Computer Hardware & Software Tips: Video Series

Remove old network connections in Windows Vista by opening up the "Control Panel," finding the "Network Center," clicking on "Manage Network Connections" and deleting any networks that are no longer in use. Clean out old network connections in Windows Vista with help from a computer programmer in this free video on computer networks.

To restore deleted files on an SD card, plug the card into a card reader, download a free program called "Restoration," run the program to find the SD card on the computer, and search for deleted files. Click on a deleted file and hit the "Restore" button to get it back on an SD card with instructions from a computer programmer in this free video on restoring computer files.

Read a broken hard drive by running through the diagnostic utilities found under the "Error Checking" menu in the "Tools" section of the computer. Choose to automatically fix file system errors on a hard drive with advice from a computer programmer in this free video on computer hard drives.

Overclock a processor by turning on the computer, opening up the computer BIOS screen and stepping up the CPU frequency in small increments. Look at the CPU frequency multiplier to get a computer to run faster with help from a computer programmer in this free video on computer processors.

Reduce laptop computer fan noise by getting rid of dust buildup on the exhaust system with compressed air and making sure the computer is sitting on a surface that allows for airflow. Replace the exhaust unit on a laptop fan if the noise persists with advice from a computer programmer in this free video on laptop computers.

To monitor a laptop computer's temperature, download a program that monitors processor temperature called MobileMeter, run the program, and make sure the temperature of the processor stays at an acceptable range. Avoid frying a laptop computer processor with help from a computer programmer in this free video on laptop computers.

Opening Microsoft Word 2007 from a computer start menu will bring up a blank document that can be used for word processing, creating lists, typing letters or making a variety of documents. Learn how to save and re-open a Microsoft Word document with help from a computer programmer in this free video on Microsoft Word.

Sell an HP laptop computer on Craigslist.org by finding the local site, clicking on "Post," creating an advertisement for the computer and including a phone number on the ad. Deal with local people only when selling computers on Craigslist with tips from a computer programmer in this free video on selling computers.

To make a video using PowerPoint, launch the PowerPoint program on a computer, create a title for the slide show, click on "New Slide," select "Insert," and click on "Media Clips" and "Movie." Drag and drop movie files into a PowerPoint slide show with instructions from a computer programmer in this free video on PowerPoint.

Restore deleted files from a memory card by downloading a program called "Restoration," inserting the memory card into the computer, launching "Restoration" and selecting the drive and file to restore. Choose to restore deleted files by copying with instructions from a computer programmer in this free video on restoring deleted files.

Map a computer network drive by clicking on "My Computer," selecting "Map Network Drive," picking a drive letter that is not being used, typing in the name of the server or IP address and clicking "Finish." Find the drive map at the bottom of the computer once it has been restarted with help from a computer programmer in this free video on computer drives.

Remove spyware by downloading the "Spybot Search and Destroy" program, running the program, looking at the temporary files that are found and deciding whether to delete or keep different spyware files. Use the Spybot wizard to run updates on the program with tips from a computer programmer in this free video on computer spyware.

To use Winzip on a computer, create a new zip by clicking on "New," determine where to keep the file, select files to compress using the program, and click "Add." Compress files, and create groupings of file using Winzip with help from a computer programmer in this free video on Winzip.

Troubleshoot laptop screens by checking the button on the laptop screen that could be stuck, plugging the laptop into an external monitor through a VGA connection, or restarting the computer to look for the manufacturer logo. Determine whether laptop screen problems are from the hardware or the software with advice from a computer programmer in this free video on laptop computers.

To use PowerPoint Presentations, open the program from the "Start" menu on the computer, create new slides, add content to the slides, insert pictures or videos onto the slides, and click to play the slides from the beginning. Learn how to navigate through slides on a PowerPoint presentation with information from a computer programmer in this free video on Microsoft PowerPoint.

To stop computer desktop icons from moving, right click on the desktop, select the option to auto arrange and align the icons in a grid, and check the icons to be included in the option. Keep a computer desktop looking neat with help from a computer programmer in this free video on computer desktops.

Microsoft Excel spreadsheets allow users to create columns and rows that define and display data, as well as create formulas to calculate data. Get information on creating an Excel spreadsheet and using the calculation tools from a computer programmer in this free video on Microsoft Excel.

The parts of the standard toolbar in Microsoft Excel include the Home tab, the Insert tab, the Page Layout tab, Formulas and Data. Use different Microsoft Excel tabs to insert information, calculate data or change the page layout for printing with help from a computer programmer in this free video on Microsoft Excel.

Microsoft Excel formulas can be used to take the sum or average of a set of data by typing an equal sign into a cell, clicking on "Sum" or "Average," typing an open parenthesis, highlighting the data, and closing the parenthesis. Find out how to use different Microsoft Excel formulas with help from a computer programmer in this free video on Microsoft Excel.

Turn on Microsoft Silverlight by downloading the program from the Microsoft Web site and running the install program to automatically turn Silverlight on during Web browsing. Make Web sites easy to use and more interactive with Microsoft Silverlight using information from a computer programmer in this free video on Microsoft Silverlight.

Using Microsoft Silverlight is simple because the program will launch automatically when Web sites that use Silverlight are visited on the the Internet. Download and install Microsoft Silverlight with information from a computer programmer in this free video on Microsoft Silverlight.

To uninstall Microsoft Silverlight, go to the computer "Control Panel," double click on "Programs and Features," select Microsoft Silverlight, and click "Uninstall." Wait for the "Programs and Features" window to pop back up in order to verify that a program has been uninstalled with advice from a computer programmer in this free video on uninstalling computer programs.

The unlock code for a Microsoft Word program is located on a sticker attached to the back of the CD sleeve that came with the Microsoft purchase. Type in the unlock code when prompted to set up Microsoft Word with information from a computer programmer in this free video on Microsoft Word.

There are many tutorials available for using Microsoft Excel, including how to create a spreadsheet, how to get the sum of a set of numbers and how to insert a graph. Follow simple instructions for using Microsoft Excel with advice from a computer programmer in this free video on Microsoft Excel.

To use Microsoft Excel's graphing program, create a list of data, highlight the data, click on "Insert," and select the type of chart to be created. Use bar graphs, pie charts or line graphs in Microsoft Excel with instructions from a computer programmer in this free video on Microsoft Excel.