BBC Countryfile Magazine

February marked the end of my original year-long commission for “Five Days to the Weekend”, a weekly guide to towns and villages worth visiting in the UK.

1/2: Hambleton, Rutland (click here)
8/2: Brampton, Cumbria (click here)
15/2: Pangbourne, Berkshire (click here)
22/2: Tintern, Monmouthshire (click here)

Tech Radar/PC Plus

My recent project on encrypting your hard drive for data security in PC Plus has now been put online at Tech Radar. Click here to view it.

BBC Countryfile Magazine

My latest contributions to “Five Days to the Weekend” are online at the following links:

11/1: Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire (click here)
18/1: Moffat, Dumfries and Galloway (click here)
25/1: Coggeshall, Essex (click here)

BBC Countryfile Magazine

I continue to provide weekly “Five Days to the Weekend” columns for the BBC Countryfile Magazine web site. At present, this is due to continue to the end of February. Here is a list of columns published since the end of November:

30/11: Freshwater, Isle of Wight – click here

7/12: Hawes, North Yorkshire – click here
14/12: Petworth, West Sussex - click here
21/12: Cookstown, County Antrim - click here
28/12: Broadway, Worcestershire – click here

4/1: Looe, Cornwall – click here

MSN Tech & Gadgets UK

My feature on the year 2000’s gadget failures has been submitted, and is already published online: click here to view it.

Windows Magazine

My “Perfect Windows 7 install” feature from issue 36 has now been placed online at the magazine’s web site. Click here to view it.

BBC Countryfile

Two new Five Days to the Weekend features are online: Coniston in Cumbria featured last week (click here) and today it’s the turn of Horncastle in Lincolnshire (click here).

Tech Radar

My feature, “12 essential Google Chrome browser add-ons” feature is now published and online. Please click here to view it.

BBC Countryfile

A rather personal “Five Days to the Weekend” piece this week as I feature Builth Wells in the middle of Wales, near to where I grew up. Click here to join my trip down memory lane.

Vodafone iPhone

The first fruits of my work on producing an online guide and blog on the iPhone for Vodafone users is now online – click here.

BBC Countryfile

My latest “Five days to the weekend” column, featuring Ottery St Mary in Cornwall, is now online. Please click here to view it.

PC Answers

My “Move to a new PC” feature, originally published in issue 198, has now been placed online in the form it appeared in the magazine. Click here to view it.

BBC Countryfile

Cloughton on the North York Moors is the featured village in this week’s “Five Days to the Weekend” column – click here to read it.

BBC Countryfile Magazine

Hayfield in Derbyshire is the featured village in this week’s “Five Days to the Weekend” column – click here to view it.

BBC Countryfile

Watton-at-Stone is the latest village to be featured in my “Five Days to the Weekend” weekly column on the magazine’s web site: click here to view it.

BBC History

My two previous Footsteps pieces have been placed on the magazine’s web site. For Clare Priory, please click here; and for Tymperley’s Clock Museum, please click here.

BBC Countryfile

My latest “Five days to the weekend” piece, featuring Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, is now online. Click here to read it.

MSN Tech & Gadgets UK

My eBook Reader roundup for the MSN Tech & Gadgets UK web site is now online – please click here to read it.

BBC Countryfile

My latest Five Days to the Weekend piece, featuring Chagford in Dartmoor, is online here.

PC Answers

My back-up feature from issue 195 of PC Answers can now be read in its entirety at the PCA web site, exactly as it appeared in the original magazine. Click here for details.

BBC Countryfile

This week’s “Five days to the weekend” piece features Wells Next The Sea in Norfolk. Click here to view.

BBC Countryfile

Market Bosworth in Leicestershire is the subject of this week’s “Five Days to the Weekend” feature – click here to view it.

BBC Countryfile Magazine

My latest “Five days to the weekend” piece, featuring Longridge in Lancashire, is now online – click here to read it.

PC Answers

My 10 tips for blocking email spam have been published on the PCA web site (albeit without credit). This originally appeared in issue 194’s Helpdesk section, where it did at least appear under my name! Click here to view it.

BBC Countryfile

My latest “Five Days to the Weekend” column on Cobham in Surrey is published here.

