Sunday, April 5, 2009

Computer Tips [ Revive Your Internet Connection + F-Key Shortcuts + You Have Too Many Fonts ] 04/06/2009

Computer Tipswww.worldstart.com

Quick Tips

What the F-key? F1 through F4

See that line of keys ranging from F1 to F12 at the top of your keyboard? Wonder what all of 'em do? Yeah, so do I, and that's why today we're going to take a trip down funky f-key lane to discover the fun of Function Keys!

Function keys have many, many uses, some of which are specific to the program that's running at the time. They're mainly used as shortcuts or in conjunction with the CTRL, ALT, and Shift keys, which I'll get more into in another article.

For now, here are the basics of function keys F1 – F4.

F1- Typically pressing this brings up the help file for the program you're currently in. To test this, go ahead and left click on a blank area of your desktop, then press F1. The help file should spring to life, offering it's bounty of knowledge!

F2 – This F-key is used to rename stuff. Click on a file or folder and strike the F2 key; you'll be able to rename it with ease! This is a good one to know if you're zipping through a bunch of files you're archiving and you have a specific naming convention in mind. Click the file, press F2 and rename it! - wash, rinse, repeat!

F3 – Used to bring up the search function in Windows, but varies for other programs. Great for Internet Explorer and Firefox users who want to find a specific word or phrase on a web page with ease!

F4 – In Internet Explorer the F4 key opens the address bar. Even though I said I wouldn't be mentioning any extra key commands until later, I must mention that pressing ALT + F4 will close any active program. Careful with this one! :)

~Andrew

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Special Notice For WorldStart Store Customers:

Just a quick note to all our customers. We wanted to let you know that we did an upgrade to our shopping cart to keep it current. Since we were doing the upgrade, we also decided to upgraded the server as well since it's been getting smoked by all the traffic lately. Wait till you see how fast this thing is!

However, there is a tiny bit of bad news if you have an account setup with our store. While we were able to keep all your user names and account info, the passwords weren't so lucky (one way, heavy-duty encryption). So, if you have an account, when you go to checkout you'll have to reset your password. It's easy - you'll be prompted for your e-mail address and a new password will be sent over. If you don't like the new password, log into your account and feel free to change it.

We apologize for any inconvenience, but when an update comes along we always do it to make sure the store remains secure. Normally it doesn't cannibalize the passwords, but with the move to the new server / software it was necessary. Thanks for understanding :-)

Oh, and if you don't have an account (you can use the store without one), everything is pretty much the same.

Enjoy the deals and have a great weekend!

~Steve


Monday, Monday, so good to me! Welcome to another week of amazing deals and astounding tips here at Worldstart! Travel down the page for tips on how to prune that font folder and April's Office tip on how to change shapes! We also have an article on troubleshooting your Internet connection and, of course, Amanda's Cool Site of the day! Don't forget that the April Wallpaper has been posted, too! Get beautiful desktop imagery today, courtesy of Worldstart!!

Announcements

YES! They're BACK! We begged, we pleaded, and we finally were able to liberate a small number of the amazing GPS systems below! They were extremely popular a month ago and we've had people begging for more ever since. We were FINALLY able to get another handful - so here's one last shot at 'em!

 

WOW! Turn Your Laptop Into An Incredible GPS Unit!

WAY More Powerful & Full Featured Than A Windshield Mount Unit!

And Only A Fraction - A FRACTION - Of The Cost!

Even Can Respond To Voice Commands!

Best GPS Navigation Ever! Wait Till You Try It!

We just found the coolest GPS package on the planet! It's DeLorme's EarthMate and it transforms your laptop into an amazing, full featured, voice activated GPS Unit! Really! Works great too!

Using your laptop for an automotive navigation GPS is absolutely incredible - and much easier than it might sound too! If you have a passenger, they can keep the computer on their lap when it's needed, and if you're going solo, just set it on the seat next to you! It accepts voice commands, so you don't even need to touch it (more on that in a minute)! Between getting to use your large laptop screen and all the amazing features packed into this, you'll never, ever consider one of those silly windshield-mount units!

