 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Some resources you didn't know you had Carol Daniels cad@melbpc.org.au |
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Your own private Microsoft HelpDesk
When you are looking for information about obscure Windows error messages, problems with DLLs, virtually any
thing about Microsoft products, you need to know about the Microsoft Technical Support Knowledge
Base.
http://www.support.microsoft.com/support
Sorting out misbehaving applications
You've probably seen at least one comedy routine where two characters arrive at a doorway at the same time and never make it through, because they get caught in an endless loop, each one trying to let the other go first.
"After you," A says.
"No, after you," says B.
"No, I insist, after you."
"No, really, I must insist, after you," says B.
Or how about the ones where neither character gives way and they both end up wedged in the doorway.
Either way the result is the same. An impasse.
That's the sort of confusion IRQ conflicts cause. IRQs (Interrupt Requests) are a way for programs to decide who goes first when multiple components require the same resource at the same time. If things can't be sorted out, one or both components may fail to work. Crashes are usually close behind.
Conflicts between IRQs are not always easy to sort out. There is help however, in the form of a Microsoft diagnostic utility. It's It's called Microsoft Diagnostics, no surprise there and it's included on your Windows 95 CD-ROM (look for the file MSD.EXE).
Quick now, what are your system settings?
I have a fairly basic machine. Even so, I wouldn't even try to remember everything about my system settings. Windows tweaking alone is too much to memorise. All that information is useful to have, but I'm not going to memorise it, or write it all down. Life's too short. A recent back up can restore everything, but that may not be good enough for reference purposes or if you need to send the information to a tech who is trying to help you solve a problem. There is a solution, Win 95's built in reporting feature.
Just click on Start, then Settings, Control Panel, System.
Once there, select the Device Manager tab. From this tab you can inspect the properties of each individual item, or select print for a System Summary or the full report, which supplies detailed information about all the devices on your system.
As useful as these three resources are, I won't trade them for my membership
in Melb PC. There is a lot of information here, but unless you have the wisdom of a Jedi master, you won't be
able to decipher all of it on your own. Add them to the combined wisdom of your fellow members and you're on
your way to turning information into knowledge.
Reprinted from the May 1999 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group,
Australia
