Latest Gaming How-to Stories
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Create a Keyboard Shortcut to Insert Your E-Mail Address
Tired of typing your e-mail address every time you log in, register for a site, fill out a form, and so on? Here's how to automate address insertion.How-To
Build a Gaming PC for Under $1000
Here's how to put together a bad-ass gaming PC for less than a grand.Answer Line
Laptop Keyboard Problems
The keyboard on Therese Gween's laptop is misbehaving. What can she do about it?Hassle-Free PC
A Better Way to Switch Between Open Windows
If you're still reaching for the mouse every time you want to change windows, there's a much faster keyboard shortcut–and not the one you think.Hassle-Free PC
Create a Keyboard Shortcut for Your Favorite Folder
Windows doesn't let you pin folders to the Taskbar, but you can set up keyboard shortcuts that'll open them just as lickety-split.How-To
Turn Your Gaming Hobby Into Your Small Business
StarCraft II tutors, Street Fighting lawyers, and more–meet three gamers who made their passion into their profession.Hassle-Free PC
Three Laptop Parts You Can Replace Cheaply on eBay
Laptop repairs don't have to cost a fortune. Very often you can get parts for a fraction of what the manufacturer charges.Hassle-Free PC
Insert Special Characters in Documents, E-Mails, and Web Pages
Ever wish you could add an accented 'e' to your text? Or an em-dash? Here's how.Hassle-Free PC
Connect an Old Game Console to Your PC
Can your computer screen double as a TV monitor for aging game consoles? Possibly, but you probably won't be happy with the results.Hassle-Free PC
Get a Free Book of Windows 7 Shortcuts
Ready to turn your keyboard into a power tool? This e-book offers a whopping 200 shortcuts for operating every aspect of Windows 7.How-To
Free Tools Consolidate Reward Cards, Share Files, and More
These free online services and apps let you create one reward card to rule them all, share huge files, and use Windows as your weather service.How-To
Windows Explorer Tips: Select Files, Show Extensions, Rename Setup Files
Select multiple files fast with a hidden Windows Explorer feature, show file extensions, and rename downloaded setup files.How-To
Laptop Gaming: Optimize Performance on Portable PCs
Most mainstream laptops have modest CPUs and weak graphics cards. Here's how to tune your games for the best laptop gaming.Hassle-Free PC
Keyboard Shortcut: Jump to the Top or Bottom of Any Web Page
Stop putting unnecessary strain on your mouse's scroll wheel! Learn these two simple shortcuts instead.How-To
15 Awesome Things You Probably Shouldn’t Do
Want to unlock your iPhone, download YouTube videos, or hack a stranger's Facebook account? It's all possible, but it's also all against the rules.Hassle-Free PC
Turn Any Web Page Into Your Own Personal Asteroids Game
This is so clever, I can't believe no one thought of it before. Note to the developer: Can we get Space Invaders next?How-To
How to Install and Play Duke Nukem 3D on Your PC
Want to warm up for Duke Nukem Forever by playing its 1996 predecessor? You don't need to dust off your Pentium 1 rig. Here's how to get the old title running on a modern Windows PC.Hassle-Free PC
Disable Your Laptop’s Touchpad While You Type, Windows 7 Edition
If you're a Windows 7 user, here's a utility that should solve the maddening problem of accidental touchpad swipes. And it's free!How-To
Atari 2600 Teardown: What’s Inside Your Old Console?