How does it work? Glad you asked! You install the map software on your laptop and plug in the included GPS receiver into your laptop's USB port! That's it! You now have a fully functional GPS system you can take with you! The receiver itself is on a 5' cord, so you can easily set it on your car's dashboard if you like (or use the suction cup for the windshield) - it's small too - about the size of a small wireless flip-phone!

Again, this does the same thing as those little units you can spend hundreds of dollars on - except this uses your computer so it's a LOT more powerful! This puts any hand-held or windshield mount GPS unit I've ever seen to absolute and complete shame! PLUS, wait till you see the price - it's a FRACTION of the cost! And you get to do all your navigating on your laptop screen instead of some small, impossible to read 4" LCD panel! It's amazingly good :-)

Earthmate GPS Receiver & Street Atlas USA 2008

OK, this does a LOT! I could literally take up 10 pages just giving you the highlight show! You'll really have to stop by the website to see everything this can do - way too much to go over here (you'll understand when you see the page), but just to give you a little taste of what's in store for you...

First, input your destination and this will get you there with easy to follow turn by turn directions (audio turn by turn help no less)! Even better, this can respond to voice commands from you so it becomes VERY hands-free! In fact, you can train it so you can say something like "When is my next turn?" and it will answer back something like "Your next turn is in 200 yards". Yeah, it's cool!

Earthmate GPS Receiver & Street Atlas USA 2008

In addition, it also has amazing re-routing help for when you run into traffic jams, you can use voice prompting to ask it where the nearest gas station, hotel, etc is, and you can even scout ahead on the map and have it snap back to your current location! Oh, and did I mention it has a whoppin' 4 MILLION places of interest built right in - gas stations, restaurants, hotels, malls, - you name it! Everything you need on the road! 

Yeah those little windshield mounted units are starting to look darn pretty pathetic right about now, don't ya think?

Earthmate GPS Receiver & Street Atlas USA 2008

Oh, and get this - you can also import data into it from spreadsheets and most popular contact managers! If you travel for business, this is amazing - just import your contacts and navigate to any one of them with a couple mouse clicks! You can even enter a phone number and this will do a reverse lookup and find the address for you! WOW!

Using the maps is fantastic too! They are amazingly detailed and just a right-click will tell you exactly what's under your mouse (body of water, street, etc)! It can even get you local radio station information - now THAT's insanely impressive!

OK, you get the idea. Frankly, we only have a limited number of these and if I keep going on we're going end up having way more people who want one than we have available. Bottom line is simply this - if you've been thinking about getting a navigation system or windshield mount GPS unit for your car, THIS is going to blow ALL of the competition away! After all, it all the resources of a full-blown computer at its disposal, so really, it's not even a contest! Imagine having this on your next trip! Oh, and imagine how cool this would be if you had to rent a car somewhere and had no clue where you were going! 

Your price is only a FRACTION of what you would pay for a full blown GPS unit too! Just $38.97 and US shipping is FREE! These retail for $70, so it's a huge chunk of change off the regular price! And amazing compared to a $400 GPS unit! Don't miss out!

http://store.worldstart.com/product.php?productid=4934

PS - Seriously - only a limited number available. PLEASE get to the site early. Once these are gone we can't get anymore and I'm not sure if we'll ever see something like this again! Don't miss out!


 

WOW!! OK, One More Day!

Sheeesh! This One Has Been FLYIN' Out The Doors

So, We're Gonna Keep This Same Great Offer Open

For As Long As We've Got 'Em On The Shelf

Master THE Most Popular Programs....With EASE!!!

Whooaa!!! THIS... Is A HUGE Course!

1,400 Topics - 20 Bonus Courses, Too!

You know how it is - You've probably been wanting to learn how to use a bunch of programs that you've just dabbled with up til now. Well, here's your chance to really dominate 'em!

And unlock all the bells and whistles that have been lurking under the hood just waiting for you to "Crack the Code"!

