Wednesday, October 27, 2010
How To Edit Startup Programs
This tutorial shows you how to edit the programs that start with your computer. Editing these programs will make your computer start faster and can improve system performance.
Change the Computer Name
Change the Computer Name. on Howcast
Change the Computer Name. You may wish to do this if a User has the same name as the computer name, this is not allowed, so one has to be changed.
Back up any files and settings first.
Step 1: Back up all files and settings
Back up all files and settings. Better to be safe than sorry.
Step 2: Click on Start
Click on Start
Click on My Computer
Step 3: Right click and select Properties
In the window Right click and select Properties
The System Properties box should pop-up.
Step 4: Select the Computer Name Tab
Select the Computer Name Tab
Step 5: Near the bottom click the Change button
Near the bottom click the Change button
Step 6: Enter the new Computer Name
Enter the new Computer Name
Step 7: Finish off
Click OK
Then Click OK to close the System Properties box
Re-boot.
Monday, October 25, 2010
How To Add Media To Your Facebook Profile
How To Add Media To Your Facebook Profile on Howcast
No one’s impressed by a boring profile. Spice things up with links, pictures, and videos.
You Will Need
- A computer with internet access
- A Facebook account
- A webcam
- Digital media
Step 1: Add a link
Want to add a link to an article, blog, or other web site? Go to your Facebook profile and click the Link icon under the What’s on your mind? prompt in the Publisher box. Copy the link URL and hit Attach. Add a description if you like, then click Share to publish the link to your profile.
Step 2: Add a photo
To add a picture, click the Photo icon. Then choose Upload a Photo, Take a Photo, or Create an Album. To upload a photo, click Browse, locate the picture in your computer’s files, and click Open. Then hit Share. To take a photo with your webcam, click Allow, if prompted, and use the camera icon to take the picture; then share.
Step 3: Create an album
To create an album, first name it, enter the location where the pictures were taken, and set the privacy controls. Click Share and Trust to give Facebook access to your computer. Then pick the pictures that will go into the album. Hit Upload to finish.
After uploading your pictures, tag people and add captions by clicking on the photo, then clicking Edit This Photo.
Step 4: Upload a video
To upload a video, hit Browse, find the video you want to post, click Open, and then Share. After it’s uploaded, close the pop-up window, or click Close Window and Edit to name your video and adjust the privacy settings.
Never upload anything you don’t have the rights to.
Step 5: Record video
Add video footage. Click the icon and choose Record a Video or Upload a Video. To record one with your webcam, click Allow; then close the pop-up window. Use the buttons at the bottom of the display to create your clip, and hit “Share.” Now you’ve got a multimedia profile you can be proud of!
How To Fix a Scratched CD
This video will show you how to resurface a scratched CD so that it reads in your CD player.
You Will Need
- Metal Polish/Buffing Compound
- A Scratched CD
- Paper Towels
- Tissue Paper
Step 1: Gather Materials
The things you’ll need to accomplish this project are a scratched CD in need of repair, metal polisher, paper towels, and tissue paper.
Step 2: Project theory
The theory is that on CD’s, the data isn’t written on the scratched clear coating, but underneath it. Scratches on the clear coating cause the laser to refract, therefore making the data underneath it unreadable. So this project intends to buff out those scratches.
Step 3: Buff The CD With The Metal Polish
Using the metal polish compound, buff the CD in a circular motion as you would when buffing a car. The deeper the scratches are, the more force you will need when buffing in order to fill in the cracks. Don’t use so much force that it breaks the CD however.
Step 4: Let It Dry
Let the polish compound dry. It should turn to a white residue.
Step 5: Wipe Off Excess Compound
Use the tissue paper to wipe Off Any excess compound. If you want to polish the CD even more, you can use toothpaste to coat the CD and then wipe off the excess.
How To Clear Your History in Internet Explorer 7
So, you’ve been “exploring” some options, and now someone’s on to you? Here’s how to shake them from your tail.
You Will Need
- Internet Explorer 7
- A questionable internet history
Step 1: Open Internet Explorer
Open Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click "Delete Browsing History"
On the top menu bar, click “Tools,” then “Delete Browsing History.”
