Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Linux? - Linux is a freely available clone of Unix.  It is noted for its stability, ability to run efficently on older hardware, and very low cost.

Why should I run Linux? I already have Windows - It has been my experience that Windows is far overrated with respect to stability and usability.  I have setup Linux PCs for clients that have been running without any crashes for years. It is just not possible to achieve this type of stability when running Windows.

Linux will also run on hardware that will not run with Windows.  A recent client was attempting to run the program Winroute on an old Pentium 75 MHz PC.  Needless to say, it did not work.  The client was advised to purchase a faster PC.  I solved their problem by installing a single floppy disk copy of Coyote Linux without any additional costs for software or hardware.

Why does my computer crash when I run [Windows application] - Fresh from the factory, Windows does not typically crash. (How else could they sell them?) However, adding applications causes Windows to become unstable as new programs overwrite key registry entries, pollute system DLLs, and leak memory. This problem is so widely known, that some commercial help desks suggest deleting Windows and starting over with a fresh installation.

I want to buy a computer.  What should I get? - The "common" answer to this question is to buy as big as you can afford.  I cannot agree with this line of reasoning.  The price of PCs have dropped considerably, while the quality has gone up with each passing year.  The exception to the rule is the cost of "state-of-the-art" PCs, which stay at the high end of the price curve.  It makes little sense to purchase something that will be worth far less by the next year.

I suggest that one buy only as much PC as they really need for their present usage.  A Pentium 4 - 2 GHz CPU with 256 MB of memory will run most of todays applications without any trouble.  Yet such a machine can be purchased for less than $500 with a 17" monitor, compared to upwards of $3,000 for a state-of-the-art PC.

Many clients want to purchase a laptop computer.  I generally do not recommend such a purchase, unless the client really needs the portability afforded with such a unit.  A laptop computer will typically cost twice that of a desktop unit of similar capability.  They are more expensive to repair and far more susceptible to theft and damage.

What is the best way to make my PC run faster? - Upgrading the amount of RAM (Random Access Memory) will generally provide the best value for your money. Optimal amounts vary by operating systems.  Windows 95 works best with at least 32 MB of RAM.  Windows 98 needs 64 MB.  Windows 2000 works better with at least 128 MB of RAM.  Windows XP runs best with at least 256 MB.  As a general rule, the more RAM you have, the better your PC will run.

One common mistake is confusing RAM with hard drive space.  RAM can be simulated on a hard drive, and is known as "Virtual Memory".  Such memory is thousands of times slower than RAM, and cannot be used to run applications directly.  But it is still necessary to have at least 50-100 MB of free hard drive space to be used as virtual memory.  Without it, your PC may slow down to a crawl, or even crash, when trying to use larger applications.

Defragmenting your hard drive may speed up disk access, but will generally only improve the load time of a given application.  The average user will not see any speed improvement, except perhaps, in very disk intensive applications.

How do I share a printer/files between two [or more] PCs? - This is done via networking.  A very simple network can be made by connecting two machines together via the printer or serial ports with a special cable.

The standard way to network two or more PCs is via a Network Interface Card (NIC).  Such cards are widely available for as little as $10.  In addition, networks larger than two PCs will normally need a hub or switch.  Such devices are available for as little as $20.

Can I share one Internet connection with more than one PC? - You betcha!  The same NIC based network described above is required.  A small 386 (or better) PC with at least 4 MB of RAM can be converted into a Linux based IP Masquerade server.  You can then connect as many PCs as desired to the Internet.

Many people have an old PC in a back corner gathering dust.  Add a $10 NIC and perhaps a $20 modem, and you have the makings of a very cost effective Internet sharing system.

The last few years have brought a massive reduction in the price of networking hardware.  Broadband routers/firewalls can now be purchased for as little as $30.  For those users that are connected to cable or DSL, such a unit is a must have item.  They tend to work as well as a Linux based router, but are not quite as flexible.

My friend has a copy of [application].  Can I install her copy on my PC? - As a general rule, if you did not purchase the software, you cannot legally install it on your PC. This is called "Software Piracy". Not only is it illegal, but such violations hurt everyone, as the manufacture passes on their losses to you!

