Tools of the Trade
Repairing and maintaining your PC can sometimes take nothing more than a screwdriver and a little elbow grease. Other times you may need more advanced tools - both hardware and software - to get the job done right.
"Where Can I Download Device Manager for Windows?"
Device Manager is a very useful Microsoft Windows utility. With Device Manager, you can disable hardware, update device drivers, resolve resource conflicts, and much more.
Device Manager is a very useful Microsoft Windows utility. With Device Manager, you can disable hardware, update device drivers, resolve resource conflicts, and much more.
"How Do I Test My Hard Drive for Problems?"
There are many ways to test a hard drive for problems. Strange noises from inside your PC and persistent errors are often times symptoms of a hard drive problem.
There are many ways to test a hard drive for problems. Strange noises from inside your PC and persistent errors are often times symptoms of a hard drive problem.
How to Burn an ISO Image File to a CD or DVD
What do you do with an ISO file once you've downloaded it? An ISO file is an image of a CD or DVD so to use it, you first need to burn it to a CD or DVD.
What do you do with an ISO file once you've downloaded it? An ISO file is an image of a CD or DVD so to use it, you first need to burn it to a CD or DVD.
How to Recover Passwords Using Ophcrack LiveCD
Complete guide to using Ophcrack LiveCD v2.0. Ophcrack LiveCD 2.0 is a completely self contained, bootable version of Ophcrack 3.0 - the easiest and most effective tool that I've ever found to crack a Windows password.
Complete guide to using Ophcrack LiveCD v2.0. Ophcrack LiveCD 2.0 is a completely self contained, bootable version of Ophcrack 3.0 - the easiest and most effective tool that I've ever found to crack a Windows password.
NewerTech USB 2.0 Universal Drive Adapter
The NewerTech USB 2.0 Universal Drive Adapter (Model NWTU2NVSPATA) is a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to connecting a hard drive or optical drive to your PC. No matter what format, just plug it in and go!
The NewerTech USB 2.0 Universal Drive Adapter (Model NWTU2NVSPATA) is a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to connecting a hard drive or optical drive to your PC. No matter what format, just plug it in and go!
Ophcrack
The Ophcrack Windows password cracker is by far the best among the free Windows password recovery tools available. It's fast and easy enough for a first time password cracker with a basic knowledge of Windows.
The Ophcrack Windows password cracker is by far the best among the free Windows password recovery tools available. It's fast and easy enough for a first time password cracker with a basic knowledge of Windows.
Seagate SeaTools
Seagate creates two hard drive testing software programs - SeaTools for DOS and SeaTools for Windows. While both diagnostic tools are excellent, they are different. SeaTools for DOS is more powerful but is difficult to run and only supports Seagate and Maxtor hard drives. SeaTools for Windows tests more drive brands and is much easier to install.
Seagate creates two hard drive testing software programs - SeaTools for DOS and SeaTools for Windows. While both diagnostic tools are excellent, they are different. SeaTools for DOS is more powerful but is difficult to run and only supports Seagate and Maxtor hard drives. SeaTools for Windows tests more drive brands and is much easier to install.
Speedtest.net
When it comes to Internet speed test sites, Speedtest.net tops them all without question. Speedtest.net combines a very long list of remote test servers with an easy to use and fun interface making it the best of the best when it's time to test your bandwidth.
When it comes to Internet speed test sites, Speedtest.net tops them all without question. Speedtest.net combines a very long list of remote test servers with an easy to use and fun interface making it the best of the best when it's time to test your bandwidth.
The Lamp Test
If you're troubleshooting a power issue with an outlet or a power strip but you don't have electrical diagnostic equipment at your disposal, this simple "lamp test" can verify if power is being provided.
If you're troubleshooting a power issue with an outlet or a power strip but you don't have electrical diagnostic equipment at your disposal, this simple "lamp test" can verify if power is being provided.
Top 2 Third Party Hard Drive Diagnostic Tools
In addition to free tools, some third party diagnostic software is available, for a cost, to help fix your hard drive woes.
In addition to free tools, some third party diagnostic software is available, for a cost, to help fix your hard drive woes.
Top 3 Internet Speed Test Sites
If your Internet connection seems slow, the first step is to actually benchmark it at an Internet speed test site. An Internet speed test can give you a fairly accurate indication of how fast your upload and download speeds are at the current time.
If your Internet connection seems slow, the first step is to actually benchmark it at an Internet speed test site. An Internet speed test can give you a fairly accurate indication of how fast your upload and download speeds are at the current time.
Top 4 Free Hard Drive Diagnostic Tools
There are many free software tools available to help you determine what, if anything, is wrong when you suspect there may be a problem with a hard drive.
There are many free software tools available to help you determine what, if anything, is wrong when you suspect there may be a problem with a hard drive.
Top 4 Free Memory Testing Software Tools
Memory testing tools are software programs that perform detailed tests of your computer's memory system. Testing your memory with a memory diagnostic program can often find small areas of damage that can cause big problems.
Memory testing tools are software programs that perform detailed tests of your computer's memory system. Testing your memory with a memory diagnostic program can often find small areas of damage that can cause big problems.
Top 4 Free Windows Password Recovery Tools
Password recovery tools are used to recover the passwords used to log on to Windows. Check out this list of the top free password recovery (password cracking) tools for Windows passwords.
Password recovery tools are used to recover the passwords used to log on to Windows. Check out this list of the top free password recovery (password cracking) tools for Windows passwords.
Top 6 Standalone Spyware Scanners
Software programs that act as spyware, adware and malware are notorious for causing computer slowdowns, lock-ups and other annoying PC problems in addition to stealing your private information. These tools can help remove what you might have installed now and prevent additional installations in the future.
Software programs that act as spyware, adware and malware are notorious for causing computer slowdowns, lock-ups and other annoying PC problems in addition to stealing your private information. These tools can help remove what you might have installed now and prevent additional installations in the future.
Top 7 Windows Antivirus Tools
Having a good antivirus program is absolutely a tool of basic necessity. These programs scan your computer and disable or remove any detected viruses. Not installing and using an antivirus program is an invitation for all sorts of PC problems.
Having a good antivirus program is absolutely a tool of basic necessity. These programs scan your computer and disable or remove any detected viruses. Not installing and using an antivirus program is an invitation for all sorts of PC problems.
Basic Computer Toolkit
If you're planning on doing any kind of regular PC hardware repair or upgrade work, you need a good computer toolkit with tools like miniature screw drivers, wire cutters, tweezers and more. Gareth Branwyn outlines everything you need in this great article.
If you're planning on doing any kind of regular PC hardware repair or upgrade work, you need a good computer toolkit with tools like miniature screw drivers, wire cutters, tweezers and more. Gareth Branwyn outlines everything you need in this great article.