So what is a wireless bridge anyway?

So what is a wireless bridge anyway? In simple terms a wireless bridge is a device that allows two or more complete networks of users to transparently communicate to one another over long distances without wires. These networks can be in the same building but are normally in either adjacent buildings or with the proper antennas and line of sight bridges can even connect networks up to 30 miles apart. Wireless bridges connect to the wired network through the Ethernet port and replicate that data to a remote network bridge or access point via 802.11a/b/g wireless (Wi-Fi) protocol.

Point to Point (ptp) Bridging: A point to point topology is the simplest to configure and connects two networks in two separate locations, normally a remote building or warehouse, via one wireless bridge in each location.

Point to Multi-point (point to multipoint, ptmp) bridging: A point to Multipoint topology wirelessly connects multiple locations together allowing them to share the same network resources. The bridge at the main, central, location is called the root bridge or base station bridge and all data passing between the wireless bridge clients must pass through the root bridge first. These point-to-multipoint networks are used in wireless internet service providers (WISP), large corporate campuses, distribution facilities, school districts, public safety applications and many others...

What do I need to build a Point to Point Bridge Link?

Line of sight between the two locations. You may need to install a pole or tower on your roof top in order to achieve this. A site survey is recommended before installation. Select a wireless bridge: Here are some things to consider when selecting a wireless bridge. Distance: Distance will determine what gain antenna will be required and if you need an external antenna or if an integrated antenna will be sufficient. Wireless protocol: Do you want to use a bridge base on 802.11 standards so that you have interoperability with other bridge manufacturers or would you like something with a protocol proprietary to a particular vendor? There are some added security benefits when using a proprietary over a standard protocol. Frequency: Do you want to use a licensed or unlicensed (2.4, 5-5.8 GHz) band? Indoor or Outdoor: Indoor wireless bridges are less expensive but you will have to buy quite a bit of LMR-400 cable to connect to the outdoor antenna. This adds a great deal of signal loss and in the end you will need a higher gain antenna to compensate. An outdoor bridge can be placed right next to the antenna and therefore cuts down on the amount of cable you need to buy as well as the amount of signal loss. Select a wireless antenna: If the bridge you selected does not already have an integrated antenna you will need to choose one now. For point to point links we suggest a directional panel, grid or solid parabolic dish antennas. Peripherals: You will need to select the appropriate lightning arrestors and RF antenna cables to get you connected and protected. Double it: Now double the amount of hardware you selected so that you have the identical setup on both sides.

Installation: Finally, select a professional installer in your area to run the appropriate cables, install any required poles or towers, align the antennas and configure the radios. If you have any questions about this let us know and we will assist you in finding a quality installer. If you want to try it out yourself go for it but DON'T FORGET to bench test the bridges before actually installing them in the field.

Click here for more info on a Wireless Bridge.

WLAN Mall specializes in wireless connectivity. Period. Whether you are a wireless service provider looking for wireless WAN or MAN solutions or an IT manager looking for internal local or building-to-building connectivity, WLAN Mall will help you find a customized, cost effective solution that fits your organization's budgetary requirements.

What is a Registry Cleaner Application For?

Do you know what a Registry is? Well if you run Microsoft Windows on your computer, then the Registry keeps track of most of the important information on your computer. The Windows registry acts as a storage center. It keeps track of your hardware and software settings.

When upgrading, obsolete files will be carried over so doing a registry clean will help to speed up the system. Also, over time, with general use, the registry can become corrupted. Corruption signs include frequent freezing, errors and system crashes. If one or more of these are occurring, it is important to scan your computer for errors and repair them. In both these situations, this is where a registry cleaner comes in.

Registry cleaners look for errors on your registry, and then give you the option to 'remove' or 'repair' them. What this does is delete them from your computer system, freeing up room to help make the computer run at a faster rate.

To begin using, you first need to install a registry cleaner. You can achieve this by downloading a free trial version off the internet or buy a registry cleaner. In general, while the free versions will work fine, a commercial program will be able to detect more errors, and handle them in a better way. Over the long term, this is a much better solution.

Before installing the software, it is important to do a back-up of the system, in the event that using the registry cleaner causes problems with any of the programs or software you are currently using. Most registry cleaners are capable of creating a backup file for you in the event that something does go wrong.

Once installed, run a scan on your computer. A good registry cleaner will give you a total number of errors found, for example, 302 errors, along with a 'safe to remove' total, perhaps 112. If the registry cleaner states that all the errors can be removed, chances are you'll find you have problems with current programs, as it will delete files required for them to run. The high-end, commercial registry cleaners will not delete important files.

Some registry cleaners give you the option of choosing whether to do a regular or aggressive search, which will influence the amount of errors that are found on the system. The registry cleaners that you buy have many more features and benefits than the free cleaners. However, there are some free registry cleaners that work fairly well.

