Hot Computer Hardware Posts
How To: Remove the fans, heat sink and CPU from an Apple Mac Pro
Want to know how to remove the fans, heat sink and processor from your Mac Pro? This brief how-to will guide you through the process, the first necessary step of any upgrade or repair to either of the aforementioned parts. This tutorial will also be of use to those who wish to learn more about the guts of their Mac Pros without actually disassembling their units.
How To: Hook your computer up to stereo speakers
Ready to rock and roll? You don't have to listen to music through those teeny tiny computer speakers anymore! Check out this cool tutorial, and learn how to connect stereo speakers to your laptop or PC and get the most out of your music.
How To: Completely format a hard drive
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to completely format a hard drive. Begin by downloading the Knoppix Live Boot CD. Then burn the newly download ISO onto a CD as a bootable disc. Use your BIOS to tell your computer to boot from the CD-ROM instead of the hard drive. With the Knoppix CD still in your CD drive, restart your computer to load up Knoppix. Once loaded, use Knoppix to run the “dd” command and reformat your hard drive. This video will benefit those viewers who want to learn ho...
How To: Install a TV tuner card into your PC
You can watch TV anywhere these days, so why not on your computer? Installing a TV tuner card is easy--follow these instructions, and you'll be channel surfing in no time.
How To: Mirror or clone a Wacom Cintiq pen display
In this clip, you'll learn how to mirror or clone a Wacom Cintiq pen display. 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: Set up and use IDE / SATA to USB adapters
If you're a certified computer nerd along the lines of NASA scientist Howard from "The Big Bang Theory," then you know how frustrating it can be transferring large amounts of data between an external hard drive or other drive and your main computer, especially when you're in a rush to get experiment data in. Usually this requires mounting the drive into a system or external case first.
How To: Get video footage from a DSLR, steal documents via USB and much more
This half-hour episode of Hak5 covers several topics: Using a DSLR camera to create HD footage, building your own Google TV, unlocking & copying locked files with Lock Hunter, using PicPick for screen capture, using WinDirStat for analyzing & cleaning your hard drive, setting up a secure FTP server with Ubuntu Server, and secretly copying data from USB drives with USB Dumper.
How To: Fix or Retrieve Data From A Bad Hard Drive
This is an intermediate guide on how to easily fix or retrieve data from a bad hard drive. What we're trying to do:
How To: Control your Mac with a Wiimote
VvCompHelpvV teaches you how to use a Nintendo Wii-mote to control your Mac computer. You need three things: a Mac with bluetooth, a Wii-mote and the program DarwiinRemote. You start the program and configure it so that it recognizes the Wii-mote Go to DarwiinRemote Settings, then Preferences, and configure your buttons. Go to the main window of DarwiinRemote and click the mouse mode and select on. You can use the Nunchuck as well, All you need to do is configure it in DarwiinRemote. Now you'...
How To: Wash your Apple keyboard in the dishwasher
Your Apple computer keyboard, over time, can accumulate quite a lot of dirt and sticky gunk. It is only natural, then, that you should want to clean it from time to time. In this tutorial, Gary Rosenzweig talks about his success in putting his Mac keyboard in the dishwasher and the risk you take when you try this extreme method. Take a look!
How To: Take apart a Western Digital My Book enclosure
Ever wanted to take apart your Western Digital "My Book" enclosure? If you also happen to think that the drive inside that enclosure runs too hot, this brief how-to video will also guide you through the process of placing the drive in another enclosure with a fan and an eSATA port. As always, be careful, use a set of high-quality tools, and be certain to backup the data on your My Book hard drive.
How To: Connect a laptop or PC to an LCD monitor without DVI
Have an LCD flat screen monitor, but don't have DVI output on your laptop or desktop computer? That's no problem, because nowadays most LCD flat panel monitors come equipped with both DVI and VGA inputs. If not, you simply need to purchase a VGA to DVI adapter, which are pretty cheap, and connect it to your DVI cable and graphics card on your computer. Patrick from Tekzilla Daily tells you all about it, along with a tip on making sure your resolution stays it best and brightest when hooking u...
How To: Replace a keyboard for Acer Aspire One 10.1 netbook
In this Computers & Programming video tutorial you will learn how to replace a keyboard for Acer Aspire One 10.1 netbook. Disconnect the netbook from the power supply and remove the battery. You can use a small flat screw driver or a razor blade for replacing the keyboard. You don't have to remove any screws. You need to unlatch three tabs; one located above the f8 key and two on either side of the keyboard. With the razor blade unlatch the tab above f8, and then the two side tabs as shown in...
