Q. How can I check my connection speed to the Internet?

A. Here are several Web sites that can calibrate your connection speed. Check your speed a number of times throughout the day to determine your average throughput, because speeds will vary. If your average speed is much lower than expected, contact your Internet service provider.

None of the following sites require the installation of any software. Just go to the site, click the appropriate button or link, and await the results.

Cnet Bandwidth Test , McAfee’s Speedometer , Toast.net Performance Test, PC Pitstop, or TestMySpeed.com.

Q. My computer is a few years old, but lately when I view photographs, there are no red colors or reddish tones in the pictures displayed on screen. If I print them, they’re fine. Is there some adjustment I can make to fix this problem?

A. Possibly. Many older CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors have adjustment knobs that can fine-tune hue, brightness, etc. Feel around the top, bottom and sides of your monitor for any such adjustments, or you may find a little hinged door that opens and contains several buttons or dials.

The easiest way to determine if your monitor is the culprit is to hook it up to another computer. If the problem persists, you’ll know it’s time to replace your monitor. In this disposable era, it is usually not cost effective to repair a monitor, even if you can locate somebody capable of repairing it.

If the problem disappears when you attach the monitor to a different computer, then it’s most likely a problem with your system’s video card and any reputable computer repair shop should be able to check that out and replace the card, if necessary.

Q. I’ve been thinking about getting a new computer, but one of my neighbors told me I should get my current computer reformatted, instead. Any advice would be appreciated.

A. First, how old is your current computer? If it’s more than three or four years old, I’d give serious consideration to purchasing a new one. During the past three or four years prices have plummeted while the technology has improved exponentially.

If your computer is less than two years old, any reputable computer repair facility can back up your data, reformat the hard drive, reinstall (and update) Windows, and some will even reinstall your software, for approximately $150.

While reformatting a hard drive can resolve some problems, if you’re trying to use software that your computer is not powerful enough to run, or you want to use peripheral devices such as a scanner, printer, digital camera, or other device that your current computer cannot accommodate, purchasing a new computer would be the best solution.

If you do buy a new computer, just remember that you cannot have too much memory (RAM). I recommend a bare-bones minimum of 512MB for Windows XP and 1GB for Vista. I am currently running 2GB in my XP systems and 4GB in my Vista Ultimate systems.

Mr. Modem's Sites of the Week:

Earth From Above
You don't have to have wings to see what the world looks like from above. Thanks to this site, you can get a bird's eye view of some of the most beautiful locations on Earth. Select a country from a list of approximately 100 nations, then click thumbnail images to view a series of photos of these lands from the air. The photographs, many of them conveniently captioned in French, provide a beautiful and original perspective of the planet.
http://tinyurl.com/4qpqn

Queendom Testing
Claiming to be the world’s largest testing center, here you will find hundreds of tests, including IQ tests, career tests, psychological tests, just-for-fun tests, mind-stretchers, trivia quizzes and more. Be sure to take the Type A Personality Test—and don’t dawdle! What are you waiting for? I don’t have all day, you know. Registration is required and though many basic-level tests are free, premium tests cost an average of $2.95, or you can purchase packages of tests which can significantly reduce the cost of each test.
www.queendom.com

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