Step 3: Click "Delete All"
In the box that comes up, click “Delete All.” Then click “Yes.”
That’s it—walk away from your computer in confidence. Your sordid internet history is gone forever.
How To Organize Your Computer Desktop
How To Organize Your Computer Desktop on Howcast
Keeping a computer desktop organized is tough, but clutter can quickly and easily become a thing of the past.
You Will Need
- A computer
- And a desire to keep it organized
Step 1: Put everything in one folder
Create a new folder on your desktop, and add all the documents currently located on your desktop to it, including application launchers.
You don’t need application launchers on your desktop to launch programs. It’s faster to launch applications using the Windows Start menu or your keyboard.
Step 2: Create an Inbox folder
Create an Inbox folder for recent items you haven’t yet had a chance to look at. When you do go through it, you’ll either resolve the item or place it into one of the next four folders.
Step 3: Create an Actions folder
Create an Actions folder. The Actions folder is for items that you plan to tackle within the next few days, but they take between 15 minutes and an hour to complete. If you can take care of an item in your Inbox in less time, do it immediately.
Step 4: Create an Incubate folder
Create an Incubate folder for items you have decided to put off for more than a few days.
Step 5: Create a Current Projects folder
Create a folder and give it the name Current Projects. The Current Projects folder is for all the documents related to long-term projects you are currently working on.
Step 6: Create an Archive folder
Create a folder and give it the name Archive. The Archive folder is for everything you have finished working on but don’t want to delete. Consider moving this off your desktop into the hard drive.
Step 7: Put your documents in the correct folder
Go to the first folder you created, with all your desktop documents in it. Examine each document and move it into one of the five new folders.
Step 8: Keep it clean
Keep your desktop clean by changing your browser settings so that attachments download to your Inbox, rather than to your desktop. When downloading programs, choose the folder where you want to store the program so that an icon for it doesn’t automatically land on your desktop.
Step 9: Keep it up
Diligently maintain this system by consistently moving your documents into one of the five folders.
How To Clear Your Internet History in Firefox
Have you maybe been eyeballing some things you’d rather other people didn’t know about? Clear your internet history and leave your anxiety behind.
You Will Need
- The Firefox web browser
- And a questionable internet history
Step 1: Open Firefox
Open Firefox.
Step 2: Click "Clear Private Data"
On the top menu bar, click “Tools,” then “Clear Private Data.”
Step 3: Click every checkbox
In the box that comes up, click every checkbox and check every box you can.
This will clear every bit of information that might indicate where you’ve looked on the internet, including any passwords you’ve saved. For a less thorough clearing, click just the first two boxes.
Step 4: Click "Clear Private Data Now"
Click “Clear Private Data Now.”
How To Do Better Google Searches
How To Do Better Google Searches on Howcast
Feel like there’s something missing from your life? Just hop on Google, and follow these simple steps to pinpoint whatever you’re looking for in a jiffy.
You Will Need
- A computer with an internet connection
Step 1: Go to Google homepage
Go to Google’s homepage at www.google.com
Step 2: Type in key words
Type in key words related to your search. Try to be specific without including too many words.
Google generally ignores very common words like “how.” If a common word is essential to your search, put a plus sign in front of it. Otherwise, just leave it out.
Step 3: Add quotes
Put quotes around any phrase in your search. This tells Google to look for words in a specific order. Quotes are especially helpful with names.
Instead of putting quotes around your phrase, you can do the same thing by putting dashes between the words.
Step 4: Narrow search
Narrow down your search by adding additional words or phrases. Try to think of unusual words that are specific to the thing you’re looking for.
Step 5: Searching range of numbers
To search within a range of numbers, type a low number and high number separated by two periods, with no spaces. For example, if you want to find something between 100 and 200 dollars, type dollar sign-one hundred-dot-dot-dollar sign-two hundred.
Step 6: Use "Advanced Search"
To further refine your search, click “Advanced Search.” Here you can specify languages, file formats, dates, and other characteristics.
On the Advanced Search page, you can also filter out any results containing “adult content”—including graphic images or video—by clicking on “Filter using SafeSearch.”
Step 7: Use different words
If you’re still not finding what you want, start over with different words or phrases.
That’s it—you’ll have what you’re looking for in no time.