Computer Act!ve articles from June 2008

Computer Act!ve archives from June 2008

The right connections.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Paul Allen The right connections Social networking sites aren't just for fun A- you can also use them to get ahead at work. We explain how When it comes to improving your employment prospects, advancing your career or...

Too much information.(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Paul Allen Too much information If you're planning to use a social networking website, give some thought to who might be reading your profile. Setting out the gory details of your weekend's leisure might be fun for friends but...

Multiple choice.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Mark Wilson Multiple choice Master ISO files and you can organise software more efficiently A- here's how Anyone who has experimented with the Linux operating system will be familiar with ISO files but even if you...

Disc image formats.(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Mark Wilson Disc image formats In this Masterclass we have concentrated on working with ISO files in a virtual format but there will be occasions when it makes sense to burn the files to disc to create a standard CD or DVD....

Working with Daemon Tools.(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Mark Wilson Working with Daemon Tools 1Configure the available number of virtual drives by right-clicking on the Daemon Tools Notification Area icon and selecting Virtual CD/DVD-ROM, followed by 'Set number of devices', and...

Install programs from any user account.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Nick Peers Install programs from any user account Discover how to use an administrator account to install programs from children's accounts quickly and easily You know the drill: you've sensibly set up your children...

Manage DIY projects with a free online planner.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Mark Wilson Manage DIY projects with a free online planner Forget pen and paper - an online room planner can make decorating projects easier When it comes to DIY, preparation is the key to success. Without planning,...

Automate Windows by scheduling tasks.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Paul Wardley Automate Windows by scheduling tasks Make your PC work while you sleep by making use of its internal stop-go timer Task scheduling a starting and stopping programs at set times a has always been a feature...

Repair Windows Vista when it woni?1/2t start.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Nick Peers Repair Windows Vista when it won't start Can't get your Vista PC to launch? Discover how to use its startup repair tools When a PC won't start up properly there could be big trouble ahead, particularly if...

Customise your icons Q/I would like to use different icons for various folders on my computer other than the normal Windows icon. D Hills A/It is quite simple to give folders a new icon and this is a good way to mark out special folders. Left-click on My.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Customise your icons Q|I would like to use different icons for various folders on my computer other than the normal Windows icon. D Hills A|It is quite simple to give folders a new icon and this is a good...

online video pick of the fortnight.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Clean up your notebook and find out how to avoid the most common presentation mistakes Spring clean your notebook Notebook computers get dirty as well as desktops, and dust on fans can cause even greater problems...

best free tools for your pc.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Play your old DOS games in Windows and save time when finding programs and files D-Fend Reloaded This is a useful utility for playing old DOS games in Windows with DOSBox software (also included). Type:...

best of the web.(Website list)(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Brush up on your film trivia knowledge and download portable applications The Internet Movie Database http://uk.imdb.com This site should be the first stop for any questions about films and their actors....

Take your first steps with Linked In.
June 12, 2008... Take your first steps with Linked In Make professional contacts and give your career a boost with this business-oriented site Social networking websites can provide far more than the latest gossip and news on your friends' social...

Norton 360 version 2.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Andrew Zarkesh Norton 360 version 2 The return of the all-round security software package In recent years, some users of Norton's security products have found that the software takes a toll on the performance of their PCs....

Ricoh Aficio GX2500.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Andrew Zarkesh Ricoh Aficio GX2500 An ink printer that thinks it's a colour laser According to Ricoh, its new Gelsprinter range of colour inkjet printers is a good alternative to colour laser printers at a fraction of the...

Intempo Rebel.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Cliff Joseph Intempo Rebel A radio that can record music files In some ways, the Intempo Rebel resembles a conventional FM radio. However, it also has built-in memory that allows it to record around 40 songs and convert...

Griffin Evolve.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Griffin Evolve Griffin's Evolve speaker set is an iPod dock with a difference. Instead of the two speakers being fixed to the dock, they can be lifted out and carried around separately. They're battery...

Canon Pixma iP100 WITH Battery.
June 12, 2008... Canon Pixma iP100 WITH Battery Truly portable photo printers are rare these days, although Canon has long produced them. Its new Pixma iP100 offers both text and photo printing, and its internal battery and small dimensions mean it really...

Shuttle XPC G5 6801M.(Product/service evaluation)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Shuttle XPC G5 6801M Blu-ray in a box and more with this living room PC Shuttle used to be known for making what are known as barebones computers A- the company supplied the case and the most basic...