A viable alternative is to use open source software such as Linux. In most cases, such software can be freely copied, without any cost or obligation.  While not as extensive as Windows, Linux has thousands of applications for most users' needs.

What is a "missing [a] DLL" error? - This is Windows way of saying that you are missing a key component needed to run a given application.  Sometimes this is caused when you remove an application, which in turn removes a needed DLL.  In this case, you can try reinstalling the application.

It is also very common for a virus to remove or modify a given DLL.  Running an anti-virus program will sometimes repair such damage.

Why isn't my web page listed on [search engine]? - Search engines gather information by browsing the content of web pages. Before your page(s) can be examined, the search engines need to know that your site exists.  Most search engines have a page that allows you to add your web site to their list of pages to be examined.  Look for a link that says "Add your URL", or something similar.

How do I protect against a virus? - If you are on the Internet, you will more than likely come across at least one virus infected e-mail within the next year.  Unless you are running Linux, you need to be running some sort of anti-virus software.  Such software is widely available at many stores, and installs in just a few minutes.

A point frequently overlooked by many people is that anti-virus software needs to be updated on a regular basis.  Most software requires a "subscription" to these updates, which can last for as little as 90 days.  This point cannot be stressed enough: you must maintain these updates, or your anti-virus software will not be effective!

How do I get rid of those annoying pop-ups? - There are three major ways a typical home user is exposed to pop-ups.  The most common of the three is pop-ups within your web browser.  There are many browser add-ons you can purchase to stop such activity, but the best, and cheapest solution is to just replace your browser with Mozilla.  I use it myself, and recommend it to all of my clients as it is a far safer browser for most users.

The second most common pop-up problem is the so called "Spy-ware".  If you have ever added one of those "free" programs to speed up your Internet access, tell you the current weather conditions, or find things on the Internet faster, then you most likely have such a program installed on your PC.  These programs can actually pop-up ads while you are disconnected from the Internet.  I recommend two programs to assist in the removal of such software: Ad-Aware and SpyBot Search & Destroy.  The careful use of these programs will many times restore the speed of your PC in addition to removing the pop-ups.

WARNING: Removing the spy-ware part of software will sometimes remove the "free" software access as well.  This is especially true with the current P2P applications.  So it then becomes a trade-off -- Free pirated music, or no pop-ups.  The choice is yours, but most clients choose the latter.

The final pop-up method affects only users with recent versions of Windows (2000/XP).  By default, the messenger service is enabled on both of these systems.  Messenger is a means to send a quick note to a member or group within a LAN, but it works just as well over the Internet.  Do not confuse this with the "Instant Messenger" programs.  They are two different applications.

The best way to stop such activity is to install a firewall on your system.  Not only will this stop the messenger attempts, it will also limit people from hacking away on your PC.  Alternatively, you may wish to disable the messenger service within your PC.  Please see your operating system help file on how this is accomplished.

Which connection on the back of my cable/DSL modem do I use? - Most of todays cable and DSL modems are supplied with both a standard Ethernet and USB connection.  The former looks like an overgrown telephone connector, while the later is smaller, almost square, and has two rounded corners.

Most modern computers have both Ethernet and USB capability.  If at all possible, you should always use the Ethernet connection, as it is generally faster and less problematic than the USB connection.  Even if your PC does not have an Ethernet connection, it can be added to most PCs for as little as $15 in hardware.  In addition, Ethernet connectivity is the only way to add a hardware firewall to your system.

What's so hard about installing wireless networking?  I just hooked it up and it works fine. - I bet that your connection also works fine for your next door neighbors PC as well.  By default, most wireless connections are setup with virtually no security.  This means that anyone within range of your system can use your wireless connection, and has potential access to your PC and all of your files.

There are a number of ways to secure a wireless network, with encryption being the most common.  Adding MAC filtering is also another recommended means of keeping your network more secure.  See your owners manual for information on implementing such features.

The above information is provided "as is" without any guarantee. Use it at your own risk! The author takes no responsibility on what you do with this information.

Timothy Miller Computer Consulting can answer most of your PC related questions. Please call for more details.