Active Computers & Programming Posts
How To: Protect your PC in 10 ways
There are 10 major ways to protect your PC. Disable Autorun, in Windows. Make sure that your system is up to date, by setting automatic updates. Always use a log on for your computer that does not have administrative privileges. Use different passwords, and change your passwords on a regular basis. Don't use simple passwords. Be careful of using links sent to you via email. Never disclose your sensitive information in public forums: e.g. social networks. Encrypt sensitive data on your compute...
How To: Use iCal Server
Mac OS X server includes a calendar server for users and groups to coordinate events, schedule meetings, reserve resources and use time more effectively. To get started using iCal Server on your own Mac OS X Server, watch this video tutorial.
How To: Fix a "Missing or corrupt windows_root\system32\hal.dll" error on a Windows PC
Looking for instructions on how to fix a missing or corrupt hal.dll error on a Windows PC? It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this home-computing how-to from the folks at Britec can present a complete overview of the process in just over five minutes. For more information, including step-by-step instructions, take a look.
How To: Install a TV tuner card into your PC
You can watch TV anywhere these days, so why not on your computer? Installing a TV tuner card is easy--follow these instructions, and you'll be channel surfing in no time.
How To: Install an internal 3G HSDPA modem in an ASUS Eee PC
Going mobile? While the ASUS Eee PC is undeniably one of the most portable travel laptops available, it's by no means the the most mobile, because mobility also implies mobile connectivity. In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to install a 3G HSPDA modem in an Asus Eee PC. This mod will work on any Eee PC without the extra PCIE slot. For step-by-step instructions, watch this how-to.
How To: Stop your hard drive from vibrating
You know that really annoying whirring sound your computer makes when it's, well, working? That's due to your hard drive vibrating and creating a small noise while doing so. Luckily, you don't have to put up with a loud hard drive anymore.
How To: Change your IP address from the Windows command line
Need to change your IP address? In this how-to, you'll find instructions for changing your IP address from the Windows command prompt with the ipconfig console application. For step-by-step instructions, take a look. NB: Changing your IP will not protect your identity; it's merely a simple expedient for getting around certain problems ones might encounter while using the Internet.
How To: Create a membership system for a website with PHP and MySQL
In this clip, you'll learn how to create a a simple membership system for a website with PHP and MySQL. Whether you're new to the PHP scripting language or a seasoned developer mereley looking to pick up a few new tips and tricks, you're sure to benefit from this video tutorial. Take a look.
How To: Use Google Spreadsheets as a database in the cloud
Watch Jeffrey Scudder demonstrate his GData Python Client Library extension that makes it easy to use Google Spreadsheets as a database in the information cloud.
How To: Install a SIM card for a 3G modem in a Lenovo ThinkPad X61 laptop
This video explains where to install a SIM card for a 3G modem in a Lenovo X61. With just a screwdriver you can replace the SIM card in a Lenovo X61. It is a simple installation, once you learn where the SIM card should go.
How To: Use the IIS registration tool to configure ASP.Net
In this video tutorial, Chris Pels shows how to use the ASP.NET IIS Registration Tool to configure ASP.NET. First, see how file extensions are mapped to ASP.NET in the IIS Manager on a global and web-site-by-web site basis. These script maps provide the basis for configuring individual ASP.NET applications to run under a specific version of the .NET Framework. Next, see how aspnet_regiis.exe, the IIS Registration Tool command line utility, is specific to each version of the .NET Framework and...
How To: Speed up your PC by disabling unnecessary applications
Is your PC too slow? Want your PC performance to increase without paying any money? Well, in this video the viewers will be taught how to speed up their PC and internet speed without spending a dime. First of all, the video goes through some of the potential applications that are draining the computers' resources, such as multiple anti-virus. The video teaches how to delete and remove unneeded applications and free up additional RAM. One of the key ideas is to close and disable applications t...
How To: Fax directly from PCs with an Epson All-in-One printer
This is the future, where you can fax not only from a piece of paper, but directly from your computer, too. Whether you have a PC or a Mac, Epson All-in-One printers allow you to send a fax right from your computer.
