Hello again --- HP Computer 3+ years old, 30 gig hard drive, Windows 98.. JORGE WROTE ... If you need having the numlock off, you have two options: 1) Open notepad, write this line as follows: numlock=off and save the file as c:\config.sys 2) If you want to play a little with the BIOS, go there and you'll find somewhere (probably under "advanced features" or similar) a line like this "numlock on" or "numlock enabled", just change it to off or disabled (most likely using the page down/up keys), then hit escape until it prompts you to save the changes and exit. You're done. Playing with the bios is not so risky, unless you try to change obscure/unknown parameters. Enjoy --- Jorge Camboni, GY Electronics, Richardson, TX
I deleted both the autoexec and config.sys files with no apparent loss of any functions on the computer. Those two files are in the original HP System Restore CD's (which includes Windows 98 and a ton of other programs that I never use and systematically I remove them from the system; all that is part of my ritual when re-installing the system). I then followed your instructions, and created a new config.sys file which now has one line in it: "numlock=off" (sans quotes) which stops the numlock key from lighting up upon rebooting. I could have just deleted the contents of the old config.sys file and typed in that one line; doesn't matter. I do that only because I don't use the pad that often, and when I do, I just put it on. CHUCK [Charles Harris <[EMAIL PROTECTED] WROTE ... Try this: Type rEM in front of each statement line of autoexec.bat and config.sys. This way all entries will be ignored until you go back and remove the rEM's . I have it spelled oddly so you can easily recognize and remove them when you're done and not confuse them with your existing REM and rem's. Ignore the dosboot files. Edit autoexec.bat by right clicking and choosing edit. Edit config.sys with notepad. Save it as config.sys with "All files" showing as the filetype (instead of text documents). For Windows 9x, one should always run ScanDisk and Defrag in Safe Mode with the screensaver turned off to avoid the interruptions inherent in regular mode. --- Chuck CHUCK ... it's nice to know I could have used your "rEM" technique (distinguishing those rem's from the original rem's; cute idea). It's a moot point now since I they are now in my "hold" file waiting to be deleted, but your system is clever. I know about disabling screensavers before defragging only I didn't think it was necessary even when in "safe mode". Ordinarily I never go into Safe Mode unless I'm thrown into for one reason or another, and defragging in regular mode is never a problem with me, and it takes no time at all. QUESTION: Am I missing something defragging in regular mode? JORGE WROTE ... Hello again Harold. Mmmm... The way you access the BIOS depends on what Bios brand you have, but in most cases you have to depress the "del" key while you're booting (at the very beginning, you can see something like "press del to enter setup". In some other cases is F1 or F2. In the case of Hewlett Packard, they mess up a little bit with their logo at the beginning of the booting process, but you should be able to get to the BIOS setup by hitting "del" or F1 or F2 while beginning to boot. A few years ago, I used to write some fairly sophisticated autoexec and config files, but that was while using windows 3.11 and it worked out very well, at the same time I was using a handful of rather demanding DOS programs. But from WIN95 on, it does not really matter how you configured your DOS memory, it overrides all those settings, except for one: if include a CDROM driver for DOS, win95/98 will step back to DOS compatibility mode (real mode) and most likely you will notice the slow down, especially in disk access. About the numlock key, I prefer to have it on so I can use the numeric pad. If you want to get rid of it, in the worst case you have to hit the numlock key. WALLY WROTE <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Your BIOS is read only memory that cannot be changed easily. Originally they could not be changed at all. Then a flashable BIOS was made available so it could be updated by flashing it from a program. If the program did not work, you throw out your motherboard because the BIOS starts the booting of the computer. Without it you have no way to get your computer started so you can repair any damage. Someone developed a virus that would flash your BIOS and destroy your computer. There is a switch that can set so your BIOS cannot be flashed. TO JORGE & WALLY ... nothing like a little difference of opinions to bring out some enlightenment. So what do I do now, go for my BIOS or CMOS, and how do I access each one? For the bios I'll try "by hitting "del" or F1 or F2 while beginning to boot". Remember, in seven years I've never seen either one of those files; I know it has to do with the way the computer boots up and gets to know that it is alive, and how all the components say "hello" to each other; that's about it --- Harold ============= PCWorks Mailing List ================= Don't see your post? Check our posting guidelines & make sure you've followed proper posting procedures, http://pcworkers.com/rules.htm Contact list owner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Unsubscribing and other changes: http://pcworkers.com =====================================================
