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How To: Boot up your computer faster with boot defragment

This video tutorial is in the Computers & Programming category which will show you how to boot up your computer faster with boot defragment. Boot defragment places all the boot files together in the hard disk making it easier for the booting process to start. Click on start > run, type in 'regedit' and click OK. This will launch the registry editor. Here you double click on hkey_local_machine to open it. Then you double click on software > Microsoft > dfrg >BbootOptimizeFunction Click on 'ena...

How To: Replace a keyboard on a laptop

In this video, we learn how to replace a keyboard on a laptop. First you will want to remove all of the screws from the back of the laptop where the keyboard lies. After this, remove the bezel then take the keyboard out completely. After this, clean out the area where your keyboard was at, making sure not to loosen up any wires. When you are done with this, place the new keyboard back in as well as the bezel. Replace any screw that you took out and make sure everything is secure again. After ...

How To: Update your nVidia graphics card drivers

In this video, we learn how to update your nVidia graphics card drivers. First, go to your start menu and type in "dxdiag", then search for this. After this, go to the display table to get the information for your card. Now, go to the website for the manufacturer through your web browser. After this, click the link where you can download drivers and search for new drivers for your graphics card. Once these are finished downloading, go to your control panel, then uninstall your previous driver...

How To: Keep your laptop battery safe and secure with four tips from CNET

Millions of laptop batteries have been recalled because of the risk of FIRE. Get some tips from CNET to learn how to keep your laptop battery safe and secure. First, make sure your battery hasn't already been recalled. Second, don't leave the laptop constantly charging because it heats it up. One way to save your battery is to remove it completely when you plug in directly. Third, treat the battery as fragile. And finally, four, avoid buying knockoff batteries.

How To: Set up and use an Apple Magic Trackpad

Need some help figuring out how to configure and use an Apple Magic Trackpad with your Mac? It's easy! So easy, in fact, that this home-computing how-to from MacMost can present a complete overview of the process in about five minutes' time. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this guide.

How To: Build a gaming PC at home

In this tutorial, we learn how to build a gaming PC at home. First, grab your processor and place it into the socket of the motherboard. Lock it into place, then apply compound on top, rubbing it in evenly. Next, install the heat sensor, which will keep the processor cool. after this, install the RAM into the correct slots. After this, insert the motherboard inside the case, matching it to the slots in the case. Use a screwdriver to screw it in, then install the cases. Install the hard drive,...

How To: Use the touchscreen on the HP TouchSmart

In this tutorial, we learn how to use the touchscreen on the HP TouchSmart pc. On the Windows desktop you will see a house that has the TouchSmart icon, double touch this, then you will see large tiles that show different shortcuts to application and websites in your computer. You will also see links to website and other items. The bottom and top row are the same, except the bottom is smaller icons than the top. Use your finger to sweep through the different tiles and choose which application...

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: Replace a fan and hard drive in a Macbook Pro laptop

Opening up your own laptop and working with it is a lot harder than doing the same to a desktop. The components are arranged more carefully in a tighter space and it is generally easier to break things. This video will show you how to replace the hard drive and a broken fan in a Macbook Pro laptop. Work on your own Apple laptop? It might sound crazy, but with this guy's help, you should be able to pull it off.

How To: Use the screen on the HP TouchSmart

In this tutorial, we learn how to use the screen on the HP TouchSmart. Touch the screen lightly and precisely to open the program you want. There are tiles on the screen where you can store your music, photos, videos, and more. There are different ways to scroll around the page using your fingers. You can simply tap it, scroll by dragging with your finger, and slide your finger right to left. Remember to put your finger on the exact item you want to touch, or you will open or pull something e...

How To: Remove and upgrade the RAM in a mid-2010 Mac Mini

Interested in upgrading your RAM? This brief how-to will guide you through the process of removing the RAM module from a mid-2010 unibody Mac Mini without damaging any of the components, the first necessary step of any successful repair or upgrade. This tutorial will also be of use to those who wish to learn more about the guts of their Apple computers without actually disassembling their units.

How To: Load roll paper into the Epson Stylus Photo R1900

The Epson Stylus Photo R1900 printer can not only print on paper, but it can print from roll paper, too! No more single sheets of paper are needed, which is especially nice when printing banners or larger documents. Epson shows you how to load roll papers such as Premium Canvas Matte and Satin into the Epson Stylus Photo R1900 using the roll paper holders that are mounted on the back of the printer.

How To: Back up your hard drive

You store everything on your computer's hard drive… precious family photos, your favorite music and video files, valuable financial information, and let's not forget about all that porn (just kidding). You can't back up your data when it crashes, so don’t wait another day to protect your hard-earned hard drive data.

How To: Format an SD card

Is your SD memory card getting a little too full? Is it not working? Try reformatting it. It's the first and sometimes last step to troubleshooting card problems. So, if your SD card has become too cluttered, this guide will restore it to a like-new condition with a simple format.

How To: Clean crumbs out of a keyboard

Keyboards are one of the easiest things to get dirty, especially those keyboards that have the removable keys. Crumbs and all kinds of other gunk can get lodge down in those deep crevices of the keyboard, but here's a quick tip to help you out. If you have a crumb-y keyboard, use the sticky side of a post-it note to lift bits from between the keys. Ta-da!

