More How-To
- 19 February 2011
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How-Tos: How to do an online background check for free
There are plenty of reasons for doing an online background check - and not all of them are dodgy. So here's how to do a thorough online background check without spending any cash.
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How-Tos: How to save time with hotkeys, macros and gestures
Want to automate your most frequent PC tasks? Here's how to map common actions to keyboard buttons or mouse gestures
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How-Tos: How to purchase, maintain & secure technology for an SMB
Securing technology for your business can be confusing and alarming. Though you may have a pretty good idea of what you should do, what about what you should not do? Everything from not backing up your data, to using social networking tools incorrectly (or not at all), to working with pirated software can affect your bottom line in a bad way. Here are 15 tech mistakes that small businesses frequently commit - and what you need to do to prevent them.
- 16 February 2011
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How-Tos: How to troubleshoot a hard-disk replacement
I’ve had to replace the hard drive on an Acer laptop. I installed Microsoft Windows Vista and Symantec Norton 360 using their product discs, then updated both. The LG DVD drive now displays a yellow triangle beside it in Device Manager, yet Windows reports that it’s already using the best driver for it. LG told me the drive works with Windows drivers.
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How-Tos: How to record audio to your PC
My trusty Olympus digital voice recorder was stolen, and I need to record about 10 hours of speech for burning on to CD. Before I go and get a replacement digital recorder, can you advise me of alternative recording options I could consider? I have Wavepad and Audacity software. Will these do the job? I’m likely to want to add background music to my recordings
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How-Tos: How to record phone calls to your PC
I’m looking for a reasonably cheap way to record conversations over a digital enhanced cordless telecommunications (Dect) phone. I tried Googling for answers, but the numerous suggestions have left me bewildered. I need to be able to hook it up to the PC to transcribe conversations.
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How-Tos: How to add a new wireless router to a network
I’ve replaced my wireless router with a D-Link DSL-2740R. I followed the quick-setup instructions on the supplied CD and managed to get online using our cable-broadband service. I now want to add my netbook and BlackBerry to the wireless network.
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How-Tos: How to install a router and dongle on an older laptop
QUESTION I’ve just installed a D-Link DIR-615 wireless router for my new HP computer and bought a USB Wi-Fi dongle (also D-Link) in order to add an older Sony laptop to the network. However, no software came with the dongle. What should I do next?
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How-Tos: How to take screenshots, use Quick Launch, and rename a printer
I just keep running across more cool Windows tips. Rather than limit myself to last week's collection (read "Quick Tips for Microsoft Word, Cool Windows Tools" if you missed it), I've decided to just keep going. So read on for more tips that'll make you a savvy Windows user.
- 12 February 2011
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How-Tos: How to leave a job with your personal tech intact
The ability to switch ethically and legally from one job to another has always been something of an art.
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How-Tos: How to protect your PC from data disasters
Reformatting and restoring a PC is no fun, but you can use it as an opportunity to implement a bulletproof backup system - not to mention optimise your system so it runs like new.
- 05 February 2011
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How-Tos: How to protect yourself against rogue IT staff
It's a CIO's worst nightmare: you get a call from the Business Software Alliance (BSA), saying that some of the Microsoft www.microsoft.co.uk software your company uses might be pirated.
- 25 January 2011
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How-Tos: How to stream media from your PC
ZumoCast turns your PC into a media server, able to stream music, video and other files to another PC, iPhone, iPod touch or iPad. We show you how.
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How-Tos: How to stream web content to your TV
Push content from your PC to your TV with QWaves Quicklinks TV. We show you how.
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How-Tos: How to use Internet Explorer 9 Beta
With other browsers breathing down its neck, Internet Explorer 9 is an important release for Microsoft. We look at how the new web browser - currently in beta - stacks up against the competition.
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How-Tos: How to play classic games on your PC
We explain how to use a software emulator to maximise gameplay, turning your current Windows 7 computer into a classic arcade machine. You can enjoy Frogger, Yie Ar Kung-Fu and other great games of old.
- 22 January 2011
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How-Tos: How to use videoconferencing whatever your budget
The cost - both economic and environmental - of travel can be crippling to businesses of any size, and many are turning to video conferencing. But video equipment doesn't come cheap. Here we explain the options for businesses of all sizes, and offer advice on how to speak face to face without being there.
- 20 January 2011
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How-Tos: How to maximise the Recycle Bin window
I recently installed a program to mimic Microsoft Windows Vista’s Start menu in Windows XP. After uninstalling it, my Recycle Bin window no longer opens in full-screen mode. Do I need to tackle some Registry settings to get things back to how they were?
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How-Tos: How to find files, programs after reinstalling Windows
On booting up my desktop PC I was greeted with the error message: 'NTLDR missing – press Ctrl, Alt, Del'. I followed the instruction and the message was repeated, so I reinstalled Windows XP. When I switched it on, there were no programs or files. In fact, all the programs remained on my machine, but the hard drives were listed with new letters and were inaccessible. I use Acronis True Image 9.0 and an external hard drive for backup, but when I try to access the saved data Acronis reports: 'These are not Acronis files, or files are corrupted'. Help!
- 19 January 2011
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How-Tos: How to convert DVDs to play on a WDTV box
I need some advice about video conversion. Using DivX Converter, a WDTV Live drive and a large hard drive, I’ve copied my entire DVD collection to disk. I’ve been reading about the H.264 format, however, which apparently retains the same quality at a lower bitrate. I’m interested in switching DivX Converter for Handbrake, which is free. Will it really give me the same quality with smaller file sizes, and is it only beneficial for HD video?
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Caesium 1.5.0
An easy-to-use image compressor
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CloudMe 1.6.8
A cloud storage/ sync service with 3GB free
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EditBone 6.3.4 (64-bit)
A powerful programmer's editor
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EditBone 6.3.4 (32-bit)
A powerful programmer's editor
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SwiftSearch 1.4
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