Hot Computers & Programming Posts

How To: Stop computer viruses

You've probably heard a lot about computer viruses — but how do you stop them? This home-computing how-to from the folks at CNET TV will teach you what you'll need to know. For detailed information, and to get started protecting your own Windows PC from malicious code, watch this helpful video guide.

How To: Rescue your computer from disaster with a backup disc

The three minutes it takes to watch this video may save you hours upon hours of heartache if something goes awry with your Mac or Windows PC down the road. This home-computing how-to will show you how to create and use recovery discs to restore your computer to an earlier state. For detailed instructions, and to get started creating your own bootable recovery discs, watch this video guide.

How To: Backup files on a CD in Windows XP

Backing up your files is very smart and important. You'll want to make sure that you copy your files somewhere external just in case something happens to your PC. The easiest and most convenient way to do this is to use a blank CD and burn your programs and files to it. In this video, learn exactly how to do this and keep your documents safe and sound.

How To: Copy documents to a CD using Windows XP

In this video, learn how to copy files from your PC to an external CD using Windows XP. This process, called burning, is super easy to do and very useful. You can use burning to share files, listen to music away from your computer, backup programs and many other things. Follow along as Computer Active demonstrates this simple process.

How To: Build an XML gallery with Flash CS4 & ActionScript 3

Make your own custom XML image gallery using Flash CS4 and a little bit of ActionScript. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular Flash-development platform or a seasoned web developer looking to better acquaint yourself with the new features and functions of this particular iteration of the application, you're sure to benefit from this free software tutorial. For more information, and to get started making your own XML image gallery, watch this Flash developer's guide.

How To: Create a nav bar with rollover buttons in Flash CS4

See how to create a simple navigation bar with rollover buttons when working in Adobe Flash CS4. Whether you're new to Adobe's popular Flash-development platform or a seasoned web developer looking to better acquaint yourself with the new features and functions of this particular iteration of the application, you're sure to benefit from this free software tutorial. For more information, watch this Flash developer's guide.

How To: Clone a hard drive from a non-bootable computer

Although computers are intended to make life much more easier, they can sometimes be confusing as cheese! So, it's fine if you need help trying to figure out how to do certain tasks. Like this one here. In this tutorial, you'll be finding out how to clone a hard drive from a non-bootable computer in no time at all. So check out the video above, good luck, and enjoy!

How To: Compress and encrypt an .EXE file with MPRESS

For the newer generation, using a computer is now a common thing that a lot of people must know how to do. Regular things like opening programs, writing papers, and using the internet are all easy to get, but there are other things that can be a bit harder for those less experienced. So if you're starting off or just looking to learn something new, this video can help. In this tutorial, you'll find out how to compress and encrypt an .EXE file for free using MPRESS. Good luck, pay attention, a...

How To: Boot your computer from a bootable CD

Learn how to boot up your Microsoft Windows PC from a CD-ROM! It's easy. So easy, in fact, that this home computing how-to from the folks at CNET TV can present a complete (and somewhat talky) overview of the process in just over a minute's time. For the specifics, and to get started booting your own PCs from optical media, watch this handy how-to.

How To: Burn an ISO image to a CD, DVD or Blu-Ray disc

Want to burn an ISO disc image to a CD, DVD or some other optical medium? It's easy. So easy, in fact, that this free video tutorial from the folks at CNET TV can present a complete overview of the process in just under a minute and a half. For specifics, and to get started burning ISO images yourself, watch this handy home-computing how-to.

How To: Email files quickly using Quicksilver

Learn how to send emails using Blacktree's popular Mac OS X application, Quicksilver. It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this home computing how-to from the folks at CNET TV can present a complete (and somewhat talky) overview of the process in just over a minute's time. For the specifics, watch this handy how-to.

How To: Move files in the Mac OS X Finder using Quicksilver

You might know that Quicksilver is terrific for quickly launching your favorite OS X applications but were you aware that you can also use it to move files from one place to another? It's so easy that this home computing how-to from the folks at CNET TV can present a complete (and somewhat talky) overview of the process in just over a minute's time. For the specifics, watch this handy how-to.

How To: Use advanced Windows Vista keyboard shortcuts

Addicted to keyboard shortcuts? Interested in adding a few more to your arsenal? This home computing how-to from the folks at CNET TV demonstrates a number of intermediate- and advanced-level shortcuts sure to speed up your Microsoft Windows Vista workflow. For the specifics, and to get started using these useful Windows key commands yourself, watch this handy how-to.

How To: Use the command prompt in Windows 7

For all you that are not computer geeks or nerds, this tutorial is going to show you some tips on using the command prompt in Windows 7. Although it's not vital information, this can still be used to fix certain computer problems and is fun to use when opening certain programs or doing other things as well. So sit back, pay attention, and being a geek or nerd is cool so relax!

How To: Edit or remove the Windows 7 watermark

Editing or removing the watermark on your Windows 7 computer can seem like a difficult task. But in fact, it's made easier with videos like this one here. In this tutorial, you'll find out what you exactly need to do in order to get rid of or change the watermark left on your Windows 7 desktop. Good luck!

How To: Organize your digital photos in iPhoto 09

Organizing your photos in iPhoto 09 is a breeze provided you know how to take advantage of the program's various features (like, for example, keyword tagging). This free video software tutorial from the folks at MacMost will get you off and running. For specifics, and to get started organizing your own photographs, watch this iPhoto user's guide.