Vodafone

Just a reminder that my “Guide to Apps” is now published and online at the Vodafone Apps web site: click here for the link to the download page (the actual guide is in PDF format).

Support PCs

I’ve uploaded two new tutorials from the Microsoft Windows XP Magazine to the Support PCs web site:

Become a publishing wizard: create brochures, flyers, newsletters and more with Serif PagePlus SE, a powerful, yet user-friendly desktop publishing package that's completely free – click here

Remote control your PC: access any PC over the internet for troubleshooting or remote access purposes – click here

Microsoft Windows Vista Magazine

I’ve uploaded my Windows Calendar tutorial, which appeared in issue 23 of the Microsoft Windows Vista Magazine, to the Support PCs web site – click here to view it.

Computeractive

A number of my old Computeractive workshops have been placed online, incorrectly attributed to “Computeractive staff”. These are:

Remove unwanted programs from your PC: click here
Manage web favourites quickly and easily: click here

BBC Countryfile

Llangollen in North Wales is the featured spot in this week’s “Five days to the Weekend” feature, my regular piece for the BBC Countryfile Magazine web site. Click here to view it.

Support PCs

My “Bluff your way through the Registry” guide, which was most recently repurposed in issue 92 of the Microsoft Windows XP Magazine is now online at Support PCs – click here.

Vodafone

I’ve just submitted a 1,000-word piece explaining Google’s Android OS for mobile phone handsets (Android is basically Google’s answer to Apple’s iPhone) for thVodafone Apps web site, which is administered by GGMR. It should appear shortly after this post is published – click here to look out for it.

Support PCs

Back up and protect your data
Your data is at risk - and recovery doesn't come cheap. Discover how to back it up easily, safely and automatically with my comprehensive five-page guide here. This is an expanded article of one originally published in PC Answers issue 195.

BBC Countryfile

My latest Five Days to the Weekend piece, featuring Oundle in Northamptonshire, is now online – click here to read it.

Tech Radar

My latest piece, “14 tips and tricks to buff up your Gmail skills”, is now online. Click here to read it.

BBC Countryfile Magazine

My latest Five Days to the Weekend piece – featuring Lyndhurst in Hampshire – is now online. Click here to view it.

Tech Radar

My latest piece for the Tech Radar web site – 13 really useful YouTube tips, tools and hacks – is now online. Click here to view it.

BBC Who Do You Think You Are?

An edited – as in all of the negative criticisms have been removed – version of my recent review of RootsMagic 4 is online at Genealogy Reviews – click here to read it.

Most of my reviews for the magazine have been placed online here – presumably with the magazine’s permission:

The Official Guide to Family Tree Maker 2009 guide – click here
Who Do You Think You Are? Deluxe Edition – click here

BBC Countryfile

My feature “Top 10 BBC TV locations”, which was published last year in BBC Countryfile Magazine (issue 10), has now been placed online at the magazine’s web site – click here to view it.

Microsoft Windows XP, issue 101

Issue 101 of the official Microsoft Windows XP Magazine is now on-sale. It features three repurposed tutorials of mine, plus the Q&A section: how to keep your hard drive healthy (now online at Support PCs – please click here), a guide to using System Restore, plus tips and tricks for better scanning.

Support PCs

My tutorial on creating a photo slideshow using Microsoft’s free Photo Story 3 software, which was originally published in issue 93 of the Microsoft Windows XP Magazine, is now online: please click here to view it.

BBC Countryfile

My latest “Five days to the weekend” piece, featuring Abbots Bromley in Staffordshire, is now online. Click here to read it.

Support PCs

I’ve just uploaded a revised six-page feature based on material from various tutorials and features I’ve written in the past for PC Answers and Microsoft Windows XP Magazine. “Get Vista for free” is aimed at Windows XP users who can’t or won’t upgrade to Windows Vista – it basically reveals how to get many of Vista’s features in XP for little or no cost. Click here for the full lowdown.

The Support PCs web site is a joint venture between Joe Cassels and myself, and showcases previously published work in its original form. Commissioning Editors who wish to get an idea of the style and quality of my writing should read the material on this web site.

BBC Countryfile

My latest Five Days to the Weekend article features Cheddar in Somerset – click here to read it.

