Computers & Programming Features

How To: Connect to a database & add data in PHP & MYSQL

MySQL is a database for serving data on the web. This video teaches viewers how to connect to a database and add data in PHP & MySQL. PHPMyAdmin is an interface that allows you to interact with MySQL more easily. Use the form in the program to create a database; choose the name for your database and select 'create'. Next you can create tables within your database, also using the forms provided. Within the tables you can set your variables; PHPMyAdmin has fields that allow you to choose the ty...

How To: Manage widgets on the Dashboard in Mac OS X

This video describes what is known as the dashboard, which is located in the dock on the Mac desktop. The dashboard is a set of small programs known as widgets that let you see information at a glance. Some examples of useful widgets are a clock widget, a calendar, a calculator, a dictionary/thesaurus, and a Google search widget. You can bring them up at any time by simply clicking on the dashboard icon. If you want to add a new widget, click on the plus sign at the bottom of the window and y...

How To: Change your clock, language, and region in Windows XP

There are a number of items that you will have to use your mouse and click onto in the process of changing your clock, language and religion in Windows XP. Click START-CONTROL PANEL-DATE/TIME/REGIONAL OPTIONS. This will get you to the window that allows you to change any of these settings. To change the date or the time click on Date/Time icon. Here is displayed the current time. If you change the time here, you will have to click the Apply button to enable the new setting. Set to the correct...

How To: Stop your Java applet animations from flickering

Want to program your own Java games and applications but don't know beans about object-oriented programming? Never you fear. This free video tutorial from TheNewBoston will have you coding your own Java apps in no time flat. Specifically, this lesson discusses how to put a stop to unwanted flickering when writing code in the Java programming language. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this helpful programmer's guide.

How To: Reinstall Windows XP using Ubuntu

Has your Windows installation become corrupt or unusable and wish to reinstall Windows on your personal computer? Have no fear! Steven Barn will teach you, step by step, how to restore / install your Windows installation using Ubuntu live and your original Windows XP installation disc. To do this, you will need: Windows XP installation disc, CD burner, ISO image of Ubuntu live, and a blank CD. Though this will restore your windows installation cheaply, it is quite time consuming and would rec...

How To: Customize a CSS template for your website

Want to create a web site using the latest web standards but don't know where to begin? This tutorial outlines the usage of a CSS website template file designed to help those who are not familiar with programming. This is a great resource that will not only kick-start your first web design project, but it will also help you to learn how to manage your web site layout, fonts, and colors using CSS through simple experimentation of changing values in your style sheet.

How To: Install Linux Ubuntu on your Mac using VMware Fusion

Do you like the Linux Ubuntu program on your MacIntosh computer? This tutorial allows you to make it possible. Through the usage of VMware Fusion, the video teaches you how to install the Linux Ubuntu program on your MacIntosh. In addition, this video tells you where to get the programs you will need to follow the tutorial. By the end of the video, you will learn how to install Ubuntu on your MacIntosh regardless of the fact that Ubuntu is a program for the Linux operating system.

How To: Set up a wired network in your home or office

In this video tutorial, we learn how about the basics of setting up a simple wired network. It's easy. So easy, in fact, that this home-computing how-to from the folks at CNET can present a complete overview of the process in just over two minutes. For more information, including a complete demonstration detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look.

How To: Assign a letter to your USB flash drive

This video shows you how to assign a letter to your USB flash drive (or memory stick) or how to change it in Windows.First of all, connect the flash drive in the computer's USB port. Click on the start button, then right click on My Computer and choose manage. Once the window opens, go to Disk Management. There, you should be able to see the USB drive as "USB DISK". Right click on it and choose "Change drive letter and paths...". Now click on change and select the desired letter for the drive...

How To: Make a custom boot screen in Windows Vista

Windows Vista's boot screen is pretty boring, and for those of you that like to really customize your desktop, you may be wondering why it isn't as easy in Vista as it was in previous versions? While it isn't as easy as it used to be, if you follow along while watching this tutorial you will see that changing the boot screen to your own custom image still fairly simple.