Which one you choose will vary on the types of options you want. Do you want to be able to go through manually and choose which files to delete? Do you want descriptions of the errors? Are you looking for a registry cleaner that will automatically delete the registry errors with a click of your mouse?

No matter which registry cleaner you choose, make sure to run a back-up prior to running the registry cleaner. Some of the cleaners automatically run a back-up before deleting files, but for your own peace of mind, it is best to do a manual back-up yourself to save any grief later on.

Does your computer exhibit the signs of a cluttered registry? If so then save yourself the cost and headache of an expensive computer repair technician. Download the best registry cleaner on the web from http://www.cureyourregistry.com

Combine All Your Im Contacts In One Screen On Any Computer

One of the huge things about the Internet is that we can be in contact with people regardless the distance. Even though this benefit was already provided by the email, the new thing is that we can be in touch with people in real-time. This technology, known as instant messaging (IM) works through a local program that connects to a remote server to which other users are also logged. The server then works as a 'hub' letting each user 'see' which contact is connected at that moments and allows to interact in several ways, such as text-chatting, video conferencing and share files and information. Easy to understand why, IM became 'instant' success. The pioneer of IM was ICQ and quickly received millions of members who could enjoy its many attractive features. Of course, other companies rapidly got into the stream and generated their own IM networks. Unfortunately, didn't see this as a community phenomenon and tried to mine their own business making their IM services incompatible with all the other ones and initiating a fierce competition to convince people to join their networks (and not the others). Although competition is good and usually brings progress, in the case of IM is also carried an intrinsic difficulty: is you stick to a single IM service you are leaving behind the possibility of getting in touch with people who don't use your service. So, if you don't want restrictions about who you want to have available for instant chatting, you are bound to sign up with several IM services and have your contacts spread through several windows in your screen. This is not only bothersome, it makes your computer slower by inefficiently occupying too much bandwidth and memory resources.

For these and other advantages, instant messaging has become to be the fastest-growing medium of communication in history. It is even growing twice as quick as the email. But what if you were able to overcome IM's worst problem? Now everyone is able to combine all of their IM contacts in a single list, whichever service they belong to. An experienced company has put together a new kind of social networking website that some view as a direct threat to the leading social networks. The new network is called uVme and combines the features that make sites like Facebook or Myspace so successful. One of the most exciting features of uVme is its advanced instant messaging tool.

Besides of providing complete IM capabilities, uVme IM service can automatically combine all of your contacts from other services such as Yahoo! Messenger, Windows Live (MSN) Messenger, AIM (AOL's IM), Google Talk, ICQ and others. By using uVme you can have all of your contacts on a single window, regardless from which network they come.

A typical IM service works through a standalone application that must be downloaded and installed on the computer where you'll be chatting. This means downloading and installing every time you change computers and every time they upgrade the software. For worse, you need to have up to six or seven programs running at the same time in order to keep track of all your contacts, which means using up more bandwidth and more memory resources. With uVme you don't need to install anything. Its IM service is web-based, working on your browser as soon as you log into the website. So, instead of being a standalone application that you have to download and install. This IM service runs live on your uVme web page.

As soon as somebody goes to uVme, they will automatically be logged in to your IM and will appear to you as an online contact. You can instantly greet them and talk and challenge them to play a game. Yes, gaming is a strong part of the uVme concept and is adding new exciting and addictive online games on a daily basis. Although their IM service is worth enough for becoming a member, uVme has other features just as exciting. Check out the website at the bottom to learn more about this new service, which is set to become a new revolution.

There is much more to say about uVme. Check out our website and learn how to use the new instant messaging service to combine contacts and play games online visit http://www.gaming-uvme.info today.

Recycling Toner Cartridges: Is It Worth The Effort?

Millions of businesses, schools and other organizations around the world purchase and use billions of printer and copier toner cartridges every year. Toner cartridges are just another item on the laundry list of things that humans use and commonly throw away, but why? Anyone who has ever changed the toner in a copy machine or printer knows that it is usually a very large, bulky plastic container which gets changed once a week or month and then has no use to you whatsoever afterwards. Although it may not be of use to you personally or your company, there are benefits to hanging on to toner cartridges and contributing them to a recycler or remanufacturer.

When you recycle your toner cartridges, you should first take a moment to pat yourself on the back for your valiant efforts helping to reduce pollution and make the world a better place for everyone on it. When you're finished with that it's time to put on your capitalist hat and get moving because there are financial benefits to recycling toner cartridges too. There are companies that refill and sell previously used toner cartridges that will pay a few dollars per cartridges for your empties. You probably won’t become rich turning in your old cartridges, just like you won’t by recycling cans, but coupled with a few other financial benefits, you might begin to see why recycling is worth it.

