Travel

Place to see In malaysia

Langkawi, Malaysia - The Bahamas of Asia

The Attraction: The Langkawi Island group has been compared to the Bahamas on a number of levels. Today it is sprinkled with resorts and covered with tourists, but historically (like the Bahamas) it was a pirates' nest. The thin strips of inviting beach -- some on completely unpopulated islands -- provide a refuge today for sunseekers and snorkelers. In the past the same islands provided harbors and jungle hide outs for the pirates...

The Setting: Just north of the Penang, Malaysia, in the azure waters of the Andaman Sea is a cluster of 104 small, idyllic islands: the Langkawi Islands. I spent a week on Langkawi Island (the chain's largest land mass) once. It was time well spent. A few moments stand out, but none more clearly than sitting at a nameless little Italian beachfront restaurant (complete with red and white checkered table clothes) drinking marguerites served in a carafe' while the sun sank into the Indian Ocean.

The Legends: Langkawi is also shrouded in legend. The most popular of these tells of a young woman who was executed after being wrongly accused of adultery. She is supposed to have cursed the island for seven generations, and the Malays of the island were attacked soon thereafter by the Thais. The island was severely plundered, according to the legend.

"Anna and the King": Parts of the movie "Anna and the King" were filmed on Langkawi and the 20th Century Fox movie set is among the island's newest attractions.

Activities: A huge variety of activities are available in Langkawi: snorkeling, scuba diving, boating, water skiing, wind surfing and more. There are a number of good beaches, including the black sand Pantai Pasir Hitam beach. Fishing is popular and chartered fishing boats are easy to contract with. And you can rent a car on the island and tour the interior to see the Malay villages and rubber plantations. Langkawi also has a number of beautiful bird species and some butterfly species that only exit on the island. The island also has a crocodile farm, a beautiful waterfall, and two underwater marine parks.

Tioman, Malaysia

Monkey Bay: This is a beautiful stretch of white sand beach near the village of Salang on the north end of the island.

The Marine Park: A designated coral sanctuary at Tanjung Mesoh, about 15 minutes from Tekek Jetty. This is a great place to swim and snorkel.

Tulai Island: This uninhabited island off Tioman's northwest coast is another great spot to snorkel or to dive.
Salang: A quiet village on the north tip of the island. there are a smattering of dive shops, restaurants, and bars in Salang. There are also a couple of resorts nearby.

Bali Hai in Malaysia's South China Sea :

If pictures of Tioman Island remind you of French Polynesia, there's a reason for that: the island was used in the filming of the movie "South Pacific." The Malaysian island of Tioman, in the South China Sea, is Bali Hai.

What do you want? Tioman boasts some of the most fabulous beaches in the world. The waters are filled with coral and marine life of every hue and shade. You can walk in near-virgin jungle, climb picturesque mountains, wade in glassy streams, and talk to friendly natives (though not many of them). And you can spend your sunsets walking on the white sand beaches...

Tioman is not a big island -- 23 mile long and seven miles wide. It is, however, the biggest of the 64 islands in its chain, just off the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. In the 1970's, Time magazine named Tioman one of the world’s 10 most beautiful islands.

The island is a diver's paradise. The water is clear to a depth of 100 feet. Gardens of coral ring much of the island and include lace-like sea fans, and the alyconarian soft corals, and multi-colored staghorn coral. Parrotfish and butterfly fish are common, and many of the fish have neon colorings.

The island's land areas are populated with natural attractions, as well. Tioman has five distinct ecological zones. Animal life includes monkeys, mousedeer, flying foxes and lots of reptiles and amphibians -- including the python (and 25 other species of snakes), the large monitor lizard (and over 30 other lizard species), and both land and sea turtles.

Accommodations on the island are not expensive. While you can spend a lot of money at one of the resorts, you can also get a hut on the beach (with a bathroom and ceiling fan) for about $7 US a night. Want more comfort? For $25 to $30 a night you can rent a small chalet with a television, fridge, hot water, bathroom, and air-conditioning.

