New Technology Reviews!.: Tutorial

Tutorial: Snow Leopard guide for new users

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20232/MAC232.main_feat.opener-200-200.jpg"> Mac OS X is packed to the brim with clever little tricks that will enhance the way you work and help you save time. But so much of the operating system is easy to use that you could hardly call yourself a pro. However, that's all about to change. We show you just how easy it is to become a Mac OS guru with the best collection of power tips for a wide range of tasks. From Finder shortcuts to image manipulation, we've got all the techniques you need to get even more from your Mac use. We will even demystify the obscure apps lurking in the Utilities folder that you may never have used. While the majority of tips found in this feature will focus on the OS in general, we've also included some sections that cover pro tips for media and other files as well as a good bunch of tweaks to be found within System Preferences. We take an expert look at making your own icons and walk you through speakable commands. We also offer up some handy tips for AirPort Utility and Boot Camp Assistant. And we even show you how to enjoy iTunes through Spotify and add more radio stations. With so many powerful nuggets of information available across the next few pages, you're bound to become the Mac master in your household in no time at all, and soon you could be the one people turn to for all Apple-related advice. Pick out the tips you need and save this feature for future reference or settle down and read each one to achieve that ultimate pro status… Mac OS X timesavers 1. Add your own icons <img alt="Icons" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20232/MAC232.main_feat.icons-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> You don't have to stick to the default Mac OS X icons. Select the app or folder you would like to give a new icon to and press Command+I to bring up the Get Info screen. Now find the icon you would like to use and open it in Preview. Press Command+A to select the image and hit Command+C to copy it. Now head back to the Get Info screen for the folder or app you want to adjust and select the small icon image at the top of the display before hitting Command+V to paste your new icon image. 2. Make your own shortcuts If there's a command you use frequently that doesn't have a shortcut assigned to it, you can create one yourself. In System Preferences, head to Keyboard and click on the Keyboard shortcuts tab. Now click on the Application Shortcuts option from the pane on the left and pick your app from the drop-down menu. Now you can fill in the Menu Title field and create your shortcut. Make sure you pick a memorable command so you can remember it easily next time you need to access the function. 3. Quit from Switcher When you have a bunch of applications open you can jump between them using Command+Tab or Command+Shift+Tab to invoke the Application Switcher, which enables you to pick the icon of a running application and move to it. You can also quit apps from the Application Switcher by keeping the Command key held down, pressing the Q button when you have selected the app you want to close. Keeping the Command key held and moving between the Tab and Q key will enable you to close multiple apps quickly. 4. Open with… If you right-click or Control-click on a file you can choose to open it in any compatible application from the Open With menu. If you want to set all files of this kind to open in a specific app, simply select the file and hit Command+I. From the Get Info window, select the app you want from the drop-down menu under Open with: and then click the Change All… button. Now all files of this type will open in the application you selected. 5. Events from emails <img alt="Events from emails" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20232/MAC232.main_feat.icalmail-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Say your friend invites you for dinner at a restaurant on a specific date at a set time via email. When you receive the message you can click on the date and time, and opt to create a new iCal event from it. All time and date entries in Mail offer a drop-down menu that enables you to add information to the event and add it to iCal without having to leave Mail. You can also check your events on a specific date from within Mail so you don't create conflicting appointments. 6. Choose custom system sounds <img alt="System sounds" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20232/MAC232.main_feat.systemsounds-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If you're a little bored of the standard Mac OS X system sounds you can add your own to the mix. As long as they're nice and short (and in the AIF or WAV format), you can drag and drop audio files into the MacintoshHD/Users/"your username"/Library/Sounds folder and then apply them to any application that makes use of the system sound library, such as Mail or iChat. There are a bunch of sounds available to download for free online, ready to freshen up your audio experience. 7. Quick Email Links If you're browsing the web and decide you want to share a link with a friend via email, you don't have to bother with the hassle of copying and pasting. Simply press Shift+Command+I to open a new message with the link and subject included for you. 8. Speakable commands Save keystrokes, mouse clicks and a whole load of effort by controlling certain commands with your voice. Head to System Preferences and, under Speech, turn Speakable Items on. You can now speak simple sentences such as "Get My Mail" and your Mac should react accordingly. Make sure you're in fairly quiet surroundings to avoid accidental inputs or use a hot key to set when you want to speak a command. You can also set a keyword that triggers your Mac to begin listening for commands so you can preface a sentence with "computer" to avoid confusion. 9. Grab your screen <img alt="screengrab" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20232/MAC232.main_feat.grab-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> There are a number of shortcuts in Mac OS X that allow you to capture an image of your computer's screen. Pressing Shift+Command+3 will take a full screen grab as well as a grab of any secondary displays you may have attached. Pressing Shift+Command+4 will allow you to select a portion of the screen to grab or, if you press [Space] before selecting an area, you can hover over individual windows and click to snap an image of just that. Screenshots are stored to the desktop. 10. Address Book type If you have difficulty when viewing a contact in Address Book, try clicking on the phone type (Mobile or Home, for example) next to the contact's number. You can then select Show in Large Type to view the number at an easily readable size as you dial. 11. Login Items You might know that you can set applications to launch when your Mac boots using the Accounts pane of System Preferences, but did you know you can hide an app after it has launched in this way? Simply check the box next to the app's name. 12. Mail To Dos If you have a whole bunch of things to be getting on with during the day, you can add a set of To Do notes using the button at the top of the Mail interface. You can check off each task as you go from within Mail or iCal. 13. Stick to your sites Safari's Top Sites feature is an extremely handy way to jump to your recently viewed websites. But if you want one site to always feature you can pin it to the Top Sites screen to keep it there permanently. All you have to do is simply click on the Edit button and then the Pin next to the page. 14. Quick spell check If someone sends you an email with a word you're not sure you understand, simply hover the cursor over the word and press Shift+Command+D to check out the dictionary definition. This works in Text Edit as well as a number of other Apple apps. 15. Schedule sleep If you're inclined to work too late or you keep forgetting to shut your Mac down, head to the Energy Saver screen within System Preferences. From here you can schedule your Mac to sleep, wake and even start up and shut down at specified times. 16. Dock folders You can drag and drop any of your folders to the right-hand end of the Dock to keep it there permanently. This is particularly useful when used in conjunction with the Applications folder so you can access apps right from your Desktop. 17. vCard signatures If you want to make sure everyone has your correct details, you can include a vCard in your email signature that can be added to most address books. Simply locate your card in Address Book and drag it to the signature space in Mail Preferences. 18. Bring back the Fs In System Preferences select to return the F keys (!, @ and so on) back to their standard functions - handy if you keep adjusting the volume or brightness when you want to use a shortcut… Effective tips and tricks to make life on the Mac even smarter 19. Preview Fonts <img alt="font preview" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20232/MAC232.main_feat.fonts-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If you want to change the font you're using, it's not necessary to wait until you apply changes to see what your document willl look like. This can be fiddly and annoying when you are trying to work, especially if you are on a deadline. To solve this you can get a live preview as you browse. Start by tapping Command+T to bring up the Font Viewer in compatible apps, which include Mail, iWork apps, Text Edit and more. Now, simply drag the small dot at the top of the display down to show a preview of the currently selected font. You can also view the preview by clicking on Show Preview from the drop-down menu at the bottom of the Fonts pane. 20. Make use of Disk Utility <img alt="Disk utility" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20232/MAC232.main_feat.disk_utility-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Some of you might have used Disk Utility to repair permissions and verify disks before, but it has plenty of features that a lot of people don't know about. It is possible to quickly erase and partition any drive attached to your Mac and you can even burn discs from within the interface. Disk Utility is also very handy when it comes to creating images of existing discs to copy or burn to a new drive or disc. It's worth taking some time to experiment with Disk Utility and you'll soon find it's a whole lot more than just a first aid tool. 21. Use Mail as an RSS reader Apple's own email app is full of useful tricks. As well as receiving new emails from friends and co-workers, Mail can also be a source of updates for websites you're interested in. By adding any RSS feeds to your inbox