About our suggested security downloads:

If you currently don't have any security programs on your computer, such as McAfee, Norton, Panda, Sophos, etc, these make great alternatives. Even if you do have security software installed, we often recommend these as replacements when your subscription runs out. They are all free and do not require any sort of subscription.

About our suggested web application downloads:

Best feature about all these programs is that they're free! Firefox is a great alternative web browser. It provides additional security for web browsing and blocks many malicious codes and pop-ups. Thunderbird is an email client similar to Outlook. It is very simple to use and light-weight. Google Talk is a light-weight instant messenger that allows you to use your gmail account. Add us: chip.in.wa @ gmail.com (no spaces)!

About our suggested other application downloads:

Gimp is a photo-editor that mocks Photoshop. It's easy to use and offers many effects and cropping properties similar to Photoshop. Filezilla is a free FTP client which provides a simple user interface for uploading and downloading files from servers, for websites and other online storage. VLC is a media player that often superceeds Windows Media player and comes with most audio and video codecs to play hundreds of media file types.


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"How-to" Misc. Videos

There are many things that can go wrong with every wireless network, here are are a few tricks and tips you may want to refer to if you start having a problem with a wireless networks that worked just fine a moment ago.

Some of these tips may seem somewhat obvious, but you should check anyways - I know I have spent hours looking at the more difficult possibilities when the solution was as simple as restarting the computer.


Restart your computer

As is the case with many computer problems, restarting the computer can be very helpful. This is especially true if the wireless connection went out because of something like interference from a cordless phone call.

Make sure you're logged onto the proper wireless network

Make sure that you have connected to wireless network that you intended to. Oftentimes, Windows will automatically connect to a network outside your house, especially if the other network is very close.

Watch out for interference

Things like wireless (cordless) phones and large metal objects can mess up your wireless signal. Make sure that you have a pretty clear path to the access point.

Encryption and security features can cause headaches

Sometimes Windows, for no apparent reason at all, drops the security code you entered when you set the wireless network up. Read the documentation included with the wireless router and your wireless network card and find out how to set that stuff up - it's quite different on different systems.

Restart the router

I often find that restarting the router (try unplugging it and plugging it back in) sets everything on the right path. If you start pulling your hair out and cursing because the confounded thing is just not working - try restarting the router.

Ask a question in the forums

If you still can't figure out why the wireless network is giving you trouble - ask a question in our forums. Please include changes you have made recently and potential reasons why you could be having these troubles. [A great forum with a very large and active crowd is Bleeping Computer]

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