You Asked Us October 1998
by Alan Zisman
(c) 1998. First
published in Computer Player, October 1998
Several readers wanted more information about previous
YAU answers:
-- Sharon Carr wrote:
In July 1997, you mentioned to set DriveSpace3 to 0
percent compression
to get rid of waste space. I can't seem to figure out where to find the
place to make that change is.
-- Note that any disk compression eliminates cluster
waste; setting
the compression ratio to 0% compression (aka 1.0 compression ratio or
1-to-1
compression) minimizes the performance loss involved constantly
compressing
and expanding data.
First thing is to make sure you actually have
DriveSpace 3 (DS3)...
it?s only included with Win95B or the Microsoft Plus Pack add-on. It
will
be indicated by a little (3) on the DriveSpace icon in the Start Menu.
Without DS3, you?ll be unable to set the compression ratio.
If you DO have DS3, then:
Run DS3 to compress the desired drive. Afterwards, run
DS3 again, select
your now-compressed drive, then, from the ADVANCED menu, choose ADJUST
RATIO... this will let you set the compression ratio to 1.0 i.e. 0%
compression.
-- Martin Evans wondered:
Last year I purchased the CD-ROM CLASSICS, gold
edition, SSN-21 SEAWOLF.
I had played the earlier version with the help of a EMS memory disk,
created
by a computer literate colleague. I have since lost that disk and I
want
to play my newest SEAWOLF version. I have tried, and retried to follow
directions in making my own EMS memory disk and have been unsuccessful,
not to mention frustrated.
Try this...
-- Open C:\CONFIG.SYS in Windows Notepad or DOS
Edit... add the following
three lines:
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE RAM
DOS=HIGH,UMB
Save the file, and reboot... see if the game runs in a
DOS window, from
Win95... if not, use the Control Panel/Add-Remove Programs item-- go to
the StartUp Disk page, and click the button to create a startup disk.
On
that disk, create or edit CONFIG.SYS to include those three lines, as
well
as whatever you need to make your CD-ROM work under DOS... (You'll also
need an AUTOEXEC.BAT with MSCDEX.EXE for your CD, and potentially other
drivers for mouse and sound card... but that's another story!)
Use that boot disk, and your game should run!
? Tony J wrote:
I just read your reply in "You asked
us..."regarding the Duplex Dilemma.
In your reply, you say most recent sound cards support full duplex and
the Sound Blaster 16 requires it to be specifically turned on using
Win95
Control Panel.
I am running Win95 & SB16 PnP and I am
trying to use itwith
an Internet chat/phone program. I have looked in the Control Panel.
Where
do you change to full duplex for the sound card in Win95?
-- Make sure you have the newest Creative Lab drivers?
if you have Web
access, go to www.creativelabs.com, and download and install their
latest
version? earlier driver versions lacked this feature. Then, open
Control
Panel... double-click on the System icon... choose the Device Manager
tab.
Click once on the [+] sign next to Sound, Video, &
Game Controllers
to open this item up, and select: Creative Sound Blaster 16 Plug and
Play.
Click on the Properties button.
Go to the Settings tab... on my system, at least,
there's a [x] Allow
Full-Duplex Operation, along with an explanation. Make sure there is a
check-mark for this item, and click OK.
? Al McKillop queried:
I read your answers regarding partitioning &
the use of Partition
Magic in particular, I have bought a copy of P.M. but am a little leery
of running it. I have a 2.5 HDD. The supplier partitioned it as
follows;
Drive C: 2GB,Drive D: 393.51mb.Would you care to suggest what
configuration
I might install to lose the least space in larger clusters.
-- The dealer gave you two partitions because FAT16
can handle maximum
2 gig partitions... but 2 gig partitions use 32kb clusters, giving you
maximum waste. Unlike the destructive FDISK included with DOS and
Win95,
Partition Magic is a safe way to repartition. The difficulty using
Partition
Magic is what happens if you want to make multiple smaller partitions,
but you have, say, 1.5 gigs worth of programs/data on your existing
partition?
(Since I don't know how much stuff you have on your drive, it's hard to
get too specific).
There?s no single right way to partition your drive.
Smaller partitions
are more efficient in using space, but may force you to reinstall
software,
that is suddenly on drive D: or E: instead of C:, and your CD-ROMs
which
are suddenly on drive G: (or something) instead of E: As well, unless
you
have a logical way of deciding what goes where, it may become more
confusing
about what is stored where.
If you created two partitions, each slightly smaller
than 1 gig, you'd
cut your cluster-waste in half; four partitions, each slightly smaller
than 512 megs would cut 3/4 of the current waste; eight partitions,
each
slightly smaller than 256 megs would cut the waste by 7/8... but that's
getting excessive.
Only you can decide what will work best for you... you
could, for example,
set up your system:
C: 400 meg system files: DOS, Windows, Win95,
whatever
D: 511 megs applications #1
E: 511 megs applications #2
F: 511 megs applications #3 (games???)
G: 511 megs data files
But there are lots of other ways you can go... like
how to arrange your
clothes in your closet and dresser, it's ultimately a personal
decision,
with no absolute right or wrong.