you can be notified of new posts and breaking news in the same way you receive emails. All you have to do is set Mail as your default RSS reader in Mail Preferences and then add your favourite feeds. You can set Mail to check for updates every day, hour or 30 minutes and opt to remove them manually or automatically after a set period of time to prevent things getting too clogged up. 22. Document properties If you want to make sure people know who wrote a document or where it came from, you can embed certain information into your rich text documents with Text Edit. Head to Text Edit's Preferences pane and fill out the Properties section to include Author, Organisation and Copyright details to your document before you save it. Now, even when you email or share the document, others can select Show Properties from the File menu to see the information you added. Note that this isn't a replacement for copyright but it can certainly help your case. 23. Empty Trash securely <img alt="Secure trash" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20232/MAC232.main_feat.secure_trash-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> You've been beavering away on work projects, which have sensitive information included in them. You're done so you send the early drafts to the Trash. Once you empty the Trash your work's gone forever, right? Wrong. All Mac OS X does when it empties the Trash is allocate the space those files take up as free. Until they're overwritten it's possible these files could be recovered, which is less than ideal if they contain confidential information. As an alternative, you might want to consider using the Secure Empty Trash option from the Finder menu. This will completely clear the Trash without leaving a trace of your deleted files and folders and provide you with peace of mind. 24. Advanced MobileMe sync Apple's suite of online services MobileMe provides a particularly handy icon included on the Mac OS X menu bar, which will show you how things are ticking along. If you click on it you can find out lots of useful information, including when the last sync happened and if there are any conflicts. If there are conflicts you can instantly review them. However, if you hold down the Option key and click on the icon you will receive even more detailed information, including when each individual sync took place. You'll be surprised at how handy this type of information can be, especially when you're troubleshooting. You can also start iSync, open Sync Diagnostics and reset Sync Services directly from this menu without having to open the System Preferences pane. 25. Advanced audio control The volume control on your menu bar looks like a simple slider but becomes a far more powerful menu if you hold down the Option key when you click on it. A new menu will now appear and enable you to make changes to your speaker setup as well as microphones. For example, you could change your speakers from the Mac's built-in system to a USB option, or change the microphone input from the default to your headset's option. And all this from one little button on your desktop. Brilliant. 26. Quickly find content In most applications on the Mac you can hit Command+F and enter a word to search for and Safari is no different. Hit Command+F with a page loaded, type the word you're loking for into the search field and every instance will be highlighted on the page. You'll find this is a really handy tool, particularly for large documents. 27. Investigate packages <img alt="Investigate packages" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20232/MAC232.main_feat.package-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Most Mac OS X apps aren't executable files but merely folders full of content and resources. If, for any reason, you want to dig around inside an app, to access its icon image for example, you can treat it as if it was a normal folder. Simply right click or Ctrl-click on the app's icon and choose Show Package Contents. From here you can browse all of the files within as you would a folder. Make sure not to edit, move or delete anything without making a backup first, though. 28. Customise Spotlight Spotlight's System Preferences pane offers handy ways to customise and improve your search experience. This includes removing specific items from your searches and blocking files and folders from appearing in results. You can also adjust the shortcut to invoke a Spotlight search. 29. Quick File Moves If you look at the top of any application you're running, you should see a small file icon situated next to the name of the document. This image can be dragged over like any other regular file in order to copy it to a new location or open it in another application. 30. Save any files as PDF When you open up the print dialog for any document you have open, you should also have the option to save the file as a PDF. Just click on the PDF drop-down menu to save the file, email it or send it to an application for editing. 31. Force Quit If you have any unresponsive applications, you can force them to quit by pressing Option+Command+Esc to open the Force Quit window, but you can also kill individual apps right from the Dock. If an app stops responding, click and hold its icon until you see the Force Quit option. 32. Drag and drop links You can drag and drop links between applications and even share them in emails. Try dragging a URL or a link from a web page on to your desktop or onto the Mail icon for a quick way to share websites. 33. Quickly resize icons If you're using a laptop or a desktop Mac with a Magic Trackpad, you can quickly adjust the size of your desktop icons. Select the desktop and then use a two-finger pinch gesture to set the icon size. 34. Dragging tabs Safari tabs can be dragged and moved within the browser's interface but you can also create a new window by simply dragging a tab away from the main window. If you want to add a page to an existing collection of tabs, drag it onto the tab bar. 35. Get info about files Do you need to find out information about a bunch of files rather than just a single one? If so, rather than lump them all into one folder, select them all and press Option+Command+I to show information for the entire selection. This includes information on size and more. 36. Annotate in Preview You may not realise it, but Preview isn't just for looking at images and documents on your Mac. You can also use it to make notes on your PDFs and other files. Just go to the Annotation options, which can be found in the Tools menu. Add text, highlights, arrows and even links and then share them with others. OS X media tips 37. Access media from Finder <img alt="Sidebar" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20232/MAC232.main_feat.sidebar-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If, when you work, you find yourself opening up your Pictures, Movies or Music folders frequently, you might want to consider adding them to your Finder sidebar. It's really easy to do - just open up a new Finder window and right-click or Ctrl-click on the sidebar and select Open Sidebar Preferences. From the pane that appears you can select which items are shown, including searches for Images and Movies. When clicked, these icons will search for all movie or image files on your Mac. Alternatively, you can drag over your Music, Movie and Pictures folders straight onto the sidebar to create a shortcut. 38. Backup iMovie projects to DVD <img alt="iDVD" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20232/MAC232.main_feat.idvd-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> iDVD isn't seeing the upgrades of other iLife apps of late, but that doesn't mean you can't make really good use of it. For safekeeping as well as sharing with others, you can create a disc of your iMovie projects using iDVD with a slick interface and convenient menus. Launch iDVD, select the movies you want to add and, when you're done, commit them to DVD. You'll find not only will this save much-needed space on your hard drive but you can always rip the movies back to your Mac from the DVD at a later date if need be. 39. Quick media previews Many Mac owners don't realise it is unnecessary to launch a native audio or video app in order to check out a file in Mac OS X or even play the whole thing through. Compatible audio and video files can be played in Quick Look by simply selecting them in the Finder and hitting the spacebar. A small controller appears at the bottom of the Quick Look window allowing you to move to specific sections of the file, and you can even jump between multiple files in a folder with Quick Look activated by using the up and down arrows on the keyboard. 40. AirPlay From iTunes <img alt="AirPlay" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20232/MAC232.main_feat.airplay-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Apple's new AirPlay feature isn't just for iPad and iPhone users. While playing music or movies in iTunes you can use the drop-down menu at the bottom right of the interface to select which speakers or devices you would like to send the media to. Connections can be made via Ethernet or Wi-Fi, and you can even control the output using the Remote app on your iPhone or iPad. A number of devices are compatible with AirPlay, including systems from Denon and JBL. 41. iTunes in Spotify If you listen to music with Spotify but also enjoy songs in your iTunes library, why not merge the two for a more seamless experience? Under the Local Files section on the left of the Spotify interface you can import your existing iTunes library, which will then become available alongside streamed music. With both Spotify and your iTunes music working together you can build playlists that include both Spotify tracks and your iTunes music, and share them with friends online. Spotify also won't play ads when you listen to your local music through the app. 42. Convert files in QuickTime Any file that can be opened in QuickTime can be saved in an alternate format. This works for audio and video files and allows you to quickly make compatible versions of your media for particular apps or for the web. Load your file and then select Save As from the File menu to select the output format. Alternatively you can select Save For Web from the File menu to create a web friendly version of your file that will load quickly when viewed online. 43. Add more iTunes radio stations You probably already know that iTunes comes with an impressive selection of streaming radio stations pre-loaded. But, did you know you can add even more to your library extremely easily? The best source for radio stations is Shoutcast, where you can browse a number of genres from New Age to Jazz, from stations all over the world. Clicking the station should normally load it in iTunes automatically, or alternatively you can Ctrl-click on a station and download its link as a PLS file to drag into iTunes. However, be aware these files will be added to your library and not the Radio section, but you can build playlists from them for easy access. 