Q: I have a Pentium 233 32MB RAM with Win NT SP4 loaded. I am facing a strange problem which I knew to be a bug in the Windows95. Whenever I insert a floppy into my drive, it's image (content) is retained throughout the session even if I change the diskette. I have tried to view the contents both through the Windows explorer and through DOS but with the same result. I have to reboot the system to check my second floppy and so on.I even tried changing directories to something on the HDD (unloading manually) before loading the second floppy but the problem still persists. Is there any remedy without upgrading my service pack?
Sougata Ghosh
via email

A: We are confused. Why should you use Win NT SP4 with Windows 95? The floppy problem is caused by a fault in your drive or its controller. Swap the drive with a friend's to see if the problem persists. If not, then replace your floppy drive. Otherwise swap the data cable. If the controller is at fault, you may need to change your mother board.

A: I am writing this email in reply to Divya Seth's email. The rule of the thumb for virtual memory is not 1/4th of the system RAM. It is actually double the amount of RAM the computer has: if you have 64MB RAM, then the maximum and minimum virtual memory should be 128MB.

I personally don't recommend users to let Windows manage the virtual memory because windows hopelessly fragments the memory and slows the system down. The best way to make sure that the virtual memory is de-fragmented is to use a program such as Norton SpeedDisk. Otherwise, disable virtual memory, defragment the hard disk and then set both the minimum and maximum memory to exactly the double of the RAM. A word of caution, I recommend having at least 64MB RAM before trying this.
Srijit Mitra
via email

Q: Can you please tell me about the logic behind which a file compression software like WINZIP works. Why a .DOC file is highly compressed but a .JPG file is almost left untouched?
Bineet Gut
via email

A: File compression software typically removes file data which is repeated like spaces, character marks etc. Word .DOC files are true space hogs with lots of irrelevant (to the user) information. For example, if you enable file tracking the size increases by another 20 kB. JPEG (.JPG) files are an image format that includes compression.

Q: I want to load Win NT/2000. I have a 20 GB hard disk. How many partitions and what size do I need. I have a PIII/700, 128 MB RAM and Win98SE. Do I have to have two hard disks of 10 GB each?
S K Kuila
via email

A: You don't need two physical disks. A single 20 GB partitioned into 3 will be sufficient. The primary (boot) partition should be 8 MB, the second (programs) 8 MB and the third (data) 4 MB. If you install NT/2k, make sure to use NTFS on at least one partition as its more efficient than FAT.

Q: Recently my computer was affected by W95.MTX.dr. What is quarantine because Norton Antivirus has quarantined one item. If the virus is quarantined, can it affected other files.
SK Samsujjaman
via email

A: Quarantine is a locked area where your antivirus software places a file pending its deletion. A virus infected file in quarantine can't affect other files unless you decide to run it. We recommend that you delete the file.

Q: I have some knowledge of 3D Studio Max and want to make career in either 3D animation or 3D games. Can you give me details of courses available, along with their duration and fee.
Prashant Saraff
via email

A: Courses available in multimedia animation and design vary from city to city. We recommend Aptech's Arena Multimedia, IIS Websity, and Zap. Visit a centre in your city and get the complete details including fees.

Q: I am an avid reader of it@tt and find your columns very interesting and full of knowledge. I recently bought an assembled Celeron 466, 8.4 GB HDD, 64 MB RAM and Win98. Whenever I start my PC it shows an "While initializing device IOS. Windows protection Error..." error. When I restart with Ctrl+Alt+Del, Windows starts in Safe Mode. I have to then shut it down and restart. After a power failure computer runs ScanDisk and then starts without problems. A few months after I purchased it, it was infected with a virus and I had to get my hard disk formatted. Also when I receive e-mail at my Hotmail account I see a whole lot of indecipherable letters.
Udit Saraff
via email

A: From your mail we infer that there appears to be some OS related problem. We suggest you first backup critical data and personal files. Next boot with a clean bootable floppy and use FDISK to remove your existing partition. Reboot the system and run FDISK to setup two partitions: programs and data. Format both and then reinstall Windows. If there is an error during formatting, we recommend you get the vendor to replace the disk. ScanDisk running after a power outage is normal and is a built-in Windows safety feature. As to the Hotmail problem, does this happen when you view your email on the Web or in Outlook Express. Please send us a sample.

Q: I have a PIII, 64 MB RAM, 10.2 GB hard disk and Win98. I have tried to install Oracle 8i but remain unsuccessful. I also want to launch my own web site. Can you suggest the process and what I have to do?
Uttam Chakraborty
via email

A: To install Oracle 8i you need Windows NT/2000. You will also need to increase your RAM to 128 MB. As for launching your Web site, please refer to the TechTalks carried since end-November.

