Here are a few questions about computers I’ve received recently from people like you, and my answers. I have edited and restated the questions a bit, for readability.

Best Buy is offering a free upgrade to Windows 7 if you purchase a machine today that has Vista. Is it better to wait to buy after the release of Windows 7?

A: I’d say so. If you buy a Vista machine now, you’ll likely have to spend at least some time and effort upgrading, and you may run into at least minor issues, which is something that sometimes happens even with straightforward upgrades. Since PCs preloaded with Windows 7 are only two weeks away, it’s worth the wait, unless you are in dire need of a new PC right away.

With the end of Microsoft Money, are there any good alternatives to Quicken? I tried Quicken Online, but it is just too limited.

A: I haven’t reviewed it, but a program called Moneydance might be worth checking out. It runs on Windows, Mac and Linux, and claims to import data from Money and Quicken. Moneydance costs $40, but there’s a free trial. Information and downloads are is at moneydance.com.

I read that upgrading to Windows 7 deactivates the license key for any prior version of Windows, ruling out any chance of reversing the upgrade if it doesn’t work out for some reason.Is this true? If I am going to take the plunge into Windows 7, I want to make sure I can always go back if I’m unhappy.

A: Microsoft says that’s false. The company emailed me to say: “The upgrade process does not deactivate the product key for the previous version of Windows. If you need to uninstall Windows 7 and go back to your previous version of Windows, you can activate it using the original product key.”

You can find Mossberg’s Mailbox and my other columns at http://walt.allthingsd.com.

I listen to opera and other music in languages other than English. Much of this music comes with lyrics and English translations. I like listening on my MP3 player, but I don’t like having to carry around the CD notes to read while I listen. Is there a portable player that would allow me to read the lyrics while I listen?

Yes. The Apple iPods are capable of displaying lyrics while you listen. This capability has been on the standard iPods and on iPod Nanos for a while, and has just been added to the new iPod Touch and to the iPhone. It requires the lyrics to be entered into the song file, either manually or by cutting and pasting.

You enter lyrics using Apple’s companion iTunes software, on either a Windows or a Macintosh computer. To do so, you select the song, then, from the File menu, click on “Get Info.” You then select the tab called “Lyrics,” which brings up an empty window. You can type in the lyrics or first copy them from a Web site (or other source) and then paste them into this window. You then click OK, and, when you synchronize the song with your iPod, the lyrics come with it.

On the standard iPod itself, to view the lyrics while listening, you press the large center button multiple times until the lyrics appear. On the iPod Touch and iPhone, you tap on the image of the album cover while a song is playing. If the song file contains lyrics, they appear.

Does Kodak’s photo software allow one to add titles to the photo — for instance, names of people in group shots?

Yes, as with most photo software, you can add captions or titles to pictures organized inside the Kodak EasyShare software that runs on your computer. You can also add captions to pictures you upload to Kodak’s online photo organizer, which is called Kodak Gallery.

I want to give our five-year-old Dell with Windows XP to a charitable organization. How do I assure myself that all my personal files are safely removed?

One option is to reformat the hard disk, which would leave the computer unusable unless you or the charity bought and installed a copy of Windows, or obtained and installed a free copy of the Linux operating system.

The other option is to leave the operating system and programs intact but “wipe,” or permanently delete, all the personal files that concern you, using a “file wiper” program that overwrites the contents of the file with nonsense data. There are a variety of such programs, including some that are free. To find these, go to download.com and search for “file wipe” or “file wiper.” If you’re willing to spend $30, you might want to use a program I have tested and can recommend called Window Washer, available at webroot.com. It has a “bleaching” function that wipes files, and also has the ability to erase any tracks left by your Web browser.

You can find Mossberg’s Mailbox, and my other columns, online free of charge at the new All Things Digital Web site, http://walt.allthingsd.com.

I have a Dell Dimension that is six or seven years old. Recently, the following message appears every time we start the computer: “WARNING: Dell’s monitoring system has detected that Drive 0 on the primary EIDE controller is operating outside of normal specifications. It is advisable to immediately back-up your data and replace your hard disk drive.” When we hit F1, the computer boots normally and functions fine. All our data is backed up on an external drive. What is going on? Is it time to bite the bullet and get a new computer?