44. Move your iTunes library <img alt="iYunes library" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20232/MAC232.main_feat.library-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If you want to move your sizeable iTunes library to an external disk in order to save space, it's possible in a few simple steps. Start by selecting Preferences from the iTunes menu and moving to the Advanced tab. Check the Keep iTunes Media folder organized box and click OK. Now click the Change button and set a new location on your external drive for your library. Select Organize Library from the File menu and click OK to copy your library. You can now delete your old iTunes library from your Mac. 45. Record your screen This is really handy for whether you need to show someone something on your screen or are creating a screencast. QuickTime offers a brilliant feature for recording video of your screen. Select New Screen Recording from the File menu to begin. Get to iTunes quickly When viewing iTunes media in the List view, hold down Option and click on the disclosure triangle next to a title to view all instances of a band, show or album in your library. Hold down Command to view all entries on the iTunes Store. 46. Edit in Preview If you just want to make a really quick adjustment to an image, you don't have to wait for iPhoto to launch. Simply open up your chosen picture via Preview and use the Adjust Color pane from the Tools menu to make any basic changes. 47. Trim in QuickTime QuickTime offers a really convenient way to edit your video and audio clips, if you want to remove sections you don't need anymore. Just open up your chosen file in QuickTime and select Trim from the Edit menu. You can then drag the yellow marker over the area in the project you want to keep. 48. Remote control You can use the Apple Remote to control a number of apps on your Mac including Front Row, iTunes and even Keynote. The remote can be paired up with your Mac to avoid accidental use and is ideal for moving through slides in a presentation. 49. Quickly to YouTube If you have a video on your Mac that you want to send to YouTube, you can bypass the site login and upload screens and do it all from the QuickTime interface. Select Share from the QuickTime menu to begin uploading. 50. Switch tracks fast Most Apple keyboards have shortcuts included along the F1-F12 keys. Media shortcut keys enable you to move between tracks in iTunes, adjust volume, and play and pause tracks. These keys also work in other media apps such as Spotify. 51. QuickTime URLs Rather than watch a movie through your web browser, you can opt to open it in QuickTime if you have its URL. Most links ending in .Mov, .MP4 and so on will play when you paste them into the Movie URL box found under the QuickTime File menu. 52. Add pics to iPhoto When viewing images in QuickLook there's a handy button that enables you to send the selected file to iPhoto. Select an image in the Finder, hit [Space] to view it in QuickLook and then hit the Add To iPhoto button. Handy OS X applications 53. Migration Assistant <img alt="Migration" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20232/MAC232.main_feat.migration-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If you're upgrading your Mac or moving to a new computer, Migration Assistant is one of the most useful tools you can find. Tell the software whether you want to send your data to a new computer or add it to your existing machine and it will gather all of the files and place them as they were on your original system. You can even make a copy of your Mac, copy it to an external drive and then use Migration Assistant to restore from that copy. 54. System Profiler You can quickly find out detailed information about your Mac by launching System Profiler from the Applications > Utilities folder or from the About This Mac window. From the application you can learn the model and manufacturer of all your drives, check various connections and investigate how much RAM you have and how many slots are available. This is one of the first places a tech-support person will point you to in order to gain information about your system too. Get to know your Mac better by browsing the various sections of System Profiler. 55. Audio MIDI Setup If you're an advanced digital music maker you can make use of Audio MIDI Setup to configure your MIDI devices, but for the rest of us, you can also make adjustments to your speaker and microphone settings so they work just the way you want. 56. Apple Loops Utility If you use GarageBand, Logic or Soundtrack you can have a more detailed look at the Apple Loops you use with Apple Loops Utility. By adding new tags you can better organise the files you use in your projects and adjust the tempo and key information so they can be better matched with other loops. This is a little more involved than simply previewing sounds and music in the GarageBand loop library but it could help you organise your project more easily. 57. Bluetooth file exchange <img alt="Bluetooth" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20232/MAC232.main_feat.bluetooth-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If you use a Bluetooth device with a hard drive or even a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone, you can quickly transfer files to it using Bluetooth File Exchange. Start by selecting the file or folder you want to send and then select the Bluetooth device to send it to from the list of connected or available devices. You can opt to remember a specific device so it appears in this list each time you launch Bluetooth File Exchange Alternatively, you can use the app to browse devices connected via Bluetooth. In Leopard, you could right-click on a file and under the contextual menu's More option, opt to send a file to a Bluetooth device. In Snow Leopard, this option is missing by default, but it's easy to get back. Navigate to Finder > Services > Services Preferences, and click the box marked Send File to Bluetooth Device. 58. Boot Camp Assistant <img alt="Bootcamp" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20232/MAC232.main_feat.bootcamp-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Macs can run both Windows and Mac OS X from the same hard drive. Boot Camp Assistant is your first step in the process and enables you to set how much space you dedicate to the Windows partition of your hard drive and then install the Windows operating system. 59. AirPort Utility <img alt="AirPort utility" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20232/MAC232.main_feat.airport-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> While most wireless features work with an Apple AirPort base station, the AirPort Utility is there when things don't work quite so well. As well as diagnostic and setup work, you can also use AirPort Utility to create guest networks that provide only an internet connection without networking features and also to share USB devices over the wireless network to more than one Mac. If you're having trouble with your base station or need to make changes, this is the tool you need to use - it will find all AirPort devices within range of your Mac. 60. AppleScript Editor AppleScripts are pieces of code that perform various tasks on your Mac, from shortcuts to folder actions, and can be used in menus or toolbars. AppleScript Editor enables you to open and adjust AppleScripts or create them from scratch. One of the easiest ways to do this is to start a new recording from the main interface and then perform a task. Once done, AppleScript Editor will build a script based on your actions. This action can then be saved and added to a menu or placed on the Dock. 61. Keychain Access Every password you use on your Mac can be stored in your Keychain if you give it access to do so and you will often be prompted by Mac OS X to store information to it. Opening the app, you will find your password info as well as secure documents and certificates. If you can't remember a password, find the app or service in Keychain Access and then enter your administrator password to view it. You can also view the strength of a password within Keychain Access. 62. System lookout System behaving a little sluggishly? Open up Activity Monitor and look at which processes are using up your CPU resources to diagnose the slow-down. You can even close down apps from this window for a quick speed-boost. 63. VoiceOver utility If you use Mac OS X's assistive technology VoiceOver to speak information to you, you can fine-tune it with VoiceOver Utility. Adjustments include voice types, reading speed and a number of controls to change the way VoiceOver works. 64. Terminal The Terminal in Mac OS X is a rather scary-looking command prompt but, with a little know-how, it can be a very handy tool to have. Simple commands enable you to make system-wide changes that would normally take a long time. Google some useful ones and give it a go. 65. Network Utility Network Utility enables you to monitor your networks, be they Bluetooth, wireless or Ethernet, and can also help provide diagnostic information for tech support teams. It also enables you to perform a 'Whois' lookup on domain names to discover the owner of a URL. 66. DigitalColor Meter Have you ever wanted to find out the exact value of a specific colour but not been able to locate it? DigitalColor Meter enables you to mouse over any pixel on your screen and discover the Red, Green and Blue values quickly. 67. Get more from Expose To get really nifty in Snow Leopard, in System Preferences you can set different corners of your screen to trigger Exposé. These hot corners will show all open windows, the Desktop and more by simply moving the cursor to the relevant area. 68. Switch to a Space Set a Spaces shortcut in System Preferences to switch to the desired space when you press the Command key with the corresponding Space number. You can also use Option and Shift as the modifier key. 69. RAID Utility If you are using a Mac Pro with more than one hard drive or Mac OS X Server, you can make use of RAID Utility to improve disk speed or create a failsafe drive should one fail. A definite tool for the pros, but useful nonetheless. 70. ColorSync Utility ColorSync Utility is an advanced tool that is used for managing colour profiles on your Mac. Many Mac owners find that one of its best uses is for performing first aid on profiles to make sure colours appear as they should. If you have installed new graphics software it's worth running the test.

