ability to remove category pages from archive

Hi folks, think I have most issues sorted out now, one thing that is bothering me is when footer archive links is turned on, some of them link to category pages which is basically links to a page with 3 OR 4 links on it, is there a way to hack it so category pages don't get linked to in the archive.

For example see my forums :: Webmaster forums | SEO discussion | Google forums

This page here Search Engine Discussion [Archive] - Webmaster Forums contains links to pages that are linked anyhow, so in my mind mind f-17 is useless.

I like an option where this could be gotten rid of.
I hope you unstand what I mean.

Well all my cats are active and thus this was not an issue for me, but does it not make sense to leave them there, no? Are non active forums still displayed? There still could be plenty of good content there so if they are accessible then I would leave them.

Any ideas about my issues.