So...what programs are we talking about? Well, how about the COMPLETE Microsoft® Office® suite of programs., including:

  • Word® (Word Processor)
  • Excel® (Spreadsheet)
  • PowerPoint® (Presentation Program - Slide Shows, etc.)
  • Access® (Database Management)
  • Outlook® (E-mail)

Pretty impressive, heh? But hang on...we've only just started!

Ever wanted to know how to make your own newsletters, brochures, or fliers? (Got you covered!)

How 'bout sprucing up those digital photos you've got sitting on that hard drive? (Got ya there, too!)

Been thinking about putting together a web page? (Oh yeah...we can get you started on that, too!)

Check out this list of courses that are ALSO covered:

  • Microsoft Publisher 2000 and 2003
  • Microsoft Project 98 and 2000
  • Microsoft InfoPath 2003
  • Microsoft Visio 2003
  • Microsoft OneNote 2003
  • Microsoft FrontPage 2000, 2002, and 2003
  • Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) 2003
  • Java
  • JavaScript
  • Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) 4
  • Dynamic HTML
  • Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0
  • Adobe Acrobat 6
  • Digital Photography Tutorial

See...told you it was AWESOME! This will keep you busy for quite some time, don't ya think?

And what you're going to find is that this is the Easiest and Fastest way to learn these programs!

This course was created by a company called "LEARN2". Now that may not mean much to you...until you realize that this company's training programs have been used by Fortune 500 companies and leading government agencies to train some of their KEY employees for over a decade! Why? Because their system works!

You see, you don't just sit there trying to learn by reading out of a book. (We all know how well THAT usually works - especially trying to learn a computer program. zzzzzzzz) Well, they do something VERY different. Instead, you watch a series of short, but in-depth video presentations, that shows you what to do and how to do it. Each lesson has step-by-step simulations with easy visual and audio instructions.

Learn2 Training Complete: Office 2007 & Windows Vista

The result is this system has proven to increase the rate of retention. In other words, you learn more and you remember what you learn! (How's THAT for a novel concept!)

Oh, and, by the way, this company's training carries the "Microsoft® Approved Courseware" designation. In fact, their training information covers the very same material included in the "MS Certified Specialist" Certification level! So understand...you're running with the very best!

And wait til you see what this course covers. (I think you'll be impressed as we were!)

As you might expect from the title, this program covers the entire suite of Microsoft® Office® programs...ALL of them!

But hang on a second...check this out.

How many times have you tried to learn a program but then the teaching information was for a DIFFERENT version of the program than YOU had? (You know...you've got last year's version, but the program covers the latest version, which (of course) you just don't happen to have!) This program not only has the most current version of MS Office®, but it ALSO has the earlier versions... for each program that makes up MS Office®!

So even if you don't have the latest version of each MS Office® program, you don't need to let that stop you. Learn the version that you have right now. If you decide to upgrade your MS Office® in the future, fine, learn those versions at that time. Or if you really want to increase your job skills, learn all of the programs and become familiar with all of the versions. (Hello, "Super Star" !)

Just so you know, this is T-H-E FULL- BLOWN training course on Microsoft®® Office®®. (There is a "shortened" version of this course that's called, "Learn2 Training Essentials"). This is ain't it. This is, "LEARN2 Training Complete". And there's a reason they called it that.

This program comes with Five!!! (count 'em... FIVE CD-ROMs, each packed with audio and video presentations! And each CD-ROM features in-depth instruction on an Office® program as well as an introduction to Windows® Vista®. There's over 1400 topics covered! The bottom-line: go thru this course, complete the exercises and YOU WILL KNOW Microsoft® Office®.

To give you some idea of the depth covered in these courses, I took some screenshots for you to look at.

Here I opened the section on Microsoft® Access® (the database program). Once inside, you see the Course Menu for Level 1

Learn2-MS_Office1

When you click on one of the modules, you'll see the lessons within that module. (Here you can see the lessons within Module 3.)

Learn2-MS_Office2

Once you click on one of the lessons, you see the presentations within that lesson.

Learn2-MS_Office3

Here's a screenshot of one of the exercises in Access®. As you can see, the training is VERY thorough!

