Welcome to the UK's leading PC supplier to home users and small businesses.
The group has been offering PC systems for almost 10 years and we have several hundred
thousand customers who we continue to service and support. At present we employ over 350 staff
at our group headquarters all dedicated to providing the best quality solutions and the
best service possible at a competitive price. You may be watching this video before you've
purchased your PC whilst you're awaiting delivery of your PC or after you've received it. We
advise you to watch this video in its entirety before you unpack your system. These days
PC systems are very powerful but they remain complicated for the first time user. If you
don't watch this video and you don't read the user guide which accompanies the PC system
then it's highly likely that you will have difficulty running your PC. In particular
you may have difficulties getting started and have problems with sound, CD drive, modems
and printers as these can all malfunction if they're not set up properly. Please watch
the entire video first and then you can rewind or fast forward to the relevant sections.
The aims of this video are to inform you about the services that are available and how best to use them.
You can normally place your order directly with our sales staff. Your order will be processed and
your details entered onto our computer system. Details of your payment method and delivery
address are taken and if you're ordering a system on finance a deposit may be taken and you will
be sent credit agreement forms to sign. Now please return these as soon as possible. We can't process
your order any further without these. You'll be quoted an approximate delivery time. Normally
this is 10 to 14 days after cleared payment. Please do not chase delivery of your PC prior
to 14 working days. Once your order is taken and payment is cleared your system is picked,
configured to your specification, software is preloaded and the system is burnt in for
many hours or even days. Final quality checking ensures that everything is in order. And normally
if one of the items you've ordered isn't in stock we would wait and try to deliver the whole
consignment as one shipment. However this is not always possible and if a peripheral item for
example a software package or a printer is likely to take a long time we may deliver the PC system
by itself first with that item to follow. The system is sent by courier delivery to your address.
If you're not in to receive the system the courier will leave a note for you to contact them
directly. Now when the system arrives please check the number of boxes and check the boxes
don't show any signs of external damage. If you've any problems relating to the delivery of your PC
please contact customer services and how to do this is covered later on in the video. If you're
not in when the couriers arrive with your new PC they will leave a card and ring the couriers
number on the card to arrange for an alternative delivery time. When your PC arrives it will come
in boxes of various shapes and sizes depending on the type of PC, the size of the monitor and
any additional accessories that you've purchased. And typically there will be three boxes containing
the PC itself, your monitor and any additional accessories such as speakers, joystick or software
CDs. If you've purchased a printer this will arrive in a separate box. Now before unpacking
take the boxes into the room where you want your PC to be. This will save you having to carry the
PC around later on. And when you unpack your PC and monitor it's important that you flat pack
the boxes and keep them safe. These can then be used later on should you need to move your PC about
or return it to us for an upgrade or a repair. Once you've unpacked your PC check that you've
received all the bits and pieces you need and again these will vary on the type of PC solution
you've purchased. But in general you should have your system unit, a keyboard, a power cable,
a mouse, a clear bag containing a coloured recovery disk and don't worry the purpose of
this is explained later on in the video, a red sealed envelope containing your Windows 95 manual
and license agreement, a Windows 95 backup CD and a boot up disk. Now your license agreement
contains your Windows 95 registration number which is very important especially when you start
your PC for the first time and a blue sealed envelope containing software driver disks. These
are already preloaded on your PC so you don't need to open this envelope just put it somewhere safe.
Now remember incorrect installation of these software driver disks may damage your PC settings
and finally a clear bag containing other software disks, manuals and software licenses. Once you've
unpacked your PC next unpack your monitor. There should be your monitor and the stand for your
monitor, a power cable and a user manual. Any additional hardware and software such as speakers,
joystick, software CDs will be in your accessories box. The invoice will also be sent with your PC
and it's normally packed into the accessories box. However if you don't have an accessories box then
the invoice will be in your PC box and if any of the items are missing don't panic check all the
boxes. Look at the invoice some items may be marked to follow which means that they weren't in stock
when your PC was shipped and will follow shortly. And finally if the missing items are not marked
to follow contact customer services and again we'll show you how to do this later in the video.
Okay let's go over to Tim. Tim. Thanks Steve. Before connecting your PC together it is essential
that you read the user guide and Windows 95 manual. Both of these manuals are designed to help you get
off to a smooth start with your new PC and avoid doing anything that may damage your new computer.
Your sound, CD, modem and printer will not work if they're not set up correctly so please read the
manuals. Once you've read the user guide and Windows 95 manual you're ready to connect
everything together and to start using your PC. Now don't worry it's not as bad as it looks. The
first thing you need to decide is where to put your PC. Choosing the right location is very
important. Here are a few do's and don'ts when choosing a location. Choose a hard flat surface
such as a desk with plenty of room for all of the system. Ensure that the area you've chosen is
well ventilated and operate your PC at normal room temperature between 10 degrees centigrade
and 35 degrees centigrade. If you have a modem, ensure that the PC is near a telephone point.
Do not place your PC in direct sunlight and do not place your PC near a radiator or any magnetic
sources and lastly try not to operate your PC in extreme moisture or humidity. Right now that
you've chosen the location it's time to connect your PC together. There are three main types of
computer design, desktop, mini tower and full tower. If you have a desktop PC it is convenient
to stand the monitor on top of a desktop case. It saves space and the monitor is usually at eye
level. Oh incidentally don't forget to attach the stand to your monitor. If you have a mini
tower then stand the PC next to the monitor on whichever side won't be using the mouse. With full
tower cases it's best to place the PC on the floor under the desk. Whatever type of PC you've
purchased the connections at the back will be the same and have the same functions. Right let's
connect your system together. Refer to the big getting started leaflet that is provided with your
system. First connect your keyboard. Now connect your mouse to the port labelled COM 1. Next
connect your monitor. Now if you have a sound card connect your speakers to the sound card.
Now connect your power cable from the back of the monitor to the wall socket or if you
have a power fly lead connect it from the back of your monitor to your PC. Finally connect your
power cable from your PC to the wall socket. Ensure that when you connect your PC together
that all the connections are firm. Also never connect anything to your PC while it's switched
on as this may damage components within the PC. Your PC is now connected together and ready for
action but wait before you switch on you need to familiarise yourself with the switches and
LED lights on the front of your PC. Depending on what type of PC you have purchased the switches
and LED lights will be in different positions but they all have the same sort of functions.
Obviously you'll have an on off switch. You'll also have a reset switch which is used to reboot
i.e. restart your PC without you having to switch the PC off and then back on again.
There is a green LED light which indicates that your PC is switched on. It's marked with a symbol
of a light bulb. There's also a red LED light which flashes to indicate
hard disk activity. This is marked with a symbol of a drum. Depending on the PC you purchased
you may also have a key lock in which case you will have also been supplied with some keys.
The key lock is used to lock your keyboard so that it can't be used while you're away from your PC.
In order to use your PC you will need to communicate with it by giving it instructions
and manipulating it to carry out operations. This is done using the keyboard and the mouse.
You will also need to load programs and software onto your PC and for this purpose you will use
the floppy drive and CD-ROM drive. Let's look at each of these more closely but just before we do
it would be a good time to mention the difference between hardware and software.