If you want to recycle toner cartridges, first you need to use them. If this does not apply to you then you should probably skip the reading and start picking up cans. Seriously though, if you use one or two toner cartridges per year, you should still recycle them but your will probably not see much reason to sell them to a remanufacturer. It may also be difficult to get them to purchase just one or two from you. Most remanufacturers are looking to purchase from large companies that can send them pallets or even truckloads once every month or two. Otherwise you can donate your empties to a charity that is collecting them to sell in bulk to remanufacturers in order to make money for their organization. This is a common fundraiser for schools, churches, youth organizations and others. If it is not available in your community, you might want to suggest it within a charity or non-profit you are affiliated with.

Where most individuals will see the greatest benefit of recycled toner cartridges is in purchasing remanufactured ones. Professional, quality refilled cartridges can be much less expensive than new name brand ones and often just as good. When purchasing these, however, make sure it is a reputable remanufacturer that gives some form of guarantee with their product both for its malfunction and any damage it could cause to your machine. This is especially important because most manufacturers of printers and copiers will only warranty malfunction caused by their machine and their print cartridges. As long as the remanufacturer does a quality job, you will probably find that the best reason to recycle toner cartridges is to buy them again refilled, as good as new and much less expensive.

Find the high quality low price replacement Epson printer cartridges by visiting http://www.findinkcartridges.com, a popular inkjet printer website that specializes in inkjet printer reviews, ratings and advice on selecting high quality discount printer cartridges for your printer.

Anti Virus Protection Guide - Finding The Right PC Protection Software

It is vitally important for anyone that accesses the internet to have an anti-virus protection software installed on their computer. A virus can cause enormous problems for you if it is left on your computer undetected. By having an anti-virus protection program installed on your computer it will help to keep your computer safe against viruses, worms, Trojan horses and other unwanted programs.

If your computer does receive one of these viruses an anti-virus program can help you to clean and get rid of the virus before it causes any major problems.

An anti-virus protection program needs to be updated regularly and it is very important that you remember to do this. A good program will remind you to check for updates regularly. Computer hackers that create these viruses are constantly coming up with new viruses and anti-virus programs are constantly updating their software programs to protect against new viruses, so it is important to keep checking for updates so that you will be protected against any new viruses.

When looking for an anti-virus protection program it is recommended to do some research and make sure that the vendor that you get the program from is a reputable company and that the program has good reviews. Make sure that you have researched enough to be confident that the program will give you the protection that you need to avoid any devastating effects of an unwanted virus.

Once you have an anti-virus protection program you will need to set it up so that the program automatically turns on when your computer is turned on. You want your program to be continually protecting and to pick up on any viruses trying to enter through emails or when downloading files. A good program will detect any viruses trying to access your computer and notify you immediately.

Once notified of a virus your anti-virus protection program should guide you toward removing the virus. It is vital that you do not use your computer until you have removed the virus completely; if you do you may spread the virus and make the situation worse or may even pass the virus on to friends or colleagues through emails.

When choosing an anti-virus protection program make sure that the program will protect you constantly, and that you will have good support from the program creators. Look for a program that will block spyware, spam and pop ups and that will give you a firewall feature.

If you already have an anti-virus protection program installed onto your computer but you are looking to change to a different one, make sure that you uninstall your current program before installing a new one.

By taking these necessary and important steps in finding a good anti-virus protection program for your computer, you and your computer should remain free from viruses and safe from computer hackers. Don't let a nasty virus take over your computer and possibly cause you to lose all your files stored on your computer, get protected and keep your files safe.

Azwan Asmat is the author of Chuang Computer Tips - http://chuangcomputer.blogspot.com - Online threats have become a major computer security issue. Would you like to know the secret of securing your PC from dangerous spyware, adware, and malware programs that can ruin your PC, your finances, and your sanity?!! Visit http://www.chuangcomputer.com/5day/ for more info.

Benefits Of Compare Folder Tools

Compare folder tools can be easily downloaded from various online software application vendors. But what exactly are these tools for? And why do many users consider them indispensable?

Compare folder tools are software applications that can be used to compare two folders that may or may not contain various files. In the context of computers, a folder is an electronic object where multiple electronic documents can be kept. These folders are often used for the purpose of organizing information. In DOS and UNIX operating systems, folders are termed directories. Compare folder tools are programmed to identify which of the files contained in the compared folders are new and which of them have already been modified. This saves the user from the hassle of individually opening and looking over each of these documents. Compare functions are generally done in three stages which begins in the creation of file lists contained in folders. These file lists are then compared. Subsequently, contents of files that have common file names are compared. These comparison utilities are especially useful when a user has multiple copies of certain folders. By using these tools, files that needed to be kept are identified. These files can then be renamed and reorganized for future reference.

