FAQS! FACTS! FAX! 172 (29/07/99)

EXPRESS EJECT
Is it possible to put an icon on the desktop which enables the user to open/close the CD ROM drawer? I have several applications, which allow me to do this, but I can't work out if it can be done 'stand alone' so to speak. The eject button on my machine has a record of misbehaviour.
Neil D Sheppard

A

Indeed it is. If you right-click on the CD-ROM drive icon in My Computer (or Windows Explorer) you will see an option for ejecting the disc tray. Simply hold down the Ctrl key and drag a copy of the CD-ROM icon from My Computer onto the desktop.

FILE FOUND
Thank you for featuring my question in F!F!F! 15 July, regarding the mystery '.dpp' file extension. I have received dozens of emails all specifying Serif Draw Plus as the program concerned. I previously installed Version 2.0 of this program, which was supplied on the cover disc of a popular monthly magazine in December 1996. I have now located it in my CD library, reloaded to my PC and opened the problem files. Thanks for your help and the prompt response from your readers.
Derek Harper

A

Thanks for letting us know

LOST CONNECTION
I tried setting up a Direct Cable Connection between a Dell Dimension XPS T500 running Windows 98 and an IBM Thinkpad 365XD on Windows 95, by both parallel data-transfer and null-modem serial cables. In either case the attempt always fails, with error messages respectively denying that the connection exists or that it is possible. (The connectors have in fact been firmly seated, and the various ports work perfectly well in other two-way applications.) I have also tried setting up a Hyperterminal link, with no error messages but no transfer of data.

Could the presence of an internal modem in the Dell interfere with other communications, is the IBM model inherently incapable of linking, or is there some more subtle factors at work?
P. D. Wilson

A

An internal modem shouldn't make any difference. Direct Cable Connections generally fail for one of two reasons: the wrong type of cable, or incorrect network protocols. Unfortunately there's no easy way of telling if you have the right sort of parallel cable (recommended) from the outside, or the packaging, the only way to check is with a continuity tester or test meter, to verify that the following conductors on the 25-pin sockets are wired together:

2-15, 3-13, 4-12, 6-11, 11-6, 12-4, 13-3, 15-2, 25-25

The protocol settings are straightforward but we haven't the space to go into them here. You'll find full details about how to set up DCC Boot Camp 68 (Networking Part 2).

 
QUICK TIPS

Here is another quick way of reaching the System Properties box (where Device Manager is situated), as mentioned in Boot Camp Tip of the Week, (15th July): right-click on My Computer, select Properties then click on the Device Manager tab.

Nick Milne

In Windows 95 and 98, hold down the Windows key and the Pause/Break key, this open System Properties in Control Panel, from where you can open Device Manager.
Jonathan Darch

Thanks for those handy hints

UNCOOL FAN

I own a 166 Pentium with 32 Mb of RAM and a 3Gb hard disc with 2.5 Gb free.Every now and again a noise comes from within my PC which sounds like someone revving a milk float. The screen then freezes until the familiar sound of the hard disc working takes over. Then everything thing is back to normal. The freeze can last just a few seconds or two or three minutes.
David Warman

A

We're not exactly sure what a revving milk float sounds like (they're all electric round our way…) but it seems as though the noise is mechanical in nature. If so then it can only come from one of a handful of components inside the case. One possibility is an imminent bearing failure on the cooling fan attached to the CPU. They can make a quite a loud screaming sound. If the fan temporarily stops or slows down the CPU overheats and running programs freeze or become erratic. When the fan restarts the CPU resumes normal operation after a few minutes. Faulty bearings on any of the disc drives could also be responsible. If you feel confident enough to remove the lid of your PC you should be able to localise the sound the next time it happens.

KIDS PC
Can you help me to identify a suitable portable computer for my 8-year-old daughter? She has difficulties with her fine motor skills, which means that she finds writing slow and laborious. Because this is holding back her schoolwork, her school and the education authority strongly recommend that she uses some sort of portable computer for most lessons, such as history, science, geography, story-writing.

Unfortunately, I think that those recommended by the education authority (AlphaSmarts) are OK for children up to 8 years old, but have too limited a display for the increasing work my daughter will be doing over the next
couple of years. I've looked at some options, but I'm not an expert and for various reasons I'm not sure they would be suitable. For example, rugged notebooks seem to cost thousands of pounds and are probably a bit heavy for her to carry around and the keys on personal assistants seem to be too small.

It would need to be light and durable, have a normal sized keyboard, long battery life and a screen capable of displaying at least one third of an A4 page (AlphaSmarts only display 4 short lines, which is a pity because otherwise
they are very close to what we want). Additionally it would need a simple word processor an easy to use file organising system and a simple method of transferring documents to a PC, for printing or uploading to MS Word.
Marc Brown, Edlesborough, Bucks

A

One of the larger Windows CE notebook – such as the LG Phenom – comes very close to meeting your requirements. It's a good deal cheaper than a conventional laptop (circa £600) and the keyboard is larger than a typical personal organiser (85% the size of a normal PC keyboard). It comes with a suite of pre-loaded software (compatible with Windows 95/98), including Pocket Word (a cut down version of MS Word). Documents can be printed out directly from the machine's own parallel printer port, or transferred to a PC and imported into Word using a simple cable connection. Battery life is good, typically 5 hours plus on its internal rechargeable lithium ion battery. As far as durability is concerned, it's reasonably rugged but like any normal laptop it won't take kindly to being dropped into a hard surface so a case is essential.

HEAR HEAR!

In response to the query from D. W.G. Byatt (F!F!F! July 15) regarding a speech-to-text processor, my GP suggested I wait for the development of this device when I suddenly lost all my hearing 12 years ago. How glad I am that I didn't take his advice but went instead for a cochlea implant. Although it hasn't fully restored my hearing I can understand basic words from my husband when he speaks to me from another room, as well as enjoying the benefit of being able to converse easily face to face with most people. I suggest Mr Byatt asks to be referred to his nearest cochlea implant centre - even if he is in his seventies he could still be a suitable candidate for this modern miracle.
Christine Harding

A

Thanks for the suggestion.