Monday, October 15, 2001		Dr Tribune

Q. I have an assembled P III, 866 MHz, 128 MB, 30GB HDD with two partitions, OS Windows Me on 5 GB primary partition, 133 MHz Bus speed, Motorola SM56 speakerphone modem (Driver Version 3.02.70). I shall be thankful to you if you solve the following problems: 1. Sometimes when I dial my ISP server, the system hangs with blue screen giving error ‘Window protection error. System is hanged. Restart your computer.’ To restart my computer, Ctrl + Alt + Del does not work. I have to restart the system by pressing reset button on CPU. 2. My download speed is less than 1 KBPS. I have no extensions on telephone line and no joints in cable. 3. I also downloaded a modem booster, as suggested by you in previous issue. But it always gets disconnected while downloading data and gives message ‘disconnected from server.’ 4. I want to install another OS on other partition. But I do not know the procedure to install on secondary partition without formatting. Kindly explain the procedure. Also suggest me, which OS (Windows 2000 or Linux) should I install so that there is no conflict? 

Baldev, Ludhiana

A. Regarding your first problem I would like to know the exact error message that you get including the memory and module address. For solving the typical Windows problem like the one you are getting it is essential to know the exact error message. Thus, in order to solve the problem, please mention the exact error message that you are getting. Generally speaking this error could be due to problems in dial-up networking.

Regarding your second problem, the downloading speed of less than 1 KBPS is surely low and needs attention. However before I suggest a solution please ensure that your telephone line is in perfect condition and is free of all possible faults. Also, optimise your Windows and modem settings as mentioned from time to time in Login… Tribune. If after incorporating all these methods the download speed remains low then you must change your ISP to pinpoint the problem. If with the other ISP also the download speed remains low then this would mean some problem in your telephone line or your hardware like modem etc. However, if the download speed improves after changing the ISP then means the problem lies with the ISP and not your computer. Normally after optimising modem settings as mentioned in the previous articles the downloading speed normally improves. Regarding your third problem I would like to categorically say that in some cases the Internet booster software have not worked well, so in all these cases we recommend not to use this software. However, before deciding to discard this software try optimising it. If even this does not solve your problem then you must discard it.Regarding your fourth problem, installing another operating system on your separate partition is not a problem at all. All you need to do is, run the set up file from the run menu and then follow the instruction that comes. So, in Windows Me, click on start and then click run. Now browse the set up file of the operating system and click OK. Choose the drive other than the C: drive where your operating system is currently loaded to install the other operating system. However I recommend that for installing Linux operating system on your partition, refer the instruction manual or the handbook on Linux installation, as it will ensure error-free installation.

Q. I have an assembled PC Cyrix M II 333 MHz, via Apollo VP PCI chipset, 32 MB RAM, Motorola 56 KBPS internal modem, 4 GB hard disk, Main BIOS- AMI, Video adapter-SIS 6215C PCI, Samsung CD ROM drive, 10/100 realtek LAN card, with operating system Windows ’98. My problem is that my processor is not working and I cannot get the same type of new processor from the market. Which processor shall I purchase that will work in my system.

A. For determining the type of processor, suitable for your system, I would need the details of your motherboard. Normally, in assembled Cyrix M-II 333 Mhz processors-based PCs, the choice of motherboard is not upwardly compatible. Thus I think that you can go up to Pentium II processors at the most though Pentium I processors may surely run on this motherboard. However for exact solution, please contact your hardware vendor as on examining the motherboard, physically as well as based on compatibility, the vendor would be able to suggest you, the best suitable processor. Otherwise, if you have the motherboard manual, then you can also determine the compatibility based on the clock ratio.

Q. I have an assembled PC with two slots of 64 MB RAM and AMD K6 (TM)-3D 500 MHz processor. Previously, I had Win Me installed but as I encountered problems in graphics while playing some games like car racing, they used to run slow (as compared to my friend’s PC). I degraded my OS to Win ’98 for better performance. But still I have such problems. Is it due to weak processor or due to two different slots of RAM? Kindly suggest. I also wish to install Linux in partition with Windows. I have 20 GB hard disk with four partitions of 4.65 GB each. How can I do it?

