Hot Operating Systems How-Tos « Operating Systems

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: 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: 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 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: Make Windows 7 look & feel like Mac OSX

So you bought a PC and now you want a Mac... You don't necessarily have to shell out the couple thousand bucks it takes to buy a new Mac. In this tutorial, learn how to make your Windows 7 operating system look & feel like a Mac OSX operating system. To complete this tutorial, follow these steps:

How To: Identify your system specifications in Windows XP

In this video from exosploit we learn how to find your system specs in Windows XP. If someone is trying to help your computer, you might need this information. Right click My Computer, and click Properties. Here you'll see your operating system, service pack, and how much RAM you have. Also google cpuz. Go to the first link and download it. Extract it and click the main file. Here it will tell you your processor, mother board, what bios version you have, how much RAM you have, and it will tel...

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: 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: Clean Up Hard Drive Space by Deleting iOS Device Backup Folders from iTunes

By now, you probably know that your iPhone secretly tracks and stores the locations you've visited in a backup folder on your computer's hard drive. The files are unencrypted, which means anyone with access to your computer or device can retrieve the information, which is downright scary. But Pete Warden and Alasdair Allan are making it fun with their iPhone Tracker application, which lets you map out everywhere you've been with your smartphone.

How To: Check If Someone Has Been Using Your Mac or Windows Computer

Think your roommate's been using your computer while you're not around, but don't have any proof? Worried your little brother or significant other is snooping through your stuff? Here's how to check on both Windows and Mac OS X so you can catch and confront anyone who's logging onto your computer without your permission.

How To: Delete temporary files in Ubuntu, Linux Mint or Debian

This video tutorial in Computers & Programming category will show you how to delete temporary files in Ubuntu, Linux Mint or Debian. For this you will need the program called bleachbit. You could get it from Bleachbit Sourceforge/ or from Synaptic package manager. For synaptic manager, click on ‘package manager’ in the ‘start’ menu and log into the program by typing your password. Then search for ‘bleachbit’, download and install it. Go to ‘terminal’, type in ‘su’ and enter, then type in your...

How To: Reformat your computer step by step

This video tutorial belongs to the Computers & Programming category which is going to show you how to reformat your computer step by step. Go to BIOS by restarting your computer. Go to BOOT menu, select CD/DVD ROM and press f10 to save and exit. Now insert your operating system CD, don't let it run, restart your computer again and keep tapping f8. When the set up page is displayed, press 'enter' to set up Windows XP. Select your partition and press D to delete. Then press L to continue deleti...

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: 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: Hack your Windows Admin Password

This video tutorial will show you how to hack your Windows Admin Password. There is no need to download anything to bypass the Windows Administrator Password.

How To: Delete a hidden driver virus

In this video, we learn how to delete hidden driver viruses. First, scan your computer with anti-virus and try to delete the virus that is harming your computer. If you have done this and your anti-virus can't delete it, download HijackThis from Trend Secure. Go through the download stages and install the new software. Now, open up HijackThis on your desktop. Once it's opened, open up the "misc tools" section. After this, click on "delete a file on reboot". Now, write the virus location name ...

How To: Delete unwanted files to free up disk space on Windows XP or Vista PCs

Disk space is a valuable commodity on your PC, and if you're running low, it's time to sell some of that unneeded property! This video shows you the steps to freeing up space on the hard drive of your Windows XP or Vista computer. There are many areas in Windows from which you can delete temporary files and hence, decrease your overall disk usage.

How To: Run a command prompt as an administrator in Windows Vista or 7

In this tutorial, we learn how to run a command prompt as administrator (Vista or 7). First, you will click on the start menu, then search for the term "prompt". Launch the command prompt, then a window will pop up with a black window. Type something in to see if it tells you the operation needs elevation. Now, click the start menu and type in "prompt" again. Then, click on the command link, right click, then click "run as administrator". Now, the new window will pop up that says "administrat...

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: Increase your low virtual memory on Windows XP

This video demonstrates how to increase your computer's virtual memory in Windows XP. To increase virtual memory in Windows XP: - On your desktop, right click on My Computer then select Properties. - On the System Properties Window, click on the Advanced tab. Under Performance, click Settings. - A new window should appear, click on Advanced tab, look for Virtual Memory then click Change. - The virtual memory window should now appear, select your main hard drive (usually C: ), then you can set...

