July 1997 Notes:

Note 07/31/97: Eureka, I might have finally fixed the problem I have been having with my computer system since December 1996. I finally figured out the copy of "himem.sys" in my "C:\Windows" directory was defective. Although Win95 has continually loaded properly, "himem.sys" was not loading properly. I finally determined the problem by pressing "F8" when booting Win95, and watching each driver load with the option of selecting each driver to verify. I corrected the problem by extracting the "himem.sys" from my Win95 disks and overwritting the buggy one. One can also check if your version loads properly by using the bootable startup disk to see if it is working providing the version of "himem.sys" system on the bootable startup disk is the same as in the "C:\Windows" directory. Remember the "himem.sys" was corrupted causing the problem. The file date and bytes were the same as the original installation file. I don't know what caused the corruption of the file, whether a system problem or some sinister web site I had perhaps visited back in December 1996. Remember I did stop by the "Chaos Computer Club" in Germany about that time. After a half hour of testing the system seems to be back up to snuff, the internet is working properly.

Note 07/31/97: IBM Dialer still freezing, and when I reconnect it refuses to authenicated until I reboot. I have reinstalled Network system half dozen times to no avail. I suppose I will have to live with hidden gremlin in the system. Microsoft is offering update 07/29/97 to "kernel32.dll at following link Microsoft Technical Support Help Files, Service Packs, & Other Files. Greenwich is still quiet and peaceful. Enjoyed seeing the movie "Air Force One" last evening which was full of action packed excitement.

Note 07/30/97: Current computer status quo is maintained, although I should upgrade hard drive and add 17 inch monitor for eyesight relief when budget permits. Greenwich, Ct. is very slow at present, many people seem to be vacationing, with a number of other travelers passing through town. Town security seems to be continued to be maintained at usual high level. Many VIP look alikes have been spotted in the area. Greenwich Library construction continues, parking lot should reopen in couple of weeks. Greenwich hospital construction is still underway. Flags not seen flying in Belle Haven area. Green Military Transports have been seen landing at Westchester Airport. Greenwich Library has "Red Alert" sign in front window. Tod's Point continues to be maintained in excellent condition, and as with all Greenwich beaches is reserved for the use of town residents and their guests.

Phone Numbers for Quick Reference:

United States Secret Service: 1-202-395-2020

United States Military Academy at West Point: 914-938-4011 and 914-938-7398

CIA: 1-703-482-1100

FBI: New Haven, Ct. : 1-203-777-6311

Marriotts' Casa Marina, Key West, Florida: 1-800-626-0777

Note 07/26/97: Greenwich, Ct. access story floating around town is from a Texas couple who decided to drive north because it was 110 degrees F. in Texas, and they hit Tropical Storm Danny in Lousiana, and drove all the way up north with it for the next few days. Retired Argentinian couple were sited visiting Greenwich along with the usual group of Merchant Princes and Princesses who frequent the town. Average house price in Greenwich, Ct. is now $650,000 for those of you thinking of moving here. Belle Haven is deluxe expensive area now, but those in the know prefer Round Hill area for privacy or further back country in Bedford, New York if you can afford the taxes, or even further back country up around Hudson's Bay which has less expensive real estate prices if you don't mind the mosquitoes in the summer or the Polar Bears in the winter. Of course if you speak French, Montreal is always enjoyable in the summer if you happen to be up north. Nous Parlons Un Peu Francais Ici. Nice weather predicted this weekend.

Note 07/24/97: Disabled Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 beta 2 Active Desktop to preserve system resources. MSIE 4.0 beta 2 occassionally crashes, but works most the time. Take a look at Internet Explorer 4.0 Platform Preview 2 Technical Support. Also check out Microsoft Download Wizard , hopefully it will work with Internet Explorer 4.0 beta 2 soon, at present JAVA script does not work. MSIE 4.0 beta 2 on my machine has problem logging onto the MSIE 4.0 beta 2 Addons page Internet Explorer Products Download Addons .

Note 07/22/97: My system 540 meg Western Digital Hard Drive 1 1/2 years old bought at Egghead software is making a clanking sound. I might have hard disk failure soon. Limited budget prevents me from replacing it at present.

