FAQS! FACTS! FAX! 120 (30/07/98)

TOUCHY TOSH

I have a Toshiba Satellite PC which has developed a fault. When I select Microsoft Works Communications I get the following message: 'Works has committed an illegal act and will be shut down. Subsequent failures have been followed by warnings about 'Fatal Exception Errors' and 'General Protection Faults' followed by strings of letters and numbers. After much searching, including telephone calls to Microsoft in the United States, my wife was given the UK technical support number. (I am deaf and cannot use a telephone effectively in these circumstances.) However, we have not had any response from them, can you assist?

Ronald McLean, Ramsey, Isle of Man

We got in touch with Microsoft on your behalf and from the information you supplied they came up with a theory, and possible solution. When you enter the Communications module of Works, it checks the Windows Registry for information on the available COM ports on your PC. If this information is incorrect or missing, an error message will result. This fix involves creating a registration file. Normally the Registry is off-limits, but this procedure is quite straightforward; nevertheless, everyone except Mr McLean please look away!

From the Start button click on Programs, then Accessories and open Notepad. Type the following lines:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\hardware\devicemap]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\hardware\devicemap\

serialcomm]

"COM1"="COM1"

"COM2"="COM2"

If your modem is on COM3, you need to add "COM3"="COM3" to the end of this file. Also if your modem is on COM4, you will need to add the COM3 entry as well as "COM4"="COM4" to the end of the file.

On the File menu, click Save As and name the file Serialcom.reg . Make sure the Save In box reads Desktop then click OK and on the File menu, click Exit. Double-click Serialcom.reg located on your desktop. You should then receive a message stating that the file was successfully entered into the Registry. Click OK and you should then be able to start Works and open the Communications module. After Works is operating normally, you can remove the Serialcom.reg file from your desktop. Microsoft assure us they hadn't forgotten you and you should have heard from them by the time you read this.

THE SAGA CONTINUES…

Re "Date grate" in F!F!F! dated July 9. I am running MS Office Professional Word for Windows 95 Version 7 and followed your instructions to change the format of the date attached to the date icon on the Toolbar. There is no 'Default' button in the 'Available formats' window, only OK and Cancel.  Is there any way of changing the default for Word for Windows 95 version 7?

Giles J Chapman

No, at least not one that we could publish without taking up another two pages of Connected… There are several fundamental differences between Word 7 and Word 97, unfortunately this is one of them. Why not try the alternative solution we published last week, using Field Codes and a Macro. We're reasonably sure that it will work on most releases of Microsoft Word, back to version 6 at least.

BUY BRITISH           

My computer is an IBM Pentium 120MHz with 1.2Gb hard disk and the memory has been upgraded to 72MB. I am considering buying an Iomega Zip drive and a scanner both of which I might get from the USA. From what I can see the Iomega Zip needs a separate power supply and a parallel port.  Do the USA versions have the ability to cope with 240 volts?  I have only one parallel port (used for the printer). How difficult it is to install an additional parallel port in my mini tower or should I use a parallel switch on the one port?  In either case where should I get the hardware and what is the cost?

I don't have sufficient room for a flatbed scanner (I would not be a heavy user) so I am considering one of the smaller scanners I have seen.  They appear to draw their power from the computer so, presumably there would be no problem if I got one from USA. However, are non-flatbed scanners suitable for my computer? 

Roger Heath

Parallel port Zip drives have a through-port, so you can continue to have your printer connected to the PC, though you won't be able to use both devices at the same time. You can also get a version that has its own SCSI interface card, and there's another model that fits inside the PC (using an EIDE interface, like a CD-ROM drive), occupying a spare drive bay. Before you buy anything from the US check the prices, you may well find that it's not that competitive any more.  Prices for internal Zip drives in the UK start at around £80, whilst parallel port versions cost from £100 upwards (both prices include VAT). Even if the US price is less you will still have to pay import duty, then there's the warranty. It's unlikely that the UK distributor will honour the guarantee on a 'grey' import. Lastly there's the mains adaptor, the US version comes with a 110 volt AC model, a suitable 240 volt AC adaptor will cost you another £20.

The same goes for scanners. UK prices for this kind of peripheral are not much higher than the US and at least you know you'll be able to take it back, if something goes wrong. As far as connections to your PC are concerned, there's no difference between flatbed and other forms of scanner; both types are available with parallel port or SCSI interface. If you use an internal or SCSI type Zip drive then you can use a parallel port scanner as this will also have a through-port connections for a printer.

CAMCORDER CONNECTION

I was interested to read the recent article on digital cameras (Boot Camp, Connected, June 25th). I have a reasonably high quality camcorder (Panasonic NV-S88) which has a 'snap-shot' facility. How can I capture frames from this and would they equal the quality of pictures from a digital camera. What would be the cost of the hardware and software for my Pentium 200 running Windows 95 with 32Mb RAM.

Derek Toller

You need a gizmo called a video capture module. Various types are available, there are plug-in expansion cards, that fit inside your PC, some video graphics cards, like the Matrox Milennium can be upgraded with a capture board, or there are external modules, that plug into your PC's serial or parallel port. The Arcsoft ZipSHot is worth a try, and it only costs around £100. It can also capture moving video, though the screen is small and jerky. It comes with some useful software, including Photoimpression graphics program, video phone and conferencing applications. Still video snaps sourced from an analogue camcorder can be quite good, comparable with most entry-level and mid-range digital still cameras (DSCs), though it's not as good as the latest 'megapixel' DSCs now coming on to the market. Zip Shot is distributed by Johnson's Photopia, telephone (01782) 753300 or take a look at the US web site at: www.zipshot.com