files using floppy discs but this is getting difficult. What is the best way to connect them together?

A: The best way is to network them. You will need a network card to go in every computer - these cost from £15 upwards - a network hub and cables. You can get network starter packs which give you all you need in one package but any good computer shop will be able to supply you. Once connected, you have to set your computers up to talk to each other. This can be quite complex as it often doesn't work first time. I would recommend finding a friend who has set up computer networks before. When it is all working, you can set up shared folders which can be accessed via the Network Neighbourhood icon on your desktop (on Windows systems).

Q: I am a student in the third year of my degree. I am really worried about losing the work on my computer. I was copying work on to a floppy disc but there isn't enough room on it. Do you have any suggestions?

A: Don't hang around, sort this out now. First, having all your work on one floppy disc is a really bad idea - you should always have more than one copy of your work. There are several other options. Save your work on the university computer network, which probably has areas where you can save your work that only you can access. Ask the network support people if it is not clear. Get a zip drive (from £70 upwards for the drive or around £10 per disc). They are more reliable than floppies and you can save much, much more one them. Or email your work to yourself - a great idea when you forget your discs. Alternatively, some portable MP3 players can be plugged into computers and used as portable storage. They are ridiculously expensive but if you have just got your student loan and can go without beer for a month or two they are worth considering.

Q: When I start my computer, I get a message saying "Cannot find operating system" and from there it just will not do anything. What can I do to fix this?

A: Something is probably wrong with your hard disc, the device in your computer which stores all of your files. You will need to take your computer back to the manufacturer if it is still under guarantee. If not, take it to a local computer repair shop. It should be able to fix it. If the hard disc is damaged and you had valuable information on it, it may be possible to retrieve that data by having it sent back to the hard disc manufacturer, who will charge for the service of recovering your information.