How To: Create a downloadable file for your website

Having downloadable files on your website is often an essential. It is an easy and fast way to share programs via the web and allow your visitors to experience software and files that you enjoy. In this tutorial, you will learn how to make a file downloadable for you website, so your visitors can easily download any file. This process is surprisingly straight forward and easy. You can follow this same process whether it is a text file, image, movie or music file. You will also learn how to tu...

How To: Completely reformat your computer

In this tutorial, we learn how to completely reformat your computer. First, you will need to go to Killdisk and get the ISO from the site. This is the disk you will use to wipe your system. For this to work, you will need the use the ISO version. Once you have burned this onto a CD, put it back into the drive of your computer, then restart your computer. Once you do this, you will need to make certain you want to do this, then clear it using the blue screen that pops up on your computer. Then...

How To: Change the logon screen automatically in Windows 7

Windows 7… the new operating system from Microsoft that everybody wants, because of it's new design and easier functionality. But, like many Windows operating systems, there is a need for knowledge… knowledge on how to fix or repair things. So, check out this video tutorial on how to change the logon screen automatically in Windows 7.

How To: Create a simple polymorphic program in Java

Want to program your own Java games and applications but don't know beans about object-oriented programming? Never you fear. This free video tutorial from TheNewBoston will have you coding your own Java apps in no time flat. Specifically, this lesson discusses how to work with simple polymorphism when writing code in the Java programming language. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this helpful programmer's guide.

How To: Use command prompts in Windows

This video demonstrates how to open up the command line prompt and various commands which you can use to make your Windows experience easier. After clicking on the "Run" option from the start bar of Windows, you can then type "cmd" into the box, opening up the command prompt. The appearance of the command box can be changed by left clicking the small icon at the top left, going to properties, and changing the appearance. One useful command in the prompt is "ipconfig", which you type into the ...

How To: Install Linux on a phone

The metalx1000 shows how to install Linux the on a phone. He talks about the Openmoko operating system. The first thing he shows is where to download it from and which one to download. The next thing he talks about is a tool that he will be using called "dfu-util" which he states you can download from the Openmoko site. The next thing he do is enter some commands for the dfu-util tool and continue to show you how to install Linux on a phone. By watching this video, you will gain the knowledge...

How To: Capture screenshots on a Windows PC with GIMP

This video tutorial belongs to the Computers & Programming category which is going to show you how to capture screenshots on a Windows PC with GIMP. Open up 'My Room' and make sure the box is taking up the whole screen. To take away the bubbles, press ctrl + B + B. That is you press B twice. Then you go to GIMP, click on file > create > screen shot. Then on the WinSnap window, click 'grab' and drag the box on to the My Room box. Now the picture comes in the back. Select the crop tool and crop...

How To: Set up and customize a Wacom Cintiq 21UX pen tablet

In this clip, you'll learn how set up and use a Wacom Cintiq 21UX tablet. Special emphasis is given to customizing the ExpressKeys, Touch Ring, and on-pen buttons. 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 five minutes. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look.

How To: Install & uninstall applications in Windows Safe Mode

Need some help figuring out how to install and uninstall programs when operating within Windows' Safe Mode? 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 three minutes. For more information, including complete, step-by-step instructions, take a look.

How To: Permanently delete files without the recycle bin

This video from Tekzilla.com tells viewers how to permanently delete a file from their computer without sending the file to the Recycle Bin. This is especially useful if you are low on space on your computer. However, make sure that you want to delete the file forever if you use this method! You will have a very, very hard time getting it back, assuming you are able to retrieve it at all.

How To: Change the default password on a D-Link router

This tutorial shows us how to change the default password on a d-link router. First, go to your web browser and type in "http://192.168.0.1". A pop up box will now appear, in the user name section write "admin" and in the password section, leave it blank. On the new page, click on the "tools" section, then type in a new login name under the administrator section. After this, enter a new password and confirm it. Now delete all the information under the "user" section. Save these settings, clic...