Operating Systems Features

How To: Change the startup sound volume for apps in Windows 7

If you have a tendency to play small games on your computer while listening to a lecture or playing an audiobook, those sounds from the game can be really intrusive to your learning anything. Well, on Windows 7, there's a way you can adjust the sound without messing with hard-to-find sound settings in each application. Windows 7 allows you to adjust the sound of multiple programs at the same time, as well as devices and system sounds. Learn how to change the default startup volume for these a...

How To: Install Linux from Windows

In this video the author shows how to install Linux OS from Windows. He inserts the Linux installation CD and reboots the system showing how to enter the BIOS settings. Now he shows how to set the primary boot device to CD drive and when he restarts the computer the Kubuntu Linux CD is booted and now you can start installing the Linux OS on your system. He goes on and shows all the basic features of the Kubuntu Linux OS. Now he starts the installation process and shows how to set all the basi...

How To: Lock drive letters on your PC

Mike Agerbo, the host from GetConnected features a quick and helpful video on how to lock drive letters on a PC. On your PC, right click the my computer icon to bring up the management window. Click on storage, then disk management. Once it brings up your list of hard drives, right click the one that you would like to change. Click change drive letter and path. Once you have the window open you can change your drive letter. This will help you when organizing your drive to limit any complicati...

How To: Open and analyze Windows XP BSOD minidump files with WinDbg

Looking for instructions on how to troubleshoot BSOD dump files on a MS Windows PC? With WinDbg, 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 ten minutes. For more information, including step-by-step instructions, and to get started troublshooting your own desktop or laptop PC, take a look.

How To: View details of file inside zip folders in Mac OS X

Ever wish there were a way to get a peak at what's inside a zip archive without having to unpack it? Well, with Mac OS X and Quick Look, there is. And it's easy! So easy, in fact, that this home-computing how-to from Tekzilla can present a complete overview of the process in just over two minutes. For specifics, and to get started previewing the contents of zip archives without expanding them, give this guide a look.

How To: Install Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) on Your PC

This tutorial will walk you through the steps required to install the Ubuntu 9.10 operating system (Karmic Koala) on your computer. I have a Suzuki Kuiper 1411 HKS notebook computer with 2.1 GHz Intel Dual Core processor, 4GB RAM and 320GB hard drive. It has a dedicated 256MB Nvdia GeForce 9300M GS graphics card and 1270++MB of VRAM in SLI mode.

How To: Fix sticky keys on a PC

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to turn off the stick keys on a Windows computer. Begin by clicking on the Start menu and select Control Panel. Double-click on the Accessibility Options and go to the Keyboard tab. Under Sticky Keys, click on Settings and uncheck the box that says "Use Shortcut". Then click OK. Users can also turn off the sticky keys by pressing the Shift button 5 times and click Yes to confirm. This process is very simply, fast and easy to do. This video will benefi...

How To: Disable security notifications in Microsoft Windows 7

Need some help figuring out how to disable potentially annoying popup security notifications in Microsoft Windows 7? This video tutorial will show you how it's done! It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this home-computing how-to can present a complete overview of the process in just over a minute's time. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this Win 7 user's guide.

How To: Change Windows XP start menu text

Certain aspects of Windows User Interface are not customizable like the text of the start button in Windows XP. However you can use certain tools and follow a procedure to change the default text of the start button. To do this you have to use a tool called Resource Hacker. Note that this is a very simple method, but be careful or you may end up causing damage to the Operating System as you are modifying system files. To do this run the program. Now browse to the Windows folder and locate win...

How To: Browse and open files and folders on a Microsoft Windows PC

When learning to use a computer, as with anything else, it's important to start with the fundamentals. This clip for new Windows users does just that. Fortunately, you'll find it's easy to browse files and folders. So easy, in fact, that this home-computing how-to can present a complete overview of the process in just over a four minutes and a half. For more information, including step-by-step instructions, take a look.

How To: Troubleshoot problems in Ubuntu Linux

Ubuntu comes with pre-installed tools that can help solve problems you may encounter when using Ubuntu Linux. This video tutorial shows how to identify and address common problems in Ubuntu Linux. Such tools discussed include the system monitor, the log file viewer and the network tools.

How To: Create portable applications with VMWare

Want to use virtualization to create portable apps? This clip provides some helpful advice. 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 complete details, including step-by-step instructions, watch this video guide.

How To: Find, download & install Firefox themes or skins

This is a video tutorial in the Computers & Programming category where you are going to learn how to find, download & install Firefox themes or skins. Open up Firefox 3, go to tools, click on "add-ons". On the next window, click on "get add-ons" and click on "browse all add-ons". On the next page, on left hand side scroll down and click on "themes" button. This will display all Firefox 3 themes. Select the theme that you want and click on "add to Firefox" and then click on "install now". You ...

How To: Unzip .rar files using WinRAR file program

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to unzip .rar files using Winrar program. Begin by opening your internet browser and download the program from the link in the video description. Wait for the time to pass and click Download. Select 32 bit or 64 bit, depending on your computer. Open the file and install the program by following the instructions. Once it's installed, select the file that you want to unzip. Right-click on the file and select Extract All Files. This video will benefit th...

How To: Recover a deleted file from NTFS drive on Ubuntu

For anyone who has accidentally deleted a file, follow the steps in this tutorial to learn how to recover the file on Ubuntu. Learn what commands to type to run a search that will allow you to undelete a deleted file. This tutorial shows you letter by letter what command to type and in what format it should be typed to scan your hard drive for the deleted file. Once your search has found the file, the tutorial also shows how it can be recovered and then saved back onto your hard drive.

How To: Clean-up & organize your Windows Vista start menu

The instructor from ClearTechInfo shows how to clean up and organize the Windows Vista start menu. He shows how the start menu consists of links to programs and not the program itself. He shows how to manage those links by removing those links, add new ones or rename existing ones, or move folders into other sub folders. He shows how to pin or remove frequently used programs to the main start menu. He advises to categorize similar programs under common folders, like 'Media Players,' 'Utilitie...

How To: Turn off sticky keys on a PC

In this how-to video, you will learn how to turn off sticky keys in Windows XP. You will need a computer running Windows XP in order to perform this. First, go to the start menu and click control panel. Go to the accessibility icon and click it. A new window will open. From here, uncheck the option for sticky keys. You can make any further changes in this window. Once you are done, click okay on all the windows to save the new setting. Now you will not have sticky keys when using your compute...

How To: Install third-party themes in Microsoft Windows 7

In this home-computing how-to, you'll learn how to customize your Windows 7 desktop by installing third-party themes. It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this clip can present a complete overview of the process in just over five minutes' time. For more information, including step-by-step instructions, watch this video guide.