FAQS! FACTS! FAX!  230 (21/09/00)

SLAVE LABOUR

I am shortly to receive a new PC and I will need to copy some 2 gigabytes of files from my old hard disk to the new one. I know this can be done using floppies, but I am sure there must be a far quicker way. Is there, and what is it please? 

Brian Clarkin

You could use floppies but a quick back of the envelope calculation suggest that it would take about 25 years… The simplest solution is to install your old hard drive as a ‘slave’ in the new PC. It’s not difficult but if you don’t fancy tinkering around inside your machine ask someone who knows what they are doing to help.

Remove the old drive – taking all the usual anti-static precautions – and set the jumper on the back to the ‘slave’ setting  (there should be a little diagram on the disc drive). Install it in a spare drive bay in the new PC, there should be a spare connector on the ribbon data cable going to the PC’s C: drive, if not you can use the data cable from your old PC, to connect it to the slave drive socket on the motherboard. Make sure the data cable is the right way around (Pin 1 is normally marked by a red stripe down one edge of the ribbon cable). Don’t forget to fit the power plug there should be at least one spare one. When the PC boots up it will automatically recognise the new drive and assign it a drive letter (usually D:), the other drives will be shifted up a letter. Now you can easily copy and paste files from the old drive to the new one in Windows Explorer. When you have finished remove the old drive and the system will return to its previous condition or if you are scrapping the PC, use the old drive as a backup.

POOLING RESOURCES

I am experiencing a problem when my computer boots up. During the initial start up procedure and the black DOS screens I sometimes get a message at the bottom saying "Building DMI Data". The computer then stops at this screen. The only cure seems to be to turn of the computer and back on again. Sometimes the error recurs but after a few attempts it goes through the full start up sequence and functions correctly. When it works properly the message reads "Verifying DMI Data Pool". What is DMI Data, and how do I remedy the problem?

Richard Rowlett

This is a common error message and it often happens when the disc drive has been partitioned, formatted or replaced. DMI or the Desktop Management Interface is a set of instructions and a database of information (the ‘Pool’) used to setup and manage the PC during boot-up. Often it can be resolved from the PC’s BIOS (basic input output system) setup program, (see Boot Camps 133/4 July 20th & 27^th) There are various methods, including restoring the default settings, to disconnecting or disabling the disc drive and forcing the PC to reconfigure itself. There is a very a helpful technical bulletin on disc drive manufacturer Maxtor’s web site at: http://www.maxtor.com

/technology/infobulls/15007.html

PATHWAY TO THE FIELD

I receive lots of letters where the sender has ‘stamped’ the document with its file name and directory route back to the C: prompt. I have tried to find a function on Word that would allow me to do this, alas without result. Can you help?

Michael Dowling, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

This information is created automatically by a ‘Field Code’, which is a hidden command inserted into a document. On most versions of Word this facility can be found on the Insert menu under AutoText. On Word 97 it is listed under Header/Footer, as “Filename and Path”, click on it and the information will be inserted into the document at the cursor point. In Word 2000 it’s on the AutoText list, or you can type the word ‘Filename’ and AutoComplete will offer to insert the field code, so just hit the Return key

PERPLEXING PRINTER

Having bought a new PC with Windows 98 I find I am unable to print from MS-DOS programs. The page starts to print, stops, halting the PC and feeding a blank page. Printing from Windows 98 is normal.

Gerry Heslop

The most likely explanation is that your printer is a Windows-only GDI (Graphical Device Interface) model – most are these days -- which is designed only to work under Windows. The solution is to run your applications from within a DOS window.

TURBOCHARGED TEE SHIRT

If Louise Walters wants to do really fancy things with text (reverse lettering, for tee-shirt printing, F!F!F! September 7th), she should try a program called POV-Ray. It is a ray-tracing program, which can produce absolutely stunning 3D images. Louise would be able to create "text objects" from TrueType fonts, which can be rotated in three dimensions (or four, if you want). It is free, and can be downloaded from www.povray.org. #

Tony Etheridge

Thanks for the tip.

POETRY CORNER

I saw Bill Gill’s letter in dot.com Telegraph (F!F!F! September 7th), regarding a rhyming dictionary. Two weeks ago I bought a copy of the Penguin Rhyming Dictionary in the ‘Works’ store in Cardiff for £2. As much as I appreciate the power of the Web, I still like the feel of a book, especially at only £2.
Glyn Johns

And books don’t require Windows, they’re highly portable and won’t break if you drop them…

BEAT THE BIN

How do I recover files that I have foolishly placed in the Recycle Bin - then emptied...? is this possible?

G. Silk

It is possible, with certain provisos, but to stop it happening again always leave it for a day or two before you empty the Recycle Bin. OK lecture over. When you delete something in Windows all you are actually doing is removing the reference to the file or program from the filing system, the data remains on the disc but the space it occupies is marked as free, so it will eventually be overwritten. Various utilities are available that allow you to recover deleted files. One of the easiest to use is Recover 4All, a shareware version that is limited to files up to 10kb is available from most shareware sites, including Tucows at: http://tucows.mirror.ac.uk

/adnload/dlrec4all95.html

BIG SCREEN BOTHER

I have connected my laptop to a monitor in order to obtain a larger display. However, the display on the monitor does not fill the entire screen. I have tried different settings using display in Control Panel without success.

Alec Twitchett

You should use the sizing controls on your monitor. Refer to the manual, they are normally accessed through the monitor’s on-screen display, or a set of ‘hidden’ controls, usually behind a hinged flap somewhere on the front panel.