Tioman is populated mostly with tourist resorts. The island can become very crowded during holiday period. Arriving without a reservation can mean that you sleep on the beach. That's not unpleasant, but be prepared for a crowd at times...

The boat trip from Mersing, Malaysia, takes about 90 minutes. From Singapore it is about four and a half hours (and Tioman is a favorite among the Singaporeans). Pelangi Air and Berjaya Air both fly to the island daily from Kuala Lumpur. Flights from Singapore also exist.

Malaysia photography

Penang Sunset	The Siam Temple in Penang	Penang shops
An Old Penang Mansion	Penang market	Langkawi, Malaysia
Langkawi, Malaysia	Langkawi, Malaysia	Langkawi, Malaysia
Khoo Kongsi Temple in Penang	Khoo Kongsi Temple in Penang	Khoo Kongsi Temple in Penang

Indian Cultural Festival, Penang

Asia Travel Malaysia

Accommodations in Malaysia

BerJaya Langkawi Beach & Spa Resort
Nestled in the heart of Malaysia's famed island of legends. Approximately 15 minutes drive from the airport, the resort complements the natural beauty of this unspoilt island. The chalets are in rustic Malay architecture with a balcony or terrace. Free-from pool, spa, water sports.

BerJaya Tioman Beach Resort
The only resort of international standards on the island with its own 18-hole international championship golf course sprawls over 200 acers. Accommodation ranges from deluxe rooms and chalets to elegant suites in typical Malay architectural style. Many water sports available, horse-riding, tennis, boat trips to the nearby island and golfing are other popular activities. Top price range.

Burau Bay Resort
Neatly tucked among lush greenery fronting a placid bay, the resort commands one of the most scenic view on Langkawi.

Century Mahkota Hotel
Melaka. In the very heart of the city within a very short walking distance to major sightseeing and historical attractions of Melaka. Situated on the waterfront and close to Melaka's commercial nub, adjacent to the Mahkota Parade, Melaka's premier shopping and entertainment complex. Discount price range.

Hotel Equatorial Melaka
This 22-storey international business resort features 498 luxuriously furnished rooms and a host of food and beverage outlets including the award-winning Equatorial signature restaurants, the Golden Phoenix Chinese Restaurant and Kampachi Japanese Restaurant. Each room offers a generous view of the Straits of Melaka or historical St. Paul’s Hill. Mid-price range.

Hotel Equatorial Penang
Perched 150 metres above sea level, Penang's only golf and convention resort. Located 5 mintues from the Bayan Lepas Industrial Zone, 10 minutes from the Penang International Airport and 20 minutes from the city centre. The five star hotel is surrounded by award winning landscaped gardens.

Hotel Orkid
Centrally located near the bustling heart of Melaka town within easy reach of the city's commercial hub and the various places of interests in Melaka. Top range.

Kondo Istana
Gymnasium and swimming pool; complimentary breakfast; free daily newspaper; late check-out up to 3.00 p.m. parking

Langkawi Seaview Hotel
Ideally located for business travellers and tourists, being 30 minutes drive from Langkawi International Airport and only 5 minutes from Kuah Jetty.

Langkawi Village Resort
Set on a 10 acre verdant landscaped grove of coconut palms at Pantai Tengah, on the South West of Langkawi Island. With a golden beach-front of soft sand stretching over 400 metres

Lone Pine
Established in 1948, Lone Pine was the first hotel on Batu Ferringhi beach. Today, completely refurbished, Lone Pine still retains much of its old worldcharm with its privacy and idyllic setting of landscaped gardens. Budget price range.

Paradise Sandy Bay
A Retreat To Paradise Situated at Penang's White Sandy Beach, the city centre is just 10 minutes away. 333 sea-facing suites each have a private balcony and kitchenette.

