Question: I read your article on "system resources."
Youmention that one of your favourite Windows 95 cleanups
isto re-install Windows completely. I had Windows 3.1. witha
Windows-95 upgrade. If I uninstall Windows 95, wouldWindows
3.1 still be loaded? And do I re-install 95 over3.1?
I also have low memory. I have deleted all the surplus
filesand programs I could. I do have CleanSweep and the
newWinProbe 95. I have run both programs to clean up allduplicate
and redundant files it could find. I would like to tryto
re-install Windows to try to get rid of the errors andcorrupt
files if I can. Your comments would be appreciated.
-- D.P.
Answer: If you uninstall Windows 95 using the"Add/Remove
Programs" applet under Control Panel, youmight be able to
get Windows 3.1 back. Otherwise you'reout of luck.
During the Windows 95 upgrade, the install program asksyou
if want to keep a backup of Windows 3.1 and DOSfiles. If
you say "yes" you're halfway there.
During that process the install program puts two entries
intothe "Add/Remove Programs" box. One says "Windows 95"and
one is an entry for Windows 3.1 and DOS. To revert tothe
older operating system, simply click on the Windows 95entry
and uninstall it. The computer will dump the 95 filesand
replace them with your older system configuration.
But a word of caution. If you have any long file names,which
are allowed under Windows 95, they will betruncated. Spaces
in file names will be removed. If they aredata files, you'll
still be able to open them, but look for ashortened file
name that likely ends with a tilde character (~)and a number.
So "Andy Walker.txt" would likely betruncated to "andywa~1.txt".
Windows 95-compliantprograms will no longer work either
because they rely on theWindows 95 registry to work.
Uninstalling Windows 95 and reinstalling it on top of asomewhat
stunned Windows 3.1 isn't advisable. It's toomessy and leaves
lots of room for error.
When I talk about reinstalling Windows 95, I take an Attilathe
Hun approach. That means wiping out the c:\windowsdirectory
with the DOS "deltree" command. OK, so I don'tput the flailing
registry files on stakes encircling the charredremains like
Attila did to his vanquished. Nonetheless,nothing survives.
Sometimes I even stand on my chair andpound my chest afterwards,
but then I cough for half anhour, so that's not advisable.
Besides a sore sternum, there are some nasty side-effects
tothis procedure. For one, you lose all your settings and
anydata files or shortcuts on the Windows desktop. Secondly,you
have to reinstall Windows 3.1, then Windows 95, thenevery
program on your hard drive. It can be very timeconsuming.
Finally, you need to reinstall any Windows-related softwarepatches,
which can be a hassle because you'll need todownload the
patch install files again if you haven't keptcopies.
The results, however, are wonderful. You get a nicelyefficient
system at the end of your efforts. For real diehardsyou
might also consider backing up all remaining data andreformatting
the hard drive.
I have a pal who works in Boston who delights in that kindof
behaviour. In fact, I learned the Windows 95 Attilaapproach
from him. Then again, he's a little anal-retentiveabout
the state of his computer. I think he's the kind offellow
who cleans behind his fridge for kicks. So much forthe Attila
analogy.
Question: I have a Compaq with a 486 DX33 processorthat
I've been meaning to upgrade with an overdrive orPentium
133 upgrade CPU. Recently I've noticed a numberof used DX2-66
and DX4-100 processors for sale. If Icheaped out and bought
one of these, would I be invitingsome compatibility problems?
I only have ISA slots, wouldthis cause a bus vs. CPU mHz
problem? How about internalvoltage?
-- T.W.
Answer: How about an easy short answer? "As long
as it'san Intel Overdrive processor (DX4-100) or an Intel
5VDX2-66 (Overdrive or regular chip) you will be OK," saidKirk
Reid, a field technician with MicroAge TechnicalServices
in Calgary. "This is straight from Compaq."
Adding RAM is easy, 
