No newsletters next weekend, we will be in New Orleans for a little vacation. In the mean time, here are a few things to keep you busy.

A reader asks, "What's with card formatting? Do I really need to do it? I just popped my card into my camera and everything seems to work okay. What's the deal"?

Well, formatting a card basically ensures that it is going to work right with your camera, so it is a good idea to do that.

Just like computers, memory cards have file systems, folders, etc. When you use your camera to format a card, it sets the card up the way the camera needs it to be, in order for it to function properly.

Now, for the most part, if you just pop in the memory card, it will usually work. Most cameras will automatically put all the necessary "stuff" on the card for you, regardless of whether you've formatted it or not.

However, formatting a card is a very quick and (mostly) painless procedure, so I recommend doing it the first time you pop the card into your camera. Do it just in case. Since the actual way you format the card varies widely from camera to camera, you'll have to consult your owner's manual for specific "how to" advice.

In addition to getting the card ready to use with the camera, formatting can also fix minor problems. If your card and camera are not getting along too well (lots of error messages, bad writes, etc.), try formatting the card. Sometimes it works and sometimes the card has passed to the great digital beyond, but either way, it's worth a try.

All that useful technical stuff aside, formatting is a quick way to delete all the images off of a memory card. Rather than scrolling through and picking them off one by one, just do a format. The images will be erased in a matter of seconds. Of course, don't do this if there are images on that card you may want to keep!

Have you ever had trouble opening a new link from your e-mail or even on a Web site? When you click on the link, just basically, nothing happens? Well, I'm here today to help you with that!

I've gotten several e-mails recently about this very problem, so I'm glad you asked. This seems to be a somewhat common problem, so I did a little research on it, in hopes of finding a quick fix for you all! Fortunately, I found a few things that could be causing this to happen.

To refresh, basically the problem is that whenever you're using your e-mail program or an instant messenger type program (or any other application) and a link is included, you click on it, but nothing happens. Your computer may freeze up for just a second, but when it's done, you're left right where you started from. Your browser will not open and you cannot, for the life of you, get a new window to come up from the link. How annoying is that?!

Like I said before, there are a few things you can try to resolve this problem. Before we go any deeper, the first thing to check is your popup blocker. If you have a pop up stopper installed on your computer, it could be interfering with the links you are trying to open. If this happens to be the case, you can always hit the Ctrl button and click on the link again. Ctrl + a click allows the link to open. If that was your problem, you are very lucky.

Another simple cause could be that you don't have the correct browser set as the default for your computer. If you use Internet Explorer, you have to make sure it is set as your default browser. To check this, open IE and go to Tools, Internet Options. Click on the Programs tab and make sure the box clear down at the bottom that says "Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser" is checked. This will allow IE to open any links you click on. If you use Firefox, go to Tools, Options and choose the General tab. Make sure the box that says "Firefox should check to see if it is the default browser when starting" is checked.

If those two things still don't fix the link problem, there are a couple more options you can try. We need to check and make sure your folder options are set to your specific browser. Go to Start, Control Panel and make sure it is in the classic view. Once there, click on the Folder Options icon and choose the File Types tab. Now, you're going to look for the item "(NONE) URL: HyperText Transfer Protocol." Highlight that and click on the Advanced button, then the Edit button. This will bring up some information on your browser. You're mainly going to be looking at the Application line. If you use Internet Explorer, make sure it says IExplore and so on (for whichever browser you use). If you've recently switched browsers, you may still have your old settings in there and that could be causing the problem with the links. You just have to make sure you have the right browser selected so the links will open in the correct way.

Okay, there's one more tip for you in case nothing has worked thus far. Go to Start, Run and type in "regsvr32 urlmon.dll" (without the quotes). Click OK when done and if a message pops up that says "DllRegisterServer in urlmom.dll succeeded," the problem should be fixed. If that still doesn't work, try typing in the following commands in the Run box:

- Shdocvw.dll
- Msjava.dll
- Actxprxy.dll
- Oleaut32.dll
- Mshtml.dll
- Browseui.dll
- Shell32.dll

One of these options should solve the link problem you are experiencing and you can enjoy link freedom once again!

How often do you order something online or sign up for something on a Web site? I'm guessing you do either of those quite often, because it's just the way of the world these days. Almost every Web site you visit either has something you need to register for or they're trying to get you to buy their products. It's certainly not bad if you do this kind of thing, but there are some rules you should make for yourself when you do.

I'm mainly talking about saving the information you accumulate from those transactions. It's best to save all of that for your future records. For example, if you purchase something from WorldStart's Web site, we always send you a confirmation e-mail, no matter what. When you get those, you should always save them, just in case you need it for something else. Those e-mails will always contain an order ID number and it's very helpful for us if you have that. The same goes for any other Web site you buy from. Always keep your receipts on hand, because you never know when you'll need to refer back to them.

