Hot Computers & Programming How-Tos « Computers & Programming

How To: Share Local Drives and Folders using Oracle VM VirtualBox with a Guest Windows OS

There are several virtual machine managers present in the market. However, the main functionality of all VMs are the same. Most people like to get free VM managers, so that they can install as many operating systems as they like over the host operating systems. One of these free VM managers is Oracle's VM VirtualBox, which can be downloaded from Oracle's website for all popular operating systems, such as Linux, Windows and Mac.

How To: Fix your computer when it won't recognize your CD or DVD disc drive

One of the most annoying of the many annoying types of errors on Windows computers is when you computer won't recognize parts that have always been a part of it, like the drives or keyboard. If your computer has stopped recognizing your CD or DVD disc drive, watch this video. As long as the drive is still connected, the steps in this video should allow you to fix the problem and continue using your drive.

How To: Check If Windows XP Is Activated

Some people might check their activation status of Windows XP by simply right-clicking on the My Computer icon on their desktop, then clicking on Properties. It opens up a new window with General tab showing some basic information about your PC, like system info, registered to, and computer hardware. However, it does not actually tell us complete information about the system, like whether or not your current copy of Windows XP is activated or not. To check the complete details about your Wind...

How To: Take screenshots and save as JPEG in Mac OS X

This video demonstrate how easy it is to take screen shot with shortcuts in Mac OS X. Press Command+Shift+4 will make the cursor change to cross-hair, indicating it is ready to take screen shot. You can then draw on screen where you wish to take a shot of. By default a new image will be saved on your desktop. Open the image by double-clicking it and click on File, Save As to save the image as your desired format (JPEG. JIFF, etc.) and with preferred size. When taking window screen shot, use s...

How To: Install Microsoft Silverlight 2

In this video, Tim Heuer demonstrates fundamentals of ensuring that end users have a good installation experience when installing Silverlight 2. He walks through a few deployment methods and demonstrates tips on how to test your own experience. For more information on installing Microsoft Silverlight 2, watch this video tutorial.

How To: Find the "hidden" mic boost on Realtek HD sound cards

Need to adjust your microphone's input volume using the Realtek Sound Manager but aren't sure how? The 20db mic boost gain appears to be in a buried spot in the Realtek HD sound cards software, but it's there! In this video tutorial you'll see how to get to it.

How To: Hack the computer password for Vista

This video shows how to hack the computer password for Vista. We can change the computer password without knowing the actual password. First go to Start menu. Type in the Search "cmd". Then right click on that folder and run as administrator. Then we get a pop up. Type in their net users. Pick the user that we want to hack into. After picking the user type in net user the username and then * . After typing this hit enter key and it should say the command completed successfully and we have to ...

How To: Password protect and hide files and folders in Windows

How to password protect a folder and make files invisible in Windows XP.

How To: Create an Admin User Account Using CMD Prompt (Windows)

This is a quick tutorial on how to create a new administrator account on a Windows computer. Open CMD Prompt...

How To: Quickly force quit any program in Windows

Programs aren't perfect. Either are operating systems. And when one or the other (possibly both) aren't working as expected, your program may freeze up and become unresponsive. If this happens to you in Windows frequently, you need to know how to force quit the application, so you can restart it and get back to work.

How To: Lock Folder Without Any Software with Password

You can easily lock any folder on your Windows computer with a simple Notepad hack. By creating a batch file, you can hide a folder and require a password be entered before it becomes visible and accessible. This is a great tool for locking sensitive information, like pictures, financial statements, and a lot more.

How To: Troubleshoot a no-video problem on a Wacom Cintiq 21

In this clip, you'll learn how fix no-video problems when using a Cintiq 21 as a monitor. Happily, it's easy. So easy, in fact, that this video tutorial can present a complete, step-by-step overview of the process in just over two minutes. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look.

How To: Make hidden files visible in Windows Vista

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to view hidden files and folders in Windows Vista. Begin by clicking on the Start menu and select Control Panel. Click on Appearance and Personalization, and select Folder Options. In the Folder Options window, click on the View tab. Under Hidden files and folders, check the option, Show Hidden files and folders. Now click Apply and OK. This video also provides a demonstration of hiding and revealing a hidden file. This video will benefit those viewer...

