Complete Bookshop/CompleteWorkshop.iso/compute/pclearn5/pcl.lzh/TIPS.TUT

Text File | 1991-02-10 | 12.0 KB | 217 lines

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         TIPS, TRICKS AND TRAPS - SECRETS EVERY BEGINNER SHOULD LEARN

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       Sometimes it takes months or years to stumble onto the ESSENTIAL
       tips, tricks and traps with which every new PC user should
       become acquainted. Let's discuss a few of the more important
       items which never seem to be covered adequately in the
       instruction book which arrives with the computer . . .

       Don't experiment with ORIGINAL copies of your files! If you want
       to tinker with a word processing file or slice and dice your
       accounting data FIRST make a floppy or hard disk copy of the
       file and then work on the COPY in case something goes wrong.
       That way you will have the original to fall back on in case you
       need it.

       Don't buy floppy disks when the price is too good to believe. If
       your data is worth anything at all, a few pennies more can make
       the difference between having that important business letter
       obtainable or a dreaded error message on the screen that your
       file format is unreadable just when you needed that file at 3
       AM.

       Make backup copies of important files. If the data is REALLY
       important, keep yet a second or third copy in a safe deposit box
       in case your home or office burns down! Sounds a little severe,
       but just wait until you discover the joy of doing your income
       tax return on your PC (fantastic compared to the old pen and
       pencil way) and then discover somehow the ONLY copy of the file
       is no good when the IRS decides to perform a routine audit!

       For backup you might want to switch from the COPY command to the
       sensational DOS XCOPY command (available in DOS versions 3.2 and
       later) which also allows file copying and backup using
       additional parameter switches which you can read about in your
       DOS manual. For example the /S switch used with XCOPY will copy
       all files from your subdirectories to the new target disk.
       Adding /P to XCOPY will cause a pause at each step to ask
       whether you want each file copied. Using the /D switch followed
       by a date will allow you to copy only those files created or
       modified on that date or later. All three of these switches can
       be used in tandem.

       Here's a standard tip which is so simple most people overlook
       it. Whenever you buy a box of new diskettes, FORMAT them
       immediately. Why? Reason one: you will find out if any disks are
       bad and be able to return to the store rather than be down to
       your last (surprise: defective!) disk when you need it. Reason
       two: usually you are right in the middle of a long word
       processed document and need to save the file, but WHOOPS, your
       current disk is full. No problem. Just reach into the desk
       drawer and grab an empty floppy disk. SURPRISE! The floppy disk
       is NOT FORMATTED which forces you to exit your word processor,
       lose the data permanently from RAM memory, and format the disk
       just as you should have in the first place. Beginners luck, I
       guess. . .

       Don't install or change add-in circuit boards or cards within
       your computer with the power on. And be extremely careful about
       static electricity. Try to briefly touch a metal ground such as
       a lamp or metal window frame to discharge stray static
       electricity before you touch your fingers inside the PC. Static
       electricity discharges can blow out one or several integrated
       circuit chips and leave you with a repair bill of $300 or more!

       If you ever see the message:        ARE YOU SURE (Y/N)? always
       answer no unless you really know what is going to happen next!
       This sort of message usually precedes disaster as DOS prepares
       to delete all of the files on a floppy disk or format your hard
       drive and wipe out all data.

       Don't invite dumb power problems. You are typing the last draft
       of a valuable client contract and your 30 foot long power cord
       dangles in front of both family cats on its meandering way
       across the middle of the living room carpet to the wall socket.
       It is plugged into a rat's nest of four way plug adapters along
       with high-current drawing air conditioners and toaster ovens.
       This is a great way to send your data to toaster heaven while we
       are on the subject.

       Treat your hard drive with EXTREME tender loving care while it
       is spinning. No bumps, jolts, slams or ramma-lamma-ding-dongs!
       One little bump will send the read/write heads plowing into the
       spinning disk surface. Kind of like a 747 jet crash into the
       library of congress. Translation: large data catastrophe!

       If your data is sensitive and you lock the keyboard with that
       cute little key which slips into the front panel of your
       machine, DON'T forget to remove the mouse or other input
       devices. Since a mouse is an alternate input device, a savvy
       user can easily direct the computer to spill forth its
       information even while the keyboard is locked.

       Use the DOS command DISKCOPY in ONLY two cases: to make a backup
       copy of new commercial software OR when you have somehow damaged
       a disk and want to work on it with the Norton utilities or some
       other fixit program. For all other copies you are safer to use
       the COPY or XCOPY command. Reason? DISKCOPY does not remove file
       fragmentation which COPY does. Second reason? DISKCOPY can
       attempt to copy good information onto a target disk sector which
       has formatted bad or is otherwise unavailable to DOS. Use COPY
       *.* to copy all files on a disk and you will simultaneously copy
       everything and unfragment the files. Two operations for the
       price of one!

