Did I Choose The Most Cost Effective Porteble Computer ?

Did I choose the best laptop ?

Keys to choosing the best laptop computer :

Who is theportable computer user? When choosing a laptop computer, it is important to understand who will be using it.., school student, college student, professional businessman ,office worker, etc.

Where will the laptop be used? For big mobile users such as college students and professionals, size, weight and battery life are very important. So when looking over the reviews and relevant specs, keep those factors in mind. The average high school student uses a laptop from room to room in their house, and have loads of access to AC power most of the time. So for these users, the factors listed above may not be as critical.

How will the laptop be used? The more mobile the user, the more durability is needed. Heavy users ie sales reps spend a great deal of time start and shutting down their laptops every day. an average large user will open and shut their laptop computer 6 times a day. Although that may not seem alot of wear and tear, there is also the issue of general handling. Heavy users will be travelling from location to location, in and out of cars,on and off planes etc on a constant basis. This increases the likelihood of damage to the laptop computer, via dropping, bumping and banging, drink spills on the keyboard, etc....

Should I buy a service contract for my laptop? the answer is YES. When you think about carrying around a fragile piece of electronics costing $1000 or more, the price of a typical service contract is a bargain. for a relatively small price £50 per notebook computer, its worth it to for you peace of mind.

How much should I expect to pay for a laptop? It used to be hard to find a quality laptop under £600; however, this is no longer true. There are several companies with great offers, starting around £300. The options / upgrades you select have a large impact in what you can expect to pay. Having a list of what you want in a computer, such as memory, speed, hard drive size, burners, etc..will help when you go shopping. Although online notebook computer manufacturers allow a great deal of customization, the general public are easily serviced with a “off the shelf” standard notebook computer.

What Laptop Brand Should I Select? the worlds your oyster in this respect with the amount of notebook computer manufactures out there,with different colours and sizes its everyones personal choice , I myself find that toshiba have all the features which service my needs.

Laptop computer http://www.discount-notebooks.net

by: David Burton

About The Author

David Burton is the developer of http://www.discount-notebooks.net which has all the latest laptops fo all your officeneeds.

Pointers For Choosing Your Laptop Computer

Pointers for buying a laptop.

If you're thinking of buying a laptop computer there are undoubtedly some great deals to be found, but what should you be looking for when you're in the market for a updated or even your first laptop computer.

Well, it's always worth sitting down with a pen and paper and thinking about exactly what you need your new laptop computer to do. If you're simply going to use it for word processing and the odd email here and there you don't need the super fast processor and hard drive that can hold thousands of files, so don't let a slick salesman tell you otherwise that’s just going to hurt your pocket.

If it's a family laptop computer you're in the market for you'll want a good all rounder. kidshave a great knack of loading games and other large applications onto a PC without you knowing. which can really effect performance for when you need it for more important things like business or your own games. So make sure you get a good-sized hard drive and a good amount of ram.

Regardless of the type of laptop computer you're in the market for make sure you explain to the salesman exactly what you need it for ( ie is it for the home or on the road). More often than not they'll be able to show you in the right direction, but make sure you only spend an amount you're happy with.

If you're an online shopper then there are some great deals to be found, so just make sure you conduct proper research before jumping in to make that purchase. You'll probably see a lot of adverts for the newest laptop computer on the market , Buying a laptop computer , its just like anything else , make sure you do a good amount of research, be clear about the amount you want to spend and weigh up your options.

Laptop computer http://www.discount-notebooks.net

by: David Burton

About The Author

David Burton is the developer of http://www.discount-notebooks.net which has all the latest computers fo all your officeneeds.

Do Registry Cleaners Actually Help?

After researching registry cleaners online you might notice that there are a wide variety of opinions whether a registry cleaner actually "cleans". Some of the authoritative "gurus" believe that the best registry cleaner is no registry cleaner or registry cleaners make things worse rather than help speed up the computer. But the question that should really be asked is, "Why is my computer slowing down?". Is it a figment of your imagination? It happens a lot.

Yes it's true that you can just uninstall a recently installed application and voila the system is restored to it's general functionality. You could also use system restore for the newer Windows operating systems to save the day and bring you're system back to an earlier day of usefulness. Or maybe it's a hardware malfunction and a LAN card needs to be replaced. However if you're PC starts spewing out error ".dll' messages consistently as well as starts freezing up in many cases this is due to the registry being corrupted and configured incorrectly.

Registry files are very sensitive in that if they're not being in use they're like boulders in a pathway and you need to figure out how to get around it to move. Time's wasted and the computer slows down. Other corrupt files misdirect the operating system and so it needs start over with a process or back track. Removing these erroneous entries simply cleans up the system for a more efficient use of the computer users time. That's why there are so many registry cleaners available because they are truly useful and needed to keep the registry stable and optimized.

One of the award winning registry cleaners Uniblue's Registry Booster 2 is a good example of a quality registry cleaner and it has dozens of awards to prove it. Reputable and powerful, Registry Booster 2 deep scans the registry and automatically removes and repairs the appropriate files necessary to speed up the system. Results are immediate and you'll notice start up time and processing time shortened. It even has a scheduler so that you're able to scan and repair your registry whilst not using it at the same time. Period use of your computer requires period cleaning of the registry.

If you are need to speed up your PC to its initial power than take a look at this in-depth Registry Booster review as well as other registry cleaner reviews for your surveying mind and decide for yourself what you need.

Fix your corrupt registry now and go to these independent registry cleaner reviews for a FREE scan at http://www.windows-registryrecovery.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Findelley

By Robert Findelley

Stop Blog Spammers

Blogs are now an extremely popular and important part of the internet. Millions of people blog every day. As blogs have evolved over the years, so has the commenting system. Now anyone can make comments on a particular blog posting. As blog commenting has grown more popular, so has spam commenting. In this newsletter, we’ll go over why comments are a great form of feedback for your blog, how they help the credibility of your content, what spam comments are and how to prevent them from happening.

Comments – A great form of feedback

When blogs first came around, they were simply online journals. No one could post comments on a blog posting. That all changed in 1998 with OpenDiary, a site which allowed people to comment on blog postings. Now every blog, whether it is remotely or self-hosted, includes this option to comment.

Commenting is great because it allows real people to tell you what they think about your form. It gives you feedback on what you are doing right and what you may need to improve. Comments can be encouraging to you and motivate you to post more quality blog messages. Or they can be constructive criticism to make you work harder to get better at writing content.

Whatever the style of comment is, it is still very useful to your blog. High numbers of comments have the ability to make a blog look credible because they show that the blog is being read by a lot of people. That’s something that every blog owner wants, and comments help to let them know just how many people enjoy their content.

Bad comments

Unfortunately, spammers have now started to use comments as a way to spam. How do you know what a spam comment is? Well, a spam comment is a comment that only advertises another site or product. If the comment seems bland/generic with a cheap link thrown in, then it’s definitely a spam comment.

Here is an example of a typical spam comment:

“Hey, this site is really cool. Check out my really cool site at spamsite.com.”

Of course not all spam comments will be this blatant, but you get the point.

Fortunately for bloggers, as spam comments have grown, so has the ways to prevent it. Here are a couple ways that you can prevent spam comments from even being posted on your blog.

#1: Close off commenting on older blog posts

There are options for you to stop comments from being posted on any particular blog post. Lots of times, spammers will post comments in weeks or months old posts. So take away this opportunity from them to keep it from happening. Most blog hosters now offer this as a standard option in the tool panel. If one of your posts has been up for a couple weeks, close it up.

#2: Take advantage of software offered to prevent comment spam

If you host your own blog using WordPress, you can use an option in that software to prevent spam. Even if you aren’t using WordPress, you can still use other Spam comment blocking software like Spam Karma, Akismet, and Bad Behavior. While these aren’t 100% effective, they have proven to be quite effective in preventing spam from happening.

#3: Take a look at your settings and see what can be tweaked to toughen your protection

Lots of blogs now have settings to help prevent spam. If you already have a spam blocker on in your blog and are still experiencing spam, take a closer look at the settings to see if there’s anything that can be tweaked to make your protection stronger. However, if you do this, you should closely monitor your posts to make sure legit comments aren’t being blocked out. If they are, you might have to lighten up a bit.

#4: Regularly read your blog comments

Be sure to keep an eye on your comments. Even the best software or setting can’t prevent everything, so you will have to occasionally manually remove comments on your own.

By applying the above principles, you can ensure that your blog is full of only good, quality comments, which will help your credibility tremendously.

Comments are a great form of communication between yourself and your readers. They help the credibility of your blog!

About The Author

Len Hutton is a information publisher specialising in helping people start their own home based business. Get a no cost video showing you step by step how to set up a niche ebook empire at www.nicheresidualincomes.com If you are considering using Google Pay-Per-Click Ads to promote your blog check out this web site http://rowner.freegoogle.hop.clickbank.net/

by: Len Hutton

How To Buy A Laptop?

If any one wants to buy a laptop, what do they do? They step in to a local store and see 70 to 80 different laptops ranging from $500 to $1000 and get stuck in making a decision. So this is what you may want to do.

