Solutions

Setting up Internet access for two PCs using a router

Q. I have two home computers and am trying to set up a network with Road Runner. I purchased a Linksys BEFSR41 version 2 EtherFast Cable/DSL router with four-port switch. One PC runs Windows XP, on which I went through the process to set up for a network. When finished, I made a floppy for the other system, which has Windows 98SE, and followed the onscreen setup. I contacted Linksys for help, but found little. Do I need to get a group switch or can it be done with what I have?

A. I'm not sure what you've done, but you can definitely accomplish what you're trying to do with what you have. If the floppy you're talking about is a setup for Internet Connection Sharing, or ICS, you don't need that.

Let's start at the router. It needs to point at the Road Runner network. The router is programmed using a Web browser, such as Internet Explorer, as explained in the Linksys manual. In your browser, go to the router's Web address of \\192.168.0.1. This is where you enter the Road Runner network information, which was given to you by Time Warner. Normally, that information would be input in your PC network settings. Next, set the TCP/IP configuration for your two PCs to DHCP.

This should be all you need to do. And as long as you keep power to the router turned on, each PC will have individual access to the Internet.

Juggling C, D and E drives

Q. I have a Dell with C, D and E drives. I am getting a message that the C drive is full. I have deleted everything I can. The D and E drives are almost empty. This is okay, but I now want to switch to the D drive and start using it for everything and leave the C drive alone. How do I set up the D drive for use in place of the C drive?

A. Most likely these three partitions are really one physical drive. In that case, you may be able to use something like PowerQuest's Partition Magic to combine them (www.powerquest.com).

Maybe your disc size was a limitation for the operating system at the time you received your PC from Dell. And although there are some reasons to create logical partitions on one physical drive, for the most part it just confuses the typical home PC user.

You didn't specify which version of Windows you are running, so I can't be specific about files you can freely move to other drives. Any programs you have most likely would have to be uninstalled, then reinstalled specifically to another drive for them to work.

Organizing computer tips

Q. I have been reading and clipping more than a thousand computer tips that people like you have published for people like me. Rather than posting them in a notebook, is there a good way for me to enter them on my computer in a way that I can retrieve them later, such as tips on digital cameras or how to alphabetize my favorites?

A. The simplest solution would be to organize your files as normal text files or Word documents within logically named folders under a common root and use the builtin text search from Windows. While you'll be able to use this to search files for a specific occurence of a search string, you won't be able to get too fancy with boolean-based searches that use and, or, near, NOT, etc. There are plenty of freeware or shareware programs on the Internet that can help you do this. Search for "search software" and check the resulting links. One such program is Cool Find (www.nihuo.com/coolfind.html).

Old scanner, new computer

Q. I purchased an HP Scanjet 4300CSE Precision LTX in 2001 that worked great with a 1997 HP desktop. I replaced the desktop with a 2003 Dell laptop. After installing the scanner software, I get the following message: "Sorry, scanner could not be initialized (scanner not found)."

A. It sounds as if you're using the original software or drivers that came with the scanner and were meant for earlier versions of Windows, not Windows XP, which you most likely have on your new Dell laptop. Many older scanners will not work on Windows XP. Check HP's support Web site to see whether HP supports this scanner under Windows XP and has new drivers available for download.

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