Latest Drivers May Smooth Connection

Question: I use Netmeeting to videoconference with my nephew in Massachusetts. We both have Windows Me, 256 megabytes of RAM and the same type of Intel cameras. After we have been in a Netmeeting for 10 to 15 minutes, both the video and audio start to break up to a point that we have to end the Netmeeting. I have been told that it’s because the RAM has run out. After we reboot we can again Netmeet without problems at first, but the same thing happens again in 10 minutes. Got any ideas?

Answer: Even a memory hog like Windows Me should function reasonably well with 256 MB of RAM. Look around for new drivers for the video camera, on the off chance that something more current will work better with Me. We suspect this issue is related to the Internet connection. Start with the modems to make sure you’re both using the latest drivers.

Q: I get one of two messages when I boot up: “A fatal exception 0E has occurred at 0177:BFF83C17. Press any key to terminate or press Ctrl-Alt-Del to restart,” and “A fatal exception 0E has occurred at 0177:BFF7BA00. Current application will be terminated.”

A: You need to disable some of the software that automatically launches each time you boot to see what the problem is. The easiest way to do this is with a free program called Startup Cop. You can get it at https://www.zdnet.com/downloads/stories/info/0,,77594,.html.

Q: I bought and installed a $10 piece of software that apparently my computer cannot handle because of 3-D graphics limitations. The program loads and plays, but most of the graphics are blank or just shown like shadows. No detail.

The software requires a Direct 3D-compatible video card. The box my computer came in boasts Integrated Intel Direct AGP/3D graphics with up to 11MB of dynamic video memory. Is my existing system Direct 3D compatible? If not, how do I upgrade? Does it require new hardware or are there software drivers available? Also, I opened the side panel of my computer, and not knowing what to look for, couldn’t find anything labeled as a video card. Any suggestions?

A: You can try hunting for updated video drivers for the card at the manufacturer’s Web site, but we don’t think that’s going to resolve this issue. The problem probably is not Direct 3D related; it’s likely that the software simply requires a high-end video card.For most people, upgrading the video is just a matter of swapping out the old card for a new one. But if your video processor is integrated onto the motherboard, as yours seems to be, that can be harder.

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Dave Wilson is The Times’ personal technology columnist. Submit questions to Tech Q&A; at [email protected].