PC Tools Internet Security 2008.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Chris Wiles PC Tools Internet Security 2008 System requirements: Windows 2000, XP or Vista Download from: www.computeractive.co.uk/pctools/index Registration: Free key by clicking the Register button ...

Save 20 per cent on other PC Tools software PC Tools Internet Security 2008 is the full current version, so there is no upgrade available. However, PC Tools is offering a 20 per cent discount on all products in its range, including Registry Mechanic for o.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Chris Wiles Save 20 per cent on other PC Tools software PC Tools Internet Security 2008 is the full current version, so there is no upgrade available. However, PC Tools is offering a 20 per cent discount on all products in its...

Free online games.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Free online games Jezzball The basic idea is to block off sections of the game area: whenever you click the mouse, a line is drawn across the pitch. If it makes it to the other side, the enclosed area is...

Games news.(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran Games news Rock on As Electronic Arts finally releases Rock Band in the UK, the makers of the rival Guitar Hero are readying their own all-round music game. In both games, as well as following guitar...

M-Audio Studiophile AV20.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith M-Audio Studiophile AV20 Choosing the right computer speakers is an important decision if you're a music or film fan, or a gamer. With impressive surround-sound sets available, it is easy to forget that all many users...

50 hidden gems.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Paul Wardley 50 hidden gems There's loads of free software available on the internet A- but which programs are the best? We uncover the 50 greatest free tools Computers get cheaper and faster every day, but even the fastest...

Protect your PC, free!(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Paul Wardley Protect your PC, free! Everybody knows the importance maintaining up-to-date safeguards against viruses and spyware. However, not everybody realises that all the protection needed can be found free of charge. ...

Online alternatives.(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Paul Wardley Online alternatives As well as the free programs seen here that can be downloaded and run on your computer, there are many that run entirely online. We explained how to use these, and highlighted some of the...

Samsung YP-P2.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Andrew Zarkesh Samsung YP-P2 Samsung's YP-P2 is designed to appeal to those who like the look and feel of the iPod Touch but can't justify the expense. The 2GB version of the YP-P2 (it's also available in 4GB and 8GB...

Fujitsu Siemens Scaleo 1900.(Product/service evaluation)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Emil Larsen Fujitsu Siemens Scaleo 1900 Easy backup and file sharing in the home Windows Home Server computers aren't designed to be used like a normal PC. With no monitor, they sit on a home network and allow people to...

Childproof your PC.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Jody Elphick Childproof your PC Keep youngsters away from files and settings and protect toddlers from sharp corners with our guide to removing the hazards associated with your PC Nowadays children start to learn how...

Computer equipment for kids.(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Computer equipment for kids Bigkeys (www.bigkeys.co.uk) makes brightly coloured Qwerty and ABC-style keyboards with only the basic function buttons and extra-large keys that are easy to read. It also supplies protective skins for the...

create a separate user account for your child.
June 12, 2008... create a separate user account for your child 1Click on the Start menu and choose Control Panel from the list that appears. Double-click on User Accounts. In Windows XP, select 'Create a new account'. Type the child's name into the box and...

The role of the UKi?1/2s Information Commissioneri?1/2s Office.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Jody Elphick The role of the UK's Information Commissioner's Office There are some worrying statistics doing the rounds on the subject of privacy, due to the fact that there are an estimated 4.2 million CCTV cameras in Britain...

Asus EEE PC 900.(Product/service evaluation)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Andrea-Marie Vassou Asus EEE PC 900 A small notebook with big features The new Eee PC 900 follows the 701 4G (issue 260). Although it has a bigger 9in screen, it's still a tiny notebook and only weighs as much as an...

how to get the most out of pc tools internet security.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran how to get the most out of pc tools internet security 1Install the program using the instructions above. If you have security software installed, you will be asked to uninstall it before continuing. To do so,...

pack up your suitcase.(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Anthony Dhanendran pack up your suitcase Our pick of holiday gadgets from recent issues are portable, easy to use and handy, making them the perfect travelling companions 1 Asus EEE PC 900 A small and light alternative...

Tom Clancyi?1/2s Rainbow 6: Vegas 2.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Jonathan Parkyn Tom Clancy's Rainbow 6: Vegas 2 More first-person tactical shooting from the Clancy series Info: http://rainbowsixgame. uk.ubi.com PEGI age rating: 16+ Also consider: Gears of War; Crysis ...

