Computers & Programming Features

How To: Save and use favorite colors in Mac OS X

Have you ever worked on a document or graphic and found that perfect color but later were never able to recreate it? All you have to do is click on your colors palet, click on the magnifying glass, and select the color you wanted. To ensure that you don't lose it, drag it to the color well in the bottom of the palet. For a video demonstration of the color favoriting process in Mac OS X, watch this video tutorial.

How To: Permanently erase all files on a Mac

In this tutorial, we learn how to permanently delete files on a Mac. First, go to the trash can that is on your desktop, then click that you want to empty the trash can out. Next, the trash can will open a new window that will show you a status bar of how far in the deletion it is. If you have a lot of things on your computer, then it will take a long time to get everything fully deleted. This will free up space on your Mac, so you can download new things and your computer will be a lot faster.

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: Replace sound alerts with visual cues in Windows 7

In this how-to video, you will learn how to set up Windows 7 that system alerts will come up as images rather than sounds. First, go to start, control panel, and click on ease of access. Next, at the top of the window, click replace sounds with visual keys. Check the box that says Turn on visual notifications. You can choose the different types of visual warnings, such as flash desktop or flash active caption bar. Once this is done, click okay to complete the task. Now your computer is set up...

How To: Use the List View control in Visual Basic 2005

Interested in creating your own dynamic, web-based applications using Microsoft Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition? In this two-part installment from the Absolute Beginner's Series of VB/ASP.NET form control video tutorials, you'll learn about the basics of using the List View control, which provides a graphical representation of data elements. For more information, as well as tips for being a smarter user of Microsoft Visual Basic, take a look! Use the List View control in Visual Basic 2005 -...

How To: Install an OWC Mercury Extreme processor on a G4 Mac

The OWC Mercury Extreme G4 is a fantastic high speed single processor replacement to your current processor. The Mercury Extreme, unlike other processor upgrades, does not use or require 'enabling' utilities to operate. It's the easiest upgrade for your G4 Quicksilver Macintosh to boost its speed. This video tutorial will take you, step by step, through the installation process. For more, take a look!

How To: Install Ubuntu 8.10 to dual-boot on Windows

In this how-to video, you will learn how to create a dual-booting system with Ubuntu and Windows. First, go to the Ubuntu website and download the latest Desktop Edition of Ubuntu. Once it is finished, burn the download to a CD. Once this is completed, place the CD in the drive and restart. Boot using the CD and select English. Now, click forward and select your time zone. Click forward, select your keyboard type and click forward again. Now, you can adjust the partition sizes for your hard d...

How To: Get keyboard info from users when programming 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 receive and work with keyboard input data from a user 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: Take a screenshot in Mac OS 10.5

This is a Computers & Programming video tutorial where you will learn how to take screenshots on Mac OS 10. 5. Andrew Grant says there are several ways of doing this. The easiest way is to hold down the Command and Shift key and press 3. You will get a screenshot of the entire desktop. To take a screenshot of a selected area, hold down the Command and Shift key and press 4. The cursor now changes into a target. The figures next to it are the values of the pixels from the left hand top corner....

How To: Use JColorChooser for Java programming

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 TheNewBostonian will have you coding your own Java apps in no time flat. Specifically, this lesson discusses how to implement and use the JColorChooser control pane 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: Cut, copy, and paste on a Mac

Steps on how to cut copy and paste on a Mac. Make sure that all your Windows are closed. 1. Click the Apple on the upper right corner. 2. Select and click System Preferences and a small window will appear. 3. Double click the small mouse picture and a bigger mouse picture will appear 4. Click on the right tab that says Primary Button and click to select Secondary Button. 5. Close the window. 6. When you right click the mouse a menu will appear and you can already cut copy and paste just like ...

How To: Partition your external hard drive for Time Machine

This video tells us the method to partition the external hard drive for Time Machine. This process consists of a couple of steps. In the first step, go to 'Finder'. The second step involves clicking on the 'Applications' option on it. After choosing the 'Applications' and go to the next step involving going to 'Utilities'. Choose 'Disk Utility' from the options displayed. This step will open a new window. Choose the hard drive on the window opened after choosing 'Disk Utility'. Click on the '...

How To: Build a custom PC

In this instructional video series learn from Stephanie Haworth, computer technician with Clayton Computer, as she demonstrates how to build a custom PC from how to choose and install components such as the motherboard, DVD ROM Drive, to applying thermal compound to the computer processor.

How To: Work with offline files and folders in Windows Vista

Never again will being out of the office mean you are out of luck when it comes to working with your files. Thanks to the Offline Files and Folders feature in Windows Vista Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions, you'll have access to documents, even when you aren't connected to the network. For more on how to work with offline files and folders in Microsoft Windows Vista, watch this video tutorial.

How To: Create a "for loop" in Java programming

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 use build and use conditional for loops 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: Switch between CSS style sheets with PHP cookies

In this clip, you'll learn how to swap between CSS styles with PHP cookies. Whether you're new to the PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor scripting language or are a seasoned web developer merely looking to improve your chops, you're sure to find benefit in this free video programming lesson. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look

How To: Encrypt files & folders on a Mac with TrueCrypt

This video tutorial is in the Computers & Programming category where you will learn how to encrypt files & folders on a Mac with TrueCrypt. Open up TrueCrypt and click on create volume > create an encrypted file container > next > standard truecrypt volume > next. Here you name your file, choose the directory where you want to put the file and click 'save'. Choose the encryption type and click 'save'. Choose the volume size and click 'next'. Now type in a password and click 'next'. Then in th...

How To: Install Mac OSX Snow Leopard

In this video, we learn how to install Mac OSX Snow Leopard. First, put the DVD for Snow Leopard into your computer. Wait for the installation window to pop up, then click on the button to install it. The installation will now appear on your window, click on the appropriate buttons until you reach the user name and password section where you will have to insert your information. After this, wait for the installation to finish and then click on the "restart" button. Now your computer will rest...

How To: Restore deleted files using a file recovery program

A tutorial on how to recover lost files once deleted from the recycle bin. The program illustrated in the tutorial is "Restoration". To download "Restoration", go to SnapFiles. The tutorial advises viewers to stop whatever they were doing once they realize a file is missing. Because the file is simply marked as free space, it is still present in the computer's memory but easily overwritten. To recover the file, a user will simply need to know part of the file name (preferably an extension, fo...

How To: Disassemble, clean & reassemble an IBM 5100 keyboard

Accidents will happen. This brief how-to will guide you through the process of disassembling, cleaning and reassembling an IBM 5100 series mobile smartphone quickly and efficiently without damaging any of the components, the first necessary step of any successful repair or restoration. This tutorial will also be of use to those who wish to learn more about the guts of the old clunkers without actually disassembling their units.

How To: Create a fog effect when creating an OpenGL program in MS Visual C++

In this clip, you'll learn how to create an eye-catching fog effect when working in MS Visual C++. Whether you're new to Microsoft's popular general-purpose programming language and IDE or are a seasoned developer merely looking to improve your chops, you're sure to find benefit in this free, official video tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look. Create a fog effect when creating an OpenGL program in MS Visual C++.