How To: Back up your data to an external hard drive

Want to know how to back up your data to an external hard drive? Protect yourself against data loss and heartbreak with this free home computing how-to from the folks at CNET TV, which offers complete instructions on how to back up your important files either manually or automatically. For specifics, and to get started backing up your own stuff, watch this handy how-to.

How To: Enable the 'Ctrl-Alt-Del' login window on Windows 7

Use Microsoft Windows 7? Miss the old Ctrl-Alt-Delete log-in prompt? It's easy to restore. So easy, in fact, that this home computing how-to from the folks at CNET TV can present a complete overview of the restoration process in just over a minute's time. For more information, and to get started restoring this useful security feature on your own Windows 7 PC, watch this free video tutorial.

How To: Format a drive for both Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows

Have an external hard drive that you'd like to use with both an Apple computer and a Microsoft Windows PC? With the FAT32 file format, it can be done! And this home computing how-to from the folks at CNET TV will show you how. For more information, including detailed instructions, and to get started sharing your own HDs between Mac and Windows computers, watch this free video tutorial.

How To: Organize your iTunes music on a Mac

Music a mess? iTunes comes with a number of built-in organizational features to help you sort that problem, and your tracks, out. This free video software tutorial from MacMost will ensure that you know everything required to manage your digital music library. For specifics, and to get started organizing your own iTunes library, watch this Mac user's guide.

How To: Turn off automatic updates in Microsoft Windows

Find the Microsoft Windows automatic update feature annoying? It's simple to disable. So simple, in fact, that this free home computing how-to can present a complete (and somewhat talky) overview of the process in just over a minute's time. For specifics, and to turn off automatic updating on your own Windows computer, watch this PC user's guide.

How To: Make a Windows 7 system repair disc

Need some help figuring out how to burn a Microsoft Windows 7 system repair CD? It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this free home computing how-to can present a complete (and somewhat talky) overview of the process in just over a minute's time. For specifics, and to start making your own Windows 7 restore discs, watch this PC user's guide.

How To: Upgrade from Microsoft Windows XP to Windows 7

Decided you want to leapfrog Vista and upgrade from Microsoft Windows XP directly to Windows 7? It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this free home computing how-to can present a complete (and somewhat talky) overview of the process in about six minutes' time. For specifics, and to start installing Win 7 on your own computer, watch this PC user's guide.

How To: Take screenshots in Microsoft Windows 7

Need a little help figuring out how to capture screenshots in Microsoft Windows 7? It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this free home computing how-to can present a complete (and somewhat talky) overview of the process in just over a minute's time. For specifics, and to get started taking your own screengrabs in Win 7, watch this PC user's guide.

How To: Get a Vista-style Taskbar in Microsoft Windows 7

New to Microsoft Windows 7? Pining for the old Vista Taskbar? It's easy to restore it! So easy, in fact, that this free home computing how-to can present a complete (and somewhat talky) overview of the process in just under a minute's time. For specifics, and to get started using a Vista-style Taskbar on your own Win 7 computer, watch this PC user's guide.

How To: Customize the Microsoft Windows 7 Start Menu

Need a little help figuring out how to customize your Microsoft Windows 7 Start Menu? It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this free home computing how-to can present a complete (and somewhat talky) overview of the process in just a minute's time. For specifics, and to get started personalizing your own Win 7 Start Menu, watch this PC user's guide.

How To: Use a flash drive as memory in Microsoft Windows XP

Did you know that you can use a USB flash drive to speed up a sluggish Windows XP computer? It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this free home computing how-to can present a complete (and somewhat talky) overview of the process in just over a minute's time. For specifics, and to get started speeding up your own Windows Vista computer, watch this PC user's guide.

How To: Use System Restore on a Microsoft Windows Vista PC

Need to restore your Microsoft Windows Vista PC to an earlier date? It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this free home computing how-to can present a complete (and somewhat talky) overview of the process in just under a minute's time. For specifics, and to get started restoring your own Windows Vista computer with the System Restore tool, watch this PC user's guide.

How To: Speed up Windows Vista with a flash drive

Want to speed up a Microsoft Windows Vista PC? Have a USB drive? This PC user's guide from CNET TV demonstrates how to take advantage of Windows Vista's Readyboost feature to convert your flash drive into extra virtual ram for your computer. For specifics, and to get started speeding up your own sluggish Vista PC, watch this handy how-to.

How To: Run Windows inside Mac OS X

Want to run Windows Vista or 7 on your Apple computer without having to install Bootcamp? With virtualization software like Parallels, it's easy! Learn how to run Microsoft Windows within Mac OS X with this free video tutorial from the folks at CNET TV. For specifics, and to get started running your favorite Windows applications and games in OS X, watch this handy how-to.

How To: Run Windows on a Mac using Bootcamp in OS X Leopard

Want to run Windows Vista or 7 on your Apple computer? With Bootcamp and OS X Leopard (or Snow Leopard), it's easy. So easy, in fact, that this free video tutorial from CNET can present a complete overview of the process in just over three minutes and a half. For detailed instructions, and to get started running your favorite Windows apps and games on your Mac, watch this handy how-to.