Latest Windows How-To Stories
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Hassle-Free PC
Turn Vista’s Sleep Button Into a Power Button
Want to make your Start menu a little smarter? Reprogram the sleep button so it powers down your machine.Hassle-Free PC
Make Your Scroll Wheel Work in Every Window
Mouse-wheel scrolling doesn't work the way it should in all programs. Here's a quick fix to make it work consistently, everywhere.How-To
Disaster! How to Retrieve a Lost Windows Password
We show you techniques and tools that help solve the problem.How-To
How-To: Use Your iPhone as a Wireless Laptop Modem
The next time you’re stranded without an open WiFi network (but your 3G signal is going strong), you’ll be glad you installed Addition’s iPhoneModem 2 (free to try, full license is $9.99).How-To
Tweak Vista Icons, Add Shortcuts With Hassle-Free PC
PC World blogger Rick Broida helps you create a VPN shortcut, resize taskbar previews, and make Vista look more like Windows 7.How-To
Give Vista a Windows 7 Makeover
Want the bells and whistles of Windows 7's new interface without having to wait for the real thing? These easy tweaks will make Vista look and act like the next generation of Windows.How-To
Get Started With a Small-Business Server
Consider using a small-business server to manage tasks across all of your company's PCs.Answer Line
Back Up Your Registry
Frankie asked the Answer Line forum for the best way to back up the Windows Registry.Hassle-Free PC
Add Windows Explorer to the Quick Launch Toolbar
No, not Internet Explorer–Windows Explorer, the often-overlooked file manager that's baked into the OS.How-To
How to Stop Operating-System Attacks
Ads for DriveCleaner, WinFixer, Antivirus XP, Antivirus 2009 and others pop up on PCs all the time, but the software may be fraudulent or ineffective. Also: Mac users need security updates, too.Hassle-Free PC
Find Product Keys for Installed Software
Lost your key for Office? Windows? Keyfinder instantly culls the Registry to find keys for these and other important apps.Hassle-Free PC
Add Windows 7-Style Icons to Vista
Like those spiffy oversize icons in the Windows 7 taskbar? You can get the same look in Vista with just a few clicks.BizFeed
Schedule your PC’s Startup and Program Launch
Set favorite applications to launch at boot-up, and configure your PC to turn on or wake up in the morning.How-To
Set Up Windows 7 With Help From Hassle-Free PC
PC World blogger Rick Broida has tips for setting up a dual-boot Vista-Windows 7 machine and migrating to a new PC.Answer Line
How Do I Set a Default Folder View?
Mark Kline wants to know how to make Windows open all folders in the Details view.Hassle-Free PC
Set Up a Dual-Boot Configuration for Windows 7
In case you're not already sick to death of Windows 7 coverage, here's a great way to test-drive the OS on your current machine.How-To
Windows 7 Public Beta: First Impressions
Is Windows 7 shaping up to be the cure to Vista's many woes? We took the public beta for a spin to find out.How-To
Secret Tech Tips From Hassle-Free PC
PC World blogger Rick Broida reveals how to turn on a hidden Windows Vista feature, make your own ringtones, and change IE's default search engine.Answer Line
Is it Safe to Just Ignore Windows’ Service Packs?
Don Dalton installed Vista's SP1 update, encountered "a multitude of problems," and uninstalled it. Can he safely go on indefinitely without it?Hassle-Free PC
Turn on Vista’s Hidden ‘Checkboxes’ Feature
This little-known feature makes it much easier to select multiple files.BizFeed
Pick Simple Upgrades to Boost Your PC Performance
These hardware upgrades conserve costs while still making your PCs run better.How-To
Fast Fixes for Common PC Problems
Struggling with dead components, a recalcitrant Windows, and uncooperative applications? Our easy hardware repairs, simple software remedies, and quick tweaks will put your PC in the pink.How-To
Secure Your Vista PC in 10 Easy Steps
You don't necessarily need an expensive security suite to lock down Windows Vista. Here's how to do it using free software and a few easy system tweaks.How-To
Reinstall and Restore Your Windows PC in Eight Easy Steps
Eliminate problems and improve performance by wiping out Windows and reinstalling it from scratch. Here's a simple guide to help you back up your data and restore your PC quickly.Hassle-Free PC
Get Answers to Your Questions About Vista
A new Microsoft site aims to clear up Vista's mysteries–and invites you to do likewise.Hassle-Free PC
Stop Accidental Touchpad Touches While Typing
Tired of ruining your document because your thumb grazed the touchpad? There may be an easy fix.Answer Line
Make a Hibernate Shortcut
After reading my tip about creating a shutdown shortcut, Dan Sweet asked for one that will hibernate his PC.Answer Line
How Should I Prepare a New Computer?
