YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Expert computing advice: Paul Monckton tackles readers hardware and software conundrums. INACCESSIBLE MSCONFIG Q. I altered some settings in Msconfig, and everything worked fine after a reboot. However, following an overnight shutdown, Windows began displaying the Blue Screen of Death (BSoD). I can't change the settings back as this occurs just before the option to boot into Safe mode appears. What can I do other than reinstall Windows? Julian Challenger A. Reinstalling Windows will resolve this problem, Julian. However, when you have a previously working system that will no longer boot into Safe mode, an alternative fix is to select 'Last known good configuration from the Windows Advanced Boot Options. If this menu isn't presented to you when the PC starts up, bring it up by pressing F8 as the system boots. If this doesn't work, try running Windows Startup Repair. Boot the PC from a retail Windows 7 installation or system repair disc if you have one. Alternatively, if your PC has a recovery partition, select 'System recovery options from Advanced Boot Options. Startup Repair will search your system for problems that may be preventing it from successfully booting up. Once the process is complete, click 'View diagnostic and repair details to see what it has done. EXTRA RAM NOT RECOGNISED Q. I have a two-year-old HP 550 laptop running Vista. I upgraded the 1GB of system memory to 4GB using two 2GB Crucial modules. Both the manufacturer and vendor stated that this was possible. Two BSoDs displayed the following error messages: 'Irql_not_less_or_equal and 'Pfn_list_corrupt. With just one 2GB module the laptop works fine, and I've checked that neither is faulty. I upgraded the chipset driver, but the only Bios update available on HP's site predated my purchase of the laptop. Please help. Ken Robinson A. HP's specification suggests the maximum memory capacity of 4GB may not apply to all laptops in the 500 series. Two different Intel mobile chipsets are used in this line-up: the Mobile Intel GLE960 Express, which supports Intel Celeron and Celeron M processors, and the Mobile Intel GME965 Express, which also supports Intel Core 2 Duo chips. Only the GME965 supports 4GB of RAM; the GLE960 is limited to 2GB of RAM. The memory appears to be working correctly in a 2GB configuration (check this by running Memtest, tinyurl.com slash 6f5txnr). However, we suspect you have a laptop that can't be upgraded beyond 2GB. GRAND PC DESIGNS Q. I want to build a Windows 7 64bit 'super-computer, but I don't know whether my chosen components will work together. I'd like to use an Intel Core i7-2600 processor, two 4GB Patriot Gamer 2 Series DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) RAM modules and an nVidia GeForce GT 220 graphics card. I have my eye on either an Asus P8P67 LE or Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD4P motherboard, and have already selected a two-terabyte (2TB) Western Digital Caviar Green SATA-300 hard drive, a 10-speed Blu-ray drive and a 1,000W Rosewill PSU. Can you foresee any compatibility issues? Ayoob Elias. A. While we can't guarantee the compatibility of your chosen components without building the system ourselves, we can't see any obvious problems with the specification. However, we have a few suggestions. If you're using an Intel Core i7-2600 processor, the Gigabyte motherboard isn't suitable. Second-gen Core processors are supported only by Intel's Cougar Point chipsets, currently designated H61, H67, P67, Q67 and Z68. The Gigabyte's P55 chipset doesn't support your selected CPU. The Asus model will work fine, but the non-'LE version offers extra features and superior overclocking potential. Unless you're planning on overclocking the processor, the 1,000W PSU will be overkill. It will also increase energy consumption. A 600W or 750W model will be ample for your specification. And if you do plan to overclock, we recommend substituting the i7-2600 with an i7-2600K and considering an enhanced CPU cooler. CAMERA LENS COMPATIBILITY Q. I'd like to use a Nikon digital SLR telephoto lens with a Panasonic G10 Micro Four Thirds camera. Can I simply purchase a lens adaptor? June Spalding A. Without knowing the specific model of telephoto lens, it's not possible to say with certainty that it will be adaptable to the Micro Four Thirds format. However, the majority of Nikon SLR lenses can be used successfully with a suitable adaptor. You're unlikely to find comprehensive lists of which lenses work with which adaptors. Your best bet is to approach the manufacturer of the adaptor with your lens specifics or search online forums for someone who has tried the same combo. Among the Nikon lenses that aren't compatible are the G lenses, which have no aperture ring. The adapted lens will be working in a fully manual mode; the camera won't be able to change the aperture and you'll need to use the ring to adjust it. Other problems may occur if the lens is too deep for the G10's slender body. Note that third-party adaptors are not officially supported by camera makers. BLUE SCREEN ISSUE Q. My custom-built Windows 7 Professional PC has a Gigabyte GA- 88OGMA-UD2H motherboard, an AMD Phenom II X4 970 processor, 4GB of Corsair XMS3 1,333MHz DDR3 memory, a Samsung F3 500GB hard drive, a Samsung SH223 optical drive and an XFX nVidia GeForce 9600 GT graphics card. Every boot results in a BSoD - at the Windows login or Welcome screen, or once the desktop has loaded. If I restart using the power button, however, Windows works fine. I've checked the RAM is in the correct sockets (1 and 3) and that dual-channel mode is enabled. Putting the memory in sockets 2 and 4 makes no difference. Anon A. This problem is too complex to diagnose from the information you've provided. However, Gigabyte suggests it could be due to memory compatibility or timing issues, and you may require a Bios upgrade. Contact Gigabyte on 01908 322 878 or via the technical support site at tinyurl.com slash 3wps7jp. ADD A SECOND MONITOR Check to see whether your