How To: Apply thermal compound to a CPU
This is a great video demonstrating how to apply thermal compound to your CPU. This is useful to know in order to build your own operating system and computer.
How To: Clean up your computer keyboard easily
If you want to know how to clean your computer keyboard in 3 simple steps, you should watch this video. To clean your computer keyboard, you will need Hydrogen peroxide, soap dish, spoon, cotton buds, and a small bowl. Just follow these 3 simple steps: Put 1 part soap dish and 1 part Hydrogen peroxide into a small bowl depending on how much you need. Mix it well with a spoon. Dip the tip of the cotton bud into the mixture and scrub it against your dirty computer keyboard. Remember to change t...
How To: Repair a Power Mac G5 - Remove side case and fan
Need to fix your Power Mac? Disassembling the Power Mac could be tricky, but not now. See how to remove the side case and fan from the G5 Power Mac desktop computer.
How To: Repair a MacBook Pro 13" - Speaker removal
PowerBook Medic is the ultimate resource for Mac computers and electronics repair. They have helpful tutorials on most Apple products including the MacBook, MacBook Pro, PowerBook, iBook, iPhone, iPod, and more, covering topics from disassemblies, to RAM upgrades, to replacement hard drives.
How To: Clean Your Laptop Keyboard Completely
Is your keyboard on your laptop getting a bit sticky? Have years of sweaty fingers and bits of lunch found there way down between the keys? Is there moss growing out of there? Panic no more.
How To: Take apart a MacBook display
Accidents will happen. This brief how-to will guide you through the process of taking apart your 13" MacBook's display quickly and efficiently without damaging any of the components, the first necessary step of any successful repair. This tutorial will also be of use to those who wish to learn more about the guts of their MacBooks without actually disassembling their units. Replace your own display with this video tutorial.
How To: Overclock your Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 CPU
Is your Intel Core 2 Duo processor not fast enough to you? Want to obtain processor speeds in excess of 3.5GHz? This tutorial will walk you through the process of overclocking your Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 central processing unit by modifying your system's BIOS settings.
How To: Recycle gold from old computer parts
Electronic waste is becoming more and more of a problem for the industrialized world, especially since most electronics are full of precious and rare-earth metals that should be recycled. Even gold! Enter this video. It will show you how you can use chemistry to strip the gold from your old computer and other electronic parts and, well, have more gold! Who doesn't want gold?
How To: Install a bottom mounted power supply in a PC tower case
Most PC tower cases have the power supply mounted near the top of the case in the back. However, if you want your PSU to run a little cooler, watch this video to learn how you can mount your PSU on the bottom of a tower case, allowing it to draw cooler air from the bottom of the case rather than the hot interior of the case like a top-mounted traditional setup would.
How To: Install a Wacom Bamboo Fun digital tablet on a Microsoft Windows PC
In this clip, you'll learn how to install and use a Wacom Bamboo Fun digital tablet on a Windows PC. Happily, it's an easy process. So easy, in fact, that this video tutorial can present a complete, step-by-step overview of the process in just under four minutes. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look.
How To: Set up and install a Wacom Bamboo Pen tablet on a Mac or Windows PC
In this clip, you'll learn how to install a 2G Bamboo Pen & Touch tablet on your Windows or Apple desktop or laptop computer. Happily, it's an easy process. So easy, in fact, that this video tutorial can present a complete, step-by-step overview of the process in just under four minutes. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look.
How To: Eject stuck discs from a CD- or DVD-ROM optical drive with a pinhole release
Nowadays, a lot of desktop computer optical disc drives come equipped with a small pinhole emergency eject option, to help open a stuck CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. This is a handy little option for getting CDs and DVDs out quickly, without shutting down your PC. All you need is a needle or a paper clip, then stick inside the pinhole release, push until the disc drive opens. Watch for a demonstration on a Mercury disc drive.
How To: Install a hard drive in a 13" MacBook Pro.
In order to install a new hard drive in your MacBook Pro, you will need to save everything on Time Machine. You will need to be in a static free environment, a hard drive, and small screwdriver.
How To: Convert Youtube videos to MP3
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to convert You Tube videos to MP3. Begin by going to the You Tube website and find the video that you want to take the audio from. Once you have found your video, copy the URL of the video. Then go to this website: and paste the You Tube URL. Change the Convert to format to MP3 and click Start. Now wait for the website to finish loading the MP3 and provide you with a download link. This video will benefit those viewers who enjoy lis...
