Announcements

 Time Travel Made Easy

Well, for your computer's data anyway!

We have the personal addition of Roxio GoBack 3 (current version) available today for only $6.97 with FREE US Shipping! It's a heck of a deal!

What does it do?

It allows you to "Go Back" in time by keeping track of changes to your hard drive. For example, let's say you're checking your e-mail and accidentally open a virus attachment. Normally, you would have to try and recover the hard way - remove the virus, fix the bad files, hope it works, etc.

With Go Back, you just reboot your computer and tell it to go back to the last backup point before you opened the virus. You're back up and running in a matter of minutes.

This is also great for driver installs that go bad (I've had more than a few of those), software installs that make Windows die, or even file problems due to power failures.

Basically, if something occurs that messes up the data on your hard drive (short of mechanical or electrical failure), you can use this to recover.

Again, this is only $6.97 and US Shipping is free. Check it out:

http://www.worldstart.com/store/roxio-goback.htm

PS - This is another (very) limited quantity buy. If you want yours, be sure to get to the site now! We've had 3 sell outs in the last couple weeks and at 6.97, these aren't gonna last.

Computers 101

Q:
I heard someone talking about a program's "executable file". Does this file kill (execute) the program? Should I be worried about it?

A:
Ahh, save your worries for something good, this is nothing to fret over. The executable is basically the part of the program that "runs" when you click it (or its shortcut). In fact, the executable basically is the program, less any support files. If you don't have an executable, you don't have a program, just a file.

Since these executables are generally buried inside several layers of folders, we have shortcuts that point to them. When you click the shortcut, it tells Windows to activate the executable, and the program runs. It's a lot like magic, only no top hats or wands are involved.

How do you know what the executable is? It normally has the same icon the program does and ends with ".exe" (or ".com" for DOS - nothing to do with web pages, a ".com" is a "command" file). Note that if you don't have your computer set to show file extensions, you won't see the .exe part.

Since most programs stick shortcuts on your desktop and in your Start menu, Programs area, you usually don't need to worry about where your executable is. If you really feel the need to stop by and play with it, you can right-click any program shortcut and select Properties from the resulting menu. Then, click that "Find Target" button on the screen that pops up to be taken straight to the folder where the executable is hanging out. Once you find it, give it a double click.

~Steve

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http://www.worldstart.com/submitquestion.htm

Tip of the Day

It's All About Shortcuts...

Have you ever needed to create a desktop shortcut to a program? Maybe you had one and it disappeared (somehow) or perhaps the install program simply didn't put an icon on the desktop. Who knows, maybe the one you have on your desktop has been clicked so many times it's just worn out and needs to be replaced with a spiffy new model (just kidding).

There are three common ways to create desktop shortcuts—the quick way, the easy way and the techy way.

Quick Way:

Most programs have a shortcut under the Start Menu, Programs (it's rare to find one that doesn't). Head to the program shortcut (the same way you would if you were launching it). Instead of left clicking it to run, right-click and scroll down to "Send To" then "Desktop". This will automatically create a ashortcut on your desktop.

Easy Way:

With this method you will also go to Start Menu, Programs and head over to the program shortcut. Instead of left clicking it to run, right-click and drag it to the desktop. Once you're hovering over the desktop, release the mouse button and a little menu will pop up.

Choose the "copy here" option and you'll have a shiny new shortcut, just waiting to be clicked.

Quick note—I know that some of you may be wondering why you don't just left-click and drag to the desktop. Although you can, that action will re-locate the icon, not copy it. It will no longer be available under your Start Menu, Programs. Hence the right-click draggin' trick.

Techy Way:

This way is a little more difficult, but it does come in handy if for some reason you don't have a shortcut to a particular program in your Start menu, Programs area. As an added bonus, you can use this method to create shortcuts to documents, pictures, etc. For the steps below, we'll assume you're trying to create a shortcut to an actual program.

1. Right-click the Desktop and select New, Shortcut from the resulting menu.

2. A little wizard will pop up, asking you for the location of the file. You're looking for the "executable" file, basically the one that makes the program run. You'll probably want to head to the "C:\Program Files\" directory of your hard drive. If your C: drive isn't shown when you hit the Browse button, find where "My Computer" is listed and double-click it.

Under "Program Files", you'll see lots of folders, look for the one your program is in.

3. After you locate the program's executable file, double-click it and hit Next on the little wizard. You'll be asked to name the shortcut. You can use the default name, but I would recommend putting in something more descriptive (usually the name is a little cryptic, like "Prgam.exe" or something).

4. Hit Finish and you're all done.

Last Way:

Oh, as an alternative to using the Wizard, you can also locate the program's "exe" file using My Computer or Explorer, then right-click and drag it to the desktop. Select "Make shortcuts here" from the resulting menu and it will create a shortcut. If you don't like the default name Windows gives it, right-click and select Rename from the resulting menu.

There ya go—you're a shortcut makin' expert now :-)

~ Steve

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http://www.worldstart.com/writers-guidelines/index.htm

Amanda's Cool Site of the Day

Knowledge Hound

This site claims to be "the Web's biggest directory of free do-it-yourself tips and tutorials. From sports to cooking to computers and much, much more, we'll help you become one smart puppy."

From surfing around their site, and checking things out, I'd have to say they have the right to their claim. I think you'll love the categories and then the array of information that you'll find. I started out by choosing sewing (and I know there are some of you who love this particular hobby) I am a very uneasy beginner and found great tips and information, not to mention links. I think I'll take up crocheting too.

I also loved the sections on weight maintaining, personal finance, and automotive help. I think this site is diamond in the rough, so check it out.

http://www.knowledgehound.com/

Do you have a cool, non-commercial site that you want to share?
Send it to Amanda at amanda@worldstart.com