FAQS! FACTS! FAX! 102 (19/03/98)

STOP CHECK

I am having trouble running ScanDisk on my machine.  I have two hard disc drives: Drive D contains only data, which I generate; Drive, C contains Windows 95 and all of the application programs. I can run ScanDisk on Drive D with no problems, but on Drive C the scan only runs for maybe half a minute, then goes back to the beginning and starts again. It never gets beyond about 15% of the way through a full scan and after 10 attempts it stops. As far as I know there are no other applications running and following the advice in Boot Camp 9  (Connected 26/02/98), I ensured the Recycle Bin was emptied and I switched off the screensaver, but it made no difference.

C. Baker, Darley Dale, Derbyshire

A

ScanDisk will give up after ten attempts if it being interrupted by Windows 95, or other programs, continually writing to the hard disc drive. It sounds very much like you have a virus checker or system monitor program running in the background. Check the area next to the clock on the Task Bar, this shows active applications that you might have forgotten to disable. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to access the Close Program utility; shut down everything (with the exception of Windows Explorer). Failing that try running ScanDisk in Windows Safe mode. During the boot up sequence press F8 when the message ‘Starting Windows 95’ appears on the screen, choose option 3 from the menu that appears and try ScanDisk again.

IMAGE MAKER

My two sisters live abroad and we keep in touch by e-mail. I tried to send a ‘card’ which I'd designed, but copying and pasting into my e-mail message resulted in only the text being transmitted. I tried copying it to various files and sending as an attachment but again only the text parts were transmitted. Is this because the receiving software is not compatible with my MS software?

Patricia Roach

A

It shouldn’t matter what Internet software your sisters are using; the problem is that you are trying to send a file that contains a mixture of non-standard graphics and text. The simplest solution would be to send your card as a compressed image file. If the card was created in a graphics program simply save it as a JPEG file, and send that. If it is a word processor document then you have to convert it into an image, using a graphics program like Paintshop Pro, (trial versions of PSP are widely distributed on magazine cover discs). Capture the card to the clipboard by pressing Print Screen on the keyboard, then paste it into PSP, where it can be edited and saved as a JPEG file. 

CAMCORDER CHAT

I am interested in video conferencing using the Internet. Can I use my camcorder to get the pictures onto the Internet?

Terrence Bopearachchi

A

Yes you can, but it’s a bit of a palaver. It may work out cheaper and easier to buy a purpose-designed PC camera. The main problem is a lack of standardisation with video conferencing software for the Internet, (though it is getting better).  Normally the other person you want to communicate will have to use the same system as you, which may not be easy to arrange. In addition to video conferencing software you will need a video adaptor, to convert the analogue output from your camcorder into digital data. Prices start at around £130. One of the simplest is the Dazzle MPEG encoder; it plugs into the PC’s parallel printer port and sells for around £230. PC cameras on the other hand cost from around £70 upwards. The Connectix QuickCam compact colour camera is proving popular; it sits on top of the monitor and connects to the PC’s printer port. The outfit includes VideoPhone video conferencing software, which supports the widely used HS324 standard. It is available worldwide and sells for around £100 in the UK.

Dazzle MPEG encoder, Imago, telephone (01635) 294300

Connectix, Frontline Distribution (01256) 463344, http://www.connectix.com

TOYING AROUND

Having had my life saved at least once since you first mentioned Microsoft's Power Toys (thanks to Tweak UI's repair facility), I see they have a companion - Kernel Toys. What do these do, and do you also recommend them?

Vivian Dunn

A

Kernel Toys is another collection of unsupported Microsoft utilities, designed to get Windows 95 users out of trouble, and make their lives a little bit easier. They’re not quite so wide-ranging as Power Toys, but worth having nonetheless. The suite comprises: Conventional Memory Tracker, MS-DOS Mode Configuration Wizard, Time Zone Editor, Windows 95 Keyboard Remap, Windows CPU Watcher and Windows Logo Control for MS-DOS. Kernel Toys is a 57kb self-extracting file; instructions and the file download can be found at:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows95/

info/kerneltoys.htm

SNAP HAPPY

I am contemplating the purchase of my first PC with which I intend to produce illustrated documents, containing copies of photographs I have taken. It occurs to me that it may be possible for a digital camera to double as a scanner, as well as taking normal photographs. The expense of a separate scanner would thus be avoided. I know very little about the comparative resolution capabilities of digital cameras, so your comments would be welcome.

Kevon Thompson, Barrow-On-Soar, Leics

A

An interesting idea, unfortunately the resolution of all but the most expensive digital cameras is well below that of the cheapest (sub £100) scanners. Even if you splashed out on a high resolution digital camera and a copy stand (£2000 plus…) the quality would still be not good enough for document scanning, whereby printed text can be read by optical character recognition (OCR) software and converted into a word processor file. Even budget scanners have this very useful facility. Since one of your main aims is to import existing photographs into documents created on the PC, a desktop flatbed scanner is by far the quickest, simplest and cheapest method, and you can continue to use your film camera to take photographs. The only real benefit of a digital camera in this kind of application is speed. You don’t have to wait for the film to be developed; though with many shops now offering a 1-hour processing service, this is hardly a major saving. Digital cameras are improving in leaps and bound but it’s worth pointing out that pictures taken on a £5 disposable camera still contain vastly more detail than even the best digital cameras can manage.

LOG LOCK

I am trying to prevent people from logging on to my home computer without a password.  I have tried to use Windows 95 logon window.  However, there are two ways to bypass this, either to press cancel or to put in a new user name and password which the computer accepts.  Is there any way of only allowing users on the computer whose password/username I have approved?

Tim Withnall

A

You’re right, Windows 95 is not very well protected but there are several powerful security programs on the market that can prevent your PC from being used without your consent. Unfortunately they tend to be quite expensive – typically £50 to £70 -- so it’s worth looking at what the shareware market has to offer. Workstation Lock from Posum Software will do everything you require. If you end up using the program it is good manners to send the author a licence payment, in this case a very reasonable $5.00. The file download can be found at: http://posum.com