A device driver is a program that acts as link between your computer’s operating system, and any software or hardware programs that you are trying to connect to and run. For example when you install a printer onto your computer, the device driver will act as an intermediary between it and your operating system, and will interpret routines and commands and send them through to activate the device.

Drivers are a vital part of modern computers, as without them operating systems would have to be created that could interpret and run all the different kinds of devices available. Drivers mean that computer designers can instead build a simple set of standard device commands into operating systems, which can then be translated by the relevant driver to run any kind of software or hardware device.

Many devices and software applications come with their own driver programs, usually on a CD disk, which is run as part of the installation process and will update existing drivers to support the new applications. You may sometimes need to update drivers manually, and until this is done you will not be able to use the device on your system, as it will not be compatible. You can usually access free driver updates from the device’s official website, or update existing drivers like graphics and video cards from websites such as Drivermax.com. It is important to update drivers regularly as manufacturers are constantly bringing out improved versions and upgrades, which have additional features and also remove bugs and errors from previous versions.

It is also important to delete obsolete drivers from your system to improve system performance, stability and functionality, and you can download free driver scans online, from websites like www.driver-library.com.:)

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Executable (exe) files are used in Microsoft operating systems to run routines and applications, and enable the stable, secure running of your computer. However as they can run without any user intervention these files are an ideal way for hackers to infect your computer with a virus or malware program, as they can run malicious programs without your knowledge. Some malware programs disguise themselves as legitimate exe files to make them even harder to identify, and the only way you can tell them apart is to look at where they are in your directory.

Legitimate files that run key routines are saved in the subfolder “C:\Program Files”, and a good anti-malware program will scan your computer and identify if any duplicate files have been saved in other subfolders. For example the fssm32 process (filename fssm32.exe) is located in “C:\Program Files”, and part of the F-Secure Anti-Virus Client Security program, which monitors and makes adjustments to applications on your computer. However malware programs can also disguise themselves under this name, and in this case the fake files can appear in other subfolders such as “C:\Windows” or “C:\Windows\System32” folders.

Another systems file that is vulnerable to exploitation by hackers is groovemonitor.exe. This file is a multi user resource which is part of Microsoft Office 2007, and is used to track groove behaviour and create error reports that are send back to Microsoft central. This exe file is saved into “C:\Program Files”, but like the fssm32.exe malware, the filename can also be used to camouflage malicious files in other subfolders such as “C:\Windows\ Folders”.

It is important to note that this groovemonitor file will not uninstall automatically if you uninstall Office 2007, and will continue to load up and run when you start up your computer. You will need to manually delete this from your system by accessing your Control Panel and then selecting ‘Add/Remove programs’. Check through the list until you see the groovemonitor application, and then click on ‘Remove Program’. Sometimes this file can prove difficult to remove, and in this case you will need to use the ‘msconfig’ function by going to the ‘Start Menu’ and clicking on ‘Run’. Then type in ‘msconfig’ and press enter. In the ‘Startup Table’ uncheck anything that relates to groovemonitor and then reboot your system.

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The XHTML file extension is a stricter and cleaner reformulation of the HTML code, the basic building block of webpage creation, and has two main components:

• HTML 4 – a markup language used to create displays of text, hypertext, multimedia and other documents for use across a range of different platforms and operating systems
• XML – this is a more versatile markup language that retains the power and flexibility of the original HTML code, but reduces its leniency and complexity, making a more simplified and rigorous code.

One of the main problems inherent with the original HTML was its leniency, which allowed browsers to interpret the HTML codes in a variety of ways, resulting in unconformities in the way webpages were displayed across different systems. The XHMTL code does not allow this, and webpages written in this coding will be displayed exactly how they were designed, regardless of the browser technology interpreting them.

You can convert existing HTML into XHTML by following a few basic re-writing rules:
1) XHTML validator – this will scan your HTML tags and attributes and alert you to the codes that need changing in order to fully convert to XHTML.

2) Always use end tags – in HTML end tags were not always required, but they are necessary in XHTML such as the paragraph <p> and line break tag <br/>.

3) Correct any overlapping elements – nested codes should open and close with the same tag to avoid overlapping such as: <p>Paragraph <em>emphasized</em></p>

3) Case Sensitive – XHTML is a case-sensitive markup language so the same tag written in upper and lower can actually be two different tags i.e. <em> and <EM>.

Another type of file extension is wpd files. This indicates the WordPerfect format, which is a word processing program produced by Corel. In the late 1980s and early 1990s it was the main word processing application used throughout the world, but in recent years it has been overtaken by Microsoft Word. WordPerfect’s popularity was based mainly on the fact that unlike Microsoft Word it could be used on a wide variety of platforms and operating systems including Mac OS and Linux.

The version WordPerfect 4.2 released in 1986 featured the first automatic paragraph numbering and footnoting functions in a word processing document, which presented an easy way to produce professional looking typeset documents and was invaluable to the academic, office and law markets. However Corel never truly got to grips with releasing a version of WordPerfect that was completely compatible with the Microsoft Windows operating system, and its 1996 release WordPerfect 7 had major stability issues. Once Microsoft began issuing its new computers with the Microsoft Word program already installed, Corel lost its majority share of the market and now mainly caters to law and academic fields that have a preference for specific WordPerfect features such as macro/scripting and reveal codes.

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PKWARE, the inventor of the .zip standard, is giving away a non-commercial use license of SecureZIP Express and the opportunity to win great prizes in the new “Decrypt and Drive” contest!

