Maintenance/Management
Information from About Guides and partners relating to Maintenance/Management
35 Things Every PC User Should Know
(How To) Want to speed up your broadband connection? Diagnose mysterious crashes? Move massive files across the Internet? Sooner or later, you willa??and you'll find step-by-step instructions for these and other common PC tasks right here.
(How To) Want to speed up your broadband connection? Diagnose mysterious crashes? Move massive files across the Internet? Sooner or later, you willa??and you'll find step-by-step instructions for these and other common PC tasks right here.
Fix Windows Glitches by Re-registering Your DLLs
(howto) You can remedy some common Windows woes by reloading system files; a free tool to maximize shutdown options.
(howto) You can remedy some common Windows woes by reloading system files; a free tool to maximize shutdown options.
Security Is Up to You: Perfect Your Passwords
(howto) Set up strong password policies for your PC's users. Plus: A freeware tool can give you greater control over passwords and more.
(howto) Set up strong password policies for your PC's users. Plus: A freeware tool can give you greater control over passwords and more.
Office Tips: Keep Office Apps Purring, With Help From Microsoft
(howto) Office Tips: Keep Office Apps Purring, With Help From Microsoft
(howto) Office Tips: Keep Office Apps Purring, With Help From Microsoft
Hassle-Free PC: Clean House on a Junk-Filled System Tray
(howto) Hassle-Free PC: Clean House on a Junk-Filled System Tray
(howto) Hassle-Free PC: Clean House on a Junk-Filled System Tray
Why Is My Hard Drive Slowing Down My PC?
(howto) Also: The pros and cons of screen savers, and archiving at a distance.
(howto) Also: The pros and cons of screen savers, and archiving at a distance.
Emergency Boot CDs for PCs Without Floppy Drives
(howto) Emergency Boot CDs for PCs Without Floppy Drives
(howto) Emergency Boot CDs for PCs Without Floppy Drives
Answer Line: Stop Those Annoying Boot-Up Error Messages
(howto) Answer Line: Stop Those Annoying Boot-Up Error Messages
(howto) Answer Line: Stop Those Annoying Boot-Up Error Messages
Six Quick Tips Help Tame Oversize Files and Folders
(howto) Six Quick Tips Help Tame Oversize Files and Folders
(howto) Six Quick Tips Help Tame Oversize Files and Folders
Clean Up Your Hard Drive After Upgrading Windows
(howto) Clean Up Your Hard Drive After Upgrading Windows
(howto) Clean Up Your Hard Drive After Upgrading Windows
Remove Unsolicited Junk From Your Context Menus
(howto) Remove Unsolicited Junk From Your Context Menus
(howto) Remove Unsolicited Junk From Your Context Menus
All Gain, No Pain
(howto) PC chores don't have to be drudgery. We show you quick and easy ways to complete six essential tasks.
(howto) PC chores don't have to be drudgery. We show you quick and easy ways to complete six essential tasks.
Bugs and Fixes: Security Holes Plague Windows Help
(howto) Patches for XP and 2000 are available now--but 98 and Me users must wait.
(howto) Patches for XP and 2000 are available now--but 98 and Me users must wait.
Home Office: 11 Easy Ways to Keep a PC Up-to-Date
(howto) Get the latest on patches and upgrades for your hardware and software.
(howto) Get the latest on patches and upgrades for your hardware and software.
Answer Line: PC Safety Toolbox--Five Steps to Protecting Your System
(howto) The ins and outs of backing up, defragging, defending against intruders, and creating an emergency boot disk.
(howto) The ins and outs of backing up, defragging, defending against intruders, and creating an emergency boot disk.
Bugs and Fixes: Do Not Ignore Megapatch for Windows
(howto) Two of the most serious attacks could happen right under your nose.
(howto) Two of the most serious attacks could happen right under your nose.
Bugs and Fixes: Microsoft's Help System Needs Help
(howto) Microsoft's bulletins leave a lot to be desired. Here's how to find answers.
(howto) Microsoft's bulletins leave a lot to be desired. Here's how to find answers.
Answer Line: Protect Yourself Against Application Sneak Attacks
(howto) Bring back lost private folders; get a fresh start for System Restore; save data from a corrupted file.
(howto) Bring back lost private folders; get a fresh start for System Restore; save data from a corrupted file.
Bugs and Fixes: Microsoft Patches the Patch Process
(howto) The company's new update system may not be the answer to all your prayers.
(howto) The company's new update system may not be the answer to all your prayers.
Step-By-Step: Optimize Your PC for Faster Start-Up Times
(howto) Follow these five steps to slash your system's boot-up time.
(howto) Follow these five steps to slash your system's boot-up time.
Bugs and Fixes: Halt Worms and Viruses in Their Tracks
(howto) Take the steps necessary to protect your PC from Internet nasties.
(howto) Take the steps necessary to protect your PC from Internet nasties.
Windows Tips: Five Steps to a Leaner, Cleaner Windows
(howto) Improve Windows' performance by keeping your system folders clean; free hard drive space with Disk Medic.
