Latest PCs & Components How-To Stories
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How-To
Tablet Encryption 101
Thinking about encrypting your Apple or Android tablet? The process can be daunting, but here's how to do it.How-To
Turn your old iPad into a dedicated e-reader
Your new iPad needn't relegate your old one to a neglected spot on your nightstand. With minimal effort, you can convert the older one into a dedicated e-reading tablet.How-To
How to Undo RAID: Best Practices
Changing from a RAID 0-array boot drive to a single-drive boot should be easy, I thought, but the operation can be more complicated than may you anticipate. Here's what I learned from the experience.Answer Line
Should I Update My BIOS?
Rohkai asked the Answer Line forum if a PC's BIOS, like an operating system or an antivirus, should be kept up to dateHow-To
How to Eliminate Eyestrain From Your Big, Beautiful PC
Building an amazing desktop computer is easy, but even after you stuff your new system with the latest hardware, hook up your cabling, and make room for your giant monitor, you're not quite done. Make it easy on the eyes with this handy guide.How-To
PC Building Best Practices: Software
In the second part of our PC building best practices series, we outline a number of issues that can arise when you're configuring and installing software on a newly built PC.How-To
How to Benchmark Your PC for Free
To thoroughly evaluate a PC's performance, you need to use multiple tools and utilities specifically designed to tax each major component. We show you which tools to use, describe how to get results that are reliable and repeatable, and explain what all those numbers mean.How-To
How to Install Ice Cream Sandwich on Your Kindle Fire
With just a bit of work you can set up Android 4.0 on your Kindle Fire, transforming the device into a powerful general-purpose tablet with an unbeatable price tag.How-To
Top Ten Factors for Choosing a Gaming PC
When you're shopping for a gaming system, consider our ten rules of thumb before you pull out your wallet.How-To
PC Building Best Practices: Hardware
Building a PC can be a frustrating endeavor. In the first installment of a two-part series on PC building best practices, we outline hardware-related pitfalls to watch out for when you're assembling your dream system.How-To
How to Run Your Own LAN Party
Or, how to game with friends without blowing up your PC, house, or home network.How-To
Why You Don’t Need to Work in an Office Ever Again
With the help of a few high-tech tools, you can run a real business without ever stepping foot in an office.Answer Line
Will DVD Drives Still be Around in a Few Decades?
Philip Peters asked if we will have drives that can read DVDs in ten, 20, or 50 years?Hassle-Free PC
Do More With Your Middle Mouse Button
Free utility X-Mouse Button Control lets you reprogram just about every aspect of your mouse, including the often-overlooked middle button.How-To
How to Make Windows and Mac OS Play Nicely Together
All of the PCs in my house run Windows, but I carry a Macbook Air on the road. Here’s how you can integrate the disparate worlds of Microsoft and Apple.How-To
How to Edit Office Documents on Your Tablet
You can use your iPad or Android tablet to view and edit office documents instead of having to boot up your bulky laptop.How-To
How to Troubleshoot Your PC: A Hypochondriac’s Guide
Does your PC act as though it's about to die? Don't panic! We explain why the most common problems happen and what to do about them.How-To
How to Build an Energy-Efficient and Quiet Gaming PC
Building a system that maximizes game performance is easy; doing it while keeping power consumption down is harder. Here's how you can build your own, and make it whisper-quiet to boot.How-To
How to Speed Up Your NAS With iSCSI
Want to access your network-attached storage drive a little faster? We explain how to configure and use an iSCSI target on a NAS server with Windows' built-in iSCSI initiator for fast access.Answer Line
Should I Turn Off Automatic Updates?
Westpark asked the Windows forum if it's advisable to turn off Windows' automatic updates.How-To
How to Partition Your Hard Drive to Optimize Performance
We explain how to speed up your PC with an advanced technique known as "short stroking," which involves finding the optimal partition size and the fastest parts of your hard drive's platters.How-To
Motherboard Port Guide: Solving Your Connector Mystery
Numerous connectors and pins live on your motherboard. We take you on a tour of the most commonly used slots, connectors, and pinouts.How-To
PC Tips: Use Sleep Mode to Save Money, Skip ‘Safely Remove’
Learn why using Sleep Mode is a smart idea and why selecting Safely Remove before unplugging a USB drive isn't strictly necessary.Hassle-Free PC
Use Google Voice to Send Text Messages From a Tablet
Like using GV for messaging on the desktop? You'll like its free and easy companion app as well.How-To
How To Make Your PC Distraction-Free
Whether you're weak-willed or a consummate multitasker in need of a little productivity boost, these apps and tips will help you stay focused on the task at hand.How-To
How to Buy a Router
Buying a router may not be at the top of everyone's to-do list, but a new model can mean the difference between enjoying Netflix in HD and seeing a grainy mess of substandard video.How-To
The Greatest PC Mysteries–Solved!