The most important factors to be considered when buying a laptop are

1. Processor

2. Ram

3. Size of the screen

4. Hard disk capacity

5. Wireless Networking

Processor: If you have a heavy use for you laptop like data transfer and Data base management, graphic design and others you may not want to go for some thing less then 2 Ghz. For normal users who do not have such sort of bulk usage a normal laptop may be handy.

Ram: Ram come in 256MB 512MBand more. The 256MB is outdated for the present laptop usage trend. The 512MB is ok for the normal users. If you have heavy usage you need to have more than 512MB.

Screen Size: When it comes to the Screen Size, most low cot laptops have low pixel rates which are ok for the normal users. But you can buy more if need be.

Hard Disk: Normal Laptops come with 40 GB Hard Disk. If you are some one who stores more data, software and mp3 files and videos, it is recommended to buy a 80 GB Hard Disk.

Optical Drives: Laptops come with three different options. They are CD - DVD reader, CD writer and the DVD writer. DVD writer is the smart option any one should go for because you can make a lot of backups easily and make your own DVDs.

Wireless Networking: Most of the Laptops come with wireless Networking. It can give you access to the internet and wireless networks. Make sure your laptop has 802.11g wireless network.

Conclusion: "If you are a normal user go for a cheap laptop with 512MB Ram and if you a heavy user, make sure it has all the features discussed above."

Consolidated CD-ROM, Inc. It is a family owned and operated business where customer service and satisfaction has always been our number one priority. Consolidated CD-ROM Inc is a Pennsylvania State Corporation since 1992. link http://www.consldcdrom.com/index1.html?target=d59.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ganesh_Asokan

By Ganesh Asokan

Cashing in by Blogging

Believe it or not, but it’s actually possible to make money from blogging. One teenager has, in fact, earned $5,000 a month just from making posts on his blog! Of course, not every blogger is this lucky. It does take some skill, and some luck to make money from blogging. What it also takes is some knowledge of how exactly to generate income just by posting blogs. In this newsletter, we will go over three specific methods of making money on your blog: Adsense, Pay Per Lead, and Affiliate Links.

So how exactly do I make money on my blog?

You do it by working with another company that wants to use your blog as a form of advertising. It sounds like selling out, right? Not exactly. The advertising can be as in your face or subtle as you want. And it can still make you money, provided you have enough visitors to your blog.

What is Adsense?

Adsense is a program offered by Google. The program, if installed, will display ads provided by Google.

How do I get Adsense?

You’ll need to go to Google.com, first. At the bottom of the screen is a link for “Advertising Programs”. Click on that. Then click on the link for “Adsense”. Scroll down on the page that comes up and click “Click Here To Apply!” You then fill out the form with information about yourself. After 12-48 hours, Google will notify you via email whether or not your site has been accepted. When you’ve been accepted, set up your ads by doing either of the following:

1. If your blog is hosted on Blogger.com, you can set up your AdSense ads by going to your profile, selecting settings>template>add an element. Then select AdSense and login with your account info. Next, you’ll configure your ads and save the template. That’s it.

2. If you are self-hosting your blog, you’ll have to set up AdSense in more of a manual way. You’ll create your ads(which can be as small or as tall as you want) and then copy the HTML/Javascript code Google gives you. Then you’ll paste it into your blog(on the left, right, or top of the screen).

For the first few days, the ads displayed by Google will be Public Service Announcements. After the ads have been up a few days, though, the ads will switch to ads that are relevant to your blog.

How does Adsense work?

Every time a visitor clicks an Adsense ad, you get a little bit of money(usually around 30-60 cents). The amount you get for each ad clicked depends on the number of unique visitors you receive on your blog. The more visitors, the more money that can be earned.

Google will then send a check or pay you through Paypal once you’ve made at least $100 from the ads.

It is important to remember that Google will penalize you if you click your own ads, or if you ask visitors specifically to click ads. So don’t do that!

Pay Per Click

Pay Per Click is basically just like AdSense, except you don’t just work with Google—you work with multiple companies. BidVertiser is one such company you can sign up with to do Pay Per Click advertising.

How do I get Pay Per Click

You sign up with a site like Bidvertiser and then follow their instructions to set up the Pay Per Click ads on your site.

How does Pay Per Click work?

It works by paying you money each time someone clicks an ad that you display. You won’t get paid for multiple clicks from the same user in the same visitor, nor will you get paid for someone simply visiting your site. You only get paid for legitimate clicks.

Affiliate Links

Affiliate links are basically links which people pay you for. Companies will actually pay owners of popular blogs to post links on their blog. You can do as much Affiliate linking as you want.

How do I get Affiliate Links?

You can get Affiliate links by searching for “Affiliate Link Programs” on the internet. Once you find an Affiliate link program that looks good to you, sign up for it. Then you can follow their instructions for putting the link(s) on your blog.

How do Affiliate Links work?

Like the other two methods mentioned above, Affiliate links work by paying you money each time they are clicked. You get paid for each click per unique visitor.

So that’s it. There’s three legitimate ways to make money from blogging. It is important to keep in mind that the amount of money you are able to make depends on how many visitors your blog draws. If you draw a lot, you’ll make a lot. If not, the money you earn will be modest. But it’s still extra money, so why not do it?

Making money using Adsense, Pay Per Click or Affiliate Link programs is easy and effective. Start monetizing your blog today!

About The Author

Len Hutton is a information publisher specialising in helping people start their own home based business. Get a no cost video showing you step by step how to set up a niche ebook empire at www.nicheresidualincomes.com If you are considering using Google Pay-Per-Click Ads to promote your blog check out this web site http://rowner.freegoogle.hop.clickbank.net/

by: Len Hutton

Video Cards

A video card is an upgrading hardware device (expansion card) which can be plugged into the computers motherboard. It is also known as the graphic card, display adapter, graphic adapter card and also has other terms. It is mainly used for gaming. It also has other uses like 3D rendering and editing and etc which are rarely being reviewed.

Most people think that a video card slows down the Pc by using the systems Ram. It is not true. Video cards use their own memory and there are some protocols that allow video cards to access a part of the systems memory. But the recent video cards have their own inbuilt memory and do not make use of the systems memory.

If you are a Pc gamer and you want to feel the reality in graphics, the best thing to do is to upgrade you PCs Graphic card. Gaming experiences completely depends on a video card. The heavier will be the load and effect on game playing when the graphic settings get higher.

People play modern games with old video cards, but they experience slow game play and low video quality. We know that, a video card is installed to the slot on the motherboard.
Motherboards have 1 to 3 expansion slots which are different from each other. They differ in bandwidth, voltage, and other features.

It's very important to know the slots you have in your systems motherboard and buy an appropriate video card. A video card designed for one slot type cannot be installed into another slot. So please make sure you consider all these when buying a video card.

Consolidated CD-ROM, Inc. It is a family owned and operated business where customer service and satisfaction has always been our number one priority. Consolidated CD-ROM Inc is a Pennsylvania State Corporation since 1992: http://www.consldcdrom.com/index1.html?target=d59.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ganesh_Asokan

By Ganesh Asokan

Remote Blog or Self Hosted Blog?

So you’ve decided to blog, but aren’t sure whether you should host the blog yourself or sign up for a free service like blogger.com. It’s a dilemma that many bloggers face. There are pros and cons to both, which makes the decision difficult for many. Neither is perfect, and neither is for everyone. Fortunately, you should be able to make the best decision for you if you are armed with adequate knowledge of both. In this newsletter, we’ll go over services like blogger.com and others, plus software that allows you to host your own blog. We’ll also go over the pros and cons of each. After reading this, you will know which is best for you.

Who offers free blog hosting?

Many sites offer free blog hosting. Among them are Forumer, Blogger, BlogEasy, Aeonity, BlogThing and Blogates. A quick search for “free blog” on Google reveals many possibilities.

What software can I use to host my own blog?

Like free blog hosting, there are many possibilities for software that makes hosting your own blog easy. Most of them are free to use. These include:

WordPress(the most popular software)
Apache Roller
Blosxom
Geeklog
Textpattern
LifeType

There is also blog software which you can purchase for use on your site. These include:

Community Server
Movable Type
Radio UserLand

One negative about using software and hosting your own blog is that the process can often times be complicated. You have to download the software and install it to your server, which doesn’t always go easily. It’s particularly hard for those who don’t have a lot of experience installing things on servers.

Why should I remotely host my blog at a place like Blogger?

Places like Blogger allow you to host your blog there. It’s a good option for many people.

The Pros

• It’s easy to set up and maintain a blog. You don’t have to go through the trouble of installing software and configuring it to work on your server. All you have to do is sign up for an account and start posting.

• It’s friendly for beginning bloggers. Sites that host blogs offer good tutorials on how to make your blog postings, so that even someone who is completely new to the concept of blogging can do it easily.

• Most blog hosting sites are completely free to use. There is no need to pay for things like a domain name and hosting.

• Monetizing your blog is easy. Rather than having to manually put HTML/Javascript codes on your blog to manually set up things like AdSense and Pay Per Click advertising, you can select an option on most blog hosting sites that does much of the work for you.