Paradise Tanjung Bungah
Penang. Formerly known as Beachcomber Paradise Hotel. Located in one of Malaysia's most popular resort areas on the island. It is just 10 minutes away from the city centre and 45 minutes from Penang International Airport. The hotel has a beautiful stretch of beachfront, 200 rooms with hillviews or seaviews. For watersports enthusiasts: canoeing, parasailing, jet-skiing, catamaran etc. Also golf.

Penang Mutiara Beach Resort
Located on a prime beachfront at Teluk Bahang, known as the "Glowing Bay", it is nestled in 18 acres of landscaped tropical greenery. All 438 of its spacious rooms enjoy sea and garden views.

Penang Parkroyal Resort
On Batu Ferringhi. 333 guest rooms including 24 suites overlooking the sea. A five-star.

Primula Parkroyal
Along Kuala Terengganu's most pristine stretch of beach, the hotel offers a tranquil beachfront ambience, exciting facilities and well-appointed accommodation with Kuala Terengganu's friendly charm. Discount price range.

Seri Corta
Strategically located in the heart of Malacca and within walking distance from the major commercial, shopping, entertainment and historic attractions. Mid-price range.

Sheraton Langkawi Resort
All the luxury of a Sheraton in this island paradise setting.

The Casuarina Parkroyal
Ipoh. A private retreat. Centrally located, this city hotel in a garden setting is surrounded by limestone hills, a haven of warmth and comfort accompanied by impeccable service to make you feel right at home. Top price range. The Lake House Cameron Highlands. Reminiscent of a Tudor mansion from Shakespeare country, on a hill in the lush green surroundings of state reserve forest, overlooking the Sultan Abu Bakar lake. Mid price range.

The Best of Asia

12 Destinations that Make the Continent What it is...

They are the places that cry Asia! And if you want to be able to say that you've seen Asia (as opposed to being able to say that you've seen Thailand or India), you simply have to visit these places. None of them are perfect. Some of them are not all that great if you're looking for a pampered resort vacation. But these are the locations that personify the continent...

1. Guangzhou, China. At a point in time when Hong Kong was still an unnoticed piece of rock, ships came to this port not far away on China's Pearl River to trade. They brought the outside world to China and took some of China (silk, for example) back with them. Back, not to Lisbon, Amsterdam, or London, but to Bombay and Karachi, to Shiraz and Baghdad, to Damascus, Cairo, and Mekkah.
To the British it was Canton. The city is over 2200 year old. It is littered with temples and pagodas - and with old markets and new shopping malls. If Shanghai is the Whore of the East, this is where she bought her dress...

2. Goa, India. The mingling of cultures on the warm coast of the Arabian Sea makes this former Portuguese colony truly exotic. Of the 75 miles of coast line in the Indian State of Goa, over 50 miles of it is beach. Inviting, near-tropical beach. And while the rest of Goa - its culture, food, inland scenery, and cities - are all well worth visiting, Goa's beaches alone make the place worth visiting. Colva Beach, with 12 miles of powder fine white sand, is Goa's longest beach. Calangute Beach offers a Saturday bazaar nearby with plenty of good bargains for shoppers. There is also a Tibetan market in Calangute and Kashmiri merchants frequent the area with carpets, embroidery, and more. But Dona Paula is my favorite: it is the beach where the ghost of a Dona Paula is said to walk unclothed except for her string of pearls in the waves where she drowned herself after her Portuguese father refused to allow her to marry her Indian lover...

3. Suzhou, China. Perhaps the most beautiful place in China, and rich in history. Suzhou (pronounced "SUE-joe") is the seat of China's Wu culture; Wu is a dialect spoken by over 80 million people (making the Wu community about the same size as modern Germany). The city could remind a Westerner of Venice. Canals and street are interlaced. About 60% of Suzhou County is under water. Marco Polo visited the city while he was in China.

4. Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It has become famous in recent years for its seven star hotel, perfect beaches, and relaxed atmosphere. The annual shopping festival draws literally millions of visitors into the tiny sheikdom to roam the air conditioned duty free malls and stomp through the dust at suoqs - traditional Arab markets that smell like the dawn of time. Words don't do Dubai justice, but pictures can help...

5. Beijing. Possibly the most visited city in Asia. The sprawling city is packed with more things to do and places to see than I can talk about in a single feature: The Confucius Temple - Kong Miao, the Confucius Temple, is now the Capital Museum and houses a display on the culture and history of Beijing.

• The Summer Palaces - The Old Summer Palace on Fu Hai Lake was sacked by the British in 1860 during the Second Opium War. Today the site is a public picnic ground. Close by, on Kunming Lake, the New Summer Palace (and the Garden of Cultivated Harmony) was started in 1888. Pink and green lotuses cover the lake during the summer.
• The Temple of Heaven - Among the city's most visited parks. The Temple's complex covers an area of close to 700 acres.
• Tiananmen Square - The spot where Mao proclaimed China a people's republic in 1949. His image still looks down upon the Square. The Goddess of Democracy was erected by students here in 1989; it was eventually torn down after the military dispersed democracy protests.
• The Ming Tombs about 30 miles from the city.
• The Western Qing Tombs about 80 miles outside Beijing.
• The Great Wall not far away.

The list is by no means complete. A trip to Beijing is essential in any well rounded Asia experience.

6. Xi'an, China. Six thousand year of history. Xi'an sits on the inland edge of China's fertile lowlands. To the east it overlooks the densely populated river valleys that fed China and drive its industry. To the west is the beginning of the Silk Road and the arid Central Asian steppes that have supplied China with wave after wave of immigrants to absorb. But Xi'an is perhaps most famous for the Terracotta Warriors discovered there in 1974. It is one of the world's great archaeological sites. Some 8000 terracotta warriors guard the body of a Chinese Emperor.

7. Henan Province, China. The cradle of Chinese civilization. It was here in the fertile valley of the Yellow River in Henan that the Chinese first developed settled agriculture. It was in this region that they learned how to feed 100 pounds of mulberry leaves to silk worms who would produce 15 pounds of cocoons that could then be turned into a pound of silk. It was in this province some 42 centuries ago that the Xia Dynasty (2200-1750 BC) established itself as the first central authority in China. And it was here that the Xia Dynasty was replaced by the Shang Dynasty (1750-1040 BC) – the dynasty that produced China’s first writing, the dynasty that produced the finest bronze ever made in any century. The attractions are numerous. Among them:

• The Shaolin Temple, where both Zen Buddhism and Kung Fu were born.
• Dengfeng and the Songshan Mountains Scenic Area with some of the world's most enthralling landscapes and a scattered collection of ancient temples.
• The Longmen Grottoes, one of the most developed Buddhist historical sites in Asia, listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
• Kaifeng, the ancient capital of several dynasties, with its Memorial Temple of Lord Bao and the Iron Pagoda (Tie Ta) and Xiangguo Temple.
• Luoyang, a capital more ancient than Kaifeng, with its Guanlin Temple, its Ancient Tombs, and the White Horse Temple.

8. Tibet. The roof of Asia. Tibet's capital, Lhasa, is a fascinating city of history and culture. The historic Potala Palace, traditional residence of the Dalai Lama, is filled with art and mystique. But you don't have to be particularly interested in spirituality or history to love Tibet. Trekking in the Himalayas is not something quickly forgotten and the Chang Tang nature reserve in Tibet offers some one the world's most breath taking wildlife.