This also holds true for any items you may sign up for. For instance, if you register with WorldStart's site, you have to create a username and password. Make sure you save that information so you never have to worry about forgetting it when you need it. This applies to any Web site that has some sort of registration. The best thing to do is create a folder just for those receipts, confirmations, etc. You can either keep it on your desktop or in your e-mail program. Either way, you should save all of that information each time it comes about. It only makes sense, right? So, if you haven't already, start saving now, ya hear?!

Q:
Sometimes my computer just freezes up on me. Is there something I can do besides shutting it off to get it working again?

A:
I'm glad you asked. I have been getting e-mails about the "frozen computer" syndrome for awhile now. It seems like they never stop coming, because this is such a reoccurring issue. So, I thought it was about time I covered this topic again. This is one of those topics that everyone could surely use a refresher course on, so here we go!

Sometimes Windows will get itself all tied into a bunch and there is no choice but to cut the power to your computer and restart it. (Remember though, when you have to force your computer to turn off, you should wait at least 10 seconds before rebooting).

Well, before you do anything too drastic, try pressing the Ctrl + Alt + Del buttons first. Just hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard, then the Alt key and then the Del key, all at the same time.

If you use the Ctrl + Alt + Del key combination, you'll see a box (it's called the Task Manager) appear that will allow you to choose the offending program (the one that made your computer freeze up) from a list and force it to shut down. In fact, it may even have the words "Not Responding" next to it on this list. Just click the End Task button to shut the individual program down. If you get another box a few seconds later, asking you to wait or end the task, just choose End Task.

Finally, if you notice that your computer just freezes after awhile, especially if it takes about the same amount of time to freeze each time you use it, you may have a problem with overheating.

Make sure the computer has plenty of room to breathe. Place it in a spot where it will have several inches all the way around. This is the minimum, so if you have a place where you can set it that will allow for more space, use that one. If you're blocking your computer's vents, you're asking for trouble.

Also, remember that some computers have vents on the bottom of the case, so if you stick it on a shag carpet, you may be blocking the airflow. If you do suspect that overheating is the problem (and the machine has plenty of ventilation room), check the CPU fan. That may be a good indication of what's going on too.

There you have it. Just a couple of options you can use when your computer decides to be stubborn and freeze up. Yes, it's a pain, but it's good to know there are things you can do to bring it back to life!

Hello all my fellow Netizens! I am Chad and welcome to another edition of WorldStarts Downloads of the Week. Netizens is a term coined by Civil Netizen, an online parcel service for large files, meaning citizens of the Web or NET, thus Netizens. What Civil Netizens has to offer is a great program or Web service that allows users to send large files over the Internet with very little user modification.

Have you ever tried to send a bunch of vacation images or videos over the Web? How about even a file or a program? It can get a little challenging, to say the least, to find a good way to send large files over the Internet. Sure, there are Web services that offer subscription based file transfers and of course, you can always go the FTP route. But, in most, if not all, of these cases however, there is some sort of obstacle, causing the process to be more difficult, cumbersome and slow. Whether it is technical, the slow awkwardness of sending large attachments in e-mail or money, it seems like there is always something standing in your way.

Citizen Netizen can take all of this confusion away by creating a great looking and simple to use program that allows any user, regardless of their technical level, to transfer huge amounts of information over the Web. And the best thing about it? It's all free! Okay, now that I sort of explained the concept to you, lets take a look at what exactly this little fella can do and how he does it.

Lets say you have a three gigabyte file that you want to send to your sister in San Francisco. Its a mixed folder of images, some AVI files, along with some other general data. Your sister told you about Civil Netizen, so you decide to download it and give it a try.

The term used by Citizen Netizen to describe the file to be transferred is Parcel. When you elect to send a new Parcel, a window will open up that allows you to pack“ the Parcel with your data by using the drag and drop method.

When you are finished packing the Parcel, you need to send out pickup slips.“ These are small text messages, sent either via e-mail or through an instant messenger, to the intended recipient to let them know they have a file waiting to be picked up.

Upon reception of the pickup slip, the remote user can then link out to where the actual data is stored, using the packing slip information from the body of the e-mail.

From there, all the remote user has to do is unpack“ the Parcel to a folder locally and presto, you're done! The file has successfully been transferred.

For those of you that are a little security conscience, Citizen Netizen sends all Parcels off in a 128-bit AES (Advanced Encryption Service) encryption, making the transmission very secure and private.

There is a Track Parcel option off of the main interface as well, which allows you to view all your Parcels, their details and even resend them if needed. It also includes a download manager that can pick up from where you left off if there was any sort of problem during the transfer. At the moment , there are not a lot of options, but Citizen Netizen is still in its beta form. It promises more features for their service in the future though.

Civil Netizen for Windows is designed to run on Windows 2000 or XP. The application will scrape by on a computer using dial-up with a minimum of 128MB of RAM and at least a Pentium III 500MHz processor. It has been done, but it wasn't pleasant.

It's recommended that Civil Netizen be used on a computer that is connected to the Internet via a broadband connection with at least 256MB of RAM and a 1.4GHz Pentium IV or comparable processor.

Civil Netizen for Mac OS X is designed to run on Mac OS X, version 10.2.8 or later. The application will run on a Mac with an 800 MHz PowerPC G4 processor and 128MB of RAM. It's recommended that Civil Netizen be used on a Mac with at least 512MB of RAM and a 1.2GHz PowerPC G4 processor.

Here is a better magnifier than the windows one. To download it, click on the FREE link at the bottom of the article Chuck.

The bigger our screen resolutions get, the harder it becomes to see all of the little stuff on your computer. Maybe I am not losing my eyes yet, but from time to time I would like to get a closer view of things. Now there is the built in magnification tool that Windows provides - but that alternative is no fun. I wanted to find a nice freeware solution that did a little more. Magnifier does just that.

Now this is not that hard of a task, so you would think it would be just about impossible for somebody to mess it up. While looking for the best though, I found a few that just were not very good at all. Out of all the magnifying tools I used, Magnifier provided the quickest and best results.

This program is simple to use and does what it needs to do. One reason you might need such an application would be if you have older family members trying to use the PC for the first time. They do not want a program that has 200 or more features and is flashing and blinking at you. Magnifier does not do that. It does provide you with:

If you have tried others in the past and you were not impressed, I would suggest giving Magnifier a whirl. For a free Windows program, it does what it sets out to do and doesnt have any features that get in the way of your work.

Technology is moving ahead at a breakneck pace. Technology is revolutionizing the way we work, live, and play. These days you can barely choose a TV without some technical knowledge. So how can you keep it all straight and stay in the 21st century? Just remember these three steps:

1. Call technology by its name. Every person, place or thing has a name. Technology is no different. TVs are referred to as LCD or Plasma. Broadband has two implementations known as DSL or cable modem. VoIP means Voice over IP. Just pick up a sales paper and read the ads to learn the jargon. Some retailers have online tutorials to bring you up to speed.

2. Learn what devices and gadgets are used for. What does a wireless router do? What are some related devices and accessories? A wireless router manages Internet access, network administration and security, and wireless connectivity for multiple computers. Normally, a user needs a wireless adapter if he has a wireless router. The wireless adapter allows a desktop to communicate with the wireless router. Understanding what devices do and their relation to other devices is important.

3. Know what device you need when you adopt technology. Suppose you are ready to build a wireless home network. You have signed up for High Speed Internet from the ISP of your choice. And you want to connect both your desktop and laptop to the Internet. What might you need to accomplish this? You guessed it. You are going to need, at minimum, a wireless router and wireless adapter. Now you just have to select the brand.

Now you are ready to get out there and learn more about technology. You have the tools you need to get you started. Next time you hear about the latest device or gadget, remember these three steps. Welcome to the 21st century.

Sean Caruthers works with computers and teaches others to do the same at a local community college. His company, Computer Smart, helps people get the most out of technology. You can sign up for his free ezine here or email him at sean@caruthers.biz.

Thought file management was only for paper files? Then you better think again! Its just as important to keep the files on your computer organized and up to date. Just as with paper files, the goal of computer file management is to ensure that you can find what youre looking for quickly, even if youre looking for it years after its creation. The file management tips below will help you to keep your files accessible so you'll never have any trouble with them again in the future. Let's get started!

Make applications easier to find by creating a folder called "Program Files" on your hard drive. Keep all your applications there. For instance, the executables for Word, PowerPoint, Simply Accounting and WinZip would all reside in the Program Files folder. More than likely, a lot of your data will fit into this category, so prepare enough time for yourself to go through everything.

Place all your documents in the My Documents folder and no place else. So, whether its a spreadsheet, a letter or a PowerPoint presentation, it can be found here. This will make it a lot easier to find what you're looking for and to run back ups.

These are the drawers of your computers filing cabinet, so to speak. Use plain language to name your folders. You dont want to be looking at this list of folders in the future and wondering what TFK“ (or whatever other interesting abbreviation you invented) means.

Create other folders within these main folders as the need arises. For instance, a folder called Invoices“ might contain folders called 2004,“ 2005“ and 2006.“ A folder named for a client might include the folders of Customerdata“ and Correspondence.“ The goal is to have every one of your files assigned to a specific folder, rather than having a bunch of orphan files lying around.

Do not use spaces in the file names, keep the file names under 27 characters and use all lower case letters. So, a file named for a client should be "jackdawson," rather than "Jack Dawson." If you happen to break any of these rules, at least be consistent about it.

Give files logical, specific names and include dates in the file names if possible. The goal when naming files is to be able to tell what the file is about, without having to open it and look. So, if the document is a letter to a customer, reminding him that payment is overdue, call it something like overdue081206,“ rather than something like letter.“ How will you know who the letter is to without opening it? Well, see the next point to find out.

The best time to file a document is when you first create it. So, get in the habit of using the Save As dialogue box to file your documents, as well as, naming it and putting it in the right place to begin with. This will help you out so much in the long run.

If there are folders or files that you use a lot, force them to the top of the file list by renaming them with an "a," an exclamation point (!) or an "AA" at the beginning of the file name.

Sometimes whats old is obvious, as in the example of the folder named Invoices“ above. If its not, keep your folders uncluttered by clearing out the old files. Do not delete business related files unless you are absolutely certain you will never need them again. Instead, in your main collection of folders under My Documents, create a folder called "Old" or "Inactive" and move old files into it when you come across them.

Whether youre copying your files onto another drive or onto tape, its important to set up and follow a regular back up regimen.

The search function is a wonderful thing, but it will never match the ease of being able to go directly to a folder or file. If you follow these file management tips consistently, even if you dont know where something is, you will know where it should be. That's a huge advantage when it comes to finding what youre looking for. It doesn't get any better than that!

The way to use easier but safer passwords

My Dec. 14 story, "A free but high-powered password generator," yielded some great reader mail, such as this note from Eldin Leighton:

§ "I've been using a free, very small, but effective program called Acerose Password Vault for over two years. The program includes a very strong password generator and it stores all password entries in one file that is also password protected and encrypted. I've had no problems with it whatsoever. If one is traveling, this program is small enough to fit on a memory stick, so it could be used on any computer, since nothing has to be installed in order to use it.

Thanks, Eldin. That password article also generated some good debate right here among the Windows Secrets staff, too. Different people have different methods of producing relatively secure, hard-to-crack but easy-to-remember passwords.

Editorial director Brian Livingston, for example, pointed out the technique recommended in Perfect Passwords, a book by Mark Burnett, our former contributing editor and a friend of well-known hacker Kevin Mitnick.

Brian says, "Mark spent years studying millions of passwords that ordinary people had created and analyzing the latest cracker tools that try thousands of passwords a second. He concludes in his book that the best passwords are 15 or 16 characters long, ideally 3 words separated by punctuation, with one or more of the words misspelled. The presence of meaningful word-like strings makes such passwords memorable without people having to write them on stickies pasted to their monitors. Both the length and the lack of dictionary words are what makes the password strong."

That's great advice, and indeed it may be the very best way to remember passwords without external aid. But my problem is password proliferation: I currently have separate passwords for over 450 Web sites and services.

While some of those sites (discussion boards, for example) are extremely low-risk and thus don't require ultra-high security passwords, others (banks, PayPal, credit-card sites, my business-related sites, etc.) do need very safe passwords. I prefer not to use the same password over and over on different sites, and there are simply too many separate sites for me to remember all the passwords without assistance.

For me, the solution is RoboForm. This program is available in a free version that stores a limited number of logons/passwords, and a $29.95 "Pro" version without that limitation.

Figure 1. RoboForm not only generates high-security passwords, but also automatically fills in Web forms after you've entered them once.

RoboForm works with your browser (including IE 7 and Firefox 2.0) to recognize Web-based forms (such as logon boxes).

If you've previously visited a site, and RoboForm was active, the software will automatically fill in the form with your correct user name and password (and any other information the site may require). If it's your first visit to the site, RoboForm will automatically memorize whatever login, password and other information you provide to that site, and will automatically enter that information as needed on future visits.

RoboForm then deep-encrypts and stores your logins, passwords and related info on your hard drive (or on a thumb drive for portable use).

RoboForm also has an excellent, built-in password generator that can produce random passwords letters, numbers and punctuation of any specified length up to an incredible 512 characters.

At each day's first use of RoboForm, you have to enter one master password to enable the software. It then takes over the task of managing all your logins and passwords from there. Thus, you only have to remember one high-security password (or passphrase, using Brian's excellent method) to have access to all your other passwords, no matter how many you have.

Maybe I just need more ginkgo biloba. But barring a better memory, a tool like RoboForm is the only way I can keep all my passwords straight!

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