The Cons

• You don’t have as many options to customize your blog. Remotely hosted blogs are admittedly somewhat limited in terms of what you can actually do on them. You have to stick with what is provided to you in terms of look and features.

• The URL you get is always yourname.BLOGSITE.com. You don’t get to have a custom domain name like YOURNAME.com. This can possibly hurt traffic to your blog.

• Blogs hosted on free blog sites don’t look as professional as self hosted blogs.

Why should I self-host my blog?

The Pros

• You have more options and more flexibility. You are able to tweak the blog to your liking.

• Your URL is your address for your blog. Rather than having go to where your blog is hosted to read it, they can read it right from your site.

• The ability to make your blog look professional. Blogs that are hosted on sites of their own tend to look a lot better than those hosted on free sites.

• More space for your blog. Free blog sites usually place a restriction on how much space you have for things like photos and music. By hosting your own blog, you are able to use as much space as you need.

The Cons

• There are sometimes problems with setting up blog software to run on your site and server. If you aren’t experienced when it comes to working with mySQL, the process will be hard.

• Updates aren’t as easy to post.

• You have to manually set up programs to monetize your blog. However, if you are good with HTML/Javascript, this shouldn’t be too hard.

• You have to pay for your own hosting and domain

As you can see, there are pros and cons to both. Which should you choose? Well, it depends on who you are and what you intend to use your blog for. If you intend to use it for business, then a self-hosted blog is the best idea. If it’s a personal blog, then a free hosted blog will probably be fine for you.

Closely examine all of the pros and cons mentioned above. That way, you’ll be able to make the best decision for you!

About The Author

Len Hutton is a information publisher specialising in helping people start their own home based business. Get a no cost video showing you step by step how to set up a niche ebook empire at www.nicheresidualincomes.com If you are considering using Google Pay-Per-Click Ads to promote your blog check out this web site http://rowner.freegoogle.hop.clickbank.net/

by: Len Hutton

The Benefits Of MS Exchange Server 2007

For today's businesses, e-mail is perhaps the most important communication method in use. An increased reliance on e-mail has drastically increased the volume of messages sent, even increasing the rate of business itself. Today's employee seeks efficient and remote access to online calendars, contacts, and email, regardless of what type of device they're using. Exchange Server 2007 from Microsoft was designed specifically to address the needs of a messaging system. Exchange Server's new capabilities provide improved protection, access and efficiency.

The IT professional's task is that of providing a messaging system that satisfies needs while remaining balanced in security and cost. As e-mail volume increases, security requirements become more challenging. IT staff must counter a multitude of security threats, including spam, viruses, noncompliance risks, and email security. Although security is a high-ranking priority, staff must always work within the constraints of time, money and resources. This causes IT to look for a system that will satisfy the requirements of the business, yet is cost-effectively managed and deployed.

Exchange Server 2007 provides protection, built-in. This reduces spam and viruses while enabling private communications and helping attain compliance.

* Smooth flow of communications with enterprise-class availability and reliability

* Protects data and users from destructive viruses and spam

* Secure communications are provided automatically within the company

With Anywhere access, employees can get to their e-mail, calendar, voice mail and contacts from a variety of clients and devices. Anywhere access requires an Internet connection; Outlook Voice Access requires a telephone connection.

* Improved collaboration, making it easier to find and share documents, schedules and data

* Employees are provided with a single inbox for e-mail, voice and fax messages

* Overall productivity is improved with a staff able to respond from work, home, or the road

* Quick and seamless delivery of an Outlook-style experience from a variety of devices

Better efficiency is made possible by networking features and optimization hardware, helping administration staff.

* Exchange Server data easily integrated with Exchange Web Services

* Efficient deployment with automatic client connections, roles-based architecture, and better diagnostics and monitoring

* Delivery of powerful x64 bandwidth optimization and computing

* Improved ability for administrators to find and fix problems, as well as task automation

Exchange Server offers benefits and capabilities to a broad range of clients. In addition, it supports the Outlook experience. MS Exchange Server 2007 can be integrated with Windows SharePoint Services and other Office applications and third-party systems and devices.

Nick Pegley is a marketing expert with All Covered: Technology Services Partner for Small Business, providing information technology consulting and IT services in 20 major U.S. metro areas. Outsource your procurement, installation and technical headaches.. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Pegley

By Nick Pegley

Symantec Norton Antibot The Latest In Norton Computer Protection Software

It seems like every other month a new “program” comes along to make our lives that much easier. For example, first we could bookmark favorites, and then RSS feed them, and then came widgets and now “bots” which are robots that do a lot of our computer work for us in the background. Examples of friendly bots are weather bots, game playing bots, instant messaging and my favorites are those on AOL Instant Messenger which do all kinds of functions for me like shop, find movie times and even give updates on the Wall Street Journal.

Unfortunately not all bots were created “equal.” Some are friendly and some are not. The ones that are not friendly can be a form of malware that allows control of your computer to be released, providing hackers with the opportunity to access your information and spread harmful bots to others. This type of computer virus can then be used to spread spam and commit various types of identity theft and other online fraud.

So with new threats to our computers and information, new methods of protection are required. One of the oldest and most well known software protection designers has recently released a new protection program, Symantec Norton AntiBot. This is a software product designed to prevent the hijacking of one’s personal computer by bots and uses the bots on design programs against them, to located and destroy them.

Many people already employ some form of protection on their personal computer, such as increasing the protection level from internet information to “high.” But these cannot detect some of the most recent bot programs and may not be the most efficient means of information protection, especially with the Internet being used more and more frequently for online shopping, ticket purchases, travel and other “high risk” activities.

A more effective method of detecting and eliminating threats caused by bots is to install software designed specifically to detect, destroy and prevent bots from having access to your computer. With Symantec Norton AntiBot software, protection against bots is enhanced several times and the threat of bot attack is greatly diminished. It’s program protects against bots by blocking bots from entering your computer through downloads and e-mail attachments (two of the common ways bots enter a personal computer), checking for any unusual behavior on your personal computer and eliminating it, and detecting malicious bot software at all levels; keeping your personal, financial and credit card information safe and stopping identify theft before it can occur.

Because bots operate in the background and are not detectable by antivirus or antispyware programs, many computer users are completely unaware that their personal computer has become infected. Many problems caused by bots go undetected until it is too late. Warning signs that your computer may have been accessed include: slowness of computer speed and unusual or irrelevant error messages. However, many times com these symptoms are sporadic and computer users will take little notice. Many people will continue to use their personal computer, unaware that bots have hijacked their personal computer and are slowly at work; looking for credit card numbers, passwords, and logon information which can be used for identity theft and in committing other types of online crime. This program scans your personal computer on a continuous basis, closing the gaps that could allow bots to infect your personal computer and better ensuring that bots do not invade and gain control.

The use of Symantec Norton AntiBot to determine what a harmful or useful bot and allows you to continue using those bots you love and have come to depend on for information and services. It can be used in addition to several other antivirus and antispyware programs. Its compatibility is not limited to only Norton products.

The cost of this software is $29.95 for one year of service. It was awarded PC Magazine’s Editor’s Choice Award (2007) and underwent rigorous testing which included using AntiBot on computers with existing threats as well as allowing threats to try to access the computer after installation.

With the growing threat of identity theft and credit card fraud Symantec Norton AntiBot offers an additional level of protection needed to combat the threat of bots and prevent them from turning one’s personal computer into a robotic that turns into an instrument of destruction to both your personal and financial well-being.

by: Lisa Carey

About The Author

Lisa Carey is a contributing author for http://www.IdentityTheftSecrets.com. You can get tips on Identity theft protection, software, and monitoring your credit, as well as learn more about the secrets used by identity thieves at http://www.IdentityTheftSecrets.com

Internet And Business Online – The Act Of Interdependence

The best role of business online is that of interdependency. We’ve all heard the old saying, “No man is an island.” When it comes to online business this is especially true.

If a business owner who takes their business into the online world determines they will be self reliant and never accept the help of anyone then that individual will not be in business long enough to change their minds.

It is accepted fact that the greatest tool for long-term exposure to your website is through Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Without it potential customers can’t find you. It is unreasonable to expect that you can adequately develop a website without optimizing your website for the best possible search engine ranking.

Search engines also place a high value on sites that have links placed on existing sites. These ‘backlinks’ demonstrate to search engines that others trust your site. By placing your link on their website these other businesses indicate a trust and recommendation for your site.

In effect the two strategies listed above rely exclusively on what others can do for you when it comes to your online business.

Shirley Temple once proclaimed in her movie Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, “I’m very self-reliant.” American westerns are filled with lines dealing with pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and holding down the fort. Many of us have grown up to believe if we want something done right we have to do it ourselves.

This thinking is in opposition to the rules associated with an online business.

The online world can only exist because people share. Individuals share technology, but the also share links, reviews, blogs, forums and a wide range of other marketing strategies that find a commingling of interdependency.

In online business you are as dependent on others as they may be on you. Unlike the word ‘dependent’, the term interdependent indicates a mutual dependency. In other words you are depending on others to help provide links back to your site while they are equally dependent on you (or others) for the success of their business.

