Need to setup Q&A on a new computer and
want to know how the experts do it?

Having trouble installing Q&A on a new
computer?

Having trouble running Q&A smoothly and
reliably on a new computer or installation?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, The Q&A / New PC Setup Guide was prepared with you in mind.

Every day we receive calls and emails from long-time Q&A users who are planning the purchase of one or more new computers (or who have already purchased them) and either (1) don't know how to install and setup Q&A on their new computer, (2) don't know if it's even possible to do so, or (3) do it wrong and get into trouble.

Frequently, these folks have been given totally wrong information about running Q&A for DOS or Q&A for Windows on modern computers, operating systems and networks. Often, they're told by some "expert" that it can't be done and that they need to have their Q&A applications converted to some other database manager such as (yuck!) Microsoft Access.

But more often, they try to install Q&A on a new computer and run into trouble right from the get-go. Why? —  because at the time Q&A 4.0 for DOS and Q&A for Windows were released (1992-93) there was no Windows 9.x or Me, no Windows 2000 or XP, and none of the hardware configurations or huge hard drives we see today.So the information in their Q&A manuals cannot help them at all.

Even whey they do manage to get Q&A installed on their new computer, they run into other problems, usually because they've set it up in a way that makes Q&A difficult to use or makes it perform poorly or unreliably.

The simple truth of the matter is this: If you know what to do before and after you install Q&A on a new computer, and then install and set it up using that know-how, Q&A will run like a champ and faster than greased lightning on your new PC!

And where is all this valuable know-how? — It's in the 36-page Q&A / New PC Setup Guide from Marble Publications, publisher of The Quick Answer newsletter, the do-it-yourself guide to all things Q&A.

About this Guide...
The Q&A / New PC Setup Guide deals with issues involved in setting up Q&A to run successfully on newer computers running any Microsoft Windows operating systems from Windows 95 to Windows XP, including typical printing-related problems. The Guide consists of a compilation of pertinent tips, articles and reader questions and answers as published in The Quick Answer newsletter from October 1997 through November 2004. The tips and articles from those issues are reprinted in The Guide as originally published, in chronological order. They contain the know-how you need to successfully set up Q&A to run under any version of Windows through XP.

Note: The Guide does not cover Windows Vista setup issues. At this time, issues with Vista and "legacy" programs like Q&A are such that we cannot and do not recommend using Q&A with Vista. We recommend that you continue using Windows XP if you are dependent on Q&A or, if you must use Vista, consider migrating from Q&A to Lantica Software's Q&A-compatible Sesame Database Manager.

Important Notes

Most of information in The Q&A/New PC Setup Guide pertains to Q&A for DOS. If you use Q&A for Windows exclusively, visit www.johntdow.com.

The Q&A/New PC Setup Guide is not a troubleshooting guide for strictly network-related issues. There are hundreds of possible network configurations and ways for networks to fail. One document could not hope to cover all possible network-related issues. If you are experiencing network-related problems, we urge you to call PCTA at 215-598-8440 for paid technical support.

If you'd like a printed copy of the Guide sent to you by Priority Mail, mail your check to us in the amount of $89 or phone your order in. Our address and phone number are at the top of the right-hand panel.

Optional Reduced-Rate Phone Support
Order the Q&A / New PC Setup Guide for $79 and you can lock-in 30 minutes of Q&A telephone technical support for only $20 more—that's one-half our usual hourly Q&A technical support rate. We'll bill your card a total of $99. You can use your half-hour immediately or at any time in the future (by calling 949-722-9127) to talk to us about any Q&A-related issues you need help with.

And now The Discover Card, too

If you want us to send you a printed copy of The Q&A / New PC Setup Guide by Priority Mail
Mail your check for $89 to:
Marble Publications, Inc.
1927A Harbor Blvd.
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Or call 800-780-5474
to order by phone

When you fill out and submit this Order Form, a link will appear enabling you to download the full 36-page Q&A / New PC Setup Guide (882K) immediately.

