Make your own PDF's for free!
PDF stands for Portable Document Format. You might want to convert a Word document to PDF file (so it opens with Adobe Acrobat) to prevent a recipient from editing the document, or to ensure the document looks exactly the same to the recipient as it did for you. Also, it looks professional (eg. emailing a CV to an employer). Most have heard of Adobe Acrobat, but unless you pay a yearly subscription or buy the Professional version for over £400 you can only open a PDF file, not create one. Not any more! Install PrimoPDF for FREE and start creating your PDF files immediately.

Online-Shop
We have teamed up with Amazon to provide you with an Online-Shop which offers fantastic choice at low prices! There's everything from a 1GB USB Flash Drive by Kingston for under £7 to a 19" Widescreen TFT Monitor by Acer for under £130!

You can buy blank DVD's, digital cameras, memory, mice, keyboards, monitors, networking equipment and printers, and they're all so easy to find. You can also buy CD's and DVD's, books, games and software. If you're not sure what you need please contact us for advice! Start shopping now!

Why does Internet Explorer look different?
The new version of Internet Explorer became available for installation via Windows Updates not long ago. You may well have upgraded without realising (especially if others use your computer - they may have instructed the installation to proceed). The easiest way to see if you're on Internet Explorer 7 is to see if the icon you click on to open Internet Explorer has a ring around it (see right).

You might notice that with the new version, you've lost the "File, Edit, View, Favorites, Tools, etc..." toolbar from the top of the screen. You can easily put these back by clicking on "Tools > Menu Bar". Upgrading to IE7 is a good move. It can take a bit of getting used to but once you are, it's easier to navigate around and it's more secure.

Windows Defender error?
Those of you who use Windows Defender to protect your computers from spyware may have found an error message coming up lately which reads: "Windows Defender: Application failed to initialize: 0x800106ba. A problem has caused Windows Defender to stop...."

The answer to the problem is simply to download and install the latest version of Microsoft Defender from here.

Windows Vista is released
The BBC website has a superb quick tour of Microsoft's latest offering. Click here to view the tour.

We still recommend not to run out and upgrade your system to Vista just yet unless you're prepared to put up with possible incompatibilities with either hardware or software. Going on previous experience of operating system upgrades, there is a period of adjustment once the new operating system is released during which time new driver updates are released and software patches written.

Really Cheap Buys (not from us!)

• 256MB MP3 Player: £4.97 from Tesco.
• Acer Media Center PC: £379.98 from Comet. (1GB RAM, 160GB hard drive, DVDRW, Liteview 15.4" Widescreen TFT monitor)
• 32" Flat panel LCD Screen High Definition TV: £399.99 from Argos.

CLAYGATE TIPS

Looking for a local shop, business or trade?
Try the Claygate Business Directory. It's FREE to view and FREE to be listed.

Claygate Flower Show
This year's show is on Saturday 21 July 2007. More details at www.claygateflowershow.co.uk

Claygate Country Five Run
This year's run is on Sunday 8 July 2007, 10.30 am. An entry form will be sent in April to everyone who entered the 2006 event.  At that time it will also be available for download from www.claygatecountryfive.co.uk

OTHER...

Missed the January TechTips?
Previous TechTips can be viewed here.

Got something to add?
If you have any news or tips you think might be useful to others please email your tip to info@claygatecomputers.co.uk.