Upgrading is serious business, so it's important to ascertain which hardware is already on your system before you begin. There are several ways to find the names and specifications of each PC part. You can unplug the system, remove the cover, and take a good look. That's the hard way; too many parts are tiny, hard to identify, or placed under something bigger and sight-obscuring.
Another way is to look at the computer's manual. This method isn't completely foolproof.
Manufacturers often list several different system setups in the same manual, and you may not be
able to identify which system you have just from the manual.
The most efficient way is to use the manual in conjunction with a program such as the Windows
utility Microsoft Diagnostic or add-on third-party software.
DOS & Windows 3.x.
Both DOS and Windows come with a much-maligned little program called Microsoft Diagnostic
(MSD). MSD is a resident-utility program new to DOS 6.0 and Windows 3.1 and comes
standard in later releases.
MSD was initially created for use by Microsoft technicians and beta support staff so they would
have a complete picture of customers' systems. Despite this humble beginning, MSD is also a
good resource for the end user. It helps detect installed hardware and can compile this
information for you in a separate file.
MSD comes with several built-in command-line switches typical of a DOS-type program. The
best use of MSD is to detect all the functional hardware on your PC. This is also the main
drawback to using MSD; only functional software will be detected, so if there's a driver problem
or the device simply isn't working, MSD won't tell you about it.
Still, for your hardware inventory purposes, MSD does the trick.
STARTING MSD. For the best results, it's absolutely vital that MSD be run directly from DOS. This
is true even though Windows 3.x offers a DOS prompt window. Running MSD from within
Windows can result in inaccurate information that won't serve you well when you're getting
ready to invest hard-earned cash in upgrades.
Going directly to the regular DOS prompt for Windows 3.x users means exiting Windows. Once
in DOS, you should see the C:\> prompt. Type msd at the prompt. The Microsoft Diagnostic
screen appears to inform you that it is examining your system. This could take a few seconds or
nearly a minute depending upon the speed of your computer.
SYSTEM SUMMARY. When MSD finishes its examination, the System Summary Screen appears.
This screen contains three menu items: File, Utilities, and Help, as well as several blocks of
information, including Computer, Memory, Video, Network, OS Version, Mouse, Other
Adapters, Disk Drives, LPT Ports, COM Ports, IRQ Status, TSR Programs, and Device
Drivers. Some versions also include a Windows block. Each block contains a screen of its own,
which can be accessed by pressing the block's highlighted letter.
COMPUTER. To the right of this block are two lines. The top line lists the type of ROM (read-only
memory), followed by the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) manufacturer's name. Often, the
information is the same for both items. The second line lists the PC's processor type. Pressing
the P key brings up the Computer information screen, listing all kinds of information from the
name of the computer to keyboard specifications.
MEMORY. On the main screen, several numbers are shown: the PC's amount of conventional
RAM (random-access memory), extended memory, and any available memory. Press M to get
a more complete picture.
VIDEO. Not surprisingly, this screen lists the PC's video capabilities.
Network. If you're not part of a network system, the words No Network appear on the main
screen to the right of this block. If you are, press N and the name of the network pops up.
OS VERSION. OS stands for operating system. The name says it all.
MOUSE. Wondering which kind of mouse you're using? Find that titillating tidbit here. Its IRQ
(interrupt request line) address is found here, as well.
OTHER ADAPTERS. This section displays facts about game adapters, such as joysticks, should you
have one installed on your system.
DISK DRIVES. This block contains disk drive information. Pressing D will give you a list of all
drives, their letters, type, free space, and total size.
LPT PORTS. On the main screen is a number showing how many LPT (line printer terminal) ports
MSD has located on your PC. The LPT screen gives you the base I/O (input/output) address of
the port, as well as different status data.
COM PORTS. Again, the number on the main screen indicates the number of COM
(communications) ports detected. Pressing C brings up the COM Ports screen with port
addresses, baud rates, and other communications information.