I don’t know exactly what’s going on, but you should take the warning very seriously. It’s good that your data is backed up, but if your hard disk fails, you won’t be able to use the computer. Six or seven years is a long time to keep a computer, and hard disks do go bad. Just because it continues to work doesn’t mean it isn’t on the verge of sudden failure. At the very least, have Dell or a local technician diagnose the hard disk to see if it is a serious problem or one that can be easily fixed. If the disk is failing and you are otherwise perfectly satisfied with the computer, you can get a new drive that is much larger for a reasonable sum. You should also seriously consider buying a new computer, simply because everything else on your machine is also out of date and, as time goes on, you may find that more and more software and Web sites won’t work well with it.

Does either Parallels Desktop or VMWare Fusion support multiple virtual machines installed on a Macintosh — for instance, one running Windows XP and one running Windows Vista?

Yes. Both of them allow you to create multiple virtual computers, running Windows XP or Vista, older versions of Windows, or Linux, as long as your Mac has sufficient hard-disk space.

My Toshiba Satellite runs Windows XP Home, and it takes more than four minutes when starting up before I can open any programs. Is my computer running too many programs at start-up? If so, how can I view them and shut down the unnecessary ones?

That certainly could be one cause of the problem. It’s a common situation. To see what programs are set to run when you start up your computer and to turn off unwanted ones, you can use a somewhat geeky built-in program from Microsoft or simpler ones available from outside software vendors. To run the built-in program, go to the Start Menu, click “Run,” and in the blank box that appears, type in “msconfig.” This utility will let you turn on and off invisible start-up programs. Go to the tab marked “Startup” and check off any you don’t want. But be conservative — don’t turn off anything you don’t recognize and know is unneeded. A better solution, easier to use and with more information, is an $8 utility from PC Magazine called Startup Cop Pro. You can get it at: www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2177188,00.asp. There are a number of similar programs that may work just as well, but unlike Startup Cop, I haven’t tested them and so can’t recommend them.

You can find Mossberg’s Mailbox, and my other columns, online for free at the new All Things Digital Web site, http://walt.allthingsd.com.

Write to Walter S. Mossberg at mossberg@wsj.com

Here are a few questions about computers I’ve received recently from people like you, and my answers. I have edited and restated the questions a bit, for readability. This week my mailbox contained questions about alphabetizing your favorites in Explorer, using Linux as an operating system, and whether Dell is offering Windows XP as an alternative to Vista.

I followed the instructions you printed last week for alphabetizing the Favorites in Internet Explorer, but they didn’t work for me. I am using IE 6 in Windows XP on a Dell computer.

In IE 6, it only works if you display your Favorites list using the menu command, not the icon.

You often mention the Macintosh as an alternative to Windows, why don’t you recommend the Linux operating system?

I aim my columns at mainstream users doing typical tasks who have little or no technical knowledge, no help from experts, and no appetite for becoming techies. These folks want the computer to do things for them. They don’t want to have to do much, if any, configuring of, or maintaining of, their computers. They have no patience for geeky procedures. For instance, when they buy a peripheral device, they expect to plug it in and find that it works, often without even installing the CD from the box. I don’t believe Linux is yet simple enough and automatic enough and nontechnical enough for these mainstream users. So I don’t recommend it. I firmly believe that the Macintosh does meet these criteria, and so I consider it the only practical alternative to Windows for mainstream, nontechie users.

My friend claims that Dell has now decided to resume offering Windows XP as an option on its consumer model computers, instead of only offering variations of Windows Vista. Is this true?

Yes, Dell announced last week that it is bringing back XP as an option on a handful of its consumer laptops and desktops. The models include the Inspiron 1405, 1705, 1505, and 1501; and the Dimension E520 and E521. A quick check of the Dell Web site shows at least one other consumer model available with Windows XP, the XPS 710 — Level 1.

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Because of the volume of email I receive, I can’t routinely answer individual questions by email, or consult on individual problems or purchasing decisions. I read all questions I receive and select three each week to answer in the column.