Note 07/21/97 PM: Internet Access Functioned Properly in Day Time Today connecting to IBM, Armonk. On my VESA 486 Deep Green PC System Motherboard, with AMD AM486DX4-S 120 MHZ CPU, Award Bios V506 01/08/96, ROM ISA BIOS (2C419R01); I changed the CMOS setup as follows. In the CMOS, I selected "Chipset Features" and changed "AT BUS Clock" from 1/3 CLKIN to 1/4 CLKIN, also I changed "DRAM SPEED" from "fastest" to "faster". Possibly these CMOS changes improved internet access and system performance today. On my system with both WIN95 and OS/3, I don't have any problem accessing internet with OS/3; so possibly the problems I am having with WIN95 have to do with my Win95 system setup or CMOS setup. The symptoms are that the systems seems to have the internet access freeze, and when I relog onto to IBM.net it does not authenicate and I have to reboot for Win95 to access IBM.net properly with the IBM dialer.

Note 07/21/97: NYNEX claims to have repaired telephone line problem, but I am still experiencing interruptions of internet service, possibly due to traffic of Internet. In Greenwich, Connecticut in Bruce Park, there is a flock of about 100 geese. One of them has an Audubon or conservation band on the left leg that I can not identify, possibly someone might try photographing the banded goose with a telephoto lens to check out its origins.

Note 07/15/97: Experiencing repeated telephone line noise problems causing telephone to make clicking sound, which also disconnects computer from internet when online. NYNEX representatives and FBI were able to hear clicks on telephone line also. NYNEX tests say telephone is all right. Theory suggests that we might have a squirrel or a rat munching on the telephone line below or above ground. All power in Greenwich was knocked out last summer by a rat eating power cable insulation. Checking with IBM security, they suggest that NYNEX has brought in a lot of old in disrepair telephone trucks to repair lines in the area that are faulty caused by repeated electrical storms and lighting strikes in the area this summer. In summation telephone line problems interfering with internet access in the Greenwich, Connecticut area might be caused by malfunctioning telephone equipment which was possibly hit by lightning in one of the recent electrical storms. Problems I experienced are repeated clicking sound every two to five minutes which cause the modem to disconnnect from IBM's ISP. However, I have had this telephone line problem since 12/96, so I think there is something wrong with the NYNEX telephone system in Byram as it feeds into the Port Chester, New York area which NYNEX has been unable or unwilling to resolve. Telephone clicks when computer is turned off. NYNEX line test says there is no problem. Disconnecting all telephones in the apartment still yields the same problem. Theory, there is something rotten in Denmark, blame it on the squirrel in the tree knawing on the telephone line, who knows? If the internet does not work in your local domain, get out and enjoy the summer weather here in the Northern hemisphere, the internet will always be around once winter sets in to spend more time on and try to resolves any problems.

Other net information, according to Reuters news Mexico City's volcano is lowered to "yellow" alert, but they reported two weeks ago, it was already at "yellow", so theoretically it could still be at "Red Alert", which means the Mexico City volcano "will" errupt, possibly causing a very cold winter up north. Who knows, I don't? Volcano levels of alert increasing in level of activity are "green", "yellow", "orange", "red". Check Cascades Volcano Observatory for exact definitions, and information from the "Volcanic Emergency Response Team". Repeat I make up the category of links, I am not a "Geologist" or "Volcanologist". The number "eight" used repeatedly is the universal volcano alert signal, put out by the regional resident of the local octagon structure. Hopefully they know what they're doing. PAX VOBISCUM.

Note 07/13/97: Possibility Internet Problems for the last seven months have been caused by my "CMOS" setup.

Note 07/05/97:Microsoft Technical Support Help Files, Service Packs, & Other Files, "Update to Windows 95 TCP/IP Out-Of-Band issue 5/22/97", "Updated TCP/IP Protocol Stack for Windows 95 07/01/97", I installed these two TCP/IP files, the earlier 5/22/97 one first, rebooted and then installed the latest 07/1/97, systems works fine, don't know whether they make difference, but it is worth try.

Note 07/05/97: My system network has been freezing up with the IBM Win95 dialer. To correct this problem, I selected "My Computer", "Control Panel", "Network", highligh "Dialup Adapter", select "Properties", select "Advanced", highlight "Use IPX Header Compression", select "NO". This seems to have fixed my problem on my system with the Network freezing up. If you have the same problem it is recommended to try it.