[TenTec] "Remember, it's a computer."

[MW0CDO]

Ken Brown wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> First of all I would like to apologize to those who are annoyed by
> this discussion, which has centered on reliability of computors
> running windows. While it is not about Ten-Tec radios, I think anyone
> can see how it relates when more and more of the functions in newer
> radios are totally dependant on microprocessors and the firmware
> running on them.
>
> Now back to the windows reliability issue... The latest computer I
> have here at home is exactly as delivered by Dell, with just one
> addition, an ethernet card that allows me to connect it to the DSL
> modem I connect to the outside world with. I have loaded two software
> packages via CD ROM disks. One is the driver to run HP 600 series
> Officejet print, fax, scanner. Without this software the Windows NT
> software package that came with the computer will not print in color.
> Nice feature huh? Also I have loaded EZNEC. Some things have been
> downloaded from the net, netscape, some instant messengers, real
> player. That kind of thing. When the computer has locked up none of
> those programs (except netscape) were in use, though I cannot say
> that they were not running, I admit that I do not really know how to
> tell for sure what is "running" or "loaded" or whatever. So my
> question is, given all of the above, what is you best guess as to
> what causes this system to occasionally lock up?
>
> Still not ready for takeoff, even with a parachute.
>
> Ken N6KB
>

Ken.

I've found Netscape to be a source of trouble.

I work as an IT tech, looking after a network of 200 odd Windows computers
on a 100Mbps LAN, with Novell Netware doing user authentication, network
storage and serving some applications. Email is handled by a MS Exchange
server.
The users workstations run Win95, 98se2, 2k and XP Pro.

We dumped NT4 in favour of Win2k last year, IMHO Windows 2000 patched with
all service packs is much more stable than NT4 was on the same hardware.

Back to Netscrape, as we call it.. :-)
Several of our academic staff insist on using Netscape, and it seems to
cause lots of lockups and BSOD's ( Blue Screen Of Death ).. BSOD is where
you get the friendly blue screen with white text telling you that a fatal
exception has occurred etc.

I'm convinced it's an issue with Netscape, since other academic users that
use Internet Explorer do not experience anything like the same number of
problems on identical hardware running identical software, only diffeence is
the web browser they use.

Your instant messaging programs also run in the background, listening for
people "knocking on your door", unless you've disabled them from doing this.
They can also lock your computer up solid for no apparent reason.

To see what is running on your computer, press CTRL and ALT simultaneously,
and then press DEL momentarily.
The Windows task manager will appear, and you will be able to see lists of
applications ( programs ) and services ( essential and non essential
programs that run in the background ).
>From here, you can disable stuff running automatically at startup etc., and
by a process of elimination establish what is crashing your computer.

If you really want to dig deep into the Windows infrastructure, and see
exactly what is running, you can look in the services console. Open a
command prompt, and type " services.msc " without the quotes and press
enter.
Within the services console, you can render your Windows installation
unbootable / unuseable, be careful what you disable!

I would say that fo a non techy user, Windows 98 is the easiest OS to deal
with when problems occur.
Windows 2000 / NT / ME / XP seem to be harder for technophobes to cope with.


Hope this helps..

Paul MW0CDO