2-9-95            Hardware Conflicts & Software Conflicts

     In  your  CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT there are  commands  and  device
drivers  that  load when you boot your computer, If you  get  unpredictable
results,  or  out of memory messages (etc) then you can  re-configure  your
computer.  To test if a device driver or TSR (resident) program is  causing  this,
you can put REM in front of the line in either of the above files. You  use
an ASCII (plain text) editor or your wordprocessor in plain text mode.

an EXAMPLE......
REM DEVICE=C:\DOS\ANSI.SYS
REM SHARE.EXE /xxx...      (good idea to REM this line)

     ANSI.SYS  is always OK to have in there and is used an  example.   The
most likely to cause problems are Windows (anything), and drivers for mice,
virus checkers, screen savers, etc.

     >>>Another IMPORTANT thing to check is that BUFFERS= and FILES=  are
35  or  higher.<<<

    **Using  the Dos MODE to direct to COM1 (from say LPT1) ALWAYS  locks
Epressfax.  Also  NAV  (Norton Ani-Virus) must be put at the  END  of  your
Config.sys  file. Some other Anti-virus will always stop an  incoming  fax.
Another problem is screen-savers. One of the worst is After Dark. It will 
actually cause a "modem unavailable" error!

                             MEMORY
    If  you have Dos-6.x, I suggest running Memmaker before and  after  you
install  the modem/fax software. Memory is not a  straightforward  computer
feature.  Normal  memory,  where  computer  programs  run,  where  the   OS
(operating  system) and (many) device drivers reside, is limited  to  640K.
Also  optimize  your disk (see your Dos manual).     You must  have  EMM386
(EMS)  Enabled,  as the extra 2meg or 4 meg is used  BY  certain  programs,
which are running in conventional (640K) memory. They have special features
which can load large blocks of data into that  (extended/expanded)  memory.
Then  as the program works on the data, it switches 'pages' of memory  (16K
blocks)  from that memory into conventional memory while it works  on  that
section  of  data. When that section isn't needed it swaps that  back,  and
gets  another  peice to work on. This lets you have  HUGE  spreadsheets  or
databases running yet only have 640K to run the program(s). It's especially
true using Windows!
     The more programs (& TSRs and device drivers) you load, the less  room
there  is in conventional memory to operate. Somewhere along the  line  the
system  will lock or crash if you keep adding programs into 640K. A  loaded
program even not running takes memory. So close each (Windows) program when
you  are  done using it. One user also reported a  'flaky'  I/O  controller
which  was able to pass a  bench test, but when replaced cured  his  multi-
page fax sending problems.

**********************************************************************

     If  you  have an internal modem, it must be set for COM4  90%  of  the
time.  Most  computers  have serial port 1 and  2  already  built-into  the
computer.  A  serial port is just a built-in comport. So you cannot  set  a
modem to be the same comport (1 or 2). Try com4 then com3, see your  manual
for jumper settings.

     There seem to be some video cards using the COM4 address, which causes
the modem to fail on COM4. In that case try COM3 with IRQ 5 or 2 (see  your
manual to set the jumpers on the Modem). *>> Don't forget the software must
also be told when you change IRQs. <<*

     Sometimes one internal modem/or model of modem will work in spite of a
conflict, when set for COM1 or COM2 when there is a serial port. Always try
COM3 and COM4 (and IRQ settings) before deciding the modem is bad.

>>> You can download COMTEST.COM form the Zoom BBS to test your ports. <<<

     A  slot in your computer is NOT, has NOTHING to do with  the  COMport!
The  COMport is what YOU set ON the modem, via jumpers. Some older XT  type
computers  (and an 'odd' new one) won't allow you to 'skip' a port. ie;  if
you have 1 and 2 the next MUST be com3, not com4. Then you'd use com3/irq5.

     An  external modem cannot be set! It uses the address of  the  comport
into which it is plugged via the modem cable.

  *   NOTE:  There  are Three computers  which  sometimes  do  non-standard
things, and you may have to call the mfr. They are Compaq, Hewlett  Packard
and  Gateway. AMBRA computers made by IBM, can ONLY use com 1/2. And  check
addresses in Windows - com ADVANCED setup.

                                        Don Hinds - Senior Zoom Tech
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