If you want to dual boot a PC with Windows NT and Windows 9x and make sure the different OSes
can't see (and stomp on) each other, make three partitions on your hard drive. Format a 100
megabyte partition in FAT16 for the boot files. Then place NT on an NTFS partition and Win 98 on a FAT
32 partition.
With a little work, you should also be able to use this technique to dual boot with non-Windows OSes
such as Linux and OS/2.
Speaking of Linux Partitions...
When you install a Linux system, Linux experts will recommend that you make several partitions such as
/bin, /dev, /etc, /home, /lib, /lost+found, /proc, /root, /sbin, /usr, and /var.
While you can
install Linux on as little as two partitions, having several separate partitions makes it easier to
upgrade the system later on. Linux upgrades tend to require that system partitions be reformatted.
Making many separate partitions helps you avoid having to reformat partitions where you keep data
files.
Linux tends to blur the line between logical and physical disk volumes. Only the boot partition has to
be kept on the first physical drive in a system. The rest of the disk storage in a Linux system is
usually lumped together into a single file system that can be partitioned separately.
Drive Letter Assignments
One thing about setting up NT servers at different times — the drive letters tend to get a bit
scrambled. If you have multiple NT servers with different drive letters assigned each of their
CD-ROMs, zip drives, etc., you can reassign the letters with Disk Administrator under the
Administrative Tools (Common) menu under the Start button.
Removable media drives don't
generally care about which letter they appear under. Hard disk volumes are another matter. Don't
change the label on disk volumes on which you have installed programs. Otherwise Windows NT won't
be able to locate them.
Shutting Down 16-Bit Applications
When you log off Windows NT, the system will automatically shut down 32-bit applications. Sixteen-bit
applications may not shut down automatically and instead may return an error message.
If you add a
REG_SZ value named HKEY_USER\<SID>\ControlPanel\ Desktop\AutoEndTasks and set the value to 1 you
can force NT to shut down 16-bit applications automatically in the future. If you also add this value
to HKEY_USERS\ .DEFAULT, all new accounts will automatically shut down 16-bit applications the same
way.
A key factor in making a favorable impression on customers is in presentation. Your customers should feel confident in your staff's abilities. Professionalism extends beyond making the sale and requires forethought and attention to detail.
1. Practice the installation. When installing equipment and software at the customer's location, prepare it beforehand. It doesn't look good to a customer when your installation staff has to struggle with balky hardware and software on-site. If you're installing hardware and software on existing customer-owned equipment, take the time to rehearse the installation.
Setting up equipment before going out to the customer is cost effective as well. Hours in the field are expensive. In-house set-up of equipment lets you maximize the use of your most experienced people.
2. Bring all the parts. Have all components ready for installation at one time. Nothing annoys a customer more than to have equipment installed in bits and pieces. Having all the equipment also lets you make the total installation in the shortest amount of time.
3. Find a specialty. Most VARs and integrators, including the largest, specialize in a vertical market such as insurance or medical businesses. Specialization lets you and your staff become expert at one thing.
Adding specializations should also be on your list of "things to do." This lets you grow your business faster than one vertical market would allow. However, research each additional vertical market thoroughly before you attempt to make a sale. It is unfair to your customers and staff to use working jobs to research new businesses.
4. Understand the customer's system. If you are hired to install a new system for a customer, research how their current system works and how it is used. More often than not, customers will ask that the new system work exactly like their old system. Big changes create training problems and incur extra costs for the customer.
5. Don't be afraid to subcontract work. If you install document management systems and your customer needs a RAID subsystem, find a storage specialist to install the RAID. The customer will get a more professional installation and you will forge a relationship that may lead to additional business in the future.
