Monday, January 21, 2002		Dr Tribune

Q. I have a Celeron 500 MHz computer with 64 MB RAM, Tomato motherboard, 810 Intel chipset. It has got on-board built in AGP card. I want to know whether my computer has a full duplex sound card or not. How can I find out? 

—Harjit Singh, SAS Nagar

A. You can know all about your motherboard from its manual. Please consult the manual for its structure and onboard components. However, if you do not possess the manual of the motherboard, then you can log on to the manufacturer's site and read it from there about your motherboard.

Q. I have P III 650 MHz, 10 GB HDD, 64 MB RAM.I have some problems with my PC. When I switch on my PC, it shows press Del to enter set up but when I press Del it cannot enter the set up and also cannot go forward. Basically it hangs. (My del key is working properly). How can we change the message, "it now safe to turn off your computer." Please tell me if sunlight falls on both CPU and monitor through window or curtain, is it harmful.

Daljinder Singh, Chandigarh.

A. Regarding your first problem, while your system is turned off, open the cabinet and reset the battery (small cell installed on your motherboard). Simply take it out for a while and put it back. Now on restarting the computer, your problem will be solved. However, if the problems still persist, then you should contact your hardware vendor and get the motherboard and BIOS checked. Regarding the procedure of changing the logout screen, please refer to the previous editions of Login Tribune. This problem has been discussed in length both on Page two and Dr Tribune sections.

Regarding your query related to the PC's exposure to the sun light, I would like to say that it is certainly not desirable and as far as possible you should keep your PC away from the direct sun light. However, if the sun comes through the curtain, then in winters you may not have any problems. But in summers, there could be many problems.

Q. I have Win '98 SE, AMD K-6 500. I face the following problems:

1. I want to upgrade my BIOS version and the DOS version. I am having Award modular BIOS version 4.51 PG energy star. How to get them from the Internet? And then how can I get them installed.

2. I want some software with the help of which I can watch thumbnail images on a single click, as there is facility in Win 2000.

3. Please suggest me some software that would check my PC and would give me results. For example, PC health.

A. Generally speaking, you should not upgrade your BIOS, unless you have some problem related to it. However, for upgrading your BIOS you must consult any hardware professional, as you may have to check, whether you have a Flash ROM BIOS or not. If you have a Flash ROM BIOS, then you can upgrade it normally. But if it is not a Flash ROM BIOS then there could be some problems. This is a professional's job, but if you wish to try out yourself, then you can log on to the Website of the motherboard manufacturer for more information. For viewing thumbnail images, you can download thumpup30.zip from www.simtel.net. Another thumbnail viewer is picture perfect 5.1 thumbnail viewer and you can download it from www.applian.com. Regarding the query about checking your PC's health, you can log on to www.pcpitstop.com for a complete checking of your computer, including hardware, software, operating system and the security level. This is a wonderful site with lots of features and is quite useful for the home users.

Q. I have an assembled PC with the following configuration: IBM Cyrix III 450 MHz, 64 MB RAM, Windows '98 platform, 8 GB hard disk, Samsung monitor 45 Bn. Firstly since the past 2 months the usual shut down message "It is now safe to turn off your computer" is not displayed and the monitor's power light start blinking. But I have no problem in starting the computer again as the scandisk does not show that the computer was safely shut down last time. I tried reinstalling Windows also but of no use. Secondly, sometimes my computer hangs when started initially on the windows logo screen or it doesn't start at the initial stage altogether. Also the monitor light starts blinking and has to be restarted many times and then it goes into safe mode. Please suggest some solution.

A. Regarding your first problem, please load default setting in the BIOS feature setup and then after saving the setting, restart the computer. I hope this will solve your problem as sometimes this problem occurs due to changes in power settings. Loading the default setting will restore them to normal in case it is disturbed. You need not reinstall Windows again as it is not required. Regarding your second problem, you must run scandisk in thorough mode as the problem mentioned by you could be related to some problem in hard disk like bad sectors etc. Moreover, scandisk will take care of other problems also, which might be present in your hard disk. If even after running scandisk, your problem is not solved, then you should press Ctrl key and hold it down while the Windows restart. Then choose the option of step-by-step confirmation. If there is any bug in the loading of Windows, then this process will hunt it down and by locating the application, which is causing this problem, you can choose to either eliminate it or correct it in autoexec.bat. Then after correcting the problem, restart Windows and this will solve your problem. However, if you do not find any problem in the loading of Windows and you also do not find any problem with your hard disk, then you must consult your hardware vendor for the possibility of any problem in the hardware.

Q. I have a problem in my Internet Explorer. Once I had opened the porn site but closed it afterwards. Still, the address box of Internet Explorer has the site address of that particular site instead of about blank. Even after deleting the history files and switching of computer it does not delete. And every time when I open Internet explorer, this site open automatically.

A. Click on Tools menu and then click on the Internet options. Now in the Home Page Address box, choose the option Use Blank. Then choose to delete the Temporary files, and then clear the history. Now Click OK. This will remove the sites address from the default home page address and will also delete the address from the address bar.

Q. Four months ago, I bought a assembled PC whose system configuration is given below: Pentium III 933 MHZ processor, ASUS motherboard with 16 MB RAM, 20 GB HDD, 128 MB SD RAM, ASUS 50X CD-ROM Driver, 56 KBS Motorola SM56 Fax Modem and Windows Me as operating system. My problem is that in system information and in booting it shows the 700 MHz speed of microprocessor. When I showed it to my hardware vendor, he showed me the processor of my system labelled 933 MHz. Please tell me the real picture. It happens after reinstallation of Windows. My second problem is related to Internet. While surfing the Net my computer turns off without any warning. Sir, also tell me about the proper schedule of scandisk and disk defragmenter. Sir please solve these problem. I shall be thankful.

Gurpreet Singh Gill, Nawanshahr

A. Regarding your first problem, please check the motherboard for the jumper setting of the speed of the processor including the core voltage and multiplier. However, if this is a jumper less motherboard, then you may not find this information on it. In this case, you should check the setting in the BIOS features. Load the optimum setting and then check the speed of the processor. I hope this would solve your problem. Regarding your second problem, this may happen if there is any problem in any particular application. The best way is to uninstall that application after rebooting the system and you should reinstall it again. I hope this will solve your problem. Regarding the schedule of scandisk, there is no hard and fast rule for it, and it all depends upon the usage of the computer. If the PC is used heavily then you should do it weekly. Otherwise you can choose to run scandisk weekly and Defragmentar fortnightly. It solely depends upon the use of the PC.

Q. I have an assembled PC with P III 600 MHz processor, 52X Max CD ROM, 64 MB RAM, 10 GB Hard Disk, Motorola SM56 PCI modem and Windows Me as Operating System. My problem is that whenever I start my PC, it tells me "You are using the selective start up for troubleshooting your system." Please tell me how to avoid this dialogue.

Virpal Singh, Patiala

A. This problem occurs, if you put your computer into Selective Startup mode. In this case the Msconfig utility adds a MSConfigReminder string value with a value of "C:\ Windows\ System\ Msconfig.exe /Reminder" to the Run key. When the dialog box is disabled, that value is deleted, and the message does not recur until the next time the computer is put into Selective Startup mode. So for the possible solution of your problem, use the normal mode in place of selective startup.