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  • How To Delete, Move, or Rename Locked Files in Windows

    - by Chris Hoffman
    Windows won’t allow you to modify files that open programs have locked. if you try to delete a file and see a message that it’s open in a program, you’ll have to unlock the file (or close the program). In some cases, it may not be clear which program has locked a file – or a background process may have locked a file and not terminated correctly. You must unlock the stubborn file or folder to modify it. Note: Unlocking certain files and deleting them may cause problems with open programs. Don’t unlock and delete files that should remain locked, including Windows system files. How To Delete, Move, or Rename Locked Files in Windows HTG Explains: Why Screen Savers Are No Longer Necessary 6 Ways Windows 8 Is More Secure Than Windows 7

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  • ZeroBin Is an Encrypted PasteBin Alternative

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    ZeroBin is like the heavily armored sibling of PasteBin; You can still paste large chunks of text but that text is encrypted with client-side encryption. PasteBin is great when you need to share snippets of code or log files, the only problem is the service is essentially wide open. Not such a big deal if you’re sharing your XBMC logs on the support forum to get a little help figuring out why your movie list won’t update, but less than idea if you’re sharing more sensitive information. ZeroBin steps in to fill that gap by offering client-side encryption where ZeroBin has no knowledge of the content of your shared text snippets. In addition you can set up the ZeroBin content to self destruct after a set amount of time. Hit up the link below to take ZeroBin for a spin. ZeroBin [via One Thing Well] How to Stress Test the Hard Drives in Your PC or Server How To Customize Your Android Lock Screen with WidgetLocker The Best Free Portable Apps for Your Flash Drive Toolkit

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  • Roll Your Own DIY Solar-Powered Security Camera Setup

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    If you’re looking to set up a security camera without running power or video lines, this solar-powered version combines a cheap Wi-Fi cam with a home-rolled solar setup to provide surveillance without wires. Courtesy of Reddit user CheapGuitar, the setup combines a dirt cheap off-brand Wi-Fi security camera, a Tupperware container spray painted black, some old camping solar panels, and a battery into a security camera that checks in as long as it’s in range of a Wi-Fi router or repeater. Hit up the link below to check out the build guide. Solar Powered Camera [via Hack A Day] HTG Explains: What Is Windows RT & What Does It Mean To Me? HTG Explains: How Windows 8′s Secure Boot Feature Works & What It Means for Linux Hack Your Kindle for Easy Font Customization

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  • How to Tell If Your Computer is Overheating and What to Do About It