African Safari: Photos from Botswana

The Okavango Delta in Botswana is a magnet for wildlife. The Okavango river cuts through the center of the Kalahari desert creating a unique ecosystem that gives life to a huge variety of birds and mammals. With a good selection of lodges and campsites to stay at, the Okavango Delta is fast becoming a favorite safari destination. It's a little more expensive than going on safari in Kenya worth it. Enjoy the wildlife photos below.because many of the camps are only accessible by light aircraft, but the experience is

1. Lion at rest

1. Spotted Hyenas

1. Elephants Cooling Off

1. Warthog

1. Wildebeest

1. Kudu

1. Cape Buffalo

1. Eland

2. Vervet Monkey

3. Newborn Elephant

4. Male Lion

5. Zebra

6. Sunset Over the Okavango Delta

Top 10 African Safari Destinations

Africa's top safari destinations include wildlife parks in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia and Gabon. If you're looking for the best safari where you're almost guaranteed to see the "Big Five" you can't go wrong with these choices.

1. Masai Mara National Reserve (Kenya)

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Kenya is Africa's most popular safari destination and the Masai Mara Reserve is the most popular wildlife park in Kenya. From July - October you can witness the incredible migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra. The Maasai tribesman also offer cultural tours which will enhance your experience.

2. Chobe National Park (Botswana)

View Full-Size Chobe National park lies in Botswana's Okavango Delta and covers four distinct Eco-systems. The Savuti marsh in particular offers some of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa year round. Safaris in Botswana have a reputation of being expensive, but Chobe is actually one of the more affordable parks in the country.

3. Kruger National Park (South Africa)

Kruger National Park in South Africa boasts the highest variety of wildlife in Africa which includes the Big Five, hippos, crocodiles, cheetah and more. Kruger is one of the best maintained parks in Africa which means it's ideal for a self-drive safari.

4. South Luangwa National Park (Zambia)

Home of the "walking safari" South Luangwa National Park in Zambia offers a true African experience. There's plenty of wildlife and over 400 species of birds. The Luangwa river is filled to the brim with hippos and if you're lucky you'll spot prides of over 30 lions at a time. South Luangwa offers both budget and luxury safari lodging.

5. Serengeti National Park (Tanzania)

The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania offers the absolute classic African safari setting. The grasslands make the Serengeti fantastic for spotting lion kills because you can see the whole spectacle clearly. The migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra starts here and because it's much larger than the Mara (see above), it is also less touristy.

6. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda)

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda is home to almost half of the world's population of mountain gorillas. Besides offering a wonderful backdrop to Gorilla tracking, you can also see chimpanzees, and many other mammals. Bwindi has been designated a World Heritage Site.

7. Etosha Natonal Park (Namibia)

Etosha National Park is Namibia's top wildlife destination. Etosha is home to Africa's tallest elephants, the endangered black rhino, and 91 other species of mammal. Etosha is especially popular with photographers in the dry season who flock to the waterholes (along with the wildlife). Etosha doesn't offer scheduled game drives, it's a self-drive safari experience.

8. Loango National Park (Gabon)

Loango National Park in Gabon is probably the least well known park on this list but it's only a matter of time before it's discovered. Loango is the only place in Africa where you can see whales, chimps, gorillas and elephants in one park. In Loango you get to enjoy watching wildlife on the beach, savannah, swamp and forest in a single day.

9. Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Tanzania)

The Ngorongoro Conservation area in Tanzania includes the world's largest crater which acts as a natural enclosure for almost every species of wildlife found in East Africa. The Maasai still live within the conservation area, and it's also home to Olduvai where some of man's earliest remains have been found.

10. Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe)

Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe is a personal favorite of mine because of its abundance of giraffes, elephants, and lions as well as 105 other mammal species. Hwange also has one of the largest populations of wild dogs left in Africa. There are several comfortable lodges to stay at for reasonable prices. The park is close to one of the world's greatest natural wonders -- the Victoria Falls.

Computing and Technology

Restore Your Computer's Performance with Windows XP

If your computer seems slower than it used to be, it probably is. My one-year old Dell laptop is much slower now than when it was new. Over time, computers get slower for a variety of reasons: files become disorganized, unnecessary software consumes resources, unused network drives slow startup, or too many programs automatically run at startup. Larger, serious issues can dramatically slow your computer's performance too. You may have a virus or need to troubleshoot problems by clean booting.