C17SSgt asked the Forum for the steps in getting a new PC ready for use.Answer Line
Find Your Windows Product ID
Dreamweever66 needs to reinstall Windows. He asked the Answer Line forum where he can find that 20-digit number that tells Microsoft he bought Windows.Answer Line
Can You Install a Program onto an External Hard Drive?
kckrug1994 asked the Answer Line Forum if a game or application would will work if installed onto an external drive.Answer Line
What’s Using All My RAM?
Arcticsid asked the Answer Line Forum how he could find out what's using up so much of his PC's physical memory.How-To
Test Your PC With 10 (Mostly) Free Sites and Tools
Use these super testing tools to test and track practically everything about your PC–including its hard drive, Internet connections, and inside-the-case hardware.Answer Line
What’s the Safest Way to Resize a Partition?
Kevin Germino keeps programs and data on separate partitions, but he needs to adjust their sizes. Can he do this safely?Answer Line
How do I Keep My Desktop Icons in Place?
An anonymous reader doesn't like the way Windows sometimes rearranges icons on his desktop. Can he protect himself against this annoyance?How-To
Windows Vista Tools From Hassle-Free PC
PC World blogger Rick Broida reviews freebies that let you tweak Vista, launch apps with hotkeys, and access Outlook info on your desktop.Answer Line
How Do I Turn Off Power-Saving Modes’ Password Protection?
Hans Spring has told Windows not to ask for a password when he boots. But it still demands one to come out of Stand By and Hibernate modes.Hassle-Free PC
Hack Vista Settings with Ultimate Windows Tweaker
Who needs the Registry when this free utility lets you tweak the daylights out of Vista?How-To
A Parent’s Guide to Safe, Simple Kid-Friendly E-Mail
The Internet can be a dangerous place for children, but it's an increasingly necessary evil. Here's how to set up e-mail for your young'uns while maintaining parental control.Answer Line
How Best Do I Clean My Registry?
Helen Powell wants some advice on the safest way to use a Registry cleaner.How-To
How to Set Up a Cross-Platform Network
If your employees use a collection of Macs and PCs running OS X, Windows, and Linux, don't worry: These three operating systems can communicate on a single network.Hassle-Free PC
Turn Your Vista Notebook Into a Wi-Fi Hotspot
Vista makes it quite easy to share your wired or wireless Internet connection with nearby users.Hassle-Free PC
Three Keyboard Shortcuts You Need to Learn Right Now
Put…the mouse…down…and save time with these shortcuts.Hassle-Free PC
Boot Faster with Startup Delayer
Speed up your boot time with a free utility that postpones non-essential startup items.Answer Line
What Processes are Safe to Close?
On the Answer Line forum flingwings67 asked about the Task Manager's " laundry list of processes. How do you know which ones you can safely close?Answer Line
Can I Recover from Recovering My PC?
When his PC wouldn't boot, Stargazer ran its recovery tool and thus lost all of his files. Then he asked the Answer Line forum how he could get back his pictures, video, and music.Answer Line
How Do I Back Up My Drivers?
Gerald Thompson wants his drivers protected before a complete reinstall.Answer Line
What Autoloading Programs Should I Keep?
Joseph Storer of Bellingham, Massachusetts has the right idea. He wants to know which programs that autoload at startup should NOT be disabled.How-To
10 Fixes for Vista’s Worst Features
Windows Vista is loaded with features, but they don't all work as they should. Here's how to tweak, modify, cope with, or work around the operating system's biggest blunders.How-To