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Norman Lampert - 01 Jul 2004 04:58 GMT

(I'm not sure if I've posted this before, so...)

Some software requires a "clean boot" for proper installation.
For a clean windows boot, go to "start" "run" and type "msconfig"

(without the quotation marks) and click "OK".
In the resulting window, look for the line which says "load
startup group items" and clear the check mark next to it. If the
check mark is grayed out, first go to the startup tab and scroll
down and make a list of any item which does not have a check mark

next to it. Then go back to the first tab and clear the check
mark. When you click "OK" you will have to reboot the computer,
which will then start without may of your normal programs
running. Window will start more quickly than usual and you will
see dialog box saying that you are using diagnostic start-up. Be
aware that you computer may not seem normal because many of the
applets which normally help you do things won't be running, such
as the "double click" feature of the scroll wheel, anti-virus,
etc.
With the clean boot, you will be able to install your software
with out the conflicts which often cripple installations. After
you install and re-boot to make sure that the program runs OK, go

back to "msconfig" and recheck the "load startup group items" (if

some items were not checked before, you should now go to the
startup tab and remove those same checks), click (OK) and re-boot

again. If you are not running all items in the startup tab, you
will see the "diagnostic startup" warning, just click on "don't
show this warning again and things will be back to "normal".

Another tip is to go to http://www.dslreports.com/ an
click on "Tests+Tools" from the left side bar, where you can
check on your download speed, get a connection test, etc.
They also have ratings for many broadband ISP's. Both COVAD and
Worldnet get poor ratings, but I think that that is because of
complaints about the outsourcing of the help desk. So far, I
don't have problems, but I'm less than 1000 cable feet from the
phone company Central Office. If you try checking your download
speed, try several sites, I always get horrible speed tests from
Linkline, good and mediocre speed test from Megapath and
excellent speed tests form Speakeasy, even when I test them one
after the other. The "tweak test" link will give you good info on

how to get the best speed possible, just make sure you know your
configuration (the connection for worldnet is "enternet" not
"normal"). They also have good FAQ's.

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Don Kirkman - 01 Jul 2004 19:55 GMT

It seems to me I heard somewhere that Norman Lampert wrote in article
<MPG.1b4d55de20cb5c819896bb@127.0.0.1>:

>(I'm not sure if I've posted this before, so...)

>Some software requires a "clean boot" for proper installation.
>For a clean windows boot, go to "start" "run" and type "msconfig"

[Skip the excellent walkthrough for installing programs]

>Another tip is to go to http://www.dslreports.com/ an
>click on "Tests+Tools" from the left side bar, where you can
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>excellent speed tests form Speakeasy, even when I test them one
>after the other. The "tweak test" link will give you good info on

I want to add some comments about Covad, which has provided my DSL
service for several years, first through another ISP and since then
direct from Covad who bought the original company's customer list. My
setup is not standard DSL, and that makes some difference in my
experience.

I'm too far from the phone office to use standard DSL; Covad worked with
the phone company to install a dedicated line, bypassing the old
inadequate voice circuits. During the setup and testing the Covad
people were more helpful than the phone technicians, though both missed
some promised dates and failed to coordinate with each other at times.

Later on the dedicated line began to drop connections (it was marginal
from the beginning, because of the distance and the age of the original
lines), and Covad added an amplifier at my end, which solved the
problem. Getting all this done and coordinated with the phone people
kept my line down for several weeks, but the problem finally got
escalated to a middle manager who called several times to update me.
Once the system was back up he asked me to call him direct if I had any
more problems. I haven't had to call, fortunately; the connectivity
itself has been very good.

Now, for the help desk people, I've rarely had to contact them but have
usually found them the equal of any other ISP staff I've had to deal
with.

DSLreports is an excellent resource for all kinds of broadband
information.

>how to get the best speed possible, just make sure you know your
>configuration (the connection for worldnet is "enternet" not
>"normal"). They also have good FAQ's.

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Don
Old age is when you start saying "I wish I knew now what I knew then."

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