Hardware is what we've been putting together. It's what you can see and touch the PC
itself, the monitor, the printer, the keyboard and the mouse. But by itself the hardware can do
absolutely nothing. It needs a set of instructions, a program to tell it what to do and that's all
software is, a set of instructions. Software is stored on discs, floppy discs, hard discs and CDs
too but it's important not to confuse the disc with the software itself. The disc is just a
storage area for the instructions. When you run a piece of software it is copied from the disc
into the computer's memory and then the instructions are carried out from there.
Now there are thousands and thousands of pieces of software available for the PC
so you needn't ever worry about running out. The keyboard is an essential part of the PC.
It looks a bit like a typewriter keyboard but it has a lot more keys. You can see the familiar
typewriter keyboard layout in the middle here. This here is the return or enter key. When you
type in a command you press the return key to send it to the computer. Now there are two shift keys,
a tab key and a caps lock key which works just like the keys on a typewriter.
The F keys across the top are function keys which software programs use as a quick way
of accessing special functions such as printing a document or saving a file.
The function of these keys will vary with programs in use.
The Alt, Alternate and CTRL keys are used in conjunction with other keys to perform different
functions. For example, Ctrl and C may be used to copy a block of text. Alt and F may be used to
bring up a file menu. The latest keyboards have special Windows 95 keys which have specific
functions for use with Windows 95. For a more comprehensive guide to your keyboard,
refer to Chapter 2 in your user guide.
Now let's take a look at the mouse. This little fellow is largely responsible for popularizing
PCs by making them easy to use. Instead of typing commands into the computer you can use the mouse
to point to items on the screen. Movements of the mouse correspond with movements of the mouse
pointer on the screen. Most mice have two buttons. A few have three but you only need two for the
vast majority of programs. The left button is used for most operations. The right here is for
special functions, for example to call up a special menu. There are one or two basic movements you have
to master but it's not difficult. If you can move the mouse around on a flat surface you'll see the
pointer on the screen move and if you point to an item and click the left mouse the item is selected.
If you double click the item it is activated. If you place the pointer on an item and hold down
the left button and move the mouse you can drag the item across the screen and by letting go of
the left button you can drop the item. This can be used for example for moving or copying files
between folders. Again for a more comprehensive guide to using the mouse refer to chapter two
of your user guide. This is the floppy disk drive and this is a floppy disk. These are also used
to store programs and data like the hard disk but they have a much much smaller capacity.
Floppy disk can be used to store your data and to load software onto your hard disk. There are two
main sizes of floppy in use, double density and high density. A high density disk has a capacity of
1.44 megabytes and a double density disk can store around half that. Now you can always tell if a
disk is high density or not by this hole in the top here. If the computer can see through this part
of the disk it knows there's a high density disk in the drive. Now there's another hole on the other
side on both types of disks and it's a slider. This is the write protect tab. If you slide it so
you can see through the hole the computer cannot write data to the disk. Before you install a piece
of software make sure that the write protect tab is open to protect the data on the disk.
When inserting a floppy disk into your drive always make sure that the labeled side is furthest
away from the eject button. Now it's important that you look after your floppy disks. After using
them put them away safely in a disk box. Also keep your floppy disks away from magnetic sources such
as speakers. If you've purchased a CD-ROM drive it will look similar to this. Usually they have a tray
which slides out where you put the CD. Now there are many types of CD-ROM drive available ranging
from double speed to 10 speed. CD-ROM drives all have similar features on the front panel. You will
certainly have an eject button and maybe also a play and stop button which allows you to play
audio CDs from the front of the drive. There's also a busy light which flashes when the drive is
reading a CD. Some CD-ROM drives will also have an audio connector for plugging in headphones or
speakers as well as a volume control. When you insert the CD into the drive make sure that the
printed side is on the top because it's the underside of the CD that the computer reads.
The major difference between CDs and hard disks is you can't write to a CD. You can't save programs
or data to it. CDs therefore are a read-only medium. A CD can store around 600 megabytes of
data which enables software developers to create gigantic programs containing massive amounts of
text and graphical information. Encyclopedias on CD for example including images as well as text
and sounds and moving pictures too.
When you receive your PC and switch it on for the first time you'll be faced with the welcome to
Windows setup screen. Now there's no need to panic. The main installation of Windows 95 has
been completed back at the factory as well as the configuration for all your multimedia drivers and
software. This post-install setup is just so you the end user can finalize the Windows 95 settings
such as your name, registration of Windows 95, printer etc. The first screen of this setup
tells you how to use the post-install setup and how it is split up into three sections.
These are gathering information, configuring your computer and finally restarting your computer.
To move on to the next page simply move your mouse pointer over the button named next
and click your left mouse button. The next page of the setup program will be regional settings.
Choose a setting which best matches your needs. For the majority of users this will be English
or British. To select a regional setting move the mouse pointer over one of the options listed
and click once using the left mouse button. This will highlight the selected option with a blue bar.
Move on to the next page which is called keyboard layout. Your PC is supplied with a UK keyboard
so pick British let you have a different keyboard of course. On to the next page. This page is the
license for Windows 95. This is a legal agreement explaining the terms and conditions under which
you are allowed to use Windows 95. The agreement is reproduced on the inside front cover of your
introducing Microsoft Windows 95 manual. Click on I accept the agreement when you have read
and understood the Microsoft agreement and then click on next. Unfortunately there's no alternative.
The certificate of authenticity. In the box provided enter the number displayed on the
front cover of your certificate after the word product ID. There's a picture here on the screen
to help you. Now Windows 95 will automatically perform the configuring your PC section.
This process could take from a few seconds to a few minutes. You need to be patient. A little
warning. Do not turn off the computer at this stage. This may cause software corruption.
Now the PC will need to be restarted. Move the pointer over the restart button and click.
Windows 95 is now applying the information you've just supplied.
Once the PC restarts you can set up a printer. Look for the printers manufacturer in the left
window and then find the exact model in the right. If your printer is not listed here or if you do
not have a printer you can safely cancel this section. You can see chapter 8 in the user guide
if your printer is not listed or if you install a printer at a later date.
Once you've installed a printer or cancelled the printer you'll move on to the section called
time zone. Here you have a map of the world. Move the mouse pointer over England and click
with the left mouse button. The map will rotate putting England in the centre of the windows
and a green line will represent your time zone. Across the top you have tabs. One is labelled
time and date. Click this tab and check to see if the time and date is set correctly.
When you've set the time, date and time zone you'll be prompted with one of the most important
Windows 95 utilities. It's the Microsoft Windows 95 create system disks. This screen gives you
the option to create a startup disk and a backup set of Windows 95 installing disks. It is strongly
recommended you create these disks as soon as possible if not at this point. If you later
have a problem with Windows 95 our technical support team may be able to rectify the problem
over the phone but only if you made these disks. If your PC comes with the Windows 95
backup CD you do not need to make the backup disks. That now completes the post install setup.
Your Windows 95 PC is complete.