Have you really taken a proactive approach to networking? It’s possible you are reading this today and you’ve never considered asking someone else to place a link to your site on his or her online business site.

It can feel awkward depending on others to achieve online success especially if you’ve been lead to believe reliance on others is also a sign of imposing on their otherwise brilliant generosity.

I suppose it could be a deep-seated sense of pride that makes it hard to consider the need to ask others for help. However, the truth is depending on others is really what has made the Internet possible. The growth of this online world is comprised of a link of computers, networks and servers that are connected in a way that provides the maximum benefit for all.

Building an online business can feel a bit like trying to build a house of cards. Without the ability to rely on the other ‘cards’ around you it is virtually impossible to build.

Interdependence. This is the essence of online business.

by: Scott Lindsay

About The Author

Scott Lindsay is a web developer and entrepreneur. Make your own website in just 5 minutes with HighPowerSites at: http://www.highpowersites.com or Build A Website at: http://www.buildagreatsite.com. Start your own ebook business with BooksWealth at: http://www.bookswealth.com

Home Network How-To - What Type Should I Use?

by Don Willson

When I first started in computers, one of the most confusing things that I ran across was how to set up a home network. The differences between hubs, routers, Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) and cabling were a mystery to me. But after much trial and error and built-up experience I managed to figure things out and some of that information I will share with you now.

There are two basic types of networks that I’m going to talk about in this article first being the infamous ICS or Internet Connection Sharing. ICS is usually implemented by connecting multiple computers through the hub to a single computer. Let’s say we have three computers, Computer A, Computer B and Computer C. Computer A has enjoyed a high speed Internet connection and after a while, Computer B and C want to get in on the action! In order to implement ICS, we would have to connect Computers B and C to a hub.

A hub is basically a switch that allows any computer hooked up to it to communicate with any other computer hooked up to the hub. So with all three computers hooked up to it, we would set the network up on the computers to use ICS. Computers B and C would be told that they’re going to connect to the Internet through another computer that has a high-speed Internet connection. While Computer A would be configured to enjoy its high-speed connection as it did before.

Like this, Computers B and C would enjoy a relatively fast connection to the Internet as would Computer A. The problem here starts when all three computers are accessing the Internet at the same time. Computers B and C would enjoy a relatively fast connection to the Internet while Computer A would suffer some moderate slowdowns because it not only has to handle its own traffic but the traffic of the other two computers as well. The user on Computer A is going to get quite upset if Computers B and C decide to download files at the same time. Because downloading a file is such a data intensive process, demanding large amounts of data be transferred from the Internet as fast as possible, Computers A may suffer some severe speed problems because of the demand being put on it from the other two computers.

Unfortunately because of the fact that the hub does not have built-in firewall or any other such software that can protect the computers behind the hub Computers A must also be running Windows firewall in the background which provides an additional performance hit.

So although the ICS is the cheapest way to go, it is definitely not the speediest way to go. In fact, to be honest, I would only follow this route if the users of Computers B and C had something against the user of Computer A and want to get even!

The second type of setup that I’m going to talk about it is the router based set up. Nice thing about the router is that most routers are very intelligent. They have built-in firewalls, parental controls, can block sites or even allow users to have access to your network from the outside if they know the proper passwords and/or ports to connect through. No additional software is required that might add a performance hit and all three computers get configured the same way.

To hook up or router you simply plug a cable from your Internet connection into the router then plug the three computers into the router as well. When you set up your computers you tell networking software that all three will computers have direct access to the Internet. There is some setup involved with router as is usual with any complicated piece of hardware but usually it is very painless and if you follow the instructions, quite easy!

The nice thing about router set up is that once it is set, up all three computers enjoy the same speed advantages of being on a high-speed Internet. No one computer is impacted by the fact that someone else is downloading a file. In fact, all three can download a file at the same time and still enjoy impressive speed while doing so! Face it guys this is the network that you want to set up if your wife is on Computer A!

Routers tend to be a little more expensive than hubs but the advantages of having them a part your network far outweigh any price difference. So if you must go with ICS, then do so with pride! But personally, I would recommend spending the extra money to go the “router route”!

About the Author

Don Willson is a 53-year-old man living in Virginia. No new to writing is often been told (I know everybody gets this) that he should try getting some of his work published.

For more information on setting up your home network, visit his webpage at http://donwenterprises.com/networkingebook/index.htm

Of all the things I've lost in life I miss my mind the most!

Computer CPU & Memory Upgrades

by Manuel Rose

If your computer seems sluggish lately, it may need a faster CPU, or more memory. In this article, I'll show you how to do these upgrades!

Before you begin you will have to configure your motherboard to work with your CPU (also known as the central processor unit) and the MEMORY MODULES.

Referring to your motherboard owner’s manual, locate the small black plastic jumpers associated with the type and speed of the CPU (central processor unit) and memory modules you are using. Some newer motherboards are jumperless. These boards can be configured later in the SETUP or BIOS program.

Remove and replace jumpers as per your motherboard owner’s manual. If you are replacing your current central processor unit you will have to remove your old one first.

On an ATX SLOT 1 system the CPU is a large module that will be standing vertical on the motherboard. Push the CPU latches inward before you carefully pull the CPU up and out, then unplug the CPU fan connector.

On an AT type board, locate the CPU. The CPU is a large square chip with a fan mounted on top. On its socket will be a release handle, pull up on the handle and the CPU will be released enabling you to pull it out. Unclip the fan and heatsink so you can reuse them with the new CPU.

Now you can proceed to installing the new CPU. I will start with instructions for the ATX type slot 1 system first. On an ATX system you’ll have to install a retention mechanism, also known as the CPU mounting support, that usually comes with your motherboard or CPU. If you were not supplied with this mechanism you will have to purchase one separately before you continue. Install the pegs into the motherboard.

Some ATX slot 1 processors come with the heatsink and fan already mounted, if yours doesn’t you will have to purchase one separately and snap it onto the CPU. Slide the heatsink supports onto each end of the heatsink. Push the CPU latches inward and slowly slide the CPU into the mounting support making sure that the heatsink support holes align with the pegs. Slide the clips out until they snap in place with the pegs and then slide latches out. Plug the CPU fan wire into the motherboard connector marked CPU FAN.

On an AT type system locate the large white socket on the motherboard. Make sure the release handle on the socket is in the up position. Mount the heatsink and fan onto the CPU by snapping the plastic clips over the CPU chip. Turn the CPU upside down, pins facing up. Orient the pin layout to match that of the socket. Place the CPU gently over the socket and press down. Push the release handle down to lock it in place.

Now you can proceed to install the memory modules. Memory modules are small circuit boards that contain integrated circuit memory chips. Check your motherboard owner’s manual to see what type is required for your particular system.

Locate the memory sockets on your motherboard. If you are upgrading your present system you may have to remove some expansion cards to gain access to them. There will be 2 to 4 sockets depending on your particular motherboard.

To remove the old modules check to see if there are clamps on the sockets, if so gently pull them out to release the module. Tilt the module towards the clamps and gently pull it out. Never exert force on the modules. If there are no clamps on the sockets use 2 non-magnetic Flathead screwdrivers by using one to release it and the other to pry it up gently. Loosen one side at a time.

The modules will only fit one way. You will need to refer to your owner’s manual to determine the proper placement of the socket. Some install on a 45-degree angle while others install straight up. Gently press it towards the back of the socket until it snaps in place. Remember it will only fit one way. Press down easy until it snaps in place. Do the same for the remaining memory modules.

If You Find This Article Useful, Please Link To It!

Want to learn more about building and upgrading computers? Pick up a copy of our DVD, "Anyone Can Build Or Upgrade Personal Computers" available at, http://mmrproductions.com/

About The Author; Manuel Rose is a long time Computer enthusiast, entrepreneur, and video producer.

About the Author

About The Author; Manuel Rose is the CEO of mmrproductions.com and KnowYourParrot.com. He is the main copywriter as well as the producer of several how-to products for over 8 years. http://mmrproductions.com/

Computer Expansion

by Manuel Rose

If your computer seems sluggish lately, it may need a faster CPU, or more memory. In this article, I'll show you how to do these upgrades!

Before you begin you will have to configure your motherboard to work with your CPU (also known as the central processor unit) and the MEMORY MODULES.

Referring to your motherboard owner’s manual, locate the small black plastic jumpers associated with the type and speed of the CPU (central processor unit) and memory modules you are using. Some newer motherboards are jumperless. These boards can be configured later in the SETUP or BIOS program.

Remove and replace jumpers as per your motherboard owner’s manual. If you are replacing your current central processor unit you will have to remove your old one first.

On an ATX SLOT 1 system the CPU is a large module that will be standing vertical on the motherboard. Push the CPU latches inward before you carefully pull the CPU up and out, then unplug the CPU fan connector.

On an AT type board, locate the CPU. The CPU is a large square chip with a fan mounted on top. On its socket will be a release handle, pull up on the handle and the CPU will be released enabling you to pull it out. Unclip the fan and heatsink so you can reuse them with the new CPU.