A. There are some problems reported with AMD K6-2 processors and Windows. But there are patches available for all such problems. As far as the slow performance of the game is concerned it could be due to many reasons other than a weak processor. If there is a lot of heat generated in the computer then no matter how modern processor you may have, the performance of system would go down. In case of AMD processors, the use of chassis fan along with a powerful CPU cooler is very essential. Normally people do not install chassis fan or body fan and use an average CPU fan, which heats up the processor and in turn slows down the performance. You can try installing the body fan and then check the performance of your PC. If you compare the K6-2 processor with the modern processors then you will certainly find it weak but with comparable processors after providing necessary cooling the AMD K6-2 processors have given satisfactory results. Regarding your query about two RAM slots, I would like to mention that in all motherboards there are two or more slots for RAM, so this does not indicate a problem. Regarding installing Linux operating system please refer to the above answered question.

Q. I have a Pentium III, 866 MHz PC, 64 MB RAM, 20 GB hard disk. I have dual boot system — Windows ’98 and Windows 2000 advanced server. My problem is that the sound recorder doesn’t work.

A. Please check the sound card drivers of your computer. If the sound card is built in on your motherboard then you would need to install the driver available on the motherboard CD. Using the correct version of driver will solve your problem.

Q. I have PC with following configuration — Celeron 466 MHz, 64 MB RAM, Intel 810 Mother Board, ADI 1881 Sound Card, 8.2 GB Hard Disk Seagate, Windows ’98 SE Operating System. Two equal partitions C and D. The problem is whenever I try to defrag my C: drive it goes up to 10 per cent and then gives the following message:

"Windows could not finish defrag because it encounters some problem. Click help to run scandisk and then try defragmenting again. ID No.: DEFRAG00205."

I run scandisk for C: and D: drive in thorough mode and it scanned successfully with reporting No error and No bad sector. After I tried defragmenting, the same problem resurfaces. However D: drive defragments successfully.

A. This error occurs if the Applog file in the hidden C:\ Windows\ Applog folder is damaged. In order to solve this problem, right click an empty area on the desktop and then click properties. Now on the Web tab, click on folder options, and then click Yes. Now on the view tab under Hidden files, click Show all files, and then click OK. Click on Start, and then click Find. Then click Files or Folders. Now in the named box, type applog, click C: in the look in box, click to select the Include subfolders check box, and then click Find Now. Now on finding the Applog folder, double click on it. On the Edit menu, click Select all and then on the File menu, click Delete, and then click Yes when you are prompted to confirm the deletion. This will solve your problem.

Q. I have a Pentium III 600 MHz Intel 810 chipset. There are two operating systems one is Win ’98 and the other is Win 2000. The sound card is installed on Windows ’98 and it works properly. At the time of installation of sound card on Windows 2000 it gives device ID error. Please solve my problem.

A. For solving this problem open Control Panel and then click on System. Now locate device manager and look for your sound card. Uninstall it from here and then restart your computer. On restarting, Windows 2000 automatically detects the sound card and will install the appropriate driver for it. If it does not install the diver then it will ask you to provide it. You can use the driver CD provided along with the hardware for the appropriate driver for installing the sound card.

Q. I have an assembled PC, Celeron 733 MHz processor, 20 GB Samsung hard disk, 64 MB RAM. Firstly, I want to ask, how can I know whether my hard disk supports DMA or not? Secondly what can I add in extra settings of my default connection to make it faster?

A. The features of the hard disk are mentioned on its manual. You can get all details, including the DMA feature, on the manual. You can also find the information about Ultra DMA support on the cover of hard disk. However all modern hard disks including the one you have supports Ultra DMA. Regarding your second query, the use of extra settings would depend on a lot of factors particular to your modem and other connection details.

Q. I have a PIII 800 MHz with Win Me as operating system, 128 MB RAM, ASUS Motherboard with inbuilt AGP card. I use IE6. Sometimes, during browsing, I get the following message, "In order to properly view this site, Cookies must be enabled in your browser. The cookies used by this site are session cookies, which means:

1. The cookies only exist in the browser memory, nothing is written to the hard drive.

2. The cookies only exist while the browser is open. Once the browser is closed, the cookie is gone.

3. The cookies do not contain critical information such as address, telephone number, e-mail addresses or credit card numbers.

How can I solve this problem?

A. This does not represent a problem, as it is a matter of browser setting. For many sites cookies are required to be enabled in order to browse. So wherever it is required you have to enable the cookies. Normally, cookies contain the critical details of your computer, so it may sometimes prove dangerous. But the cookies mentioned by you do not seem to be harmful so you can be enable them to browse the sites efficiently.