FAQS! FACTS! FAX! 054 (29/04/97)

SOUNDING OFF

With regard to Netlife, (Connected, 25/3/97) and the item about the Elgar Society, (www.elgar.0rg/). I tried downloading some music files but with no luck. I have a Pentium PC with SoundBlaster 16. What else do I need, to be able to play sounds from a web site?

T. Galwyn

A

If the software you downloaded was a ‘WAV’ file, and provided it wasn’t corrupted, you should have been able to play it straight from the web page without any problems. WAV files tend to be quite large and take a long time to transfer so many web sites -- including the Elgar Society’s  -- have compressed RealAudio files as well, and that’s almost certainly what you’ve got. In order to hear it you will have to use the RealAudio Player utility that’s located in the Windows 95 System folder. More recent version 3 and beta version 4 software is also available free from: http://www.realaudio.com/products/

player/download.html

WINDOW CLEANER

Could you kindly explain how to remove unwanted icons from Windows 95? I have deleted a number of programs but I am unable to get rid of the left over icons - any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Ken Hollis

A

To remove an icon from the desktop simply highlight it with a single click, then press the delete key on the keyboard and it will be despatched to the trash can. To delete an icon from the program menu, click on ‘settings’ in the Start menu, then ‘Taskbar Properties’, and select the ‘Start Menu Programs’ tab. Now click on ‘remove’ and you will see the directory tree of the program menu; find the offending icon, click on it, then the remove button and it’s history...

ESCOM UPGRADE

Last January I brought an Escom DX4 100 sub-notebook. Now I find it necessary to upgrade the standard 4Mb RAM to 8Mb, or larger, if possible. I have already tried a company who said they could obtain parts for Escom computers, but now they tell me that since Escom no longer exist, they’re unable to identify or locate the correct module. Is there any other way I can make my computer run faster?

Sian Williams, Corwen

A

Most Escom PCs were built using standard off the shelf components or they ‘badge-engineered’ products, in the case of notebook models. The majority of parts are still available, one way or another. RAM upgrades for your notebook are stocked by memory specialists Richnight. They have supplies of 4, 8 and 16Mb modules for £51.70, £92.82 and £128.07 respectively (plus £8.00 postage and packing). Richnight can be contacted on: 0800 318298

DOUBLE BUBBLE

I currently use a Panasonic laser printer and I am considering buying a colour bubblejet printer, for occasional use. I already use the parallel port with my current printer. Obviously I don’t want to swap plugs every time I change printers, Is there such a thing as a ‘double plug’, so that I can use two printers on one port? Otherwise is there any way I can use it with another port?

Will Luke, Maidenhead

A

We’re not aware of any double plugs as such, but you could use a device called a ‘parallel switch-box’, that allows one PC to use two printers, (or two PCs to share one printer). They’re readily available from most computer dealers and mail-order companies. They’re reasonably priced too, Staples Office Superstores have one for just £11.

BRIEF BACKUP

Your recent feature on VCRs (Connected 25/3/97) failed to mention another shortcoming that I think applies to most models. I live in a rural area where mains electricity supplies can be interrupted for hours on end and it is very inconvenient to have to keep swotting up the manual, to find out how to re-program the clock, before normal viewing can be resumed. Others, with coin-operated slot-meters would be in an even worse situation.

Roy Beckerleg, Penzance

A

VCR clock backup times vary significantly, even within a makers range. When domestic video recorders first appeared almost 20 years ago, the rule of thumb used by many manufacturers was to provide sufficient backup power to keep the VCRs internal clock running long enough for the owner to unplug the machine and Hoover a room, usually around five to ten minutes. Most video recorders built within the past ten to fifteen years have sufficient battery backup for between 2 to 12 hours, a few will run for a day or more, and a couple have clocks that will function for several weeks. Many VCRs made in the past year or so, with full-function auto-installation systems, check the time automatically at least once a day, against the teletext time signal, so they should never need resetting.