In Box

By DON McALLISTER

Welcome to InBox, where we attempt to answer your internet questions.


Q. Ian recently upgraded to the 256Kbps Jetstream option, but it doesn't seem faster. He's getting a reading of 1812Kbps on the 128k and the 256k accounts. Why is this?

A. Telecom limits Jetstream 256Kbps or 128Kbps to that speed electronically. The reading you are getting is the line connection capability, not the Telecom-regulated speed. Try using an internet-based connection speed analyzer. Your connection should be close to 256Kbps. If it's around 128Kbps, get Telecom to fix it.

These online speed tests are your only judge as to the true speed as they time the download of a 1mb file. For an accurate result, don't test during busy times.

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Q. Can welcome & shutdown screens be altered in Windows XP? asks Craig. "In the days of Windows 95 and 98 I could edit the opening and closing screens of windows. I've tried with Windows XP but none of those tricks works. Is there a way to place customised pictures and messages of my own?

A. Yes, Craig, you can customise many aspects of windows XP, including those screens. Try: TweakXP where a list of tricks is listed. "Tweaking" can improve performance, dress up the interface and even simplify user steps to complete mundane tasks. But beware - things can turn pear shaped when tweak tricks are misused.

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Q. "I installed XPSP2 (XP service pack 2) update, but my system won't boot. What have I done wrong?" asks Brian.

A. SP2 hasn't been released for public download, and now you know why - the version available is for professional network installations. I installed this update and the first boot took forever - be patient. Once done, reboot again and it should smooth out. In my case it took three reboots because I got impatient on the first try too. Non-tech professionals should wait until the public version is available though Windows Update. By then this and other issues will be fixed.