Operating Systems Features
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: Permanently delete temporary files in Windows XP
In this how-to video, you will learn how to permanently delete temporary files on your computer with CCleaner. First, find and download the program called CCleaner. Install the program and then open it. Now, go to the settings and choose the strength of the clean up. This will determine how thorough the program will be in cleaning up these files. Go to tools if you want to uninstall programs. Go to the cleaner tab and press Run Cleaner. This will permanently remove temporary files. This is us...
How To: Speed up your computer using tweak network
This is a video for people who want to speed up their computer. In this video the presenter shows various ways to speed up your Mozilla Firefox by installing various add ons. The presentation of the video is very simple to understand. The presenter shows the way of using tweak network to speed up your computer. Another way shown to speed up your computer is using Ad Block Plus. Uninstalling various programs and using virus scans also speeds up your computer.
How To: Use XNEST to log into another local user's account
Have you ever wanted to go into another user's account on your computer but had trouble finding the energy to log out, then log out, only to log back into your own account? Well, here's your solution: XNest will let you log in to another user's account from your account in a virtual way. It's very simple to set up and may just help you with your virtual account crisis!
How To: Set custom print settings in Mac OS X
Do you do a lot of printing on your Apple computer? In this tutorial, Molly Stanberry from MacMost.com demonstrates the extended print settings in Mac OSX. Learn to set up custom print options with this how-to.
How To: Use text clippings for Mac OS
In this video, we learn how to use text clippings for Mac OS. First, open up TextEdit and then select the text you want. After this, drag the entire bit of text into the finder window or the desktop. After this, you will have a document that is named after the first few characters in the text. To open this, double click it and it will show up in the search finder. You can also do this and open it up in a quick look window. If you want to use this, you can simply drag the file right into what ...
How To: Place a Mac OS X Dashboard widget directly on your desktop
In this clip, you'll learn how to use Dashboard widgets directly from your Apple Mac OS X desktop. With a little know-how, it's easy. So easy, in fact, that this video guide can offer a complete overview of the process in a matter of a few minutes. For more information, including a complete demonstration and detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this home-computing how-to.
How To: Turn on parental controls in Mac OS X
If you want to protect your children from seeing something you don't want them to see, and they happen to be using Mac OS X, take a look at this walkthrough on how to set up parental controls on their Mac computer.
How To: Quickly rename multiple files in Windows XP
This Windows XP video tutorial offers an explanation of how to use a little-utilized and known trick that gives you the power to rename multiple files both quickly and with ease. For more, or to get started batch renaming files yourself, take a look!
How To: Troubleshoot and fix sleep problems on an Apple Mac OS X computer
In this tutorial, we learn how to find and resolve sleep-related issues on an Apple computer running the Mac OS X operating system. 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: Automate tasks in Mac OS X with QuicKeys 4
This quick clip presents a general introduction to creating macros and automating processes within Mac OS X using QuicKeys 4. Whether you're new to Startly Software's popular macro and automation application or are merely looking to pick up a few new tips and tricks, you're certain to be well served by this free video software tutorial. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this video guide.
How To: Add Facebook profile pictures to the Mac OS X Address Book
In this tutorial, we learn how to import Facebook profile pictures into the Address Book on an Apple computer running the Mac OS X operating system. 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: Get Mac-looking foders & icons on a PC
Want your PC to look more like a Mac without having to buy a Mac? In this video, learn how to make your folders look like blue Mac folders & how to get other Apple-looking icons. Also, learn how to run the RK Launcher Dock at startup. To complete this tutorial, you will need the following links & downloads:
How To: Clean your Windows XP context and dropdown menu
Context menus are menus that pop up when you right click an windows element (icons, windows, bars etc.). Sometimes, you would notice that many of the menu items are really not required.
How To: Boot a Microsoft Windows XP or Vista PC into Safe Mode with networking
In this clip, you'll learn how to boot a Microsoft Windows PC into Safe Mode with networking enabled. It's easy and, what's more, a valuable thing to know as it just might help you remove a virus from your machine somewhere down the line. For step-by-step instructions, watch this home-computing how-to.
How To: Create the ultimate boot CD for Windows
In this video, we learn how to create the ultimate boot CD for Windows. First, go onto your computer and find the coding for all the files that are on your computer. When you have done this, insert a blank disc into your computer. Next, start to copy all of these files onto your new disk and then wait for the computer to finish loading. This will take several minutes, so just relax while it finishes. Once the files are done, you will be able to see a percentage meter come up with the ISO file...
How To: Keep an Apple MacBook from falling asleep with Caffeine
In this video tutorial, we learn how to use an application called Caffeine to keep an Apple MacBook laptop computer from falling asleep (or even dimming its display). For all the details, including a complete demonstration and detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look.
How To: Change Windows settings in Windows 7
Now that you've installed Microsoft Windows 7 on your computer or bought a new Windows PC, it's time that you made yourself at home. With this official Windows 7 video tutorial from the folks at Microsoft, you'll learn how to apply custom settings as well as how to keep your Windows 7 PC running smoothly.
How To: Secure and verify data on a GNU/Linux box with GnuPG
In today's time of rampant IT crimes, including identity theft, security is more important to the average computer user than ever. This tutorial, which was recorded and encoded for the Internet usingly only open source tools, demonstrates how you can use GnuPG to secure and verify data on your GNU/Linux box. Secure your Linux computer with this how-to.
How To: Organize your computer desktop
Keeping a computer desktop organized is tough, but clutter can quickly and easily become a thing of the past. Learn how to organize your computer desktop with this how to video.