After the post install setup you must shut down and restart your computer. The way to perform a
shutdown is to move the mouse pointer over the start button and click on the button once. This
will bring up the main Windows 95 taskbar. Move the pointer up to shutdown and click once. The
background will fade slightly and a box will appear in the middle of the screen giving you
three or more options. Let's just say you've got three. Click on restart computer then click on
OK. The PC will now restart automatically. In Windows 95 you must perform a shutdown every
time you switch off your computer. This is very very important. Windows 95 will not save any
changes to your computer unless you shut down properly. When you shut down any data is ripped
to the hard disk drive. After getting your PC configured and set up with all of your personal
details it would be a great time to create a recovery diskette. So what's a recovery diskette
I hear you ask. Well the recovery diskette is the brightly coloured disk you received in your system
box. It came in a bag looking a bit like this. Read the instructions on the screen and insert
the coloured disk into the floppy disk drive and type Y. The process may take a few minutes so you
need to be patient. Firstly the disk is formatted and then files are copied onto the disk. Once the
copy process has ended then label the disk with this label. The diskette is now called the original
recovery diskette. So when do I use the recovery diskette? The recovery diskette is to be used
only when your computer has problems booting up or if you have problems because of alterations
in system files that could affect sound, CD drive, modems etc. Once you've finished personalising
your copy of Windows 95 and made your valuable recovery diskette it is recommended that you take
backup copies of your pre-loaded software packages. If you've purchased a backup CD this step may not
be necessary. If you've not purchased a backup CD you need to create the individual disks.
Disk Master Pro will allow you to create the install disks for all of your pre-loaded software
applications. To use it click on start then move to programs and a menu will appear.
Move on to the menu and click on Disk Master Pro from the list. After a few seconds the Disk
Master Pro program will load. You'll see a book. Click on the cover of the book to open it and read
through the general information and using Disk Master Pro. To move on to the next page of the book
just click on the bottom right hand corner of the page. To move back click on the bottom left hand
corner of the page. To create a disk click on a disk icon and follow the simple instructions.
Once you've created all of the disks on one page a new icon will appear in the bottom left hand
corner of the page. This will allow you to delete the image files that are no longer needed and also
free up valuable space. We certainly recommend that from time to time you back up your data,
for example documents or worksheets, by copying these onto floppy disks.
Well the first thing to do is panic, well no don't panic. The chances are the cause is something
really simple. Many problems with a PC can often be solved quickly and easily just by knowing the
correct thing to do. If your PC won't turn on make sure all the plugs are snug in their sockets.
It's quite easy for the power cable to work loose from the back of the PC or monitor. Make
sure that the mains socket you're using is also switched on and working. Check that both the system
unit and the monitor are switched on as each normally has its own switch. You'll know if power
is reaching your PC because the power light will light when you switch it on. The monitor also has
a power on light as well. If either of these lights don't show check the fuse in the plug
and check the mains lead with another one. If the PC does turn on but there is no display on your
monitor, wait a minute or so. Monitors sometimes need time to warm up. If nothing happens then
check the brightness controls on your monitor. They may be turned down. Finally check that the
monitor cable is plugged into your PC properly. If it is then remove it and check that the pins
on the connector to show that they have not been accidentally bent. If the PC just beeps
when you turn it on this is because when you turn your PC on it carries out a self-check known as
POST, power on self-test. If the post finds an error it communicates this as a message on the
screen or as audible beeps. Things to check for are that your keyboard is connected, there is nothing
resting on it. Also check to make sure that your monitor cable is connected to the back of the PC.
If your PC continues to beep then it's likely to be an internal fault. These are covered later
in the video. If you get an error message when you turn your PC on this means that POST,
the power on self-test, has found something wrong with your system. You need to refer to chapter
11 of the user guide for a definition of the possible errors and what action you can take.
If you start your PC and get a message saying non-system disk or disk error, check that there
is no floppy disk in your drive A. We will cover other problems that may prevent your PC from
working later on in the video together with how to get technical help as well. Chapter 11
in your user guide also covers this as well. It's important you do read the troubleshooting section
in the manual and use the recovery disk if necessary before contacting our technical support
for help. The manual also lists support numbers for manufacturers of verifulls and printers,
some of whom provide support on their own products. There are two support services available,
hardware support and software assistance service. If your problem is relating to hardware support
software assistance service. If your problem is relating to hardware malfunction then contact
hardware support on the number shown towards the back of your user guide.
Please do not contact hardware support for minor inquiries which could probably be resolved by
simply reading the manual. When you call it's likely that your call will be answered by an
automatic operator who will direct your call to the service or staff you require. If the service
or member of staff you require is busy then the automatic operator will put your call in a queuing
system. If your call is too far down the queue call back later. Remember when you call always
take down the first name of the agent you spoke to. Please don't fax or write in with a list of
problems. In order to correctly identify the problem the support staff need to ask you
simple questions. The highest priority is given to incoming support calls.
Support staff will not be able to reply to written questions or faxes as invariably this
is unlikely to be successful in resolving the problem. Over 90% of the calls coming into
hardware support are related to the software setup. Typically the software setup gets altered
accidentally or during installation of other programs resulting in malfunction of sound,
CD, modem or other software. Most of these problems can be resolved though by the correct use
of the recovery disk. Hardware support will be able to resolve the vast majority of problems
on the first call. However you may be asked to try a procedure and ring again. If your problem is
related to a fault which requires return of your unit to the service centre you'll be issued with
an RMA number and asked to prepare the base unit or the entire system for collection.
We'll cover this process later on.
Please note that there is no free software training or software support provided with your PC.
Rather than increasing the price of the PC for everyone this service is there for those who
wish to use it on a pay as you use basis. The software assistant service is a premium rate
When you call if all staff are busy there is a queuing system which allows you to hang on
until a support person becomes available. Whilst you're hanging on you will hear a ringing tone
which means you're queuing prior to connection and are not paying for any telephone charges
while waiting. During busy periods you may have to wait for several minutes. If you don't get
through please try later. Now remember when you call always take down the first name of the agent
you spoke to. Examples of problems you may wish to contact the software assistant service
are help on the pre-loaded software, installing drivers, resolving compatibility issues,
configuring the software for hardware such as printers modems or multimedia or difficulties
in installing other software connecting your PC to a network etc. Return of goods for service over to Steve.
There are three types of repair services available. DOA which is the product reported faulty within the
first 14 days, warranty repair and extended warranty repair. If you think there's a hardware fault
the procedure with all these is to contact hardware support first. The support staff will try to
resolve the problems over the phone. Now if this isn't possible they'll ask you to prepare the
goods for return to the service center and issue you with an RMA number which is the returns
authorization number. Please use the original packaging which you should have kept safe.
Use the computer system return form indicating the nature of your problem and write the RMA
numbers on the RMA number stickers which were provided with your system. Stick these onto the
box or boxes but don't write directly on the boxes. If faults are reported within the first
14 days or you've purchased extended warranty then support staff will arrange the collection
at no cost to you. If your system develops a fault after 14 days but within the one year
standard warranty period your system will still be repaired free of charge but you're responsible
for getting the system to the repair center. In these cases the hardware support staff can also
arrange to collect the system but there will be a carriage charge. Now normally the system will be
collected by the courier and returned to the service center. The service center staff will
log the system, check its contents and its specification and pass the system to a dedicated
engineer who will try to resolve the problems. It's an unfortunate statistic that the majority
of product returned for repair is not found to have a hardware fault but instead a software
setup error which results in malfunctioning of the hardware. If a component is faulty it's
normally replaced and service staff aim to turn around systems within seven days but it can take
longer during busy periods. Lead times will be given to you when you're issued with an RMA number
and priorities given to systems which are within the 14 day DOA period or those with an extended
warranty. Customer services will deal with your non-technical general inquiries such as missing
items from the delivery, wrong or delayed dispatch or delays in processing your service repair,
refunds and any other issue which isn't sales or technical. When you call customer services
it's likely that your call will be answered by an automatic operator who will direct your call to
the service or staff you require. If the service or member of staff you require is busy then the
automatic operator will put your call in a queueing system. If your call is too far down the queue
call back later and remember always take down the first name of the agent you spoke to.