BBFC to rate online videos.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Andrea Vassou BBFC to rate online videos The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has created a voluntary ratings system for videos and computer games distributed online. BBFC Online will apply the eight ratings...

Greenpeace takes consoles apart.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Andrea Vassou Greenpeace takes consoles apart Games console manufacturers do too little to eliminate potentially harmful chemicals and metals from their products, according to Greenpeace. The Playing Dirty report examined...

Woollies axes CD singles.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Andrea Vassou Woollies axes CD singles Woolworths has announced that it will stop selling CD singles in store. From August the high-street chain, which currently stocks the top 20 CD singles in about half its 820 stores,...

Downloads boost income UK performers and publishers now earn more from broadcasts and legal downloads than CD sales. The MCPS-PRS Alliance, which collects rights on behalf of UK songwriters and publishers, reported growth in income of 2.8 per cent since 2.(Financial report)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Andrea Vassou Downloads boost income UK performers and publishers now earn more from broadcasts and legal downloads than CD sales. The MCPS-PRS Alliance, which collects rights on behalf of UK songwriters and publishers,...

nnetworking for bookworms A social-networking website for people interested in books has been launched. Bookrabbit lets users meet others with similar reading interests and question authors. Everyone who registers uploads a photo of their bookcase. Bookr.(Website overview)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Andrea Vassou nnetworking for bookworms A social-networking website for people interested in books has been launched. Bookrabbit lets users meet others with similar reading interests and question authors. Everyone who...

Towns trail in speed race.(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Andrea Vassou Towns trail in speed race Rural households are overtaking those in towns when it comes to installing broadband internet connections, Ofcom has found. In its Regional Communications Market report, the media...

MPs plan to ban child abuse drawings.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Andrea Vassou MPs plan to ban child abuse drawings Drawings and computer-generated images of child sex abuse could be made illegal under proposals announced by the Government. Justice Minister Maria Eagle has outlined plans...

All power to Solihull Council tenants in North Solihull are to receive free or subsidised broadband internet via power lines. This will let people access the internet from electrical sockets in their homes. The internet connection will be delivered wire.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Andrea Vassou All power to Solihull Council tenants in North Solihull are to receive free or subsidised broadband internet via power lines. This will let people access the internet from electrical sockets in their homes....

n$75 notebook planned The One Laptop Per Child project (OLPC) has announced plans for a notebook computer that costs just $75 (i?1/240). The OLPC project aims to provide inexpensive notebooks for children in the developing world and has already released one.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Andrea Vassou n$75 notebook planned The One Laptop Per Child project (OLPC) has announced plans for a notebook computer that costs just $75 ([pounds sterling]40). The OLPC project aims to provide inexpensive notebooks for...

Keep folders private.(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Keep folders private Even if user accounts have been set up on a computer, it may be possible to browse through other people's files. Marking folders as private will prevent this from happening. If you use...

Managing sheets Sheets are a good way of organising data, but they can become harder to use when they are not all visible at the same time. To quickly scroll through the different sheets, press the Ctrl key and then either Page Up or Page Down together. E.(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Managing sheets Sheets are a good way of organising data, but they can become harder to use when they are not all visible at the same time. To quickly scroll through the different sheets, press the Ctrl key and then...

Backspace add-on If you use Web 2.0 websites such as Googlemail, pressing the Backspace key can lead to losing work. There is a Firefox add-on called Keyconfig that can help. You need to register at addons.mozilla.org to download it from http://snipurl. c.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Backspace add-on If you use Web 2.0 websites such as Googlemail, pressing the Backspace key can lead to losing work. There is a Firefox add-on called Keyconfig that can help. You need to register at addons.mozilla.org...

Add image description text to PDFs If you are going to save files as PDFs using the Microsoft plug-in (www.computeractive.co.uk/2184522) or Office 2007 Service Pack 2, it is a good idea to add alternative text to pictures. This means that anyone reading t.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Add image description text to PDFs If you are going to save files as PDFs using the Microsoft plug-in (www.computeractive.co.uk/2184522) or Office 2007 Service Pack 2, it is a good idea to add alternative text to...

WIN a high-powered Packard Bell PC worth i?1/21,000.(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Andrea Vassou WIN a high-powered Packard Bell PC worth [pounds sterling]1,000 The iPower is ideal for gamers and those who like power-hungry programs Cheap PCs available from supermarkets and high street stores are...

