Latest PCs & Components How-To Stories
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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!
How-To
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
Updated
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
How-To
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
The unreal deal: How to ID phony phones, counterfeit CPUs, and other tech traps
Fake tech products are a multimillion-dollar business, and you’re the intended victim. Here’s how to protect yourself.Hassle-Free PC
How to add a third monitor to your laptop
What's better than a two-screen setup? A three-screener, of course. Here's how to work around the video-output limitation.How-To
Build the ultimate Windows 8 home-theater PC for under $500
Forget about Roku, Chromecast, or any other set-top trick: The best way to control your home theater is still with a PC. Here's how to do it for cheap.Answer Line
Why you may want a desktop instead of a laptop
Patrick Moore asked the Laptops forum about the advantages of going with a desktop computerAnswer Line
Yes, you can still upgrade to Windows 7
Arcticsid knows he can't continue using Windows XP. He asked the Windows forum about upgrading to Windows 7 rather than Windows 8.
How-To
How to solve the 10 most common tech support problems yourself
PC trouble? Try fixing the problem yourself with some advice from tech-support experts.How-To
Resurrect your old PC as a public kiosk for fun and profit
Give your old hardware a second life: Build a PC with the right tools and software to provide safe, secure public access in a small business or public setting.Answer Line
Overclocking: Why you should and should not do it
Arcticsid asked the Answer Line forum to explain overclocking, and why it is, or is not, a good ideaHow-To
How to fix your PC’s worst annoyances
Slow startups. Endless software updates. Locked screens. Find relief here.Hassle-Free PC
How to sidestep accidental mouse clicks
Clicking the wrong place at the wrong time can have disastrous results. But if you catch yourself in time, there's a fix.How-To
The power user’s guide to picking the perfect keyboard
You spend hours with your keyboard—pick a good one. Here's how.Hassle-Free PC
Five bookmarks every computer user should have
You can save yourself some time and headaches by keeping these important links at the ready.How-To
How to overclock your new Haswell CPU like a pro
Reap some amazing performance improvements from your hot new Haswell processor for free.Answer Line
How to make good use of an old hard drive
Carol Hart has an extra hard drive hanging around. She asked me what she can do with it.How-To
Desktop land grab: Essential tips for multimonitor productivity
Two or more monitors can enhance your computing experience for work—and play. Here's how to set them up for the best possible viewing experience.Answer Line
How to change drive letters–even when the letter you want isn’t available
Jack McCabe wants Windows to identify his data drive as D:, but D: is already taken.Answer Line
Simplify browser use with keyboard shortcuts
The mouse may be the most intuitive way to control a browser, but it's not the most efficient. As MLStrand56 learned on the Answer Line forum, browser shortcuts can be valuable.Hassle-Free PC