We do offer an upgrade service where your PC base unit will be collected,
upgraded and returned and details are available from the upgrade sales number
which may be shown at the back of your manual.
When you start Windows the large area you see is called the desktop.
You can customize the desktop by adding shortcuts to your favorite programs,
documents and printers and by changing its look to fit your mood and personality.
To adjust settings such as desktop color and background
use your right mouse button to click anywhere on the desktop and then click properties.
At the bottom of your screen is the taskbar it contains the start button which you can
use to quickly start a program or to find a file. It's also the fastest way to get Windows
online help. When you open a program document or window a button appears on the taskbar.
You can use this button to quickly switch between the different windows you have open.
Your documents and programs are stored in folders which you can see in my computer and Windows
Explorer. In previous versions of Windows folders were called directories.
Now you can use my computer to quickly and easily see everything on your computer.
Double click the my computer icon on the desktop to browse through your files or your folders.
In Windows Explorer you can see both the hierarchy of folders on your computer
and all the files and folders in each selected folder. This is especially useful for copying and
moving files. Now you can open the folder that contains the file you want to move or copy
and then drag it to the folder you want to put it in. To find Windows Explorer click the start
button and then point to programs. There are two icons that look like first aid bags. One is called
make recovery diskette and the other is the help file for the program. This program will create
you a new recovery diskette. Now why would you need to do this? Well if you were to use your
original recovery diskette your Windows 95 PC will lose any of your personal settings because
the disk was made straight after post install setup and before you could change any of the
Windows 95 settings to suit your needs. So if you install new software and change your PC settings
make a new recovery diskette. You can use the right mouse button to click any item and see a
shortcut menu. This menu contains common commands that you can use on the item you clicked. For
example by clicking a file with your right mouse button you can choose to open, copy or delete it.
You can also close, minimize and maximize buttons. Every window has an X or close button in the upper
right corner you can click to close the window and quit the program. The minimize and maximize
buttons also have a new look. To start a program one click the start button and then point to
programs. Two if the program you want is not on the menu point to the folder that contains the program.
Three click the program. After you start a program a button appears on the taskbar. To switch from
one running program to another click its taskbar button. If the program you want to start doesn't
appear on the program's menu or one of its sub menus point to find on the start menu and then
to find on the start menu and then click files or folders. Use the find dialog box to locate the
program file. There are two different ways in which to start an install or setup program.
The first is to click on start and then click on run. When the box appears enter in the path
of the program you wish to run for example A colon backslash setup. The other is well you could
say the windows 95 way. Insert either the first floppy disk or CD-ROM into the drive and click
on start. Now click on settings. In a few seconds the control panel will open and in the control
panel double click on add remove programs. Now click on install. Windows 95 will look for an
install program on the floppy drive and the CD drive and when it finds the install program
it will prompt you and you can install the program or exit. Microsoft have made Windows 95
compatible with DOS applications but how do you get past the Windows graphical user interface
into an environment that looks and feels like DOS? Well it's easy. Windows 95 made DOS look
like an application you can access the DOS session by clicking on start programs and then click on
MS DOS prompt and that's it you're in DOS. Well it feels like DOS and looks like DOS actually what
the techies call a virtual DOS machine a VDM for short. It's not real DOS but it's very compatible.
If you require a full screen DOS session press the alt plus enter key this will work in reverse.
From here you can run most of the DOS applications if an application requires more memory to run.
Shut down and restart the computer in MS DOS mode. To close the DOS session either type exit at the
prompt and press enter or click on the x in the top right hand corner of the DOS box.
If you're in MS DOS mode you can type exit and return back to Windows. For programs such as DOS
games it's probably safest to run them in MS DOS mode. The only advice I'm going to offer you about
games is how to play them in MS DOS mode. If a game crashes or locks you out you don't want it to
affect your Windows 95 system. A lot of DOS games require a different configuration of memory to run
than Windows 95. For this the game's documentation will tell you how to create a boot disk with a
special configuration of memory. Unfortunately the memory configuration depends on the game.
Whatever you do do not edit the boot files on your hard disk always make a boot disk.
These three types of file are in effect the same they've just been given different names.
I'm going to refer to them as system files. System files are very important when Windows 95
is being loaded. You usually see a nice Windows 95 logo with a flashing bar across the bottom.
Now from time to time you will switch into the background and see lots of text and instructions
automatically being executed. These are your system files at work. Without these files
your PC is dead in the sense that you can't use it. It will not work without your system files.
System files include autoexec.bat, config.sys, win.ini, system.ini and very important Windows
registry. Quite often when your sound CD-ROM or modem stop working it's because these files
have been altered. We certainly recommend that you do not install any other operating system.
I'm afraid our support staff will not be able to provide support for any other operating system.
Your PC system may be supplied with bundled software applications. Only some of the software
may be pre-installed and the rest may have arrived on one or more CDs and may need to be installed
before it can be used. Now if I don't mention a software application it probably comes on CD.
Bearing this in mind the following is a list of applications that may be
pre-installed on your Windows 95 PC. Lotus 123 version 5 is comprehensive spreadsheet.
Lotus WordPro 96 is a revolutionary new word processor. Lotus Approach 96 a very powerful
database. Lotus SmartPix clipart copy and paste pictures into your work.
Lotus Organizer is the electronic personal organizer. Lotus Freelance Graphics 96 is a
visual presentation system. This is on certain PCs. Lotus ScreenCam Multimedia Recorder. Now
this records mouse movements for any number of things for training purposes. This is also
on certain PCs as well. Lotus SmartSuite is a powerful tool that organizes your work and
desktop clutter. Again on certain PCs. GSP PressWorks is a desktop publisher with page pilots
for instant designs. GSP DesignWorks Art and Graphics Suite is easy to use and also has page
pilots. GSP Money is a very useful computerized personal finance package. Keep track of your
spending and your money. GSP HomeWise organizes your house and keeps track of all those household
items. Pacquiello 2000 Business Accounts a fully featured accounting software package.
There is a comprehensive tutorial on Pacquiello 2000 in the user guide. And also we have Shareware
Games, Doom, Raptor, Blakestone and of course Pinball. Most of your pre-installed software is
accessible from the start button in the bottom left hand corner of the screen. For example,
to load Lotus 123, the spreadsheet program, you would click on the start button and then
move the pointer to programs. A sub menu will appear. Move the pointer to Lotus Applications
or Lotus SmartSuite 96. And then finally click on Lotus Freelance Graphics. Now this is a
few seconds, your Lotus 123 spreadsheet will be started. The rest of your pre-installed software
can be started in exactly the same way. For more details on the pre-installed software,
please refer to the user guide. Lotus have engineered their applications so they contain
similarities in use, such as printing, printing, printing, printing, and so on. And finally,
Lotus have engineered their applications so they contain similarities in use, such as printing
and finding help. The applications have been specifically written in this way so the user
can use all of the Lotus software with the minimum of training. Basically, if you learn
how to use Lotus Work Pro, Lotus 123 will be no problem at all. In the same way, Lotus have
provided a utility called Lotus Dock Online. These are the actual Lotus application manuals
in electronic media. However, if you need the printed manual, you can print out the electronic
guides. Now with some software, you may receive a license agreement, with others you may not.