Now you can proceed to installing the new CPU. I will start with instructions for the ATX type slot 1 system first. On an ATX system you’ll have to install a retention mechanism, also known as the CPU mounting support, that usually comes with your motherboard or CPU. If you were not supplied with this mechanism you will have to purchase one separately before you continue. Install the pegs into the motherboard.

Some ATX slot 1 processors come with the heatsink and fan already mounted, if yours doesn’t you will have to purchase one separately and snap it onto the CPU. Slide the heatsink supports onto each end of the heatsink. Push the CPU latches inward and slowly slide the CPU into the mounting support making sure that the heatsink support holes align with the pegs. Slide the clips out until they snap in place with the pegs and then slide latches out. Plug the CPU fan wire into the motherboard connector marked CPU FAN.

On an AT type system locate the large white socket on the motherboard. Make sure the release handle on the socket is in the up position. Mount the heatsink and fan onto the CPU by snapping the plastic clips over the CPU chip. Turn the CPU upside down, pins facing up. Orient the pin layout to match that of the socket. Place the CPU gently over the socket and press down. Push the release handle down to lock it in place.

Now you can proceed to install the memory modules. Memory modules are small circuit boards that contain integrated circuit memory chips. Check your motherboard owner’s manual to see what type is required for your particular system.

Locate the memory sockets on your motherboard. If you are upgrading your present system you may have to remove some expansion cards to gain access to them. There will be 2 to 4 sockets depending on your particular motherboard.

To remove the old modules check to see if there are clamps on the sockets, if so gently pull them out to release the module. Tilt the module towards the clamps and gently pull it out. Never exert force on the modules. If there are no clamps on the sockets use 2 non-magnetic Flathead screwdrivers by using one to release it and the other to pry it up gently. Loosen one side at a time.

The modules will only fit one way. You will need to refer to your owner’s manual to determine the proper placement of the socket. Some install on a 45-degree angle while others install straight up. Gently press it towards the back of the socket until it snaps in place. Remember it will only fit one way. Press down easy until it snaps in place. Do the same for the remaining memory modules.

If You Find This Article Useful, Please Link To It!

Want to learn more about building and upgrading computers? Pick up a copy of our DVD, "Anyone Can Build Or Upgrade Personal Computers" available at, http://mmrproductions.com/

About The Author; Manuel Rose is a long time Computer enthusiast, entrepreneur, and video producer.

About the Author

About The Author; Manuel Rose is the CEO of mmrproductions.com and KnowYourParrot.com. He is the main copywriter as well as the producer of several how-to products for over 8 years. http://mmrproductions.com/

ATI 4800 Series vs NVidia 9900 Series

by Aki H.

The new ATI 4800 series is nearing its release, and more and more information is leaked on the whereabouts of the new NVidia 9900 series GPU, so the issue now is: which one will be better? Well, unfortunately, there are no credible benchmarks on either of these cards, so I will have to talk from the perspective of a business man.

The RV770, also known as the ATI Radeon 4800 series, is supposed to be released this month.Shortly afterwards, nVidia will release its 9900 series GPU's in response to ATI. Now, this will be a very interesting show. First of all, ATI's been steadily regaining its momentum. With the huge success of the ATI 3800 series GPU's, ATI can use its recent success as a push toward the top of the hill.

While ATI pushes forward with its recent success, NVidia is now in a somewhat tense situation. With the disappointing debut of the 9800series GPU's, NVidia must lick its wounds and push forward again to recreate the gains they had on ATI. Now that ATI is starting to build momentum, NVidia will have to work its butt off polishing the 9900series GPU's as much as possible so that both GPU's will not turn out to be the second 9800 series. Although they're being released as replacements of the 9800 series GPU, NVidia will nonetheless have to do some serious work in the area of performance and price-to-performance ratio on their 9900 series GPU's, because ATI will no doubt use their price-to-performance success on their ATI 3800 series GPU's on their Radeon 4800 series GPU's.

This is indeed a tight situation for NVidia; but an extremely valuable chance for ATI. This may bring back ATI to its former glory, and give ATI the chance to compete against NVIdia neck-to-neck, as an equally-polished GPU company once again.

Another side of this situation is that the pressure on NVidia might actually turn out to be favorable for NVidia, because the pressure might actually make NVIdia churn out an excellent GPu. Either way, both GPU's, the NVidia and ATI GPU's, will go neck to neck, and fight its way for the king of the hill.

To read more articles on computer hardware, go to www.ImIcarus.com>

About the Author

A student who learned how to build a computer at the age of 15, Aki H. has now started a blogging site to help people learn more about computers. To read his numerous computer hardware articles, go to http://www.ImIcarus.com

Why is My Computer Internet Slow? Steps to Speeding up Your Surfing

by Daryl Moore

Usually slow computer problems and slow internet problems go hand in hand. A variety of factors can impact both issues and there is no one fix that can make the issue go away.

The good news is that the problems can be resolved rather quickly if certain steps are taken.

Obviously, if you have dial-up service or free services where the servers are weighed down, you are more likely to experience computer internet slow downs. These problems can sometimes go away by simply upgrading the services you have. If you choose to keep the costs lower than what the high speed investment is, you will likely have a tough time getting your internet much faster. Still, some of the steps below may help.

This is a shortened version of the article you will find attached to the link at the bottom of the page (due to space issues).

Step One: Download and Run a Top Registry Repair and Cleaner Software. This will rid of Internet Explorer plug ins that are not vital and will create a better efficiency in the Windows registry (file structure for the operating system) which will speed up your computer.

Of all of the products we reviewed (in detail) Registry Easy is the best in terms of repair and optimizer features for the money invested. See http://www.registry-easy-info.com for complete details or to get a free scan to ensure errors are present before paying for the software.

Step Two: Download and Run a Quality Spyware Program to Remove any Spyware, Adware, Malware, and Viruses. This can include Trojans, hijackers, keyloggers, and pop-up generators. Try Xoftspyse if you want to resolve this step quickly. Go to http://www.xoftspyse-facts.com for additional details.

Step Three: Do a Broadband and Wireless Modem Reset (30 seconds will do great).

Step Four: Clean the History and Temporary Files off Your Browser (Settings > Internet Options).

Step Five: Use Free System Resources to Make Room on Hard Drive. (Start > Accessories > System Tools > then run Disk Cleanup, Disk Defrag, and create a restore point on system without running the actual full restore feature.

Step Six: Remove Any Unneeded Programs off Your Computer. (Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs > then choose programs to remove that you don’t plan on using soon).

Other Tips to Increase Internet Speeds:

Check connections. Make sure that each of your connections is up to par and that phone lines are not corrupt.

Check with your broadband provider about testing connection speeds. Do several tests and average out.

Try to avoid high traffic times when many people are on the same servers at the same time.

Upgrade your speed through provider. There are many services available (in most areas) and you are not stuck with your current speeds.

If all else fails, do a full system restore back to factory condition and reinstall vital programs that you use. This is time consuming but definitely an option if all else fails.

Set up a firewall to be in control of what programs have access to the net and vice versa.

If your computer equipment (hardware) is outdated, it may be time to upgrade since prices are great on computers these days.

After completing the actions in this article, computer internet slow downs will be a thing of the past.

About the Author

Daryl Moore reviews software products that help internet surfing speeds as well as increases to general compputer system performance. For more detail on the steps in this article see http://www.registry-repair-source.com/Computer-internet-slow-downs.htm or for details on his top registry software pick see http://www.registry-easy-info.com or http://www.xoftspyse-facts.com for details on his top spyware software choice.

Four Top Qualities of Window XP Anti Spyware Software

by Daryl Moore

If you are looking for Window XP anti spyware and are not sure what features to look for, the article to follow will assist you in your quest.

Spyware problems can include annoying pop-up and toolbars installs on your PC, redirection to websites that you had no intention of visiting, keyloggers that are intercepting your personal information, and the creation of system incompatibilities that cause freezes and crashes and slow computer problems.

When choosing a top Window XP anti spyware product, the following four qualities will ensure that you are getting a good product:

Quality One: Simple to Use Interface

If the software is too complicated for a NASA Astronaut, the chances are that the product is not fit for human use. Choose a product that contains all options right on the user window itself. Each feature should have a description of what the feature is and what it does. This will assist you to make choices about which parts of the system to use.

Quality Two: Back Up Feature

Whether the back up is automatic or manually selected, the best Window XP anti spyware products ensure that your files can be backed up for peace of mind. If the repair does not yield the results that you expected, you can return to the previous file state.

Quality Three: Great Support Files and Customer Service

The best Window XP anti spyware downloads are usually so simple that you do not need assistance during the entire process. It is still good to review the online help files and make sure that you do understand them before purchasing software. This is a contingency plan in case there are issues during non-business hours for the software provider.

One of the tests that I do with each company I purchase certain products through is to send a time test email to each. I see how quickly the company responds and how professionally they treat the interaction. This gives me a good (or bad) feeling about doing business with the company.

Quality Four: Product Effectiveness

In the end it is all about effectiveness. If the product chosen does not remove spyware, adware, malware, keyloggers, worms, pop-up generators, auto load toolbars, and other threats, is it really worth purchasing the software?