Tutorial: Snow Leopard guide for new users

Mac OS X is packed to the brim with clever little tricks that will enhance the way you work and help you save time. But so much of the opera...

Tutorial: PC won't boot up? How to find out why

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20305/PCP305.make8.deadpc07-200-200.jpg"> You press the power button and your PC won't boot up. What do you do next? Don't write it off just yet. The first thing to do when faced with a PC that won't start up is remain calm. They're modular devices, and it's likely that a single component among many is the culprit. Fixing or replacing that component should bring your machine back to life. The trick is finding out which one it is. We recommend a systematic approach to the problem, starting with observation, moving on to elimination and ending in diagnosis and treatment. Don't worry, you won't need a degree in engineering to fix a poorly PC. The process will probably be much easier than you expect. We'll take you through a troubleshooting procedure that should help you fix the majority of near-fatal hardware faults. In many cases, you won't need a great deal of technical know-how to get your PC working again. PC power problems There are many reasons why your computer might fail to start. Let's have a look at the possibilities, one probable scenario at a time. The first sounds like the worst, but could actually be one of the easiest to diagnose. You switch on your computer and nothing happens. No lights, no fans, no drives whirring into life and, crucially, no POST (Power On System Test) beep. Somewhere in the chain, power isn't getting through. Work your way through this checklist. Unplug all peripherals except the keyboard, mouse and monitor, and make sure these are connected correctly. Check the obvious possibilities: make sure that your power cable is fitted correctly, the mains is switched on at the plug and the power switch is on at your computer. If you're using an extension cord or multiblock, take those out of the chain and plug your PC's power cable directly into the mains socket. You should also try a spare kettle lead if you have one, in case a break in the cable is responsible. <img alt="fuse box" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20305/PCP305.make8.deadpc01-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> THE BASICS: The PC itself may not be at fault. Check your fusebox first, along with fuses in multiblocks and plugs Go to your main fuse box and check that all the fuses are still working. Check and replace the fuse in your computer's plug. Some PCs have a fuse in place before the Power Supply Unit, accessible near the power socket - you should replace that too. Only if you've eliminated all these possible weak links in the chain and your computer still refuses to power on should you move to the next stage. The power supply Problems with internal cabling are a common cause of power-on failure. Expansion caused by heat, movement in transit or a good old bump can dislodge connectors and cut power to your machine. Open your PC case and make sure that power cables, especially those connected to the motherboard, are firmly seated and in place. Also pay close attention to the cable that connects the power button on the front of the case to the motherboard. If you're not sure which one that is, check your motherboard manual. <img alt="component checking" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20305/PCP305.make8.deadpc02-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> PRESS FIRMLY: Unseated cables and cards can cause a host of problems, from POST errors to a machine that won't power on at all When you've done that, make sure your cards and memory are firmly seated too. Any dislodged cards could break the circuit in your machine, stopping it dead. Next, check the heatsink and fan protecting your CPU. Are they aligned correctly and securely? Check that the feet securing the fan to the motherboard are fixed and solid. Your machine may not start at all without a properly positioned and fitted heatsink. The diagnosis If, after all this tweaking and testing, your machine is still failing to power up correctly, you're looking at four potential issues. If you're lucky it'll be the PSU (power supply unit) or the power button. Why is that lucky? Because these issues are both fairly easy and cheap to rectify. There are two ways to verify a failed PSU. The existing PSU can be swapped out and another one tried in its stead. It's best if you can try one from an old PC you no longer use, to avoid unnecessary expense. <img alt="PSU tester" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20305/PCP305.make8.deadpc03-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> PSU TESTER: Using a PSU tester will enable you to determine if a faulty power supply is the problem The other approach is to buy a dedicated PSU tester. <a href="http://www.maplin.co.uk/">Maplin</A> sells one for as little as £20, but considering a new 750-watt PSU costs around £30, it's only worth buying a specialised tester if you expect to continue testing power supply units in future. If a replacement PSU doesn't work, you might still have a power button problem. Again, cannibalising an old PC may be the best way to test your theory. The alternative is to search for and buy an ATX power switch on eBay. This should cost £3-5. If you have an itch to confirm your diagnosis first, Maplin stocks a tool you can use to test the switch for £5. Visit the site and search for 'Domestic multi meter'. If the switch is working, you'll be able to pass a current through it. If you've eliminated all the possibilities above and your machine still refuses to power on, then we're afraid that - finally - you're entering dead computer territory. It's likely that you have a fried motherboard or CPU, and a replacement - or a whole new computer - may be required. Listen to the beep You might encounter slightly different behaviour when your machine turns on. It may power up, beep, then hang indefinitely and seem to do nothing more. Careful diagnostics should be able to help you track down the component. <img alt="BIOS tester" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20305/PCP305.make8.deadpc04-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> MOBO TESTER: You can make diagnosing POST errors easier by investing in a motherboard testing card The first clue will come from that start-up beep. We referred to the beep earlier as the Power On Self Test or POST beep. When your motherboard is powered up, it runs a diagnostic of the motherboard itself and the attached hardware. If all is well, you should hear a single short beep and your hard drive will whirr into life, booting the operating system. If the POST encounters a problem, you'll hear a different sequence of beeps. New hardware If you hear an unexpected beep sequence, it might be caused by several different things. If you've recently added new hardware to your PC - memory or a new video card, for example - there's a high likelihood that could be the problem. With the computer powered down, open the case and reseat all cables and cards. Any of them could have been nudged slightly or dislodged while you were fitting that new component. If you've ruled that out, try removing the new hardware component. If it's a component that the PC needs to run, like a video card, replace it with the old, previously working component. Close the case and switch it on. Is it still not working? It's likely that a component in your system is damaged. Time to research those beeps. Make a note of your BIOS manufacturer's name and note down the beep sequence. You may hear more than one short beep, or you may hear a more complex sequence. For example, a failure in the video system with Award BIOS may generate one long and two short beeps. You can find a comprehensive list of POST beep codes at <a href="http://www.bioscentral.com/">BIOS Central</A>. It'll help you narrow down the source of the error and decide whether to fix your machine or fling it in a skip. Graphics card failure Video cards are common failure points in modern systems, and when one goes it can make your system appear to be dead when it's working perfectly well. With powerful GPUs on board and many relying on passive cooling, they're prone to overheating or blowing if you experience a power surge. Diagnosing the POST beep will help you reach a swift conclusion, but there are other clues that can tell you if the video card is what's on the fritz. In many cases, your machine will complete its boot sequence and load the operating system. It could be waiting politely for you to enter your username and password. <img alt="2nd pc" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20305/PCP305.make8.deadpc07-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> HAND-ME-DOWNS: Most people have an old computer collecting dust, so re-use the components you can either for testing or for a new rig The problem is, you won't know that if the video's not working. Signs to look for are a POST beep that indicates video failure, drives powering up as normal, drive lights and power lights on the front of the system. We've had circumstances where, even though the video wasn't working, we were able to connect an affected computer to a network to retrieve data. This is handy if you need to access files quickly. The cure for such a problem is simple. Install a new video card. It doesn't have to be a fancy one to get the machine going again, so feel free to pull one out of an old PC if you can find one with compatible components. Drive failures are among the most frustrating computer problems. They can come back to haunt you again and again if you don't take the right step first time. With most drive failures, the boot sequence will complete. You may even get a clear POST test, with a single beep. After that, the OS loading sequence will help you determine how damaged a drive may be. If it fails to boot at all, think corrupt boot sector. If the operating system starts to load, then hangs or loops (restarts infinitely), there may be corrupted drivers, corrupt DLLs, Registry problems or a device conflict. If you haven't installed any new hardware recently and all your internal cards and cables are seated firmly, suspect software error. The first thing to do is retrieve as much important data as possible from the drive. That said, it always pays to install a new hard drive if drive corruption has been the problem. If your hard drive crashed hard enough to corrupt data, chances are it crashed hard enough to damage the disk. Even if you're able to wipe the old drive and reinstall Windows successfully, a little scratch might continue to cause problems, leading to multiple failures in the future. <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techradar/allnews/~3/kaOK2beS6_8/story01.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Article</A>

Tutorial: PC won't boot up? How to find out why

You press the power button and your PC won't boot up. What do you do next? Don't write it off just yet. The first thing to do when f...

