Windows crash can hit Setup

WHEN I turned my computer on recently, it displayed a message telling me to run Setup. I ran Setup and re-booted the computer. However, it wouldn't boot up and displayed a message saying, ''Please insert boot-up disk in Drive A and press ENTER''. Although I put a boot-up disk in Drive A and pressed ENTER, it had no effect: the same message was repeated. I could see that it was not reading from the drive because the drive light was not on. What can I do to fix this situation, and why did it happen in the first place? I would like to avoid it happening again. JOHN HUNG Lamma It looks to me as though your Setup data has been erased, which is probably why the computer asked you to run Setup in the first place. If you run Setup again, you will probably find that the information in it does not match your system. For example, items such as your floppy disks and hard disk and the like, may appear to be ''Not Installed''.

You will have to select the right values to match your system. If your floppy drive A is a 5.25-inch 1.2-megabyte (MB) device, then select that for Floppy Drive A. If it is a 3.5-inch, 1.44-MB device, select that, and so forth. The tricky bit can be if your hard disk information (such as the exact size, number of cylinders, heads and the like) is lost. Most hard disks have this information marked on the actual drive itself, so you can open up your computer and look for it. Then write it down in your diary, or whatever, for future reference. If your hard disk does not have this information on it, you are in trouble - unless you can get it off the vendor.

When all the values have been correctly installed, save Setup and re-boot your computer, which should work again.

Setup information is stored on a battery-powered memory chip on your computer so that it remains in memory even when the computer is turned off. This data can obviously be lost if the battery dies. It can also be lost if software you are running violates the Setup information. Windows, when it crashes - which it does every so often - tends to knock the socks off Setup occasionally.

I AM interested in obtaining more information on imaging technology and document management and data scanning systems. Do you know of any firm in Hong Kong dealing with such systems? SANJIV BHARGAVA Admiralty Check out an imaging and document management system called Keyfile. This system runs on IBM compatible PCs under Microsoft Windows and is impressive. Although not exactly cheap, it is inexpensive in comparison with the systems offered by the bigger names in imaging systems, such as Unisys, IBM, and Kodak, to name a few.

For more information on Keyfile, telephone local distributor AsiaSoft Systems on 527-0878.

I AM a computer user from Canada and more accustomed to paper standards such as ''Letter'' and ''Legal'' rather than A4.

I recently bought an AST Bravo Notebook with a Canon BJ200 in Hong Kong. I use Windows 3.1, Microsoft Word for Windows 6.0 and Lotus 1-2-3 version 4.01.

Every time I try to print something with lines - either underlined text in Word or with borders in 1-2-3, they do not print out in the right places. All the settings - such as the paper size in the Control Panel and Page Setup with each program - are correct. Everything looks OK in Print Preview but, when it prints out, lines either do not show up, are one or two lines above or below where they are supposed to be, or cross out text entirely. The same happens with borders.

At first I thought it might be a printer driver problem, so I got an original driver from Jardines, but this did not help. And the problem persists no matter which Windows application I use. I have two versions of Windows - one bought in Canada and one that came with my computer - and the problem occurs with both.

The printer's DIP switches are set correctly and its internal self test works fine. I have even tried printing out documents on my system that were created on other systems and printed fine when first output. Even they get messed up on my system.

I am so fed up, I can even blame the weather. All the hardware I bought came with warranties but I do not know which one is fault. Have you any ideas? DAVID WONG Tsuen Wan I am lost on this one. If there is anyone out there who can help this unfortunate man, please write in with your possible solutions.