Q: MS Word does not open while other applications do and gradually the machine is getting slower. I keep getting "WINWORD caused an invalid page fault..." errors.
Rajib Bhattacharjee
via email

A: You seem to be affected by a macro virus whose first victim was MS Word. We recommend you scan your hard disk and remove the culprit. You will also need to remove and then reinstall Word.

Q: Can I load songs from my music system into my computer? If yes, then how?
Satadru Banerjee
via email

A: You need to connect your music system to your PC's sound card using a patch cable. To grab songs, use WinAMP with its LineIn plug-in (visit www.nullsoft.com). You can store the files as .WAVs but they will be large. To encode in MP3 you need the Fraunhofer MP3 codec (included with Win 2K/ME).

Q: I am unable to get the sound working on my PC. I use Win NT. Can you help me?
Rakesh Roy
via email

A: WinNT has serious issue with most sound cards; including SoundBlaster. Given a choice we recommend upgrading to Win 2K Professional. However, from the Device Manager, check what is the installed onboard sound card. Then go to www.driverhq.com and look for an update. You will also need to troll the Web for information. Good luck!

Q: I want to know which is the best mother board available in Calcutta which supports Pentium III 700. How is the Vintron mother board? Please advise.
Arunesh Chakravarty
via email

A: Most mother boards today support Pentium IIIs. Just make sure the mother board is not restricted to Slot1. The Vintron 'board is OK. You need to check if the FSB (front-side bus) speed is 66 MHz or higher. The faster is better. Also check if the 'Board you plan to buy has an AGP port.

Q: What is the advantage of a P111 processor over a Celeron?
Hassan Modan
via email

A: The Pentium series all have a cache, typically between 256-512 kb built-in. The Celeron is a down-rated often with no cache. Its meant more for home use and doesn't handle heavy multimedia (including immersive gaming) and other processor-intensive tasks.

Q: I am a student of Class XI and want to do computer courses. Please let me know which is better -- IT or MCA? Also WHICH IS THE BEST INSTUTION FOR THIS COURSE? Do I need to do a computer course from a recognised university.
Manoj Singh
via email

A: A few Netiquette pointers before we respond. Do avoid all CAPITALS as this is like screaming in our face. The second is the name in which you send us email. You complain about no response, but have sent email under another name.

We remain unclear about "IT" courses. Do you refer to the diploma courses available? As for MCA, any recognized university will do. You do need 2 years of Maths to be eligible for the entrance test. The advantages of recognized courses is that you aren't taken for a ride' and can get a government job.

Q: I am a BCom graduate and did a 2-year PG course in computers from Lakhotia Computer Centre 4 years ago. Since then I am working in a private firm and feel that I am stagnating with no scope for improvement. I had visited SSI for enrollment in their professional courses: E-commerce covering HTML, Java, SQL server, Visual Basic, XML, Site Server, etc. And Master The Web with specialisation in Java. Which should I choose. I want a better job in IT. I come from a middle class family where after spending money I would like a good return.
Dipak Nair
via email

A: From the details sent it appears that Mastering the Web is more complete. E-Commerce is but a sub-set of Web development. A 'good job' is one where you work hard to make it one. Remember you will be competing against others 4-6 years younger than you and you need to work harder.

Q: Could you please tell me in detail the process or steps of scanning photographs into my own floppy disk.
Md. Tarique Nisar
via email

A: To scan photographs you need a scanner, software and a PC. Don't look at a floppy as an ideal storage medium as its 1.44 MB space severely limits the size of images you can store.

Q: After starting Windows 2000 I get a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) with a Registry File failure message. I can start Windows 2000 by manually selecting "Last known good hardware profile" it works but each time I try to boot normally the blue screen appears. Internet Explorer is also not starting. I had to removed my CD-ROM drive for repair and in its absence I started Windows. I have a Pentium II 450, 64 MB RAM, 10.2 GB hard disk with dual boot between Win98 and Win2000. Both use the FAT32 file system.
Surendra Khaitan
via email

A: You appear to have a corrupted registry. We recommend re-installing Windows 2000 afresh. Internet Explorer too needs to be reinstalled. It is possible that removing the CD-ROM drive and then using Windows caused a fault. In future, uninstall a hardware item before disconnecting it. If you continue to have problems with Win 2K after a fresh install, have your RAM checked. Incidentally, Win 2K performs best with 128 MB or more RAM.

Q: I have downloaded an e-mail client "Hotmail Box" from Softseek.com. While installing , the set up could not be completed due to an error. The error occurred when entering Sign-in-name and pass word in the spaces provided in the set up dialogue box. The error shows "Run time error "9". Subscript out of range. I could not solve the problem. I have also started receiving lots of junk mail. Please let me know how can I get rid of spammers.
Nikhil Chakraborty
via email

A: As fast as developer make Hotmail crackers, the service blocks them. The error is caused by a code defect. Incidentally, the best way to download your Hotmails is with Outlook Express or MSN Browser. To fix spammers, use Hotmail's Bulk Mail option. This lets you lock out known spammers. For addresses with a Yahoo or Hotmail domain, forward a copy to their respective Abuse IDs. The downside of Microsoft Hotmail is the sheer volume of junk mail.