       Thunderstorm coming? Shut down the computer and unplug it from
       the wall INCLUDING the modem or telephone line! LIghtning hits
       to the power or phone line send very high voltages hurtling down
       the wire. If you prefer you can leave the computer plugged in
       and chose as to whether you wish your PC scrambled, sunnyside up
       or just deep fried!

       Never switch or remove disks in the middle of an aborted program
       operation. If for some reason you get an error message in the
       middle of a file copying session or disk writing operation,
       don't swap in another disk! DOS may think the old disk is still
       there and continue to write the remainder of the data over
       something valuable on the new disk! Better to stop what you are
       doing and issue a non-writing command such as VER or DIR or even
       shut down the computer in extreme situations rather than mangle
       two disks with misinformation.

       Be careful using the DOS commands ASSIGN, FORMAT and RECOVER.
       Especially if you are being a little too clever and change disk
       drive letters with the DOS commands ASSIGN, JOIN and SUBST. What
       happens is that you might temporarily rename your hard drive the
       B: drive and then absent-mindedly try to format B: or recover B:
       which will lead to a lot of deleted data on your hard drive.
       Generally the RECOVER command is best removed from your DOS
       subdirectory and never used. It is just too dangerous!

       If you delete some files by accident, Norton Utilities, PC Tools
       and several other utility programs can bring them back if you
       are quick to use them and haven't created or changed any files
       since the accident. Best to go out and get a copy of Norton, PC
       Tools or a shareware unerase utility (e.g., Bakers Dozen) before
       the need arises. Then practice using them on a dummy disk for
       the likely day you need them.

       Be careful when using the powerful DOS redirection and piping
       commands discussed in our earlier DOS tutorial.

       (example)     a>sort < this.doc   (sorts contents of this.doc on
                                         column one and displays contents
                                         on the monitor - a nice idea!)

       (example)    a>sort > this.doc    (trashes any existing this.doc
                                         and gives it a file length of
                                         zero! Bad news!)

       The same advice also applies to using the MORE command with
       redirection arrows <  > since you can likewise wipe out data
       files. Watch the direction of those cute little redirection
       arrows! Same thing applies to using the redirection arrows when
       you write batch files. Look at the sample line from a batch file
       listing below:

       (example)   ECHO --------> This message is important!

       In the above example, DOS will erroneously think the little >
       redirection symbol is telling it to create a file named THIS and
       use ECHO to redirect text from that line of the batch file into
       the file. A goofy, dangerous result! Another good boner is the
       following batch file example:

       (example) REM  Now use the c>prompt to return to program system.

       The above perfectly innocent batch file line creates a file
       called PROMPT because DOS spots the > symbol and does what you
       told it to do!

       Instructions mean business! If program documentation says MUST
       BE USED ON A COLOR MONITOR don't try to run it on your hercules
       or monochrome system. Software can indeed destroy a monitor and
       it only takes a second! Know what your monitor and display card
       can handle and be SURE that the intended software matches
       hardware capabilities.

       If you use a RAMDISK to hold data be sure to stop every half
       hour and copy the information into a more permanent floppy or
       hard disk area in case of power failures. In fact every half
       hour, check to see that your data from ANY program is
       transferred to magnetic disk. No exceptions!

       For those using the newer disks having 1.44 Meg and 720 K sizes
       - those little plastic diskettes - don't swap and mix formats
       willy nilly. Label the diskettes clearly and know the format
       density (1.44M or 720K) with which you are working.

       If data is sensitive and you want it GONE from snooping eyes,
       use a utility like Norton's WIPEFILE to truly delete it from the
       disk so an office curiosity seeker can't bring it back with an
       unerase utility!

       Likewise, some word processors create backup files having the
       extension BAK. You may think you have deleted that sensitive
       client proposal when a second document CLIENT.BAK also exists!

       DOS manuals make reference to the VERIFY command. You can add
       the /V switch to the COPY command to supposedly verify the
       accuracy of the second file copy. Likewise you can turn VERIFY
       ON and VERIFY OFF from within your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
       Unfortunately, the VERIFY command does a rudimentary CRC check
       which can test only gross errors in file transfers. To be sure
       the second copy is good, use the COMP command which, although
       slow, is deadly reliable when you "gotta be sure." The FC
       command found in MSDOS versions is even better and DOS manuals
       discuss its use. Likewise use the DISKCOMP command whenever you
       use DISKCOPY if you absolutely have to be certain that the
       second diskette is PERFECTLY identical to the first.