Support PCs

My project on upgrading your router’s firmware to DD-WRT for better performance, security and other features is now online – click here to view it. This was originally published in issue 194 of PC Answers.

Tech Radar recap

Just a quick pointer to some of my most popular articles on the Tech Radar web site: 10 free system tools for XP and Vista (714 diggs), 10 ways to make Chrome as good as Firefox (556 diggs), Secure your identity and privacy on any PC you use (398 diggs), 10 best free Windows clipboard replacements (394 diggs), and 10 essential tips for recovering lost files (123 diggs).

BBC Countryfile

My latest “Five days to the weekend” piece, featuring Thaxted in Essex, is now online. Click here to view it.

Tech Radar

My latest piece - “Secure your data and identity on every PC you use” – is now published and online. Click here to read it.

Update 07 July, 9.28am: this piece, which was published last night, has quickly become the most-read piece on the site, and has received over 300 Diggs from readers recommending it to others.

Support PCs

I’ve just finished uploading my 250 Microsoft Office tips feature from the Australian edition of Microsoft Windows XP Magazine to the new Support PCs web site: click here to view it.

Support PCs

My tutorial, “Bluff your way through the BIOS”, which was originally published in issue 90 of the official Microsoft Windows XP Magazine is now online and can be read here.

The Support PCs web site is a joint venture between Joe Cassels and myself, and showcases previously published work in its original form. Commissioning Editors who wish to get an idea of the style and quality of my writing should read the material on this web site.

Tech Radar

My latest piece for the Tech Radar web site - 12 free power apps for Windows 7 - can be read online by clicking here.

BBC Countryfile

My latest Five Days to the Weekend article, featuring Framlingham in Suffolk, is now online. Click here to read it.

Support PCs

I’ve just uploaded an article on changing, editing and designing your own file and folder icons to the Support PCs web site. This was originally published in issue 83 of the Microsoft Windows XP Magazine. Click here to view it.

BBC Countryfile Magazine

My latest Five Days to the Weekend piece on Ballycastle in County Antrim is now online. Click here to view it.

Support PCs

I’ve just uploaded two old tutorials from 2008 to the Support PCs web site:

Speed up Microsoft Office: revolutionise the way you use Microsoft Office and save time with the help of macros. Originally published in issue 86 of the Microsoft Windows XP Magazine.

Make Windows more accessible: your PC is packed full of features to make it more accessible to everyone. Discover how to make things easier in both Windows XP and Vista. Originally published in issue 183 of PC Answers.

Microsoft Windows Magazine, issue 32

The official Microsoft Windows Vista Magazine has been renamed to enable it to expand its remit to XP, the forthcoming Windows 7 and other related services such as Windows Live.

As per usual, my contribution is the Q&A section, but this issue also comes with a covermounted book. “50 quick and easy ways to customise Windows Vista” was originally written by Joe Cassels and myself for the magazine’s web site. Sadly, neither of us has been credited, but you can view the tips online at the Support PCs web site by clicking here.

PC Answers

Although incorrectly credited to the magazine team, my piece on saving energy and boosting battery life from issue 194 has been placed online. Click here to read it.

BBC Countryfile

My latest Five Days to the Weekend piece, featuring Arndale in Cumbria, is published online here.

Support PCs

I’ve uploaded the following two articles to Support PCs, the first was originally published in issue 270 of Computeractive, and the second originally appeared in issue 61 of the Microsoft Windows XP Magazine.

Play movies on your portable or handheld device: discover how to transfer home movies to your portable video player, handheld computer or Windows Mobile-powered phone.

Speed up startup and shutdown: remove unwanted programs to free up resources and speed up the time it takes to start and switch off your PC.

Support PCs

I’ve just uploaded a guide to optimising your computer for gaming. Originally written for the Microsoft Windows Vista Magazine (it appeared back in issue 16), I’ve updated the guide to work with Windows XP too. Click here to read it.

BBC Countryfile Magazine

My latest “Five Days to the Weekend” piece – featuring Wymondham in Leicestershire – is online and can be viewed here.

BBC Countryfile Magazine

My latest Five Days to the Weekend piece, featuring Hurley in Berkshire, is now online. Please click here to view it.