Fortunately, Windows XP includes tools to clean your computer and restore its performance. As I write this column, I'll be cleaning up my own computer and explaining how its performance improves. I'll cover Backup, Disk Cleanup, Disk Defragmenter, Add or Remove Programs, and the System Configuration tool.

Back Up First

Back up your computer before you run any system tools or do any troubleshooting. This is not just an over-cautious warning. Some of the steps I recommend in this column can cause pre-existing but hidden problems to surface, which may keep your computer from starting. Windows XP includes Backup, a tool that helps you protect your data.

To open the Backup or Restore Wizard

•	Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup.

For information on how to use this tool, see Ed Bott's column, Backup Made Easy and the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, How to Use Backup to Restore Files and Folders on Your Computer in Windows XP.

Before I make any changes, I'm going to time my computer to see how long it takes to restart. That way I know which of the changes helps the most. My computer took about three minutes to shut down, restart, and then open my e-mail client and browser. Of course, I hope to improve the computer's overall performance, but the time it takes to restart is easiest to measure.

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Clear Out Forgotten Programs

The first step in tuning up your computer's performance is to remove any unnecessary programs. I install new programs all the time. Sometimes I'm thrilled with the new program and I continue to use it. Other times, it doesn't do what I hoped, and the program sits on my computer consuming resources and hurting performance.

Follow these steps to remove unneeded programs:

1.	Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2.	Click Add or Remove Programs.
3.	Scroll through the list and examine each program. Windows XP lists how often you use a program and what day you last started it. As shown in Figure 1, the Age of Mythology Trial is a good candidate for removal from my computer. Though I liked the game, I haven't used it recently and it's consuming a lot of disk space. You shouldn't remove anything labeled as an Update or Hotfix, however, because they improve the security of your computer. Figure 1: The Add or Remove Programs window.
4.	Click each program you no longer need, click the Remove button, and then follow the prompts to uninstall it.

You may have to restart your computer after removing a program. After your computer restarts, repeat the steps above to remove more programs.

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Free Up Wasted Space

Removing unused programs is a great way to free up disk space, which will speed up your computer. Another way to find wasted disk space is to use the Disk Cleanup tool by following these steps:

1.	Open My Computer, right-click Local Disk, and then click Properties.
2.	On the General tab, click the Disk Cleanup button. Disk Cleanup will spend a few minutes examining your disk.
3.	The Disk Cleanup dialog box opens. As you can see in Figure 2, it found almost three gigs of space on my computer that it could free up! Figure 2: The Disk Cleanup tool.
4.	Select the desired check boxes in the Files to Delete list, and then click OK. Disk Cleanup will spend several minutes clearing space.
5.	If you have more than one hard disk, repeat this process for each hard disk listed in My Computer.

You can save yourself some time by automating the disk cleanup process. For more information, read the Microsoft Knowledge Basic article, How to Automate the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP.

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Defragment Your Computer

I hate newspaper articles that start on the front page but continue somewhere in the middle of the newspaper. I could get through the article much faster if it was printed on consecutive pages like a magazine article. Files on your computer can either be fragmented like a newspaper, or unfragmented like a magazine. Over time, more and more files become fragmented. When a file is fragmented, it takes longer for the computer to read it because it has to skip to different sections of the hard disk—just like it takes me a few seconds to find a page in the middle of a newspaper. Figure 3 compares how a computer reads unfragmented and fragmented files.

Figure 3: Fragmented and unfragmented files compared.