PCWorld's editors band together to solve the greatest PC mysteries! Find out why your PC beeps on startup, what a .dat file is, how USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 differ, and much more!How-To
How to Migrate From BlackBerry to Android
Whether you've persuaded your colleagues to take the plunge with you or are just striking out on your own, we provide a few essential tips for moving from a BlackBerry device to an Android handset.Answer Line
Back Up a Bootable CD or DVD
A41202813 asked the Answer Line forum for the best way to turn a bootable optical disc, like a CD or DVD, into a file that you could burn back into a bootable disc.How-To
Free Tools to Wipe Your Drives Securely
Properly clear off old data from a flash drive, hard-disk drive, solid-state drive, or hybrid hard drive–at no cost.How-To
RAID Made Easy
Wondering what RAID is all about, and whether using it will benefit your business? This primer explains all.How-To
How to Create a Bootable Mac OS X Flash Drive
Creating a bootable thumb drive that will run Lion and fit in your pocket is easy. This simple guide walks you through the necessary steps.Hassle-Free PC
Find Tablet-Friendly Android Apps with Tablified Market
An app that helps you find other apps? That's exactly what Tablified Market does. It's a must-have for owners of newer Android tablets.How-To
Improve Your Laptop’s Battery Life
Every laptop owner wants to maximize the time between battery recharges. Here's how to achieve that goal with a few basic hardware and software tweaks; as a bonus, they may improve your notebook’s performance, too.Answer Line
I Can’t Eject This Flash Drive (or External Hard Drive)
When CHIN3927 attempted to remove a USB external drive, Windows' wouldn't provide the Safe to Remove message. The Answer Line forum offered help.How-To
How to Benchmark Your Browser for HTML 5
Modern Web browsers on both mobile devices and PCs now support HTML 5, including HTML 5 canvas rendering. We show you how to get the most out of your browser with a little testing and tweaking.Answer Line
Can I Spread Wallpaper Across Multiple Monitors?
Roaddogg asked the Answer Line forum how to spread a single photo across two monitors as the desktop background (AKA the wallpaper)How-To
Turn your old iPad into a dedicated kitchen tablet
If you spend a lot of time at the stove, your old iPad could get a new life as a very useful kitchen tool. Here's how to set it up and what to consider when turning your iPad into a dedicated kitchen tablet.How-To
How to Protect Your Laptop
Follow our guide to safeguard your laptop, as well as the data that resides on it.How-To
How to Install a Sealed Liquid Cooler
The new generation of sealed liquid coolers make less noise, take up less space, and are easier to install than air coolers. Here's how to install one yourself.Answer Line
Windows 8: Two Operating Systems Barely on Speaking Terms
Ericuse165 asked people on the Windows forum what they thought of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview. I offer my two cents.Answer Line
Will I Be Able to Activate XP after 2014?
Snorg asked the Answer Line forum if Microsoft will activate new Windows XP installations after the company stops supporting the operating systemAnswer Line
How Do I Back Up?
I keep telling readers to back up their hard drives. Starlla Dupert asked me how.BizFeed
Windows 8: Training Required
Windows 8 includes a more drastic graphical interface change than previous versions of Windows. Here are the top questions new users are likely to ask–and how to answer them.How-To
12 Ways to Make Your Online Profile Work for You
Proactively managing your online persona is a must if you're serious about your career.How-To
How to Overclock Your Graphics Card
Overclocking your graphics card will increase performance and potentially stave off an expensive upgrade. We'll show you how to do it.How-To
Multiple Ports on Your PC: What Do They Do for You?
The back of your PC is chock full of connectors and ports–USB isn't the only game in town. Here's a primer on ports.Answer Line
My PC Doesn’t See My Hard Drive
When Wendell tries to boot his PC, an error message announces a disk read error. It's as if his hard drive–with three year's worth of work on it–doesn't exist.Hassle-Free PC
Install an Old Laptop Hard Drive in Your Desktop
You might need an adapter or two, but it is possible to recycle those old platters. The question is, are you better off turning them into an external drive?How-To