Hot Computer Hardware How-Tos

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: Fix laptop screen scratches

You paid a lot of money for and now your worried your computer screen is ruined with scratches. Just open up your bathroom cabinet and you will find everything you need to get your trusty computer screen shining like new.

How To: Align the printhead on your Epson printer

Not aligning your printer before you print is like going to a job interview without brushing your hair: Everything else looks right, but you somehow still look unprepared and messy. Aligning the printhead on your printer will help ensure all text prints out where it's supposed to print out and there's no awkward color blurring with pictures.

How To: Repair a Power Mac G5 - Remove the G5 processor

For some reason or another, you might have to remove the processor from your Power Mac. If you don't know how, see how to remove the processor from the Power Mac desktop computer right here.

How To: Take apart a computer's keybaord & clean it

In this video, we learn how to take apart a computer's keyboard & clean it. First, turn the keyboard upside down and remove the screws from the side with a screwdriver. After this, flip it back over and remove the keys from the top. Put the keys into a bowl of soap and water and let them soak. Then, remove the screws from the top of the keyboard and set them aside. Open up the keyboard and then dust and clean the inside of it until clean. Next, you will replace all of the parts you removed in...

How To: Build a computer from scratch

In this video, we learn how to build a computer. First, you will need to make sure you have all the appropriate parts for your computer. You will need to have the hard drive, cables, ram, video card, motherboard, sound card, CD burner, etc. When you start to build your computer, you will need to pay attention to where you are connecting everything. Soldering will be needed for a lot of different things and you will need to make sure you are connecting everything in the right spot. When you ar...

How To: Control your computer with a webcam & Wii remote

This is a Tinkernut video cast. This video shows you how to control your computer (mainly games and miscellaneous programs such as Google Earth) using your webcam.

How To: Change the Wireless Card on Dell Inspiron E1505 Laptop

The internet is something most people rely on, so when you buy a used laptop without a wireless card or yours needs to be replaced, it's easier to do it yourself. Having someone else do it can cost more than you think, so here's an easy way if you own a Dell Inspiron E1505.

How To: Fix AMD Radeon HD Series Not Detecting Second Screen

Since I recently had this problem and fixed it, I might as well share the solution. This is actually REALLY simple to fix but will impact your cards' performance.

How To: Use the ATI Overdrive utility to overclock your ATI AMD Radeon Graphics Card

Are you a speed freak? Not getting the fps rate you want in your favorite 1st person shooter? If you're answering yes, then it's time to get overclocking. This step-by-step video shows you how to use the ATI Overdrive utility and the MSI Afterburner utility to overclock your ATI AMD Radeon Graphics card to push those pixels to the max! The MSI Afterburner utility works with both Nvidia and ATI cards.

How To: Clean the keyboard on a Dell laptop

A laptop keyboard can collect a lot of dust, dirt, and breadcrumbs. In this tutorial, we learn how to clean out your laptop keyboard. Start off by removing the casing from around your laptop, making sure not to unplug any wires. You will need a screwdriver to remove the screw. Next, you will want to use a soft brush or tooth brush to clean where the keys were, and the inside underneath the screen. Next, replace the keyboard where it was and any screws. Also, plug in anything that may have com...

How To: Open ports on your Windows XP computer

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to open ports on a Windows XP computer. Begin by clicking on the Start menu and open Control Panel. Double-click on Network Connections and select your network connection. Right-click on it and select Properties. Click on the Advanced tab and click on Settings. Select the Advanced tab again. Click on your internet connection and click on Settings. Click Add and fill in the port information. Click OK. T forward a port, users need to go to their router'...

How To: Watch and record TV with an HP TouchSmart PC

After you set up live TV on your HP Touchsmart PC, tap the house icon and open the live TV title. In this menu, you can browse different categories and programs of TV, as well as future programs. However, you can't watch one program while you record another. To go into full screen mode, tap the square in the top right of the screen, where several controls are available. To record a program, tap the record button, which is a small red circle. If you want to schedule a recording, go to the "On ...

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: View your printer's secret dots (fingerprints)

Imagine that every time you print a document, it automatically includes a secret code that could be used to identify the printer -- and, potentially, the person who used it. Sounds like something from a spy movie, right?

How To: Turn an Iomega ZIP Drive into a USB drive enclosure

The good old Zip Drive introduced by Iomega in late 1994 served its purpose as a medium-capacity removable disk storage system until obsolescence kicked in as it was replaced by flash drives as well as rewritable CDs and DVDs. This video presents a number of fun, DIY art projects that you can do with your old Iomega Zip Drive. Specifically, this how-to looks at how you can take your old Zip Drive and make of it a USB driver enclosure. For more, or to get started on your own Zip Drive project,...

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: Enable or Disable USB Port in Your PC

This video will show you how to enable or disable USB port in your PC. If you disable USB port nobody could insert a USB device on your computer and could not copy your data. You could enable the port whenever you needed. Watch the video and follow all the steps.

How To: Disable or Enable USB Port in PC

This video will provide an idea how to disable or enable the USB port on your PC. By disabling USB port will restrict people from copying your files into USB devices. This is a very effective trick to save your data. Watch the video and follow all the steps.