WINDOWS. The current version of Windows in use is displayed on the main screen. If you delve
further, you'll see the technical information and Windows directory path.
IRQ STATUS. Pressing Q displays one of the most useful screens in MSD. It lists in order IRQ
numbers 0 through 15 and each number's corresponding hardware. Each device is described,
and its hexadecimal address is displayed. This is particularly handy when installing new
hardware; knowing which IRQs are free will save you a headache or two.
TSR PROGRAMS. Here, the terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) programs are outlined. TSRs are
DOS programs that remain in memory for quick access, even when they're not running.
DEVICE DRIVERS. If you're interested in viewing all the device drivers on your system, take a peek
in this section. Device drivers are programs that let hardware communicate with the computer.
REPORTING OPTIONS. A great reason to use MSD is to get a reference sheet of your hardware
configurations. You can write them all down from the screen, which is both tedious and
time-consuming, or you can print a report.
The simplest way to print a report is found under the File menu. Choose Print Report, and the
Report Information screen appears. Here, you can select the report information you need as well
as a printer port. To choose different bits of information, use the TAB key to move the cursor
down the screen. Press the Spacebar to select or deselect the individual items. An X in the
check box identifies that item as part of the report.
It's also possible to put an X in the first box, Report All, which then reports all information
contained in MSD. Unless you want to wade through oodles of Config.sys, Autoexec.bat, and
initialization (.INI) files data, it's best to choose just the items you want.
After you've selected the needed information, choose a printer port and press ENTER to
continue. Next up is the Customer Information screen, which prompts you to personalize the
report with your name, address, and other vital statistics. Again, the TAB key moves you from
prompt to prompt. You don't have to enter anything in this screen to continue with the report. If
you're ready to print, just press ENTER.
Now prepare to wait. The report might be long, depending upon how many doodads your PC
contains. If you don't feel like waiting, save the report as a file instead. To do this, you will have
to go back to the Report Information screen and tab down to the Print To section. The last
option is File: [Report.MSD . . .]. There, you can enter the drive name and file name of where
you would like to save the report.
Windows 95
MICROSOFT DIAGNOSTIC. Microsoft vacillates with MSD in its Windows 95 (Win95) operating
system. Essentially, the company excluded MSD in favor of the new Device Manager. Device Manager is an integral part of Windows 98, as well.
Microsoft, however, didn't completely get rid of MSD in Win95. A newer version, MSD 2.13,
was shipped with the Win95 installation CD-ROM, but wasn't part of the automatic installation.
MSD wasn't included anywhere, automatic or not, on the 14-diskette version of Win95. And
users of the OSR2 may not have received a copy as part of their operating system package.
MSD is old; there's no doubt about it. And Microsoft hasn't updated it to report on Win95's
Registry or any of the newer OS enhancements. Despite this, it's still useful for diagnosing IRQ
and identifying basic hardware in Win95. CD-ROM owners can find Msd.exe in the
\OTHER\MSD folder on the Win95 CD-ROM. It's not a bad idea to locate it and copy it to a
bootable diskette.
DEVICE MANAGER. The newer hardware identification system in Win95 is the Device Manager. To
access it from the Start menu, select Settings, then Control Panel, then double-click the System
icon. From the Device Manager tab, users can view hardware by type or by connection.
When hardware is viewed by type, each device is listed with an icon. Any devices with
additional information or more than one device under that heading are displayed with a plus (+)
sign.
Clicking the plus sign shows the entire hierarchical list of hardware connected to that device.
Clicking the Disk Drives plus sign, for example, might reveal a generic IDE hard drive, a diskette
drive, and a Zip drive, if these drives are installed.
