Do you like the style of this and the Wymondham College Remembered web sites? How would you like to be reminded of this all the time you are surfing the web? If you are using Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher then your browser window could be customized to look like this.

There are a few applications that can do this, for example Hotbar, but these clutter the browser window with there own content and advertising and in some cases install spyware on your PC. The best alternative is to use the Toolbar Wallpaper utility supplied free by Microsoft on there web site. So if you are using Internet Explorer 5.0 or above here is what you need to do.

Firstly download the utility tbwlpapr.exe from the Microsoft web site. To do this simply click on this link first. In the window that appears next select either 'Run this program from the its current location' and follow the on-screen instructions or select 'Save this file to disk' and note the directory where you save the file. In the latter case you will then need to run the downloaded program. Using Explorer locate the file tbwlpapr.exe in the directory to which it was saved and run this program and follow the on-screen instructions. Once this is completed Internet Explorer will be able to use toolbar wallpapers so proceed the the next step to load and select the required bitmap file.

Secondly download this wycol2.bmp bitmap file. To do this right mouse click on this link next and then select the 'Save Target As...' command. In the new window that opens change the directory to C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\bitmaps and save the file into that directory, keeping the same name.

Finally restart Internet Explorer and select the new toolbar wallpaper. Under the Tools menu in Internet Explorer there will be a new command 'Toolbar Wallpaper'. If you select this a new window will open from which you will be able to select the required wallpaper bitmap. Under the IE5 Images list select the bitmap wycol2 and then OK. Once this has been set a prompt will appear saying 'Your toolbar has been customized. Close all IE windows, and then restart IE to see your new toolbar.'. Select OK to dismiss this message and restart Internet Explorer. The new wallpaper should now appear in the toolbar of all Internet Explorer windows.

If anyone has any other ideas for new wallpapers then drop me a line and I will try to include it here.

Ever heard of spyware? It is out there and more common than you may think. On the Internet, spyware is programming that is put in your computer to secretly gather information and relay it to advertisers or other interested parties. Spyware can get in your computer as a software virus or as the result of installing a new program, e.g. Hotbar as mentioned above in the Toolbar section. Many freeware programs are really only vehicles for spyware.

Ad-Aware is a free multi spyware removal utility, that scans your memory, registry and hard drives for known spyware components and lets you remove them safely.

Ad-Aware is a small and easy to use program that will scan your PC for known advertising systems, and lets you remove them safely from your system. During the process Ad-Aware scans your memory, registry and file system for known modules. If a related module is found in memory, it means the spyware was active until Ad-Aware detected and unloaded the particular module, e.g. If TSADBOT.EXE is found in your memory, it means that Timesink is not only installed, but also active. Nearly all of your internet related and general system settings are stored in the registry. Ad-Aware will scan parts of your registry for modifications or values and references to known spyware. Finally your hard drive(s) will be scanned for known spyware files. After the scanning process is completed, you can view a list of all spyware references residing on your system, and select removal.

Ad-Aware helps you to get rid of spyware.

Have you heard about goZing Surveys, this great new FREE online service lets you watch new Hollywood movie trailers and review cool new products. Best of all, you GET PAID, $4 as either cash via PayPal or as Amazon.com Gift Certificates, for every survey successfully completed. This is currently offered in the U.S, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland (Europe, Asia, Australia and South America: Coming Soon!!).

Here's how it works:

To get started taking goZing surveys you need to go to the goZing Sign Up page.

It's free to join and easy to sign up! Complete the goZing membership application by providing goZing surveys with your personal data. You will be prompted to create a username and password which will enable you full access to the goZing survey program. By submitting your membership application, this will activate your goZing survey account.

Once goZing receives your completed Confidential Membership Application, their research department will periodically email you an invitation to take part in a new online survey. The email will include a unique link, which will take you directly to the online survey. You also have the option to login to your gozing account to participate in surveys.

After clicking the unique survey link, you will be directed to the online survey.

Spend a few minutes giving your feedback on products and/or movie trailers.

When you complete the survey, you will be redirected back to the goZing site to enter your username and password a final time. Once submitted, your information has been added to the survey completion list.

You be rewarded via PayPal cash or Amazon.com Gift Certificates within 7 weeks after completing each survey! You choose your Reward method by logging in to your goZing Survey account. If you do not have a PayPal account, you can signup for free at http://www.paypal.com

You may have heard of all the different programs offering to pay users while surfing the web. Most of these programs have now gone, like AllAdvantage and ePipo, or have discontinued these programs, like Utopiad and DesktopDollars. Well one is still going. Check out Spedia which at the time of writing still pays a standard rate of $0.49 per hour or a premier rate of $0.70 per hour for US members.