Tutorial: Beginner's guide to Windows 7

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/53/OWV53.f_lead.blackboard_newhead-200-200.jpg"> We all use Windows, but some of us just scratch the surface of what the operating system can do, by only using our computers to send and receive the odd email and surf the internet. In fact, there are so many great things that Windows 7 can do to make your life easier that it can all seem quite overwhelming at first. There's now a tool for almost anything in Windows, and just knowing exactly where they are and how to use them can revolutionise your experience with your computer. There's no need to feel intimidated by the wealth of options that Windows 7 provides, because over the next few pages, we've got a crash course that teaches you all you need to get the most out of Windows and your PC. Everything you need to know is explored and explained to you, and by the end you'll be amazed at what you can achieve with Windows 7. By taking this crash course, you'll open up whole new areas of Windows 7 to explore confidently - and it'll prove to be the beginning of you realising your PC's full potential. Get started Using Windows is easy - here's how to find where everything is Although there are lots of tools in Windows, you can simplify things by thinking of your computer as being made up of three large areas: your files and folders, your programs, and system tools. The first area - your files and folders - covers all the personal files that you create. Including photos, Office Word documents and your MP3 collection, these files are unique to you, and when you add or create them, they are saved in folders and are collected by Windows 7 in Libraries. These make it incredibly easy for you to find your files. There are four Libraries, and each is pretty self-explanatory: Documents, Music, Pictures and Videos. Any documents that you create in programs such as Office should be saved in the Documents Library to keep your computer organised. In Windows XP, the locations have the same names, but with 'My' in front of them - for example, My Music. Keeping your files organised means that you spend a lot less time searching for them because you know exactly where they are kept. The second area - your programs - covers all the software installed on your PC. While this can be installed in different locations, it can all be accessed quickly and easily through the Start menu. Click Start ? All Programs to see your programs and launch them. If you have a program you use regularly, you can access it even faster by creating a desktop shortcut (right-click on the program's icon and select Send to ? Desktop (create shortcut)) or by pinning it to the taskbar (right-click on the icon and select Pin to Taskbar), which enables you to load the program instantly. If you have a lot of programs installed, the Start menu can get cluttered. In Windows Vista and Windows 7, you can quickly find what you're looking for by typing the program's name into the Start search box. <img alt="Search windows" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/53/OWV53.f_lead.search_windows-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> The final area - system tools - covers all the tools and programs that you can use to tweak and improve Windows. Some of these are quite complicated, and best left to those who are more confident, but through the years Microsoft has worked hard to make these powerful tools more user friendly. The vast majority of these tools are kept in the Control Panel. To access this, just click Start ? Control Panel. What was once a bewildering array of icons has been cleaned up and carefully arranged in Windows 7. Every tool has been placed in a category for easy reference. Looking for a tool to help set up your home network? Look under Network and Internet. Want to set up parental controls? Head to User Accounts and Family Safety. Programs and tools that help you tweak and troubleshoot your computer can also be found under Start ? Computer and Start ? All Programs ? Accessories. Dividing up where Windows keeps everything into three sections in your mind can help you memorise where everything goes, so it is easier to locate in the future. Managing your Windows When using programs, they are displayed in boxes known as windows - which give the Windows operating system its name. The more programs you have open at one time, the more windows appear on your screen. Having too many windows open at once can get confusing, but Windows 7 enables you to organise your desktop so you can find the right window in a flash. Clicking the top of a window and dragging it to the left or right side of your screen instantly resizes the window to take up half of the screen. <img alt="Windows drag" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/53/OWV53.f_lead.manage_windows-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If you want to minimise all the windows except one, click the top of the window you want to keep on your desktop and shake it quickly from side to side. All the windows behind your selected window then minimise. Shake the window again to bring the others back. Another quick way to organise your windows while they are open is to right-click the taskbar and select Show windows stacked, to display each window horizontally across your screen. Right-click the taskbar and select Show windows side by side to display them vertically. If you want to scroll through your open windows to find the one you want, hold down the Windows key on your keyboard and press the Tab key until you find the right one. Searching Windows 7 Using Windows 7 to search for files and folders can save you a huge amount of time. The way Windows searches your PC to find what you want was completely overhauled with Windows Vista - and it has been refined in Windows 7. All you need to do is click the Start button and type the name of the file or folder you are searching for into the Start Search box. <img alt="Add to library" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/53/OWV53.f_lead.libadd-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Even as you begin typing, Windows 7 starts returning results. The more you type, the more accurate results you get. To make it even easier, your search results are divided into categories - Programs, Folders and Files. If you can see what you're searching for, just click on it. If you want to narrow down your search, click See more results. Your results are then listed in the Search Results window, with the phrase you searched for highlighted in yellow to help you quickly figure out how relevant the result is. Windows 7 not only searches file names for your match, but also searches inside files. So if you can't remember the name of a document, but you can remember a sentence or phrase that was written inside it, you can search for that. If you get too many results, you can filter them. For example, if you are searching for an email, you can prevent Windows 7 from returning documents and programs with similar names by clicking the search box in the top right of the Search Results window. Under Add a search filter select Email - or the type of document you are searching for - and only matches of that type are returned. You can further narrow your results by adding file type, file size and the date the file was last edited. Set up your browser Your internet browser is your gateway to the most important technological invention in recent history: the internet. Setting up your internet browser can help you navigate the vast amounts of information available online, so you can find what you are looking for in an instant. Internet Explorer is the most popular browser in the world, which means that almost all websites are compatible with it. Because it is created by Microsoft, it is integrated seamlessly into Windows 7 - and the new Internet Explorer 9 brings even more integration, with jump lists and taskbar pinning of individual websites. <img alt="Bookmarking" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/53/OWV53.f_lead.favorites-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If Internet Explorer isn't to your liking, there are a number of great alternatives, such as <a href="http://www.mozilla.org/">Firefox</A> and <a href="http://www.google.com/chrome">Google Chrome</A>. The first website you are presented with when you open your web browser is known as the home page. You can set your home page to be any website on the internet, so it's a great idea to set it to your favourite site. If you have an internet email account, you could set your home page to be your inbox so that you get your emails straight away, or maybe your favourite news site to get the latest headlines. To set a website as your home page, just go to the site in question then click the Settings icon in the top right-hand corner of Internet Explorer and select Internet options. Under Home page click Use current. If there are other websites that you regularly visit, adding them to your Favorites (also known as bookmarking) can save you loads of time. Instead of typing in the address every time, by adding the website to your Favorites (when on the webpage click the Favorites star icon ? Add to favorites…) all you need to do in the future is open the Favorites list by clicking the Favorites star icon and clicking the name of the website. You can speed things up even more by adding your favourite websites to Internet Explorer's Favorites Bar. Click the Star icon with the green arrow on the left-hand side of the screen and the site appears at the top of the window, enabling you to instantly navigate to your chosen website. You can make Windows even better by tailoring it to your tastes The best thing about all versions of Windows - and especially Windows 7 - is how customisable it is. You don't have to change your habits to suit Windows 7 - you can change Windows 7 to suit you. Straight out of the box Windows 7 is incredibly user-friendly, but if you take the time to tweak and customise Windows to suit your needs and tastes, you'll find that using your computer is faster and easier than ever before. One of the first things you can do to help feel at home when using Windows 7 is to personalise the look and feel of the system. Right-click anywhere on the desktop and select Personalize. You can choose from a number of different themes that come with Windows 7 or click Get more themes online. <img alt="own photo" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/53/OWV53.f_lead.ownphoto-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> This takes you to a website where you can view even more fantastic themes to decorate your computer with. Get some gadgets Desktop gadgets were introduced in Windows Vista to add a whole new dimension of functionality to the Windows desktop. Gadgets are small programs that sit on your desktop and give you instant access to tools and information from your computer and the internet. <img alt="Gadgets" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/53/OWV53.f_lead.gadgets-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> From the local weather to headlines from your favourite sites, there are gadgets for everything. To see what's on offer, right-click the desktop and select Gadgets. Click the gadget you want on your desktop and drag it to where you want it displayed. If you can't find a gadget that suits your needs click Get more gadgets online to take your pick from thousands of available desktop gadgets. Set up user accounts If you share your computer with other people, you can set up user accounts for each person. Setting up user accounts for each member of your family enables everyone to personalise Windows in a way that suits them. Having a user account for each person also means that their favourites, internet home page, browsing history and personal files are all saved and only accessible to them. <img alt="User accounts" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/53/OWV53.f_lead.user-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> To create user accounts, go to Start ? Control Panel and then under User Accounts and Family Safety, select Add or remove user accounts. Click on Create a new account, then enter the name of the person you are creating the user account for, make sure it is set to 'Standard user' so they can't change any important settings, and click Create Account. Once you have set up the account, you can click on it to edit the name, create a password or change the picture that represents the account. Keep your family safe Another great reason to create user accounts for members of your family is that you can add parental controls to your children's accounts to ensure that they are kept safe. You can limit what programs each person has access to and if you are worried about the children using the computer for