Typically, these compare folder tools utilize a customized comparison algorithm that is based on the user's chosen settings. They are programmed to look at the attributes of the items being compared. They determine the differences in items compared. These differences are then sorted and comparison result is displayed to guide the user. Some compare folder applications perform comparison functions based on text which make them effective in comparing different files in various encoding formats, be they HTML files, binary files, Microsoft Word documents or Excel spreadsheets. Some of these tools are also equipped with automatic synchronization software which allows the merging of the contents of common files. A user may also choose what action to take after the files have been compared and differences are identified. The user can choose to copy or restore certain files while the others could be moved or immediately deleted. The resulting files could also be programmed so that they would appear in the Get Info or Finder features. Other compare folder versions also allow a user to print the contents of the files being scrutinized. This feature benefits those who want to have hard copies of their electronic files.

Compare folder tools can be used by just about anybody since they can be integrated into any workflow. They can be used by web designers, computer software engineers or software developers since these people usually keep track of new and modified files concerning an ongoing project. Nevertheless, if there is an established need for this kind of utility, make sure that the software you have chosen is compatible with your operating system. Reading user reviews of certain compare folder tools will definitely be helpful. Moreover, time trial versions could be availed of to take advantage of free use of software application at no cost.

If you are interested in compare folder, check this web-site to learn more about file comparison.

How To Spot A Data Entry Scam

There are more data entry scams out there than you can shake a stick at. Is there really still a way to make money online? Are there real and legitimate home based business options? The answer is a resounding, "yes". But, unfortunately, many people get burnt before finding something that's lucrative and legitimate. Many people give up before finding out that you really can make money through areas such as data entry.

Home based business opportunities are not in short supply. The legitimate ones are out there but there are a number of scams masquerading as real opportunities and those numbers are unfortunately greater than the valid opportunities. There's a wide array of people from all walks of life searching the internet daily for ways to make money on their computer and a myriad of people who take advantage and exploit people and bleed them dry. It's revolting to think that someone would prey on someone's desire to earn a living by taking advantage of them and taking their money but it's the harsh reality of online scams.

Many data entry scams are also known as type at home scams. The person is lured into believing they will make a lot of money by filling out simple forms. At one point in time there was the ability to make money via this medium in affiliate marketing advertisements but due to the evolution of pay per click advertising and the way the search engines operate today, this really isn't a very viable option. The offers for this type of business information for a price is still very abundant in cyberspace. Someone might fall prey to this idea only to find that it would cost them much more than they would earn in pay per click advertising fees.

There still is a lot of money to be made through affiliate marketing but like anything else on the Internet, money making opportunities that are real require you to research and learn the secrets and truths behind the business. If you are looking for a get rich quick scheme, you aren't likely to find one but you will find plenty of companies looking to scam you into believing that if you pay a price for their knowledge, that you can earn a pretty penny very quickly without a lot of effort.

Are there any real data entry jobs from home? Yes, there. There are many sources online for freelance work, virtual assistant jobs, telecommuters and medical transcription or legal transcription jobs. And, internet marketing is a very lucrative industry. There are companies who will pay you to do clerical work from home in many business areas as it's very popular to have a mobile workforce in this day and age. And, there are many companies looking to affiliate marketers to sell their wares for high commission rates. The secret is learning the difference between real opportunities and work at home scams.

In order to differentiate the real opportunities from the type at home scams, you need to do some homework and background checks. You should also be very wary of anyone asking you to pay money to work for them. True, some companies do offer training programs but the vast majority of real employers will either hire you with experience or train you for free. Be wary of companies that offer you expensive training courses or want to sell you training material but who cannot prove that that the training will net you a real job online. There are programs and e-books out there that you can pay for which give you insider secrets but it's a very good idea to look for product reviews from unbiased parties before taking the plunge and losing your investment.

To learn more about type at home programs, data entry scams and legitimate home based business opportunities, visit TheWebReviewer.com

How Data Recovery Programs Work

The Explanation And Working Of Data Recovery Programs:

When it comes to hard disk recovery, the best method is to insure that you will never need it. Besides making frequent backups, the following measures will keep your system running smoothly.

Antivirus Protection New viruses are invented every day, and system security is a concern for every business. Malicious software can damage your system to the point where it will not even boot up. The latest versions of Windows are the favorite targets of malicious programs such as spy ware and viruses, and it is helpful to use 2 or more antivirus/anti-spy ware programs to prevent destruction or theft of your data.

Spy ware Scanner The clues that spy ware is on a computer include a barrage of pop-up ads, a hijacked browser, a sudden or even repeated change of your computers Internet home page, the appearance of a new toolbar or new screen icons, malfunctioning keys, random error messages, and most of all, sluggish computer performance. Any system with access to the internet is prone to this problem, but there is software to block spy ware installation.