How To: Customize your Safari toolbar
In order to customize your Safari tool bar, you can alter your buttons. All you have to do is click on "view" and "customize tool bar". Select a button that you like from the 2 rows in display. Then, click on the button you would like to add to your tool bar and drag it to your tool bar. You can use buttons as shortcuts to go back and forward, with the back and forth arrows and to take you to your favorite sites, with "top sites".
How To: Solve missing Config/System errors on a Microsoft Windows XP PC
Need help restoring and repairing corrupted files on a Windows XP PC? 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 seven minutes. For more information, including step-by-step instructions, take a look.
How To: Clean up your Windows Vista desktop & icons
Rowland from Windows Performance teaches how to clean up your Windows Vista desktop & icons. Start by right-clicking the task bar and select Properties. Now click the 'Toolbar' tab, check the 'Desktop' option and click 'OK'. Now right-click anywhere in the desktop, go to view and click the last option. All icons in the desktop would not be visible now. Now go to the notification area, in the 'Desktop' option you can find all the items to use.
How To: Capture and save a screenshot in Windows XP
Learn how to capture a screen shot of your desktop, an active window, a website, or anything else use Microsoft Windows XP and without installing additional software.
How To: Personalize Your Desktop or Icon in Your PC
This video will guide you how to personalize your desktop or icon in your PC. You can employ it yourself. Watch the video and follow all the steps carefully.
How To: Disable password when waking a laptop
In this video, we learn how to disable password when waking a laptop. First, go to terminal, then type in "gcomp-editor". Now a configuration editor will open, go to the gnome-power-manager, then lock on the left hand toolbar. After this, un-check the boxes that say "hibernate and suspend", then exit out. Now, go to look at your screen saver preferences and make sure it isn't set to lock when your computer hibernates. After this, when your computer wakes back up, you won't have to worry about...
How To: Boot your computer in safe mode
A computer’s safe mode is useful when fixing problems or saving work after, say, your hard drive malfunctions. Safe mode can easily be accessed as your computer starts up and is a useful tool to have in your belt.
How To: Create a Local User Account in Windows 8
This Windows 8 tutorial will show you how to create a local user account on your PC. When you create a local user PC account, you will only have access to your account from that individual computer. A local Windows 8 user account uses a user name and password to login.
How To: Schedule AVG anti-virus scans
Don't cancel your virus scans because they're inconvenient. Reschedule them! Watch this software video tutorial to learn how to schedule and reschedule AVG anti-virus scans so you can complete them whenever you want to. This how-to video is geared toward new AVG users.
How To: Enlarge icons in Windows XP
This video shows how to enlarge icons on your desktop with Windows XP. This will be helpful to beginners. Enlarge icons in Windows XP.
How To: Turn Aero Snap on or off on a Microsoft Windows 7 PC
Need some help figuring out how to enable or disable Aero Snap on your Win 7 computer? It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this home-computing how-to can present a complete overview of the process in just under two minutes. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started using this Windows 7 trick yourself, watch this video guide.
How To: Install Google Chrome when running Ubuntu Linux
This video tutorial from izbyfl shows how install Google Chrome and enable its plugins in Ubuntu. First download application from here: http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/eula_dev.html?dl=unstable_i386_deb.
How To: Burn DVDs that play on standard DVD players in Windows
This video explains how to burn DVDs that will play on a standard DVD player in Windows. The programs needed to complete this project include IMG Burn and DeVeDe which has been modeled for Windows. The final burn product created with this program will allow the DVDs to play on computers and actual DVD players. The first step is to hit open to select the file you wish to burn. You must then select burn ISO or Bin file in IMG Burn or DeVeDE. You can then select a title for your burned disk leav...
How To: Share files and folders with your Home Group on a Microsoft Windows 7 PC
In this clip, you'll learn how to use the Home Group networking feature of Microsoft Windows 7 to easily share files and folders between two or more computers. This brief video tutorial from the folks at Butterscotch will teach you everything you need to know. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started sharing files across your own Home Group, take a look.
How To: Drag a file from a maximized window to your desktop on a Windows 7 PC
Now here's a useful trick! Ever had to make an application window smaller just to drag something to your Windows desktop? No more! In Windows 7, you can drag files directly to the Show Desktop button in the Windows taskbar.
How To: Run Windows apps on a Macintosh
MacIsTheGeek explains how to quickly and easily run Windows software natively on the Mac, without installing an emulator, or using BootCamp. The software that enables this, called Darwine, is available as a free download from Softpedia. Darwine comes with Notepad, Minesweeper, Explorer, and various other Windows programs for use as demos for Darwine. However, once Darwine is installed, using any other Windows application is as simple as installing the executable file on your Mac hard drive, j...
How To: Change your Windows 7 logon bckground
This video shows you how to change your Windows 7 login background. *Start the computer
How To: Turn an Apple MacBook or MacBook Pro into a SmackBook
In this tutorial, we learn how to install and use SmackBook on a MacBook to add fun kinetic controls to your Apple laptop. 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: Do a force quit on any application on the Mac
Face it, nothing in this world is perfect, especially computers. When it comes to these compact and sometime sportable devices, problems can occur almost frequently due to a number of reasons. In this tutorial, you'll be focusing on how to get out a certain issue on a Mac computer. If you ever find yourself confronted with the 'rainbow wheel of death' this tutorial could help you out. Just like ctrl+alt+delete, this method can be easier to use on a Mac and take little to no time at all. Find ...
How To: Upgrade from Microsoft Windows XP to Windows 7
Decided you want to leapfrog Vista and upgrade from Microsoft Windows XP directly to Windows 7? It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this free home computing how-to can present a complete (and somewhat talky) overview of the process in about six minutes' time. For specifics, and to start installing Win 7 on your own computer, watch this PC user's guide.