long periods of times, you can limit when and for how long they can use the PC. Go to Start ? Control Panel and under User Accounts and Family Safety, click Set up parental controls for any user. Click the user account you want to add parental controls to and select On, enforce current settings. You can then set time limits for how long that family member can use the computer for, what age rating of games they can play and what applications they can use. If you want to add further parental controls to the user account - such as website filtering - install <a href="http://explore.live.com/windows-live-family-safety?os=other">Windows Live Family Safety 2011</A>. Security solutions Making sure your computer is secure when you are on the internet is one of the most important things you can do. There are so many threats on the internet that can infect your computer and put your personal files and information at risk, that installing antivirus and anti-malware should be one of your top priorities. Windows 7 itself does not come with antivirus protection, so you need to install your own copy of your chosen antivirus software. There are two types of antivirus software: paid-for and free. With antivirus software that you pay for, you get a copy that will receive updates for a year. After that year has ended, you need to buy a subscription for a further 12 months to continue to keep the software updated. This is essential because thousands of new viruses are released on the internet every day, and the updates make sure that the antivirus software can detect and protect you from the latest threats. Free antivirus software offers basic protection without you needing to pay for a yearly subscription. Free antivirus software protects your computer from being infected, but it doesn't feature some of the more advanced features and technology that paid-for versions do, such as email scanning and website blocking. If you know what you are doing and are careful on the internet, free antivirus software such as <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/">Microsoft Security Essentials</A> or <a href="http://free.avg.com/gb-en/homepage">AVG Free</A> should be adequate. If you are not that confident on the internet, have a habit of opening attachments and clicking links in emails, download a lot of things or just want the best protection there is, consider paid-for antivirus. Trusted brands such as Norton and McAfee offer superb security. Windows Update Windows 7 isn't completely defenceless on its own against malicious threats from the internet, however. Microsoft continually updates the operating system through the Windows Update service. These updates include critical protection against the latest threats and most of the time they are downloaded in the background without you needing to do anything. <img alt="Updates" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/53/OWV53.f_lead.updates-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Occasionally there is a non-essential update released that can improve your computer's performance. Non-essential updates are not downloaded automatically, so it is worth checking Windows Update once a month. Click the Start button and type update into the Search box. Click Windows Update and you're presented with a window telling you how many important and optional updates are available. Click on Optional updates are available to view the list. Select the optional updates you want to install, then click OK ? Install updates. Any important updates that you have yet to download and install are automatically selected and installed as well. Create a network Setting up or joining your home network has never been easier thanks to Windows 7. Simply plug your computer into your network router via Ethernet cable and follow our guide below to get your home network up and running. If you have any problems, head over to the Network and Sharing Center by clicking Start and typing Network and Sharing Center. You'll find all the tools and help you need to get your internet and network fixed right here. 1. Search for networks <img alt="Wi-Fi 1" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/53/OWV53.f_lead.wirelesswalk1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> All modern laptops and netbooks have wireless network receivers built in. If you have a desktop PC, you may need to buy a USB wireless receiver. If your computer can detect wireless networks, and there is one nearby, the 'Wireless connections are available' icon appears in your taskbar. 2. Find your wireless <img alt="Wi-Fi 2" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/53/OWV53.f_lead.wirelesswalk2-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Click on the icon and all the wireless networks your computer can find are displayed. Click the name of your wireless network - if you haven't named it yourself, it will be named after the brand of your wireless router (Netgear, for example) or your ISP. 3. Enter your password and connect <img alt="Wi-Fi 3" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/53/OWV53.f_lead.wirelesswalk3-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Click on your network and put a tick next to Connect automatically. This means Windows 7 connects to your chosen network straight away when you turn on your PC in the future. Click Connect and enter the network password. Wireless networks should always have a password to prevent strangers accessing them. Keep your PC clean All versions of Windows work best when they have just been freshly installed. Over time, they slow down as programs are installed and uninstalled. To keep Windows 7 running as though it's brand new, regular cleaning of the hard drive is essential. It doesn't take long and the results are well worth it. To keep your hard drive neat and tidy, go to Start ? All Programs ? Accessories ? System Tools ? Disk Cleanup. Select the drive and click OK. Windows scans your hard drive for unnecessary files that take up precious disk space but can be safely removed. <img alt="Cleanup" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/53/OWV53.f_lead.disc_cleanup-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Temporary internet files, partially deleted files in the recycle bin and other temporary files can all add up and slow down your PC. Select the files you want to delete and then click OK ? Delete files. Uninstall all your unwanted programs If you have programs installed on your computer that you no longer use, it's a good idea to uninstall them to keep your hard drive clean and Windows 7 running smoothly. To uninstall unneeded programs, go to Start ? Control Panel ? Uninstall a program. Select the program you no longer use and click Uninstall. Installing and uninstalling programs can leave your hard drive in a bit of a state over time. Fragments of files can be left in various places on the disk, making it difficult for your computer to find the information it is looking for. The longer it takes for your computer to search the hard drive, the slower Windows 7 performs. This is why defragmenting your hard drive is an essential part of Windows maintenance. The defragmentation process rearranges the data into a more logical and easier-to-read order, while combining the free space on your disk. After defragmenting your hard drive, you'll find you have a faster computer and more disk space. Go to Start, type defrag and click Disk Defragmenter. Select your hard drive and click Analyze disk to see if the disk need defragmenting. If it does, click Defragment disk. Windows 7 programs you should download Windows 7 comes with a lot of great tools, but there are some other essential programs that you should install to make the most out of your computer. The following programs contain all the features you need to get the most out of Windows 7 and your computer. Windows Live Essentials Microsoft has gathered together some of the best programs for Windows in the <a href="http://explore.live.com/windows-live-essentials">Windows Live Essentials</A> suite. Once installed, you'll find that there's a reason Microsoft has given these programs the name 'Essential'. <img alt="Messenger" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/53/OWV53.f_lead.messenger-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Windows Live Messenger enables you to keep in contact with friends and family over the internet. You can share photos and videos while you chat, and if you have a webcam, you can have video chats as well - all for free. The latest version even integrates with the Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn social networks. If you keep lots of digital photos on your computer, installing Windows Live Photo Gallery is a must. It features tools for organising, editing and sharing your photos. Instantly adjust the colour of photographs, remove red eye or create stunning panoramas with your snaps. <img alt="Live movie" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/53/OWV53.f_lead.livemovie-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If you've shot some home videos, you can import them to Windows Live Movie Maker and add special effects, transitions and sound effects to create and share amazing movies. Windows Live Mail is a fantastic email program that enables you to add multiple email accounts and calendars as well as send and receive emails straight from your desktop. And if you have a blog, Windows Live Writer is a great tool - instantly upload text, photos, videos, maps and a lot more to share them with the world. Finally, Windows Live Family Safety contains additional parental controls to help you keep your children protected while they use the internet. An essential tool for peace of mind. Ad-Aware If you want extra protection against spyware, you should install <a href="http://www.lavasoft.com/">Ad-Aware</A>. Spyware is software that is installed on your PC without your consent, which sends information about you and your computer across the internet. Sometimes this is sent to advertisers, other times to malicious users who want to steal your identity, but it is always annoying. Ad-Aware protects you against this. Microsoft Security Essentials If you want a free antivirus software solution, <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/software/utilities/anti-malware-software/microsoft-security-essentials-640587/review">Microsoft Security Essentials</A> is the tool you need. It is easy to use and is always kept up to date to protect your computer against viruses and other malicious software. There's no complicated jargon involved - you simply install it and it monitors your computer for you. Foxit Reader <img alt="Foxit" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/53/OWV53.f_lead.foxit-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> PDF files are becoming increasingly common. Most user manuals are now saved on an installation disc, rather than printed out on paper. You're usually told to install Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDF files, but <a href="http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader/">Foxit Reader</A> is a faster alternative that has all the features and doesn't take up as much disk space. 7-Zip Adding files to a compressed .zip file is a great way to send and receive files over the internet. While Windows 7 can open and create .zip files straight away, <a href="http://www.7-zip.org/">7-Zip</A> adds even more functionality and the ability to open and create the popular .rar compressed file type, too. Revo Uninstaller <img alt="Revo" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/Windows%20Vista/53/OWV53.f_lead.revo-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> <a href="http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html">Revo Uninstaller</A> is another example of a tool that expands on some of the functionality within Windows 7. While you can uninstall programs with Windows 7, the process is not perfect. Some files and folders can refuse to be removed, leaving your hard drive cluttered with the remnants of unwanted programs. Revo Uninstaller helps keep your computer completely clean. VLC Media Player Have you ever tried to play a movie file that Windows Media Player cannot read? Installing <a href="http://www.videolan.org/vlc/">VLC Media Player</A> means you never have to worry about that again. Its creators boldly claim that "it plays everything", and they are right - from DVDs to streaming media and any video file (even if it is damaged), VLC Media Player can handle them all.<img border="0" height="1" src="http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/9809/s/13a974ac/mf.gif" width="1"> <DIV class=mf-related><a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techradar/allnews/~3/Ok-W9jfqtm4/story01.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Article</A></DIV>