Further Precautions are to be taken:

In addition, make sure all employees using the office network do not download from unknown sites, and set your internet browser security at 'Medium' or higher. Install individual firewalls to prevent uninvited users from accessing your network. A firewall blocks unauthorized access to your computer and will alert you if spy ware already on your computer is sending information out. Purchase an anti-spy ware program from a vendor you know and trust. Set it to read on a regular basis, at least weekly and if possible each time you run your computer. Delete any programs the anti-spy ware program detects on your computer.

Computer Maintenance The best way to avoid having to use file recovery software is to be sure that no corrupt data is stored on your computer. Companies like Norton sell disk optimization programs keep your network running at top speed, correct problem files and maximize the available space on your hard disk. Run disk optimization and anti-virus programs at least once a week.

Protect Your Hard Disk:

Hard Disk Recovery There are disk recovery applications specifically geared to recovering files of a certain format, like graphics files as opposed to word document files, and there are general-purpose programs to hunt for any type of misplaced file regardless of the format. There is no program on the market that can guarantee recovery of every lost file, but you are able to increase your chances for recovery by selecting the appropriate program for the file you are trying to save.

Do-it-yourself programs are a lot less expensive than hiring a data retrieval company that specializes in information recovery, and to save money you should at least attempt to utilize this type of program before calling a professional.

In addition to recovering deleted files, there exist information recovery programs that can restore files after you have formatted the drive, after a power failure, natural disaster, or even files damaged by a computer virus.

Because of the duplication of data, it is possible to recover files from one or another disk when the need arises. As you might expect, RAID disk repair is quite a complicated process. However it is one of the most foolproof methods of data storage because the RAID architecture strategically distributes information randomly across the array. However, this sort of architecture demands the services of a recovery professional. Generally speaking when a hard drive is received by a data recovery firm, the first thing they do is evaluate it, and determine what recovery solution will be necessary. If the drive failure is a logical issue as mentioned earlier, then a scan of the drive will be performed to try and repair the file system corruption. Sometimes a partition can be repaired and the drive restored to the status that it was before the failure.

You can also find more info on hard drive and protective software. Pcdatarecoveryhelp.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Data Recovery.

PowerPoint Tip: Try design variations

Designers have an excellent sense of color, but even they try out variations to see which looks best. Those of us who are not designers absolutely need to create variations of colors before making a final decision.

Color has a major impact on the effect of a presentation, but on a subtle level. By changing a presentation's colors, you can make it more upbeat or more low key.

Colors are well known for their emotional effects, although different people react differently to the same color, and different cultures apply different implications to colors. So rather than go by a set list of effects, you can try out variations and see what you like most. You can also ask others how they feel about the variations. Finally, you may be able to get some feedback from your audience about the colors. Of course, this is not always possible.

Here are 3 slides that are identical except for the color of the text at the bottom of the slide.

How do these slides differ in their effect? Your feeling might differ, but my impression is the following:

The blue seems conservative and calm

The red seems instense, perhaps exciting

The green seems smooth and enabling, perhaps evocative of money

No color is necessarily right or wrong, but one color might be more appropriate than another.

Here are 3 more colors:

Again, you might feel differently, but here are my observations:

The yellow is lively and synchronizes with the word "golden" in the slide's (and company's) title. It would be more legible in bold and a bigger size.

The white looks fresh and clean

The brown looks muddy and is somewhat hard to read -- not enough contrast with the background

In some cases, especially depending on the background, several colors may work well. In other situations, few colors will work well, and you'll have to try many variations, including many shades of one color (should the red be bluish or orangey?), before you'll find the right one.

Once you decide on the appropriate colors, you should create a color scheme (called theme colors in PowerPoint 2007). You need to come up with title text color, body text color, major fill color, and supplemental fill colors. Follow these steps:

Click Edit Color Schemes at the bottom of the Slide Design task pane. The Edit Color Scheme dialog box shows the colors of the current color scheme. (in 2007, choose Design tab> Themes group> Colors> Create New Theme Colors.)

To change a color, choose it and click Change Color. (In 2007, choose a color, and choose from the current theme colors, or click More Colors.)

Choose the Standard tab to choose a color, or the Custom tab to enter RGB (red-green-blue) specifications. Click OK.

Click Apply to return to your presentation.

Creating a custom color scheme (theme colors in 2007) is an excellent first step when you create a new presentation from scratch.

---- This article in its original form may have included images and/or other media. To see the original article, go to: http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/powerpointtips/powerpoint_tip_try_design_variations.html

---- For more free PowerPoint tips, go to: http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/powerpoint_tip.html

Ellen Finkelstein is the best-selling author of How to Do Everything with PowerPoint 2007 (and previous editions for PowerPoint 2002 and PowerPoint 2003). Other books include PowerPoint for Teachers: Dynamic Presentations and Interactive Classroom Projects and 101 Tips Every PowerPoint User Should Know.

