Hot Computers & Programming Posts

How To: Set up a wireless network using Ubuntu

TheUMLabs shows how to setup a wireless network with Ubuntu. The first thing the user does in this task is open Hardware Drives. After the searching for drives box finish scanning it list available drives to install. This s then selects a driver that is available to the computer they are working on. The next thing that the user do is edit the Wireless connection. If you follow all of the steps in the video, you should be able to connect to a wireless network in Ubuntu.

How To: Select different items in Finder in Mac OS

In this video, Gary from MacMost demonstrates how to select items on a Mac computer. He explains that there are different ways of selecting items, both with the mouse and with the keyboard. Click to select a single item, and click an empty space to clear the selection. Hold Command or Shift to add to a selection or remove items from the selected group. Drag around an area to select multiple items, and use Command and drag to add more areas. To select items in a list, click to select a single ...

How To: Speed up your computer easily for free

In this how-to video, you will learn how to speed up your computer for free. You need a computer running a Windows operating system and access to the Microsoft Configuration Utility. First, open the start menu and click on run. Once this is doing, type in "msconfig" and click okay. Press the startup tab on the window that has opened. Here you will see a list of items that start when the operating system starts. You can uncheck the items that are not required to properly run the system. You ca...

How To: Install a bootable Linux onto a USB stick

In this video PCMECH give a walkthrough the installation of a bootable Linux on a USB thumb drive from Windows. For this it's recommended to use a USB stick with a capacity of at least 1GB. First the UNetBootin application should be downloaded from the site mentioned and run the program keeping in mind to plug in the USB stick prior to the running of the program. Next the desired Linux distro and version should be selected and run as shown in the video. If you already have a distro you can us...

How To: Download the Adobe Shockwave plug-in for Firefox

This video shows you how to easily download and install the Adobe Shockwave Player in Firefox. The first thing you have to do is open Firefox and surf to http://get.adobe.com/shockwave/ or Google the following keywords: "Adobe Shockwave Player download". Scroll down the page and hit the "Agree and Install Now" button. Click "Save File" in the popped up window. Once it finished, double click the file in the Downloads window and click Run in the next window. Simply click next, next, finish and ...

How To: Install Damn Small Linux

Sneekylinux will show you how you can install small Linux on your computer. You can install Linux on you you computer and this helps your DSL run faster. Find out what programs to open to get the Linux install. You will be installing the Linux on to your hard drive so it can boot as you turn your computer on and make running your DSL faster. Take the guess work out of the process, and put DSL on your hard drive.

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: Find the IP address of a computer in Command Prompt

Now you can find your IP address if you need it and you don't know it, it very easy. Or if you have problem with a person on the internet, now you can discover who that person is. You can find her/his IP address and after that you can find her/his real name. But after you find the IP that you were looking for, you have to check if the person who own this computer is in your network, because if you want to find his/her name, the program works only if the owner is on your network. So if you are...

How To: Remove the winlogin.exe file from your computer

This video shows you how to remove a virus or harmful winlogin.exe file. If you use a good firewall program or a good anti-virus, it will pop-up a window and let you know you have been infected or even block it. If you do not use such things, but you think you know since when you have been infected, you can try to restore your system by using System Restore in Windows XP or Vista. If you do not know the duration of the infection, you can try to manually delete the file when using Windows Safe...

How To: Repair Windows XP with a boot disk

Puzzled on how to use your boot disk to repair your Windows XP system? This informative video from www.computerhilfen.com shows you step by step exactly what to expect to see on your computer screen. Fixing that slow or broken Windows XP computer system is not impossible! Make the processes easy and painless with the help of this video, which covers reformatting, reinstallation, and the first steps on preventing future problems with your Windows XP platform. Why waste money on computer repair...

How To: Find the IP address and subnet mask of your computer

It's good to know the IP address of your computer. With this information, you can track your computers usage online, and will also know how to change it if you want to surf unnoticed. This tutorial will show you exactly how to find the IP address of your PC, so you will never be lost again. There are a number of programs that require your IP address, for example if you are setting up an external device like an XBox live to your Internet connection, you will need to make sure the IP address is...

How To: Burn a movie file to a DVD using free software

In this video the author shows how to burn a movie file to a DVD using free software. He explains the requirements are the movie to be burned, the DVD burning drive and a software called DVD Flick which is used to burn the movie to the DVD. He shows how to download the DVD Flick software from the internet and how to install it. He opens the installed software and shows the various settings of how to select the movie and explains about the supported video formats, how to set the title of the m...

How To: Print your screen on Window Vista

To print your screen on Windows Vista, start by going to the start menu. Click on all programs then click on accessories. When accessories opens click paint and that will open a new window with the paint program. Minimize the programs so that your desktop is all you see. Press the prtsc button near the top right side of the keyboard. Once you have pushed prtsc, restore the paint program so that it is full screen again. Click edit and a drop down menu will open. Then click the paste button. Yo...

How To: Recover deleted files in Windows

This video tutorial is all about recovering the deleted files in Windows Vista. If you are using the Windows Vista and you have unknowingly deleted a file and emptied the recycle bin, then you can recover it. This can be done by using the Shadow Explorer. Shadow Explorer is a Vista program that accesses the Vista Volume Shadow Copy Service. In Vista, the shadow copy service is turned on by default. It creates backups of files on a regular basis. Shadow Explorer provides access to these backup...

How To: Find all your computer system specs using SIW

In this video the ClearTechInfo tutor shows how to learn about your computer hardware, software, and network information using a free program called 'System Information for Windows' (S.I.W.). By using this software, you will be able to answer all sorts of questions about your computer like which processor you are using, the amount of RAM, the OS version, the service pack, and all the other numerous specifications of your computer. He shows how to download the standalone version of the S.I.W. ...

