Tech Talk
by Doktor Ty Brewer
February 1998Tech Talk will address the technical issues that frustrate us and our kids. Please - send in your questions and we'll try and answer them!
Dear PC Doktor,
I've had problems with <software goes here> and was wondering if you could help?
Signed,
<name goes here>
Dear <name>,
I've seen a lot of these, and every case is unique. But the common theme is the lack of support from the vendor that sold you the product. In most cases, the vendor should be your first avenue for support, but that's not always possible. Some older software is no longer supported, but the product may not function on your new machine. Other times, you bought the product and found out later that your hardware didn't support the software. What do do?
I wish I had a generic remedy for every situation, but that's not realistic. But these tips can help:
Uninstall the software that doesn't work (assuming you can even install it!)
- Shut down your computer, and restart.
- When you first see the "Windows 95" cloud screen, hold down the SHIFT key, and keep it held down. This will keep any programs in your Startup folder from running.
- Now, re-install the software
It's important to remember this: if you ever get an error, or a "blue screen of death" error, it's best to re-start your computer. Sure, you can continue using your computer after a program has crashed, but you are already dealing with an unstable system. Re-boot after every error.
Dear Doktor,
When my computer game crashes, I get a message telling me to "Close" or "Ignore." What should I do? Also, should I write down all the codes in the error message?
So, you have wondered if it's worth while to write down the error codes you see when the program crashes. Most people think this is a waste of time, and it usually is. Besides, most tech support people are unable to figure out the meaning of the codes, or the codes are irrelevant. But there is a situation when these codes are invaluable.
You've probably heard the advice: Connect your computer to a power strip surge protector. Right? Well, a surge protector doesn't protect you from all electrical interference, and it is possible for your computer to be damaged even with a surge protector.
If your computer suddenly loses power because of an electrical outage, and then starts up again suddenly, it is possible to damage the components in your PC. Most surge protectors do what the name implies - protects the computer from electrical surges. But they don't protect the computer from small surges, or even "dirty" electrical lines. This noise is passed on to the computer power supply, and that may be passed on to the components in your computer.
What does this have to do with the codes in an error message? In situations where the memory, or RAM, is damaged, the error message will appear in the same place every time. If your RAM chip is damaged and cannot read or write to a certain memory address, the computer will crash when that memory address is accessed. If you've kept good records of the errors when a program crashes, you can sometimes identify bad RAM chips by this method. The fix is often just to replace the chip(s). You can find out if your RAM chips are bad by plugging them into a RAM chip tester. These devices are somewhat expensive, so your local computer store may not have one, but call around. Usually, they will test your RAM for free.
How do you prevent this: don't just by a $15 surge protector to protect your $2,000 PC, buy an Un-interruptible Power Supply (UPS). You can find a low-cost UPS for about $50. A UPS not only serves as a surge protector, but it also filters the electrical lines, giving your computer a clean electrical signal. And, in the event of a power outage, a UPS will provide a power to your PC for a short period of time using battery power. Even if you don't care about using a computer during a blackout, the UPS provides an extra level of protection for your beloved PC.
Until next month,
The Doktor
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