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FAQ's
(frequently asked questions)
Configuration/BIOS
E-mail
Startup/Boot
Operating
System
Drivers
Upgrading
Troubleshooting
Configuration/BIOS
Q: How do I get into my system's BIOS?
Short
Answer: Hit Delete or F2 key during POST.
Details:
During boot-up, hit the Delete Key (ABIT, Microstar, Tyan) or F2 Key
(Intel) before you reach the "Starting Windows" message.
This can be tricky especially after a warm boot (Ctrl-Alt-Del). You have
to catch it just at the right time. An option is to do a hard boot
(reset button, or power off) and then catch the system during the memory
count sequence. A popular option is to immediately hit the corresponding
keys repeatedly right after power up.
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Q:
How do I
Configure Outlook Express to access my Baywell.net hosted e-mail
accounts?
Click
here for the complete set of
instructions (pdf).
You may
also get access to your e-mail accounts by going to Baywell.net's
webmail interface.
Type in
your web browser:
http://yourdomainname.com/webmail.
Substitute"yourdomainname.com" with your company's real domain name.
Then type in your e-mail address as your username and then your assigned
password.
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Q:
How do I
check to see how much physical memory/RAM I have)
Short
Answer: Hit Windows + Pause/Break Keys or right click on "My
Computer" and select "Properties".
Details:
Windows 2000/XP - Windows + Pause / Break Keys will also work, but by
opening the Windows Task Manager (Ctrl + Alt + Del, click on Task
Manager) more detailed information is given such as the available
memory, system cache, etc.
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Q:
What's all
this talk about SDRAM and RAMBUS RAM and DDR RAM? Which one should I get?
Short
Answer: SDRAM is slower but cheaper. RAMBUS RAM is
faster, but more expensive, and unfortunately no longer is the leader in
speed. Ask for computers with DDR.
Details:
Basically, RAMBUS RAM is much faster than SDRAM but because of system
latency (the time it takes for the system to read and then process an
output) is much higher than SDRAM's, there's often little noticeable
difference between the two. Cost-benefit analysis shows that
unless you are using heavy memory intensive applications coupled with a
high speed CPU to process all that information, it would not be
worthwhile to pay the higher price for RAMBUS RAM. But now with DDR
widely available and with every single manufacturer supporting DDR, ask
for computers with DDR RAM. Throughput is constantly being updated
such that now we're at DDR400 (PC3200). Check out this
review.
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Q:
How do I
uninstall programs?
Short
Answer: Go to Start > Programs > the Folder of your program
and select Uninstall.
Details:
Some programs do not provide a link in the Start Menu for uninstalling
the program. In this case, you will have to go to Start > Settings
> Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs and select the program you want to
uninstall.
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Startup/Boot
Q:
What does the "Non-system disk or disk error" message mean?
Short
Answer:
Most likely you have a non-bootable floppy in the A: Drive that you
forgot to take out during boot-up. Remove the disk and press any key.
Or, your hard drive may not be bootable or is not configured properly in
the BIOS, or you may need to replace the hard drive.
Details:
If the problem is not resolved by removing a floppy disk from the A:
Drive, then you should give us a call.
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Operating
System
Q:
Which operating system should I use?
Short
Answer: There really isn't a good short answer.
Details:
In general, here's what we recommend:
Microsoft
Windows 98SE - This operating system is still in use by a wide range of
home and business users. If you do not intend to purchase new
hardware, and there are no real pressing applications that you must run
that cannot run on Windows 98, stick with this operating system. Note
that if you value security and privacy of your data, this is not the
best operating system for your needs. With Windows XP Home and
Professional edition maturing and becoming fairly stable, Baywell
recommends that with a new system, purchase Windows XP Professional.
Microsoft
Windows NT4.0 Workstation - In general, this is now an older but yet
solid operating system. Again, as with our above recommendation,
upgrade to Windows XP Professional.
Microsoft
Windows 2000/XP Professional - If you are stuck between choosing NT4.0
Workstation or Windows 2000/XP Professional and your current network
environment is not restricting you to either one, choose Windows 2000/XP
Professional. This is a fairly stable operating system with fewer
crashes and better recovery options than NT4.0. This isn't really
intended for the home user or true gamers. Corporations will find that
even though the upgrade is costly, the overall TOC (Total Cost of
Ownership) will decrease.
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Drivers
Q:
How do I install drivers in Windows?
Short
Answer:
There are 3 common ways to install drivers. But basically, you'll
be helping the system look for a directory that contains the
installation files that starts in the form of an "inf" file.
For example, "oemsetup.inf", "setup.inf", etc.
Details:
1st
Method - Upon power-up after installing the new PnP component,
Windows 95/98 will detect the new device and will ask you to insert the
drivers disk. If the manufacturer of your component did their job, it's
as simple as inserting your diskette/CDROM and hitting the next key.
Otherwise you may have to browse the disk and look for a directory like
"drivers" or "win9x" etc. Often times, pointing to
the root directory (i.e., D:\) also works. Unfortunately, manufacturers
do not have a standard that they follow when it comes to drivers. Most
likely, you'll have to reboot.
2nd
Method - If the device is not automatically detected, you may have
to manually force the driver installation. Right Mouse Click the My
Computer icon on your desktop. Select properties. Select the Device
Manager Tab. Look under the proper category for the new component that
you just installed. More likely than not, it will have an exclamation
point or question mark in front of it. Double-click on the component.
Then select the Driver tab. Select update driver and then follow the
prompts to look for the driver disk. Again point to the directory that
contains the proper "inf" files for your component. Then
reboot.
3rd
Method - This is the easy method. Stick in your driver's CDROM. Wait
a few seconds for the system to recognize the CDROM. Hopefully it
autoplays and starts up its own installation routine. Then follow the
prompts. If the CDROM doesn't automatically start, Double-click My
Computer, Double-click your CDROM drive and look for a file called SETUP
or INSTALL (Oftentimes, it looks like a blue computer icon).
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Upgrading
Q: I have a Pentium III 533 MhZ
system. Can I upgrade it to a faster processor?
Short
Answer: Depends.
Details:
Due to different motherboard and CPU specifications, you may or may not
be able to use your existing motherboard for upgrading. Most
likely you'll need a new motherboard. Please
contact us and we'll be happy to provide you with a definite answer
based on your system configuration and personal preference.
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Troubleshooting
Q:
My computer
occasionally shuts itself off and/or whenever I try to turn on the
computer, a dark reddish blank screen appears. I can hear the fan
and hard drive spinning. What's wrong?
Short
Answer: There are many different issues that may cause this
to happen.
Details:
The following are just a few simple things you can check on. Make
sure your power cables are connected securely. Try plugging your
computer in another room. If the problem
persists, you may have a faulty power supply or unstable power source.
Because there are many
other possibilities to look into, please
contact us and one of our highly trained computer specialists will be happy
to assist you in diagnosing your problem.
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Q:
My computer
froze. The mouse is frozen and I can't shut down. What should I do?
Short
Answer: Press the RESET button located in front of your
computer.
Details:
The RESET button varies in size and location and in some cases
manufacturers don't even put it in. It is usually labeled with the
words "reset" or ">o<". The RESET button should always work
because it connects directly to your motherboard via a physical link. If
you cannot find the RESET button, your last resort is to find the power
button and power down your system by holding down the button for a few
seconds. Make sure you run Scan Disk or another equivalent disk
checking program once you get back up and running. If your
computer continues to freeze or slower than usual, please
contact us and one of our highly trained computer specialists will be happy
to assist you in diagnosing your problem.
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