How To: Manage standard user & admin accounts in Windows 7

ClearTechInfo live up to their by offering clear and concise information on how to manage user account settings in the new OS from Microsoft, Windows 7. Begin by pressing the start button and going into the control panel. In here look for 'user accounts and family safety', open it. Now go into user accounts and then manage another account. If you are the administrator then you can change whichever setting you want for whichever account but if you're just a standard user you can only alter you...

How To: Set up an Airport Extreme for outside computer access

This simple video tutorial explains how to use Airport Utility to configure your Airport Extreme so you can access your Apple computer remotely for file and screen sharing. It explains how to setup DHCP IP reservations and port forwarding using Manual Setup option of the Airport Utility. Considering that the tutorial becomes a little bit technical during the second part, this tutorial is aimed at users who already have at least some knowledge and/or experience setting up a network. Absolute b...

How To: Hack Microsoft Windows 7 upgrade limitations

There are a couple of limitations that Microsoft put in to Windows 7 upgrades that can prevent users from upgrading and ultimately force them to do a clean install. First limitation is that they won't let you to upgrade Windows 7 if you run Windows 7 release candidate that was released earlier this year, which they won't let you to upgrade to a download Windows edition. If you are running Windows vista ultimate you cannot upgrade windows 7 professional. We have to buy an ultimate edition then...

How To: Use multiple monitors with your Mac

Sometimes just one computer monitor is not enough. Whether you are working on a detailed art project, multiple files at once, or simple wish to open more windows, you may need to connect multiple monitors to your Mac. In this video, Gary Rosenzweig from MacMost.com shows you how to hook up another screen to your computer and make the most out of your desktop space. It is actually very easy to hook up a second monitor to most Macs. Once you get a monitor and the proper cables you are good to g...

How To: Encrypt data w/o admin rights using Rohos Mini Drive

This technical video will show you all about the Rohos Mini Drive. See how you may work with an encrypted partition on a PC without admin rights using this free portable encryption solution. It securely protects your portable data on any USB device. Portable utility Rohos Disk Browser gives you opportunity to work with your sensitive data on a USB drive in the usual way on any PC (even at an internet cafe, where you don’t have admin rights).

How To: Password protect minimized apps in Windows

Have you ever had to close an application with private info in order to let someone else use your PC? LockThis! is a windows application that lets you secure individual programs without the hassle of having to save your progress and closing the program. To use LockThis! just hold the control key and click on the application that needs to be locked and simply enter your password on the dialog that pops up and your done. Now anyone can use your pc without you having to look over their shoulder....

How To: Change the sound on your PC

Change the sound on your PC in Windows Vista with this video tutorial. In Windows Vista, left click on desktop. Go to "Personal Modes" and select "Sounds". Click "Test" button in the Sound's tab window to hear sounds for different actions. To replace a sound: place the sounds, in a .WAV format only, in a folder on your C: Drive. Select sound to be replaced in Sound's tab and click “Browse” to find the file you are replacing the current one with. Click "Ok" when done to complete change.

How To: Make programs start up when your computer starts

When you start your computer you can set it up so that your favorite programs automatically open as a part of the computers boot up. To do this, click “Start” and then “All Programs”. When the list opens up, click on “Startup”. Drag the program icons you want to open into the startup bar. The next time you start your computer, the programs you put in the startup will automatically open.

How To: Change the Snow Leopard dock

Change your Snow Leopard dock on Mac OS X with this video tutorial. Go to Leopard Hard drive -> System folder -> Library folder -> CoreServices folder -> Dock App (right click) -> Show package contents -> Contents folder -> Resources folder -> Scroll down until you get to Scurve-1.png, Scruve-m.png, Scurve-sm.png, Scurve-xl.png -> Highlight them all and delete them -> Select the dock you want to change it to -> Paste the files into the place that you deleted the others -> Search for "Terminal...

How To: Save your laptop battery by gaming without a disk

Tired of playing games and draining the battery on your laptop? This video will show you how to play games without a disk and also helps save your laptop battery. Remember, this should own be done if you own the game. You'll learn everything you need to know to download your games, and all the while saving your laptops battery. The video you shows you and extensive step by step easy to follow instructions to finally find a solution to using a disk.

How To: Speed up shutdown time

To speed up the shutdown time for your computer, start by working on the regedit. To access the regedit click the start button. In the search box, type regedit. When the regedit comes up, click it and go down to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. Click hkey_local_machine and go down and click system. Click currentcontrolset in the the system list. In currentcontrolset, click control once. In the control window click waittokillservicetimeout. In waittokillservicetimeout, there will be a value. If the value i...

How To: Securely empty the trash in Mac OS X

This video tutorial shows you how to securely empty your trash in Mac OS X. 1. Click on the top Menu on your desktop. 2. From the drop down menu, choose "Secure Empty Trash". 3. You will be then be prompted with a messaging stating items will be permanently erased from your computer. If you wish to continue click the "Secure Empty Trash". 4. Depending on the amount of files, the process may take a few seconds to a few minutes.

How To: Install Ubuntu Linux in 5 minutes

A Tutorial: Ubuntu Linux is a completely free open-source operating system that has many useful features and abilities, and this guide will show you how to try this new OS without harming your Windows system, and it only takes five minutes to learn! This guide will show you how to: -Download and burn the Ubuntu image to CD -Shrink the Windows installation to make room for Ubuntu -Boot to the Ubuntu live CD and begin the installation process -A step-by-step description of what options to choos...