What's inside that old Atari 2600 of yours? Have a look at this Reagan-era console, courtesy of the folks at iFixit.Answer Line
My Keyboard isn’t Working
Several keys on skyDX’s keyboard stopped functioning. He asked the Desktops forum for help.How-To
Android: A Gamer’s Guide
You may not realize it, but your Android-powered smartphone or tablet PC could be a gaming monster–if it's in the right hands. Here's everything you need to know about playing games on your Android gadgets.How-To
How to Customize Your Android Phone
With a booming Android Marketplace, there's no reason to stick with the limited and sometimes frustrating default apps and settings on your Android smartphone. Here are some tips.Hassle-Free PC
Keep Your Keyboard Clean and Germ-Free
Arm yourself with a can of compressed air and some antibacterial wipes, then use them on your keyboard. Your health will thank you.How-To
How to Dominate StarCraft II
StarCraft II hits stores on Tuesday, July 27. Avoid the most common newbie mistakes so you can crush the campaign mode and beat your buddies.Hassle-Free PC
Add Keyboard LEDs to Your System Tray
This tiny utility shows at-a-glance if your Caps Lock, Num Lock, and/or Scroll Lock are activated.How-To
Give Your Phone the Power of a Desktop PC
Cross-platform apps such as Firefox Portable Edition, OpenOffice.org Portable, and Audacity Portable will give your phone full PC capabilities.How-To
Part 7: How to Conduct a First Boot of Your New PC and Configure the BIOS
In this video, we show you how to safely boot up for the first time and configure your PC's BIOS settings.How-To
Part 6: How to Insert the Hard Disk and Optical Drives in Your PC
Use this video to learn how to safely install optical drives and hard disks in your PC.How-To
Part 4: How to Add RAM and Peripheral Cards to Your PC
Follow the instructions in this video to correctly add RAM and/or peripheral cards to your PC.How-To
Build a Great Media-Editing PC, Part 1: How to Choose Your PC Components
In this seven-part series called "Build a Great Media-Editing PC," we take you through the entire process of building your own powerful computer. In this video, we show you how to choose the parts for your new desktop.How-To
Tweak Your Graphics Card for Gaming
Here's how to make your games look gorgeous and run smoothly–using nothing but your AMD or nVidia graphics card control panel.Hassle-Free PC
Easily Switch Between External Displays in Windows 7
One of Windows 7's best-kept secrets is the keyboard shortcut that lets you choose your external-display configuration with just one click.Hassle-Free PC
Disable Your Laptop’s Touchpad While You Type
If you're encountering weird cursor behavior, it's probably the result of accidental touchpad touches. A free utility may help.Hassle-Free PC
Make the Most of Your ‘Home’ and ‘End’ Keys
How to stop neglecting two of the handiest shortcut keys on your keyboard.How-To
How to Use Your Console Gamepad With Your PC
Games aren't the same without a gamepad under your thumbs. Play on your PC with your Xbox 360, PS3, or PS2 controller–and other game devices.Community Voices
Tetravex Logic Puzzles on Martin Luther King, Jr Day
The free software movement is an integral part of the civil rights movement, still largely unfinished.Hassle-Free PC
Raise Your Windows IQ: When to Single-Click, When to Double-Click
There's no shame in admitting you don't when to click once or twice. Follow these simple rules and you'll be a click-master in no time.How-To
How to Buy a Cell Phone
Need a new phone but dread making all those choices? Consumer Affairs Columnist Amber Bouman can help.Hassle-Free PC
Make the Most of Your Middle Mouse Button, Part 4
There's one last way to get some extra use out of that third button: Click it, hold it, and drag your mouse to scroll up or down on a page. Very handy!Mobile Computing
In-Flight Entertainment on a Netbook
Here's how to make the most of a low-powered PC, be it a netbook or humbly equipped business machine.How-To
Windows 7: A Guide for Gamers
Manage, tweak, and control your PC gaming experience with Windows 7's built-in features.How-To
Geek 101: A Graphics Card Primer
Are graphics options confusing? Don't know how much graphics card you need? Start here.
How-To
Laptop Q&A: Power Off Quickly, Fix Sticky Keys
What do you do when your laptop won't turn off? And how can you fix sticky, broken keys? Rick Broida has the answers.Hassle-Free PC
Turn Off Your Monitor By Pressing a Hotkey
Here's a simple way to save electricity: Turn off your monitor whenever you get up from your desk.Hassle-Free PC
Instantly Create New Folders in Windows 7
A simple keyboard shortcut saves you two, two, TWO mouse-clicks in Micrsoft's keyboard-friendly new OS.Hassle-Free PC
Fix a Laptop’s Sticky, Broken Keys
Don't consign your laptop to the scrap heap just because it has a worn-out keyboard. You may be able to replace it with a few bucks and a few minutes.Hassle-Free PC
Six Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts You Need to Learn Right Now
Why reach for the mouse when you can access common Windows 7 features right from the keyboard?Hassle-Free PC
Reverse ‘Uh-Oh’ Moments with Undo
Graduate from "clueless" to "novice" by mastering one of Windows' most important, and rudimentary, features.Answer Line