Justin Phelps

Want to block all users of a Windows PC from opening certain websites, regardless of the browser they use or the time of day? You need only make a few simple additions to the Windows hosts file. This method is straightforward and free, and it doesn’t require you to download or install any additional software. It's an effective method for restricting users of all ages from seeing the content you don’t want them to access.

Block a Website on Your PC

1. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc. If Windows is not installed on C:, substitute the appropriate drive letter.

What's your default search engine? Firefox and Chrome automatically use Google as the default search provider, and Internet Explorer uses Bing by default. If you don't like the current default, however, changing the default so that you can use the search provider you prefer takes less than 60 seconds. The instructions below apply to the latest versions of these browsers; what you see may differ if your browser isn’t up-to-date.

Changing the Default Search Engine in Firefox

1. Click the icon of your current default search engine on the left side of the search toolbar. Click the icon of your desired search engine on the left side of the browser toolbar.

The easiest way to reset a forgotten Windows password is to use a previously created password-reset disk. You can create such a disk (on USB removable media or a floppy) within the Windows User Accounts menu by opening the Windows Control Panel, selecting User Accounts, and clicking Create a password reset disk in the left pane. You should take this step with a new PC; once you have the disk, you can insert it when starting the PC to cause Windows to display the 'Reset password' option at the login screen, allowing you to regain access to your system.

However, if you don’t have a password-reset disk and you need to reset your Windows password, I suggest using the following Sticky Keys trick.

Setting up a wireless router is straightforward as long as you have a PC with a wireless network adapter, as well as an active high-speed Internet connection. You might also need a computer with a wired network adapter and router-specific setup software, which is typically included on a disc packaged with your router or available for download on the router manufacturer's support site.

If you have a router labeled with a Windows 7 logo and you are using Windows 7, setting things up should be quick if you follow the steps below.

Some governments, schools, and businesses try to block websites in order to reduce distractions, conserve bandwidth, or censor content. If you want to circumvent such limitations--and you're willing to assume any attendant risks--you can enlist the aid of the following tools. Each one will help you mask your online identity and sidestep restrictions.

Use a Proxy Server

Proxy servers are useful tools that act as intermediaries between your computer and the websites you visit. When you can’t visit a blocked site directly, you can ask a proxy server to visit it for you. The proxy displays the blocked website, and allows you to interact with it. Since you are communicating directly with the proxy--not with the restricted site--the communication isn't blocked. Many free proxy services are available, but I suggest you start with HMA. An alternative, Anonymouse, has a similar feel. Here's how to use such a service:

Formatting deletes all the data on a drive, checks the drive for errors, and prepares it for use. Traditional, magnetic-platter hard drives as well as solid-state drives can be formatted. Formatting destroys data and can take hours to complete, but it is a good option when you have a new or inherited drive that is not properly formatted, a drive overrun by malware or other software problems, or a drive in need of a fresh start before a Windows installation. Back up important files on the disk before you format it.

Formatting a Hard Drive Within Windows

To format an internal or external hard drive to use for backup or additional storage, the drive needs to be partitioned. Partitioning divides your drive into sections, but you can choose to simply have one partition (a single section encompassing the entire drive).

Even the best security software can’t protect you from the headaches you’ll encounter if you click an unsafe link. Unsafe links appear to be shortcuts to funny videos, shocking news stories, awesome deals, or “Like” buttons, but are really designed to steal your personal information or hijack your computer. Your friends can unknowingly pass on unsafe links in emails, Facebook posts, and instant messages. You’ll also encounter unsafe links in website ads and search results. Use these link-scanning tips to check suspicious links. All of these solutions are free, fast, and don’t require you to download anything.

Hover Over the Link

Sometimes a link masks the website to which it links. If you hover over a link without clicking it, you’ll notice the full URL of the link’s destination in a lower corner of your browser. For example, both of these links connect you to PCWorld’s home page, but you wouldn’t know that without hovering:

These days, it's not hard to find a service that will let you make free conference calls: We found three that require only a name and an email address to get started. After signing up, you’ll be given a phone number and an access code. The catch? These services don’t provide toll-free conference lines; you and your participants will have to pay applicable long-distance charges. These services also limit the length of the call and/or the number of participants. However, for many organizations and individuals, these limits aren’t deal-breakers, so check out the details of each service below to see which best suits your needs.

Don’t forget that your attendees will be held responsible for long-distance charges incurred by calling into your free conference bridge. Also be aware that some users of free conference call services complain about call quality and about cell phone providers that block certain dial-in numbers. Test a few services before committing to one for an important call.

Many computers ship without Windows 7 installation discs. Instead they come with "recovery" discs and/or partitions that claim to restore your PC to its "factory fresh" state, but include a ton of bloatware (free trials, media players, useless utilities, and the like) along with Windows. Removing each piece of bloat is time-consuming, and just not the same as truly starting fresh.

In this article, you'll learn how to make your own Windows 7 installation disc (or USB flash drive) and use the valid product key you already have to perform a fresh reinstallation. The following method is effective and legal, and doesn’t require a lot of technical expertise. (If you do need help with bloatware, however, read "What to Do With a New PC.")

iPhone users have iTunes, but Android users must figure out their own syncing arrangement. Of the numerous Android syncing programs out there, I recommend trying DoubleTwist first. DoubleTwist reliably gets the job done with minimal hassle. I've found no other comprehensive media-syncing tool that costs nothing, offers such a clean and functional interface, and works with most Android phones. What's more, if you're willing to shell out $5, you can pick up a companion app that enables Wi-Fi syncing. Here’s how to get started.

Step 1: Download and install DoubleTwist for PC. Although a free DoubleTwist media-player app is available for Android, you need only the desktop version to set up sync.

Ebooks are available in many different formats, including the widely supported ePub standard. You can read ePub ebooks on Apple iPad, Barnes & Noble Nook, Sony Reader, and Kobo eReader models; Amazon’s Kindle, however, does not natively support ePub, which means that you have to convert the ePub files you own to a format that your Kindle accepts. Fortunately, an elegant, free conversion tool called Calibre can help you out. Here's how to use it.

Step 1: Download Calibre.

Looking to spice up your conversations? Twitter, Facebook, and Gmail all support UTF-8 Unicode special characters. These UTF-8 special characters are symbols that don’t appear on a standard keyboard but are recognized by most devices, websites, and applications. They're useful for adding a little extra character to your text, and a few social networking websites and tools like Facebook and Gmail allow you to add even more colorful emoticons to your messages. With this guide I’ll show you how to quickly find and add special characters and emoticons to make your Twitter, Facebook, and Gmail messages more lively and personal. WARNING: This page is jam-packed with examples of emoticons and special characters that may look odd in your Web browser.

Use Twitter Special Characters via Bookmarklets

1. Visit TwitterKeys or Twitter Symbols.