How To: Record straight from a video camera to a computer
Recording home movies is quite a joy - how else would you remember that time your son shot milk out of his nose from laughing too hard, or when your shih tzu did a headstand? But it's often a pain transfering all your film files from your video camera to your computer.
How To: Set up a wireless router
Want to set up a wireless network in your home or office? It's simple. So simple, in fact, that this free networking how-to presents a complete overview of the process in just over four minutes. Set up a WiFi network with this video guide.
How To: Search for Photos on Your Computer by Exact Dimensions
As a technology writer, phone screenshots can pile up on your computer in no time. Testing out different apps, showing buggy software, and doing step-by-steps can lead to a plethora of mobile screenshots piling up on your computer's desktop. The problem with my screenshots is that they save as photo.png or photo.jpeg, as do many of my other photos. If I haven't finished a project or article, I tend to move them to different folders to save them for later. After a while, the screenshots begin ...
How To: Get your Windows 7 PC to boot up more quickly with Soluto
Are you waiting forever to get your PC to boot up? Well, this how-to shows off a little program called Soluto which promises speed up your Windows machine's boot time. Find out exactly what's taking so long, and gain control over the startup process.
How To: Create an Encrypted Zip Archive in Mac OS X and Windows
Archive files are great for portability and saving space, but a lot of people don't know they can also be encrypted. There are a lot of archiver programs out there, but most of them can open a file that's been encrypted using other software, as long as you're using a recent version.
How To: Save Money Cleaning Your Gadgets' Displays with This DIY Screen-Cleaning Solution
Keeping your computer screen or smartphone display clean is impossible. And those stupid little cloth cleaners that come with your device are about as useful as the new Apple Maps (yes, I am still upset about it).
How To: Restore Missing Flash Files in the Tmp Folder on Ubuntu Lucid
Ubuntu users can directly copy flash videos from the web with Firefox. There's no need to install software such as a YouTube downloader, which are available in abundance throughout the web. First, you need to know where to find the temporary flash file in Ubuntu (see my other post for that).
How To: Automate mass emails with the cron command and PHP
In this clip, you'll learn how to create a simple newsletter with cron jobs. Whether you're new to the PHP scripting language or a seasoned developer mereley looking to pick up a few new tips and tricks, you're sure to benefit from this video tutorial. Take a look.
How To: Customize and manage shortcuts on a Microsoft Windows 7 PC with Shortcuttor
In this clip, you'll learn how to install and run the Shortcuttor shortcut management tool on a Microsoft Windows 7 PC. For details, including step-by-step instructions, and to get started using Shortcuttor to manage the shortcuts on your own Win 7 PC, watch this helpful home-computing how-to.
How To: Improve the windows management on your PC with free utility 'Window Manager'
Want to add a little extra control to the windows on your desktop? With Chameleon Window Manager, you can add buttons to the title bars of your windows that will allow you to customize the transparency, force a window to always be on top, and more.
How To: Set up a Windows 7 HomeGroup network
Want to access files from multiple computers at work or home? An expert from PC Remedies explains how to set up a Home Group network on Windows 7 systems. Includes a how-to of setting up your location, and managing the set-up wizard. Finally maximize your current resources by networking your work and entertainment files, as well as hardware such as printers. The excellent video gives you an exact snapshot of what you can expect to see on your own Windows 7 system. Includes advice on setting u...
How To: Fix a "Boot Manager is Compressed" error on a Microsoft Windows PC
This clip will teach you everything you'll need to know. It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this home-computing how-to from the folks at Britec can present a complete overview of the process in just over two minutes. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look.
How To: Resize desktop icons in Mac OS X
Have a hard time seeing your Mac OS X desktop icons? Make them bigger! It's really quite easy to do. So easy, in fact, that this Apple accessibility guide can present a complete walkthrough of the process in just a minute and a half. For details, as well as to get started resizing your own OS X desktop icons, watch this helpful how-to.
How To: Use forward deleting on an Apple laptop
On OS X Mac portables, like the MacBook and MacBook Pro, the delete key backspaces, or deletes backwards. If you're accustomed to having the keyboard delete forward, just hit function delete. For more, watch this MacBook video tutorial.