NHS project hits new delay.(United Kingdom. National Health Service)(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek and Iain Thomson NHS project hits new delay The [pounds sterling]12.7bn project to computerise NHS medical records has hit another snag after a key contractor was lost. Fujitsu was removed last month from the...

Cable giant i?1/2throttlesi?1/2 user downloads.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek and staff Cable giant 'throttles' user downloads Virgin Media is 'throttling' bandwidth to the heaviest users of its 'no download limits' broadband service. The cable giant blamed a small percentage of its...

Taxpayersi?1/2 cash wasted The UK Government is wasting taxpayersi?1/2 money by failing to plan its web presence properly. This was the damning conclusion of technology consultancy Detica in response to a report by the Public Accounts Committee (Pac). Andrew Rolf.
June 12, 2008... Byline: staff Taxpayers' cash wasted The UK Government is wasting taxpayers' money by failing to plan its web presence properly. This was the damning conclusion of technology consultancy Detica in response to a report by the Public...

nmind the flashing lights Flashing lights on IT equipment cost UK companies i?1/210million a year and release 50,000 tonnes of unnecessary CO2 into the atmosphere, according to recent research. This is caused partly by IT equipment such as switches and router.
June 12, 2008... Byline: staff nmind the flashing lights Flashing lights on IT equipment cost UK companies [pounds sterling]10million a year and release 50,000 tonnes of unnecessary CO2 into the atmosphere, according to recent research. This is caused...

Readers to the rescue.(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Readers to the rescue Q|I cannot see the bar that runs (or ran) along the bottom of the Internet Explorer 7. It used to show the progress as pages downloaded and could be used to change the zoom factor of a page. ...

nFlood warnings by email The five million people in Britain who live in a flood-risk area can now register online to receive warnings from Floodline Warnings Direct (FWD).The map-based application allows the Environment Agency to determine where it will.
June 12, 2008... Byline: staff nFlood warnings by email The five million people in Britain who live in a flood-risk area can now register online to receive warnings from Floodline Warnings Direct (FWD).The map-based application allows the...

Wanted: your opinions We want to know what you think about Computeractive i?1/2 whether iti?1/2s good feedback or bad. To let us know what you like and what you think we could do better, please take a moment to complete our online reader survey. The survey should.
June 12, 2008... Byline: staff Wanted: your opinions We want to know what you think about Computeractive A- whether it's good feedback or bad. To let us know what you like and what you think we could do better, please take a moment to complete our...

Rock users lifted out of a hard place.(Rock Computers)(Brief article)
June 12, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek and Andrea Vassou Rock users lifted out of a hard place The new owner of Rock Computers has pledged to support all the company's existing warranties and to continue selling notebook PCs under the Rock brand. ...

UK fails to focus on recycling.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek UK fails to focus on recycling Britain is lagging behind other members of the European Union in implementing procedures for recycling batteries. Under the EU Battery Directive 2006, the UK must treat all...

Thousands join fight for fairer online shopping.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek Thousands join fight for fairer online shopping Computeractive's Fair and Square campaign to protect consumers' online shopping rights is gathering momentum. So far more than 3,700 people have used our email...

nDial 112 for help in the eu The European Union is raising awareness about the European emergency number 112, which works in every member state except Bulgaria. Although the number does not replace national emergency numbers, it can help travellers get in.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek nDial 112 for help in the eu The European Union is raising awareness about the European emergency number 112, which works in every member state except Bulgaria. Although the number does not replace national...

Privacy fears prompt protest.
June 12, 2008... Byline: Dinah Greek Privacy fears prompt protest Opponents of web monitoring software to demonstrate in London objectors to Phorm's controversial Webwise web monitoring software are planning a protest to draw attention to their...

Are you involved?
June 12, 2008... Are you involved? If you are a BT customer concerned that you may have been involved in one of the trials you can send a Data Protection Act (DPA) request to BT asking whether your exchange was involved. If you find out that you were...

Break free from disaster.
June 26, 2008... Byline: Nick Peers Break free from disaster Save time when reinstalling Windows XP by saving the latest updates and drivers to a brand-new installation disc How long does it take to reinstall Windows? Half an hour? Have...

/ Test a slipstreamed installation disc in VirtualBox.(Brief article)
June 26, 2008... Byline: Nick Peers | Test a slipstreamed installation disc in VirtualBox 1Install Virtualbox following the Workshop on Linux in issue 259. Create a virtual machine based on Windows XP A- give it 256MB of Ram and create a 5GB virtual...

downloads.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 26, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Protect your computer from online threats and change the functions of your mouse buttons Comodo Firewall Pro Comodo Firewall protects from threats online and checks what software on a PC is trying to do. This...