Learn2-MS_Office4

And if you're already familiar with Microsoft® Office® but you'd like to "brush-up" a little or if you'd like to increase your skills in a certain area, no problem. You'll love the way these modules are set up because you can focus on any one specific area you want OR learn any of the programs from the ground up!

Imagine... the pride and feeling of accomplishment you'll feel when you've mastered THE most popular computer programs used today.

So...if you've been putting off learning Microsoft® Office® for whatever reason, now's your chance to succeed and move forward. And to take ALL of the stumbling blocks out of your way. While other sites have retailed this for as much as $49.99, we're going to give you a FANTASTIC price of just $9.97 and US shipping is FREE!

http://store.worldstart.com/product.php?productid=4998

PS -Take control of your future and gain a Competitive Advantage in today's job market today! Order your copy of Learn2 Training Complete for Microsoft® Office® & Windows® Vista® today!

Yikes! The price is going up to $16.97 soon! Better order now!! 

Computers 101

Q:
I have like 500 fonts and I don't need them all—not to mention it takes forever to find the right one. Is there a way to get rid of the extras?

A:
Seems like every graphics program and printer software gives you free fonts, then the next thing you know you have so many that you can't keep track of them all! Many of them you'll never use, or they look just like other fonts but with a different name.

This procedure can take some time, so plan on being in front of your computer for a while.

To prune the list you must first go to the Fonts folder. The quickest way there in Windows XP is Start>Run and type in "fonts" (without the quotes). Or in Windows Vista, just type fonts into the search bar. You can also go the long way through the Control Panel if you prefer.

Change the fonts folder view to "details" and you'll get a nice long list.

Here's the time consuming part: for each font you should double click to view what the font looks like. As you view the sample ask yourself, "Will I really ever use this font?" If you answer no, then close the window by clicking the X or the "Done" box, then hit your Delete key.

You will be asked if you want to remove the font. Click "Yes".

Some fonts, like Times and Arial, you know are keepers so go ahead and skip those. Others, like "Shruti" or "Guatami", are less familiar and worth looking at.

Another way you could decide what fonts to keep would be to open your word processing program and make a list of the fonts you want to keep, then go in and delete everything BUT those fonts.

CAUTION: If you see any fonts that have program names in them, for example "MS Outlook", DO NOT DELETE. These contain symbols used by a specific program and may mess things up.

One other thing to consider: maybe you are worried about removing fonts you may need in the future. Perhaps you are afraid of accidentally removing a font needed by a program. If this is you, then create a folder called "Fonts2" and move the fonts you don't want over to it. If you find you do need the font then just reinstall it—see this tip...
http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/622

Once your list is streamlined, font selection will be easier without all those extras in your way.

~ David

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MS Office

Change Your Mind About Your Shape?

Have you ever drawn a shape in an MS Office program only to find that you've changed you mind and want something different?

What did you do?

Most people I know would choose to start over… makes you want to just keep the original one, even if it's not your first choice anymore, doesn't it?

Well, today I'd like us to take a look how to change the shape without starting over or re-doing any formatting.

If you use AutoShapes then I'm sure you're interested so let's get to the good part.

Obviously, if we're going to change a shape then you already have one drawn. Select it.

At this point, the location of the Change Shape command depends upon your program version.

If you're using an older version of MS Office then you can change a shape through the Draw menu on the Drawing toolbar.

Choose Change AutoShape, a category and then the new shape you need in your file.

Poof! Shape changed but not all the formatting... Yeah!

Moving on to Office 2007…I found that in MS Word 2007 is different from Excel and PowerPoint.

Let's start with Word 2007.

With your shape selected, go to the Format tab of the Drawing Tools section of the Ribbon.

In the Shape Styles section click the Change Shape button and you'll find all the usual choices for you to choose from.

In PowerPoint and Excel 2007 I still found what I was looking for on the Format tab of the Drawing Tools section of the Ribbon, but this time you need to find the Edit Shape button.

From there choose Change Shape and you'll have access to your replacement choices.

I do have one side note: if when trying to change the shape a new one is not active then you are trying to change something that cannot be changed this way. Sorry.

