Monday, July 31, 2000		Learning Computers

Getting the most out of your computer

Often it is in the mind of most of the computer users that what matters the most for optimum performance of a computer is the latest hardware and software. New software and latest hardware is critical for the overall good performance of a computer. But if you know your computer system well then probably you may not think so. It’s a matter of fact that a normal human being uses a maximum of 10 per cent of the total capacity of the brain; similarly, we also use only a part of the total capacity of our computer and do not realise its full potential. Normally, we use only the most common features and do not ever try the uncommon but value-added features. However, if you realise the full potential of your computer, then it may remain worthy for a long time to come.

Ideally, users should optimise their software and operating system (Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000 & Windows NT) for making most of their computer. As said earlier, there are a host of features, which are very useful but a user hardly uses them ever.

For example, Hyper terminal> Start> Program> Accessories> Hyper Terminal is an excellent communication tool, through which two computers using any Windows operating system can be connected by using telephone and modem for fast transfer of files from one computer to another.

But for effective use of this utility your modem should be configured for dial-in well as dial-out. Since most of the people do not know this extremely simple utility, they either go for some other software or do not use this facility at all. All you need to do while using hyper terminal is open hyper terminal first and type AT and press Enter in the white window where you see the cursor blinking. If it types AT and returns back OK on pressing the Enter button, this means your computer is correctly configured for dialling and receiving calls. Dial-out is the default, but in many assembled computers dial-in is not enabled. So this is all you have to do to initialise this utility.

Now if you want to dial a number to transfer a file, then you will have to make a connection icon for it. This can be done from the File menu by choosing New Connection and filling up the necessary fields that follow. After filling up the fields you are ready to dial. Once the connection is through, click on the transfer tab on the menu bar and choose send files. Browse for the file you want to send and click send. Now you can see the file transfer in progress.

Whereas, if someone is dialing you and you have to upload the file then, as it rings, type ATA and press Enter. A connection with the other computer will be made automatically. Once you get the confirmation on your hyperterminal screen, follow the same procedure to transfer the file as mentioned above. Once the file is transferred simply disconnect the call appropriately from the Transfer tab in the menu bar.

Another great feature of Windows is networking. If you have two computers, how do you connect them. In 70 per cent of the cases people do not connect the computers and thus are unaware of the big advantages of networking. Another 25 per cent install LAN cards in their system as their hardware vendor suggests them. Only 5 per cent users use windows networking, which is in-built in Windws 95 and 98.

In fact, you do not need any LAN card and, thus, need not put up any LAN for connecting two computers. If you are using Windows 9X, then all you need to do is check whether a direct cable connection is installed in your computer. You can check this feature by opening Accessories (Start>Programs >Accessories>Direct cable connection). However, if you do not see direct cable networking in your Accessories window, then you need to install it first. For installing this utility click Start> Settings>Control panel. Once you are in Control Panel, click on Add/remove Program. A new window named Add/remove Program properties will come up. Click Windows Setup and see whether the Communications box is checked. If it is not checked, click in the empty box and a check mark will appear in the empty box. Now click Details button, which is on the bottom of this window. Among the several options, you will find one for Direct cable connection, put a check mark in the empty box against it and click OK. Remember to insert your Installation CD in your CD ROM as the necessary files for direct cable networking would be copied from installation disk.

The computer will then prompt you for restarting, click OK. Once the computer is restarted you have Direct cable networking installed. Now in order to connect two computers you need a 25 pin LPT to LPT or parllel port cable. While selecting the cable you must check that the cable should have pins on both the end as both would be inserted in the LPT port which has holes. As an option you can connect the computers by serial port or Com port also. But since in most of the computers both the Com ports are occupied by mouse and modem, the LPT port is chosen in most of the cases. You must activate Direct cable connection in both the computers you wish to connect.

Now after installing, activate your Direct cable networking by clicking Start>Programs> Accessories >Direct cable connection. Once you click this you will see the Direct cable connection window. Now choose your type of connection. Whether you want to be host or guest. Host is the computer, whose resources are being accessed by the guest computer. So if you want to access the resources of another computer then make this computer as guest computer. But then you must make the other computer a host computer as the networking would not support two guest or two host computers. Another important point to remember is to activate sharing of the disk/folder/files of the host computer (the computer whose resources would be accessed). You can share a hard disk by clicking on My Computer, then click the right mouse button on the drive you want share. Once you click it you will see the Sharing option. Click it and click the Shared As button and then press OK. As confirmation of sharing enabled, you will see a hand added to the icon. If you do not want to share the whole hard disk you can select a specific folder and follow the above-mentioned instruction to enable sharing. However, if you wish to enable sharing on specific files, then you can transfer it to My Briefcase and enable sharing on My Briefcase. You can add as many files to My Briefcase as you want. The best part of using My Briefcase is that if there is any updation in any file which is transferred to My Briefcas,e then it will prompt you for updation and will update it in My Briefcase itself. Once you have enabled sharing you are only a mouse-click away from networking. If your computer is a guest computer, click Finish and make the other computer a host and click the Listen tab. Now both the computers will negotiate the connection and once they are connected it will prompt you for password. If you have given any password for Windows log on you may give it here else hit the escape key and you are now networked.

Now you can integrate two computers and the make most of it. You may wonder that if you have a CD ROM installed on one computer and want to use it on another computer you can do so by using Direct cable connection and by enabling sharing on the CD ROM icon in My Computer. So there is practically no need for a separate CD ROM for another computer. Moreover, if you have a laptop and you use it in your office as well as home, then Direct cable connection may prove to be a boon. By using this facility you can connect to a computer which is already on the net and can see the entire network in your network neighbourhood.

Don’t you think now that the in-built features of Windows make life easier and also cost-effective?