Registery Fix - Is It Important To Fix A Corrupt Registry?

The need to fix a corrupt registry is something which any personal computer owner may face at any time. Perhaps in order to address whether it is important to fix a corrupt registry or not, let us first define the Windows registry.

The Windows registry is a database of information about a personal computer's configuration, including software, hardware as well as files and other preferences that you have set on your computer.

When faced with a corrupt Windows Registry, many people wonder what causes this problem. Installing and un-installing software on your personal computer can sometimes leave unnecessary files on your computer, and this leads to reduced computer performance. As you use your PC on a day to day basis, the Windows registry size keeps growing, and this can also cause a corrupt Windows registry.

Many computer users do not know when it is time to do a "reg cleanup". So, what are the symptoms of a corrupt registry, and how do you know that it is time to fix your registry? The main symptoms of registry problems are frequent system crashes, Windows errors, slow performance, hardware malfunctioning and system crashes.

In most cases, running your spyware tools do not help to improve your computer's performance. Difficulties to log into your computer and open your software, files and games is also another sign that it is time to fix corrupt registry.

Is it safe to ignore a corrupt registry problem and what are the risks of not fixing a corrupt registry?

Given the fact that the Windows registry is the central part of your computer, it is not a good idea to ignore any signs that your registry is corrupt. This problem will not go way on its own, and a corrupt registry will only get worse if not repaired. There is also a risk that the Windows registry will be damaged up a point where its impossible to repair it, which will mean having to buy a new computer.

The crashes and freezes of your computer will occur more frequently as the condition of your windows registry deteriorates, and this will get to a point where your PC simply stops working. This means that you will probably lose your files, data, games and any other stuff that you have stored on your PC.

Perhaps another important question which computer owners have is whether it is possible for them to manually fix registry problems. The fact is that a computer's registry is large and complex. It is also a rather delicate part of a computer such that if any damage is done to it, your PC may stop working completely.

It requires a very high level of computer expertise to understand how the Windows Registry works, let alone how to repair it. Trying to repair the windows registry manually on your own is therefore a very time-consuming, daunting and risky exercise for most computer users.

When your computer has developed registry problems, it does not necessarily mean that you should buy a new computer. There are several reputable Windows registry repair utility programs on the internet that any computer user can use to fix a corrupt registry. For the average computer users, it is good to know that reputable registry cleaners are easy to run and use.

Nikki Montgomery is a e-business specialist in computer optimization and recommends registry cleaning using reputable registry cleaning software. For a FREE SCAN of your computer right now and reputable registry cleaners, visit: http://www.repairregistrytools.com/

Computer Security: Threats and Solutions

When it comes to computer security, many of us live in a bubble of blissful ignorance. We might be vigilant and never open email attachments from people we don't know, we might take care to make sure an ecommerce site is secure before entering our credit card information, or we might even go so far as to install a standard firewall on our computers. Unfortunately, much of the common sense advice we follow when it comes to Internet security does little to combat the cyber-crime that is rampant.

Federal Trade Commission

Even the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, a governmental agency that is designed to help consumers, had to issue a press release stating that "consumers, including corporate and banking executives, appear to be targets of a bogus e-mail supposedly sent by the Federal Trade Commission but actually sent by third parties hoping to install spyware on computers."

There's little doubt that spyware, malware, and insidious virus attacks make any computer with Internet access vulnerable. But, because not all Internet security breaches are immediately apparent, people are often unaware that their seemingly hassle-free computing is anything but. The Federal Trade Commission offers seven guidelines to help consumer surf the Web safely:

1. Protect your personal information. For example, when shopping on an ecommerce site, make sure that the page where you enter your personal information is secure, as designated by "https" before the URL. It's important to stop identity theft before it starts.

2. Know before you click. For instance, many cyber-criminals impersonate legitimate businesses, or send "phishing" email that asks you to click a hyperlink. Check out online merchants and never click on emailed hyperlinks unless you're certain of the source.

3. Update anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall software often. Hackers and others who engage in cyber-crime seem to always be a step ahead of the good guys. If your computer protection is outdated, you're vulnerable.

4. Use Web browser and operating system security features. Make sure your browser settings give you optimal privacy and security, and ensure that you update your operating system regularly to take advantage of security patches.

5. Safeguard your passwords. For example, create a unique password for each site you visit, and keep them in a secure place. Use letter, number and symbol combinations that can outsmart automated password detection programs.

6. Always do backups. If your computer does get a virus or a worm, your files may be goners. Make sure to regularly back up any important files and store them in a secure place.