(howto) Improve Windows' performance by keeping your system folders clean; free hard drive space with Disk Medic.
Bugs & Fixes: New Windows Holes, Dangerous Music
(howto) Prevent hackers from using music files to take charge of your machine.
(howto) Prevent hackers from using music files to take charge of your machine.
Windows Tips: Supercharge Windows by Paring Unneeded Services
(howto) Inside Windows' services tool; do your memory a dis-service; simple and free calendar app.
(howto) Inside Windows' services tool; do your memory a dis-service; simple and free calendar app.
Pain-Free Windows Tweaks
(howto) Want to fix nagging Windows irritations and automate everyday tasks? With these surprisingly simple Registry and batch-file tips, it's not brain surgery.
(howto) Want to fix nagging Windows irritations and automate everyday tasks? With these surprisingly simple Registry and batch-file tips, it's not brain surgery.
Windows Tips: A Better Way to Manage Sound and Image Files
(howto) Use Windows' built-in tools to organize the media files overwhelming your PC; say 'No to All.'
(howto) Use Windows' built-in tools to organize the media files overwhelming your PC; say 'No to All.'
Windows Tips: Banish Windows Blowups Before They Occur
(howto) Some golden rules on software updates and maintenance to keep your PC running smoothly.
(howto) Some golden rules on software updates and maintenance to keep your PC running smoothly.
Cheap Tweaks
(howto) 40+ underpriced, overperforming ways to get more from hardware, software, and the Web--from a $47 CPU upgrade to free Windows tricks.
(howto) 40+ underpriced, overperforming ways to get more from hardware, software, and the Web--from a $47 CPU upgrade to free Windows tricks.
Windows Tips: Simplify Disk Maintenance With Custom Shortcuts
(howto) Make ScanDisk and Disk Defragmenter more automatic; tile or cascade windows quickly; print a font sampler.
(howto) Make ScanDisk and Disk Defragmenter more automatic; tile or cascade windows quickly; print a font sampler.
Faster for Free
(howto) Want to get more from your megahertz? These slick tips and tools are like a no-cost PC upgrade.
(howto) Want to get more from your megahertz? These slick tips and tools are like a no-cost PC upgrade.
Answer Line: Where Should I Delete Private Information?
(howto) Use the Paranoia tab of Tweak UI to cover your online tracks; make euro symbols easily.
(howto) Use the Paranoia tab of Tweak UI to cover your online tracks; make euro symbols easily.
Windows Tips: Remove the Clutter Left by Your Windows Installation
(howto) Plus: Identify your DirectX version, show only risky file extensions, and use Alt-key shortcuts.
(howto) Plus: Identify your DirectX version, show only risky file extensions, and use Alt-key shortcuts.
Hardware Tips: Give Your Ears a Break--Put Your PC on the QT
(howto) Format dilemma: NTFS or FAT32? Find the right LCD resolution, USB 2.0/FireWire on one adapter.
(howto) Format dilemma: NTFS or FAT32? Find the right LCD resolution, USB 2.0/FireWire on one adapter.
Step-By-Step: Reclaim Hard-Drive Space
(howto) Windows utilities help you delete unwanted files, apps, and OS components; convert to FAT32; adjust your browser cache; and defrag your hard drive.
(howto) Windows utilities help you delete unwanted files, apps, and OS components; convert to FAT32; adjust your browser cache; and defrag your hard drive.
Home Office: Bass's Top Tips for Better Computing
(howto) Troubleshoot, dodge disasters, find a lost taskbar.
(howto) Troubleshoot, dodge disasters, find a lost taskbar.
Hardware Tips: A 20-Piece Tool Kit for the Practical (and Frugal) PC
(howto) A PC toolbox primer; troubleshooting tools in Windows; PC maintenance freebies.
(howto) A PC toolbox primer; troubleshooting tools in Windows; PC maintenance freebies.
Step-By-Step: Eight Tips to Tame Cables
(howto) You've lived with that tangle of cords behind your PC long enough.
(howto) You've lived with that tangle of cords behind your PC long enough.
Find and Organize Your Files
(howto) Here are our top tips and tricks for organizing and manipulating your files. Your filing system will never be in disarray again.
(howto) Here are our top tips and tricks for organizing and manipulating your files. Your filing system will never be in disarray again.
Answer Line: Where Are the Windows Installation Files I Need?
(howto) Find your Windows installation files, cure Web site lockouts, shuttle files between a Mac and a PC on a CD-RW, put many desktops on one PC.
(howto) Find your Windows installation files, cure Web site lockouts, shuttle files between a Mac and a PC on a CD-RW, put many desktops on one PC.
Step-By-Step: Care and Feeding of the Windows Registry
(howto) Proper maintenance of the Registry can help keep your PC happy and healthy.
(howto) Proper maintenance of the Registry can help keep your PC happy and healthy.
Answer Line: Prep an Old PC for a New Home
(howto) Get an old PC ready for a new home, automate shutdown maintenance.
(howto) Get an old PC ready for a new home, automate shutdown maintenance.