But for most situations the Change Shape knowledge will be a definite time saver… and who couldn't use a little more time?

~ April

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More Cool Stuff

WOW! We just can't seem to stop sellin' these! Hundreds and hundreds - nearly 1000 - have already grabbed theirs! You've gotta give this a go! This is really easy to use and can save you an amazing amount on long distance - and it's WAY more fun! 

 

Our Most Popular Webcam EVER!!

See What All The Excitement Is About!

Super Easy To Use - Even Has A Built-In Mic!

Black Komptronix 300K USB 2.0 Webcam

Use It To Chat With Friends For FREE - No More Long Distance!

Flexible Neck, LEDs For Low Light, And It Even Takes Snapshots!

Great Quality @ A Dirt Cheap Price!

Know what time it is? It's time to FINALLY get yourself a webcam! We just got an absolutely amazing deal on some incredible USB 2.0 Webcams W/ Mic and you're gonna love 'em!

I know, I know, folks who've never used a webcam before are always a bit nervous the first time they plug it in - will it work? Is it hard to setup? What do I do with it? Well, rest easy! Just plug in the webcam and install the easy to use software and you're good to go!

As for what you do with it - have I got an idea for you! We use these routinely with Yahoo's (FREE) Instant Messenger's "Webcam" feature! Just install the software, hook up your webcam, and select Webcam from the Messenger menu! You instantly have a way to "Video Chat" online! 

Oh, and the best thing? Not only are conversations with friends and family 10X better with a webcam, it's all FREE!!! Think about the endlessly expensive long distance calls or all those cell phone minutes that get eaten up every month. Why not grab a webcam for yourself and a friend and give THIS a try instead? Talk about paying for itself!! WOW!

Black Komptronix 300K USB 2.0 Webcam

OK, all the above is great - but this camera has a few really ingenious features I just gotta brag about! First, it's designed to just right ont he edge of your LCD monitor or laptop screen! No more balancing acts - only to watch the camera fall off a few seconds later! It also sits real well on flat surfaces :-)!

Oh, and not only will you be blown away first time you see the quality of the video - this takes it to the next level with built-in lights! The 6 LED lights help enhance brighten the image when you're in a dark office or room! Great for webcamming in low light! The LEDs give really help get rid of that horrible toplighting coming from the ceiling and make YOU look better on the other end :) You'll see!

Plus, get this - you can even take still photos too! Just press the button to snap a photo! If you've ever needed just a quick snapshot of someone or something, this makes it super fast and super easy! 

Your cost for all this webcam fun? We're talking just $18.97 and US shipping is FREE! That's not a typo - that's one of the best prices we've ever had on a webcam - and this has the flexible neck, LEDs, and a snapshot feature! Give it a try - you'll love it too!

http://store.worldstart.com/product.php?productid=4969

PS -Yeah, you know how it goes, only a limited quantity available, so make sure you get to the site and order while they're still in stock! 






NEWS FLASH!!! OUR "HEAD GEEK" SPEAKETH!!!

Special Update!! Save $116 Off Retail!

I just had to let you know, the head of our "Tech Dept"...just came up to me and said that he thought this is one of the BEST offers we've EVER had. I thought that was a little odd. You see, you have to understand, he's in the "Geek Dept". In fact, he RUNS the "Geek Dept" for cryin' out loud. He talks in "Geek-Speak" or some kind of language that most of us don't quite understand. But he NEVER talks about products. NEVER! So when he said that he thought this was a great offer, it really surprised me and I just had to ask, "Why". His answer: "Because the company who makes this product, ("Verbatim"), is well-known for their high quality Hard Drives. He also said if people (I presume he was referring to us mere mortal "non-geeks") really understood how great these Hard Drives really are, they would probably get as many as they could get their hands on!"

Now this all makes sense!! Because this SAME, EXACT Hard Drive is being sold for MUCH more at other sites...NOW You know why!!!

We found the SAME DRIVE at buy.com for $75.24 after shipping! AND - they LIST for $138!!! We have 'em for $21.97 and our shipping is FREE if you live in the US! Killer deal! Take a look!!

