FAQS! FACTS! FAX! 079 (21/10/97)

POWER GAME

I have an Ambra Trekka laptop PC, which needs a new battery pack. The documentation supplied with the machine says that Ambra is a trademark of Individual Computer Products International (ICPI), and lists a hotline number. The hotline is a recorded announcement, that gives two other numbers. These numbers have more recorded announcements, this time with a fax number. My  messages and faxes remain unanswered. BT directory enquiries have no listing for Ambra or ICPI. I tried PC World, but they tell me they do not stock Ambra parts. Can you assist?

Eric Pritchard, London N20

A

Ambra was an IBM sub-brand, used on a range of low-cost PCs and laptops. They didn’t do very well and the brand finally disappeared from the UK just over two years ago. We understand technical support is still available via IBM, though they no longer handle spare parts. However, we did managed to track down a source of batteries. The good news is that GMK Services have some in stock, costing £82 plus VAT and carriage. The bad news is the only ones left have black cases, and your laptop is almost certainly cream-coloured. You could always give the pack a coat of paint... Alternatively GMK can refurbish your ailing battery. They can handle most makes and types of battery pack, that use nickel cadmium and nickel metal-hydride cells. This works out at £77 (plus VAT and carriage) for the Ambra pack. For more information contact GMK Services on (01625) 511583.

PHANTOM PAGE

I am using a Compaq Presario PC with Windows 95, connected to a Canon BJC 600e printer. The problem is that when I try to print a file, the printer nearly always stops halfway through the document, then discharges the page, without completing he task. In order to successfully print a file I have found it necessary to create a ‘phantom’ final page, though this doesn’t always work.

M.J.Stevens, Saltash, Cornwall

A

We’ve come across this problem before. It is almost certainly due to the PC’s enhanced capability port (ECP) sending data too quickly to the printer. You can check if this is so by clicking on Printers in Settings on the Start menu. Highlight the printer driver icon, select Properties, then Details  from the file menu. If it says ‘LPT1 (ECP Printer Port)’ you need a simple software patch. A self-loading ECP Compatibility disc is available free of charge from the Canon Helpline on (0990) 143723

FIRE RISK?

I run fax software and am in the habit of leaving my PC on permanently but with the monitor and printer switched off at night or when I’m on holiday.  I have heard stories of PCs blowing up because of power supply defects.  Is it safe to leave an unattended PC switched on for an indefinite period?

Norman Bartlett

A

PC power supplies that conform to current UK and European safety standards are designed to operate continuously and in general they are well protected against overheating and overload. Almost all PC power supply modules are housed in ventilated metal enclosures, the chances of anything inside blowing up and causing damage to its surroundings, are very small indeed. Nevertheless, it’s worth keeping an eye on any PC running all of the time, and ensure that air can freely circulate around the case. Inspect the area around the power supply module and fan grille on a regular basis, no part of a PC should ever be more than slightly warm to the touch, if you detect a sudden rise in temperature a fault could be developing. 

MESSAGE RECEIVED...

Every time I load MS Works, a boring illustrated page tells me that this product is licensed to Packard Bell and is protected by copyright law, etc. etc. I find the repetition annoying. Is there a way I can bypass this screen now that I've got the message? Software like Encarta 97 has the facility to disable unwanted opening pages and sounds. Is this possible in MS Works?

Ken Robinson

A

In the trade it is called a ‘Splash’ screen. Clearly the folks at Microsoft and Packard Bell believe their customers have poor memories, and need this constant reminder. Unfortunately in this instance there’s nothing much you can do about it, without delving deeply into program code.

HISTORY LESSON

I have a Windows 95 PC and I have been using the Internet for about three months, during which time I found the Windows/History folder to be useful. However, when I click on Clear History the files are not cleared and I have to manually delete them using Windows Explorer. This was not a problem until recently, all I get now in the Windows/History folder are two data files. If I delete them, they appear again after accessing the Internet. They don't appear to contain any recognisable data. Any idea what they might be?

D. Culpan

A

Those data files come from the Temporary Internet Files folder. You cannot delete them as they are used for caching downloaded information. As a matter of interest, whilst you can delete the list of files in the History folder when in Explorer, the actual cache remains intact -- possibly taking up a large amount of disc space --  in the C:\Windows\Temporary Internet File.