How To: Clone Macbook Pro Hard Drive to SSD

Want to breathe some life into your Macbook Pro? Get an SSD! But how to swap your data over? Here's how!

How To: Swap an SSD into a Buffalo Thunderbolt Enclosure

Picked up a new Buffalo Thunderbolt Enclosure, and want to REALLY put that Thunderbolt to use? Here's how!

How To: Stop Your Macbook Pro from Overheating!

Tired of using your Macbook Pro as a coffee warmer? Here's how to stop it!

How To: Replace Bad Capacitors on Your Motherboard

Got a motherboard with blown capacitors? Here's how to fix it!

How To: Install 16GB DDR3 into Unibody Macbook Pro (2011)

This video is for anyone wondering how to install more ram in their Unibody MacBook Pro. In this case, this is my Late 2011 going from 8GB to 16GB of ram!

How To: Increase Laptop Battery Life

Most of us who use laptop suffering form Battery problem. Here are few tips or measures for increasing laptop battery life. If you follow these steps you will surely enhance the lifespan of Battery. See the video.

How To: Put Your MacBook to Sleep with an iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S3, or Other Mobile Device

I spend practically all day surfing the web and writing on my laptop, and just as much time texting and checking emails on my smartphone. So, it's only natural for me to charge my iPhone using the USB port on my MacBook Pro.

How To: Save Money Cleaning Your Gadgets' Displays with This DIY Screen-Cleaning Solution

Keeping your computer screen or smartphone display clean is impossible. And those stupid little cloth cleaners that come with your device are about as useful as the new Apple Maps (yes, I am still upset about it).

How To: Watch 3D Movies Without Expensive Hardware

In this video, we learn how to watch 3D images and movies without expensive hardware. If you have a computer with dual monitors or two computers, you can watch full-color, full resolution 3D with a simple home made device.

How To: Keep your computer safe during an electric storm

Don't let your computer get fried during the next thunderstorm. Keep it safe from damage with the right procedures and tools. Try using a surge protector that can help prevent a power surge from destroying your computer. You don't want a lightning strike to fry your laptop or desktop PC or Mac.

How To: Use the Maps gadget on a Nokia Booklet 3G netbook to identify your location

The Nokia Booklet 3G netbook is capable of utilizing GPS when the 3G network connection is active. If you want to find your location and see a map of the area around you, try out the Maps gadget available as part of the Ovi Suite.

How To: Use the Nokia Social hub with your Nokia Booklet 3G netbook

The Nokia Social hub is a fairly useful piece of software available to owners of the Nokia Booklet 3G netbook. From the Social hub, you can connect to facebook and access several of the social network's functions, including posting an update. If you have a SIM card inserted with an active 3G connection, you can even send a text message from the netbook.

How To: Connect a Nokia Booklet 3G to the internet via a network or 3G connection

If you hit the FN + F10 keys on your Nokia Booklet 3G, you'll see the available internet connections methods for your netbook including Bluetooth, wifi, and 3G.

How To: Use Bluetooth to synchronize your data with a mobile device and a Booklet 3G

Calendar data, images, sounds, videos, and messages can be easily synchronized between your Nokia Booklet 3G netbook and supported mobile devices and phones when the two are connected using Bluetooth. To find out how to use Nokia's Ovi Suite software to synchronize your data, take a look at this tech support video from the company.

How To: Install a SIM card, memory card, or plug in a charger on a Nokia Booklet 3G

It's easy to install a SIM card or a memory card in Nokia's Booklet 3G netbook. This tech support video overviews the processes of inserting either of the cards, plugging in the charger to the notebook computer, and turning on the laptop with the power button.

How To: Connect a Nokia Booklet 3G to a HD TV or monitor using an HDMI cable

If you have pictures, videos, or a presentation you want to share with a larger audience, or enjoy on a larger screen than the one that your Nokia Booklet 3G comes equipped with, grab an HDMI cable.

How To: Build a Hackintosh Mini for less than $600

Check out this awesome video to learn how to build a Hackintosh, from scratch, that's the same size as a NAS. This article will walk you through the video and if you follow all the instructions you'll have a Hackintosh Mini in no time.

How To: Build a USB hard drive

If you are looking for a data storage solution that's portable, but also durable, you should watch this video to learn how to build a USB hard drive. Take apart your external hard drive to find out what kind it is and then build a new one.

How To: Replace the graphics card in your PC

Ready to upgrade the graphics/ video card in your PC? You can do it yourself. Watch this video to learn how to remove the old graphics card from your computer and install a new one. Get your hardware up to date.

How To: Apply thermal paste to bitcoin mining cards

Is the bitcoin gold rush on? Are you are trying to set up a bitcoin mining operation? You'll want to make sure to apply thermal paste to your cards so that they will cool better and last longer. If you are going to try bitcoin mining, you've got to do it right.

How To: Install a new screen on a Dell Inspiron laptop

A broken screen may seem like the end of the line for your laptop, but don't worry! The screen is the most fragile and vulnerable part of a laptop, and it is not uncommon for it to break. You can replace it yourself and give your Dell Inspiron a new life.