How To: Clean your laptop with this homemade solution

Regular cleaning of your laptop computer is easy, and might save you tons of trouble in the long run. Learn how to clean your laptop with a homemade solution.

How To: Rotate the Display on Linux, Mac, & Windows Computers

If you've got a desktop computer, I can almost guarantee that you've got a widescreen monitor set up in landscape mode. It's how just about everyone uses their monitor these days, including myself. Except that it's not always the best way of working.

How To: Password protect any folder on your desktop in Windows

In this tutorial, we learn how to password protect any folder on your desktop in Windows. First, right click on your desktop, then go to "new", then "compressed zipped folder" and name it whatever you want. Next, put what you want inside of the folder. After you've done this, open the folder then go to "file" and then "add a password". Pick a password that you will remember and type it into the text box, after you do this, click on "ok". Now your folder will be password protected and you will...

How To: Fix the click of death on a hard drive

If you have owned a lot of hard drives, you probably have experienced the clicking of death that indicates that your hard drive is having serious problems. This video will explain why the click of death happens and show you some processes you can try to fix the problem yourself.

How to Find the C: drive on my Mac

In this tutorial, we learn how to find the C drive on a Mac computer. Unfortunately, Mac does not label their drives with letters like other computer systems do. You can name your drives anything you'd like, including "backup", "my network", "my folder", or anything else you want. To find these, just open up the Mac finder and the devices on the computer will show up with their icons. This can make things easier if you are having trouble moving things around. Making them your own names makes ...

How To: Create a Bootable USB Drive for Ubuntu Using Mac or Windows

If you've ever wiped your computer without having a proper backup of your operating system, or just wanted to cause some havoc online, chances are you've had to rely on Linux to help you out, specifically the Ubuntu distro.

How To: Get a Lot More Use Out of Printer Ink Cartridges

This video reveals to us about the secret of ink cartridges. It is a very common problem faced by those people with ink printers that run out of ink, but this video shows us that even though it signals that we are running out of ink, do not throw the ink cartridge into the waste bin.

How To: Remotely Monitor Your Kid’S iPhone/iPad

Maybe your kids are using iPhone/iPad too much, as a parent, you want to know what they are having to deal with to help guide them through of that. Here is the tutorial on how you can parental control your kids on iPhone/iPad. You are able to monitor as well as take control of their devices. Kids’ activities on iPhone/iPad like SMS, chats, web browsing will be recorded and you can check them remotely with e-mail without getting access to the devices. OK, here comes the steps: Step 1:

How To: Pair a wireless keyboard or mouse to a Microsoft Windows PC

In this clip, you'll learn how to go about pairing a Bluetooth-enabled wireless keyboard or mouse to a Microsoft Windows (Vista, XP, 7) PC. For more information, including a complete demonstration, and to get started setting up your own wireless peripherals, take a look.

How To: Bypass and change a Windows XP start-up password

If you've forgotten the password to one or more of the Windows XP accounts on your computer, take heart: This video tutorial will show you how to bypass, and then change, a Windows XP start-up password. For a detailed run through of this simple Windows log-in hack, watch this video how-to.

Fix a "Pri Master Hard Disk: SMART Status BAD" error on a Microsoft Windows PC

Problem with your primary hard drive? This clip provides some helpful advice on how to resolve this common and frustrating problem. It's simple! So simple, in fact, that this home-computing how-to from the folks at Britec can present a complete overview of the process in just under two minutes. For complete details, including step-by-step instructions, watch this video guide.

How To: Replace the nib on a Wacom Bamboo or Bamboo Fun pen

This clip provides a detailed, step-by-step overview of how to swap out the nib on a Wacom Bamboo or Bamboo Fun stylus. For more information, including a complete demonstration of the process, watch this official guide from Wacom.

How To: Set up a Linksys WR54g or WRT54g2 wireless router

This video tutorial is in the Computers & Programming category which will show you how to set up a Linksys WR54g or WRT54g2 wireless router. First you connect to your Linksys router. Then go to http://192.168.1.1 and type in "admin' as your password in to log in window and click "log in'. then go to the "wireless' tab and enter your wireless network name. In the wireless channel select '11 2.462GHz' and click save. Next go to "wireless security' and type in the wireless network key. This is t...