Q: Congrats on a wonderful column. It is the only one I've seen that offers simple workable solutions to real problems. I have a strange problem. After working for about 3 hours of so on the Internet the mouse right-click stops working. And any new Windows I open appears without the menu bar. I need to keep the PC off for a few hours. I've had this problem from almost the beginning, despite having reinstalled Windows and IE.
Ajit Panikkar
via email

A: Thanks for the compliments. I have a calling after all. You do have a peculiar problem. It seems like a virus, but is in all probability a mother board problem. Especially as it occurred with previous Windows installations too. the time lag and your past issue with Windows definitely points to a mother board problem. I don't like Tomato boards very much, and prefer Mercury or ASUS.

Q: I have a Celeron 433, 32 MB RAM and 6.4 GB HDD. I have been facing problems in
surface scanning. I tried to do the job in DOS but failed.
Swapna Datta
via email

A: You can't run ScanDisk effectively in RealMode DOS. You have to run it in Windows. You could try the Safe Mode option (press F8 during boot up for the Boot Menu). If the problems persist it could be your hard drive is defective.

Q: I am using Office 97 and am unable to get proper print outs of Table with boundaries. I have seen this problem in many other PCs too. Please help.
Saju Xavier
via email

A: You haven't mentioned which Office 97 component -- Word or Excel. Still, begin with defining the page margins in your Printer Properties. The margins should be at least 1 inch. Use the Preview feature to see if the page has been properly formatted. If the problem persists, switch printers and try a new or updated driver.

Q: If a virus is deleted manually without using an AV package, will a copy of the virus stay? Is a virus a single file or a collection? How do anti-virus packages detect viruses? What is the logic behind cheat codes or CD key that softwares require during installation?
Debashis Ghosh
via email

A: If you attempt to remove all traces of a virus (see the VirusWatch column), they its unlikely to remain. However, deleting a single file doesn't usually resolve the problem. Antivirus apps use a signature to find and neutralise a virus. Cheat codes differ from a CD Key. They are work arounds or shortcuts that players have discovered in games; usually inserted by the developer during testing. The CD Key is the password that unlock the software.

Q: I loaded the screen saver Bonedance mentioned in it@tt. After I loaded it a box opens with run Winzip. After I unzipped nothing happened. What should I do?
Abhik
via email

A: You need to remember where you unzipped the file(s). Preferably they should be in the Windows folder. Then right-click on the Desktop to open the Display properties Screensaver Tab. And configure the applet.

Q: I have a 486Dx4, 16MB RAM. Can I install Win98? I use Win95 as the OS. Incidentally, in it@tt of 14th Nov 2k in response to a query by Prasenjit Basak you mentioned the minimum as 16MB RAM but in in Tips & Tweaks you printed 32MB. Which is correct?
Shubha S. DasGupta
via email

A: Mea Culpa! Apologies to all readers. Windows 98 can run with 16 MB but works better with 32 MB. Windows 98 SE (Second Edition) requires 32 MB minimum but works better with 64 MB. If you are happy with Win 95, we don't recommend an upgrade as Win 98 on a 486 can become really slow.

Q: I have a Pentium 166, 16MB RAM. I downloaded MSN Messenger a few days ago. It worked fine but now whenever I close it, there is an error "MSN has performed an illegal operation" and it closes down. Please suggest how to get rid of the problem.
Ritesh Agarwal
via email

A: Please stop the ALL CAPITALS; its akin to screaming in our face. We recommend that you uninstall MSN Messenger. Then reboot your system. And then download the software again and install it.

Q: I am learning Foxpro and Tally. I want to know if I can download these softwares.
Sahil Kumar Das
via email

A: No you can't. Foxpro is no longer available for sale. And Tally is not available as a download. It requires a hardware lock to work.

Q: I want to know whether I can set a password for any graphic file or a folder which contains such files. I also want to know that what does "Encryption" mean and how can I compress my folders.
Lihas
via email

A: No you can't password protect a graphics file. However, you can compress the file using WinZip or PKZip and then set a password for it. You can also set a password in Word and Excel files. However, if you forget it, the chances of cracking the encryption are extremely low. Encryption is a technique used to hide the content of a file. It usually involves replacing characters (data bits) with other characters, based on a one-time code. To compress folders use WinZip or PKZip.