When viewing hardware devices by connection, the components are listed under the hardware to which they are connected. The same plus sign system applies here, too. This is a more confusing list, so if you're trying to figure out which hardware is installed and any other details, stick to viewing by type; the icons keep everything clearly organized. Regardless of which way you view Device Manager, it's simple to see the properties of any component by double-clicking its icon. In this window, you'll see the
device type, manufacturer, and hardware version. Device Manager also indicates here whether or not the device is working properly, and if not, what might be wrong. At the top of the Device Manager hierarchical list is Computer. Double-click this icon to see useful overall system properties. In the View Resources tab, you can list all devices according to IRQ. This is a great way to see which settings are being used by which hardware. Like MSD, Device Manager lists the IRQ list in order from IRQ 0 to 15.
For general information about the central processing unit (CPU) your system has, turn to the first
tab in the System applet titled, appropriately, General. Win95 lists on this tab the operating
system in use, the type of CPU installed, and the total amount of RAM installed. This is the easy
way to determine this information, all of which is essential to making the correct upgrade choices.
PRINTING REPORTS. As with MSD, it's a good idea to make a hard copy of the computer
specifications for future reference. To do this in Device Manager, begin by pressing the Print
button at the bottom of the Device Manager window. A Print dialog box pops up that lists the
default printer, and offers you three report options: System Summary, Selected Class Or Device,
and All Devices And System Summary.
Choosing System Summary prints out a plethora of information, including bus type, BIOS and
CPU details, and summaries for IRQ usage, I/O port usage, upper memory usage, DMA
Channel usage, memory, and disk drives.
Printing a Selected Class Or Device report requires you to click one class or device, such as
disk drives or monitor. It prints a brief report naming the devices in that class along with any
resources they use.
The All Devices And System Summary report fills more than a few pages; the amount of
information depends upon how much is on your system. It includes all the sections printed in the
System Summary report, but also adds the details of each class and subsequent device. This is a
terrific resource you should update each time you add a new device.
If you don't want to spend the time or the paper on the report, save it to file, and put it on a
diskette for safe keeping. Go to the Printer dialog box again, place a check in the Print To File
box, and enter a file name, folder, and drive where you want the file saved.
With system information and your manual in hand, you'll be able to choose and purchase new
components for your upgrade. Microsoft Diagnostic, Device Manager, and third-party utilities let
you know what you have so you can decide what you need.
ALTERNATIVES TO MSD
For users who find Microsoft Diagnostic (MSD) a little too primitive or who
are frightened of delving into DOS, third-party utilities can save the day. There
are many popular troubleshooting diagnostic programs on the market that
include tools to identify and report system components.
One of the best-known is Symantec's Norton Utilities, a comprehensive
collection of troubleshooting tricks and maintenance utilities. Symantec makes
several software packages to meet a variety of needs. The company's best
choices for folks seeking system information are Norton Utilities 8.0 for
DOS/Windows 3.x and Norton Utilities 3.0 for Windows 95. Both have
data-protection programs as well as software for testing essential system
components and ironing out potential interrupt request line (IRQ) conflicts
before hardware installation.
Giving Norton a run for its money is Nuts & Bolts, a Network Associates
troubleshooting utility. This suite of tools also includes hardware diagnostic and
reporting tools and can give your PC a tune-up. Overall, this utility package
resembles Norton Utilities, but is gaining a reputation all its own.
For those seeking simplicity, Cybermedia's First Aid 98 could be the utility that
meets your needs. First Aid 98 has a terrific interface; users need only click the
corresponding icon to test a specific component or peripheral, and there are
options to check all at one time. While First Aid's primary purpose is to resolve
software troubles, it also packs a set of hardware diagnostic tools and tune-up
tricks. If you're a novice in the utility arena, this package won't intimidate you.
For those users who want less automation than First Aid 98, but less
complexity than Norton, Touchstone's CheckIt 5.0 could be the answer.
Although it doesn't include a disaster-recovery program like the other
packages mentioned, it does offer tools for testing hardware components. Its
easy-to-use hardware diagnostics utility accurately reports on IRQs and other
Upgrading can be a risky proposition. Data corruption and loss, the inability to access a drive or a peripheral, damaged circuits and chips, and software configuration errors are just a few of the
possible upgrading consequences that can turn your underperforming computer into a nonperforming computer.
