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More Desktop PCs How-To

  • 04 May 2011

  • How-Tos: How to upgrade from Windows 98 and keep the same printer, scanner, software

    I'm keen to replace my Windows 98 computer, but I want to be sure that I can continue using my software and peripherals before I do so. I have an HP 940c printer, an Epson Perfection 1200 scanner, Fujifilm and Olympus cameras with software that's compatible with XP and Vista, plus Microsoft Office 2007. Will I be able to continue using these in XP or Windows 7?

  • 03 May 2011

  • How-Tos: How to fix a PC with a faulty graphics card

    I suspect my five-year-old PC has a faulty graphics card, which produces various error messages and freeze-ups. The most frequent errors reported are 'Driver stuck in infinite loop file ATIdvag' and 'Graphics card not responding'.

  • 21 April 2011

  • How-Tos: How to fix the time and date on your PC

    ach time I turn on my PC I have to reset the time and date, which appears as Jan 2006. Why can’t my PC remember this setting?

  • 11 April 2011

  • How-Tos: How to clean up the temp folder in Windows

    To keep your PC in good working order, it's important to ensure that any clutter and unused files are removed on a regular basis. This includes files in the temporary folder, as they were once necessary but are now not being used. You can either use a tool in Windows or do it manually. We show you how to do both.

  • 07 April 2011

  • How-Tos: Clean Your PC, Inside and Out

    Disclaimer: we're not responsible if you turn your computer into a massive paperweight after trying one of the tips you're about to read. Cleaning a computer isn't rocket science, but certain techniques do carry more risk than others.

  • 06 April 2011

  • How-Tos: MS Word Tip: Adjust Your Document's Line Spacing

    You wouldn't believe how often I get the same few questions about Microsoft Word. Perhaps the most common: "How do I change the line spacing?"

  • 05 April 2011

  • How-Tos: How to share iTunes libraries with other PCs

    Most PC users have some, if not all of their music collection stored in digital format on their computer. However, with multiple machines in one home becoming the norm, you my think you'll nee to ensure you copy all of your MP3s to each PC to ensure you can enjoy them no matter were in your home you are, which is time consuming to say the least.

  • 04 April 2011

  • How-Tos: How to fix a corrupt hard drive

    My Windows 7 Home Premium laptop runs a 2.2GHz Intel Celeron processor and 2GB of RAM. It works well in general, but Windows has recently started reporting that the hard drive has no free space when I try to install programs.

  • 01 April 2011

  • How-Tos: How to stop Microsoft Office constantly reinstalling

    Microsoft Office Home & Student keeps trying to reinstall itself on my partner’s Vista laptop. If she cancels the installation, nothing works correctly and she has to wait until it configures and installs itself again before being able to use it. How can we fix this?

  • How-Tos: How to fix a slow booting PC

    When I turn on my PC it runs through the startup sequence until it reaches the Windows login screen. I enter my details and it then takes around half an hour for the desktop to load. The system is reasonably powerful, with an AMD Phenom II x4 965 processor and ATI Radeon HD 5850 graphics.

  • 29 March 2011

  • How-Tos: How to upgrade an old PC for gaming

    I recently got a new laptop and still have my old desktop PC. What would I need to do to turn it into a gaming computer?

  • 08 March 2011

  • How-Tos: How to troubleshoot display problems in Windows 7

    When I turn on my Windows 7 64bit computer, the monitor’s display often shifts about an inch to the left, leaving a gap down the righthand side. The manufacturer suggested downloading and installing the latest drivers for my ATI Radeon HD 4600 graphicscard, but this hasn’t fixed the problem. The only solution appears to be to keep restarting the machine until the problem disappears. Can you help me find a permanent workaround?

  • 05 March 2011

  • How-Tos: How to speed up your PC: 6 simple hardware upgrades

    You want a faster system? Put faster parts in it. That's the simple an­­swer to a question that every PC owner asks from time to time. But replacement parts aren't free, and cash-strapped computer enthusiasts know that the key is to put their money where it counts most.

  • 24 February 2011

  • How-Tos: How to add a second screen to your PC or laptop

    Adding a second screen to your PC or laptop gives you more space to multitask: you can browse the web, check emails and complete work tasks, all while displaying your video or photo slideshows on a second screen.

  • 12 February 2011

  • 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.

  • 20 January 2011

  • 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?

  • 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

  • How-Tos: How to print to an old printer from Windows 7

    I want to use my new Windows 7 Home Premium PC with my Canon i865 printer, but I can’t find a driver for it.

  • 18 January 2011

  • How-Tos: How to fix faulty graphics card drivers in your PC

    I recently bought a Palicomp PC running Windows 7 64bit and a 512MB ATI Radeon HD 5450 graphics card. The screen frequently freezes and reports the error message: 'Display Driver 'AMD driver' stopped responding and has successfully recovered'. Disabling the ATI drivers fixes the problem, but also removes some functionality. Palicomp advised me to uninstall and reinstall the drivers, but this didn’t solve the problem. A Google search for answers has revealed several other users of this graphics card with the same problem. Is there a definitive fix, please?

  • 14 January 2011

  • How-Tos: How to upgrade RAM - and why

    In case you haven't noticed, memory prices have dropped through the floor. There's never been a better time to upgrade your PC or laptop's RAM.

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