Write to Walter S. Mossberg at mossberg@wsj.com

Here are a few questions about computers I’ve received recently from people like you, and my answers. I have edited and restated the questions a bit, for readability. This week my mailbox contained questions about the Nokia 770, hard-drive storage and Jumbles programs for Windows Mobile.

In your review of the Nokia 770 hand-held computer last week, you said it was very slow. I can only assume that you were using the old operating system, not the new 2006 version, which is much improved. Is that true?

No. I was using the new 2006 operating system, and also was using virtual memory, which is supposed to speed things up. I got the unit directly from Nokia, which configured it. Even so, I found that, with the notable exception of the very nice Web browser, the 770 ran many programs, especially its email program, so slowly as to be dysfunctional. I can only assume it needs a more powerful processor, or a software rewrite, or both.

I have heard from a handful of enthusiastic 770 users who were disappointed or angry about my review. These folks are either gadget geeks; or fans of small, mobile computers in general; or fans of the open-source Linux operating system, which the 770 uses. Some wish I had reviewed the product from their perspective. But, as with everything I review, I try and take the perspective of a mainstream, non-techie, non-enthusiast consumer who just wants digital products to work well. That’s my mission, and I’m sticking to it.

I am buying an iMac for my wife, and am wondering how much memory and hard-drive storage is enough. She is actively involved in digital photography and will soon be doing a lot of digital video work. Should I get one, or two, gigabytes of memory? Should I opt for a 250-gigabyte hard disk, or a 500-gigabyte model?

Since she’ll be working with videos, and with large numbers of photos, which take up a lot of storage and a lot of memory, I would buy as much memory and as large a hard disk as you can afford. I wouldn’t advise two gigabytes of memory or a 500-gigabyte hard disk for an average user, even one doing light photo and video work, but it sounds like your wife will be going well beyond that.

Can you tell me if there is a “Jumbles” program that I could install on my ViewSonic Pocket PC?

There seem to be several Word Jumble games for Microsoft’s Pocket PC platform (now called Windows Mobile). You can find them online at a number of places, but a good place to start is Handango.com, a site that sells programs for hand-held computers, including those running the Pocket PC and Palm operating systems. Just go to Handango and type in “Jumble” and a list of programs will appear. Many even offer free trial downloads.

Here are a few questions I’ve received recently from people like you, and my answers. I have edited and restated the questions a bit, for readability.

If you have a question, send it to me at mossberg@wsj.com, and I may select it to be answered here in Mossberg’s Mailbox.

Do you think the Treo 650 will be the last true Palm OS-based mobile phone?

No. A new, improved Treo that uses the Palm operating system will be available soon. Palm (the hardware company that makes the Treo and other products) has said it isn’t abandoning the Palm OS (which is made by a separate firm) despite the fact that Palm now makes a Treo model that runs on the Windows Mobile operating system from Microsoft.

However, there is reason for Palm OS fans to be concerned. Although I regard Palm’s user interface as superior to Microsoft’s, the Palm system is relatively old and limited under the covers, compared with Windows Mobile. Its maker, PalmSource, came up with a prototype of a new version, but never completed it. Now, PalmSource has been acquired by a Japanese company, Access, that is said to be working on yet another new version of the Palm OS, based on Linux. Palm is optimistic about this project, but I haven’t seen it, and have no idea when it will appear.

Last week, you alluded to the fact that some Web-based calendars can synchronize with hand-held devices. Can you cite an example?

Yahoo provides Intellisync software that can synchronize its Web-based calendar, address book and notepad with Palm and Windows Mobile hand-held devices, as well as with such Windows PC programs as Outlook, Outlook Express, Lotus Organizer and ACT. For more information, see: help.yahoo.com/help/intsync.

Do you recommend using a registry-repair program on a Windows PC?

For most people, I don’t recommend fooling in any way with the Windows registry, which is a part of the operating system that contains important instructions for every program on your computer. It is quite dense and technical, and poking around in it can lead to dire consequences.

I know that there are registry-repair and editing programs that claim to be so safe and simple that anyone can use them, and it’s true that they are simpler than manually editing or repairing the registry. But I still advise mainstream users with little or no technical knowledge against touching the registry. If your computer is behaving badly enough that you’d consider trying to “fix” its registry, then it’s time to call in a pro.