How To: Boot into safe mode in Windows XP operating system
This video will show you how to boot in safe mode on Windows XP. Just follow these instructions from the video. Now go to Start -> Run and type in msconfig. and click OK. Now select the BOOT.INI tab and select /SAFEBOOT, click apply and close and then it will prompt you to restart. After you restart a message will appear. Click Yes and you will notice that your screen resolution is small and you will have the classic theme. To return to normal mode just repeat the steps and uncheck the BOOT.I...
How To: Change folder icons in Mac OS X
A quick demonstration on how to change a folders icon in Mac OS X.
News: Are You a Mac Yuppie or a PC Nerd? Find Out if You Fit the Stereotype
With over 60 commercials, chances are you've seen one of the Get a Mac spots run by Apple, which brands Mac as intuitive and hip, compared to their boring and clunky PC counterpart. You also probably saw Microsoft's response in their I'm a PC campaign. But who are Mac and PC users really? Do jeans and hoodie-wearing yuppies really use Macs? Are the suit-and-tie types strictly operating PCs?
How To: Use the SysRq Key to Fix Any Linux Freeze
Linux is generally a pretty stable OS, but occasionally things happen. However, as long as your keyboard has a SysRq key, you'll never need to worry about freezes again.
How To: Repair a Power Mac G5 - Remove the SuperDrive
If your discs are getting jammed in your optical drive, or if your CDs and DVDs simply aren't playing in your Power Mac, it might be time to replace that old SuperDrive. See how to remove the SuperDrive optical drive from the Power Mac desktop computer.
How To: Call a web service over HTTPS in a Silverlight application
In this clip, you'll learn how to call web services over HTTPS when working in Silverlight. Whether you're new to Microsoft's popular web application framework or a seasoned web developer merely looking to improve your chops, you're sure to find benefit in this free MS Silverlight programming lesson. For more information, including a complete demonstration and detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look.
How To: Create and call a simple web service in ASP.Net
In this video tutorial, Chris Pels will show how to create a web service in ASP.NET and then call the service from another ASP.NET web site. First, learn how to create an .asmx component which represents a web service in an ASP.NET web site. When creating the web service learn how to control several aspects of the web service functionality with web service attributes. Next, see how to test the web service in the Visual Studio web service test page. Then learn how ASP.NET allows many .NET data...
How To: Use the Mac App Store on Mac OS X
No longer will you need to get in your car and head down to the software store to pick up the latest copy of Photoshop. With Apple's new Mac App Store you can purchase and install the latest apps fromthe comfort of your own home!
How To: Format your hard drive in Windows 7
YOUTUBE At first, click start, Right click the "computer" option and choose "manage" which opens the "computer management" window. On the left explorer pane, click the storage option and then choose disk management which brings you a list of all available hard drives that you are using in your system. Before doing a format, make sure you have a backup of all your files since formatting will erase the entire contents of the specified drive. Right click the drive you wish to format and choose "...
News: How to Use Very Basic AppleScript to Create a Fake Virus
Hi, might not be of interest but I've just written an article on AppleScript for Null Byte and I thought Id share it here:
How To: Install ADDS on a server running Windows Server 2008
Interested in installing Active Directory Domain Services (ADDS) on a machine running Windows Server 2008 R2? This clip will show you how it's done. It's simple! So simple, in fact, that this home-computing how-to can present a complete, step-by-step overview of the process in just over five minutes. For more information, including complete, step-by-step instructions, take a look.
How To: Solve the "FizzBuzz" problem with Clojure 1.1
In this clip from Sean Devlin's "Full Disclojure" series of Clojure video tutorials, you'll see how to solve the classic FizBuzz problem with Clojure. One of the most obvious perks of using the Clojure is the user community organized around it, which make learning the language a pleasure (and a simple one at that). For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look.
How To: Build the perfect Windows Media Center PC
You don't need a lot of money to build yourself an impressive home theater system. Yes, typically putting one together means piecing together a bunch of speakers, a supersized plasma HD TV, and whatever other add-ons you want. But really getting a great cinematic experience involves nothing more than having a computer with some fancy programs.