q+aI am using 64-bit iTunes 10 with Apple’s iPod Nano 16GB. If I upgrade to iTunes 11, will my songs get deleted? Will I be able to continue to sync my iPod?

Saibal Ray Chaudhury

When you upgrade to iTunes 11 it replaces the previous version automatically. The songs are not deleted. Pairing with iPod Nano is also not affected except that the layout changes.

Hackintosh

q+aI want to install Mac OS X Mountain Lion 10.8 on my Windows 7 laptop. I saw a video on YouTube and downloaded the required files from the link given there. But when I run the file an error message crops up, saying: “invalid win32 application”. I tried to install it on a 64-bit operating system, but it still did not work.

Rishav Singh

There are ways to install Apple’s OS X on a Windows PC, and the process is known as Hackintosh. But you should be warned that this operating system is made to work best on Macintosh hardware. I will only give you a hint on how to create a Hackintosh. You will need a Mac, with a purchased copy of Mountain Lion already running on it. Sorry, I cannot show you how to steal OS X. Also needed would be a fairly recent PC with a compatible motherboard and a 8GB USB pen drive. Since you already own a PC go to http://www.tonymacx86.com and open an account there. It is free. Check if your hardware is at all compatible.

If you are not tech savvy do not attempt to create this Hackintosh concoction. You will also require UniBeast. It is a Mac-only .dmg tool, required to create a Mountain Lion installer for PCs.

Sign size

q+aAfter I deleted temporary files in my computer, the signature has expanded in size in my Windows Live mail client. This makes the mail look unprofessional in appearance. The signature, comprising a few lines of text, is saved on my PC in html format.

Vijay M. Mehta

You seem to have made your signature file in Microsoft Word. Open the html file in Word and reduce the font size wherever you desire and save it back as an html file. Next time you attach the file it will have your signature in the size you wanted it.

Lost files

q+aI have a PC with a Pentium 4 processor and Windows XP. Recently my computer crashed and I had to format it. I lost many important documents. Is there any way I can recover them?

Soumyadeep Ghosh

This link has software which is free for home use: http://www.icare-recovery.com/download.html. Do not install the program on the same drive where you lost your files. Also, save the recovered files on a separate partition. In future please back up your files regularly.

Virus attack

q+aThe Program Files folder of my Windows XP computer, has been infected by the virus Win32/Ramnit.A and VBS/Ramnit.GS. The infection goes away when I scan it with my anti-virus program Guardian 2012 only to reappear later. How do I delete these viruses from the system?

Sunil Tirkey

I am afraid your anti-virus software is not good enough. If it was it would have blocked the severe threat you are facing on your computer. Win32/Ramnit is a family of multi-component malware that infects Windows executable files, Microsoft Office files and HTML files. Win32/Ramnit spreads to removable drives; steals sensitive information such as saved FTP credentials and browser cookies. The malware may also open a backdoor to await instructions from a remote attacker. Get one of the recommended anti-virus programs from Microsoft. You will find the list at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/antivirus-partners/windows-xp.aspx

Pixel call

q+aI have a choice between two smartphones. Every feature (camera, processor, screen size) is the same but the higher priced one has a lower pixel density. Which one should I buy? Does pixel density really matter, especially for games?

Nilav Kalita

Hardware specifications are seldom a real measurement of camera quality. With pixel density it’s not a case of higher or lower being better — there are problems when the density is too high as well as problems when it is too low. How the camera and lens can actually record is immensely more relevant than the pixel density. As for games your visual experience will depend on screen quality. This is where pixel density comes in. The iPhone has 326 pixels per inch compared to 306 for Samsung's Galaxy S III.

Send in your computer- related problems to askdoss@abpmail.com with bits&bytes as the subject line