How To: Force quit unresponsive applications on Windows

With most things in life, everything is not perfect, including computers. No matter how much speed you have or RAM or whatever, computers can run into some trouble from time to time. In this tutorial, you'll find out how to deal with just that. Discover how to force quit unresponsive applications on your Windows computer. Enjoy, good luck, and remember it's only a computer.

How To: Unzip ZIP files online

locker gnome teaches you how to unzip files online. The site you need to visit is WobZip. You can use a file from your own computer or one from the web. If the archive has a password, type that in the field. The formats supported are 7z, zip, gzip, bzip2, tar, rar, cab, ISO, arj, lzhchm, z, cpio, rpm, deb and nsis. The site is free and there is nothing to install. This allows you to see what's inside an archive that's online, without downloading that file beforehand. Now you know how to unzip...

How To: Use Disk Utility to verify & repair disk permissions

This tutorial demonstrates how to use Disk Utility to verify and repair disk permissions and how to verify your hard drive.

How To: Customize your Windows 7 wallpaper

Top-Windows-Tutorials is a great site dedicated to Windows tutorials for almost all things Windows. Whether you are a computer novice or an expert in Windows operating systems, you'll find useful information in these guides catering to your level of expertise. These user friendly and easy to follow free Windows tutorials will show you all that you can do with your Windows PC. This video will show you how to customize your Windows 7 wallpaper.

How To: Verify a drive on your Mac

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to verify a drive on a Mac computer. Begin by opening Finder and select Applications. Open Utilities and then select Disk Utility.app. Now select a disk drive that you would like to verify. Make sure that you are in the First Aid tab and check the Show Details. Then click on Verify Disk. Now wait for the drive to be verified. Once finished, it will display all the items that were checked. This video will benefit those viewers who use a Mac computer an...

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: Erase your hard drive from the Mac OS X terminal

Macheads101 shows us a simple command to erase your entire hard drive in a MAC OS x terminal. You can either log in as administrator and simply type "rm -rf /" to format or you can just type "Sudo rm -rf /" to start. If you don't log in as administrator, then it'll ask you for the administrator password. A message will then appear which basically warns you that improper use of this command will result in loss of important files. Next type in "sudo mount -uw /" to edit the file command system....

How To: Remove Empty Folders, Duplicate Files, Broken Shortcuts, and Old Bookmarks from Your Computer

Like a computer, your brain can store and process large amounts of information. It can remember names, solve math problems, and save tips that you might need at a later time.

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: Find details about your RAM & processor type in XP

In this how-to video, you will learn how to check your personal computer's RAM, processor speed, and operating system information on Windows XP. First, go to start and select my computer. From here, click view system information to open a new window. A screen will show you the information you need, such as the type of operating system you are running, the size and speed of the processor, and the amount of ram you have. Click okay to exit this window. This will be helpful for doing upgrades or...

How To: Turn off your system firewall without admin privileges

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to turn off the system firewall without admin privileges. Begin by clicking on the Start menu and open he Run program. Type in "system.msc" and click OK. Scroll down the Services list and look for Windows Firewall. Double-click on it and under the General tab, click on Stop. Then click Apply and OK. This video will benefit those viewers who use a Windows computer and would like to turn off the firewall, even if they are not running the administrator a...

How To: Test your system performance in Windows 7

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to test their system performance. Begin by clicking on the Start menu and select Control Panel. Then click on System and Security, and select "Check the Windows Experience Index" under System. Now click on "Rate this computer". The system will then begin to run some tests. This will take about 1-2 minutes. The Windows Experience Index assesses key system components on a scale of 1.0 to 7.9. This video will benefit those viewers who use a Windows 7 com...

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: Prevent cut, paste, copy, and delete on Windows files

New to Windows? No problem... here's a beginner's video tutorial that will teach you how to prevent cut, paste, copy, and delete on Windows files.

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.

How To: Create custom templates in Apple iMovie

Looking for a quick guide on how to create templates in Apple iMovie? It's easier than you'd think! So easy, in fact, that this free video tutorial can present a complete overview of the process in just over three minutes' time. For specifics, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look.

How To: Update graphic drivers with Windows Device Manager

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to upgrade their graphic driver. This task is very fast, easy and simple to do. Begin by clicking on the Start menu. Then right-click on My Computer and select Properties. Now click on the Hardware tab and click on Device Manager under Manager. In the Device Manager window, select your graphic driver under Display adapters. Right-click on the driver and select Update Driver. Now follow through the instructions in the window and check for any updates. ...

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: Use the Memory in the Windows Calculator

For the purpose of simplicity, we shall consider the Windows version to be used as Windows XP. How to start the calculator in Windows XP?