graphics card supports multiple monitors. If it has more than one input port, it probably does. Plug two (or more) monitors into your graphics card. Ideally, the monitors will be identical in size, resolution and type. If you must compromise, your priorities should be a similar size and resolution, rather than type. Turn on your PC. Both monitors should turn on by the time you reach the Windows login screen. By default, they should show the same image (an arrangement called mirroring). Next, navigate to and adjust the settings. Right-click on the desktop and go to Personalize, Appearance and Personalization, Display Settings. You'll see a diagram showing your monitors, with each identified by a number. Drag the monitors in the diagram into positions that match the physical layout of your setup, then choose which monitor will serve as your main monitor. Select the second monitor and select the option to 'Extend the desktop on to this monitor. Click Apply to save your settings. Download DisplayFusion (tinyurl.com slash 3rfy77f) to get more from your multi-screen setup. This free utility lets you choose different desktops for each monitor and adds a few attractive Windows Live Widgets (gallery.live.com) that take advantage of some of that extra space. Sarah Jacobsson Purewal For more step-by-step tutorials on Windows features and other computing matters, see pcadvisor.co.uk slash how-to. NEW DRIVE; OLD PC Q. My new PC has a USB 3.0 port, so I decided to buy a WD USB 3.0 drive to transfer the contents of my old machine. It works fine on my new PC, but is unable to find a USB 3.0 host controller on the old PC. How can I get the drive to realise this machine uses USB 2.0 not 3.0? Jonny Wilson A. Western Digital's USB 3.0 drives are backwards-compatible with USB 2.0 and should work with both machines, albeit at a slower speed on the older PC. You don't say what happens after the warning message pops up - it could simply be an informational message that doesn't affect drive operation. We got in contact with Western Digital about your problem. Its technician requested more information before he could suggest a solution. For instance, have you attempted to store any data on the drive? Please contact technical support on 0800 2754 9338 for further help. VISTA REINSTALL CONFUSION Q. I installed Vista on a friend's PC by installing his hard drive in my machine via DVI (I didn't have a spare VGA cable). All seemed well when I returned the drive to its correct home, but the PC boots as far as the Windows logo then enters a cycle of reboots. Autoschediastic A. During the installation process, Windows configures itself for the specific hardware on which it's being used. This means that only the device drivers and settings relevant to your machine would have been installed. It's unlikely that you're both running the same hardware, and if Windows can't find the drivers for key components such as the disk controller then it will be unable to read the hard drive correctly and crash. The best solution would be to obtain the correct monitor cable and install the operating system directly on to your friend's PC. If you insist on completing the type of installation you describe, however, you need to use the Windows Automated Installation Kit. This is available as a free download from Microsoft (tinyurl.com slash 3zad9zu for Vista, and tinyurl.com slash 6xp4qge for Windows 7). Use the kit to create a generalised installation of Windows, which will configure itself the first time it starts up. It's the same method by which many new PCs allow you to set up users, networks and product keys the first time you turn them on. You can also use this kit to set up additional programs, which will be installed along with Windows. LAPTOP WON'T CHARGE Q. I'm unable to charge up my three-year-old Acer laptop, but I'm not sure whether the fault is with the charger or the battery. Should I buy a new charger and, if so, where's a good place to get a replacement? Geek84 A. If the charger has an indicator light, check whether this comes on when it's plugged into the mains. If it doesn't, you may need to replace the fuse in its plug. Before you do, check the power outlet works by plugging in a different device. If your charger is enabling you to turn on and use the laptop, but it isn't charging the battery, then the battery is at fault. Contact the laptop manufacturer for its official component if either needs replacing. Third-party replacements are often available, but ensure the power rating matches that of your original charger. SPEAK AS YOU SCAN Q. Does such a thing as a scanner that reads out the contents of a document exist? My eyesight is very poor and ill health means I'm reluctant to bother my wife with reading things out to me. Sparkly A. Many solutions are available, depending on your requirements and budget. If you want to read documents away from your computer, and you can afford the relatively hefty price tag, take a look at the Intel Reader. This is a portable device, which incorporates a digital camera, an LCD and a speaker. It can photograph and store many pages of text, then read them aloud. Because it's portable, you don't need to be near your computer to use it. Its camera also means you can read objects that can't be easily placed into a scanner, such as packaging and wall signs. At press time, Amazon was selling it for UKP662. Another costly alternative is the Optelec ClearReader plus (UKP2,394, optelec.com). This device is small enough to move around, but designed to operate in a free-standing mode. This lets you place a document on the table in front of you and capture it from above. If your budget doesn't stretch this far, scanners often come with optical character recognition (OCR) software that can make sense of captured text. You'll need a separate program that offers text-to-speech to adapt this to your needs. Windows 7 includes Microsoft Narrator. This utility can read out onscreen menus and text, but it requires you to learn many keystrokes and is basic in functionality. Microsoft Word 