Spring cleaning for your computer:

1. Right-click on the C: drive icon and choose Properties. There you can choose Disk Cleanup. The system will calculate the space you can save by deleting temp files, temporary Internet fragments, and the bulging Recycle bin.

2. Dust the computer surface, and turn your keyboard upside down and give it a good shake. You'll be surprised what snacks and crumbs drift out.

3. Because LCD screens contains thousands of crystals, don't rub the screen or spray any liquid directly on it. Spray screen cleaner on a soft cloth and wipe, don't rub, in a vertical pattern. Soft cloths sold to clean eyeglasses are perfect, as are hotel freebie shoeshine cloths. Note there are different products for cleaning LCD panels than old CRT screens.

Reminder: The SWANCC electronics recycling event is coming up Saturday, May 13th, and it's right here in Glenview,(www.swancc.com). Also, Staples offers free drop-off service for recycling old computers, and a $30 coupon for future savings. Be sure to format your hard drive to delete ALL data before tossing those computers.

Almost half of all Internet users already use Google to find what they need on the Web. Now, the company hopes they'll use its service to remind them of lunch appointments and chores, using a new calendar Web site.

Users can create events on multiple calendars, invite participants and add a location, which automatically ties in with Google Maps.

Google account holders, such as Gmail users, can sign up for the new calendar functions for free. Devotees should act quickly, since the company will monitor growth and may freeze registration if things get out of hand, as it has done with other product launches.

Getting ready for summer vacation --

Weather: Check weather.com or my favorite: wunderground.com for worldwide weather and a ten day forecast, wherever you travel. They also offer month by month historical temperatures and rainfall by the inch.

Time: If you find yourself in Tahiti, and want to call London, visit worldtimeserver.com to find out what time it is anywhere in the world.

Money: Xe.com is a currency converter for all the world's currency. It's updated continuously, and includes free services you never knew you needed: an email update when foreign currency rate changes for the countries you're visiting, or a currency converter download for your cell phone or a desktop pop-up.

Enjoy taking great photos with your digital camera, but plan to enjoy them on the computer rather than face expensive developing costs. Here's a sampling of costs to develop digital prints. These prices are for one 4 x 6 print and do not include shipping which is $2.00 and up:

11 cents - Sam's Club

12 cents - Wal-Mart

15 cents - Kodak EasyShare

17 cents - Costco

19 cents - Best Buy

19 cents - Shutterfly

29 cents - CVS Pharmacy

1. USB thumb drives keep getting cheaper. Put one on your keychain and you can work from anywhere.

2. Have a Plan B if your computer fails. It could be a summer storm, or a sudden failure. If your computer conks out - be sure your data is backed up and you have access to another computer.

3. Here's a test you'll likely fail: Go to http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/privacy/password_checker.mspx and see how quickly your password fails to pass their basic security check.

4. Work on that new password. Microsoft suggests each character you add to your password increases the protection that it provides many times over. Your passwords should be 8 or more characters in length; 14 characters or longer is ideal.

5. See your house from the sky:

If you're a member of the Glenview Chamber, be sure to attend my next free Tech Talk, Tuesday May 2nd at 8 a.m.

And on May 11th at 9 a.m. I'll be speaking to Off Campus Writer's Workshop at the Wilmette Public Library. Non-members are welcome, and the topic is "Is it time to self-publish?"

Helen Gallagher

Phone: 847-998-6240, www.cclarity.com

Feel free to forward this issue of Computer Clarity's monthly e-newsletter to your friends, or invite them to subscribe on my site at www.cclarity.com. There's no charge.