Hot Computer Hardware How-Tos
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: 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: Replace a laptop CMOS battery
In this video, we learn how to replace a laptop CMOS battery. First, turn the laptop upside down and remove the screws around the panel you need inside. Set these aside and then pry the top up with a flat screwdriver. Now you will see the CMOS battery, remove this with the tab that is on top of it. Remove the battery from the area it's at and then replace it with the new one. Make sure you place it in just how it was before. After this, replace the panel on the top and screw the screws back i...
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: Fix Stuck Pixels in LCD TVs, Monitors & Displays
This video will show you a few techniques for removing stuck pixels from an LCD screen. This is not a guaranteed fix. Please only use these as a last resort, as some of them can cause more damage to the LCD. Only attempt these if you are experienced and know what you are doing.
How To: Get a Lot More Use Out of Printer Ink Cartridges
This video reveals to us about the secret of ink cartridges. It is a very common problem faced by those people with ink printers that run out of ink, but this video shows us that even though it signals that we are running out of ink, do not throw the ink cartridge into the waste bin.
How To: Fix the click of death on a hard drive
If you have owned a lot of hard drives, you probably have experienced the clicking of death that indicates that your hard drive is having serious problems. This video will explain why the click of death happens and show you some processes you can try to fix the problem yourself.
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: 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: Turn an old WiFi router into a wireless repeater
In this clip, you'll learn how to boost your WiFi signal strength by building a wireless repeater from an old WiFi router. 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: Fix a sticky mouse
This video shows you how to fix a sticky computer mouse. Probably one of the most infuriating issues surrounding computers, never let your mouse get sticky again! Fix a sticky mouse.
How To: Repair a MacBook Pro 17" Unibody - Remove logic board
The logic board was a common malfunction in the old PowerBooks, but hopefully the unibody MacBook Pros are a little more resistant to failure, but if you have to get a new one, do it yourself. See how to remove the logic board on a MacBook Pro 17" Unibody laptop.
How To: Hack a CD Rom drive and make it glow
Sometimes it can be annoying to have to put in a cd in the dark. No worries, this tutorial video will help you to illuminate that CD port with a few LED lights.
How To: Clean an aluminum Apple keyboard by removing its keys
In this tutorial, we learn how to clean an aluminum Apple keyboard. You will need: soap , q-tips, and water. First, remove each individual key to your keyboard gently, then, clean off the keys and the inside with a mixture of soap and water on a q-tip. When finished, place your key back onto the keyboard. Repeat this step for your entire keyboard, making sure to be gentle when you remove and replace the keys back on. Don't do more than two at a time or you run the risk of forgetting where the...
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: Fax directly from PCs with an Epson All-in-One printer
This is the future, where you can fax not only from a piece of paper, but directly from your computer, too. Whether you have a PC or a Mac, Epson All-in-One printers allow you to send a fax right from your computer.
How To: Fix a broken or unresponsive keyboard key on your PC
This quick fix is really easy and super useful. Every once in a while we all get a key on our keyboards that starts to act up. Whether the key is unresponsive, tempermental or just plain annoying you can fix it with this easy method.
How To: Fix your computer when it won't recognize your CD or DVD disc drive
One of the most annoying of the many annoying types of errors on Windows computers is when you computer won't recognize parts that have always been a part of it, like the drives or keyboard. If your computer has stopped recognizing your CD or DVD disc drive, watch this video. As long as the drive is still connected, the steps in this video should allow you to fix the problem and continue using your drive.
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: Hack a computer by resetting the bios password
This is hardcore, serious hacking at its best. So it goes without saying that you probably shouldn't be attempting this computer hack unless you've successfully shut down your friend's computer at school using Command Prompt and sent out a fake virus to loved ones.
How To: Pair a wireless keyboard or mouse to a Microsoft Windows PC
In this clip, you'll learn how to go about pairing a Bluetooth-enabled wireless keyboard or mouse to a Microsoft Windows (Vista, XP, 7) PC. For more information, including a complete demonstration, and to get started setting up your own wireless peripherals, take a look.
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: Set up an Epson printer wirelessly
Learn how to set up an Epson printer wirelessly when you bring your new printer home you will want to start by installing the software that came with the new printer. You can set up your printer to work without wires and it will print from all over the house. There are 3 ways to set up the printer including the Epson way, with cables, and WPS. To determine is you need to use WPS, which is more complex, check your router to see if it has a sticker on it that says Wi-Fi Protected Setup. If that...
How To: Track a USB device
Hak5 isn't your ordinary tech show. It's hacking in the old-school sense, covering everything from network security, open source and forensics, to DIY modding and the homebrew scene. Damn the warranties, it's time to Trust your Technolust. In this episode, see how to track a USB device.
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: 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: Fix the VAIO SZ spacebar
In this video, we learn how to fix the VAIO SZ space bar. First, gently lift up on the space bar until the top is removed from the bottom of the board. After this, take a scrap piece of paper and place it underneath the middle of the metal that's on the space bar. After this, click the bar back into place on the keyboard. Now, test out the space bar to see if it works! It should be working without any problems now. If you do experience more problems, just repeat this same procedure and you wi...
How To: Remove the video card and RAM riser boards from an Apple Mac Pro
Interested to know how to remove the video card and RAM riser boards from your Apple 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: Change the resolution on a HP Mini 1000 to 1024x768
Want to know how to change the resolution on your HP Mini 1000 netbook? 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 a minutes' time. For specifics, and to get started changing the resolution on your own HP Mini 1000, watch this Mini-owner's guide.
How To: Partition an external hard drive on Windows Vista
To format an external hard drive on Windows Vista, plug the hard drive in, then click on start menu, right click on "computer", and select "manage". Go to "storage" on the left hand menu and select "disk management". Right click on the letter of your external hard drive, and select "Shrink Volume". Choose the size of the partition you want to create, and click shrink. After it is done, there will be 2 seperate drives, with the new one being allocated. Right click on the unallocated drive and ...
How To: Install Snow Leopard on a drive to make bootable
This video tutorial from bobby93macboy shows how to install Mac OS Leopard operating system and make it bootable.
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: Burn an img file to dvd on the Mac
In this quick video tutorial Mike will show you how to burn an IMG file to DVD on the Mac. Follow these steps to burn an IMG file to DVD on the Mac: Click on Finder Applications Utilities Disk Utility. Highlight the file, click Burn. You will be asked if you want to burn it to the superdrive. Click Burn. It may take a while, but when you are done you will have a CD or DVD that is ready to use.
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: Remove the logic board on a Power Mac G5
Is your motherboard toast? If your logic board has burned out, it's a sad thing, but you're going to have to replace it. See how to remove the logic board from the Power Mac desktop computer.
How To: Hack a Windows PC with a USB key
In this episode of Hak5, Darren shows us a USB key, dubbed the USB Hacksaw, that instantly and silently installs on target Windows 2000 or higher computers with guest or higher privileges which will monitor USB ports for flash drives and automatically download their contents for silent archival and email. For detailed instructions on replicating this hack yourself, watch this video hacking tutorial.
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: 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: Partition and Format a New Hard Disk Using Linux
Just installed a new hard disk on your PC, but Windows was unable to detect it? Download Ubuntu
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.
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