You need administrator privileges to defragment a drive or volume. Although fragmentation is complicated, it's easy to defragment your computer by following these steps:

1.	Open My Computer, right-click Local Disk, and then click Properties.
2.	On the Tools tab, click Defragment Now. The Disk Defragmenter opens.
3.	Click your first hard disk, and then click Defragment. As shown in Figure 4, Disk Defragmenter will work for at least several minutes, though it may take several hours. Figure 4: The Disk Defragmenter tool.

Free Virus Repair and Prevention Tips

Boot sector virus repair

What is a boot sector? All disks and hard drives are divided into small sectors. The first sector is called the boot sector and contains the Master Boot Record (MBR). The MBR contains the information concerning the location of partitions on the drive and reading of the bootable operating system partition. During the bootup sequence on a DOS-based PC, the BIOS searches for certain system files, IO.SYS and MS-DOS.SYS. When those files have been located, the BIOS then searches for the first sector on that disk or drive and loads the needed Master Boot Record information into memory. The BIOS passes control to a program in the MBR which in turn loads IO.SYS. This latter file is responsible for loading the remainder of the operating system.

What is a boot sector virus? A boot sector virus is one that infects the first sector, i.e. the boot sector, of a floppy disk or hard drive. Boot sector viruses can also infect the MBR. The first PC virus in the wild was Brain, a boot sector virus that exhibited stealth techniques to avoid detection. Brain also changed the volume label of the disk drive.

How to avoid boot sector viruses. Commonly, infected floppies and subsequent boot sector infections result from "shared" diskettes and pirated software applications. It is relatively easy to avoid boot sector viruses. Most are spread when users inadvertently leave floppy disks in the drive - which happen to be infected with a boot sector virus. The next time they boot up their PC, the virus infects the local drive. Most systems allow users to change the boot sequence so that the system always attempts to boot first from the local hard drive (C:\) or CD-ROM drive.

Disinfecting boot sector viruses. Boot sector repair is best accomplished by the use of antivirus software. Because some boot sector viruses encrypt the MBR, improper removal can result in a drive that is inaccessible. However, if you are certain the virus has only affected the boot sector and is not an encrypting virus, the DOS SYS command can be used to restore the first sector. Additionally, the DOS LABEL command can be used to restore a damaged volume label and FDISK /MBR will replace the MBR. None of these methods is recommended, however. Antivirus software remains the best tool for cleanly and accuarately removing boot sector viruses with minimal threat to data and files.

Creating a system disk. When disinfecting a boot sector virus, the system should always be booted from a known clean system disk. On a DOS-based PC, a bootable system disk can be created on a clean system running the exact same version of DOS as the infected PC. From a DOS prompt, type:

SYS C:\ A:\

and press enter. This will copy the system files from the local hard drive (C:\) to the floppy drive (A:\).

If the disk has not been formatted, the use of FORMAT /S will format the disk and transfer the necessary system files. On Windows 3.1x systems, the disk should be created as described above for DOS-based PC's. On Windows 95/98/NT systems, click Start | Settings | Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs and choose the Startup Disk tab. Then click on "Create Disk". Windows 2000 users should insert the Windows 2000 CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, click Start | Run and type the name of the drive followed by bootdisk\makeboot a: and then click OK. For example:

d:\bootdisk\makeboot a:

Follow the screen prompts to finish creating the bootable system disk. In all cases, after the creation of the bootable system disk, the disk should be write protected to avoid infection.

Wireless Product Equipment - Network Routers, Access Points, Adapters and More

Wireless Game Adapters

Linksys WGA54G Wireless Game Adapter

linksys.com

A wireless game adapter connects a video game console to a Wi-Fi home network to enable Internet or head-to-head LAN gaming. Wireless game adapters for home networks are available in both 802.11b and 802.11g varieties. An example of an 802.11g wireless game adapter appears above, the Linksys WGA54G (compare prices).

Wireless game adapters can be connected either to a wireless router using an Ethernet cable (for best reliability and performance) or over Wi-Fi (for greater reach and convenience). Wireless game adapter products include setup software on a CD-ROM that must be installed on one computer to complete initial configuration of the device. As with generic network adapters, wireless game adapters must be configured with the correct network name (SSID) and encryption setting.

