by Dean Andrews and Larry Passo
Docking Stations provide an expandable platform for notebook computers. For travel, an undocked notebook contains the bare minimum of components needed to get the job done--thus keeping weight down. But a docking station brings a notebook's flexibility up to that of a desktop computer by adding additional card slots, drives, and devices such as network and/or video adapters.
Windows 98 supports hot-docking, which means you can dock or un-dock a notebook without worrying about whether the notebook's power is on or off. The operating system automatically recognizes the added components of the docking station and configures the necessary software components, including drivers, to support them.
To un-dock a notebook while Windows 98 is running, open the Start menu and choose Eject PC. Windows 98 resets the configuration parameters of the notebook and then asks you to remove the notebook from the docking station.
Windows 98 lets you set up multiple hardware profiles for different hardware configurations of your computer. When you install the operating system on a notebook, Windows 98 sets up one hardware profile automatically for you. Then when Windows 98 detects a major change in hardware, such as when you dock the notebook, it creates a second hardware profile for you.
If you want to modify a hardware profile or create a new one, use the following procedure:
FIG. E.1 Edit the name for your new hardware profile.
In some cases, you might want to modify a hardware profile--if Windows 98 fails to properly detect your hardware configuration, for example. You can manually adjust the hardware profile.
To modify a hardware profile, use the following procedure:
FIG. E.2 Use the Device Manager Usage list to add or remove hardware from a profile.
NOTE: When you power on the system, Windows 98 automatically detects the hardware profile you previously selected and whether your computer is undocked or docked, and it applies the appropriate hardware profile. If your hardware profiles are so similar that Windows 98 cannot determine which should be used, Windows 98 displays a menu containing a list of available profiles and prompts you to select the profile you want to use.
Working with Different Configurations
In Windows 98, you can store different configurations for the same set of hardware devices. You could, for example, run your notebook's video graphics adapter at 640*480 resolution when you don't have an external monitor attached, but set up a profile for using 800*600 resolution when you do have the monitor attached. To configure a new profile with the same hardware set, first start Windows 98 using the hardware profile in which you want to make changes. To change the resolution for use with an external monitor, for example, select the hardware profile you use when you have the monitor attached. Then change the settings for your new resolution. These changes will be saved in the current hardware profile only; the other hardware profiles are unaffected.
Almost all notebook computers now come with credit card-sized PC Card slots for quickly adding or removing devices. A wide variety of devices can be found on PC Cards including network adapters, hard drives, SCSI adapters, modems, sound cards, video capture cards, and so forth. PC Card devices allow you to quickly expand the capability of your notebook, yet still maintain the small size and travel weight of the base notebook platform. Windows 98 works with the PC Card controller on-board your notebook to activate these devices.
NOTE: As with docking stations, Windows 98 lets you insert and remove PC Cards on-the-fly (called hot-swapping) without re-booting the PC.
Notebooks only come with two or three PC Card slots, so sometimes PC Card manufacturers put two or more functions on one PC Card (such as a modem and a network adapter). Windows 98 improves over Windows 95 in the handling of multifunction PC Cards by automatically recognizing the individual functions of these types of cards. Windows 98 lets you configure and enable the functions separately.
NOTE: In the past, the PC Card data path was limited to 16 bits. Newer PC Card controllers support PC Card32 (Cardbus), which expands the data path for PC Cards to 32 bits. Windows 98 supports PC Card32, which allows for high-bandwidth data transfer to and from PC Card devices. PC Card devices that require this amount of bandwidth include video capture cards and 10/100Mbs networking cards.
If your computer has PC Card slots, Windows 98 automatically recognizes and loads the PC Card components of the operating system during the operating system installation. During the installation, Windows 98 preserves any existing PC Card support software so as not to accidentally disable any PC Card devices. It's possible that your pre-Windows 98 PC Cards uses real-mode drivers, but Windows 98 requires a 32-bit protected-mode driver for any card that will be supported via the Plug and Play architecture. Plug and Play PC Card support allows Windows 98 to maximize performance, dynamically load drivers, and stay aware of the insertion and removal of PC Card devices. Fortunately Windows 98 provides two tools that help you transition from real-mode to protected-mode drivers: PC Card Wizard and the PC Card Troubleshooter.