Amazing 8GB Micro-Hard Drive!Verbatim Store-n-Go 8GB USB 2.0 Mini HD

Take All Your Stuff With You!

Way Cheaper Than A Flash Drive -

And Better Lookin' Too!

You've Just Gotta Try This!

Others Charge $80-$138 For It -

Our Price Is Just $21.97!!

These are just the coolest little hard drives we've ever come across! Not only are they about as good lookin' as a hard drive can get, but they are really tiny too! Just wait till you see yours :-) You're gonna LOVE 'em!

This works just like a flash drive - only it doesn't set you back as much money! Just plug it into your computer and it will show up as an external drive under My Computer. From there, simply drag and drop your files! Works on any XP or Vista computer - no drivers required! WOW!

Why not free up extra room on your computer's Hard Drive? Yeah...instead of jamming EVERYTHING onto the computer (you know...the one you never seem to get around to backing up!), why not keep all your favorite music, photos and other important stuff in one nice, convenient spot? Plus that way, you've got everything together when you want to show uncle Bob all the latest photos from your last vacation?

Oh, and these are FANTASTIC for backups too! You probably have loads of documents, information, spreadsheets, family photos, and music that you just can't afford to lose - Why not back 'em up onto a couple of these handy little drives? Makes it MUCH easier to keep track of and for the price you just can't go wrong!

Or if you've got SOOO many tunes you just "can't live without" and you're juggling three or four thumb drives- well STOP IT!!! (Besides, you're bound to loose one of 'em, poke an eye out or do something else that every mother in the world seems to warn their kids about doing!) Do the smart thing and keep them all together and neat all in one place! (Besides, your mother will be so proud!)

Anyway, in addition to the HUGE amount of capacity, this mini-HD is FAST! (USB 2.0 with data transfer speeds up to 480 Mbps!) So when "Uncle Bob" says he just has to have copies of those pictures, BAM! plug right into that USB port and you're done!!! Oh, and this comes pre-loaded with Mobile Launchpad, which is the start menu for your USB HD Drive! So no need to think about drivers, and all that. Again, this baby is 100% Plug 'N Play so you can Rock 'N Roll!!!

And, of course, we can't leave out the fact that this Mini HD looks gooood! Sleek, slick, compact,,,what else do you need.

Oh, and this comes with its own USB cable, a Quick Start Guide AND a travel wallet. (Can you say, "Accessorize"?)

These are going to go out the door in a hurry! I'd say grab one or two while you can for yourself...maybe even one as a gift if we still have any. Also, we just found this exact same drive at buy.com for $75.24 after shipping! Grab 'em from us for just $21.97 and US Shipping is FREE! Here's the link:

http://store.worldstart.com/product.php?productid=4999

PS...You KNOW you're gonna need more storage - grab a couple of these today! Save over $100!!

Today at WorldStart.com

Organize With Notepad

Wait, you mean people still use Notepad? Today at Worldstart we have a neat, quick tip on how to make Notepad remember the date for you! Think of the journals, the logs, the memories! Maybe I'm getting too carried away. Whatever the case may be, you should go and check it out!

The IMCDB

We all know about IMDB (Internet Movie Database) where you can find out tons of information on movies, actors and films. Now, I’m bringing you IMCDB (Internet Movie Cars Database) where you can learn everything you want to about the cars that are in the movies that you love. Check it out at the WS site today!

Here's the link you need: http://www.worldstart.com/ Enjoy!

Tip of the Day

Troubleshooting tips for reviving an Internet connection

If your Internet is down, you probably can’t read this! It would be better if you save this page locally for a rainy day! This page will also give you a better understanding of what goes behind the scenes that makes your net... work…!

At first you need a brief introduction of how your Internet works. You, as the user, are given a cable modem or DSL Modem from your service provider (ISP) that connects to the network either via coax (thick cable) or your phone line. The modem, in turn, establishes a connection with the ISP’s network. The network has a DHCP server that gives the modem an IP address. That address is accessible from the Internet (Public IP). If you have no clue what I am talking about, then please read the article that addresses IP found here.