Fortunately, it's possible to remove most of the risk involved by completing a few quick steps before you start the process of upgrading. Creating a system diskette, backing up important data, and performing several precautionary routines before opening the computer all protect your system against potential
catastrophe.
First Things First.
Before you do any of that, however, we recommend running CHKDSK (in DOS 6.1 or older)
or ScanDisk (in DOS 6.2 or newer and Windows) to clean up your hard drive. You should be
running these utilities on a regular basis, but it's an especially good idea to run them before
performing an upgrade. After all, you don't want a glitch on your hard drive wreaking havoc with
your new software and hardware.
To run CHKDSK in DOS 6.1 or older, simply type chkdsk at the C> prompt (where "C" is the
drive letter assigned to your primary hard drive). Similarly, to run ScanDisk in DOS 6.2 or
newer, type scandisk at the C> prompt. Windows 3.x users should run ScanDisk or CHKDSK
from within DOS.
To run ScanDisk in Windows 98 (Win98) and Windows 95 (Win95), go to the Start button and
choose Programs. Open Accessories, select System Tools, and click ScanDisk. In the resulting
window, click the OK button. When ScanDisk is finished, click Close to return to the Desktop.
Now you're ready to proceed with the other preupgrade procedures.
Creating A System Diskette.
A system diskette (also referred to as a bootable diskette or a startup diskette) contains the data
that are fundamentally necessary for the activation of your computer's operating system.
Under normal circumstances, the computer finds these data, called system files, on your
computer's hard drive. During an upgrade, the system files are changed to account for the new
hardware or software that has been added to the computer system. Most of the time these
changes don't cause any problems. But once in a while, the computer can't make sense of the
changes, and as a result, it becomes inoperable. That's when a system diskette comes in handy.
When you need to use it, insert the system diskette in the diskette drive before the computer is
booted up (turned on). The computer automatically locates the files on the diskette and launches
the operating system. Then you can fix the problem-usually that means calling technical
support-and resume normal computing operations.
Creating a system diskette is simply a matter of transferring some files from your hard drive to a
3.5-inch diskette. In DOS and Windows 3.x, the process is easy. In Win95 and Win98, it's
even easier. All you need is a blank diskette.
DOS and Windows 3.x. Windows users should exit to the DOS prompt. Insert a diskette in the
diskette drive and type format a: /s at the DOS prompt (where "a" is the drive letter assigned to
the diskette drive). This command formats the diskette and copies the Command.com, Io.sys (or
Ibmbio.com), and Msdos.sys (or Ibmdos.com) files to the diskette. When the process is
complete, DOS will prompt you for a volume label. Enter a name, such as BootDisk, or leave it
blank; then press ENTER.
To copy the remaining system files to the diskette, type the following commands at the DOS
prompt, pressing ENTER after each line.
copy c:\autoexec.bat a:
copy c:\config.sys a:
copy c:\dos\fdisk.exe a:
copy c:\dos\format.com a:
Windows users should execute the following commands as well, pressing ENTER after each
line.
copy c:\windows\win.ini a:
copy c:\windows\system.ini a:
In these examples, "c" refers to the drive letter assigned to the hard drive and "a" refers to the
drive letter assigned to the diskette drive.
(NOTE: Windows 3.x users can format and create a system diskette from within File Manager,
as well. Just open File Manager's Disk menu, select the Format Disk or Make A System Disk
command, and follow the on-screen prompts. This is one instance where it's actually quicker
and easier to use DOS, however, and we recommend users employ the DOS method if it's
available.)
WIN95 AND WIN98. Creating a system diskette in Win95 and Win98 is as easy as opening
Control Panel, selecting the Add/Remove Programs icon, clicking the Startup Disk tab in the
Add/Remove Programs Properties window, and clicking the Create Disk button. Just put a
diskette in the diskette drive before clicking the Create Disk button. You may receive an error
message asking you to insert the appropriate installation disc in the CD-ROM drive. Insert the
disc and click OK to continue.