To enable 32-bit PC Card support, activate the PC Card Wizard. To start the PC Card Wizard use the following procedure:
If you're having any difficulty getting a particular PC Card to work, invoke the PC Card Troubleshooter. The PC Card Troubleshooter asks you questions about your problem and makes suggestions on possible fixes.
To activate the PC Card Troubleshooter, use the following procedure:
FIG. E.3 Use the PC Card Troubleshooter for help with PC Card devices.
After you have enabled 32-bit PC Card support, Windows 98 can usually install PC Card devices automatically. When you insert a modem card, for example, Windows 98 detects the new card and automatically installs the new drivers for it. If your PC Card is not recognized automatically, you must manually install support for it.
To manually install a PC Card device other than a modem or network adapter, use the following procedure:
Before you remove a PC Card device, you should shut it down. Choose the PC Card object in the Control Panel to display Windows 98's PC Card Properties dialog box. There you'll find the list of active PC Cards and their sockets.
To shut down a device, select the device from the list on the Socket Status page and click on Stop. Windows 98 shuts down the device and lists the socket as empty. Then you can physically remove the card from the PC Card slot.
[BEEG]TIP: If you frequently need to shut down your PC Cards, make it simple by checking the Show Control on Taskbar check box on the PC Card Devices properties sheet. After you install the control on the taskbar, you can double-click on it to open the PC Card Devices Properties sheet.
To insert a new device, you don't need to follow any procedure. Simply insert the device into an appropriate PC Card slot, and Windows 98 automatically starts services for it.
With Direct Cable Connection, Windows 98 allows you to share files and resources (like a printer) with another computer through either a cable or wireless Infrared ports connecting the two systems. If both PCs do not feature Infrared ports, you must, of course, provide your own serial or parallel cable to attach one PC to another. Once connected, you can quickly access or transfer files back and forth.
Under Direct Cable connection, one PC acts as the host (or server), while the other PC assumes the role of guest (or client). The host PC is the gateway that enables the guest PC to access a network to which the host is attached. In Windows 98, the host can act as a gateway for NetBEUI and IPX/SPX network protocols, as well as for TCP/IP networks.
TIP: Because Direct Cable Connection establishes a network connection between the two computers, the guest can access only resources on the host that have been shared for network access.
Windows 98 automatically installs the Direct Cable Connection components unless you tell it not to with a custom installation. If, for some reason, you do not have Direct Cable Connection installed on your PC, you can go back to the Windows 98 installation disc and install it. Use the following procedure to install Direct Cable Connection from the installation disc:
Next you must attach the two computers with a cable or use Infrared ports. Check the documentation of both PCs to determine if they have Infrared ports. Otherwise, locate either a serial or parallel port cable and use it to connect the two systems.
For best performance results, use a parallel port cable. Modern parallel ports can be set to different modes via a computer's BIOS. These settings are usually classified as standard bidirectional, EPP (Enhanced Parallel Port), and ECP (Enhanced Capabilities Port). For fastest data transfer, set both computers to use either EPP or ECP mode for the parallel ports.
The final step involves setting one of the computers as the host and the other as the guest. Those procedures are outlined in the next two sections.
Again in Direct Cable Connection, you need to set up one computer as the host and the other as the guest. First, set up the host computer. To do so, use the following procedure:
FIG. E.4 Check Use Password Protection if you want to restrict access to the host.
After you've configured the host, use the following procedure to set up the guest:
After setup, you need to start the Direct Cable Connection software on both the host and guest computers before you can begin sharing resources. First, start the host computer by opening the Start menu and choosing Accessories, Communications, Direct Cable Connection. If the settings in the resulting dialog box are correct, choose Listen to set the host mode. If you want to change any of the settings, choose Change and make your changes.
Then start the Direct Cable Connection on the guest computer. To do so, open the Start menu and choose Accessories, Communications, Direct Cable Connection. The dialog box that appears will look similar to the one you saw when you started the host, except that the Listen button will be a Connect button. Choose Connect to activate the Direct Cable Connection so you can begin sharing resources.
Most notebook PC users work on a desktop system as well. Many times, users need to transfer files back and forth between their notebook computers and their desktop computers. Someone who takes a notebook while traveling, for example, often finds the need to keep these two sets of files synchronized so that he or she doesn't lose valuable work. Windows 98 supplies a Briefcase feature to help users track and synchronize files shared between PCs.