But don't worry, the applications have either been pre-installed or are on one of our CDs.
Under many agreements with the software publisher, your invoice is both proof of purchase
and limited license to use the software. I've very briefly gone over some of the pre-loaded
applications. For a more in-depth explanation, please refer to your user guide.
In a previous part of this video, I've talked about the backup CD and the Windows 95 CD.
These CDs are to be purchased as optional extras, so they may not arrive on your PC.
The backup CD contains the installable versions of your pre-loaded applications.
There's no need to create your install disks. By using Disk Master Pro, you can simply delete
the Disk Pro folder by using Windows Explorer. Using a right click and then delete this will
save you time and also free up valuable disk space. But only delete the folder if you have
the backup CD. The Windows backup CD comes with a disk. This disk is only to be used when you need
to reload Windows 95 onto your PC. To use the Windows 95 CD, insert the floppy disk into its
drive. The PC will start up from the floppy drive and present you with a menu from which you
can select your CD-ROM drive and then the Windows 95 CD takes over. Simple. The aim of the CDs is
to save you lots of disks and time when it comes to reloading Windows 95 or applications onto your
PC. Installing Windows 95 off a CD-ROM could take about 30 minutes, but installing off floppy disk,
well let's just say it takes longer. Installing Lotus Smart Suites 42 disks. Ouch!
Most of you will know what a virus is, but do you know how to deal with a virus if it got onto your
PC or floppy disks? Firstly, to kill your virus you must understand your virus. Most viruses are
transmitted in the same way. They attach themselves to files and once you view, copy or read the
infected files, your clean floppy disk or hard disk gets infected. Now because they move around
so quickly they're difficult to trace back to the original source. So how do you keep your PC and
disks virus-free? Well you may be thinking it's easy just go out and buy some antivirus software.
Well you're half right. Once you purchase your antivirus software you must check every single
hard disk that's inserted into your PC and also check your PC's hard disk every day.
The other point is not to take things for granted. If you ever get files off the internet,
friends or even cover CDs from magazines, scan them for viruses. A virus is a program which causes
damage to your files. In the same way installing badly written 16-bit programs on a 32-bit operating
system can also cause loads of problems. Windows 95 is relatively new compared to DOS
and Windows 3.1 and because of this a lot of programs you receive with magazines with
cover CDs have been written for Windows 3.1 and DOS. Be aware that the software is not guaranteed
to run and be compatible with your PC no matter what people say. So you install at your own risk.
It's something you're going to have to face. Your computer system may crash and give a software error.
Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow but soon. Let's put it this way, if you don't get any
software errors or crashes you're probably not using your PC to its maximum capability.
Now if you've used Windows in the past you'll be familiar with world-famous
general protection fault called GPF for short. When you run an application and get a general
protection fault you exit Windows, restart Windows, run the same application again and
everything's fine. Let me explain. A general protection fault can happen because of a million
different things. Well the official line is a general protection fault is caused when the
program tries to write into a memory allocation that is reserved for another program. So when you
restart Windows and load the same programs the chances of it occurring again are very slim.
Windows is in control of the memory. If you get a lot of general protection faults it's possible
that your Windows operating system has developed a fault. So the best thing for you is to reinstall
Windows and your applications. Many of the 32-bit applications and multimedia games will simply not
run on the computers that were selling two to three years ago. Likewise this PC will run most
current software but it's not guaranteed to run all current or future software.
If you purchased a multimedia PC then your computer will have a CD-ROM drive, sound card,
speakers, possibly a microphone and joystick. So what can you do with all this hardware?
The CD-ROM drive will be fitted and is at the front of the PC here. There's a button to open
and close the tray. When you insert CDs into the CD-ROM drive ensure that the printed surface
is facing upwards and is placed in the center of the tray. The most common way of CDs getting
damaged is scratching. If the bottom shiny surface of the CD gets scratched there's a chance that
CD-ROM's laser will not be able to read the CD.
Your sound card is at the center of the multimedia system. It's also been fitted back at the factory
so all you have to do is use it. Well how do you use your sound card? Well you don't. The sound
card is actually automatically set by Windows 95, games and other applications. All you need to do
is to make sure you select that sound card in your game settings. Your joystick plugs into
the back of your PC. It's only really used when you're playing games such as Doom. As standard
most game settings are for the keyboard so you may have to change the settings of Doom
and any other games manually. To do this open up a DOS session, change into the Doom folder by typing
CD backslash Doom. Once in the Doom folder type setup and this will bring up the setup program.
Some games have the setup program in the game itself such as Blake Stone. Now speakers.
These always confuse me. The thing to remember is they link together. One cable goes into the
sound card, usually the top hole. This is usually connected to the right speaker and then from the
right speaker you have a cable that goes to the left speaker and that's basically it. To use the
volume control that's on the speaker you must have some power going into them. This is either
supplied by batteries or a power adapter which plugs into one of the speakers. These are not
normally supplied with the speakers. In the same way the microphone also plugs into the back of
the sound card like this. Windows 95 has built-in multimedia support. It comes with CD player,
media player, sound recorder and volume control. I'll quickly run through each one of these
utilities. They're not difficult to use and Windows 95 has endless help regarding these programs.
You can use CD player to play audio compact discs from a CD-ROM drive connected to your computer.
This means you can listen to your favorite music at the same time as you work on your favorite
spreadsheet. The media player can be used to play video clips, midi and wave sound files and many
other sound or visual files. The sound recorder, well for this you must have a microphone plugged
into the back of your sound card. You can record sounds such as your voice or your dog barking
and then play it straight back. Well the volume control does exactly what it does, controls the
volume. Now then you're probably wondering this is all great but how do I access these programs?
Well Windows 95 makes everything easy. You simply click on start and then programs,
accessories and finally multimedia and there they are. Simply click on the one you want.
If you have problems with any of the Windows multimedia applications the best thing for you
to do is to reinstall. This may sound like a big job but it's rather quick and easy to do.
For this you must enter the control panel, double click on add remove programs, click on
Windows setup. Here you have lots of Windows applications utilities listed. It's from here
you have to remove and reinstall sections of Windows 95. Move down the list until you come to
multimedia. Next to it there's a box with a tick in it. Remove the tick by clicking on the box
with your left mouse button. You're now removing the multimedia applications of your PC.
Click on OK and then close. Now restart your PC and do exactly the same but this time highlight
the multimedia sections and click on details. Put a tick next to each one of the programs listed
and click OK. Your PC will again need to be restarted so the changes can take effect.
Performing this simple operation of removing and then reinstalling applications
fixes most software problems related to multimedia.
A modem is a device which lets your computer talk to another computer down a telephone line.
With the correct software you can send faxes, surf the net and connect information systems such
as bulletin boards or BBSs. The modem is what makes the super information highway possible.
By giving you access to outside sources of information the world is literally
at your fingertips. So what's the internet? The internet is short for the international network.
It's a global connection of thousands of computers all linked to each other.
