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Monday, November 20, 2000		Dr Tribune

I have written two letters earlier but my query has not been published in the Login… Tribune. I purchased an assembled 667 MHz PC with a 133 MHz FSB motherboard. Other system configuration is 10.2 GB hard disk, 52x CD ROM and 64 MB RAM. Please tell me — is this configuration okay? Someone has told me that I should have RAM with a bus speed of 133 MHz.

—Manmohan Kapoor

We are sorry for not replying to your mail earlier. As far as your query is concerned, it is true that with a 133 MHz FSB motherboard you should use RAM of 133 MHz. A 100 MHz RAM will not give the same results as a 133 MHz bus, though it will work in your computer. Moreover since the cost difference between the two is not much, you should go in for the 133 MHz RAM.

I have an assembled Celeron 466 MHz PC with an Intel 810 chipset motherboard in an AT cabinet. Recently, I got the hard disk and motherboard replaced because of some problems. While connecting to the Internet, I am able to log on fine using the VSNL connection, but the Satyam connection gets disconnected 6-8 times in an hour. I have changed the advanced settings, but it did not help.

— Johny

As far as I know, the settings for the Satyam and VSNL connections are the same. Since you are getting a good connectivity with the VSNL, it means that your line and settings are OK. There could be some problem with the Satyam server, which you can checkout from their 24-hour help staff.

I have an assembled computer with a 466 MHz processor and a 4.3 GB hard disk. I want to replace the hard disk with a high capacity hard disk like 20 GB. I want to know if in the process I will have to delete my documents and pictures that I have saved and do not want to delete.

—Manu

If you want to add an additional hard disk, the data on your earlier hard disk will remain intact. Also, if you want to replace the 4.3 GB hard disk with a 20 GB hard disk, you will have to copy the data to the new disk. In either case you will not lose any data. But still just to avoid any unforeseen eventuality, it is advised that you backup the data on the new disk, before deleting it.

I am a regular reader of Login… Tribune and would like to seek your help with regard to a problem about the Internet connectivity. On my VSNL account, the connectivity is slow and I face lot of disconnects. The incoming and outgoing data too is slow. Again on a number of occasions, while connecting I only get a black screen without any prompt for entering the user’s name and password, which leads to wasting of a telephone call.

— Bharat

In the previous issues of Login… Tribune, we have written a lot about the Internet and its related problems. Thus for details, please refer to the previous issues of Login… Tribune. Regarding your problems, please mention the computer’s hardware configuration and also perform the line test, which was being mentioned in the issue of October 2, 2000. Send us the detailed results and on the basis of that we would be able to pinpoint your exact problem. Since the VSNL is a good Internet service provider, our focus would mainly be on the computer, its hardware settings and line condition. A blank screen normally results from noisy line conditions.

I purchased a Compaq PC with pre-installed Win ’98. I have a 4.8 GB hard disk on which Windows NT is installed. I want to connect this hard disk to my new computer along with the already-installed hard disk to make the system dual boot. Is that possible?

—Sukhvir Singh

It is very much possible to connect two hard disks to one computer and again to use two different operating systems. In order to use two hard disks, you need to first connect both hard disks to the computer. Make the hard disk containing Windows NT as your Primary IDE1. This you can do by tracking the connector of the hard disk to the motherboard, where you will find 2 slots, primary IDE 1and Primary IDE2. In the second slot named IDE2, connect your hard disk having Windows 98 using a connector cable. You need to take care of the jumper settings on the hard disk, for which the diagram should be there on the hard disk itself. Make your NT hard disk as Primary master and Windows 98 hard disk as secondary master by appropriate jumper settings. Connect both the hard disks and switch on your computer. Now as the computer finishes the memory check, press "Del" and enter the set-up. Run the auto hard disk detection here and in the results, you will get the configuration for the Windows NT hard disk in primary master and the Windows 98 configuration in the secondary master. Save changes and exit the set-up. Now it should boot from the Windows NT, but before loading the Windows NT it will give you the option of loading Windows NT or Windows 98 or DOS. Here you can choose the operating system, in which you wish to work.

Note: Please do not send attachments with your queries.