Q: I’ve been using a Gmail account on a Windows computer and decided I’d like to start using an old Outlook account again on a newer, second computer, but I forgot the password! I’ve called my Internet service provider and they can’t help me. Is it possible to retrieve my password?

A: If you still have the same installation of Windows and Outlook you had when you discontinued using the old e-mail account and haven’t deleted the old account, then the answer is yes. There are many software programs available for purchase and download to recover your password(s). However, I will turn your attention to a free program called Mail PassView. Go to www.nirsoft.net/utils/mailpv.html. Read the full description and specifications then download and install it. Follow the simple instructions and, once your password(s) is/are recovered, you’ll be up and running in no time!

Q: When I play QuickTime videos on my Windows XP computer, I can’t see the video. I can hear the sound, but the screen is black. Every once in a while I’ll get a flicker of color and then it and goes black again. What is going on?

A: Computer video players require three things to function properly and any one of them, or a combination of all three, could be the culprit;

1. You’ll need the newest installation of the video player software — in this case, QuickTime.

2. The newest drivers for your video card.

3. The proper codec, which is short for compression/decompression software. Simply put, a codec is a program that reads compressed movie files and makes them playable on your computer. Additionally, they are required for your media player to play your downloaded music and movies. Determining whether you have the correct and newest version of a codec is something best left to a technology company ­— like us — or at the very least, someone you know and trust who is adept at this level of computer knowledge and expertise.

Q: I just installed Office 2007 Professional and now I can’t use my spell check in Outlook Express. It keeps giving me words in French when I try to spell check an e-mail. How do I get my English spell checker back?

A: Microsoft acknowledges this is an incompatibility issue. However, because they no longer support Outlook Express they have chosen to leave the problem alone and are actually suggesting third-party software to correct the issue. You can read more about this here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932974. The answer to your dilemma is a program called ‘Spell Checker for OE 2.1.’ Download it here http://www.geocities.com/vampirefo/ and install. Voila’! Your English spell-check dictionary is returned.

Wayne Nelson and Jeremy Self own and operate Wired Northwest, LLC in Redmond. Submit your questions to: techtalk@wired-nw.com.