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1. Computer reprogrammed expansion card settings.

   This really is dirty pool! After all, we are supposed to be in control of our computers, right? How do we know when this has happened, what do we do to correct it, and how do we prevent it from happening in the first place (or in my case, again)?

   1. These are all good questions and I have not stopped mulling them over since this happened to me. So far, I have only come up with partial solutions. I wish there were as complete answers as there are for our hard drives. Here's what I've come up with so far:

      1. Get more familiar with your motherboard and BIOS.

         1. Begin to take your BIOS settings more seriously. It's a good idea to keep a written record of the original (or optimal) settings of each screen. Then if your computer begins to behave strangely, it's a simple matter to compare the current status of the BIOS with what it should be.

         2. Learn how to use the Setup password scheme that every PC has, and set a password for the BIOS (Setup) area of your computer to keep prying eyes and fingers out.

         3. Other generic programs, such as Quickstart Data Rescue are available, but they are usually limited to saving and restoring the hard drive information and, of course, the hard drives.

         4. Find the diskette or CD that came with your motherboard, and look for utilities for your BIOS. You may find one that allows you to read and save the BIOS settings. If the Flash utility (i.e. the utility used to update your computer's BIOS with files downloaded from the Internet) was distributed on diskette or CD, it probably has a save as well as a program function. Learn how to use it. If you cannot find such a utility, you may be able to find one on your motherboard manufacturer's web site.

         5. Read your manual to see what tools are available in the BIOS to set the IRQ's for your Plug 'n' Play cards. After you've saved your existing settings, you might even try a little judicious experimenting. Be certain you can get your original settings back, however.

         6. Don't change settings in your BIOS carelessly. If you do want to see if changing a setting you're not sure about increases the speed of your computer, the safest thing to do is contact your vendor to get a better idea about what the setting does. However if you must do it now, be sure do to change just one or two settings at once, and be sure you've backed up your settings using some of the techniques listed above.

         7. DON'T upgrade (i.e. flash) your BIOS unless you've got a problem specifically mentioned in the BIOS fix's documentation. Many of these BIOS fixes are designed for Windows problems (i.e. bugs) and if applied to an OS/2 system may actually introduce problems.

      2. If you have additional suggestions on how to save or protect your system BIOS, I would love to hear it. Just click on the "Talkback" button at the end of the article at let me know.

2. In Conclusion

   Was all this pain worth it? Let's look at what I gained.

   1. Cable Modem

      1. This service is AWESOME! If your area has it available and you use the Internet a lot, as I do, you should consider getting it. Except for traffic congestion at sites where all the ports are busy, pages usually just fly onto my screen. There are exceptions, of course, but even the slow spots are much faster than what I was used to.

      2. My provider uses @Home and except for the Lan card drivers, all the software required is part of OS/2.¹

   2. Faster Processor

      1. The processor is the relatively new AMD K6-III/450 chip. It popped right into my motherboard, and OS/2 required no adjustments or any BIOS updates.

      2. This processor works in tandem with the cable modem because it expands the compressed images faster and allows the computer to handle other chores that are now coming at it much faster than before (like processing email!) because of the increased Internet bandwidth.

      3. Because of the effects of both the cable modem and new processor my computer now really flies.

   3. Experience

      1. I learned a lot during the past week that I otherwise could not have learned, and I'm always pleased when I can learn new things.

      2. My experience gave me a unique opportunity to present some ideas and tips that I hope some of you will find helpful, and prevent you from experiencing the same degree of frustration when you encounter similar problems.

   So there's no doubt in my mind the pain was well worth it in the end.

—Walter Metcalf

Next week: Setting Up a LAN on Warp 4, Part 3