7. Prepare for emergencies. If something does go wrong, such as your computer being hacked or infected, or if you accidentally divulge personal information, know what courses of action you should take to remedy the situation and prevent further problems.

A Hassle-Free Solution

Protecting your computer from all of the threats in cyberspace can seem like full-time job. Thankfully, there are companies who make it their business to offer individuals and businesses the most technologically advanced computer security solutions available. The best of these services offer PC maintenance, full system optimization, problem diagnosis and repair, installation assistance, and a full complement of professionally managed security services. Typically, you pay a small monthly subscription fee and in turn can surf the Web knowing that your computer is locked down and that you'll never again have to stay abreast of the latest security software or lug your computer down to a high-priced repair center.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies. For tips/information, click here: computer
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Get control of your passwords

Are you frustrated by the number of passwords and usernames you need to track on the internet? If you spend anytime on the web you have a lot of usernames and passwords that have to be remembered to access different web sites you visit. I will review a solution that uses free software and a Thumb drive to keep all your login details.

Most people just use the same username and password for the web sites they visit. I was guilty of that as well. In fact, a password security study conducted by the Software Usability Research Laboratory at Wichita State University found that 74.9% of people polled reported that they used a small set of passwords frequently.
This approach to password management has several drawbacks:

1. Some Websites assign the username or password
2. Your username may be taken already at a site
3. Your username or password may not meet the requirements of a website

But the most important drawback to using the same username and password is that it is not secure. If some unscrupulous person discovers your login information for one site, they can gain access to all of the sites you visit and accounts that you have. For some web sites, this may not matter, for others, such as online banking, or bill payment sites, this can cause you a lot of trouble.

We need to keep so many login credentials that it is impossible to remember them all. (I currently have over 75 accounts for which I need to keep a username and password.) So we resort to using the a small set of names that we can remember. Another solution that many people use is to write them down and keep the list with us. This is also not a good plan. If you lose the list or take it out where someone can see it then the finder has everything to access your life.

The method I now use to solve this problem and keep my passwords secure

I struggled with this delemma for some time. After trying many approaches I found one that is easy to implement, is secure and is portable. The method uses freely available software and costs nothing (or almost nothing if you do not have a USB Drive already).

I use a password management program that keeps a list of site names, usernames and passwords securely by encrypting the words. There are many such programs available. Some of them are free and some must be purchassed. (See list below) I have tried several of the free versions which work just fines. To use these programs you only need to remember one password that you type into the login screen to gain access to your encrypted list.

In the past, this solution only worked on one computer. But now that USB thumb drives have become so cheap and USB ports are on almost all computers the software and the list of passwords can be stored on a USB drive and carried wherever you go. The USB drive can even be attached to your key chain so you never leave home without it.

1. Get a USB drive ( you may have one kicking around or you can purchase one for less than $10)
2. Get a for password management program. I use Password Safe. It is FREE and can be downloaded at (http://passwordsafe.sourceforge.net/)
3. Download the program to your computer then save a copy of the file to the USB drive
4. Install the program on your computer. Just double click on th edownloadded file and it will install in a few seconds
5. Start the program. It asks you for a Password that will be used to access your list of password. (Choose a good password! You only have to remember this one)
6. Now enter all of your accounts, passwords and usernames to the list and save the list to the USB drive
7. Close the program

Now anytime you need the password for a site, open the program, (or leave it open on your desktop) and get the information you need. When you leave, take the USB drive with you. Then you have all your passwords for whatever computer you use. Just plug the USB Drive in, install the software on that computer and access your password list. Don't worry it is secure and the list stays on your USB Drive.

Now you will never be without all your passwords and they will be safe and secure.
Other Benefits

• These programs often have a feature that will generate a good secure and hard to crack password, this is a great feature that will save you time a give you more security.
• These programs will track when you last changed your passwords. Again great feature for added security
• Now that you always carry it, You can keep other important files on the USB drive and take them wherever you go (resume, task lists, etc.)

One more note, you should occasionally save a copy of the password list file onto your computer. Should you lose your USB drive you will still have a copy of all your passwords.
Other Programs
PasswordSafe- This program is free and is the one I use. It enables you to group site into categories. It also allows you to copy and paste usernames and passwords to login forms on the internet to cut down on typing you have to do while surfing
4UOnly- This is also a free program that enables you to print out your login information. Very handy if you keep the print out in a safe place. It features Drag and drop of passwords and usernames into login forms to eliminate retyping
AnyPassword- I have not used this myself but have heard it works quite well

Carl Johnson is a real estate consultant in New Hampshire. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Northern New England Real Estate Network and has served as chairperson on the Website Technology committee of the GMNBR. His site

Revitalize You Computer With A System Clean

If you are using Windows, then you know how important it is to keep your system clean and running smooth. If your system is not running as well as you would like it to, you don't need to do a complete, clean install of your system. You can use a few techniques to keep your system running like new.

