FAQS! FACTS! FAX! 107 (30/04/98)

LACK OF RESOURCES

Since I experience relatively frequent crashes and lock-ups with Windows 95 - no doubt through running a number of programs simultaneously - I read the Tip-of-the-Week  concerning the Resource Monitor utility with great interest.

However, I found that my Accessories directory hasn't got such a file - only Disk Defragmenter, Inbox Repair Tool and Scan Disk. How can I find the resource meter?  A quick search using the Find utility for the word 'resource' was no help.

Steve Coupe

A

Resource Meter either wasn't installed on your PC when Windows 95 was first loaded, or it has been removed. To get it back all you have to do is go to Control Panel, then Add/Remove Programs, and click on the Windows Set up tab.  Double click on Accessories and scroll down the list until you find Resource Meter, put a tick in the check box (and any other utilities you want to install), load your Windows 95 CD-ROM and click OK.

EURO FILE

I have been told that the Euro is to be signified by a C with an equal's sign though the middle. Is this true? Where is it on my keyboard? Is it in my spell checker? Surely this is another unseen nightmare, or is it an attempt to revitalise the eastern economies by re-inventing the keyboard?

M.W.T Jackson,

A

The Euro currency symbol is, as you suggest, a character that looks like a C bisected by two parallel lines. It's a controversial design that's supposed to be easy to easy to write freehand, and readily distinguishable from other currency symbols. It is quite new, so won’t find it in the Windows 95 core fonts or on keyboards just yet, though it is now included in the latest release of Word 97, and it will be in Windows 98. To see if you have it click on the Insert drop-down menu and select Symbol, if the dialogue box shows a button marked Subset you'll find it under currency symbols. You can then assign it to a keyboard shortcut; (the Unicode assignment is 20AC). If it's not there you can download an updated set of Windows 95 fonts from the Microsoft web site, where you will also find a useful FAQ on the subject plus links to other related sites: http://www.microsoft.com/

typography/fontpack/default.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/

typography/faq/faq12.htm

OLD TIMERS

The time lag between scanning and printing on my system seems interminable Can you please help with any suggestions to speed it up? I have a 486 PC with 414-megabyte hard drive, 32 megabytes of RAM, an Epson 300 colour printer and Colorado D600 scanner. As a 70's plus beginner, a simplistic answer would be appreciated!

J. Porter

A

Sorry, assuming your system is properly configured, there are no quick fixes. Your ageing 486 PC is being stretched to its limits with this type of application. Upgrading to a Pentium processor -- if your motherboard supports the change -- might yield a small increase in speed but your hard disc capacity is limited, and that would need replacing as well. You really should be thinking about a new PC, preferably a moderately quick Pentium or Pentium class machine -- 200MHz or faster -- with at least 1.5 gigabytes of hard disc space.

A POX ON MY PC

I run Scandisk and Defrag regularly on my PC but I have noticed that when doing a Defrag I get several clusters of tiny squares with a red mark in the upper right corner. The legend says that these are 'Data that cannot be moved' The worrying thing is, they appear to be growing in number. It's a bit like the outset of measles. Why are they becoming more numerous? Can you suggest any way to get rid of them? 

"Experts" have told me that it is a good thing to format your hard disk every six months.  This seems a bit drastic, but I do have many spurious files scattered around my hard disk, which I would like to get rid of. I use CleanSweep regularly, but it is insufficient for my needs.

John Grubb

Defrag identifies critical system files and data that, for one reason or another should stay put. The number of such files will increase as you add more software to your machine; even so they amount to no more than a very tiny fraction of your overall disc capacity, so it's nothing to worry about. Leave them alone and they won't bother you. There is no reason whatsoever to reformat your hard disc drive, unless it has become corrupted, or you have masochistic tendencies. CleanSweep is one of the most efficient uninstaller programs on the market. It is unlikely that any of the other packages will be able to identify any other redundant file groups.  

CHESS CHALLENGE

I am a high school student and have recently acquired an Internet connection through a local cable company. I have a passion for chess and after a long search found an American server called Chess Net. I find it very satisfactory but I have since discovered that there are some functions I cannot use. Internet veterans have suggested this is because I am not using something called Telnet. What is it, and how can I use it?

John Warner, Grimsby, Lincs

Telnet is a test-based Internet facility that allows you to communicate and control computers remotely. Access to a Telnet site will be via your Internet Service Provider (ISP), using the terminal emulation software that's included as standard with browsers like Microsoft Internet Explorer, (others, like Netscape may need upgrading). Click on the Telnet icon on the Chess.net page (http://www.chess.net), and it starts automatically. Registration and operating instructions appear when you log on, using the password 'guest'. 

MADDENING MOUSE

I have an unusual and irritating problem with the Microsoft Intellipoint PS/2 mouse on my Dell PC. Recently, after the computer has been on for some four or five hours, the mouse pointer starts behaving erratically. The pointer will stop on screen whilst being moved, vanish and then re-appear at the correct position. I have tried a number of things, including (in no specific order): cleaning the mouse, a new mouse, reinstalling drivers, Scandisk and Defrag, a new mouse mat, safe mode start and removing all TSR's. Neither of my virus scan programs have detected any problems.  I have reformatted the drive and re-installed Windows 95 and all my other software.

If I shut down and switch off my computer, then restart within a minute or two the mouse again behaves for several hours. This tends to rule out any thermal problems, I can't see anything within the computer that gets hot enough to cause a problem cooling down quickly enough, before I restart the computer.

I'm basically out of ideas and would be grateful for further suggestions

Ceri Sheeran

It's obviously not software related! It may be that the graphics card could have something to do with it. See what happens when you change the acceleration setting (Control Panel + System + Performance + Graphics), otherwise there may be a fault with the graphics processor. You can verify this by changing the graphics card. If that doesn't do it try an exorcist!

BIGGER IS BETTER

I have a Pentium 166 MMX PC with 32Mb RAM. Please advise on the benefits and performance enhancement if I was to upgrade it to a 200 MMX processor? Do I need to purchase a new fan for the 200 MMX CPU or would my current one do the job?

Atamjit S Niber

The difference in performance between a 166MHz and 200MHz MMX processor is so small as to be hardly worth the effort. If you're going to upgrade a PC you should aim for a major increase in processor power and speed, or memory capacity, otherwise it is simply not cost-effective.