This is section has bits of useful knowledge about PC's and links to great free utilities.

Excited yet?!? I can tell! (By the way - Disclaimer: All this software is nothing to do with me. If it crashes your PC or kills your dog, don't blame me OK? I'm just the messenger!)

	As your PC travels the internet it picks up junk. When you download a demo or a file, then delete it, sometimes there's some crud left behind. A bit like making a meal, once you've made it then eaten it, your dish is usually still a bit mucky. You do what??? You lick your plate??? OK then... CCleaner's a bit like a dishwasher for your PC. Except it won't leave it smelling soapy. It's also FREE!!! Hurrah!!! Click here to visit CCleaner and download it. TIP: When cleaning out the registry, when you get the option to make a backup, do so. Your registry is a mystical area in your PC where lots of processes and scary stuff happens. It's a bit like a brain - there's bits you don't want to be deleting unless you fancy bumping into things and going 'huh?' 'huh?' 'huh?' a lot. That's what your PC might do if you take the wrong thing out of it. Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you. Back it up. It'll be fine. I refer you to the disclaimer at the of the page.
	Fed up with your PC taking ages to start up? It could be that there's a lot of unecessary programmes starting up while all you want to do is check out the latest 'Pammie' shots! Or erm do some online banking. The latest and long overdue addition to Techbits is Startup.cpl. A tiny tiny but very clever and very simple, program that once set up, will reside in your Control Panel and will allow you to stop all manner of useless junk starting up when you boot your PC. Written by a clever chap called Mike Lin, click here to visit his web page and the download page for Startup.cpl TIP: If using Windows XP, when you go to your Control Panel, click 'Classic View' on the left to enable you to see the new 'Startup' logo that Startup.cpl creates.
Messenger Service Spam!!! How to end the spam...	Messenger Service Spam is a technical blip that allows anyone to send messages (usually spam) direct to your PC. This is different to the Windows Messenger that allows online Instant Messaging between PC Users. You'll know when you're getting Messenger Service Spam as it'll pop up when you don't want it and offer you anything from Viagra to University Diploma's. To rid yourself of this pest (instructions may vary slightly depending on your set up but the principle's the same); Click Start, then Settings, then Control Panel, then Administrative Tools Double Click Services Scroll Down & click Messenger Right click Messenger select Properties Click Stop. That should do the trick...
	Grisoft AVG is Free Anti Virus software and is a doddle to use. Click the logo to the left to go to the website and follow the instructions on the page. It's as good as any virus checker i've ever used (just remember to check for updates regularly - you can set the software to do this automatically for you.) TIP: Only have one virus checker installed on your PC. More than that can confuse the poor little thing!
	Lavasoft Adaware is a Free Detection Utility for Removing Adware & SpyWare. If you know what that is then great. If not, then in simple terms Adware & Spyware are little programmes that you pick up while on the internet that track what you're looking at and try to feed you adverts tailored to what they think you'll like. You might think that's OK in which case great! But if you're finding that for no good reason your Browser (A browser is Internet Explorer and similar) keeps crashing (error messages), or websites that used to load in seconds now take ages, then it could be you've become encumbered with this junk! (Imagine you're walking through town looking at shop windows and suddenly from every shop you've been in an assistant comes out and starts shoving flyers in your face, and the more you try to get through town the more assistants you seem to pick up until you're totally surrounded by shouting assistants!) Nightmare! Get Adaware by clicking the light blue logo to the left and taste freedom! Also get SpyBot - Search & Destroy. It's free, and does a similar job to AdAware, but mops up what AdAware can't get rid of. The best defence is to use them both! Click the darker blue logo to the left to get SpyBot. Tip: As with Anti Virus Software - make sure you keep this software updated regularly! Interesting Link: Click here for an interesting article on Adware and Spyware from the BBC
	Avant Browser is an alternative browser that is used on top of Internet Explorer. It can automatically stop pop-up ad's, display a number of web pages at once, be customised to look how you want, prevent home page hijackers, and loads more. But here's the thing - I think it's good if you've had a bit of internet experience, but if you're still a bit new to it then come back later. Avant Browser is like a Ferrari (not that i've driven one. Yet.) You wouldn't (or indeed couldn't) jump into a Ferrari straight after passing your driving test. You need to work your way up to it and that's how to approach Avant Browser. If you've tried Internet Explorer and are ready to move onto a faster, slicker browser (that can handle 'mouse gestures!' Fantastic! If you don't know what mouse gestures are the Avant Help Files are very good at explaining them), then try Avant Browser. After you've used it you'll never go back and will see the old Internet Explorer for the Ford Fiesta it always was! (Apologies if that was a bit patronising to new internet users, but truly - only go for Avant once you've exhausted Internet Explorer - you'll find it a much more enjoyable experience.) TIP: If you're on the internet and you want to go to a new website and keep the old one open, hold down the CTRL or CONTROL key on your keyboard, then press N once. That will open a new window and you can go to whatever website you want, still keeping the old one open.