dacs.doc electric

Q. I just added a new modem. Windows 95 detected it, but it assigned it to COM4 instead of COM2, where the replaced modem was. How do I change the setting to COM2 so I don't have to change all of my application settings?

A. Since the old modem was still in the Windows registry and thus holding onto COM2, Windows 95 assigned it to COM4. To fix it, go into Control Panel, System/Device Manager and remove both modems, thus freeing both ports. Then run the Add Hardware wizard to have it find the new modem.

Q. My PC has a bus mouse and an internal modem (on IRQ2). I need a serial port for use by the APC UPS system to notify the machine when there is a power loss so that the system can be shut down.

A. We asked the representative from APC, who was present for the evening's presentation. He said the software doesn't care which COM port" is used; it can use any serial port at any address and with any IRQ. Call APC tech support line at (800) 800-4272 or visit their tech support Web page at www.apcc.com. In the search area, type in IRQ.

Q. I have a 486-DX/2-66 machine whose BIOS keeps losing its data--hard disk table, floppy drive assignments, and the like. If I set them manually the machine will then boot. Isn't the battery rechargeable and shouldn't it keep the data?

A. The battery may be rechargeable but will eventually be unable to accept a charge. You need to replace the battery. If the battery is socketed, it should be a relatively easy matter. If it is not socketed, you may remove it by clipping the leads (keep track of polarity!) and attaching the ones from a new battery.

You might want to use "micro grabbers," miniature alligator clips available at Radio Shack or any electronics supply house. There was some concern expressed about matching the battery to the charging circuit on the motherboard, or disabling the charging circuit. Some motherboards have pins for "external battery." If you are not willing to do this on your own, a technician may be willing to do it for you, but bear in mind that it then becomes a question of economics as to whether you want to put dollars into an older machine.

Q. I was trying to get an old machine at work (Windows 3.1) to have a permanent swap file with 32-bit access. I went into Control Panel and activated the permanent swap file. When I then booted and started Win 3.1, it complained about the drive and locked up. I cannot get the machine to start Win 3.1 and turn on the permanent swap file and 32-bit access.

A. Not all disk controllers from that era were able to support 32-bit access. Win 3.1 made the check box available, but that did not imply it had checked the hardware for compatibility. Boot DOS, then edit the SYSTEM.INI file and comment out these lines in the [386Enh] section: Device=*wdctrl Device=*int13, and make sure the line for 32-bit access, if present, reads "32BitDiskAccess=0."

Q. I used to use SuperCalc, which had the ability to split the screen so the column headings or row labels didn't move when you scrolled through the spreadsheet. Does the same capability exist in Excel?

A. Yes, it is in the Window drop-down menu, and is called "Freeze Panes." Put the cursor in the cell you want to be the upper-left of the scrollable area and select Window/Freeze Panes. That cell and those down and to the right will now scroll; the rows above and columns to the left will not scroll.

Q. I am looking to purchase some 72-pin SIMM RAM for my machine. The motherboard specs call for "x2" or "x4." What are these identifiers?

A. First, remember that with 486 series motherboards you need to put in pairs of SIMM, not just one. Having said that, the x numbers relate to the refresh rate--2000K and 4000K. You will not find many x2 SIMMs--although they are slightly cheaper they are not as reliable so they have disappeared from the market.

Q. I have a printing problem using Netscape 3 Gold on my Windows 95 machine. When I go to a page with graphics or try to print, I get a message similar to "192 files in cache, removing them." The system then goes off for quite some time before anything happens. Can I control this?

A. Yes. The cache is where Netscape stores pages and images it thinks you may come back to in the near future. By having them local, they do not have to be downloaded again when you press the "back" button. Netscape will keep using disk space until it hits the allocation limit, at which time it will clean up the old files. You can control the limit via: OPTIONS/NETWORK PREFERENCES/CACHE. You may also manually clear the contents of the cache.

Q. I just put in a new main hard disk. I installed DOS, then Windows 3.11, then the Win 95 "Upgrade." All went fine. I started installing applications, and one of them offered to register by modem. When I then tried to use Netscape 3.0, I got this message: "The modem is in use by another program. Close the connection and try again."

A. The Netscape dialer is not "TAPI" aware. TAPI (Telephone Application Programming Interface) is a standard that lets multiple applications share a modem under the control of Windows 95. The other application(s) that might be currently using the modem are fax and/or mail programs, waiting for the modem to be called from the outside. You will need to turn these programs off before you use the Netscape dialer. Alternatively, replace the Netscape dialer with the MS Dialup Networking Adapter software, which is TAPI aware and will work with Netscape. Another option is to upgrade to the 32-bit Netscape Navigator and dialer.

Q. I am going to be using SNET for my ISP instead of AT&T WorldNet. Should I get rid of my currently installed AT&T-variant Netscape?

A. It would probably be cleanest if you uninstall the AT&T dialer, then install the standard Windows 95 Dialup Networking components, followed by your new Netscape 4.