You use your modem to dial into one computer and from there you can branch out and contact the
others. You can download or transfer software from a remote computer to your own and access
information on virtually any topic you can think of. You can also communicate with other users all
over the world. There are two main types of modems available internal and external.
Internal modems are fitted inside your PC and you can see them when you look at the rear of your PC.
You attach one end of your modem cable to the connector marked line and the other end to your
telephone socket. External modems are separate boxes which connect to the port at the rear of
your PC marked COM2 and need their own power supply. The external modem is connected to your COM2 port
using this special cable. You also need to connect your modem cable from the modem connector marked
line to your telephone socket. Now there's quite a bit of jargon attached to modems. Modems are
described by the speed at which they operate. The faster the modem the more data they can transfer
in a given time. Currently transferring computer information over the telephone line is quite slow
so you really ought to buy the fastest modem you can afford. The standard modem is rated at
14400 bps a measure of its data transfer rate but the faster ones operate at 28800 bps.
The shorter you're connected or online the lower your phone bill will be so you'll save money in
the long term if you use the internet a lot. Internal modems are fitted and configured before
you receive your PC and are therefore ready to use when you turn your PC on.
External modems are supplied separately with your PC and need to be configured before they can be used.
We'll now cover setting up both internal and external modems because it has been known for
customers to accidentally remove their internal modem settings. Firstly let's go through how to
set up an external modem in Windows 95. Click the start button and select the settings menu.
Then select control panel and now double click on the modems icon. Now click on the next button
and Windows 95 will try and detect your modem for you. It's recommended that you let Windows
95 detect your modem. If it doesn't recognize your modem this screen is displayed. Click on
the next button and Windows 95 will give you a list of modems to select from.
Now select the modem you have and click on the next button. Either way Windows 95 will ask you
to select a communication port for your modem to use. For external modems use COM2 because your
modem is connected to this port on your PC. Windows 95 then shows you this screen telling
you that you have successfully set up your modem. Click on the finish button.
Now Windows 95 shows you the modem properties screen. Click on the diagnostics tab and then
select COM2. Now click on the more info button. This displays this information. This is information
that Windows 95 has gained about your modem by communicating with it. This means that your
external modem is working and ready for use. Now you can set up your internal modem.
Click the start button and select the settings menu. Now select control panel and then double click
on the modems icon. Next click on the next button and Windows 95 will try and detect your modem for
you. It's certainly recommended that you let Windows 95 detect your modem for you. If Windows
95 does not recognize your modem this screen will then be displayed. Click on the next button and
click on the next button and Windows 95 will give you a list of modems to select from. Select the
modem you have and click on the next button. Either way Windows 95 will ask you to select a
communication port for your modem to use. For internal modems use COM4. Windows 95 then shows
you this screen telling you if it's successfully set up your modem. Click on the finish button.
Now Windows 95 shows you the modem property screen. Click on the diagnostics tab and then select
COM4. Now let's click on the more info button. This displays the following screen. This is
information that Windows 95 has gained about your modem by communicating with it. This means your
internal modem is working and ready for use. Before we go on a point to remember. When you
have a problem with your modem 50% of the time it's not your PC or modem that's at fault but the
modem at the other end of the line to which you're trying to connect. Remember it takes two to tango.
If there's a fax modem in your PC you'll notice an application opens up every time you start
Windows 95. This is the Windows in the modem. It's a fax modem. It's a fax modem. It's a fax
modem. This is the Windows inbox. In order for you to send or receive faxes Microsoft inbox needs to
be open. Back at the factory most of the configuring for the inbox has been done for you. All you need
to do is to change the telephone number. To change the settings of the inbox you must have it open.
Click on the taskbar to switch to the inbox or if you've closed it double click on the icon located
on the desktop here. Click on tools and move the pointer down to where it says Microsoft fax options
and a sub menu will appear. Move into the sub menu and click on options. From here the option
box appears. Click on the tab across the top labeled user. From here you can change your
personal settings on the Microsoft inbox. Sending a fax in Windows 95 is very easy.
Firstly you need the inbox open and then move the pointer to compose at the top and click.
A pull down menu will appear. On the menu there are a few options. One is new message, the other
new fax. The new message option is for mail messages. This is only ever used on a Windows 95
network. Click on the new fax option. After a few seconds the compose a new fax wizard appears.
The first screen is if you are using a portable computer. So you could tick this box and the
screen will not appear next time. Then click on next. Here fill in the relevant details.
Once you've filled in all the blanks click on next. This screen asks if you wish to send a cover
page and if you do which one. Let's select urgent and now click next. Fill in your fax
message here and once you've done so click on next. If you wish to attach a file to your fax
select the file at this point by clicking on add file. Then click on next and now click on finish
and your fax will be sent.
Imagine a small network of computers talking to another network of computers talking to another
network of computers talking to another network of computers talking to another network of computers
and so on and so on for a very long time. That's basically what the internet is a very very very
very big huge massive network of computers and I'm not kidding. Well this all sounds great but
how do you actually get on and become part of the internet? Well there are endless internet
providers you can use such as CompuServe, Pipex, Dial, America Online. The list is endless.
Basically your internet provider gives you a service they let you have an internet address
so people can send you mail and they also let you have a data storage space on their file server
so your hard disk doesn't get too full up. This is all for a set subscription fee every month.
With most internet providers they'll supply you with a disk like CompuServe for example
you simply install the disks onto your Windows 95 PC and when you start the CompuServe program
it'll ask you to fill out a registration form online. They will hook you up immediately and
they usually give you a free trial period so you can test the internet and see if you like it before
you pay anything. So this is how it works. Let's say you live in London and you ring your local
internet provider. Let's say it's Pipex Dial. So remember it's a local call to the Pipex Dial
file server. The Pipex Dial file server will then ring any address you give it. For example
I could log into the Pipex Dial file server and from there tell the file server that I want to
look at Microsoft. The Pipex Dial server will log into the Microsoft server in America and then
hook me up to that server. Remember I'm only paying for a local call. This is what makes the internet
what it is today. You can even email the President of the United States.
It's just like sending a letter only you get a quicker response.
Because modem problems can be troublesome we'll look at some common problems
and their solutions. Problem. I can't send a fax using my modem. Solution. Make sure inbox has
been correctly set up and Microsoft fax has been installed correctly. To install Microsoft fax
select settings, control panel, add remove programs and then select the windows setup tab.
Now scroll down to the Microsoft fax icon and place a tick in the box by clicking inside it once
and select apply. Microsoft fax will now be installed. To set up inbox refer to chapter
eight in your user guide for more details. Problem. I can't receive a fax on my computer.
Solution. Make sure inbox is running in the background and if the problem persists check
to see if inbox has been set up to receive a fax. Refer to the section on setting up inbox again
chapter eight. If you have a problem with your modem check to make sure that the modem at the
other end of the line you're trying to connect to is also working as well. There is a modem number
which you can dial that has been set up to allow you to test your modem if they think it's not
working. Please refer to the modem section in your user guide for more details and the number to dial.
If you want to print out documents or pictures you'll need a printer. There are three types
of printer in common use dot matrix inkjet and laser. Now they all offer different levels
of printing quality with laser printers probably being the best. Once you've unpacked your printer
taking care to remove all sticky tape and foam paddings you'll generally have the following
obviously your printer a printer cable if you bought one a power cable
and your printer's instruction manuals. In addition to that you'll have software drivers for your
printer on floppy disk or maybe on cd. Whatever type of printer you have they all connect to your
pc in much the same way. You connect your printer to your pc using the printer cable. Plug one end
of the cable into the printer and the other into the port the rear of your pc marked lpt1.
