PC tips and tutorials

Get more from your PC

The terms of most of my freelance contracts are that I can republish past articles six months after that article has been published. Rather than let some articles gather dust in the archives of various magazines, I've joined forces with fellow writer Joe Cassels to place our old articles online at SupportPCs. Other articles have been placed online by the magazines they were published in, while I've also placed a few on here too. Use the links below or to the right to view them.
Key: CA - Computeractive; PCA - PC Answers; WXP - Microsoft Windows XP (UK); AWXP - Microsoft Windows XP (Australia); YFT - Your Family Tree

On this Web site

Reinstall Windows XP
My definitive guide to reinstalling Windows XP - first published in PC Answers issue 157 - is now online. Click here to view it

Support PCs articles

Sub-sites:
Create a Windows installation CD: don't have a Windows 98, Me, 2000 or XP installation disc? Discover how to create one from your recovery disc's files
Data recovery for free: accidentally deleted, lost or corrupted a file or drive? Before paying hundreds of pounds for professional help, try these free techniques

Features
Vista for free: get many of Vista's features in Windows XP without having to pay a penny (PCA168)
Create a Windows XP rescue disc: if you've got Windows XP then one day you may need this (various)
Back to basics: refresher's course for Windows XP users (AXP27) - here
Create a custom Windows installation disc: build a Windows 2000 or XP install disc with the latest drivers, updates, software and other tweaks (PCA160)
Troubleshoot your own Windows problems: fix your own PC problems using the same techniques that the experts use (PCA163)
Genealogy on your PC: trace your family history simply and quickly from the comfort of your own home (YFT42)
Reinstall Windows from a recovery disc: get your system up and running again with the disc supplied by your manufacturer (PCA164)
Disinfect your PC: discover how to remove spyware and virus infections from your computer, and ensure it stays safe from harm in the future (AWXP33)

Tips
45 system shortcuts (original) - here
250 Office tips (AWXP21) - here
Tips and tricks for your monitor (AWXP14) - here
12 scanning tips (AWXP15) - here
100 Windows tips (PCA134) - here

Security
Who's watching you online? (WXP59) - here
Encrypt your hard drive (exclusive to SupportPCs) - here
Keep Windows up to date (AWXP17) - here
Free protection for your PC (AWXP18) - here

Maintenance
Check the stability of your drivers (WXP54) - here
Create an updated Windows installation disc (excl) - here
Get the Perfect PC setup (WXP59) - here
Partition your hard drive (WXP59) - here
Automate your system using Scheduled Tasks (WXP59) - here
Give your PC a health-check (WXP55) - here
Hard drive maintenance (WXP54) - parts one and two

Troubleshoot
Get to grips with the Recovery Console (WXP51) - here
Give remote assistance to any version of Windows (WXP56) - here
Fix a corrupt Registry (AWXP16) - parts one and two
Use XP's Help and Support Center (AWXP18) - here
Get help from Microsoft online (AWXP19) - here
Get older programs to run in Windows XP (AWXP3) - here

Exploring Windows
Set up multiple users in Windows XP (AWXP11) - parts one and two
Compress files to save space (AWXP18) - here
Make use of the Windows Taskbar (AWXP3) - here
Customise the Start menu (AWXP2) - here
Customise your desktop (WXP50) - here
Unlock the power of your right-click menu (WXP51) - here
Set up a virtual CD or DVD drive (AWXP31) - here
Make use of Windows' NTFS filing system (AWXP32) - parts one and two

Performance
Strip back and speed up your PC (WXP45) - here
Take advantage of keyboard shortcuts (WXP44) - here
Clean out your hard drive (WXP44) - here
Manage your fonts (AWXP30) - here

Internet
Build your own online shop (WXP58-60) - parts one, two and three
Share files and folders over the Internet with a FTP server (AWXP5) - here
Share your Internet connection (AWXP10) - here
Filter your email before downloading it (WXP54) - here
Faster, more reliable downloads (AWXP32) - here

Office
Track your home finances in Excel (PCA153) - here
Create a quiz in Excel (PCA157) - here
Use formulas and functions in Excel (PCA154) - here
Use macros to speed up Office (AWXP21) - here
Create portable PowerPoint presentations (PCA158) - here
Record your family tree in Microsoft Word (WXP34) - here
Design your own business cards (PCA159) - here

Software
Build a flash drive toolkit (AWXP17) - parts one and two
Keep an electronic diary on your PC (WXP55) - here
Fix problems with your images (WXP58, 59 and 60) - parts one, two and three
20 free - and safe - tools you can't do without (AWXP30) - parts one and two

Hardware and networking
Share files through a firewire network (WXP61) - here
Create a file and print server (AXP7) - parts one and two
Upgrade your laptop's hard drive (exclusive to SupportPCs) - parts one, two and three
 

On Future's Web sites

Internet and Security tutorials
Ten most desirable add-ons for Firefox (PCA147): view online
Speed up Firefox (PCA148): see online
A new theme for Firefox (PCA149): view online (from PCA149)
Safe, secure browsing with Netscape 8 (PCA150): view online
Keep your data private with Netscape 8 (PCA151) - view online
Cover your online tracks (PCA153) - view online

Windows tutorials
Easy maintenance (Scheduled Tasks) (WXP58) - view online

Office tutorials
Create portable PowerPoint presentations (PCA158): view online (this has also been placed on NTL's Web site here)

Troubleshooting
PCA Helpdesk - if you've got a problem, maybe we've covered it here - view online

Genealogical articles
Become a records transcriber (Your Family Tree, issue 44) - download the PDF here
Incorporate sound files in your research (Your Family Tree, issue 48) - download the PDF here

Microsoft Windows Vista tutorials
Windows Vista Help Section - view online
Troubleshoot upgrade/installation issues - view online
Five ways to speed up Windows Vista - view online
Q&A (issue 3) - view online
Windows Vista Help section (web exclusive) - click here
50 ways to speed up your PC (web exclusive) - parts one, two, three, four and five (co-written with Joe Cassels)
50 ways to customise Windows Vista - click here (co-written with Joe Cassels)
Six essential tips for any Windows Vista user - click here
How to transfer your programs and settings to a new PC - click here
Seven ways to get your wireless network sorted - online here
 

Computeractive