Quick Tips and Fixes
Copyright (c) 1994, Joe DeRouen
All rights reserved


[Originally published in COMPUTER CURRENTS magazine]


QUICK TIPS AND FIXES
by Joe DeRouen


Q: I'd love to take a ride on the Information Superhighway, but I'm not
   even sure how to hitchhike!  Where do I get started? 

A: There's been so much coverage of the Internet in the last year that
   it would seem that it's the easiest thing in the world to get
   involved in.  It's not.  The Internet's backbone is the UNIX system,
   which features commands more arcane than DOS could ever be. 

   Until a universal graphic user interface is developed for access into
   the Internet, it's going to remain a great and challenging learning
   experience.  The challenge can be met, however. 

   If you're currently on local bulletin board systems, log onto your
   favorite one.  Go into the file area and do a text search for the
   word "Internet".  Chances are, they'll have at least one Internet
   help file.  Files in particular to keep an eye out for are THE 
   BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO THE INTERNET (an excellent guide to getting
   started) or ZEN AND THE ART OF THE INTERNET.  They're free programs
   and well worth the download time. 

   If you don't have access to a modem, check out your local bookstore
   or library.  You'll have several dozen different books to choose from
   in helping you access the Internet.  A couple of good ones are THE
   INTERNET FOR DUMMIES (John Levine and Carol Baroudi, IDG Books) and
   TEACH YOURSELF THE INTERNET - AROUND THE WORLD IN 21 DAYS. (Neil
   Randall, Sams Publishing)  Either book can be had for around twenty
   dollars.  

   With a little patience and a bit of intestinal fortitude, you'll be
   cruising the Net's highways and byways in no time! 


Q: Help!  I just erased my AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS, and now I can't
   get anything to come up.  What should I do? 

A: When your computer can't find those two files, it boots up, asks you
   for the date and time, and drops you into C:\.  What next?  Fear not,
   for all is not lost.  Actually, you've lost very little.  Those two
   files just tell your computer how to act. 

   Type PATH=C:\DOS. (If your DOS directory isn't on C, substitute the
   correct drive instead)  Then type UNDELETE.  As DOS's UNDELETE
   program scrolls through the erased files, look for ?UTOEXEC.BAT and
   ?ONFIG.SYS.  It'll ask you to supply the first character of each
   filename.  Do so, and it's like it never happened. 

   If you're using an older version of DOS that doesn't support UNDELETE
   (and you don't have NORTON UTILITIES, PC TOOLS, or another program
   that offers an UNERASE option) your files are pretty much lost
   forever.  There's nothing much left to do now except rebuild the
   files from memory. 

   To safeguard against this happening in the future, (even if you DO
   have UNDELETE - The program isn't failsafe!) always keep a current
   copy of your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS on a write-protected floppy,
   in a safe place.  That way, you'll always have a backup of your files
   and a permanent solution to the delete-happy frenzy that we all 
   occasionally fall prey to.  

   To be even safer, make a paper copy of the two files.  Fold them into
   an envelope and toss them in your desk drawer.  You'll probably never
   need them, but you'll be thankful that they're there if you ever do. 


Q: My Super VGA monitor is developing a rash!  This "rash" consists of
   blurs and distortions in the screen that seem to change and move
   around as time passes.  What's the problem? 

A: It could be a variety of different things.  The most probable
   culprit, however, is your phone.  If you're like me, you love to talk
   while you're playing games or entering data.  If you have a full-size
   phone with a large metal base, it most likely contains magnets that
   aren't very well shielded.  Placing a full-size phone closer than
   about a foot in front of the monitor can cause problems. 

   The magnets in the phone cause the phosphor (which make up the pixels
   in the screen) to glow differently than the rest of the screen.  It's
   nothing too serious, though.  Just move your phone or replace it with
   a smaller model, preferably a handheld unit.  
 
   All phones contain magnets, of course, but smaller phones contains
   smaller magnets that really aren't as harmful to your screen.  Newer
   phones also have better shielding. 

   The damage to your screen isn't permanent and should clear up fairly
   soon.  If it doesn't, you'll have to have your monitor "de-gaussed".
   (a procedure that involves running a very large magnet over your
   monitor) De-gaussing is relatively inexpensive and can be done at
   most any computer repair shop or service. 

   If your phone *doesn't* seem to be the problem, it could be another
   magnetic source.  Check out any large, bulky appliances that happen
   to be hanging around your monitor. 

   If it's obvious that isn't the source of your frustrations, contact
   the manufacturer of your monitor immediately.  More than likely, you
   have a defective screen that's probably still covered in your
   warranty. 


Are you having a problem with your computer?  Write to Joe via Sunlight
Through The Shadows BBS at 214/620-8793, through the internet at
Joe.DeRouen@Chrysalis.ORG, or CompuServe at 73654,1732.  Joe can also be
reached at any of the other points listed in Contact Points, elsewhere
in this issue.