Win an Acer Aspire 7720G notebook with Dolby Home Theater sound.
June 26, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Win an Acer Aspire 7720G notebook with Dolby Home Theater sound Enjoy surround sound on the move with this exciting notebook Dolby is well known for surround sound in the movies A- it is rare to watch a film that...

best of the web.
June 26, 2008... Byline: Tim Smith Find help for Internet Explorer, check house prices or browse some photos Myfolia http://myfolia.com/ Myfolia is a social networking site for gardeners with tools for organising gardens and planting. The...

Transfer videos to your portable player.
June 26, 2008... Byline: Nick Peers Transfer videos to your portable player Transfer videos to a dedicated portable player, handheld PC or Windows Mobile smartphone Got a large collection of videos on your computer that you'd like to watch on...

Get Googlei?1/2s free photo screensaver.
June 26, 2008... Byline: Rob Beattie Get Google's free photo screensaver Grab photos from different sources and display them as a slideshow on your PC Although the majority of Google's free programs and utilities are excellent, the company...

Bring Microsoft Word documents to life.
June 26, 2008... Byline: Paul Wardley Bring Microsoft Word documents to life Put clickable links in your documents to make them easier for others to use Hyperlinks are the driving force behind the internet. Every time you click on a...

Keep passwords safe with Keepass.
June 26, 2008... Byline: Joe Cassells Keep passwords safe with Keepass Remembering lots of login information to access websites is difficult, but a free tool can help With more and more accounts and personal details stored online, the need...

Edit and share photos free of charge online.
June 26, 2008... Byline: Cliff Joseph Edit and share photos free of charge online Try some online photo editing and share your snaps with the world in Photoshop Express Adobe dominates the photo-editing market with its Photoshop and Photoshop...

Use free software to rescue dead pixels.
June 26, 2008... Byline: Scott Colvey Use free software to rescue dead pixels Does your LCD monitor have dead picture elements? Undead Pixel may bring them back to life Modern flatscreen (or TFT) computer monitors have lots of advantages A-...

Build your.
June 26, 2008... Build your own Office Office 2007 has a new interface that can be confusing at first. We explain how to use and customise the Ribbon Office 2007 is an obvious departure from the past. The familiar menus and toolbars of previous...

How to add an icon to the Quick Access toolbar.(Brief article)
June 26, 2008... How to add an icon to the Quick Access toolbar 1To add an icon to the Quick Access toolbar, left-click on the down arrow at the right of the toolbar. A list of common commands will appear. Left-click on one to add it. 2If the command...

Keyboard shortcuts.(Brief article)
June 26, 2008... Keyboard shortcuts Alt or F10: Press this once to show the shortcut commands on the Ribbon. After that, move around the tabs and commands using the arrow keys. Select the command by pressing Enter or the space bar. Alt then H: Home tab...

Mobile broadband technologies explained.
June 26, 2008... Mobile broadband technologies explained GPRS (general packet radio service) is a technology that transfers data between mobile devices, but can't really be called broadband. It's the one most 3G devices revert to if 3G coverage is not...

The perils of roaming.(Brief article)
June 26, 2008... The perils of roaming Most of us take it for granted that we can use our mobile phones when abroad. Modern mobile handsets are adept at 'roaming', which means diverting calls through the nearest local network service. But while...

the most useful tools and websites for mobile broadband users.
June 26, 2008... the most useful tools and websites for mobile broadband users 1 Opera Mini (www.operamini.com) Most mobile phones come with a web browser of some kind, but you may want to ditch it and download this excellent free alternative instead....

Hannspree Verona XM 22in.(Product/service evaluation)
June 26, 2008... Byline: Paul Lester Hannspree Verona XM 22in A versatile and capable screen for the modern home The 22in Verona XM is a bit of a hybrid, offering an HDMI port (for connecting a Blu-ray player or a games console, say) alongside a...

Edimax IC-1500Wg Wireless IP Camera.
June 26, 2008... Byline: Cliff Joseph Edimax IC-1500Wg Wireless IP Camera A useful but complicated network camera A network webcam, or Wireless IP Camera, as Edimax calls it, can come in handy in many ways. One of the most common uses is for...