BBC Countryfile Magazine

My latest Five Days to the Weekend piece, on Lochearnhead in Perthshire, is now online – please click here to view it.

BBC Countryfile

My latest “Five days to the weekend” piece has been published online, featuring Bredwardine and Brobury. Click here to view it.

Tech Radar

The last of my latest batch of tips pieces for Tech Radar has now been published – click here to read about 10 tweaks to make after reinstalling Windows.

BBC Countryfile Magazine

My latest "Five days to the weekend" featurette, on Bramley in Surrey, is now online - click here to read it.

Tech Radar

I have submitted the fourth of my pieces for Tech Radar this month, a roundup of 10 of the best free clipboard replacement tools. This has just been posted online – click here to read it.

Publication date of my previously submitted 10 essential post-reinstall tweaks piece is currently unknown.

Support PCs

I’ve just published an updated version of my 100 keyboard shortcuts feature to the Tips section of the web site. This has previously appeared in both PC Answers 179 and in amended form in Windows XP Magazine 91. Click here.

Support PCs

I’ve uploaded a revised and updated tutorial on sharing media and TV (both live and recorded programmes) over the internet. This was originally published in issue 18 of Microsoft Windows Vista Magazine. Click here to view the tutorial.

Computeractive

My recent workshop on adding a Vista-style Favourites bar to Windows XP has now been published online – click here. This article originally appeared in issue 282.

BBC Countryfile magazine

My latest “Five days to the weekend” piece, featuring Morpeth in Northumbria, is now online – click here.

Tech Radar

The second of my latest trilogy of tips features has now been uploaded to the Tech Radar web site: click here for 10 easy ways to boost your online security.

Tech Radar

My “10 brilliant free back-up tools” piece is now online at Tech Radar – click here to read it (and download some of those tools if you’re running without a backup!).

BBC Countryfile Magazine

My latest Five Days to the Weekend piece, featuring Polperro in Cornwall, is now online here.

BBC Countryfile Magazine

It’s a little delayed owing to the website redesign, but my latest “Five days to the weekend” piece on Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire is now online at the BBC Countryfile Magazine web site – click here to view. All previous features are also online and available from here.

Support PCs

I’ve just uploaded two reinstalling pieces to the Support PCs web site. For a complete feature on reinstalling Windows XP from scratch, please click here – this article originally appeared in the official UK Microsoft Windows XP Magazine (issue 74).

For a tutorial on performing a repair reinstall of XP, please click here – this appeared in issue 81 of the Microsoft Windows XP Magazine.

BBC Countryfile Magazine

My latest Five Days to the Weekend piece, featuring Barnard Castle, is now online here.

BBC Countryfile Magazine

Thanks to the kind permission of BBC Countryfile Magazine’s editor, Cavan Scott, I’m able to present my A to Z of saving water from issue six of the magazine, published last year. Click here to read it at my site.

BBC Countryfile Magazine

The third of my weekly “Five days to the weekend” features has just been posted on the BBC Countryfile Magazine web site – read all about Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire here.

Tech Radar

The third in my trilogy of tips features for Tech Radar has been published, namely “10 essential tips for recovering lost files”. You can read about it here.

Support PCs

I’m currently in the process of rebuilding and redesigning the Support PCs web site at the moment. Two new articles uploaded to the new server are how to create a basic rescue CD for Windows Vista and XP here, and how to recover from a corrupt Registry here.

Tech Radar

Hot on the heels of yesterday’s article (see below) is another tips article for the Tech Radar web site: 10 really useful free Windows system tools, which you can read here.

Tech Radar

My latest tips piece, “The really easy 10 step health plan for your PC” has been published here. I’ve also got two more 10 tips features due to be published over the next couple of days – the links will appear shortly.

BBC Countryfile Magazine

My latest Five Days to the Weekend feature, on Linton in Cambridgeshire has been published online and can be viewed here.

BBC Countryfile Magazine

The first of my regular weekly "Five days to the weekend" columns for the BBC Countryfile Magazine web site has been published - click here for a guide to Stow-on-the-Wold.

Tech Radar

My first piece for the Tech Radar web site, 10 ways to make Google Chrome as good as Firefox, is now online. Click here to read it.