Latest PCs & Components How-To Stories
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Brush up on your tech acronyms
You hear and read the same acronyms over and over again. Many you know well. Others you can guess. And some just baffle you. Let's unclutter the alphabet soup.Answer Line
Computer shutting down on its own? Maybe it’s time to play it cool.
If your computer has acquired the habit of shutting down when you didn't ask it to, there's a good chance that it's overheated. Here's how to cool it down.Hassle-Free PC
Get tough on stubborn programs with Revo uninstaller
Sometimes you just can't get the job done with an app's built-in tools. That's when you may have to turn to a third-party uninstaller.Answer Line
What to do when a second hard drive bricks your PC
You install a second hard drive, plug in the power, and turn on the PC. But Windows doesn't boot. Run through this checklist to fix the problem.
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USB 3.0 speed: Real and imagined
In theory, USB 3.0 transfers data at an awesome 5gbps, but the flash drives available now can't even hit USB 2.0's much-lower speed ceiling.Answer Line
Don’t use the same external drive for backup and storage
External hard drives can provide both backup and storage. But don't use the same drive for both.How-To
How to upgrade an old PC: No-brainer improvements anyone can do
Is your computer running too slow? Breathe new life into that aging PC with a few tune-ups and upgrades to get it back up to speed.Answer Line
Save power: Don’t run your PC 24/7
Why waste electricity? Sleep, hibernate, or shut down your PC when you don’t need it.How-To
Turn old PC hardware into a home server with FreeNAS
FreeNAS can breathe new life into old hardware and sling files and media to networked devices all around your house.How-To
Transform a Windows tablet into a full-fledged Windows PC
With some accessories and handy-dandy software tweaks, a portable Windows tablet can become the heart of a potent PC workstation.Hassle-Free PC
It’s spring! Clean out your PC’s junk with these free programs
You're already cleaning up your house for the summer months, so why not extend that DIY attitude to your PC too?How-To
Linux to the rescue! How Ubuntu can help a computer in distress
When disaster strikes your Windows PC, an Ubuntu live drive has all the tools you need to save the day.How-To
The ultimate guide to proper PC cable management
With a little planning and lots of twist ties, your cluttered PC can be transformed into a clean, crisp computer with wonderful airflow.Hassle-Free PC
Windows 8.1 Update tip: Clean up that disk space now
Now that you're used to the new Windows 8.1 Update, it's time to clear up some space on that hard drive.How-To
Mean and green: How to build a gaming PC that’s fast, quiet, and efficient
Gaming rigs don’t have to be big, noisy, power-sucking beasts. We've built one that treads lightly and kills softly.How-To
7 easy tips to extend your PC’s lifespan
PCs are pricey. These 7 tips and tricks can help yours live to a ripe old age.Answer Line
Recover files from a dead PC
Your PC no longer boots. Here's how to recover the vital files trapped inside.How-To
The right way to set up a new PC
That new machine isn't truly ready for business until you complete these steps.How-To
How to make the Windows desktop look good on high-DPI displays
Windows wasn't made to work well with pixel-packed displays. Here's how to force the issue.How-To
How to build your own Steam Machine today for $560
We built a diminutive PC gaming rig for roughly the same price as an Xbox One. Was it worth it?Hassle-Free PC
Three Windows multitasking features that help maximize your screen space
Need to get more than one thing done at a time? There's a Snap for that.How-To
How to make your gloves touchscreen capable
Add smartphone-friendly fingers to your favorite gloves, and you'll never have to take them off. Take that, Polar Vortex!
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How to easily find drivers for Unknown Devices in Windows
Sure, you can rip your PC apart and eyeball troublesome hardware directly – but there's an easier way to find drivers for unknown devices.Answer Line
How to upgrade to a larger hard drive
Your hard drive (or SSD) is overflowing. You’ve just bought a new one with a larger capacity. Now what do you do?Hassle-Free PC
Teach your laptop to treat a secondary monitor as the primary display
Bigger screens make for better browsing, but programs open on your primary display by default. Here's how to teach your laptop to open programs on an external monitor
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How to restore your SSD to peak performance
SSDs slow down with use, but a secure-erase utility could work wonders for it.Answer Line
How to set up a child’s first PC
Eventually, your kid will want—and need—a computer. But they’ll still need a parent’s guidance and protection. Start with the right programs—and the right rules.Answer Line
My hard drive is making scary sounds
A noisy hard drive is probably a dying hard drive. Here's how to get the files off before time runs out.How-To
Essential tools for building, repairing, and upgrading PCs (and other electronic devices)
Using the right tools can mean the difference between a satisfyingly successful project and a regrettable disaster.Answer Line
How to archive files so they’ll stay around for years
Daisky wants to store files in a way that will make them available to future generationsHow-To
Find the right backup drive for your storage needs
If coming up with a backup strategy is one of your New Year's resolutions, maybe a backup drive should be on your holiday shopping list. We can tell you what to look for.How-To
Build this killer AMD-based Windows 8.1 PC for less than $1000
Forget about Intel; this powerful PC build packs AMD hardware under the hood.Answer Line
When your PC doesn’t recognize a 2nd drive
Creeds installed an old hard drive into a new machine as a second drive. He's having problems getting it to work.How-To
How to make your old GPU run like new
A little TLC can breathe new life into your aging graphics card.How-To
The absurdly simple guide to backing up your PC
Backing up isn't difficult, it's getting around to backing up that's the challenge for most users. Here are the backup basics made so easy you'll have no excuse for not creating a safety copy of your data.How-To
Windows 8 buying guide: How to buy the best laptop, desktop, tablet, or hybrid
Windows 8 works on them all. Here's how to buy the best one for you.Answer Line
How to make room on your Windows partition
Acharya1987's C: drive is running out of space. I offer my suggestions, as does the Answer Line forum.Answer Line
How to move to a new PC (Spoiler: Don’t clone)
Tristan asked if he should transfer everything to his new laptop by cloning the old PC's hard driveHow-To
Let go of that laptop: the ultimate guide to making a tablet your main computer
Done with heavy hardware? With these apps, peripherals, and cloud services, you can leave that notebook behind for good.Answer Line
Recover files from a dead external drive
Xolelwa Mzili's PC no longer sees her external hard drive. Can she recover the files?How-To
How to build a killer Windows 8.1 gaming PC for under $1000
A new OS calls for new hardware, at an affordable price.How-To
Lockdown: How to secure your PC without going crazy
Digital privacy is within your grasp with this practical beginner's guide to encryption.Answer Line
What to do if your PC shuts down and automatically reboots
Norman Barrett's PC is "stuck in a boot loop." When he tries to start it, it continually reboots and starts over.How-To
How to avoid common PC building mistakes
Check socket compatibility. Organize the screws and cables. Install this before that. And read the manuals!Hassle-Free PC
How to choose a USB hub
Need more USB ports for your PC? There are tons of hub options out there, but make sure you get this one particular feature.Answer Line
How to find out if your RAM is defective
Kleyou asked the Answer Line forum for advice about a misbehaving computer that likely has memory issuesHow-To
Learn to build a PC in under two minutes
Building a computer is a great way to get a custom configuration, save some money and have fun. In a how-to video, we'll show you how to build one in less than two minutes.Answer Line
Connect your PC to your HDTV, and control it from across the room
Peter asked me for the best way to connect a PC to an HDTV, and, once connected, how best to use it
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Benchmarks don’t lie: SSD upgrades deliver huge performance gains
An SSD can breathe new life into an old PC, but exactly how much performance do you gain? PCWorld ran the tests. Here are the results.How-To