If your system is showing signs of being slow, you should be very pro-active in getting your system back in shape. The freeware program Ccleaner is a great tool in getting your system clean. You can download and install it very easily. Granted, there are many programs out there that do the same thing and may even do it better, but I stick with the programs I trust. When I am working on a system, it is usually the first program I put on the system.

When running it for the first time, you should start by doing a system clean. It will take a while the first time it runs as it cleans off all of your old cache files, temporary files and a myriad of other useless bloat. I usually follow this up with a registry cleaning. I let it delete all of the errors it finds in the registry. You may have more than 100 or 200 errors making your registry much harder to read and giving you a slow boot up.

Next I look into what programs are running at boot time. It seems like every program wants to run as soon as the computer starts up. Many of them are useful if you actually use them most of the time when you boot up, but some just slow you computer up. For example, I don't usually read Adobe Acrobat files every time I use the computer. I would rather spend a few extras seconds waiting for Reader to start up when I need to use than adding a few seconds every time I boot up my computer. If in doubt of any process in the CCleaner start up programs list, just Google the name before deleting the entry.

Now is also a good time to take a look at your installed programs. If you never use a program and it is easily downloadable from the web, then it might be a good idea to uninstall the program. This way you can clear some disk space, some registry space and reduce your level of bloat.

After I finish doing the spring cleaning work with CCleaner, I usually do a full virus scan and full spyware scan. The goal is to get rid of all of the junk that is slowing up your computer and these are two of the biggest culprits. Remember, if you are positive for virus or spyware, it's a good idea to run the scans again after you reboot your computer.

Finally, my cleaning of the computer ends with a simple defragmentation of the hard drive. This makes your computer be able to access information on your hard drive much more quickly since a file will be located in one place on your physical disk instead of many different places. You can run a defragmenter straight your Start Menu under System Tools.

If you can follow these steps, you can make your computer run better and quicker instead of slower and clunkier. You can take control of your computer and not have to think about an expensive upgrade just to keep getting acceptable performance from your computer.

Written by Simone Poleggi. Find more information on Computer Help Forum and Spyware forum

Selected Brother Printer Types

There are several brands of printers available in the market. One of these is Brother which offers customers with various types of laser and inkjet printers. Whether you want a printer for office or for home use, you will be able to find the perfect type for your needs. One of the highest-rated printers of Brother is the MFC 7420 All-In-One, which is among the several laser printer types of this maker. When you go for the MFC 7420, you will be provided with plenty of choices. An example of these would be the refurbished MFC 7420 Laser Flatbed, which can come up with up to twenty ppm prints. Another example would be the MFC 7420 Laser Printer, which also functions as a scanner; fax machine; and a copier. This flexible MFC model can be a black and white copier, a color scanner, and a monochrome printer.

When you want to print colored images, you can just go for Brother MFC 3360C which is an All-In-One inkjet printer. The output of this printer is colored, while the interface which is suitable for it is USB. The cartridge type of the MFC 3360C is inkjet; and it lets you print pictures without borders. Like the MFC 7420, this latter type of printer provides you with various options. When you want your printer to function as a faxing machine with high speed capability, all you have to do is purchase the MFC 3360C Multi-Function Color Inkjet Printer. If you are looking for a printer for business purposes, you can opt for the MFC 3360C Color Sheetfed All-In-One.

Other than the MFC models, Brother also has DCP printer models. One of these is the Brother DCP 7020 All-In-One laser printer. The output of this printer is black and white; with a Parallel and USB 2.0 interface. The type of its cartridge is laser toner and it can print up to twenty ppm prints. This model has a version which allows you to come up with digital print copies, and scan colored images. This version is the DCP 7020 Digital Copier, Laser Printer, and Color Scanner. If you want a compatible printing machine for your fax at home or in your office, you can just opt for the DCP 7020 Multi-Function Monochrome Laser Printer.

Another Brother Printer type is the Brother HL 2040 laser printer, which has a black and white color output. The interfaces which are suitable for this printer are Parallel, USB 2.0, and USB. When you want an HL printer that does not take up too much space on your desk, go for the HL 2040 Personal laser printer. Despite its small size, this personal printer allows you to print high quality copies quickly. On the other hand, the HL 2040 Monochrome laser printer has a capacity of 250 sheets; along with a single-sheet manual.

The great thing about the HL printers is the opportunity to save up on space because of their small design. When you want to know more about the other types of Brother Printers, you can just log on to its website.

This Article is written by James Kara Murat from PrintCountry.com, the contributor of PrintCountry Ink & Printer Reviews. A longer version of this article is located at Selected Brother Printer Types, and related resources can be found at PrintCountry Brother Ink Cartridges.