Tutorial: Beginner's guide to Windows 7

We all use Windows, but some of us just scratch the surface of what the operating system can do, by only using our computers to send and rec...

Tutorial: PC won't boot up? How to find out why

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20305/PCP305.make8.deadpc07-200-200.jpg"> You press the power button and your PC won't boot up. What do you do next? Don't write it off just yet. The first thing to do when faced with a PC that won't start up is remain calm. They're modular devices, and it's likely that a single component among many is the culprit. Fixing or replacing that component should bring your machine back to life. The trick is finding out which one it is. We recommend a systematic approach to the problem, starting with observation, moving on to elimination and ending in diagnosis and treatment. Don't worry, you won't need a degree in engineering to fix a poorly PC. The process will probably be much easier than you expect. We'll take you through a troubleshooting procedure that should help you fix the majority of near-fatal hardware faults. In many cases, you won't need a great deal of technical know-how to get your PC working again. PC power problems There are many reasons why your computer might fail to start. Let's have a look at the possibilities, one probable scenario at a time. The first sounds like the worst, but could actually be one of the easiest to diagnose. You switch on your computer and nothing happens. No lights, no fans, no drives whirring into life and, crucially, no POST (Power On System Test) beep. Somewhere in the chain, power isn't getting through. Work your way through this checklist. Unplug all peripherals except the keyboard, mouse and monitor, and make sure these are connected correctly. Check the obvious possibilities: make sure that your power cable is fitted correctly, the mains is switched on at the plug and the power switch is on at your computer. If you're using an extension cord or multiblock, take those out of the chain and plug your PC's power cable directly into the mains socket. You should also try a spare kettle lead if you have one, in case a break in the cable is responsible. <img alt="fuse box" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20305/PCP305.make8.deadpc01-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> THE BASICS: The PC itself may not be at fault. Check your fusebox first, along with fuses in multiblocks and plugs Go to your main fuse box and check that all the fuses are still working. Check and replace the fuse in your computer's plug. Some PCs have a fuse in place before the Power Supply Unit, accessible near the power socket - you should replace that too. Only if you've eliminated all these possible weak links in the chain and your computer still refuses to power on should you move to the next stage. The power supply Problems with internal cabling are a common cause of power-on failure. Expansion caused by heat, movement in transit or a good old bump can dislodge connectors and cut power to your machine. Open your PC case and make sure that power cables, especially those connected to the motherboard, are firmly seated and in place. Also pay close attention to the cable that connects the power button on the front of the case to the motherboard. If you're not sure which one that is, check your motherboard manual. <img alt="component checking" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20305/PCP305.make8.deadpc02-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> PRESS FIRMLY: Unseated cables and cards can cause a host of problems, from POST errors to a machine that won't power on at all When you've done that, make sure your cards and memory are firmly seated too. Any dislodged cards could break the circuit in your machine, stopping it dead. Next, check the heatsink and fan protecting your CPU. Are they aligned correctly and securely? Check that the feet securing the fan to the motherboard are fixed and solid. Your machine may not start at all without a properly positioned and fitted heatsink. The diagnosis If, after all this tweaking and testing, your machine is still failing to power up correctly, you're looking at four potential issues. If you're lucky it'll be the PSU (power supply unit) or the power button. Why is that lucky? Because these issues are both fairly easy and cheap to rectify. There are two ways to verify a failed PSU. The existing PSU can be swapped out and another one tried in its stead. It's best if you can try one from an old PC you no longer use, to avoid unnecessary expense. <img alt="PSU tester" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20305/PCP305.make8.deadpc03-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> PSU TESTER: Using a PSU tester will enable you to determine if a faulty power supply is the problem The other approach is to buy a dedicated PSU tester. <a href="http://www.maplin.co.uk/">Maplin</A> sells one for as little as £20, but considering a new 750-watt PSU costs around £30, it's only worth buying a specialised tester if you expect to continue testing power supply units in future. If a replacement PSU doesn't work, you might still have a power button problem. Again, cannibalising an old PC may be the best way to test your theory. The alternative is to search for and buy an ATX power switch on eBay. This should cost £3-5. If you have an itch to confirm your diagnosis first, Maplin stocks a tool you can use to test the switch for £5. Visit the site and search for 'Domestic multi meter'. If the switch is working, you'll be able to pass a current through it. If you've eliminated all the possibilities above and your machine still refuses to power on, then we're afraid that - finally - you're entering dead computer territory. It's likely that you have a fried motherboard or CPU, and a replacement - or a whole new computer - may be required. Listen to the beep You might encounter slightly different behaviour when your machine turns on. It may power up, beep, then hang indefinitely and seem to do nothing more. Careful diagnostics should be able to help you track down the component. <img alt="BIOS tester" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20305/PCP305.make8.deadpc04-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> MOBO TESTER: You can make diagnosing POST errors easier by investing in a motherboard testing card The first clue will come from that start-up beep. We referred to the beep earlier as the Power On Self Test or POST beep. When your motherboard is powered up, it runs a diagnostic of the motherboard itself and the attached hardware. If all is well, you should hear a single short beep and your hard drive will whirr into life, booting the operating system. If the POST encounters a problem, you'll hear a different sequence of beeps. New hardware If you hear an unexpected beep sequence, it might be caused by several different things. If you've recently added new hardware to your PC - memory or a new video card, for example - there's a high likelihood that could be the problem. With the computer powered down, open the case and reseat all cables and cards. Any of them could have been nudged slightly or dislodged while you were fitting that new component. If you've ruled that out, try removing the new hardware component. If it's a component that the PC needs to run, like a video card, replace it with the old, previously working component. Close the case and switch it on. Is it still not working? It's likely that a component in your system is damaged. Time to research those beeps. Make a note of your BIOS manufacturer's name and note down the beep sequence. You may hear more than one short beep, or you may hear a more complex sequence. For example, a failure in the video system with Award BIOS may generate one long and two short beeps. You can find a comprehensive list of POST beep codes at <a href="http://www.bioscentral.com/">BIOS Central</A>. It'll help you narrow down the source of the error and decide whether to fix your machine or fling it in a skip. Graphics card failure Video cards are common failure points in modern systems, and when one goes it can make your system appear to be dead when it's working perfectly well. With powerful GPUs on board and many relying on passive cooling, they're prone to overheating or blowing if you experience a power surge. Diagnosing the POST beep will help you reach a swift conclusion, but there are other clues that can tell you if the video card is what's on the fritz. In many cases, your machine will complete its boot sequence and load the operating system. It could be waiting politely for you to enter your username and password. <img alt="2nd pc" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20305/PCP305.make8.deadpc07-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> HAND-ME-DOWNS: Most people have an old computer collecting dust, so re-use the components you can either for testing or for a new rig The problem is, you won't know that if the video's not working. Signs to look for are a POST beep that indicates video failure, drives powering up as normal, drive lights and power lights on the front of the system. We've had circumstances where, even though the video wasn't working, we were able to connect an affected computer to a network to retrieve data. This is handy if you need to access files quickly. The cure for such a problem is simple. Install a new video card. It doesn't have to be a fancy one to get the machine going again, so feel free to pull one out of an old PC if you can find one with compatible components. Drive failures are among the most frustrating computer problems. They can come back to haunt you again and again if you don't take the right step first time. With most drive failures, the boot sequence will complete. You may even get a clear POST test, with a single beep. After that, the OS loading sequence will help you determine how damaged a drive may be. If it fails to boot at all, think corrupt boot sector. If the operating system starts to load, then hangs or loops (restarts infinitely), there may be corrupted drivers, corrupt DLLs, Registry problems or a device conflict. If you haven't installed any new hardware recently and all your internal cards and cables are seated firmly, suspect software error. The first thing to do is retrieve as much important data as possible from the drive. That said, it always pays to install a new hard drive if drive corruption has been the problem. If your hard drive crashed hard enough to corrupt data, chances are it crashed hard enough to damage the disk. Even if you're able to wipe the old drive and reinstall Windows successfully, a little scratch might continue to cause problems, leading to multiple failures in the future. <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techradar/allnews/~3/8__OzI7ZGiY/story01.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Article</A>

