Tutorials

• Laptop not charging

  Reader Bballgurl84life's laptop battery isn't charging.

  By Lincoln Spector | 08 February, 2011 06:28

  Tags: hardware systems, laptops

• How to use touch to control your Windows 7 PC

  QUESTION: I want to use touch to control my Windows 7 Home Premium PC. Is it as simple as plugging in a touchscreen display? I'd also like to view a 3D image - will I need a new graphics card?

  By Chris Byers | 14 August, 2010 03:16

  Tags: 3D display, graphics cards, hardware systems, Microsoft, PC Peripherals, PCs & laptops, touchscreens

• Initialise your PC's microphone

  QUESTION: My Windows 7 PC plays audio through headphones but is unable to pick up sound from them. I've got a Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi card and a Logitech USB phone/microphone. The drivers are up to date.

  By Chris Byers | 03 August, 2010 02:46

  Tags: creative labs, Digital audio, hardware systems, logitech, PC Peripherals

• How to troubleshoot your home-built PC

  Building a PC is a little like walking a tightrope without a net. Okay, it's not quite that dangerous, but unlike buying an off-the-shelf system, you have to be your own tech support staff.

  By Loyd Case | 31 July, 2010 00:57

  Tags: desktop pcs, desktops, hardware systems, troubleshooting

• Laptop tips: Add RAM, recycle a hard drive

  It's been almost a year since I served up some nice, hot laptop tips--and that's inexcusable. I'll make it up to you this week with some useful advice on adding memory to a laptop, turning an old laptop hard disc into an external drive, and using your laptop's power settings effectively.

  By Rick Broida | 21 July, 2010 23:56

  Tags: Acer, hardware systems, laptops, power, ram, tips, upgrading

• Part Seven: Building a PC -- configuring the BIOS

  This article is the seventh and final in a series of how-to stories on building a computer.

  By Nick Barber | 03 July, 2010 02:05

  Tags: desktop pcs, hardware systems, Home, Office, pc components

• Part Six: Building a PC -- inserting the drives

  This article is the sixth in a series of how-to stories on building a computer.

  By Nick Barber | 03 July, 2010 01:55

  Tags: Components, desktop pcs, hardware systems, pc components, western digital

• Part Five: Building a PC -- connecting the PSU

  This article is the fifth in a series of how-to stories on building a computer.

  By Nick Barber | 02 July, 2010 23:45

  Tags: Components, desktop pcs, hardware systems, pc components

• Part Four: Building a PC -- adding RAM and cards

  This article is the fourth in a series of how-to stories on building a computer.

  By Nick Barber | 02 July, 2010 23:42

  Tags: Components, desktop pcs, Graphics boards, hardware systems, memory, Motherboards, pc components

• Part Three: Building a PC -- installing the CPU

  This article is the third in a series of how-to stories on building a computer. For a video version of part three, click here.

  By Nick Barber | 01 July, 2010 02:08

  Tags: Components, desktop pcs, hardware systems, Intel, pc components, processors

• Fix Outlook 'general failure' error for e-mail links

  So out of the blue today, I click a link embedded in an e-mail, and Outlook gives me this error:

  By Rick Broida | 30 June, 2010 06:10

  Tags: applications, desktop pcs, e-mail, firefox, hardware systems, Microsoft, Office, outlook, software