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  • From Windows to wireless, Contributing Editor Lincoln Spector finds solutions to readers' most vexing PC problems.
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Answer Line: How Do I Keep Other People Off My PC?

Lincoln Spector

When Your PC Doesn't Turn Off

When I exit Windows, I get the "You may now safely shut off your computer" message, but the computer won't turn off automatically. How do I fix that setting?

Charles Kim, Bellevue, Washington

Something is set wrong, either in your PC Setup program or in Windows.

Let's check Windows first. Right-click the desktop and select Properties. Click the Screen Saver tab and then the Power button. If there's an APM tab, click it. Check the Enable Advanced Power Management Support box, and then click OK. (The lack of an APM tab means that Advanced Power Management is automatically switched on.)

If that doesn't solve the problem, check your PC Setup program's settings. Enter your computer's Setup program by pressing the appropriate key early in the boot-up process (an onscreen message should tell you what key to press). Search the menus for options that will allow you to turn on APM or ACPI.

How Much Laser-Printer Memory?

Should I upgrade my laser printer's memory? How much RAM does it really need?

Andrew Kooi, Selangor, Malaysia

A ram upgrade may improve your printer's performance. With more RAM, the machine can process print jobs and other instructions from your PC much faster, freeing the computer's resources for other chores.

A laser printer uses its own RAM to process the image of the entire page before printing it. The printer's memory also works as a cache to speed up printing by grabbing instructions from the PC ahead of time. Note that RAM isn't an issue with ink jet printers.

Most laser-printer users won't need more than the 2MB to 8MB of RAM that typically comes with the printer. But if you work with very complex images, or if you want to use an extremely fine resolution, a RAM upgrade may be necessary. For instance, my Brother HL-1440 came with only 2MB of RAM, which limits its resolution to 600 dpi-notwithstanding the big "1200 dpi" label on the printer's front. Adobe's PostScript publishing software requires a minimum of 16MB of RAM.

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