    - by Chris Hoffman
    Heat is a computer’s enemy. Computers are designed with heat dispersion and ventilation in mind so they don’t overheat. If too much heat builds up, your computer may become unstable or suddenly shut down. The CPU and graphics card produce much more heat when running demanding applications. If there’s a problem with your computer’s cooling system, an excess of heat could even physically damage its components. Is Your Computer Overheating? When using a typical computer in a typical way, you shouldn’t have to worry about overheating at all. However, if you’re encountering system instability issues like abrupt shut downs, blue screens, and freezes — especially while doing something demanding like playing PC games or encoding video — your computer may be overheating. This can happen for several reasons. Your computer’s case may be full of dust, a fan may have failed, something may be blocking your computer’s vents, or you may have a compact laptop that was never designed to run at maximum performance for hours on end. Monitoring Your Computer’s Temperature First, bear in mind that different CPUs and GPUs (graphics cards) have different optimal temperature ranges. Before getting too worried about a temperature, be sure to check your computer’s documentation — or its CPU or graphics card specifications — and ensure you know the temperature ranges your hardware can handle. You can monitor your computer’s temperatures in a variety of different ways. First, you may have a way to monitor temperature that is already built into your system. You can often view temperature values in your computer’s BIOS or UEFI settings screen. This allows you to quickly see your computer’s temperature if Windows freezes or blue screens on you — just boot the computer, enter the BIOS or UEFI screen, and check the temperatures displayed there. Note that not all BIOSes or UEFI screens will display this information, but it is very common. There are also programs that will display your computer’s temperature. Such programs just read the sensors inside your computer and show you the temperature value they report, so there are a wide variety of tools you can use for this, from the simple Speccy system information utility to an advanced tool like SpeedFan. HWMonitor also offer this feature, displaying a wide variety of sensor information. Be sure to look at your CPU and graphics card temperatures. You can also find other temperatures, such as the temperature of your hard drive, but these components will generally only overheat if it becomes extremely hot in the computer’s case. They shouldn’t generate too much heat on their own. If you think your computer may be overheating, don’t just glance as these sensors once and ignore them. Do something demanding with your computer, such as running a CPU burn-in test with Prime 95, playing a PC game, or running a graphical benchmark. Monitor the computer’s temperature while you do this, even checking a few hours later — does any component overheat after you push it hard for a while? Preventing Your Computer From Overheating If your computer is overheating, here are some things you can do about it: Dust Out Your Computer’s Case: Dust accumulates in desktop PC cases and even laptops over time, clogging fans and blocking air flow. This dust can cause ventilation problems, trapping heat and preventing your PC from cooling itself properly. Be sure to clean your computer’s case occasionally to prevent dust build-up. Unfortunately, it’s often more difficult to dust out overheating laptops. Ensure Proper Ventilation: Put the computer in a location where it can properly ventilate itself. If it’s a desktop, don’t push the case up against a wall so that the computer’s vents become blocked or leave it near a radiator or heating vent. If it’s a laptop, be careful to not block its air vents, particularly when doing something demanding. For example, putting a laptop down on a mattress, allowing it to sink in, and leaving it there can lead to overheating — especially if the laptop is doing something demanding and generating heat it can’t get rid of. Check if Fans Are Running: If you’re not sure why your computer started overheating, open its case and check that all the fans are running. It’s possible that a CPU, graphics card, or case fan failed or became unplugged, reducing air flow. Tune Up Heat Sinks: If your CPU is overheating, its heat sink may not be seated correctly or its thermal paste may be old. You may need to remove the heat sink and re-apply new thermal paste before reseating the heat sink properly. This tip applies more to tweakers, overclockers, and people who build their own PCs, especially if they may have made a mistake when originally applying the thermal paste. This is often much more difficult when it comes to laptops, which generally aren’t designed to be user-serviceable. That can lead to trouble if the laptop becomes filled with dust and needs to be cleaned out, especially if the laptop was never designed to be opened by users at all. Consult our guide to diagnosing and fixing an overheating laptop for help with cooling down a hot laptop. Overheating is a definite danger when overclocking your CPU or graphics card. Overclocking will cause your components to run hotter, and the additional heat will cause problems unless you can properly cool your components. If you’ve overclocked your hardware and it has started to overheat — well, throttle back the overclock! Image Credit: Vinni Malek on Flickr     

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  • Play Updated Retro Arcade Games for Free Courtesy of Microsoft

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    As part of a promotion for Internet Explorer 10, Microsoft comissioned Atari to update several classic retro games from the arcade and the Atari consoles. Fortunately for those of us looking for a retro gaming fix, you can play the games in any HTML5-enabled browser. While game play is really smooth on most games there are a few little quirks that using Internet Explorer 10 does take care of. First, if you’re not on IE10, you’ll see a little advertisement before you begin playing each game. Second, some games call on some of the new touch/motion variable functionality built into IE10 for the Windows 8 tablet experience and they’ll stall out when they reach the point in the game they need to call that variable. That said, we played quite a few games without any hiccups at all. Hit up the link below to play classics like Asteroids, Lunar Lander, Pong, Super Breakout, and more. Atari IE10 Promo Gallery [Atari] HTG Explains: Why Do Hard Drives Show the Wrong Capacity in Windows? Java is Insecure and Awful, It’s Time to Disable It, and Here’s How What Are the Windows A: and B: Drives Used For?

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  • How to Create a PowerShell Profile

    - by Taylor Gibb
    PowerShell is a great way to automate almost anything in Windows. However, its not just a scripting language. If you find yourself using it as a command line shell it may be useful to store your functions and customizations in a profile that gets loaded every time you load the Console. Read on to find out how. 6 Ways Windows 8 Is More Secure Than Windows 7 HTG Explains: Why It’s Good That Your Computer’s RAM Is Full 10 Awesome Improvements For Desktop Users in Windows 8

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  • Netflix Updates Android Tablet App; iPad Update On The Way

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    Android: If you’re rocking an Android tablet, such as a Kindle Fire or Nook, you’ll want to update your Netflix app today. The new version sports a host of improvements including a massively overhauled interface. The old Netflix tablet application was functional but lackluster; it felt almost as if they didn’t realize they were designing it for a tablet. The new Netflix app is focused on beautiful cover-flow style navigation, displaying twice as many titles per screen, and an emphasis on natural navigation with finger swipes and taps. According to the Netflix press release, an iPad update will be rolling out in the next few weeks. New Experience Now Available for All Android Tablets [Netflix Blog] How to Run Android Apps on Your Desktop the Easy Way HTG Explains: Do You Really Need to Defrag Your PC? Use Amazon’s Barcode Scanner to Easily Buy Anything from Your Phone