The top Window XP anti spyware products have larger definition (solutions) databases than the others that can detect and remove a higher number of actual threats and parasites from your computer.

The software should find more than surface cookies that are not harming anything. It should find severe level threats that have the best chance of hurting your PC long-term. Avoid products shown in internet research to generate False Positives. False Positives are invalid defects generated to make you think that there are problems that are not there.

Find complete reviews on the internet that dive into great detail about the entire process of testing the software. If the review is too short, there is a good chance that the reviewer has not actually utilized the product. Look for screen prints of the product each step of the way to see how much time the reviewer put into the review. This will also give you a good idea of the ease of a product.

The best Window XP anti spyware downloads offer at least a year of use for the price. Having this quality is a good option because you can set up intervals to have your system scanned. This is valuable because you can maintain your system during times that you are not on the PC. We must all practice prevention and correction when dealing with PC threats.

Out of 19 products we tested in detail, the top one across all categories is called Xoftspyse. There are over 280,000 items in the definitions (solutions) database to detect and remove more threats on your system, not to mention that the scans are on demand which will not tie up system resources. See http://www.xoftspyse-facts.com for complete product details or for a free scan to verify that errors are detected.

About the Author

Are you looking for top anti spyware products to rid of spyware, adware, and malware from your computer but don't know which products to trust? Don't waste your valuable time trying to guess at which anti spyware software is best for you. See complete reviews of three top choices at http://www.solutions-to-remove-spyware.com/best_anti_spyware.htm or for details on our top pick, Xoftspyse, see http://www.xoftspyse-facts.com

How to Detect Spyware and Quickly Remove It

by Daryl Moore

Spyware, adware and malware are a fact of life and it only adds stress to our lives when we think about the problems that each causes. The best way to handle it is to simply remove it from your system, often, and move on.

The easiest way to detect spyware is to use quality software to scan for it. Obviously, symptoms can show up that give you a good idea that spyware is on your computer. A free scan will confirm your suspicions.

If you are getting consistent pop-ups on your computer, automatically loaded toolbars, are being directed to websites that you did not request, or you have slow or crashing computer problems, it is a good bet that you have some spyware threats on your system. These are outward signs. At the same time, keyloggers can be tracking your online behaviors and can steal your personal information.

You Can Easily Detect Spyware and Remove it with the Following Steps:

Step One: Create a Baseline Measure of Problems

In layman terms, simply write down all of the problems that you have noticed are occurring on your computer. This will give you an idea of if the repair (later) actually fixed many of the issues. Keep in mind that progress is the key, not absolute perfection. There can be other factors that weigh into a slow computer like disk space taken, bloated registry files and so on.

Step Two: Run a Free Scan on Your System to Ensure Severe Threats Exist

The best software programs that detect spyware and remove it offer a free scan to see what is on your system. Obviously, if you want the repair function within the software, there will be a fee for it. But, at least for the time being, see what errors are found when you download and run a free scan.

If you have very little threats that are severe in level (the software should tell you), you can make a choice whether or not to purchase the full version. I personally recommend that everyone has good spyware and adware programs, registry cleaner software, and some form of general virus scan for their computers. I consider this part of operational costs of having a computer each year.

Step Three: Repair the Errors

The download and scan are the time-consuming parts of the process. The easy part is purchasing the repair and getting it done. The entire process from download to repair should take no more than 10-15 minutes.

Many software programs allow you to choose which files to ignore and also offer quarantine options. I am most concerned over severe threats versus surface level cookies which can be rather harmless.

Your main goal should always be to get fixed quickly and easily with the least amount of mental exertion possible. Obviously, the end goal is to get the computer fixed right from one or two rounds from the software chosen.

Once you have completed the process, be sure to restart your system to let the changes take effect. Not all software programs require such a task, but it is always a good idea just in case.

Of the 19 products we reviewed in detail, the best one across all categories is called Xoftspyse. There are over 280,000 items in the definitions (solutions) database to detect and remove more threats on your system, not to mention that the scans are on demand which will not tie up system resources. See http://www.xoftspyse-facts.com for complete product details or for a free scan to verify that errors are found.

About the Author

Are you looking for top anti spyware products to rid of spyware, adware, and malware from your computer but don't know which products to trust? Don't waste your valuable time trying to guess at which anti spyware software is best for you. See complete reviews of three top choices at http://www.solutions-to-remove-spyware.com/best_anti_spyware.htm or for details on our top pick, Xoftspyse, see http://www.xoftspyse-facts.com

Is There a Best Anti Spyware Program?

by Daryl Moore

For people looking for the best anti spyware program, there are certainly some great solutions on the market.

Asking if there is a best software is like asking if there is a best car in the world. The differences come down to user preferences. Some anti spyware and adware products perform well in certain categories and not as well in other categories.

The following four qualities are common to all of the best spyware program choices:

Quality One: Ease of Use

It should not be a difficult task to understand such a straight forward product. The user interface should thoroughly explain all features and every option should be within a click from where you are on the screen.

A good spyware remover product should rarely require the use of the online help files offered. All options should be in one place and easy to read.

Quality Two: Sufficient Features

Some of the features that the best anti spyware program choices should have include file back ups (either manual or automatic), scan settings for intervals desired, a large definitions (solutions) database, ability to scan running process (applications), which files to repair versus ignore, and an easy to read scan results page.

Quality Three: Support and Customer Service

Though the best anti spyware program options are easy to use, there should at least be an extensive help library online in case you need the assistance. Most do not offer live support, but it really shouldn’t be needed when dealing with quality products.

If you are concerned about the level of support you will get, try sending a time test email to the company with a simple question of any type. See how long it takes for them to respond and how professional they are when they do respond.

Quality Four: Effectiveness

Ultimately, nothing else matters if the product does not fix your spyware, adware, and malware issues.

Many people believe that real time protection is the best choice. Real time protection has the aim of keeping upcoming threats from adhering to your computer. The problem is that many of the threats being placed on your computer are new and there are not solutions to each. Also, real time requires system resources to be utilized consistently. For this reason, real time protection is not vital in my opinion.

Always seek a large definitions database (as mentioned above) so that you have the best chance of parasites being detected and removed. Some of the best programs have in excess of 250,000 solution definitions in their databases.

Even if it takes a couple of scan and repair rounds, it will be worth it to keep up with all of the malicious attackers out there. Threats will be around as long as computers themselves are. It is a fact of life. So, it is best to just purchase quality protection and address the problems as they arise.

Many people look for free tools to address their software issues not realizing that many of the free choices imbed more spyware into their computer. The EULA (End User Licensing Agreement) often requires the user to allow such downloads as part of using their product for free. Most people never bother with the agreements and just start downloading. Keep in mind that free is not always free. Some of the best anti spyware programs include Xoftspyse, Spyware Doctor and NoAdware. Each has distinct advantages over other programs including features and definitions database size.

Of the 19 products we reviewed in detail, the best one across all categories is called Xoftspyse. There are over 280,000 items in the definitions (solutions) database to detect and remove more threats on your system, not to mention that the scans are on demand which will not tie up system resources. See http://www.xoftspyse-facts.com for complete product details or for a free scan to verify that errors are found.

About the Author

Are you looking for top anti spyware products to rid of spyware, adware, and malware from your computer but don't know which products to trust? Don't waste your valuable time trying to guess at which anti spyware software is best for you. See complete reviews of three top choices at http://www.solutions-to-remove-spyware.com/best_anti_spyware.htm or for details on our top pick, Xoftspyse, see http://www.xoftspyse-facts.com

How to Remove Trojans from Your Computer in 10 Minutes or Less

by Daryl Moore

Once you understand how to remove Trojans, the process can be duplicated on a daily or weekly basis to keep your computer clean. The average anti virus programs will not remove Trojans easily, so if you have tried that route you may want to read the steps below for additional guidance. When Trojans install themselves on your system, you will need the help of a quality anti spyware software to complete the job.

A couple popular ways that Trojans attach to your computer will be through spyware and adware. This is why standard virus removers will not usually detect or remove such problems.

The list below will describe some of the common symptoms associated with Trojan viruses:

1. Files open randomly 2. You are experiencing slow computer problems 3. Your internet redirects you to sites that were not requested 4. The default home page on your PC is replaced with a tasteless site 5. Automatically loaded tool bars and pop ups appear 6. Your mouse has a trail as you drag it 7. Window start up button and others disappear 8. The PC shuts down without your command, or boots at will 9. Alt + Control + Delete is non operational 10. Your internet is moving like a turtle

It is a good practice to avoid doing your own Trojan removals without software help, no matter how detailed the instructions are that you are following. If you are not well-versed with executable files, save yourself the future pain of a crashed system and follow the steps below.

How to Remove Trojans in Three Steps:

Step One: Write a List of All Symptoms that You Have Noticed

Create a baseline measure of what issues you are experiencing. That way you will know whether or not the steps to follow work the way you hoped. You can compare the results after repair compared to the initial symptoms you have. Keep in mind that no one product is a miracle cure, but many problems will be cleared up from the first time a repair is conducted.