With SecureZIP Express you can compress/decompress and encrypt files that you store or send. Compressing files is a great way to save storage space, especially on thumb drives and CD’s, and we all have files we should be securing! The software also includes a digital certificate so you can exchange files securely with others without using passwords. Only the person the file was encrypted for can open it when you use a digital certificate. The software is fully licensed for non-commercial use and has no toolbars or spyware! For years, PKWARE has given free .zip software away and wants as many users as possible to receive the benefits of SecureZIP.

PKWARE is giving away great prizes including a Honda scooter, bicycles, Wii games, gas cards, and more! Visit www.DecryptandDrive.com to play the game daily and/or download the free software. You need to have SecureZIP, and the digital certificate it installs, on the computer you play the game from. You can also get SecureZIP Express at www.securezip.com

Good luck! Hope you win something cool!

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Yes, want to tell you that, don’t get scared with programs like hijackthis or vsmon if you find them on your computer or task manager.
One of the things running in the background may be hijackthis.exe which is a process relating to the Hijackthis piece of software by Merlin. Hijackthis is a freeware spyware removal tool for the Microsoft Windows platform. Unlike most other pieces of spyware-removal software, Hijackthis does not act by detecting files on your system that are contained within a list of known harmful files. Instead, Hijackthis provides the user with a list of all the differences between their system and what a known spyware-free environment contains. This allows the user to determine which things they wish to remove. However, it is advisable for inexperienced users to apply Hijackthis as more of a spyware diagnosis tool, as it is possible to delete vital processes and create system instability.

vsmon.exe is another security process which may be running in the background of Windows, and is associated with the ZoneAlarm firewall. ZoneAlarm firewall monitors Internet traffic and provides the user with alerts when the security rules set up have been breached. Given the nature of firewalls, vsmon.exe should not be terminated in order to maintain a secure and virus-free system.

So if you find them on your computer, don’t uninstall or delete them. You are on the safe side. 

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Technology advances at a rapid rate, with many new software, hardware and electrical devices being released every month. If you are interested in new and trendy gadgets then it can be difficult sorting through all the latest releases to find the ones that are truly innovative, and also those that are affordable and practical to own.

Gadget Advisor is a relatively new site, but it is quickly becoming an informative and reliable resource for all the latest updates in the gadget industry. There are also some helpful in depth reviews on various subjects such as online backup services, which can guide you through the huge variety of software that is currently on offer. Each item has been hand picked so that only the best new releases are featured, saving you time and effort when you are searching for the latest technology.

Each article features a description of the software, hardware or electrical device, along with a reliable review and also pricing guidance, which can help you decide if the item is relevant to you, and in your budget. Recent reviews include gadgets such as a universal remote control by Logitech, which supports an amazing 5,000 different brands and 225,000 different devices including televisions, DVDs, stereo systems and game consoles.

Also you can register on the site and leave comments on the various articles, however because the site is fairly new there are not many comments as yet. This is a good feature as it allows current owners of gadgets and software to leave their thoughts on the actual usability of the product. Also there are various featured articles on exciting new products from top manufacturers such as the updated network media player from DviCo, and the new Intel drive ‘X25-E Extreme’.

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Blaze Media Pro is an essential piece of software for anyone who wants to convert, burn or edit video and audio files. It combines in one powerful package a video and audio converter, audio and video editor, video encoder, audio recorder and CD/DVD burner. The basic programs are very easy to use, and there are also plenty of advanced options for more experienced users.

The Blaze Media Pro interface page is slick and stylish with a clear list of the available features and capabilities. The site includes plenty of example screen shots of the software program, so that you can view the package features in detail before you sign up. In addition to this Blaze Media Pro also provides a free 15-day trial version to download (also available on CD Rom), so that you can get used to the software and determine whether it will be suitable for your needs.

When you are ready to purchase the Blaze Media Pro package you have the option of submitting your order securely online with a credit card or Paypal, or if you prefer you can print off the order form and submit by post or fax. Fax and online orders will be processed and your account activated within 48 hours of payment. The package is currently priced at $50.

Blaze Media Pro provides a full online support page to guide you through using the software. For example if you are using the MOV converter feature, then you can follow the step-by-step conversion guide, which also includes screen prints to make things as clear as possible. The guide offers various tips and shortcuts, so that you can use the program more effectively, and provides a full list of all the audio and video file formats that the software supports. There is also a FAQ feature within the support guide, which answers many of the common issues and problems users have encountered.

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The file extension AVI (Audio Video Interleave) is used to save multimedia formats, and allows you to store and synchronous audio and video information for simultaneous playback. The .AVI file extension is derived from the .RIFF (Resource Interchange File Format) file extension, and stores the file data on one .RIFF block, which is identified by the ‘FourCC tag’ format, (sequences of four bytes). This main block is then divided into two smaller mandatory blocks and also one optional block. The first mandatory block is coded with the “hdrl” tag, and acts as the file header and also contains metadata such as the video’s playback size and frame rate. The second mandatory block is coded by the “movi” tag, and contains all the audio and visual data. The optional block is coded by the “idx1″ tag, and indexes the remaining data contained in the file.

The .AVI file extension was first used in 1992 by Microsoft and has since then been replaced by more modern file formats such as .MPEG and .MOV. Despite this though .AVI is still one of the most popular formats for storing synchronised video images, as it can store both audio and visual data in almost any compression format including Intel Real Time, Motion JPEG, Editable MPEG, RealVideo, and Full Frame (uncompressed).

If you want to find out more about the hundreds of file name extension in use, visit online file extension library such as file-extension.com, which provide full lists and descriptions of all known file extensions and their uses. If you want more detail you can search for individual file extensions on the various online software support websites, and also Wikipedia, the free online encyclopaedia, provides some in depth articles on the more common file extensions.

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