Here is a typical scenario using Briefcase:
In essence, the Briefcase is an ordinary folder that has shell extensions and hidden database files that track file changes to the files within the Briefcase folder. Windows 98 creates one Briefcase folder on your desktop during the installation process. However, you might find that creating several small Briefcases where you need them might be more manageable. Additionally, using Briefcases on floppy disks isn't really recommended--even though the Windows documentation says you can--due to the limited space available on floppies.
Again, Windows 98 automatically creates a Briefcase called My Briefcase on your desktop during installation. But you might find it more effective to create new Briefcases that relate to individual projects. To create a Briefcase, use the following procedure:
You can use standard file Move and Copy techniques to add files to a Briefcase. Simply open the folder (through My Computer, for example) where the files reside and drag them into the Briefcase folder. If you hold down the Ctrl key while dragging, the files will be copied. If you hold down the Shift key, the files will be moved.
You can also use the Windows Explorer to copy or move files to a Briefcase. By right-clicking on a file, you can send it to a Briefcase. Specifically, you right-click on the file or files you want to send and choose Send To. From the list of files that appears, choose your Briefcase folder. Windows 98 then copies the files you specified.
TIP: If you right-drag a file to a Briefcase folder, a menu displays your options. Choose Move Here to move the file or choose Make Sync Copy to copy the file.
Synchronizing files is the key feature of the Briefcase. After you work with shared files remotely on your notebook, save them back to the Briefcase folder.
To do so, reconnect the two computers that you're sharing files between, open the Briefcase, and choose Update All from the controls at the top of the window. Windows 98 displays a dialog box similar to the one shown in Figure E.5.
FIG. E.5 Briefcase displays how the files have been modified.
The Briefcase dialog box shows you when the files were last updated on each of the two machines and which is the more recent version. If the actions suggested in the dialog box are appropriate, choose Update, and Briefcase performs those actions. If an action is not appropriate, right-click on the action to change it. Windows 98 displays the action options from which you can choose. If you just want to check the status but do not need to synchronize the files, choose Cancel in this window.
If you prefer to update individual files, select each file by clicking on it (or hold down the Ctrl key and click on a group of files). Then choose Update Selection from the controls at the top of the Briefcase menu. Only the files you selected will appear in the update list.
For the most effective use of Briefcase, update files across a network or Direct Cable Connection. Using a floppy disk is usually incredibly slow.
In some cases, you may want to disassociate a Briefcase file from the original file. For example, you might need to generate two different reports from the same base file. If you do, you'll need to "split" the file in the Briefcase (the sync copy) from the original file. To do so, highlight the file within the Briefcase and choose Briefcase, Split from Original. Windows 98 changes the entry for that file in the status column to "orphan."
Another way to split a sync copy from an original file is by using the file's properties sheet. Right-click on the Briefcase file you want to split and choose Properties to display the file's properties sheet. Choose the Update Status tab to see the file's synchronization status. You'll see a dialog box similar to the one shown in Figure E.6. Click Split From Original to remove the link between the files.
FIG. E.6 You can also split a sync copy from an original via the file's properties sheet.
Infrared light is below the spectrum of red light and is not visible to the human eye. Recently, the use of this light spectrum has moved beyond the world of television and VCR remote controls and into the realm of computers. New Infrared (IR) ports on computers allow wireless connections between computers and devices. Windows 98 supplies software supporting IR ports on notebooks and desktops. Although Infrared ports are still not a common communication medium for computers and computer peripherals, the very latest computers do ship with these IR ports. On a computer with an IR port, Windows 98 lets you share files and resources, communicate to networks, and even print to other computers and peripherals with IR ports.
Unless Windows 98 finds an IR port on your PC during the installation process, it will not install the IR component of the operating system. If, for some reason, your computer features an IR port but Windows 98 did not install the IR software, you can load the software manually from the installation disc.
Use the following procedure to install the Infrared component of Windows 98:
Once you've installed the software, you must set up your IR port. Windows 98 provides a wizard to help you through the process. To set up an IR port, use the following procedure:
FIG. E.7 Use the Add Infrared Device Wizard to set up an Infrared port.
After your IR port is installed, you can use it in place of a serial and parallel cable for a Direct Cable Connection. Read that section of this chapter to find the instructions for setting an IR port for Direct Cable Connection.
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