Windows

All personal computers running the Windows XP operating system include a basic e-mail application called Outlook Express. With the release of Windows Vista and Windows 7, Microsoft has replaced...

Backing up valuable data is always a prudent move prior to any major computing operation, as there is no telling when the ever-looming threat of data failure will rear its ugly head. There are a...

There are two general form factors for hard drives---IDE and SATA, with SATA hard drives being the more advanced technology, allowing for faster access speeds and greater bandwidth in transferring...

If your PC has been acting sluggish or behaving erratically, then adjusting the virtual memory settings may help to improve performance. Virtual memory uses the space available on your hard drive...

The login password for Windows Vista adds an extra element of security to your computer or laptop. But if you're the only one who ever uses your computer, you may find it a little annoying to type...

Windows XP's Files and Settings Transfer Wizard allows you to easily transfer files to a new hard drive. Using this utility, you can transfer all the settings and/or files from your computer to...

When Windows Vista was released, the free email client included in previous version of Windows got a major overhaul. Windows released Windows Mail (and then Windows Live Mail) as a complete...

If you have ever gotten a virus on your Windows XP computer, then you know how frustrating it can be to deal with the effects of the virus while trying to remove it from your machine. This...

Home improvements can greatly increase the value of your home as well as improve its appearance and appeal. They also can be a costly endeavor. Something as simple as replacing an odd garden...

Backing up your computer is an essential operation especially as more aspects of our lives move to the Internet, making our computers more susceptible to viruses than ever. Windows Vista includes...

Wood window trim for exterior applications comes in more shapes and sizes than casing made from other materials and is more economical and widely available. To trim an exterior window with wood,...

Fdisk is a tool that is used to initialize and create partitions on hard drives that use the FAT16 or FAT32 file systems. Because Fdisk does not support the more modern NTFS file system (used in...

Windows relies on drivers to act as an intermediary between the operating system and programs. All kernel-mode software, such as device drivers, must have a digital signature for WHQL...

Fir is a favored wood for window trim because of its warm red and yellow tones. However, fir is a soft and porous wood, and it needs to be conditioned before staining in order to avoid a blotchy...

Parents have a very difficult job when it comes to protecting their children from dangerous sites on the Internet. Although there are several ways to prevent harmful websites from being visited,...

The OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) version of Windows XP can be purchased through a computer parts reseller if you purchase hardware components with it. While the OEM version of Windows XP...

Although you can manually back up files and folders, correctly capturing the entire content of your hard drive can save you time and frustration if your hard drive fails. Ghosting or copying a...

In 2004, Microsoft instituted a new security procedure called "Genuine Advantage." The purpose of "Genuine Advantage" was to curtail illegal transfers and sharing of Microsoft Windows XP (and...

Installing system updates through Microsoft's Windows Update program helps maintain the integrity and security of your copy of Windows Vista. Many updates address security issues, while others...

A file extension is a suffix applied to the name of a file that tells your computer what software is needed to open and read the file. In Windows operating systems, such as XP or Vista, a file...

Using the Windows command shell (CMD.exe) to configure networking is a more complex undertaking than using the GUI (Graphical User Interface) equivalent. Command shells are not intuitive and can...

Windows NT is an older operating system still used by some corporate and home networks. The operating system introduced a new file system called NTFS, which uses different boot files from the...

The icon cache in the Windows Vista operating system is a file that contains the icon information for your computer. Sometimes, this file can become corrupted and the icons on your computer can...

Whether you want to upgrade the operating system on your Dell desktop computer or simply reset your computer to its original state, formatting the hard drive is a critical step. Formatting a Dell...

Reinstalling an operating system is never ideal, but often it is the last resort if a computer becomes overrun with viruses or bogged down with too many old files. Reinstalling Windows Vista to...

When Windows Vista was released, Microsoft drastically simplified the Disk Defragmenter tool from its XP counterpart, including removing the visual element that gave users a graphical overview of...

There are numerous ways to trim a window, including crown molding, corner blocks and square cuts. One of the simplest and cleanest-looking, though, is a simple four-sided corner miter. Each end of...

An external drive is one that is outside of the computer and not built in. Only newer computers will be able to install a drive externally, as it requires a specific option that is only available...

Startup folders are located in the Windows registry load programs when you boot up the computer. When you install a program and choose to have it load during Windows bootup, the application's...

The safest way to troubleshoot issues is through safe mode. When programs are not functioning properly, then safe mode is a way to restore them. Uninstalling programs via safe mode is best because...

Windows XP is one of the most popular Windows operating systems developed and is known for its stability and speed as compared with older versions of the Windows OS. Despite this, Windows XP can...

The icons on your Windows Taskbar to the right of the "Start" menu represent the Quick Launch programs, which are basically the same as shortcuts on your desktop, but you do not have to close all...

Windows Vista is one of Microsoft's latest operating systems, and comes on a DVD for installation. However, if you've ever wanted to install Windows Vista using a USB flash drive instead of a DVD,...

The Network Time Protocol is used to synchronize computer clocks. Computers access a central time server and receive the correct time from it. The NTP software then changes the time on the local...

In the event your Windows XP installation becomes corrupt, and there is no way to restore the system or log into it, then your next option is to reinstall the Windows XP operating system. If you...

In the course of day to day operation of your Windows XP computer, it is possible for critical operating system files to be erased or become corrupted. This can result from someone tinkering...

Laptops and desktop computers will often become bogged down with unnecessary programs, data and viruses after years of use. When this is the case, the simplest tasks of day to day operation can...

The simplest way to enable remote access on a Windows computer is to enable it via a check box in the system properties. However, you may encounter a situation in which you are unable to perform...

Screensaver is a utility in Windows that displays an image selected by the user after a specific period of inactivity, also set by the user. However, screensavers consume power just like when you...

Many computer manufacturers, such as Dell, sell computer systems that have a recovery drive partition in lieu of providing a recovery CD. For many users, this partition serves a useful purpose in...

If you use Windows XP, you can send a fax directly from your computer. Sending a fax from Windows XP eliminates paper waste and saves you time from printing and faxing from a separate fax...

If you've ever needed to recover your Windows XP computer, but haven't been able to find the recovery CD that came with your computer, there's no need to fret. Creating a Windows XP recovery CD...

If you have a computer with multiple operating systems installed on it, you may have to mark a partition as active in order for your system to boot from it. The Windows XP Disk Management utility...

The message "NTLDR is missing" is a common error in Windows XP Pro. NTLDR is the file that regulates the start up procedure. Every time you turn your computer on, this file tells your computer to...

Replacing your old double-hung windows involves more than just screws. The windows are trapped in place by ``stop-trim,'' which is a narrow perimeter of wood trim on both the inner and outer sides...

Virtual memory is a portion of your hard drive that Windows appoints for swap memory. Windows uses this memory in the same way it uses your RAM. Virtual memory can fill up quickly when running...

Microsoft Windows XP Professional allows you to set the virtual memory of your computer. Virtual memory is set on the different drives of your hard disk and aids the RAM (random access memory) by...

In Windows and DOS, a batch script can be thought of as a file that gives the computer many instructions in one step. A batch script can be constructed to quickly shut the computer down, run...

An XP repair install can be useful if your computer has a problem that you can't fix but you don't want to resort to reinstalling the entire operating system. The repair installation will...

If your Windows XP computer is suffering from a serious problem that is affecting the operating system, a repair install may be your ticket to success. A repair install is designed to replace the...