More How-To
- 27 March 2010
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How-Tos: How to optimise your graphics card for gaming
Tweaking the settings on your graphics card can do a lot to improve play during gaming. We've put together some guidelines for obtaining good image quality, as well as for finding the right blend of quality and performance, when tweaking the settings.
- 26 March 2010
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How-Tos: How to: Improve your posture & work environment
Working at a PC for hours isn’t much fun. But it can also be physically painful; aches and pains may be your body’s way of telling you that you have a poor posture. If you don’t do something about it, these aches and pains could lead to more severe problems.
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How-Tos: How to: Get to grips with BitLocker
Thousands of laptops are lost or stolen every year, so protecting your data is essential.
- 25 March 2010
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How-Tos: How to: Protect your Facebook privacy
Whether you’re a committed telly addict, a tabloid aficionado or a web surfer extraordinaire, every couple of days seems to bring another security scare. Here, we show you how to protect your privacy in Facebook.
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How-Tos: How to install Windows Update files
My laptop, which runs Windows 7 64bit, frequently fails to install Windows Update files. What should I do?
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How-Tos: How to: Create an e-book using Google Sigil
E-book sales will likely get a boost from Apple's brand-new iPad, and you can benefit too. Here, we show you how to create a commercial e-book using Google Sigil.
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How-Tos: How to: Create an e-book using Serif PagePlus
Follow in Virignia Woolf's self-publishing footprints and earn a living - not to mention potential literary immortality - with your very own e-book. We show you how with the free version of Serif's PagePlus software.
- 24 March 2010
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How-Tos: How to delete Registry data infections
QUESTION I installed the free version of Malwarebytes Antimalware on my brand-new Vista PC. Every time I perform a quick scan it reports two Registry data infections. Super Antispyware Free, meanwhile, tells me the computer is infection-free. The files in question are ‘Hkey.Classes_Root\scrfile\shell\open\command\(default) (Broken.OpenCommand)' and ‘Hkey.Classes_Root\regfile\shell\open\command\(default) (Broken.OpenCommand)'. I've tried removing the files using Malwarebytes and rebooting the PC, but they quickly reappear.
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How-Tos: How to delete temporary and unused files from your PC
My Windows XP Home PC is running very slowly, even though I've doubled the RAM allocation to 2GB. All Microsoft updates and service packs are installed and I use Norton 360 to keep the computer clear of nasties. I've also tried defragging the hard drive, which the analysis tool said was 22 percent fragmented. After running the defrag tool built into Windows and Norton 360's Disk Optimiser, the hard drive is still 22 percent fragmented. Chkdsk doesn't shed any light on the matter. Can you help?
- 23 March 2010
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How-Tos: How to permanently delete cookies from your PC
QUESTION Can you tell me how to permanently delete cookies from my PC? A day after I think I've done it, they're always back again.
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How-Tos: How to fix a laptop screen that won't stay on
The screen on my Toshiba 1800 laptop keeps turning itself off. The only way to get it to come back on is by pushing the small button that tells the laptop when the lid is closed. This can happen 10 times in half an hour. The repair shop wants £70 to fix it - is it worth it?
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How-Tos: How to install Apple iTunes on Windows 7
My three-month-old Acer Z5610 all-in-one PC runs Windows 7. I recently tried to install iTunes, but AppleMobileDevice refuses to play ball. Acer blames Apple; Apple blames Acer. With my brand-new PC unable to run such a common application, I'm seriously considering returning it under the Sale of Goods Act.
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How-Tos: How to recover files from deleted user accounts
A little while ago I deleted my PC user account and created a new one. I wrongly assumed that I'd still be able to access the files on the deleted account. Are they lost forever?
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How-Tos: How to transfer accounts from Microsoft Money 2005
QUESTION I'm still using Microsoft Money 2005, but would like to transfer my accounts to a more substantial package. The trouble is, I can't find any programs compatible with the .mbx file extension.
- 22 March 2010
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How-Tos: How to back up speech-recognition files
QUESTION I'm keen to back up as much data as I can on my Windows 7 PC in case the hard drive dies.
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How-Tos: How to remove a fake Registry optimisation app
QUESTION I installed RegTool on my PC. Startup and running speeds were greatly improved and I was initially impressed. Fast-forward a few months and RegTool is pestering me to update it at every startup. Kaspersky blocks the download, stating that it carries a known virus. What should I do?
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How-Tos: How to fix a PC power problem
I recently moved my five-year-old HP PC into a different room, during which time the power was off for two hours. The machine now refuses to boot up. The only sign of life is a flashing power LED on the case. How can I fix this?
- 20 March 2010
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How-Tos: How to survive the five worst technology disasters
From banks to hospitals to the systems that keep the juice flowing to our homes, we are almost entirely dependent on technology. We look at the effect of the five worst 'tech doomsday' scenarios, such as the entire net collapsing, would have on our lives.
- 12 March 2010
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How-Tos: How to use Facebook safely
Online data thieves will jump at the chance to harvest even the most innocuous personal information. PC Advisor demonstrates how to tighten up Facebook security.
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How-Tos: How to fix Windows: troubleshooting apps compared
These seven handy tools help you diagnose and cure a wide range of Windows ills, and they're all free for download
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New Xbox One release date, specs, features and price in UK
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Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Apple iPhone 5 comparison review
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Galaxy S4 vs BlackBerry Z10 comparison review - which is best, the Samsung or the BlackBerry?
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Best cases and covers for the new iPad: protect your tablet in style
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Microsoft Windows 8 review
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Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Apple iPhone 5 comparison review
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Galaxy S4 vs BlackBerry Z10 comparison review - which is best, the Samsung or the BlackBerry?
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Microsoft Windows 8 review
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Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Nexus 4 smartphone comparison review: what's the best Android?
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5:
Surface Pro review - Microsoft tablet offers true power computing on the move
Latest Videos
Microsoft Surface Pro video review - Windows 8 tablet is a compromise, but a good compromise.
The Surface Pro is either a tiny Ultrabook or a bulky Windows 8 tablet, depending on your point of view. Is the Surface Pro the one device to rule them all? Watch our Surface Pro UK video review to find out.
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Downloads
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DNSQuerySniffer 1.0 (32-bit)
Display your PC's DNS queries in real time
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DNSQuerySniffer 1.0 (64-bit)
Display your PC's DNS queries in real time
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Registry Key Jumper 1.0
A quick and easy way to view any Registry key
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Process Tamer 2.11.01
Optimise CPU usage by automatically adjusting process priorities
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KillEmAll 2-8-13
Quickly close all non-essential system processes