Tutorial: PC won't boot up? How to find out why

You press the power button and your PC won't boot up. What do you do next? Don't write it off just yet. The first thing to do when f...

Tutorial to Create a Karaoke CD-G

Tutorial to Create a Karaoke CD-G

Download and install Power CD+G Creator + Burner. Launch Power CD+G Creator from the Start menu. Click "Create New Song Wizard." ...

How to use One-Step Effects in iMovie 11

<div align="center"><img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20229/MAC229.main_imovie.onestep_main-200-200.jpg" /></div>The goal of iMovie has always been to make our video editing lives a little easier. 
 
 
Compare it with the other members of the family, namely Final Cut Express and Pro, and you'll realise how hard Apple worked to simplify the process of cutting a short film and turning it into something that many will enjoy. 
In fact, Final Cut's interface has remained practically unchanged for more than a decade. All the innovation and excitement currently lies with its smaller sibling, with ideas such as: mousing over a clip to scroll through it and see each frame you're currently over in the main preview section; creating versatile and complex titles with just a few clicks; seeing a preview of the effect you're about to use before actually using it; adding keywords to your clips and locating the exact one you need in seconds; or being able to see which part of the audio is peaking at a glance, without having to play the footage at all. 
These make up just a fraction of the innovation that's coming out of iMovie. But Apple isn't resting on its laurels. It has come up with another way to speed up your work with iMovie '11: One-Step Effects. 
The idea is simple: check which effects most people like to use, then find a way to create it even faster than the current method. Apple's engineers have applied this idea to, among others, slowing down or speeding up a clip and making it fade to black and white or sepia. 
They've also added a few ideas that would have been time-consuming to create otherwise, such as Instant Replay and various editing options when cutting a film to the beat of a song. 
But perhaps best of all, these effects are completely customisable, so you can fine-tune them once they've been applied. We'll take a look at how they work in this tutorial. 
How to master the One-Step Effects in iMovie '11 
 
01. The highlight 
<div align="center"><img alt="step 1" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20229/MAC229.main_imovie.onestep_1-420-90.jpg" width="420" /></div> 
Let's start by slowing part of a clip down. Choose a suitable section in your project then drag on the clip itself to highlight a specific area. Mouse over either edge of that selection to turn your cursor into a resize tool. Then drag those edges to fine-tune the area. 
02. Slow Motion 
<div align="center"><img alt="step 2" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20229/MAC229.main_imovie.onestep_2-420-90.jpg" width="420" /></div> 
When you're ready, go to Clip > Slow Motion > 25%. This will slow down that portion by a factor of four. You can choose two other speeds, 50% and 10%, and can fast forward a selection by the same amounts. But the really interesting part lies in your Project pane… 
03. Customisation 
<div align="center"><img alt="Step 3" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20229/MAC229.main_imovie.onestep_3-420-90.jpg" width="420" /></div> 
Your clip has been cut in three and the slow-down effect has been applied to the middle part. Select that part and go to Window > Clip Adjustments (or press i) to reveal the Inspector. The Speed slider is editable and you can also fine-tune the setting manually. 
04. Fade 
<div align="center"><img alt="step 4" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20229/MAC229.main_imovie.onestep_4-420-90.jpg" width="420" /></div> 
You can do the same with a Fade to effect: select a part of another clip then go to Clip > Fade to > Sepia. Again, your original clip will be cut in three and the effect will be added to the middle. Double-click it for the Inspector, where you can change which effect is applied. 
05. Transitions 
<div align="center"><img alt="step 5" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20229/MAC229.main_imovie.onestep_5-420-90.jpg" width="420" /></div> 
By default, the transition from the normal clip to the one with the effect applied, is a standard cross-dissolve. Double-click on that transition to bring up the Transition Inspector. Click on the Transition menu and select any other one. You can also alter the duration. 
06. Replay 
<div align="center"><img alt="step 6" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20229/MAC229.main_imovie.onestep_6-420-90.jpg" width="420" /></div> 
Apple added a few new effects to iMovie, one of which is Instant Replay. Select a part of a clip, just as you did in Steps 1 and 4, go to the Clip menu and choose a percentage value from the Instant Replay sub-menu (by default, the replay will be slowed down). 
07. Resizing 
<div align="center"><img alt="step 7" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20229/MAC229.main_imovie.onestep_7-420-90.jpg" width="420" /></div> 
If you'd rather have the replay action at its regular speed, select the middle clip, open the Clip Inspector and type 100% in the Speed field. The Instant Replay text box will be too long, but you can resize it by double-clicking on it and changing its duration in the Inspector. 
08. Editing 
<div align="center"><img alt="step 8" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20229/MAC229.main_imovie.onestep_8-420-90.jpg" width="420" /></div> 
Click on the text box above the replayed portion of your clip to select it. Look in the Preview pane. Indeed, the text itself is editable; although you can't alter the font or manually change its size, you can edit the text to whatever you like. 
<div align="left"><a href="http://www.techradar.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Source</a></div>

How to use One-Step Effects in iMovie 11

The goal of iMovie has always been to make our video editing lives a little easier. Compare it with the other members of the family, name...