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FAQS! FACTS! FAX! 276 (16/08/01)
Q
My father in law has an old 486, which recently
suffered from a CMOS failure due the internal battery running flat. Although I
successfully replaced the battery and the PC is working again, during start up
it displays the following error message: "the
Microsoft Windows 32 bit disk driver (WDCTRL) validation failed at 03,
3F....... to continue starting Windows without using the 32 bit disk driver
press any key". Once 'any key ' is pressed the computer seems to be fine,
any ideas on how to solve the problem and get rid of the message?
Lee
Billingham
A
This is a real golden oldie and it concerns a
minor incompatibility between Windows 3.1and some larger hard disc drives. The
fix is to change some settings in the BIOS, which were obviously lost when the
battery was changed. You can find details on the Microsoft web at:
ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/peropsys/
windows/kb/q119/7/42.txt
And in case that doesn't work there's
information about a software utility at:
http://thsun1.jinr.ru/file-archive/
vendors/wdc/docs/32bit_7.txt
Q
I have recently deleted my old ISP and manually
installed Freeserve. Everything is OK except for one irritation. When I am on
line and open Outlook Express the connection is lost and I have to go
through the dial up process again. Any suggestions?
Geoff Beales
A
I
wouldn't mind betting that your old ISP account is still registered as the
default dial-up in Outlook Express; when you open OE the first thing it does is
try to log on and check your mail. To stop this happening go to Accounts on the
Tools menu, select the Mail tab and if you see any reference to your old ISP
highlight it click Remove and make sure your new account is listed as the
default.
Q
Whilst
trying to clear a sticky mouse ball, the taskbar moved to the right hand side
of the screen and then jumped to the left side. I am unable to reset it to the
bottom, which is where I prefer it.
Michael Thorn
A
There is a bit of a knack to moving the taskbar, I find
the best method is to click and hold in an empty part of the bar then move the
mouse fractionally and the borders of the taskbar are highlighted you can then
drag it back to the bottom of the screen. Alternatively you can reset the
taskbar and Start menu to its default position and sizing by restarting the PC
in Safe Mode (press F8 immediately after boot up) then restart Windows.
Q
I have a Compaq Presario 4540 computer purchased
1998 but it only has 32Mb of memory. I recently took the computer to a
well-known PC superstore for a health check and to have additional memory
installed. I was informed that my computer did not have any expansion
slots and therefore it would not be possible to expand the
memory. Is there a solution to this problem i.e. some form of
external memory or do I have to purchase a new computer?
Frank Harding
A
The memory configuration for this machine is
slightly unusual in that it has a non-removable 16Mb of RAM plus a removable
module, which in your case would be 16Mb. This can be replaced with a 32Mb
module taking the total RAM memory up to a maximum of 48Mb. These can be obtained
from on-line suppliers such as: http://shop.orcalogic.co.uk/Contents.asp,
which has it listed for £23.17 (ex VAT and delivery). If you don't feel
confident to fit it yourself your friendly local PC expert should be able to
help.
Q
Can I connect a
standard DVD player to my computer (which does not have a DVD drive), play a
movie and capture or print stills?
Brian Hemingway
A
You can indeed, though the PC in question
needs to be fitted with a video input adaptor card. Something like the
Hauppauge Win TV Go would be ideal. It also has a built-in TV tuner, comes with
capture software and sells for less than £50. A version that plugs into one of
the PC's USB sockets is also available for around £65. For more information
have a look at the Hauppauge web site at: http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/
Q
I
have re-formatted a 3.25" floppy disc that had some JPEG files that I
would like to recover. I have not recorded any further data on this
disc. I wonder if there is any software available that would enable me
to do this?
Stewart Trigg
A
When
you delete data or carry out a low-level format on a disc, be it floppy or
hard, only the index of files is erased and the space the data occupies is
marked as available for use. Since your disc hasn't been used since it was
formatted all of the images should be recoverable. Try an excellent little
shareware utility called Directory Snoop, which is available for download from:
http://www.briggsoft.com/dsnoop.htm
Q
In
response to a recent query about rigging up a security camera to your PC
(F!F!F! August 2nd), you suggest using a web cam. I have a small
black and white security camera from a company called Micromark, which I got
from B&Q for about £20. This comes with 25 metres of cable or so and all
the fittings to install it and is designed to plug into the SCART socket of a
TV to give picture and sound. The same company produce a converter to change
the SCART to coaxial input, which I use with a TV card on my PC to give a
picture of any caller to the front door.
Dominic
A
Thanks for that useful tip
Q
Please can you tell me if there is a way to put more
than one item on to the Clipboard at the same time? It takes so long
moving or copying things one at a time. I have Windows ME with both Word 2000
and Word Perfect 9.
Lewis
Holmes, London, SW16
A
I
agree the standard Windows Clipboard is a poor little thing that can only hold
one item at a time. Windows 95 had a handy multiple clipboard utility called
Clipbook but I don’t think it will work in Windows ME. By the way, did you know
that the clipboard in Office 2000 holds up to a dozen items? There are also
plenty of shareware and freeware clipboards that can hold from ten to several
thousand items. Have a look at what's available from shareware download sites
like Tucows (www.tucows.com), just type
'clipboard' in the Search field.
Q
I currently have a CD writer/rewriter on my ageing
home PC. I have decided to purchase a laptop now as I am working on the move.
Would it be possible to turn my internal CD writer into an external one so that
it can be used by my laptop?
Tom F
A
External CD-ROM drive conversion kits are
available for parallel port, USB and SCSI connections, have a look at: http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ (listed
under CD-ROMs)
Q
I
have an ex-office Pentium 2 PC, which has been on a network and is now mine
after a re-equipment programme. When I switch it on, it stops with just half
a page of its checks printed, and produces the following fault message:
'Intel
undi pxe-1.0 (build dev) pxe-e61 media test failure check cable'. The external
cables have been checked and there is nothing apparently loose inside. Any help
would be most welcome.
A.W.Chater
A
The most likely explanation is that your PC was configured
to operate on a network and the error message is telling you that a network
card is installed and that it is no longer working, or being used. If you are
not familiar with your PCs innards a computer savvy friend should be able to
help you locate and remove the offending device and make any necessary changes
to the BIOS boot–up sequence.
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