QUICK TIPS AND FIXES
Copyright (c) 1994, Joe DeRouen
All rights reserved


[Originally published in Computer Currents Magazine]


If you're having a problem you just can't seem to solve, a question you
want answered, or just an inherent need to bend a lonely writer's ear,
you've come to the right place.  Keep those cards and letters coming,
folks.  Also, please include a daytime and a nighttime phone number with
your question.  I might have to ask you a couple of questions to get at
the source of the problem or question.  And, I promise, I won't write
your numbers on the walls of bathroom stalls at the Infomart. 



Q: Hi Joe.  I hope you can help me out.  I'm new to computers and BBSing
   and there's just one thing I can't figure out.  I've downloaded some
   files from a BBS, but I can't figure out how to run them.  If you 
   could point me in the right direction, I would be very grateful!

   Thanks,
   Eddie Stricklen
   Crowley, Texas



A: Well, Eddie, answering your question is going to take a few
   assumptions on my part.  Firstly, I'm going to assume that you're
   using an IBM compatible computer, and secondly I'm going to assume
   you're downloading files intended for use with that same computer. 

   If I've assumed wrong, please, don't hesitate to call and yell at me
   repeatedly. 

   At any rate, more than likely the programs you're trying to run are
   either non-executables (they have extensions than end in .DOC, .TXT,
   .GIF, .BMP, or anything other than .EXE, .COM, or .BAT.) or
   compressed files.  Compressed files are anything that ends in .ZIP,
   .ARJ, .ZOO, .ARC, or a number of other compression extensions. 

   Compressed files won't run, either.  More than likely, if you find a
   file that ends in .ZIP, it contains several other files.  When
   "unzipped", the file will write several files, usually containing an
   executable, to your hard drive.  Your program will then be ready to
   run. 

   But how do you get to that point?  You need to have Pkware's
   compression program, PKZIP.  Most everything on a BBS is ZIPped.  If
   it isn't ZIPped, it's more than likely ARJed.  There's other
   possibilities for compression, of course, but these two are the most
   likely. 

   You need to scour your favorite BBS for the programs PKZ204g.EXE and
   ARJ241A.EXE.  If you can't find them, call my BBS (number at the end
   of this column) and download them there.  Once you have the programs
   (again, I'm going to assume you don't have Windows or a shell for the
   sake of covering all the bases) create a directory called PKWARE and
   one called ARJ. 

   Go to the directory where the two newly-downloaded files are and type
   (without quotations) "PKZ204G \pkware".  Then type "ARJ241A \arj".
   After that, you'll need to add the two new directories to the PATH
   line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT.  It might look something like this:

        PATH C:\DOS;C:\WINDOWS;C:\PKWARE;C:\ARJ

   You'll have to reboot your system in order for the changes
   made to the AUTOEXEC.BAT to take effect.

   Alternately, if you don't have more hard drive space or just 
   don't want to take the time to do the above, you can copy all
   of the executables (.EXE's and .COM's) from the PKZIP and ARJ
   files into your DOS directory.  Your system should already be
   pathed to DOS, and thus your computer will be able to find those
   programs when needed.

   Then (finally) you can decompress the programs.  The formulae for
   doing this would be PKUNZIP <filename.ext> <directory where you want
   it to go>.  For example:

        PKUNZIP SUN9412.ZIP C:\SUNLIGHT

   ARJ works similarly.  An example to get you started decompressing
   ARJ-compressed programs:

        ARJ E SUN9412.ZIP C:\SUNLIGHT

   Be sure to read the documentation and help that comes with both of
   these programs!  You'll be glad you did. 

   Ah, but what is the file you're trying to run isn't compressed?  What
   if it's a GIF or text file?  Well, then, you're out of luck.  Sorry,
   just kidding.  If it's a text file, you can read it via DOS's TYPE
   command (syntax: TYPE <filename.ext> or with an ASCII viewer/editor.
   (EDIT comes with DOS.  If you have nothing else, use this.  Syntax:
   EDIT <filename.ext>.)

   If your file ends in .GIF, .BMP, or .TIF, you probably need a graphic
   viewer.  Scan your favorite BBS and, armed with the aforementioned
   knowledge about ZIP and how to UNZIP files, download a graphics
   viewer, decompress it, read the docs, and start viewing pictures. 
   Personally, I've always preferred VPIC.  But there are a host of
   viewers out there, so just look around. 


Q: Hi Joe.  I read your column in Computer Currents regularly and have
   picked up quite a few tips/tricks.  I am (or thought I was) pretty
   fluent in computers and hardware until I built my home system.  A
   486/33DX ISA, 16mb ram, 2 ide HD's, multimedia, etc. 

   All was well until I decided to upgrade to a 486DX2/66 VLB.   

   When I replaced the mother board, I opted for a VLB multi-IO card and
   Trident VLB 2 meg Video card.  Everything was as expected until I
   tried to use the tape drive (Conner Backup EXEC software).  I'm using
   the floppy controller for the internal tape backup unit. 

   Now, even after going through the installation for the tape software
   again, I get DMA/Video conflict errors with the tape software.  There
   are no DMA jumpers for the floppy controller on the VLB multi-IO
   board, and there are no DMA jumpers on the Trident VLB video board. 

   The only way I've been able to make the software work successfully is
   to change the tape software configuration to "Most Compatible DMA"
   setting which yields a through put of approx. 800k bytes per minute.
   Three something hours just to backup a drive plue three more to
   verify just isn't what I want. 

   I've tried removing the extra cards, sound blaster, color scanner
   card, just leaving the Video and IDE board.  Still the same error. 

   Does this mean that I'm going to have to remove the VLB video board
   and go back to my Diamond SpeedStar 64 ISA? 

   Any suggestion will be welcome, I really hate to keep working without
   backups.  I've got almost 900 megs of software loaded on the machine.

   Thanks, 
   Charlie Woods 
   Via Internet


A: Since neither the drive controller card or the video card have DMA
   jumpers on them, I suggest you try tinkering with the interrupts and
   DMA settings on your sound card. 

   No matter which sound card you have, make sure that IRQ-2 is
   disabled. 

   If this doesn't get your tape drive running, if you have a
   SoundBlaster Pro card, run TESTSBPRO in your Sound Blaster directory.
   This will tell you if it's getting any interruptions from the tape
   drive controller.  If the test comes back showing interruptions,
   change your DMA setting.  It will be set to either DMA-1 or DMA-3.
   When you change your DMA settings, make sure to change your
   AUTOEXEC.BAT file, specifically, the line which reads "SET SB = D1"
   to read "SET SB = D3".  After changing your DMA settings, try the
   hardware again.  If you still are having problems, REM out all
   SoundBlaster commands from your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files,
   and remove your sound card.  Try the tape backup, and see if it works
   now. 

   If you have a Pro-Audio Spectrum sound card, it will automatically
   use both DMA-1 and DMA-3.  Try removing the sound card, REMming out
   all command lines from the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files, and see
   if the tape drive works.  If it does, you might need to try another
   brand of sound card that will only use one DMA address (such as the
   Sound Blaster). 

   I hope this helps.  If not, let me know and I'll try to recommend
   some further steps. 

                        

Are you having a problem with your computer?  Write to Joe at Computer
Currents or via Sunlight Through The Shadows BBS at 214/620-8793. 

(c) 1994 Joe DeRouen.  All rights reserved.