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  • 60 Years of Barcodes [Infographic]

    - by Asian Angel
    Barcodes adorn nearly everything we buy such as food, books, movies, and more, so just how did it all begin and how has the technology evolved over the past sixty years? 60th anniversary of the barcode [via Graph Jam - Cheeseburger Network] 6 Ways Windows 8 Is More Secure Than Windows 7 HTG Explains: Why It’s Good That Your Computer’s RAM Is Full 10 Awesome Improvements For Desktop Users in Windows 8

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  • Little Wheel Is An Atmospheric and Engaging Point-and-Click Adventure

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    If you’re a fan of the resurgence of highly stylized and atmospheric adventure games–such as Spirit, World of Goo, and the like–you’ll definitely want to check out this well executed, free, and more than a little bit charming browser-based game. Little Wheel is set in a world of robots where, 10,000 years ago, a terrible accident at the central power plant left all the robots without power. The entire robot world went into a deep sleep and now, thanks to a freak lightning strike, one little robot has woken up. Your job, as that little robot, is to navigate the world of Little Wheel and help bring it back to life. Hit up the link below to play the game for free–the quality of the visual and audio design make going full screen and turning the speakers on a must. Little Wheel [via Freeware Genuis] How to Make Your Laptop Choose a Wired Connection Instead of Wireless HTG Explains: What Is Two-Factor Authentication and Should I Be Using It? HTG Explains: What Is Windows RT and What Does It Mean To Me?

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  • FigurePrint Brings Your Minecraft Creations to Life

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    If you love Minecraft so much you wish your finest creations could sit on your desk, FigurePrint is happy to oblige with a little 3D printing magic. Using their helper app you can export a section of your Minecraft world, big or small, upload it to their servers, and receive a full-color 3D printed model of it in the mail. The pricing is based on the size and complexity of model. Hit up the link to read more about their Minecraft printing services (as well as their Xbox Live avatar printing and World of War Craft printing). FigurePrint: Minecraft [via Wired] How To Delete, Move, or Rename Locked Files in Windows HTG Explains: Why Screen Savers Are No Longer Necessary 6 Ways Windows 8 Is More Secure Than Windows 7

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  • Enjoy the 22nd 2012 Ig Nobel Awards Ceremony [Video]

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    Last night was the 22nd Ig Nobel award ceremony. If you weren’t there to experience the festivities first hand, don’t despair–you can watch the entire ceremony here. If you’re unfamiliar with the Ig Nobel awards Improbable Research, the group behind the awards, is happy to explain: The Ig Nobel Prizes honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think. The prizes are intended to celebrate the unusual, honor the imaginative — and spur people’s interest in science, medicine, and technology. Every year, in a gala ceremony in Harvard’s Sanders Theatre, 1200 splendidly eccentric spectators watch the winners step forward to accept their Prizes. These are physically handed out by genuinely bemused genuine Nobel laureates. Check out the above video to see the awards ceremony (jump to around the 50:00 mark to skip the setup phase) or hit up the link below to read about the 2012 winners. The 2012 Ig Nobel Prize Winners How To Create a Customized Windows 7 Installation Disc With Integrated Updates How to Get Pro Features in Windows Home Versions with Third Party Tools HTG Explains: Is ReadyBoost Worth Using?

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  • The Batcave in LEGO

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    There seems to be something of an arms race afoot among hardcore LEGO enthusiasts, but given the awesome fruits of their labor we’re not about to attempt an intervention. This amazing diorama, complete with functioning lighting, is a 20,000 piece tribute to the Batcave. Courtesy of builders Wayne Hussey and Carlyle Livingston, we’re treated to a Batcave rendition in LEGO that’s so detailed the close-up shots feel like you can step right into them. Hit up the link below to check out more detailed photos and videos of the build. LEGO Batcave [via Make] HTG Explains: What is the Windows Page File and Should You Disable It? How To Get a Better Wireless Signal and Reduce Wireless Network Interference How To Troubleshoot Internet Connection Problems

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  • Ask the Readers: Do You Use the Command Line?