Now, either you connect your computer, wired or wireless, to that modem or connect a wired or wireless router so you can share your connection to multiple machines/devices.

Are you still with us?

If you are plugged directly into the modem, it will give you a private IP address that is NATed out to the public IP.
If your setup is such, then it will be easy unless you are going to switch computers. Due to security restrictions, you will need to restart the modem to give the machine an IP address. We recommend you get a router, which will allow you to swap machines and share the net with multiple machines.

Now lets move on to how to troubleshoot. Take a deep breath! Now let us take the plunge…

What do you mean by ‘the Internet’s down’?

After you go through the normal steps of denial, rebooting, blaming your ISP, rebooting, cursing…. Check out these steps:

1. Before you do anything else, first restart your modem and then wait for it to come back online. Once that is done, restart your router.
2. If you don’t have a router, reboot your computer and then the cable modem.
3. Once all the modems lights are lit and the activity lights are blinking, the net should be back up. If all the lights do not come on, check that all your cables are secure and then call your ISP.
4. Open a new browser window and try to get the site: http://www.worldstart.com. If the site comes up, it is good. If not, continue reading.
5. Go to Start>Run and type in CMD
6. Type Ipconfig /all
7. Make note of your default gateway and DNS servers.
8. Ping your default gateway. Do you get a response?
9. Ping one of the DNS servers. Do you get a response?
10. Type ping www.worldstart.com. Do you get a response?

If all else fails, you could use traceroute to find out where you are getting stuck. Traceroute is a command which can show you the path a packet of information takes from your computer to one you specify. It will list all the routers it passes through until it reaches its destination, or fails to and is discarded. In addition to this, it will tell you how long each 'hop' from router to router takes. To do this, just go to Windows, select Start > Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt. When a window pops up, enter the word ‘tracert’, followed by a space, then the domain name. If it timed out after line 1, you would know there was a problem connecting to your ISP in which case you will not be able to access anything on the Internet. It is generally recommended that if you have a website that is unreachable, you should use both the traceroute and ping commands before you contact your ISP to complain. More often that not, there will be nothing your ISP or hosting company can do about it.

Similarly, there are a number of network issues where there are two DHCP servers giving out IP addresses. If you have a router, you need to make sure it is in the same internal range as the cable modem. If your ISP router is 192.168.1.1, make your router .2. And if possible, disable the DHCP on the original. That should do the trick most of the time.
Best of luck!

~Zahid H Javali

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Today's Feature

Monday Video Tip

Are you tired of looking at the same old folders, day in and day out? Want to learn how to change them? Well, I think that today's video tip might be just the medicine you need to cure those boring folder blues! Click on the link below for a visual!

http://imgsrv.worldstart.com/videotips/index.htm

Or, if you prefer to read all about it, go here:
http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/58

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Amanda's Coolsite

Pick a Cake

Lately, I’ve been really interested in graphic cakes. Cakes that are more interesting than your run of the mill sheet cake. Cakes with pizzazz! That’s what you’ll see here.

There are two ways to navigate the site. You can browse blog style by scrolling down the page and then going back using the previous entries link to see the rest. Or you can browse using the navigation strip at the top of the page, it divides the cakes up into these categories:

Birthday Cakes – here you will find really interesting birthday cakes. From mended hearts to your kid’s favorite characters to amazing animals you’ll find a plethora of interesting birthday cakes here.

Wedding Cakes – a smaller offering than the birthday cake section, here you’ll find three beautiful wedding cakes.

Holiday Cakes – what could be more fun than a 3D Christmas tree cake? How about a 3D Easter lamb? Here you will find amazing holiday cakes.

Graduation Cakes – be sure to check out this lonely graduation cake. The only cake in the category, you’ll be wowed by the amazing 3D graduation cap on this cake.

Cupcakes – seem to be the new gourmet trend. It seems like little cupcake shops are popping up everywhere I go! Not that I mind. Here you can check out the many interesting ways to decorate and serve cupcakes.