The two ends of the cable are different so there's no danger of getting it the wrong way round.
In order to use a printer a software driver is needed. This is usually supplied by the printer
manufacturer on floppy disk or cd. If your printer is a very popular make the printer
drive will also be present in windows 95. Let's see how we set up a printer in windows 95.
One click on the start button and from the settings option select control panel.
Two select the printer icon and double click. Three the add printer wizard will be activated
click on the next button. Four from the list of printers select the make and model of your
printer and then click on the next button. If your printer doesn't appear in the list provided
it's quite likely your manufacturer has provided a printed driver disk or cd specially designed
for windows 95. Insert the driver disk into the floppy drive and click on the have disk button.
Now follow the instructions which windows provides for installing drivers from a floppy disk.
Five if for some reason your printer drivers do not exist on the list provided by windows
95 and your printer manufacturer has not supplied you with printer drivers for windows 95 and you
should contact your printer manufacturer. Some telephone numbers are provided of common printer
manufacturers in chapter 12 of your user guide. Once windows recognizes your printer you'll be
prompted for the port on which to install your printer. Select lpt1 printer port and click on
the next button. Six windows will now prompt you to enter the name of your printer.
You have an option to enter a new name or click the one provided by windows. Select the yes option
to make your newly installed printer the default printer for all of your windows based programs.
Seven select the yes option if you'd like windows to print a test page and then click on the finish
button. It's recommended that you select the yes option as this will verify whether or not your
printer has been set up correctly. Windows will now install your printer drivers and set up your
printer. It'll also print a test page if you answered yes when windows prompted to print a
test page earlier. Eight click on yes if a test page has been printed. Your printer should now appear
in the printer's window. If a test page was not printed then select the no button and windows will
try again. If on the second attempt the test page hasn't been printed then check that your
printer is switched on and online. Also check there's at least one sheet of paper in the printer.
If your printer doesn't respond even after meeting the above conditions try installing the printer
again. If it still doesn't print then there may be a problem. Let's discuss these now.
If your printer won't print try the obvious solutions first. Make sure it's plugged in,
switched on and the cable is firmly connected at both ends. Make sure also that the printer is on
line. You haven't accidentally pressed the offline button. You should also make sure it has paper
and it's not jammed. If some printers run out of paper they have to be reset
before they'll start printing again. In windows make sure the correct printer is selected as the
default printer. You'll find that windows 95 contains a lot of information in the form of
online documentation and it's very important you use this information because it could save
you a lot of time. With that in mind use the windows online help to solve your printer problem
simply click on start help index tab and type in print trouble.
Click on print troubleshooting and this will launch the print troubleshooter.
This troubleshooter helps you identify and solve printer problems. Just click to answer the
questions and then try the suggested steps to fix the problem. Finally you may need to change the
type of printer port you have set up. We'll see how that's done later in the video.
It is well worth getting to know the inside of your PC. Some problems may occur because a component
has become dislodged inside your computer and so therefore can be easily corrected without having
to return your PC to us for repair. Please remember that not all hardware available today is
compatible with your PC and we do offer a list of popular upgrade products that have been tested
and also offer an in-house upgrade service which does not void your warranty.
To look inside your PC firstly you need to remove the cover. Whatever design your PC is desktop
mini tower or full tower the cover is held by a number of fixing screws but wait before you
attempt to remove the cover ensure that your PC is turned off and unplug from the mains.
Now to remove these screws you'll need a phillips screwdriver.
It looks complicated doesn't it and in fact it's not that bad. All PCs have similar components.
The motherboard contains the main electronics of the computer and is the part to which all the main
hardware items in the PC are attached. The central processing unit or CPU also known as the processor
also known as the processor is the brain of the computer and all of the computing work is
handled by this CPU. The random access memory or RAM is used by the PC to store instructions
and data temporarily while it's working. RAM is measured in megabytes MV and comes on single
in-line 72 pin memory modules or SIMs. These are plugged onto the motherboard in pairs.
Here we have the hard disk drive this is where the PC permanently stores
all of its software and data. The capacity of the hard disk is measured in megabytes again.
The 3.5 inch floppy disk drive lets you exchange data and software between your PC and of course
floppy disks. The CD-ROM drive is an optional device which may be fitted to your PC. It allows
software to be installed and used faster than from conventional floppy disks. The power supply
converts the main supply into voltage that powers the motherboard and other hardware components
inside your PC. These here are the expansion slots and these are used to plug in additional
cards such as modems network adapters and sound cards. This guy here is the graphics card that's
maybe on an expansion card or maybe integrated into the motherboard.
The BIOS setup program is stored on the computer's motherboard in a ROM BIOS chip.
The BIOS setup is a program that controls and configures your PC's hardware. It's a
permanent record of the system configuration and is always there even when your PC is turned off.
Now PCs may come equipped with a BIOS from one of several software companies depending on the
system you've purchased. The information about what BIOS your computer has appears on the screen
when you turn on the computer. It's also detailed in the motherboard manual supplied with your system.
Now you may access the BIOS program when your PC is booting up.
A message is displayed on the screen for a short while and then disappears. Depending on the type
of BIOS you have this message and method of access into the BIOS program will certainly vary.
During boot up the BIOS checks the record created with the setup program.
If it discovers a problem with your system's hardware a message will appear on the screen
asking you to enter the setup program and correct the information there.
Many setup options are highly technical in nature and should be changed only by knowledgeable users
or service professionals. Do not reset any setup values on your PC unless you understand the
consequences of the changes. The BIOS setup program is usually run when setting the date and time on
your PC, setting security controls such as passwords, remember write it down and keep it safe,
setting power conservation features, setting the type of parallel ports you have,
e.g. SPP or ECP or EPP. This is sometimes necessary if your printer won't print anything
and then setting video memory to two megabyte. This only applies of course if you have an
integrated graphics motherboard using UMA and at least 16 megabytes of RAM. In the unlikely event
that you lose your BIOS settings, in other words the BIOS program forgets what configuration your
BIOS was set to, then you can recover your settings by accessing your BIOS program and
loading the default values. Next, auto-detect your hard drive. Finally, save and exit the BIOS program.
This then restarts your PC with its original configuration. Now we'll look at some of the
problems which can occur when you're using your PC and how to deal with them. We'll also look
at routine maintenance of your PC and how you can keep it running smoothly.
The way your PC communicates that it has a problem is via error messages. Now there are dozens of
error messages, hopefully you won't run into too many of them, but if you do the message itself
can often be quite helpful. We don't have time unfortunately to cover every message, just the
more common ones. You can look others up in chapter 11 of the user guide. The most common
error messages you'll come across are fatal exception errors and general protection faults or
GPS. These occur when a serious system error occurs, usually when a piece of software or
Windows itself crashes. You'll get an option to continue or to close down the offending application.