Wireless Internet Video Cameras

Linksys WVC54G Wireless Internet Video Camera

linksys.com
A wireless Internet video camera allows video (and sometimes audio) data to be captured and transmitted across a WiFi computer network. Wireless Internet video cameras are available in both 802.11b and 802.11g varieties. The Linksys WVC54G (compare prices) 802.11g wireless camera is shown above.

Wireless Internet video cameras work by serving up data streams to any computer that connects to them. Cameras like the one above contain a built in Web server. Computers connect to the camera using either a standard Web browser or through a special client user interface provided on CD-ROM with the product. With proper security information, video streams from these cameras can also be viewed across the Internet from authorized computers.

Wi-Fi Internet video cameras can be connected to a wireless router using either an Ethernet cable or wirelessly. These products include setup software on a CD-ROM that must be installed on one computer to complete initial Wi-Fi configuration of the device.

Features that distinguish different wireless Internet video cameras from each other include:

• resolution of the captured video images (for example, 320x240 pixel, 640x480 pixel, and other image sizes)
• motion sensors, and the ability to send email alerts when new activity is detected and captured
• ability to timestamp images
• built-in microphones and/or jacks for external microphones, for audio support
• types of WiFi security supported, such as WEP or WAP

Wireless Range Extender

Linksys WRE54G Wireless Range Expander

Linksys WRE54G Wireless Range Expander
A wireless range extender increases the distance over which a WLAN signal can spread, overcoming obstacles and enhancing overall network signal quality. Several different forms of wireless range extenders are available. These products are sometimes called "range expanders" or "signal boosters." The Linksys WRE54G (compare prices) 802.11g Wireless Range Expander is shown above.

A wireless range extender works as a relay or network repeater, picking up and reflecting WiFi signals from a network's base router or access point. The network performance of devices connected through a range extender will generally be lower than if they were connected directly to the primary base station.

A wireless range extender connects wirelessly to a WiFi router or access point. However, due to the nature of this technology, most wireless range extenders work only with a limited set of other equipment. Check the manufacturer's specifications carefully for compatiblity information.

Free Virus Removal Tools

Getting a virus on your system is frustrating to say the least, and can be hazardous to the health of your computer. Indeed, today's malicious software can even steal your identity and wreck your hard-earned credit rating. To help fight back, here's a list of free tools, tips, and tricks to get rid of viruses and keep them from getting back on your system.

Free Virus Removal Tools
Sure the antivirus vendors want to make money, but if you ever get the chance to meet one of their virus researchers, you'll find their real motivation is to protect users. As corny as that may sound, it's true. That's why when stubborn or fast-spreading infectors are discovered, antivirus vendors release special tools to remove the malware - and give the tools away free. It's no substitute for installed antivirus software, but if you're already infected and in a pinch, it's the next best thing to, well, installed antivirus software.

Create a Free F-Prot Rescue CD - FRISK Software - one of the oldest and most respected antivirus companies (and the secret sauce hidden in a lot of antivirus products being sold under other names)- offers their F-Prot for DOS scanner free for personal use.

• It's ideal for making a rescue CD so you can scan the system from a clean boot.
• McAfee AVERT Stinger - McAfee AVERT Labs offers a handy utility to run in Windows that cleans some of the more common malware.
• Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool - Microsoft offers a free tool to remove prevalent software active on the system. The tool is offered via Automatic Updates, Windows Updates, and Microsoft Updates, or it can be manually downloaded using the provided link.
• Symantec Virus Removal Tools - Antivirus vendor Symantec offers a wide range of free cleaning tools for individual malware removal.
• F-Secure Virus Removal Tools - Another good choice for individual malware removal are these free tools from F-Secure.
• For a second opinion scan or a not-so-stubborn infector, try one of the Top Online Scanners