How To: Clean an Apple keyboard with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

Keyboards get really dirty from your hands, food, spilled drinks, pens, pencils and everything else that winds up on your desk. This video will show you a great way to clean you white Apple keyboard (wireless or wired) so that it shines like you just bought it. All you need is a handy cleaning product called Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. This will get all of the dirt off of your white keys that come with Mac computers. Make sure to clean the keys and the inside between all of these keys as well. Ma...

How To: Change the keyboard on an HP Pavilion laptop

This video tutorial is in the Computers & Programming category which will show you how to change the keyboard on an HP Pavilion laptop. First remove the battery and then remove the 6 screws in the battery cabinet. Now remove another screw as shown in the video. Open up the laptop and remove the panel located on top of the keyboard. Now remove the screws that hold the keyboard in place, slide out the ribbon connector and take out the keyboard. Then take the new keyboard, slide in the ribbon co...

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: Build your own green screen

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to build a green screen. The materials required for this project are: two 10 ft long PVC pipes, measuring tape, saw, duct tape and pipe elbows and couplings. Begin by marking the two PVC pipes with 6 ft on one side and 4ft on the other. Then cut the PVC pipes in half. Now connect the frame together with the pipe elbows and couplings. Build support to the fame by adding some duct tape. Finish by attaching the green cloth on the frame and tape it at the...

How To: Replace a key on Samsung Notebook keyboard

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to replace a key on a Samsung notebook keyboard. This task is very fast, easy and simple to do. Begin by placing the small retainer clip into the small areas of the key. Make sure the retainer clip is aligned on top of the keyboard and is securely placed on. Then simply place the key over the retainer clip and press on it. Hold the bottom of the key with one finger and press down the key with another finger. to secure it in place. This video will bene...

How To: Load fine art paper into the Epson Stylus Photo R2880

If you have the Stylus Photo Printer (R2880) from Epson at home, you probably figured out how easy it is to load paper into the printer. But what about fine art paper? Paper such as Velvet Fine Art and Hot Press and Cold Press loads into the printer slightly different. This video, straight from Epson, will show you how to load these kinds of papers using the rear single sheet guide.

How To: Build a custom external hard disc drive

External hard drives are cheap and widely available. You don't want any of those models though do you? You want to make the drive yourself because you are a DIY FIEND! This video will teach you how to take an internal hard drive and a separately-bought hard drive case, put them together, and make your very own custom external hard drive. If you have an old internal drive lying around this is a great way to give it new life.

How To: Install a Nvidia GeForce 8600 GT graphics card

Installing new pieces into a desktop PC can be stressful for people who don't do it routinely because it constantly feels like you are going to wreck your computer. If you use the correct procedure, you won't, don't worry. This video will teach you how to install an Nvidia 8600 GT graphics card in a desktop PC. This will allow you to run games and graphics-intensive applications much more smoothly.

How To: Install RAM in an iBook G4

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to install RAM into an Apple iBook G4 laptop. Begin by turning off the laptop and closing it. Flip the laptop to the backside. Turn the lock and remove the back cover. Flip the laptop over and open it. Press on the keyboard notch (between esc and F1) and remove the keyboard. Then remove the Air Port Extreme card and unscrew the 4 screws underneath it. Remove the cover and carefully press down on the 2 latches that hold the RAM card. Now replace the RA...

How To: Optimize a PC for the best performance

In this Computers & Programming video tutorial you will learn how to optimize a PC for the best performance. Head over to Smart PC Utilities and click on downloads. Here you can download and install Vista Services Optimizer. This works perfectly well for Windows 7 as well. Open the program and select Automatic Tune Up, where it will ask you a few questions about how you use your machine so it gets an idea what services are unnecessary for you. You can also use Manual Tune Up or even Gaming Mo...

How To: Create a heart symbol on your computer

In this tutorial, we learn how to make a heart and other symbols on a computer. To make a heart, you will want to click on "run" and type in symbols inside of the white space. A new window will come up with a number of different symbols for you to choose from. You can choose the heart symbol on this, or you can choose any other symbol you would like to use. This isn't like clip art, it's just a simple symbol that anyone can use while they are in a word processing program and need a symbol tha...

How To: Remove/change the arrows on shortcut icons

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to remove/change the arrow on the shortcut icons in Windows. These arrows allows the user to know that the icon is only a shortcut. Users will need to download the program, Vista Shortcut Overlay Remover. The program allows users to display an arrow, light arrow, custom arrow or no arrow. This program also provides an option to disable the " - Shortcut" extension on any shortcut icon. This video will benefit those viewers who use a Windows Vista compu...

How To: Use a webcam on MSN for Mac

In this Computers & Programming video tutorial you will learn how to use a webcam on MSN for Mac. Go to Google and carry out a search for aMSN and click on the 2nd result which has the download link. Then click on 'Mac OS X Universal', download the program and open it. Next you start a conversation by typing in your text. Then click on the button on the right side for webcam as shown in the video. There is also a button for sending an audio clip. This will open the webcam and then you can use...

How To: Buy the right desktop PC for you

There are so many computers available today, from laptops to desktops to netbooks and everywhere in between. If you are considering going the stationary route, check out this tutorial. In this video, learn how to choose a desktop PC that is right for you. The experts at PCWorld will walk you through brands, capabilities and price ranges so that you can walk into your local office store with confidence and pick out your model.