While the site doesn’t appear to have been updated in a while (which I feel is a shame) the cake galleries here make for mouth watering exploration. Check them out today!

http://www.pickacake.com/

~Amanda

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Send it to Amanda at
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Monthly Wallpaper

 

OH, Yeah - The Coolest 4 Port USB Hub You've Ever Seen!

Brilliant "Octopus" Design!

You'll Never Use A "Regular" Hub Again!!

On Sale Today ONLY - Huge Price Break!

Sick of unplugging your hardware just to use a the USB Port? Even more sick of having to crawl around to the back of your computer and playing contortionist to find the free USB port? Well, have I got the cure to all your hardware sickness! This 4 USB 2.0 Hub!!!

Oh, but the big deal with this is the absolutely brilliant octopus-like arms that make plugging in your devices soooo much easier than a normal hub! I mean, you know how it goes - it's a huge hassle to pop a USB plug into a tiny, crowded port. We've all been there - adjusting, jiggling, flipping and pushing the plug just trying to get the stupid thing in.

Well, these arms make it so easy to plug in your USB devices you may find yourself buying computer accessories just so you can use it :-) Yup, finally a way to plug in your USB devices without the hassle! Just grab a free plug, turn it anyway you like, and pop your plug in! It doesn't sound like much, but let me tell ya, once you try it, you'll be hooked! I have one plugged into the front of my computer right now, and anyone who tries to "borrow" it is in for a serious hand-slappin'!!!

Oh, and it's more than just a pretty face too! It provides 4 hi-speed (2.0) USB Ports in a small compact size! This hub takes up almost zero space since it's mostly just cords! It will free up gobs of space your desktop! This guy is so small, that it could easily fit in your pocket!!! Really! You can take it anywhere, making it ideal for both notebook or desktop computers!!! (I can't wait to take this on the road)

Even Better- it even has 100% hot-swappable protection. What does this mean? Hot-swappable means that you can simply plug in your device when you need it, then yank it out when you're done. You don't need to take the time to formally eject it or have to worry about the stuff you have plugged in!!!! Cool :-)

Your price? Get this!! The coolest UBS hub on the planet can be yours today for just $10.97 and US Shipping is Free. I know, hard to believe you can get this much innovation for that kind of money! Run to the site before they sell out (Or before I decide just to keep them all for myself) Check it OUT:

http://store.worldstart.com/product.php?productid=4736

PS: Yup, I love this hub!!! And I am sure you will too! Order one today, this deal is just too good to pass up- You'll be kicking yourself if you wait till tomorrow when the price will increase to $14.97!

Monthly Wallpaper

April Wallpaper

Here's this month's free calendar wallpaper! As always, it's 100% free, so head on over and grab one!

Pink Flower

This was actually in my front of my house! It had rained the night before, and this pink flower (lily, Azailia?) was looking especially pink.

Mossy Stream

This just has to make you think "Spring"! Taken last April in the Smokys - and man that water was cold!

Valley Of Fire Road

Just about an hour's drive from Las Vegas is this amazing place! It really does look like that when you round the top of the hill! You think you're on another planet (and may sci-fi movies were shot there, including Star Trek Generations)

Here's April's wallpaper. It's all free, so enjoy!

All can be found here:

http://www.worldstart.com/wallpaper/index.php

Enjoy!

 

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Copyright, Disclaimer, and Removal

ISSN: 1529-336X
Copyright 2005, WorldStart. All unauthorized reproduction strictly prohibited.

You are welcome to reproduce this newsletter (i.e. print it, store it) for your own personal use. You are also welcome to forward it, in its entirety, to friends and family.

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Personal & Educational Use Only This blog consists mainly of FREE newsletters from computer web gurus that I receive. I thought you might like to see them all in one place than try to discover them on your own. A moderate amount of editing may be done to eliminate unrelated repetitious ads or unnecessary text which bloat the post. However I have given the authors full credit and will not remove their site links because you deserve to see where it comes from and they deserve to get credit for what they have written. Your use of this site is simply for educational purposes. For more computer-related help go to: CPEDLEY.COM for free software, advice and tips on low cost products which are very helpful. If you want to contact the editor, please go CPEDLEY.COM and check the Contact page for email address.