You should choose to close down, quit Windows and reboot your system. If you're in a hurry,
you can restart Windows without rebooting, but you may be lining up more trouble. Sometimes,
even though the option to continue is there, it has no effect. These errors occur because
whilst you are using your PC, the software and hardware are competing for resources such as
memory. Sometimes the software and hardware compete for the same resource simultaneously,
and if the resource is not available an error occurs. This message most often appears when
you ask the system to read a floppy disk which is not in the drive or which is corrupt. The options
are to abort, which usually stops everything and returns you to the DOS prompt. Retry, which tells
the system to have another go. If you are trying to read a corrupt disk, retrying a couple of times
may just enable the system to read the data, but it may not. Fail attempts to continue the operation
from the point at which it encountered the error. This generally does not work as the program needs
the information which it cannot get, so continuation is pretty pointless. Now this message appears when
DOS doesn't understand the command you typed in. Check that you entered the command correctly. DOS
is very intolerant of typing errors I'm afraid. It may also occur if you use a switch it doesn't
understand. If you get this message when you switch on, don't panic. It probably means you've left a
non-bootable floppy disk in the drive. Simply remove the disk and press any key. You're in DOS
or running a DOS program and you're suddenly locked out. The mouse and keyboard don't work
and the screen is frozen. This could be a hardware or a software problem. The solution. Check that
the keyboard and mouse are plugged in securely. If they weren't and you press them in firmly,
you may still not be able to regain direct control of the computer until you reboot,
but at least you know what the problem was. Now there are certain keys which can make a program
stop its current job. So try pressing the escape key, then control and C, control and Q, and control
and break. If none of these work, you may have to reboot. Press control, alt, and delete to perform
what's called a soft reboot. This will work most of the time, but if it doesn't, your computer is
well and truly locked up. Press the reset button to perform a hard reboot. Also check the program
after restarting. You may also want to run scan disk to check the state of the files.
If a Windows program locks up, try switching to Windows itself with the alt plus tab,
alt plus escape, or control plus escape keys. If that doesn't work, press the control, alt,
and delete keys to quit the program. This may produce a message asking if you want to quit
the program or Windows. Now if the program is really awkward, you won't be able to quit it and
you're going to message suggesting you press control, alt, and delete again to restart the
computer. If you regain any degree of control, try saving any unsaved data and then quitting
properly. In any event, if you manage to quit the application or Windows without having to reboot,
you should then restart. When you purchased your PC, depending on the model you bought,
you may have been provided with a diagnostics tool called PCCheck. This comes on a bootable disc
with a comprehensive instruction sheet. PCCheck is an accurate and easy to use diagnostic tool
that enables you to check the configuration and reliable operation of your PC.
Designed for use by manufacturers and repairers, PCCheck is a comprehensive program providing
facilities to test your PC by exercising each hardware path in turn and indicating those errors
that may be at fault. If you are supplied with this software, it's recommended you run PCCheck
to determine if there is a genuine hardware fault on your PC before contacting our technical
support department. This also allows you to give the technician on the other end of the phone
accurate information about what part of your PC is giving problems.
Routine maintenance of your PC is very important and helps your PC to keep running smoothly.
This mainly involves tidying up your hard disk and taking precautions to avoid
viruses infecting your PC. You should routinely do the following. Firstly, use Windows 95 Defragmenter
to defragment your hard drive. This basically takes the data on your hard disk and puts it in
one big chunk instead of being scattered all over the hard drive. To use the defragmenter,
click on start button and then select the programs menu. Now select the accessories menu
and then select the system tools menu. Now double click on disk defragmenter.
The disk defragmenter then asks you to select which drive you want. Next click on the start button.
When the disk defragmenter has finished, click yes to exit. Secondly, in the Windows 95 Desktop,
there is a recycle bin. If you delete anything, it is put in here. Therefore, you must empty it regularly.
Thirdly, a virus is a small piece of code, a program which attaches itself to a file on your
hard disk and when this file is run, the virus runs too. It may try to copy itself to other programs
and it may perform any number of insidious acts. Typical virus symptoms include strange messages
appearing on your monitor, strange graphics such as a bouncing ball or strange noises coming from
your PC speaker. Files you know should be on your disk are missing. Your PC becomes very slow and
programs which normally run perfectly suddenly crash. The more deadly viruses can destroy software
or even system information. Fortunately, there are precautions you can take to protect your
computer against viruses. Computer viruses don't float around in the air. Your PC can only catch
a virus from an infected program, which means if you never ever load a piece of software onto
your computer and never take software from strangers, your computer will be safe. But
that's hardly practical. You can guard against viruses by running an anti-virus program.
There are several on the market. Also, never load anything onto your PC before you've checked it
for viruses. When you have any Windows 95 problems, insert the recovery diskette into the floppy drive
and restart your PC. The PC will automatically start loading from the floppy drive and load the
recovery diskette menu. Note that this is slower than starting up from your hard disk drive.
The recovery diskette menu contains eight options. The best and most effective ways
to use the recovery diskette is probably enter on option one and work your way through to option five.
So the eight options are as follows.
After trying an option, you should check to see if the problem has been fixed.
Once the problem has been fixed, you should not carry on trying any more options. Let's just go
over this procedure just one more time. First, insert the recovery diskette in the floppy drive
and switch on or restart the PC. Then, choose option from the list. First, try option one.
Remove the diskette when prompted to do so and then restart your PC. Check to see if the problem's
been fixed. If the problem has been fixed, then carry on using your PC as normal. Do not try any
more options. If the problem hasn't been fixed, then repeat number one above and choose the next
option from the menu. Now, if you make software changes to your PC, it's recommended that you run
the Make Recovery Diskette. This program is on the Windows 95 screen. Along with this is a help file.
Double click on the help file for more information on the recovery diskette.
If your PC has a Windows 95 system problem, the first five options of the recovery diskette will
probably fix it. If the problem is in our pre-loaded software applications, there is one more option
you can try on the recovery diskette. This is option seven, restore master image. Let me explain
what this option does. Imagine a copy of your software stored in one big file. This is a
mirror copy of your hard disk's data and was made at the factory, so the data in this file is untouched.
If you were to run option seven, the first screen you will see is a warning. This warning is basically
telling you that you must back up all of your personal data before running the restore master
image program. What happens is the program will delete all of the data and programs that were
originally on the drive, including Windows 95, leaving only the master image restore program
and the file containing the copy of your hard disk. The program then goes to work. It replaces
the original files into their original places on the hard disk, and yes, it will replace the
Windows files and programs like new, creating what we call a software reload. The image restore
could take up to 50 minutes, but it really depends on your PC specification. Once the image restore
is complete, it will be prompted to remove the recovery diskette and press any key. The PC will
restart automatically. The image restore program has one final stage to perform.
It will enter Windows 95 and automatically run a program that will restore all of the Windows 95
long file names. After this, you need to shut down and restart, and there you have it, a brand new
software reload without the PC having to be sent back to us. I know that this option sounds a little
bit drastic and you might hesitate, but it is probably the most effective way to zap your
software problems and can be used time and time again. This option is only on our special selected
range of PC. If you do not have the files needed to run option 7, the recovery diskette will not
delete any files until the files needed are not present. We hope you found this video useful.
There are also other video products available. For example, there's a video which covers
Windows 95 in more detail, and that should be available from your sales contact. If you
have any suggestions on how this video could be improved or any other feedback on our products
and services, please indicate these on the pre-postage paid customer registration card
and send this card to us after a few weeks of using the new system. We value these comments
and we'll try to incorporate your suggestions into products and services. So from Tim,
bye, and from me, until the next time, goodbye.