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    Despite over two decades of GUI interfaces many power users still turn to the command prompt. This week we want to hear about when and how you use the command prompt on your computer. Long ago in a time before you could manipulate your computer with a mouse and a series of buttons and windows, the command line ruled all. Even after years of GUI development and refinement many people still turn to the command line to get things done. This week we want to hear all about your command line tips and tricks. Do you use the default command line for your OS? Have you enhanced it? Replaced it? What keeps you coming back to the command line when everyone happily works away in the OS’s GUI? Sound off in the comments and don’t forget to check back in on Friday to see the What You Said roundup. What is a Histogram, and How Can I Use it to Improve My Photos?How To Easily Access Your Home Network From Anywhere With DDNSHow To Recover After Your Email Password Is Compromised

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  • Switch Gmail Icons Back to Text Labels

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    If Gmail’s icon-based buttons annoy you, it’s now possible to switch them back to the old text labels with a simple settings toggle. At MakeUseOf they highlight the new option in Gmail and how you can switch back to the old button layout: So how do you make that happen? All you have to do is click on the cog button, choose “Settings”, and go to the the General tab. Scroll down to find the “Button labels” setting, and change it from icons to text. I know what I’ll be doing shortly; text-based button labels here I come. [via MakeUseOf] Make Your Own Windows 8 Start Button with Zero Memory Usage Reader Request: How To Repair Blurry Photos HTG Explains: What Can You Find in an Email Header?

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  • The Best Ways to Make Use of an Idle Computer

    - by Lori Kaufman
    If you leave your computer on when you are not using it, there are ways you can put your computer to use when it’s sitting idle. It can do scientific research, backup your data, and even look for signs of extraterrestrial life. How To Create a Customized Windows 7 Installation Disc With Integrated Updates How to Get Pro Features in Windows Home Versions with Third Party Tools HTG Explains: Is ReadyBoost Worth Using?

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  • HTG Explains: What Are the Sys Rq, Scroll Lock, and Pause/Break Keys on My Keyboard?

    - by Chris Hoffman
    Glance at your keyboard and chances are you’ll see a few keys you never use near the top-right corner – Sys Rq, Scroll Lock, and Pause / Break. Have you ever wondered what those keys are for? While these keys have been removed from some computer keyboards today, they’re still a common sight — even on new keyboards. Image Credit: ajmexico on Flickr 8 Deadly Commands You Should Never Run on Linux 14 Special Google Searches That Show Instant Answers How To Create a Customized Windows 7 Installation Disc With Integrated Updates

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  • Why Does Chrome Have So Many Open Processes?

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    If you’ve ever taken a peek in Task Manager while running Google Chrome, you may have been surprised to see that the number of chrome.exe entries radically exceeded the number of actual Chrome windows you had open. What’s the deal with all those processes? Today’s Question & Answer session comes to us courtesy of SuperUser—a subdivision of Stack Exchange, a community-drive grouping of Q&A web sites. HTG Explains: Is ReadyBoost Worth Using? HTG Explains: What The Windows Event Viewer Is and How You Can Use It HTG Explains: How Windows Uses The Task Scheduler for System Tasks

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  • How To Enable Aero Glass-Style Transparency in Windows 8

    - by Chris Hoffman
    Aero Glass is gone in Windows 8. If you really miss Aero Glass, there’s a trick you can use to re-enable the transparent window title bars and borders – although Microsoft doesn’t want us to. Microsoft has removed a lot of the code that makes Aero Glass, once an important Windows feature, possible. This trick doesn’t work perfectly – the blur effect has been removed by Microsoft and graphical corruption can occur in some situations. 6 Ways Windows 8 Is More Secure Than Windows 7 HTG Explains: Why It’s Good That Your Computer’s RAM Is Full 10 Awesome Improvements For Desktop Users in Windows 8

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  • Desktop Fun: Christmas 2012 Wallpaper Collection [Bonus Edition]

    - by Asian Angel
    Christmas will soon be here and we have just what you need to help make your desktop as beautiful and colorful as the holiday itself. Add the perfect touch of holiday charm to your desktop with our Christmas 2012 Wallpaper collection. Secure Yourself by Using Two-Step Verification on These 16 Web Services How to Fix a Stuck Pixel on an LCD Monitor How to Factory Reset Your Android Phone or Tablet When It Won’t Boot

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  • Lendle Connects Kindle Owners for Cross-Country Book Lending