Think of when the symptoms most commonly occur (like start up versus when on the internet) and just write down any strange behaviors that your computer has shown you. You can start with the symptom list above, but do not be limited just to that list.

Step Two: Conduct a Free Scan with a Product Designed to Remove Trojans The good news is that there are a handful of great products to help you with this step. You do not need to know how to remove Trojans if you have the right software. There are many similarities between top products. The best software programs tend to be effective across a variety of categories.

Look to scan with a software product that is easy to understand, one with extensive help files, ones with a large definitions (solutions) database, and seek ones with a variety of good reviews and not much negative on the search result pages that come up on the net.

If you understand how to remove Trojans, you will also be able to remove other forms of spyware, adware, and malware at the same time. The scan will show results well beyond just Trojans.

Step Three: If Severe Infections are Detected Purchase the Full Version Software

Once you get your results back, see if severe level threats were detected. If so, you should immediately take care of the problems by purchasing the repair utility in the same software that you just completed the scan with. The repair takes seconds compared to the download and scanning process.

I have a year round maintenance plan for my computers that include a solid spyware software, Windows registry cleaner, and a general anti virus program. You can eliminate most of the problems that arise by purchasing these three power tools. I usually scan weekly with each of the three products to keep up with threats on my system. I do not use real-time protection based products due to the system resources that are tied up.

For removal of spyware, adware, malware, and computer Trojans, find a product with extensive definitions database files (as previously mentioned).

Be sure to restart your computer after the repair to make sure that the changes go into effect. Go back to your initial list and see how many of the problems were completely eliminated. Now that you know how to remove Trojans, you can scan and repair additional times to see if additional problems are removed. It might also be a good investment to look into the other tools mentioned above (registry repair and general anti virus).

Of the 19 products we reviewed in detail, the best one across all categories is called Xoftspyse. There are over 280,000 items in the definitions (solutions) database to detect and remove more threats on your system, not to mention that the scans are on demand which will not tie up system resources. See http://www.xoftspyse-facts.com for complete product details or for a free scan to verify that errors are found.

About the Author

If you are not confident about which product to choose to complete the removal of Trojans, see http://www.trojan-remover-tips.com/best-trojan-removal-software.htm to see reviews of three top products. For product information or for a free scan of our top pick of 19 products that we tested, visit http://www.xoftspyse-facts.com

How to Clean your Keyboard-Part 2

When it comes to cleaning your keyboard there are many methods that can be used, some harder and more effective than others.

The easiest method is the Shake Method. It is so easy that you can do it right now. Pick up your keyboard, turn it over being careful not to press any keys, and shake it. See all of that stuff fall out? It is dirtier than you thought, isn't it? You can use one of the following methods to clean it further.

The Blow Method - You can buy cans of pressurized air at the computer department or computer store which are made especially for cleaning your computer. They usually have either a hose and nozzle or a tube extending from the nozzle. Hold the keyboard up vertically (that means that end of the keyboard is up and the other end is down), aim towards the keys and press the button. Keep blowing until all of the debris is blown out. Be sure to get around and in between all of the keys. This can be done with the computer on, but it is better if it is off so that you do not have to worry about pressing the keys and coming up with a page of aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa's.

The Vacuum Method - This is just like the Blow Method except that a vacuum is used instead of a can of pressurized air. It is quite simple. Just turn the vacuum on, pull out the hose, and run the nozzle over the keys. Before doing this make sure your keyboard does not have any loose pop off keys that could be sucked into the vacuum.

The Cotton Ball Method - This can be done in addition to the above methods and in lieu of the following methods. Take a cotton ball or cloth and wet it with rubbing alcohol. It should not be so wet that the alcohol runs down into the cracks of the keyboard. Wipe the tops and sides of the keys.

The Dishwasher Method - I hesitate to tell about this method because there is the possibility that it could fry your keyboard. When I had less experience with computers, I dunked my keyboard in a sink full of water to clean it. It did work afterwards, so I don't doubt those who say this method will not mess up your keyboard, but if it does, don't complain to me. I warned you. If your keyboard is not the standard membrane type of keyboard or if it is on a laptop, do not even think of trying this.

This is how you do it. Unplug the keyboard and place it face down in an empty dishwasher. Do not disassemble the keyboard and do not put it in a dishwasher that has dirty dishes in it. Some say to add soap, some say not to. Run the dishwasher through a regular cycle. Take the keyboard out, shake the water out, and stand it on end until it is completely dry (this may take several days). If it does not work after doing this, it may not be dry. Let it stand another week and try it again. If it still does not work, I warned you.

The Disassembly Method - This is the most thorough method, but it should not be done on laptop keyboards or non-standard non-membrane keyboards.

Turn off the computer and unplug the keyboard. Turn the keyboard upside down. You may want to get two books or short boards to place the keyboard on. Position them so that they hold up the keyboard on the edges when it is turned over. This should leave the keys dangling and not touching the books or the floor. This is especially needed when the keyboard's back is off; otherwise the keys will be lifted out of their position by the floor (or whatever surface it is laying on).

Get a screwdriver and remove all of the screws from the back of the keyboard. Lay the keyboard down on the books and carefully remove the back.

Take everything apart and clean thoroughly. It is better to take the keys out one at a time and clean them so that you do not put them back in the wrong place. Wipe each one down with a wet cloth and then with a dry cloth. Any keys that may be hard to put back in, can be cleaned in place without removing them. Wipe around the keys as they sit in place and blow any debris out with your lungs (using compressed air or a vacuum may upset the keys). If you are really brave, you can remove all of the keys at once and give the frame a good wipe down too.

Do a once over and make sure that you have cleaned everything. Then reassemble it all.

Don't forget the keyboard's cable. Wrap a wet cloth around it and wipe it down. It may have an accumulation of grime that needs to be scrubbed off. Also if any of the letters on the keys have rubbed off, you can use a fine point permanent marker to draw the letter back on the key.

Use these cleaning methods and your keyboard will last a long time and be something you can be proud of.

by : Ray Geide

About The Author

Ray Geide writes a free weekly newsletter called Ray's Computer Tips and moderates a discussion board answering computer questions called Computer Q&A.

He is an experienced computer programmer who has been writing top-rated software for over a decade. Though he has written for some big-name companies, he prefers to write for his own company, Super Win Software, Inc. http://www.superwin.com/

How to Clean your Keyboard- Part 1

I know most of you will not heed this advice, but KEYBOARDS CAN MAKE YOU SICK (how's that for tactfulness?). Germs live on your hands and fingers. When you type, many of them jump on to the keyboard. When someone else types on your keyboard, those germs transfer to their fingers. Or when you later type on the same keyboard, those germs reconquer your fingers. Regularly disinfecting the keyboard can prevent this.

To disinfect the keyboard, turn off the computer. Then spray disinfectant on a cloth. Be sure to use disinfectant and not just any type of cleaner because not all cleaners disinfect. Also do not spray the disinfectent directly on the keys. Spray it on the cloth. Wipe down the top and sides of the keys. Give the keys a few minutes to dry off before turning the computer back on.

Now that you know how to do it, you should make it a regular practice to disinfect the keyboard. It's one step towards a healthier you.

So you have your keyboard disinfected and life is great. Then your child spills koolaide all over it. What do you do? There are certain steps that you should take when something, like pop, beer, wine, coffee, milk, or kool-aide, is spilled on the keyboard.

The first thing to do is immediately unplug the keyboard from the back of the computer and turn the keyboard over so that its keys are down. This will allow the liquid to drain out. You will probably want to put a cloth under the keyboard or at least make sure that the surface you have put it on is washable.

Then use the mouse to shut down Windows and turn off the computer (this is important because later you will have to plug the keyboard back into the computer and you should never plug any device into a computer while it is on).

While the keyboard is upside down use a cloth to dry as much of the liquid off as you can. If you have a can of compressed air or a vacuum, while the keyboard is upside down blow or vacuum it out. Then let the keyboard set upside down for at least a night so that it can adequately dry out.

If the liquid that spilled on it was sticky, you may want to follow the extensive cleaning procedure explained in the next article, How to Clean your Keyboard - Part 2.

Liquid spilled on a laptop keyboard can easily reach the hard drive, so turn it over immediately and leave it in that position until it dries.

Keyboards are quite resilient and so it should work when you turn it on again. But if not, another attribute of keyboards is that they are cheap and so it won't cost too much to buy another one.

With these pointers in mind and a quick reaction, you just may save your keyboard from total destruction the next time it gets coated with coffee.

by : Ray Geide

About The Author

Ray Geide writes a free weekly newsletter called Ray's Computer Tips and moderates a discussion board answering computer questions called Computer Q&A.

He is an experienced computer programmer who has been writing top-rated software for over a decade. Though he has written for some big-name companies, he prefers to write for his own company, Super Win Software, Inc. http://www.superwin.com/

How to Clean the Registry

In the beginning Windows' registry consisted of two files totalling around 5mb in size. Today it consists of at least 12 files with the Software file itself being 30mb or bigger in size. As the size of the registry has exploded, so has the trash and clutter in it. It may seem like a daunting task, but cleaning the registry properly can fix system problems, speed your computer up, and make it run more efficiently.

