While Mac and Linux users may be the most vocal (ahem), the overwhelming majority of Lifehacker readers get here using some version of Windows. Let’s review the most popular Windows tutorials we’ve ever published.
Format Your Hard Drive and Install Windows XP from Scratch (Published 2006)
“Hey, Windows XP users: The blue screen of death got you down? Missing dll errors making you frown? Frequent software crashes leave you yearning for that fresh, new PC you unpacked with glee three years ago? If you’ve scrubbed for spyware and viruses, defragged, chkdsked and done the requisite rain dance but things are STILL wonky on your computer, it may be time for extreme action.”
Dual-boot Windows XP and Windows Vista (Published 2006)
“These instructions work if you have a PC running Windows XP and a Windows Vista installation DVD. If you already have Vista installed, and you want to dual boot XP, go here.”
Automatically Back Up Your Hard Drive (Published 2006)
“Don’t expect yourself to remember to back up your data, or stack your closet full of burned CD’s or DVD’s. Today we’re going to set up automated nightly, weekly, monthly local and off-site backups for your PC using free software.”
Slipstream Service Pack 3 into Your Windows XP Installation CD (Published 2008)
“Next time you wipe your PC’s hard drive clean and reinstall Windows with that old installation disc, you don’t want to connect your fresh, unpatched and vulnerable system to the internet only to download 176 new updates from Microsoft.”
Trim Down Windows to the Bare Essentials (Published 2008)
“When you’re installing Windows in a virtual machine or on old, slow hardware, you want the leanest, meanest and fastest-running configuration possible.”
Make the Most of Your PC’s Dual Monitors (Published 2007)
“Now that you’ve added another monitor to your computer setup, you’ve got double the screen real estate to get things done?but are you putting all that space to good use?”
Crack a Windows Password with Ophcrack Live CD (Published 2007)
“Whether you need to recover the lost password to a Windows account, you’re looking to ensure that your passwords are secure, or you’re a super l33t h4x0r, the Ophcrack Live CD is a pretty useful tool.”
Download the Most Popular Free Windows Apps of 2008 (Published 2008)
“In the past year we’ve highlighted hundreds of Windows apps aimed at making your life easier, boosting your computer productivity, and powering up your PC.”
Turn Your Windows PC into a Media Center Powerhouse On the Cheap (Published 2007)
“If you’ve purchased a new Windows computer in the past few years that’s running Windows Media Center Edition or Vista Home Premium or Ultimate and you aren’t taking advantage of its baked-in DVR Media Center software, it’s time we change that.”
Get Vista’s Best Features in XP (Published 2008)
“Despite the fact that most of you prefer XP to Vista and would rather Microsoft extended XP’s shelf-life, several new and improved features available in Vista would be great to have in XP.”
Turn Your PC into a DVD Ripping Monster (Published 2008)
“Commercial DVDs are far too expensive to let scratches turn your video into a glorified coaster, but most people still don’t back up their DVD collection.”
Replace Crappy Windows Software with Superior Alternatives (Published 2008)
“It may be the year 2008, but a whole lot of sucktacular software still rears its ugly head on PC’s everywhere, even when better-behaved options are freely available.”
Any Windows topics you’d like to see us cover in ’09? Burning Windows questions we haven’t answered? Tell us in the comments.
Nov
23
SPAM Fighter Statistics for November 2010
Thank you Postini for watching paytonplace.us (my domain)
2,227 messages blocked (46%), 996 in quarantine (20%), effective catch rate of 95.7%.
Thank you Akismet for watching stephen.paytonplace.us (my blog)
2,646 spam attacks caught, 14 legitimate comments, overall accuracy rate of 99.9%.
Oct
30
A fresh annoyance on the Verizon HTC Droid Incredible and Droid X is the V-Cast Manager web page that automatically launches each and every time you plug the phone into your computer. This issue surfaced after Verizon pushed the Android Version 2.2 (Froyo) update through their network to my Droid Incredible.
Fortunately, I discovered a way to prevent this from happening at connection time. I found this tip at TechniPages.com.
Now when you plug your phone into the computer, the V-Cast Manager web page will not automatically launch. I opted to go the “Disable it on the phone,” route so I wouldn’t be plagued with this issue on different computers.
It works like a charm!
~SP
Sep
20
Been singing the same refrain for what seems like hours on end and can’t seem to get the annoyingly catchy ditty out of your head? Here’s how to rid your mind of the song.
Real Simple Magazine consulted James Kellaris, a University of Cincinnati professor who studies why catchy tunes stick in our heads. James says that to stop the looping, “listen either to complex music, like Mozart, or unfamiliar music that lacks a hook, like New Age.”
And if that doesn’t work, try singing the song all the way through or simply listen to it in its entirety. This will give your brain a sense of completion and should relax your need to continue repeating the lyrics. As for situations where you can’t remember some or all of the lyrics, just rewrite the end to get the song out of your head.
If you have suggestions for complex and unfamiliar music that you’ve used to thwart the song in your head (or other tricks to achieve the same goal), leave them in the comments.
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