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    You can lend books from your Kindle library to other Kindle users but it’s not always easy to find people with books you want. Lendle is a social network for Kindle readers to share books with each other. If you have a Kindle (the physical Kindle or the software on your smartphone or computer) you can easily lend books to other Kindle users. The problem is that there is no good way for you to easily find out what books your friends have. Furthermore your friends simply may not be into books that you’re into. Enter Lendle, a free service that connects Kindle users across the US (currently the Kindle lending program is limited to US customers) so that they can share books with each other. Your real life friends may not be into vampire romance, for example, but plenty of people on Lendle are and would be happy to loan you books. The only requirements for participation in the Lendle system are: Kindle ownership (either the physical or software-based Kindle) as books you’re willing to lend out. In addition to benefiting from other user’s libraries, Lendle also gives users a small credit when they lend a book–credits are redeemable as Amazon.com gift certificates. Hit up the link below to read more and sign up for a free Lendle account. Lendle How to Use Offline Files in Windows to Cache Your Networked Files Offline How to See What Web Sites Your Computer is Secretly Connecting To HTG Explains: When Do You Need to Update Your Drivers?

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  • At The ATM: The Challenge of Tiny Buttons [Video]

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    If you’ve ever mis-mashed the buttons on an electronic device because your fingers are just too big, you’ll appreciate the situation this cheerful but massive fingered fellow gets into. Courtesy of Rikke Asbjoern, created while interning at Cartoon Network, the video is sure to hit home with those of us that fumble keypads and buttons wherever we go. [via Neatorama] HTG Explains: What Is RSS and How Can I Benefit From Using It? HTG Explains: Why You Only Have to Wipe a Disk Once to Erase It HTG Explains: Learn How Websites Are Tracking You Online

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  • How to Use a PS3 Controller as a Joystick for Your Windows PC

    - by Zainul Franciscus
    Do you find it hard to steer your mouse and hit the right keyboard key to play PC games? If you happen to have PS3 controllers, why not use them as Joysticks to play games? Image by AlphaCoders Before we begin, head over to MotionInJoy website to install the required drivers for Windows. The installer comes for both x86 (32-bit operating system) and x64 (64-bit operating system), so make sure you download the right installer for your system. If you are in doubt, just go to Start -> Control Panel –> System, to verify your system settings. HTG Explains: What Are Character Encodings and How Do They Differ?How To Make Disposable Sleeves for Your In-Ear MonitorsMacs Don’t Make You Creative! So Why Do Artists Really Love Apple?

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  • Barnes & Noble Slashes Lighted Nook Price to a Kindle-Competitive $119

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    In a bit of market battling that benefits everyone, Barnes & Noble has slashed the price of the Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight–their closest match to the Kindle Paperwhite–to $119. The new listing, in addition to showing off the lowered price, includes a not-so-subtle jab against the Kindle: “No Ads. Power adapter included.” While the Glowlight is a great little ebook reader, Barnes & Noble is on the defensive after a week of hands-on-hardware reviews of the Kindle Paperwhite left many reviewers proclaiming it king of the e-readers and heaping on mountains of praise. Hit up the link below to read more about the Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight Now $119 8 Deadly Commands You Should Never Run on Linux 14 Special Google Searches That Show Instant Answers How To Create a Customized Windows 7 Installation Disc With Integrated Updates

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  • How to Get Pro Features in Windows Home Versions with Third Party Tools

    - by Chris Hoffman
    Some of the most powerful Windows features are only available in Professional or Enterprise editions of Windows. However, you don’t have to upgrade to Windows Professional to use these powerful features – use these free alternatives instead. These features include the ability to access your desktop remotely, encrypt your hard drive, run Windows XP in a window, change advanced settings in group policy, use Windows Media Center, run an operating system off a USB stick, and more. How to Get Pro Features in Windows Home Versions with Third Party Tools HTG Explains: Is ReadyBoost Worth Using? HTG Explains: What The Windows Event Viewer Is and How You Can Use It

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  • Battle Zombies on Your Desktop with the Dead Island Theme for Windows 7

    - by Asian Angel
    Do you love battling zombie hordes? Then welcome to Banoi Island where a Zombie outbreak has just occurred and you must race against time to save the other survivors and yourself! The theme comes with eight wallpapers full of zombie fighting goodness to help turn your desktop into the perfect battleground. The theme is available in the following aspect ratios: 4:3 Aspect Ratio Resolutions: 1600*1200, 1280*960, 1152*864, 1024*768 16:9 Aspect Ratio Resolutions: 1920*1080, 1600*900, 1366*768, 1360*768 16:10 Aspect Ratio Resolutions: 1920*1200, 1680*1050, 1440*900, 1280*800 Download the Dead Island Theme for Windows 7 [7 Tutorials] How to See What Web Sites Your Computer is Secretly Connecting To HTG Explains: When Do You Need to Update Your Drivers? How to Make the Kindle Fire Silk Browser *Actually* Fast!

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