I have spent many years developing and refining thousands of procedures to do just that. I could share these methods of hunting down the trash with you and let you find them and delete them by hand, but if you were to sit down at your computer right now and work nonstop, you would still be busy with them a week from now when the next issue of Ray's Computer Tips arrives. By then your registry would have new clutter and you would have to start all over again.

To make registry cleaning easier on everyone, I wrote a program called RegVac Registry Cleaner (http://regvac.com/regvac.htm) to perform those procedures. It has been so successful that several companies have asked me to model their registry cleaners after RegVac and even more have copied processes that first debutted in RegVac.

The first place RegVac cleans is the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT section (the Classes Vac in RegVac does this). This section contains settings for the classes of Windows. Think of a huge box full of snakes and you will get an idea of how complicated and interwoven it is. It is so complicated that many registry cleaners bypass it or simply perform surface scans of it. RegVac uses over a hundred processes to follow each tentacle of each class deep into this area and make sure that they abide by the rules.

Next RegVac validates the entries in 22 lists with 7 different methods (the FilesList Vac does this). This is a minor part of RegVac but the bulk of most other registry cleaners even though they usually do not clean all 22 lists.

Another part of RegVac, the Software Vac, which is unique to RegVac, finds old software sections in the registry and provides a way to remove that software's entire branch. Other registry cleaners only remove a few entries in this area often leaving huge portions of the registry that do nothing but take up space and get in the way.

Even more trash can be discovered in hundreds of stashes used to store data you will never use. Most registry cleaners do not even touch these. The Stash Vac lists these stashes and lets you go through and select which ones to empty out. Please use caution when using the Stash Vac because some of the items listed there may be important. For example, one folder in the Stash Vac lists places where data for international keyboards are stored. You probably will never use the data for Bulgarian keyboards, so you can remove it, but if you live in the US you may experience problems after removing the United States 101 keyboard. The items that you can safely remove are usually obvious.

Last but not least, when cleaning the registry, you should look for broken links to files on the computer (this is what the Bad Link Vac does). If a file is referenced in the registry but it does not exist on your hard drive, that is a good indicator that something is wrong. Many programmers start out writing a registry cleaner thinking all it has to do is check for these broken links and remove them. In fact, that is all many registry cleaners do.

Even though that is all they do, they often don't do it correctly. If you check the results of such scans, you will find out that many of the broken links are really good links. I spent several months refining this part of RegVac so that as far as I know it is 100% accurate. Despite this, please realize that some software enter broken links in the registry and require them to be there in order for them to run. RegVac skips the ones it knows about, but you still need to be careful with this part of RegVac.

RegVac has six more tools that clean even more areas: the Add/Remove Editor, the System Config Utility, the OpenWith Editor, the AutoComplete Editor, the Junk Keys Editor, and Registry Backup, Pack, and Restore.

Many of you already use RegVac but if you don't, you can downloaded a free 30 day trial of RegVac at http://regvac.com/regvacz.exe. For more information about RegVac Registry Cleaner go to http://regvac.com/regvac.htm. If you like RegVac, you can purchase it for only $29.95. All future updates are free.

Keep the Windows registry clean and running smoothly with RegVac Registry Cleaner.

by: Ray Geide

About The Author

Ray Geide writes a free weekly newsletter called Ray's Computer Tips and moderates a discussion board answering computer questions called Computer Q&A.

He is an experienced computer programmer who has been writing top-rated software for over a decade. Though he has written for some big-name companies, he prefers to write for his own company, Super Win Software, Inc. http://www.superwin.com/

How to Clean a Printer

Does your printer have frequent paper jams? Does it put ink where ink shouldn't be? Is the outside of your printer dirty or covered with smudges? If so, it is time to clean your printer.

First, there are some general rules that apply to cleaning just about any electrical device. It is best to turn off the printer before cleaning it. Do not spray water or cleaner on or in the printer. Instead wet the rag with it and clean the printer with the rag.

Different types of printers require different cleaning methods. So if you can get your hands on cleaning instructions for your make and model of printer, do so and follow them. Unfortunately, many manufacturers only make that kind of information available to their licensed technicians. In that case, you are stuck with these instructions, so read on.

Open up your printer and take a look.

If you have an ink jet printer and there is an ink mess inside, clean it up with wet paper towels.

If you have a printer that uses toner either vacuum or blow it out. Some toner, especially color toner, can be harmful to you, so only use a vacuum with a micro-toner filter or blow and run. Figure out where the drum is (it is shiny and larger in diameter than the rollers) and do not touch or scratch it. If you do, the scratches will turn up as marks on every paper that you print and will require that you replace the drum (not a cheap option) to fix it.

Examine the path that the paper takes through the printer. Clean all of the rollers (but on a toner printer, not the drum or rollers near the drum and watch out for the rollers after the drum because they may be hot). It may take some disassembly and/or contorting of your arm to get to some of the rollers. Access is not always easy. The most important rollers to clean are the ones which pick up the paper from the paper bin and transfer it into the printer. If these rollers are dirty or bad, they will cause consistent paper jams.

The rollers are made of either hard plastic or rubber. All of the rollers can be cleaned with water or rubbing alcohol. If the rubber rollers have deposits that you can't get off, you can use harsher cleaners but be careful because those cleaners can damage the plastic rollers and parts.

To clean a roller, wipe across the roller with a wet rag, rotate the roller, and wipe again. Do this until you have worked your way all the way around the roller. Look at the rag. If it has been blackened by the roller, move to a clean part of the rag and clean the roller again.

Once everything is clean on the inside, close it up and clean the outside. Wipe off the case and each of the buttons or knobs. If there are staples or paper clips sitting on it or wedged in the cracks, remove them and throw them away.

Other areas of the printer can be cleaned but to do so, you will have to either get training and special tools or leave it to a trained professional.

by : Ray Geide

About The Author

Ray Geide writes a free weekly newsletter called Ray's Computer Tips and moderates a discussion board answering computer questions called Computer Q&A.

He is an experienced computer programmer who has been writing top-rated software for over a decade. Though he has written for some big-name companies, he prefers to write for his own company, Super Win Software, Inc. http://www.superwin.com/

How to Clean your Mouse

If your mouse is working sluggishly or not at all, don't go out and buy another cheap mouse. The cause is probably just a dirty mouse. A quick cleaning could fix the problem.

First, you need to identify which kind of mouse you have. If you turn your mouse over and part of a ball is showing, you have a ball mouse. If you see a lens, you have an optical or laser mouse. Each type of mouse requires a different type of cleaning.

The optical or laser mouse does not need to be cleaned near as often as the ball mouse, but it and the surface it runs on can still get dirty. If you do not clean the surface that the mouse moves on, it will soon turn black. So about once a month or so, wipe the surface off with a wet rag. The lens probably never will get dirty, but if it does, take a soft cloth, cotton swab, or q-tip wetted with window cleaner or alcohol and clean the lens.

The ball mouse may need cleaning quite often, so you should get well acquainted with the following cleaning procedure. The dirtier the ball mouse gets, the harder it is to get it to move the cursor on the screen smoothly. If you have to move the mouse across the mouse pad several times to get the cursor to move halfway across the screen, it needs to be cleaned.

The mouse does not need to be disconnected to clean it, but you should close all of the programs that are running, so that you don't accidentally click on something and mess it up. If you do decide to disconnect the mouse, be sure to turn off the computer first. The mouse cord should never be unplugged from the computer while it is running. Doing so could ruin your motherboard.

Turn the ball mouse over and find the cover that holds the ball in. Look for arrows on the cover to show which way it needs to be turned. Place two fingers on the cover and push in the direction of the arrows. Once the cover has been turned about an inch, cover it with your hand and turn the mouse back over to the upright position. The ball and cover should fall into your hand. If it doesn't, shake the mouse gently.

Wipe the ball off with a wet rag.

Now look in the ball well and find the three rollers. Start by cutting across the buildup on the rollers with your fingernail (a knife or steel dental pick may also be used gently), then turn the roller and remove the buildup as you go along. If you do this correctly, you will end up with one curled strip of buildup for each roller. Make sure to remove the buildup from the well. If it falls inside somewhere, blow and gently shake it until it comes out.

Take a wet rag and clean each of the rollers by wiping across it, then turning it and wiping again. Continue until the entire roller is cleaned. Put the ball back in the ball well and lock the cover back in place.

If the mouse still has problems once it is assembled, try cleaning it again. If that doesn't work, you may need to buy a new mouse.

It is a good idea to regularly clean the surface that the mouse is on because the cleaner the surface, the less dirt will get inside the mouse and the less often you will have to clean it.

If your mouse is shared by many people (especially if one of them is sick), you may want to disinfect the top of the mouse between users.

Follow these instructions and your mouse will be up and darting again in no time.

by: Ray Geide

About The Author

Ray Geide writes a free weekly newsletter called Ray's Computer Tips and moderates a discussion board answering computer questions called Computer Q&A.

He is an experienced computer programmer who has been writing top-rated software for over a decade. Though he has written for some big-name companies, he prefers to write for his own company, Super Win Software, Inc. http://www.superwin.com/