Q: I have several programs that are uninstalled but still appear on my Add/Remove Programs list as if they were still operational. How do I remove the entries, preferably without having to download and install programs?

A: Try removing invalid entries in the Add/Remove Programs Tool as described by Microsoft at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310750/en-us. Another option is to try Add Remove Pro, which is a free and easy-to-use utility available from http://www.shareup.com/Add-Remove_Pro-download-11835.html or http://www.soft32.com/download_9082.html.

Q: How can I install Adobe Flash Player without also getting that nasty Yahoo toolbar?

A: To install Adobe Flash Player 9 without the Yahoo toolbar, follow these steps:

-- Go to http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/ on the Internet.

-- Click the Download Now button.

-- On the next screen, turn OFF the check box for the Yahoo toolbar.

-- Click the Install Now button.

-- You may have to click the yellow bar at the top of the screen and choose "Install ActiveX control."

-- Click on the Install button when the window pops up.

-- Within a few seconds you should see "Adobe Flash Player successfully installed."

Q: Is there a way to have Excel's text boxes change automatically to reflect another cell's contents?

A: Excel's text boxes do not have to be static; that is, you can have the text within the boxes change automatically to reflect changes in your data. For example, suppose you would like to create a worksheet that summarizes year-to-date sales data from your monthly sales worksheet in a text box on sheet 1 of your workbook. The monthly sales worksheet lists the months in column A and the total monthly sales in column B. To create the text box for year-to-date sales, follow these steps:

-- Open the monthly sales worksheet.

-- In cell F1, enter total year-to-date sales.

-- In cell G1, enter =SUM (B:B).

-- In cell H1, enter =CONCATENATE(F1, "=","$",G1) Insert a blank worksheet and rename it Sales Summary.

-- Right-click the standard toolbar and then select Drawing.

-- Click and drag the text box tool to where you want your text box to be on the Sales Summary worksheet.

-- With the text box selected, click in the formula bar and enter =MonthlySales!H1.

-- You can right-click the text box and format it any way you wish. After you enter the sales total at the end of each month, the data in the Sales Summary text box will change to reflect the new total year-to-date sales.

Opinions expressed solely are those of the writer. April Miller Cripliver of Chesterton holds a doctorate in management information systems and is a computer hardware and software consultant. E-mail your computer questions to april@cripliver.com, and be sure to specify your operating system and other pertinent PC information with your query.