2010, meanwhile, has text-to-speech built in. It can read the text in a document scanned using OCR software. Add the Speak command to the Quick Access Toolbar to enable the feature. This is located at the top left of the screen. Click the down arrow and select 'Customize Quick Access Toolbar, More Commands. Change 'Popular Commands to 'All Commands in the 'Choose commands from field. Scroll down and select 'Speak, then click Add. You can now select any block of text and click the Speak icon to hear it read aloud. Similar functionality can also be found in older versions of Microsoft Office. Adobe Reader features a 'Read Out Loud function, but this won't work if a document hasn't been correctly formatted and tagged. Another option is NaturalSoft's NaturalReader (naturalreaders.com). Highlight text and NaturalReader can read it aloud to you. A free version is available. DUAL-BOOT DISK ISSUE Q. I'm running Windows 7 on my C drive and used EasyBCD to dual-boot XP on my D drive. In XP, a message pops up suggesting there's a shortage of disk space on the C drive. There is plenty of space, however, and this drive is reserved for Windows 7 in any case. You advised me how to block the message in the Registry, but it still appears when I try to install software. Is this a Bios issue? Brian Yates A. This isn't a Bios-related issue, Brian. It's a result of the different methods XP and Windows 7 use to partition a hard drive. Having taken a closer look at your system configuration, we can see that one of your hard drives contains two partitions and the first of which is very small at 100MB. This partition is created automatically during a standard Windows 7 installation; it stores the files necessary to boot the operating system and help recover the machine should anything go wrong. Most users never see this hidden partition as it isn't assigned a drive letter. The second partition is used for the operating system and user files, and is assigned the default drive letter C. In its old age, Windows XP doesn't know how to deal with this setup. Its found the hidden partition and called it drive C, while its own partition is labelled drive D. The 100MB partition isn't designed to store user files. On your system it's completely full, suggesting that at least one of your programs has assumed that drive C is the correct default drive for storage. Software should install itself on your default system drive (D), but the more common location for this is C. When this happens, the 100MB partition will fill up very quickly. To prevent this from happening, make sure you select the Custom option when installing software and ensure that the program is installed somewhere other than drive C. Your XP setup appears to be configured to use the C drive, but you will also need to enter each application's settings menu to ensure none are attempting to use the C drive as temporary storage. Use Microsoft TweakUI to hide the 100MB partition from XP (tinyurl.com slash 4x79ev9). Launch TweakUI, then select My Computer, Drives and deselect any you want to hide. VIEWING PC PHOTOS ON A TV Q. I bought a VGA cable to transfer pictures from my Acer Travelmate 2410 laptop to a Sony Bravia TV. I followed the instructions given in the TV manual, but the PC reports 'No signal. Is this because I have a digibox connected to the aerial? aicogirl A. To make your laptop work with your TV you will need to set up both the TV and the laptop correctly. On the TV, the correct channel may need to be manually selected. On Bravia TVs with a VGA input, you usually need to select the input labelled 'PC. On the laptop, make sure the external display is enabled. You can usually do this by holding down the Fn key and pressing F5. Each time you press F5 it will cycle through various permutations of running the laptop screen, the laptop screen and the TV together and the TV screen alone. If the 'Fn plus F5' combination doesn't work, it may be being overridden by the control panel for the laptop's built-in graphics processor. If this is the case, look for its blue icon in your System Tray or Control Panel. It should contain all the options you need to enable and configure the external display. You may need to adjust the resolution of the display to match the shape and resolution of your TV. Do this in the same way as you would with a PC monitor. GRAPHICS CARD UPGRADE Q. Acer Aspire AX3400 PC has a spare PCI Express x16 slot, but I fear that its compact case will prevent me from installing a graphics card. The power supply unit is also weak at 220W. What card can I use? Reaper101 A. The compact dimensions of small-form-factor PCs such as yours mean any upgrades require special consideration. You'll need to undertake a fair bit of research, and possibly some experimentation. The PCI Express x16 slot is usable for a graphics-card upgrade. You'll need to choose a low-profile card, which will come with a low-profile mounting bracket. You may need to fit this to the card yourself, but the process involves only turning a few screws. Your 220W power supply is indeed rather feeble. However, despite nVidia's minimum power supply rating of 300W, other mini-ATX users have nonetheless reported success with the GeForce GT 430. Of course, we can't guarantee its operation having not tried it ourselves. Another option is to upgrade the power supply. You will need a TFX- form-factor power supply, or one designed for a Mini-ITX system may fit. You may need to drill some extra holes in your case to fit it, however. The increased amount of power available would open up new upgrade possibilities for you, particularly as more powerful graphics cards come on to the market. However, the system case is very cramped and cooling would almost certainly become an issue for a more powerful card. Your last, and most drastic, option would be to rebuild your PC inside a larger micro-ATX compatible case. This would allow you to use any standard power supply and graphics card. You would also be free to install better provisions for cooling. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
