that has a dubious name or that you just can't iidentify, try disabling it. Mouse Gestures 1.0 It could be an unwanted Allows you to execute common commands using mouse ge... bit of adware or browser hijacking code. If disabling an Web Developer 0.8 add-on causes problems, return Adds a menu and a toolbar with various web developer tools. to this dialogue box and reenable it. To remove an add-on Image Zoom 0.1.7 Adds zoom functionality for images permanently, select Windows•Programs (All Programs in Windows XP) and look in the menu for an Get More Extensions uninstall icon in the program's folder; or select the add-on in Control Panel's Add/Remove Fig. 2: MANAGING YOUR BROWSER extensions is a breeze when you Programs and click Remove. use the free, open-source Firefox program Manage your pug-ins Uninstalling extensions in The problem with browser addMozilla is a bit more difficult. It turns out that no one ever go: ons, plug-ins, and extensions is that there are so many of them. around to creating an uninstall feature (Mozilla's developers If your browser toolbars have become overloaded with buttons refer to this state of affairs officially as bug #170006). To deal and menus, take steps to bring things back under control. with the problem, Mozilla.org offers manual uninstall If you feel the need to reassert your dominance over instructions for extensions. Internet Explorer 6, choose Tools•Manage Add-ons. The All the more reason, then, to try Firefox instead, which resulting dialogue box lists all of the browser add-ons manages extensions easily. To remove an extension, choose currently loaded for the program. To view the ones that Tools•Extensions, select the one that you want to uninstall, and have loaded in the past but aren't currently active, choose the click Uninstall. You may be able use the same dialogue box to Add-ons that have been used by Internet Explorer option in check for updates to your installed extensions, by selecting one the Show drop-down menu. If you'd simply like to block an and clicking Update (see Fig.2). Unfortunately, each time we add-on from running temporarily, select it in the list of addtried this technique with one of my installed extensions, we go: ons and click Disable under Settings. To reactivate an add-on, a message stating that no update service could be found. select it and then click Enable. Take a good look at the ■ Maybe its just that all of our extensions are lazy. programs installed for your browser: If you see something
having to dig through layers of menus and dialogue boxes. Mouse Gestures : Navigate through your recently viewed pages by exercising a little mouse fu. Bookmark Links Checker: Add a handy check button to Firefox's Bookmarks Manager dialogue box to place an X next to dead links. Tab X : Tabbed browsing is great, but closing tabs is harder than it should be. This extension attaches a close button to each tab.
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Resuscitate a Stalled PC We show you how to jumpstart your PC WHEN WINDOWS acts up, you can run a troubleshooting utility such as Easy Desk Software's RegRepair, use System Restore to turn back the clock, or in the worst cases reinstall the operating system. But what do you do when your PC fails before Windows even starts? If your machine greets you with nothing more than a few beeps and a blank screen, prepare for a very late (or very early) lunch. All is not lost, though. You might be able to revitalise a flatlining computer simply by tightening a loose connection. But the problem could also be as complex - and as expensive - as a shot CPU, motherboard or other major component. Before you can decide whether a hardware repair is worth the time and money, you have to find the source of the trouble. Here is our approach to PC diagnostics.
Got Juice? If you turn on your PC and absolutely nothing happens - no indicator lights, beeps, clicks, whirs or flashes on your monitor 54 January 2005
screen - your PC isn't getting power. Look for a lit LED on the system's case and the sound of the power supply's exhaust fan (if it exists) spinning. Before you conclude that your power supply is dead, make sure all power cords are plugged in at both ends. Check the brightness and contrast settings on your monitor to ensure that they aren't at their highest or lowest levels. And take a close look at your uninterruptible power supply or surge protector-it may have a fuse or a circuit breaker that has tripped. If everything outside the box checks out, unplug all the cables, open the PC's case, and verify that the power connectors for each internal component are seated firmly. Keel in mind that electric charges from your body can destroy your system's delicate circuitry. Whenever you venture inside your machine's case, use a grounding strap that attaches to your wrist (available at most computer stores), or ground yourself beforehand by touching a water pipe, lamp or other grounded object. Your PC's power wires run through a plastic container from the power supply to each device joining it. One bad connection won't account for complete power loss, but it will shut down a critical component such as your hard drive. To check your power supply for signs of life, test it with a