How To: Install & run Sony Vegas (or Windows apps) on a Mac

In this how to video, you will learn how to install Sony Vegas or any other Windows software on to a Mac. This will be useful if you cannot find a Mac equivalent of a Windows program. First, you will need Boot Camp Assistant. This will allow you to run any windows program on your Mac. Open the program and press continue. Next, you can select how big you want the Windows partition to be. You can select the 32 gigabytes button, or adjust it manually by sliding it. Next, select Partition. Once t...

How To: Create HD from low quality vids in Avidemux on Ubuntu

New to Ubuntu Linux? This computer operating system could be a bit tricky for beginners, but fret not, help is here. Check out this video tutorial on how to create fake HD from low quality vids in Avidemux on Ubuntu.

How To: Delete temporary files in Windows XP

In this video it is demonstrated that how to delete temporary files in Windows XP. There are two different methods for deleting temporary files. First of all go to and click "start" then go to "run" and type temp now click on ok, then a window will appear, in this window there are all useless files, select all files and delete it. Now the other method is go to "run" and type %TEMP%, after clicking ok a window will appear in which there are useless folders and files, select all folders and fil...

How To: Remove a Password from Log in Screen in Linux Mint

In this video tutorial, I'll show you how to remove the password from the log in screen on Linux Mint 17.2

How To: Block a Website on Your Computer

Ways to Blocking a Website on a PC Open the “Control Panel” by click “My Computer” on your PC

How To: Open a zip file without using WinZip

Unzipping compressed files is a basic skill that every computer user should know. Compressing allows you to reduce the size of large files for easier information transfer. This video tutorial demonstrates the basic steps of unzipping a file without the use of Windows WinZip.

How To: Recover a lost or forgotten email password on a Windows PC with MailPassview

Want to find out a forgotten password on a Windows PC? This clip will teach you everything you'll need to know. With MailPassview, 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: Record and capture audio from any video in Windows

Learn how to record audio from video files (even Flash .flv files or Youtube videos) using the Windows sound recorder. All of the software used in this tutorial comes bundled with Windows.

How To: Eject devices from the use of the terminal for a Mac

In this tutorial, we learn how to eject devices from the use of the terminal for Mac. First, go to the terminal of your computer where you will see a notepad sort of page. Next, type in "df" and then press return. You will now see a list displaying processes on your computer. On the bottom will be your public zoning device, which is your USB device. Next, type in "hdiutil eject -force (the code under "mounted on)- volumes-publiczone". This is not case sensitive, but don't forget or add in any...

How To: Install Windows XP from a DOS bootable flash drive

If you do not have a CD-Rom drive on your new computer, or it is broken, you can still install Windows XP.

How To: Wipe the data from a Microsoft Windows XP PC with DBAN

Want to securely delete information from a Microsoft Windows XP desktop PC or laptop? 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: Replace a fan and hard drive in a Macbook Pro laptop

Opening up your own laptop and working with it is a lot harder than doing the same to a desktop. The components are arranged more carefully in a tighter space and it is generally easier to break things. This video will show you how to replace the hard drive and a broken fan in a Macbook Pro laptop. Work on your own Apple laptop? It might sound crazy, but with this guy's help, you should be able to pull it off.

How To: Turn an old WiFi router into a wireless repeater

In this clip, you'll learn how to boost your WiFi signal strength by building a wireless repeater from an old WiFi router. It's an easy process and this video presents a complete guide. For more information, including a full demonstration and detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this helpful home-computing how-to.

How To: Format a secondary hard drive in Windows Vista or 7

In this how-to video, you will learn how to format one of your hard drives in Windows 7. First, go to start and right click my computer. Select manage and a new window will pop up. Go to storage and select disc management. Now, right click the drive you want to format. Type in the name you want for the label and check quick format. Once this is done, press okay. Click okay to continue. This does not take too long. You have now formatted a hard drive. This video shows you the basic steps it ta...