CONTENTS

The Really Important Issues at a Glance, page 3
October 1997 — Q&A and Win 95—A Cool Combo, Part 1, page 4
(applies to Windows 98 as well)
November 1997 — Q&A and Win 95—A Cool Combo, Part 2, page 7
(applies to Windows 98 as well)
March 1998 — When Q&A for DOS Wont Run on a New PC, page 11
July 1998 — Q&A and Windows 98, page 12
January 1999 — Get Faster Printing (when running Q&A under Windows), page 12
February 1999 — Solve Network Printing Problem, page 13
February 1999 — Q&A and Windows NT, page 13
July 1999, Using Lesspace with Large Drives, page 13
February 2000 — Installing and Configuring Q&A in Windows, page 14
February 2000 — Q&A Can’t Print to a USB Port, page 18
May 2000 — Can Q&A Live On in Windows 2000? (yes, and here's how), page 18
May 2000 — Can’t Get Expanded Memory, page 21
May 2000 — "Disk Drive Door Open" Error Message, page 21
May 2000 — Installing Q&A On a Large Hard Drive, page 21
May 2000 — Isolate a Printer-Not-Printing Problem, page 22
June 2000 — Server Databases and Hard Drive Size, page 22
October 2000 — Q&A and Windows ME—Still Going!, page 23
March 2001 — Q&A for Windows Now Running on Windows NT/2000 Systems, page 24
March 2001 — "Divide" Errors Revisited, page 24
March 2001 — Q&A for DOS Causes Windows Printing Errors, page 24
March 2001 — Q&A for DOS Screen Inexplicably Freezes, page 25
August 2001 — Q&A for DOS and Windows 2000 Copy/Paste, page 25
August 2001 — Q&A and the Various Windows O/S's Revisited, page 26
October 2001 — Windows Me Not for You, page 26
October 2001 — Will Q&A Run in Windows XP?, page 26
November 2001 — Windows 2000 and Q&A for DOS Printer Drivers, page 26
May 2001 — Q&A for DOS Printing Problems in Windows—Again!, page 27
Still Got Y2K-Related Problems?, page 27
December 2001— Q&A and Windows XP, page 28
December 2001 — Q&A and Windows XP Issues, page 29
Tip — Resizing your Q&A for DOS Screen in Windows 2000/XP, page 30

Tips and Articles Added Since February 2002
Tip — More On Winodws XP Screen Problems, page 31
Tip — Q&A for Windows as a Q&A for DOS Companion, page 31
Tip — Q&A for DOS Sluggish in Windows XP, page 32
Tip — Insufficient Memory Messages, page 32
Tip — Windows 2000/XP Command Line Errors, page 33
Tip — “Illegal Operation” Revisited, page 33
Tip — Network Users Lost on New Computer, page 34
Tip — Q&A, Windows 2000/XP and Novell Networks, page 34
Tip — Q&A and Large Hard Drives Clarified (Again), page 34
Tip — Printers, Windows and Q&A, page 35
Optimize Your Q&A for DOS Screen Font in Windows 2000/XP, page 36
Tip — Using Same Printer in Windows and Q&A, page 36

AVAILABLE FREE SUPPLEMENTS
to the Q&A/NEW PC SETUP GUIDE
(Links to download these documents will appear
when you place your order using the order form on this page)

September 2002 issue of THE QUICK ANSWER
Sharing a Database Opened on Server
More on Novell, WinXP/2000 and Q&A

October 2002 issue of THE QUICK ANSWER
Q&A for DOS and USB Printers
Missing Expanded Memory

November 2002 issue of THE QUICK ANSWER
Q&A Screen too small in Windows XP
Installing Q&A for DOS in Windows 2000/XP
Network Busy / Disk Drive Door Open messages
Q&A for DOS Stuck in Monochrome (Black & White screen)