     In  your  CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT there are  commands  and  device
drivers  that  load when you boot your computer, If you  get  unpredictable
results,  or  out of memory messages (etc) then you can  re-configure  your
computer.  To test if a device or TSR (resident) program is  causing  this,
you can put REM in front of the line in either of the above files. You  use
an ASCII (plain text) editor or your wordprocessor in plain text mode.

an EXAMPLE ONLY.....

REM DEVICE=C:\DOS\ANSI.SYS

This  is only an EXAMPLE, because ANSI.SYS is always OK to have  in  there.
     >>>Another  IMPORTANT thing to check is that BUFFERS= and FILES=   are
35 or higher.<<<
                             MEMORY

Memory  is  not a straightforward computer feature. Normaal  memory,  where
computer  programs run, where the OS (operating system) and  (many)  device
drivers  reside,  is limited to 640K. The extra 2meg or 4 meg  is  used  BY
certain  programs,  which are running in conventional (640K)  memory.  They
have  special  features which can load large blocks of data  into  that  HI
(extended/expanded)  memory.  Then  as the program works on  the  data,  it
switches  'pages' of memory (16K blocks) from HI memory  into  conventional
memory  while  it works on that section of data. When  that  section  isn't
needed it swaps that back into HI, and gets another peice to work on.  This
lets you have HUGE spreadsheets or databases running yet only have 640K  to
run the program(s). The more programs (& TSRs and device drivers) you load,
the  less room there is in conventional memory to operate. Somewhere  along
the  line  the system will lock or crash if you keep adding  programs  into
640K.
                         >> PORTS <<

     If  you  have an internal modem, it must be set for COM4  90%  of  the
time.  Most  computers  have serial-port 1 and  2  already  built-into  the
computer.  A  serial port is just a built-in comport. So you cannot  set  a
modem to be the same comport (1 or 2). Try com4 then com3, see your  manual
for jumper settings.

     There seem to be some video cards using the COM4 address. In that case
try COM3 with IRQ 5 or 2 (see your manual). Don't forget the software  must
also  be told when you change IRQs. Use SETUP for the FAX, &  PORTUTIL  for
DATA to change IRQ's.

     Sometimes one internal modem/or model of modem will work in spite of a
conflict, when set for COM1 or COM2 when there is a serial port. Always try
COM3 and COM4 (and IRQ settings) before deciding the modem is bad.

                                   Don Hinds - Zoom Tech
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