How To: Upgrade RAM on the HP Mini 1000 laptop
Do you have one of those sleek and sexy HP Mini 1000 laptop computer? It maybe be small and convenient, but the memory might need a little boost. Check out this video from Notebooks.com on how to upgrade RAM on the HP Mini 1000 laptop. It's extremely fast and easy to do. No screws or screwdrivers required to go from 1GB RAM to 2GB RA. It takes just 19 seconds to perform this upgrade from start to finish, so watch and learn.
How To: Upgrade the RAM in an ASUS Eee PC
Your ASUS Eee PC is small but is it fast? In this video tutorial, you'll find step-by-step instructions for installing a RAM, or memory, module in an ASUS Eee PC up to 2 GB. (Note well that this upgrade will void your warranty.) To learn what you'll need to upgrade your Eee PC, press play!
How To: Repair a MacBook Pro 17" - Top case removal
PowerBook Medic is the ultimate resource for Mac computers and electronics repair. They have helpful tutorials on most Apple products including the MacBook, MacBook Pro, PowerBook, iBook, iPhone, iPod, and more, covering topics from disassemblies, to RAM upgrades, to replacement hard drives.
How To: Re-assemble a key on an Apple MacBook keyboard
This Video shows how to reassemble/ assemble/ attach a single Key/Button from an Apple MacBook Keyboard
How To: Turn a computer monitor into a TV
Have an extra PC monitor stashed in your closet? Don't have a television at all? It's time to wipe off the dust and see how you can turn your computer monitor into a TV.
How To: Clean your laptop's keyboard by removing the keys
In this video DavidDaGeek shows how to clean your keyboard by removing your keys, but to be careful when doing this. Put your finger underneath a key and just pull it off. Don't break the piece that holds the key in place though! he starts at the shift key and works to the left with the ? being next. Then remove the hair or dust with your fingers. Don't remove them all at once because you might forget what order they go in. To put the key back in, put it in its spot, and click it back in. You...
How To: Format a USB thumb drive to NTFS in Windows XP
How to format a USB thumb drive to NTFS in Windows XP Go to my computer, click to the USB flash drive properties, in that click on Hardware, click on SanDisk Cruzer USB device, and then to its properties, then click to policies, in that click on the optimize for performance button, click ok. Again click ok on the properties icon.
How To: Replace a space bar on a Dell laptop keyboard
Is the spacebar on your keyboard out of whack? This simple video will show you how to re-seat it in less than two minutes. Start by using your fingers (or a small screwdriver or spudger if needed) to gently pry up along the top of the spacebar, working from one direction to another. Continue working along the top until the key is free from its mounting clips. Observe the location of the mounting clips. After the key is free from the keyboard, you can also remove the metal support bar from the...
How To: Use the onscreen keyboard on the HP TouchSmart
This video tutorial will teach you how to use the onscreen keyboard on the HP touch smart. Very informative video that goes through several steps including teaching you how to add an event to your calendar. It starts by showing you how to add the event and then takes you through the keyboard and teaches you how to capitalize your words using the shift key as well as caps key. It demonstrates the input panel tab and how to move your panel as well, teaching you all the techniques for good use o...
How To: Flash your BIOS
Having serious hardware problems with you computer? Unexplained blue screens or crashes? Updating your system BIOS can help resolve this problem. The Lab Rats, Andy Walker and Steve Carruthers show you how.
How To: Clean the scroll ball on an Apple Mighty Mouse with a sheet of printer paper
Faced with a mucked-up Mighty Mouse? Never fear; this quick clip demonstrates an effective (if somewhat unconventional) method for cleaning your Mac mouse using a sheet of standard 8x11" printer paper. For details, including a step-by-step overview, and to get started cleaning your own Mighty Mouse, watch this video guide.
How To: Disassemble an Acer AspireRevo nettop PC
In this how-to video, you will learn how to disassemble an Acer Aspire Revo. First, unscrew the screw on the side of the laptop. From here, you must pull the top cover with the logo apart. This will be tough, but eventually it will be come off. A prying tool may be useful for this task. Now you will have access to the hard drive, RAM, CPU fan, processor, and wireless card. Now you are ready to perform any upgrades or repairs on your Acer Aspire. This video shows you the essential steps in ord...
How To: Connect hardware peripherals to an HP TouchSmart PC
HP TouchSmart PC is a powerful computer with various features. You can use you PC to connect to other hardware devices like printer, scanner etc. A hardware device might not even work with you computer because the connecting cables might not match. So if you want a printer to connect to your computer you will need a USB connector. If your printer has a normal pin connector, you cannot work with it directly. In this case the other option is to print wireless, provided your printer supports it....