Q: I have completed B Tech (Computer Systems) from Open University of British Columbia, Canada conducted in India through Aptech Computer Education. I wanted to know whether this international degree is recognised in India. I also wanted to know whether DOEACC 'A' and B' levels are at par with MCA/BTech degrees.
N K Sethia
via email

A: Usually internationally awarded degrees are recognized by the Indian Government. However, your degree must be issued directly by OUBC, Canada and not Aptech. DOEACC diploma course are not on par with MCA. However, the standard of examination and real-world teaching is higher in these courses than most MCA/BTech courses in India which use a curriculum several decades old.

Q: I have a Pentium 233, 64MB RAM. My mother board is SiS-0530. I want to upgrade to a Pentium III. Is it possible?
Imtiaz Ahmed
via email

A: No. You will need to replace your mother board. However, you may be able to upgrade to a Celeron. Please check with a local vendor.

Q: I have four major warnings on my personal PC. The first was "Your Internet Connection is Not Optimized. Download InternetBOOST' 99 now!" Then after I installed BigFix software (issued in an IT magazine) I get a warning for the Windows 98 OS and ClipArtGallery that "Microsoft has released a patch..." But when I try to download and install these respective patches, I get an error. What do I do?

I have completed my BSc and now doing GNIIT (Software Development) plus Web Application Design and Development. I am also planning to appear for the MCP exam in Desktop VB6. What are my job prospects. Do I need to enhance my qualifications.

I would like to know the names of all the authors of the latest programming languages (VB, VC, C, C++, Java) as it helps in the interviews. I would also like to know the method of preparation for challenging interviews: what are the points to be kept in mind while going for software development or web-designing interviews.
Shefali Agarwal
via email

A: We really hate such misleading software. InternetBoost is a surfing accelerator and not a particularly good one. Ignore to avoid more problems. We also recommend uninstalling the BigFix software. Yes, there are a whole host of patches and updates for Windows and Office 2000. The best place for advice and updates are http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com and http://officeupdate.microsoft.com.

Job prospects depend wholly on your abilities to deliver. MCP/MCSD are valuable but try and get the highest grade possible. Employers prefer toppers. We suggest you also get a job and then tailor additional qualifications for your area of specialization. Otherwise you may remain a 'professional' student.

Trying to beat the system, are we? For such information, visit Amazon.com. Not that it helps. A few probing questions and your house of cards comes crashing down. If you are just beginning in the job market, impress with your sincerity. It also helps to have developed some properties; even a personal Web page that shows your skills. Incidentally, we are unable to withhold your name. Especially when your emails all contain it!

Q: I have a Pentium III/500, 64MB RAM. I want to use an Intel Assembly Language program designed for the Intel8085 microprocessor. How do I do so.
Sanjib Sil
via email

A: The hooks (command calls) for the i8085 are not all common with the P3. You can try and run the SDK using the DOS mode if you have Windows 9x. However, your programs will not be able to take advantage of additional hooks embedded in the P3.

Q: While defragmenting drive C, only 10 percent completes. Drive D: is however fully successful. How can I defragment my drive?
PC Barnwal
via email

A: Start Windows in Safe Mode (press F8 during boot up). Make sure to disable all tray applications. Then run Defrag. If the problem persists you may have a defective drive.

Q: I study in Class X and am shortly giving my ICSE. I will be free for 3-4 months and am planning to work on the Net. What should I do. Are there any suitable jobs. Please advise.
Nisha Jain
via email

A: There are few jobs available for freshers. You could try out for the Yahoo India or Indiatimes Web Directory on a temporary basis. You need to evaluate and rate sites submitted to the Directory before these are included. It all adds up to an experience certificate. Working on the Net presumes you have a skill set to offer -- web design, graphics, etc. Why not use the opportunity to get some fresh skills.

Q: When I access the Internet using VSNL I have no problems visiting any web site. But when I connect through Satyam web sites cannot be visited. The download is done partially and it shows " < ..>" .
Dr S Ghosh
via email

A: The fault is bandwidth-related. On VSNL your connection is flowing freely. Satyam seems to be having some problems. Complain to their Help desk about your poor connection. From experience, we know that VSNL hoards the good bandwidth. Private ISPs have to do with the leavings. Hopefully things will now change.

Q: I have an assembled AMD-K6, 32MB RAM and a 10.2GB Seagate HDD. The HDD makes a tremendous noise when it works. Is this a defect? I have Win98 installed but cannot install Win95 as my vendor said the Mother board doesn't support it. Also let me know if you have a web site or is there any other site from where I can get help in solving problems.
Subhendu Chakraborty
via email

A: Seagate drives can be noisy. Still, defragment your drive. If the noise persists, consider a replacement before you lose everything one day. Change your vendor. The present one is quite misinformed. The mother board can support any OS. However, you can't dual boot Windows 98 and Windows 95. We are putting the finishing touches to our Web site. And look forwarded to a faster response to your email queries by January 2001.

G. Menon
[email protected]

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