Q. I have some voicemails of my two granddaughters that I've saved for two years on my Verizon Wireless cell phone service. I asked Verizon if I can download the voicemails so I can permanently save them, but they said no. I've heard that RadioShack has $75 software that can help, but I'm trying to avoid that cost. Any ideas?

A. You have several options, but none are free. Verizon refers customers to voicemail copying firm CBW Productions, www.cbwproductions.com or 800-770-8046. Alternatively, RadioShack offers a $20 "Wireless Phone Recording Controller" that connects your cell phone to an audiotape recorder. You can play the voicemail back on your phone and record it at the same time. For more details, see http://tinyurl.com/save-voicemail.

Q. The manual for the new appliance we purchased is on a DVD. It's in the PDF format, but my Windows XP computer won't open it. What software do I need?

A. You just need a free download. PDF, or Portable Document Format, is a file format used by Adobe Systems to create slick-looking electronic pages that resemble pages in a printed brochure or publication. You can read the PDF document by first downloading and installing the free "Adobe Reader 9" software from www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html. After you've installed Adobe Reader, double-click the PDF file on the DVD and it should open.

Q. I'm trying to use my old HP Inkjet 1200 printer with my new laptop that uses Windows Vista, but the computer will not accept the printer's CD that contains the software drivers. Without the drivers, I can't use the printer's toolbox feature or print a test page, and when I do print, the colors seem to be way off.

HP's Web site says no update is needed for Windows Vista. What should I do?

A. HP's statement is misleading. The software driver you need for your HP printer is contained in Vista, so no download is necessary. But you still have to install the printer in a certain way in order for it to work with Vista. For details, see this Web site: http://tinyurl.com/printer-vista.

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(Steve Alexander covers technology for the Star Tribune. E-mail your technology questions to tech@startribune.com or write Tech Q&A, 425 Portland Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488-0002. Please include a full name, city and phone number.)