The latest from Tekzilla: Episode 39 - Hands Free Bluetooth Roundup, Secure Your Computer, Mohawks and Vinyl...

Unless you have an external antenna socket on your Macbook (and they dont) you are SOL. The interan antenna on them are notoriosly poor in comparison to most of their PC bretheren.

An option that is kinda cheap is to get an external USB Wifi dongle. Most of these allow you to place the dongle where you can get optimal reception, eg, like clipping it to back of the screen. The antenna on these things are generally much stronger at picking up a signal, and can also have an external antenna socket of their own.

A cardbus type card might work as well, but the placement of the antenna will be more restricted, however, these are more likely to have an external anntena option.

Thanks to you all!

Have you ever thought of getting a portable video player and I don't mean like an mp3 player that plays videos. Just an idea. Or you could get a portable dvd player.

I believe watching video on laptop vs dvd and thumbdrive on the laptop uses less battery life. Use the power options and set them as far down as they go as long as it still plays the video. And of course turn wifi off and the backlight down.

k thank you and all who respond im go and look into that graphic card.

Back up all of your data to an external hard drive or if you have, a second hard drive. What ever, just back it up!

Now, use the windows disc that came with the laptop to restore it to "factory mode". That'll restore your computer to the purchase state. No viruses, just windows and the crapware the manufacturer put in.

There isn't a magic way to remove spyware and crapware. Some viruses are left undetected or they're attached to a "crucial" system file which means that AntiVirus won't remove it. Or better yet, they modify the Master boot record (inspired by adobes copy protection).

Boot the laptop from the recovery disc and follow the instructions given to you.



Remember; there is no patch for human stupidity!

Various malicious companies use social engineering to get what they want. They got what they want. Call your bank asap!

Things to download/install on the fresh setup:
Run windows update! Install SP3 if you're on XP / SP1 if you're on Vista
AVG anti-virus 8 (free) or NOD32 (don't remember the price but it's good)
Spyboot search and destory
Lavasoft adaware anti spyware (free edition)
Firefox 3 from getfirefox.com
Codecs if you use windows media center. If you don't then get vlc from www.videolan.org


I know it's hard being novice but we're here to hold you hand through out your excruciating windows experience.

over and out

"I can understand why you'd contract a key logger, you seem to be quite the pigeon.

You don't need to buy something you already own. If Sony didn't give you a proper disc, make one yourself.

But formatting your hard drive is a very last resort. As zomgorly pointed out malware software like S&D and adaware are pretty good at removing these things."

Most firewalls are pretty good at filtering out keyloggers especially if you are like me and have multiple levels. However there are Hardware keyloggers that can reside on flash drives. It isn't limited to software keyloggers alone. You want something more than just a cleaner (S&D lately rarely updates, Ad Aware is better but nothing is all inclusive) you want something that can monitor possible keyloggers.

as it was mention formatting the hard drive is definately a last resort. With that said no not every vendor includes a backup disk. nowadays you have to specify wanting the back up on disc when you order it. It should, however, be included if it was purchased at a retail outlet vs. online. Furthermore formatting the hard drive won't always work if the keylogger has been designed as a TSR in memory now will it. This is where I would suggest buying a commercial registery cleaner. You'de be amazed just how much junk is left behind from different programs after uninstalling. Look for the review sites that list the top five DON'T buy RegSupreme. I had it. In the three years I had it, it not once had any updates or wouldn't update and towards the end wanted to remove EVERYthing from my registry. They go through a third party that has no phone, no address and no way to contact at all. How this became rated as one of the top builds is beyond me and I question the review sites. So make sure the developer has history and directly sells.

To add even more there is a big difference between what an OEM PC maker considers back-up disk and recovery disk. When I had my HP the recovery would do just that recover missing or overwright damaged files but it did NOT contain a fully funtional stand alone OS for clean installs. the disc was specifically made for HP recover software. It SUCKED.

My dell on the other hand did come with a full "back-up" OS but again I had to ask for that disk when I ordered my computer.

This actually is something I am researching because of the show so stay tuned I will throw up what I find.
In the meantime you already came up with the best step. password protect and/or set-up multiple user accounts designateing yours as admin and limiting a general user account to only certain funtions.

Hey,

As some of you may have heard, Canada the 3rd world of telecomunications is due to receive the iphone in a few weeks.

As some of you may have also heard, the data plans are rediculous.

So I was wondering if there are any consumers out there that could give me an idea on how much traffic you actually consume with your current iphone /month?

The main reason i want this device is for mobile browsing, but if I'm forced to limit myself to 300mb/month I may just skip it.

In a recent daily tip Veronica advised that using CTRL+H will minimize Oper to the sys tray, nope that just brings up the history. Opera says that do minimize to sys tray....do this:
Ctrl + Alt + Shift + H, good thing most of us have more than 4 fingers!
To bring it back you have to use the mouse and click on the Opera icon in the sys tray to why bother.