An on-screen dialog box tracks the progress of the process. When the creation process is
complete, the Add/Remove Programs Properties window will appear on-screen again. Click the
OK or Cancel button at the bottom of the window to return to the Desktop.
When you've finished the process of creating a system diskette, regardless of which operating
system you used to create it, label the diskette clearly and store it in a safe place.
Backing Up.
When you start digging around in your computer, there's always the chance-however
remote-that you might mess something up and lose all your data. That's why it's important to
back up your data before you perform an upgrade.
Before you perform the backup, what you need to do is decide which hardware and software
you'll use and which files you want to back up. This depends on the computer's operating
system and the hardware configuration of your computer.
When the backup process is complete, clearly label the disks or diskettes and mark the date on
them, then store them in a safe place. If you later find a need to restore the backed up data to
the hard drive, retrieve the disks or diskettes and use your backup utility's Restore command.
Opening The PC.
The difficult part is complete. Creating a system diskette and backing up data is the most
time-consuming portion of the preupgrade process. Now it's just a matter of unplugging the
computer and removing the cover.
Close any open applications, shut down your computer's operating system, and turn the
computer off. Unplug the computer's power cable from the wall socket; do the same for any
peripherals, such as printers, scanners, monitors, etc., that are connected to the computer. It
may be helpful to unplug the peripherals from the computer, as well. Pay attention to where each
peripheral connects to the PC, labeling each corresponding port and cable if necessary. Colored
tape works especially well for keeping track of corresponding ports and cables.
Next, clean off your desk or move your computer to a room where you have plenty of room to
spread out the installation manuals, the new hardware, and your tools. We recommend
performing the installation in a well-lighted, uncarpeted room, such as a kitchen or workroom.
It's especially important to avoid carpeted rooms if you can. Carpet is a problem for two
reasons. First, it's tough to find screws when they fall in the carpet. Second and more
importantly, carpet is a conductor of static electricity.
Static electricity, which causes those shocks you get from touching a metal doorknob in a
carpeted room, can damage a computer's fragile circuits and chips. For this reason, leave your
new components in their antistatic bags until you're ready to insert them. Also, ground yourself
by touching the computer's metal frame before you touch any of your computer's innards.
Finally, even if you're working in an uncarpeted room and have grounded yourself, it's a good
idea to keep fingers and tools away from the computer's intricate circuitry.
The act of removing the computer's cover (which also may be referred to as the computer's
case) is different for every make and model of computer. Some computer covers slide off;
others are held in place by screws. A few computers even employ locking devices that require
you to use special tools or keys to remove their covers. Check your users manual for the exact
removal procedure you should follow for your PC.
Don't be afraid to apply some force when removing the cover, but you shouldn't have to strain.
If you feel the cover bending or hear anything crack, stop immediately and double-check the
users manual or contact the manufacturer to learn the correct way of removing the cover.
Before you use your screwdriver-and check to see whether you need a Phillips or a flat-head
screwdriver before you take a trip to your toolkit-make sure you know which screws hold the
cover on. As a rule, don't remove any screws that aren't located along the edge of the cover.
Never remove any screws near your computer's fan, AC connection, or ports.
When you remove a screw, remember where you put it so you can reinsert it when you're done
with the upgrade. We recommend using a small cup to hold your screws while you work so you
don't accidentally knock them on the floor or lose them among the installation tools.
After you've removed it, put the cover out of the way. Read the instruction manual completely
before beginning the installation. This may save you some time in the long run and will help you understand the installation procedure before you have a chance to mess things up.
Finally, ground yourself one more time by touching the computer's frame. Take a deep breath,
and dig in.
Reprinted with permission from Smart Computing / PC Novice Magazines. For subscription information call:
