Over time and use with a windows machine you may notice that it does not run as fast as when you first got it.

This is usually because of a number of different problems that can occur with regular use of a computer. The smart computer user knows about these things and how to repair them on their own rather then having to hire a technician to solve the problem, (costing you time with out your computer and usually around 50 dollars an hour).

Possible problems usually include one or many of the following things:

Viruses

They happen, even if you spend all the money you can on antivirus software, you likely don’t even know you have one.

Spam

Loosely falls under the same definition as a virus but with some negligible variations, can also include programs that hit you computer with nasty pop ups and redirect you to web pages you don’t want to visit.

Registry

This is a comprehensive list of all programs that have ever been installed on your computer, sometimes when you uninstall a program some information can still be left on this list, the longer you have your computer the larger this list is likely to be.

To much junk

Unused programs and applications (different browser menus, and other programs)

Start up programs

On the bottom right of your computer beside the clock is usually a bunch of icons. These represent programs that are running on your computer at a given time, the problem is that not all programs that are running display an icon in the taskbar. There is usually much more programs running at a time that you are unaware of.

So lets get started then. Bellow are some tips almost any computer user can performe, to help speed up your computer

1. Restore Point

Before we get started we are going to record a windows restore point. If at any point you feel you’ve made a big mistake you can always go back into the windows restore program and reverte to where you’re computer was at before you tried to fix it. This should give you the confidence to play and adjust settings on your computer without the worry of messing it up. To do this you go to the start menu -> Program files - > Accessories -> System tools -> System restore.

A new program will open from there all you have to do is ask your computer to set a restore point, later if needed you can revert to it. A restore point is a virtual snap shot of your computers settings. It may take a few moments to process.

2. Safe Mode

Because you probably have viruses and unwanted programs slowing down your computer, in order to make the clean up process easier and more efficient we will put your computer into safe mode to run quicker. Safe mode is a basic start up of windows without all the extra bells and whistles that slow down your computer. Also if there is any viruses or programs running on your computer they will very likely not be running in safe mode.

To get into safe mode simply restart your computer then right as it is starting up press F8 on your keyboard, A menu will come up listing some options for you, you need to select Safe mode with networking so that you can still have access to the internet.

It is important to press F8 at a precise time as windows is starting up, some computers will prompt you on the bottom of the screen as its loading but its ok if you just keep pressing it until the menu loads, you can definitely press it more than once.

3a. Windows Updates

Windows frequently releases security updates for problems they find with their operating system. It is usually set up to do it automatically but most people ignore it for whatever reason. Even if this is not the case go to www.windowsupdate.microsoft.com and run through their automatic updates program. Its really easy just basically keep clicking yes and next until it is complete. Once the updates are finished it will prompt you to restart your computer, do so before you continue onto the next step.

3b. Restart Again

The computer will likely restart you into normal windows mode, we will continue to work on your computer through safe mode as it will run the next steps quicker, and we can pretty much guarantee that the viruses won’t be running aswell. So restart your computer again and enter into safe mode again.

4. Anti-virus

Ok the easy step to do now is to run a virus scan. Even if you don’t have an anti-virus program on your computer you can still scan your computer for free. The site I recommend is antivirus.com put on by a company called trendmicro, this company mainly profits from its corporate clients but offers a free online scan to public users. Simply go to antivurs.com and look for their free online services for home and office use. Then follow the instructions to run the housecall program on all your local hard drives. This program will provide a current scan of your computer removing all known viruses. Its updates everyday with new definitions so you always know you have an up to date program.

There are a couple other virus programs I should mention. Some of the commercial versions of virus software (Norton and Mcafee) are usually expensive, and require a subscription. In addition to the cost they all use alot of your computers resources to run. So if you are trying to remove virus to speed up a computer by installing Norton you likely won’t notice a difference in speed as it is probably making just as slow.

The solution is to get AVG free edition, Which is a free virus program for all to use, They do also have a subscription version that has a few more features but even the full version of AVG uses way less resources on your computer then norton or Mcafee.So after you’ve finished fixing your computer if you do want to install an antivirus program you may choose to.

4b. Restart in normal mode

At this point you will need to restart you computer and let it boot normally to get out of safe mode

5. MSCONFIG

This program isn’t very well known to most computer users but it is crucial to keeping your computer clean and organized. MSCONFIG is a windows program on all windows machines that controls all start up settings. To access it go to your start menu and click on the run command then type MSCONFIG and press enter.
This program will open in a new window and there will usually be 4 tabs at the top of the window. The main one that you can edit with little difficulty or computer knowledge is the start up tab, click on it and you will see a list of all programs that start when your computer starts up. In reality there is really only 2 or 3 programs that are absolutely necessary These are your systray and anything to do with windows explorer. At this point what you can do is go through the list and uncheck any programs that look suspicious or that you know are malicious or unwanted. When you apply the settings it will ask you to reboot. Once the reboot is complete if all is well you can uncheck more of the programs from the list and see if you computer will still run as you need it. Usually I uncheck almost all of them then add the ones I absolutely need back in after. You can also work in reverse and gradually remove a few at a time and make sure your computer is still ok after each reset. You will need to performe this step a number of times until you have the computer running as quickly as possible with the programs you need.

Usually some of the types of programs that are ok to have on your start up include your software for your burner, msn, your antivirus software, printer software,windows themes.

Tip: If your not sure what a particular program does then you can google all the information list in the startup list on that program and you can usually get an answer.

6. Registry

Similarly to MSCONFIG and the start up list. Your computer registry stores a list of all programs that have ever been installed on your machine. So if you’ve had your computer a while and added and removed alot of programs there can be alot of entries in your registry. A handy program also available on the antivirus.com site is the Hijack This program. This program allows you to clean up and edit your registry.

Caution!!!!!
Be very careful with this step, only remove entries you are sure that are old and unused. This can mess up your computer if done incorrectly, that is why the hijack this program is a good tool to use. Risk of failure can be reduced by setting another restore point before you performe this task.

The windows program that is used to allow you to perform the same task is called REGEDIT. I would only suggest this program for advanced users, and I only use it when I know specifically what program I want to remove from the registry as I can search for it with the find and replace tool.

Hope these tips provide you with a little more confidence and can save you a few service call to the tech support companies.

Cameras are just about everywhere in today's day and age. There are few places you can go in public that you are not being recorded by a camera. From the streets to the local fast food restaurant you are likely being recorded. Surveillance systems have also been part of the security systems for the wealthy for many years and now they can be an affordable part of your homes.

There are several things you must consider when choosing your camera system. Just like most technology you can get more features for more money. Choosing a system will require you to consider budget along with wanted features and find a happy median of the two.

The first step is deciding how many cameras you plan to use. A system for just one camera can be set up for very little cost and be very effective. If you choose to have more cameras like 4, 8 or 16 then there are complete packages available that make cameras more cost effective. Once you know how many cameras you want, you will need to decide if you want to run wires or not. Most cameras are available in wired or wireless versions and normally the wired cameras are much more cost effective.

Surveillance cameras can come with many different functions including night vision, covert, color, black & white, weatherproof, high power wireless, pan tilt zoom cameras and many other options. If you need special application cameras they are likely available at a cost. Currently the most commonly used cameras for homes and businesses are dome cameras, bullet style cameras and hidden cameras. The type of camera will greatly depend on the application.

Next you will need to find a way to record your cameras. Recording is not necessary and it is possible to just view the cameras using a monitor, but you will find that having a recorded system has many advantages. The cost of recording can vary greatly depending on your choice of recorders. Below are the different recording options you have to choose from.

VCR -The cheapest may be an extra VCR you have lying around. Most cameras can be plugged directly into a VCR or TV's video input. If the connection is not the same then there are adaptors available. You may be limited when using a VCR to just one camera. You can split the video of more cameras and use them with a VCR if you purchase a quad. A quad splits video inputs so they take up just a portion of the screen. Most quads are 4 channel, but more channel quads are available. VCRs can't be viewed over the internet.

Surveillance Software and Hardware - This method of recording can also be a very cheap way to record. You must have a computer with some extra RAM and a USB port . This software will turn your computer into a feature rich DVR or digital video recorder (more on this later). To connect a camera to the computer you will need a analog to digital video converter. Just plug the camera into one end and the other end into the USB port on the computer. Most software will be able to see the camera as soon as it recognizes the video converter. If you have more cameras, you will need more converters and more free USB ports. You can also use a quad between the cameras and the video converter cord to increase the number of cameras you can view using this method. This is a great economic way to go if you only have a few cameras. These systems can be connected to the internet and viewed from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection.

DVR Card - a DVR card will need to be installed into one of the PCI ports in a PC in order to work. If you can't add a card to the inside of your PC, then this may not be the best solution for you unless you can get some help. There are many people that have the ability to install a PCI card so help should be easy to come by. These cards range from 4 to 16 cameras and some can be used in sets for systems up to 36 cameras. The exposed part of the card on the back of the computer will allow you to connect the number of cameras the card allows. Most DVR cards will also allow audio microphones to be connected along with the cameras. DVR cards can be full of features and can compared with a high end DVR. DVR cards usually can be connected to the internet and viewed from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection.

DVR - is a digital video recorder. This device basically allows your cameras video to be recorded onto a hard drive or internal disk. There are 2 types of DVRs, windows based and embedded. Windows based DVRs are similar to a computer and use the Windows operating system to run surveillance software. Most people find Windows based DVRs much easier to use than embedded DVR. The embedded DVR does not use any software and all functions are embedded on software encoded computer chips. Embedded DVRs are cheaper than Windows based DVRs in most cases. DVRs are generally the most expensive way to record your cameras. Both types of DVRs allow you to connect the cameras directly to the back of the DVR. Some DVRs can be connected to the internet and viewed from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection.

You may also want to hook a monitor up to your system. The monitor will allow you to review the recorded video and also watch it live. Depending on the system you are setting up, the monitor may be a TV or may be a computer monitor. Monitors are available in all different sizes and qualities. If you plan on building a surveillance system you may want to consider one of the many systems available that provide everything you need in one discounted package. For the beginner it is many times easier to purchase a complete surveillance system then to try to piece together each thing individually.

These basics should be enough to get you started on finding a home surveillance system to meet your budget. Many times if you speak to a surveillance expert you can simply tell them your needs and your budget and they will put together a system that will work well for you. There are a lot of options for you to protect your home and family, be sure the system purchase will meet your security needs.

• 12.1-megapixel effective recording
• 12X optical zoom (4X digital/48X total zoom)
• Built-in GPS function lets you keep track of your photos by location
• Optical image stabilization

Product Description
The DMC-ZS7 features a 25mm ultra wide-angle 12x optical zoom f/3.3-4.9 Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens. Incorporating Panasonic's advanced optical technologies, this lens system is comprised of 10 elements in 8 groups, with 2 ED (Extra Low Dispersion) lenses and 2 aspherical lenses/3 aspherical surfaces while preserving compactness. This lens system enables a remarkable 25 to 300mm range of focal length in this compact body. The powerful zoom of the DMC-ZS7 can be freely controlled even when shooting motion images. Inheriting the fine rendering and outstanding quality of the Leica Elmar lens, this easy-to-carry camera delivers beautiful images any time, any place.Thanks to the intelligent resolution technology, the intelligent zoom is available with the DMC-ZS7 which extends the zoom ratio by approximate 1.3x maintaining the picture quality even combining a digital zoom. This means the 12x optical can virtually extend to 16x equivalent. Furthermore, the extra o... More >>

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD

Whether you work in broadcasting or just have a collection of music, using the MP3 format is almost unavoidable. The MP3 standard is fast, compact, convenient and widely compatible among literally thousands of applications.

MP3 is a lossy format, meaning that every time you compress data, its quality slightly degrades. If you take an original CD and save it into an MP3 file with high bitrate, you will probably not notice any loss of audio quality. If, however, you try to manipulate the MP3 file and save it over and over in the same MP3 format, then pretty soon you are about to notice that the quality of the audio becomes poor.

But what if you already have a pile of MP3 files that you need to handle? Do you always have to face the loss of quality?

Fortunately, there are tools that can perform certain tasks with MP3 files without degrading their quality. In fact, you can only perform a handful of things without losing MP3 quality: you can cut large files into smaller pieces, join small files into a large one, trim files or remove silence, and edit ID3 tag information.

Direct MP3 Splitter Joiner is designed specifically to handle MP3 files with absolutely no loss of quality. Direct MP3 Splitter Joiner helps podcast producers, musicians, radio staff, professional narrators, and just about everyone else who has to have the best possible quality to perform lossless manipulations with MP3 files.

Splitting large MP3 files into a set of smaller files is easy with Direct MP3 Splitter Joiner. You can split one or more large MP3s into small files of equal size, but that’s not all that Direct MP3 Splitter Joiner can do! You can instruct Direct MP3 Splitter Joiner to split large files into chunks of the same play length, or the same byte size, or the same number of pieces. Direct MP3 Splitter Joiner supports CUE files, allowing MP3 album splitter functionality. The smaller files are handy when you need to upload them to a Web site or email them to a friend.

Joining a number of small MP3 files into a single file is just as easy. Direct MP3 Splitter Joiner seamlessly overcomes the 1 GB size barrier, allowing you to create huge files to burn onto a DVD. Thanks to the lossless mode of operation, you can disassemble and re-assemble the same MP3 file several times with absolutely no loss of quality!

In addition to splitting and joining MP3 files, Direct MP3 Splitter Joiner allows trimming MP3 files and removing silence from the beginning and end of each file. All operations are completely automated, and all you need to do is pointing Direct MP3 Splitter Joiner to a file or a folder with MP3 files. The tool will do the rest completely automatically.

Direct MP3 Splitter Joiner is capable of reading and editing ID3 tags, and supports MP3 files in all formats, including variable bitrate, MPEG1, MPEG2 and MPEG 2.5 Layer3. The drag and drop interface makes operations simple and straightforward. There is really nothing missing from Direct MP3 Splitter Joiner! Download your free evaluation version from http://www.mp3-splitter-joiner.com/ and enjoy lossless MP3 editing!

MP3 player, also well known as digital audio player has become a staple of our gadget life. There are many brands of MP3 players on the market today. So, which MP3 player are the most suitable for you? That's where this MP3 player guide comes in.

Basically, there are 3 types of MP3 player based on capacity: -
Hard drive MP3 player highest capacity
largest in size
heavy
often labeled as an "Jukebox MP3 player"
has moving parts
example: Apple iPod video, Sony Network Walkman NW-HD5

2. Micro hard drive MP3 player
use smaller hard drives
lighter than hard drive MP3 player
lower capacity than hard drive MP3 player but higher capacity than flash memory MP3 player
example: Apple iPod mini, Creative Labs Zen Micro

3. Flash memory MP3 player
smallest in size
lowest capacity
very light
has no moving parts
often labeled as an "portable MP3 player"
example: mobiBLU Dah 1500i, Apple iPod nano

What should you concern when you want to buy a MP3 player?
Use / Purpose a) MP3 player good for travel Hard drive MP3 player is good for people traveling or away from computer for an extended period of time, where they can't transfer music files from their computers. Micro hard drive MP3 player is another option for travel since it is slightly smaller and lighter than hard drive MP3 player. Flash memory MP3 player is also popular for travel if you do not mind to listen to the same music.

b) MP3 player good for sport / jogging / gym Flash memory MP3 player is good for people exercising and jogging since it is very light. No moving parts for Flash memory MP3 player make it ideal for sport.

c) MP3 player good for home use Hard drive MP3 player is good for listening song in living room. It is suited to be connected to external speakers.

Connectivity There are two main options to transfer files from your computer: USB or FireWire. USB supported by both PCs and Macs whereas FireWire is supported only on Macs. For PC users, they need to ensure that the MP3 player support USB 2.0 which is faster than USB 1.1. Most of the MP3 players on market today are support USB 2.0.

Display screen Majority of MP3 players have LCD screen. Some MP3 players have color screen instead of dull black and white screen. The main things to consider are all the information such as battery level, song name & elapsed time are easy to read.

Compatibility PC or Mac compatibility. Mac users should ensure the MP3 player can support Mac since some MP3 players can only support PC.

Battery MP3 players come with either rechargeable batteries (some can be charged via USB port) or disposable batteries.

Music format Music files can be one of several types of formats, such as MP3, AAC (Advanced Audio Coding), WMA (Windows Media Audio) and Ogg Vorbis. Ogg Vorbis is a completely open, patent-free, professional audio encoding and streaming technology with all the benefits of Open Source.

Functionality Some MP3 players have extra features such as voice recorder, FM radio, FM recorder, image viewer, video player.

Memory capacity Most of the flash MP3 players come with 256MB, 512MB and 1GB. For hard drive MP3 players, they have gigabytes of storage capacity. If you would like to store many songs or CD collections in one, hard drive MP3 player or micro hard drive MP3 player is a better choice for you.