Computer Tips and Tricks from a Technobabe

Where to Find the Best Netflix Instant Streaming Movies and TV Episodes

2011-09-02T07:34:00.000-07:00

The Netflix instant streaming movie and TV service is a great value. However, if you've ever tried to find a movie or TV show to watch on Netflix instant streaming, you may find yourself staring at a labyrinth of almost unlimited and extremely confusing choices. Worse, Netflix' Best Guess rating and recommendation system is practically useless for most subscribers. To find the best and most popular movies and TV episodes on Netflix, you must consult a variety of sources. Thankfully, this information is available in abundance on several different websites, including Netflix.com.

Netflix Top 100

Located on the Netflix website the Netflix Top 100 gives a list of the top 100 movies and TV shows, both on DVD and instant streaming. On any given day you can count on finding about six or seven instant streaming titles here. Just click on the Browse DVDs link to see the Netflix Top 100 link. You can add the instant streaming movies or TV shows by mousing over the blue Play button, then selecting Add to Instant.

Netflix Critics' Picks

This gem is also located within the Browse DVDs tab on the Netflix website. Netflix Critics' Picks lists both the best classic and new movies and TV shows that have been highly rated by critics. You can also browse critics' picks by genre on the right side of the page. Generally, there's one or two instant streaming selections in each category.

Starz Play

Starz Play is an online version of the Starz channel, which is featured in cable and satellite television subscriptions. This service shows both newer blockbuster movies and classics, as well as television series. To see the best movies and TV episodes on Starz play, click the Watch Instantly tab, then click Starz Play in the menu. Then click Sortable List and select the Rating link to sort the list by highest to lowest rating.

StreamingSoon.com

StreamingSoon.com features an updated list of movies and TV shows that will soon be coming to Netflix instant streaming. To make the most of the information on this website, you should have both a DVD and instant streaming account with Netflix. You can then add the movies to your DVD queue to watch them, then add them to your instant queue when the come on streaming. To see the best movies coming soon to Netflix, click the Upcoming Best link at the top of the page. This website also features the best new and soon to expire instant streaming movies and TV shows on Netflix, along with the best and worst movies and TV episodes available to stream right now.

InstantWatcher.com

The InstantWatcher.com website provides the most popular movies and TV shows over the last 24 hours. Just mouse over the links on the InstantWatcher.com website to see a complete description of the movie or TV show. Searching for movies and TV shows on InstantWatcher.com is a great way to get around Netflix' annoying Best Guess rating system, since it gives the real Netflix rating of each show without skewing it based on the movies and TV episodes you've rated. InstantWatcher.com also tells which movies and TV series have been highly rated by critics, and provides critics' reviews for certain movies and TV shows as well.

Using System Restore in Windows XP

2011-08-19T13:17:00.000-07:00

If you experience problems with your Windows XP computer after updating drivers or installing software, or after making a change to your computer's settings, System Restore can save the day. This feature quickly and easily restores your computer to a previous state when you know it was working properly, and it does so without altering your personal files in any way. For this reason, System Restore is a great alternative to formatting your hard drive and reinstalling your operating system if you can't get Windows XP to boot properly, since it prevents your files from being lost.

Create a System Restore Point

To restore your computer to a previous state in Windows XP, you must have System Restore points stored on your computer. System Restore points are created regularly at system checkpoints and whenever you install new software or drivers on your computer. However, you can also create them manually, if you prefer. In fact, it's very important to create a manual restore point prior to making important changes to your computer, such as making manual edits to the system registry. To do this, click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools and System Restore. When System Restore starts, click Create a restore point and click Next. Type a name for your restore point in the field marked Restore Point Description, then click Create and Close.

Restore Your Computer to an Earlier State

Restoring your Windows XP computer to a previous state is similar to creating a new restore point. Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools and then System Restore. Click Restore my computer to an earlier time. Select a date on the calendar when you know the computer was working properly. If necessary, press the back arrow button to access a date in a previous month. Click Next. Save your work, close all open programs and click Next again to restart your computer.

Important System Restore Tips for Windows XP

If Windows XP won't save any System Restore points, you won't be able to restore your computer to an earlier time. It may become necessary to turn System Restore off, then back on again, to restore the computer's ability to save System Restore points. Keep in mind that turning System Restore off will delete all existing System Restore points from your computer, so don't use this technique if your computer is able to save Restore points.

To turn off System Restore in Windows XP, click Start, right click My Computer, then click Properties to open System Properties. Click the System Restore tab. Click the check box beside Turn off System Restore, then click OK. Click Yes to confirm your selection.

To turn System Restore back on again, open System Properties again, then click the System Restore tab. Clear the check box beside Turn off System Restore, then click OK.

How to Make Windows XP Look Like Windows 7 for Free

2011-08-16T15:24:00.000-07:00

Windows XP is a great operating system. It's very stable and light enough on resources to run on older computers. If your computer doesn't have the recommended system specs to install Windows 7 or you don't want to upgrade, you can use these handy free tools to make it look like Windows 7.

Seven Transformation Pack

This useful tool from Windows X Live transforms every aspect of your computer to look like Windows 7. Elements changed include in the Seven Transformation Pack the boot screen, welcome screen, visual styles, dialogue boxes, icons and sounds. The Seven Transformation Pack even includes Windows 7 desktop wallpapers and an advanced feature that emulates Flip 3D. The Seven Transformation Pack can't be easily uninstalled, so create a System Restore Point in Windows XP before you install it. That way, you can easily set your computer back to normal if Seven Transformation Pack doesn't work.

ViStart 7

ViStart by Lee-Soft was originally intended to provide a Windows Vista Start menu for Windows XP. Now a version called ViStart 7 is available to make your XP Start menu look like Windows 7. There are also skins available for ViStart 7 on sites such as DeviantArt.com. ViStart includes a search function to find programs and files on your computer, and includes multi-language support. You can easily disable ViStart 7 by right-clicking it icon in the systray, then clicking Exit.

BootSkin

BootSkin has been discontinued by Stardock Corporation, but is still available from download sites such as CNET's Download.com. You can use this program to make your Windows XP startup screen look like Windows 7 by downloading bootskins from a site like WinCustomize.com. Click Explore and then BootSkins XP to find compatible Windows 7 bootskins on WinCustomize.com. You can then open the file directly or click File and Import from File to install the skin in Bootskin.

LogonStudio

Also from Stardock Corporation, LogonStudio for Windows XP allows you to download or create a logon screen for your computer. Hundreds of logon packages for LogonStudio are available for download on WinCustomize.com. You might have to browse for a while to find logon screens that are specifically designed to look like Windows 7. Then click the Load button in the LogonStudio interface to import the package into the program. If you don't like your logon screen, you can install a new one at any time, or install Windows Default to set the Windows XP logon screen back to normal. Keep in mind that LogonStudio will not give your computer a Windows 7 logon; it only affects the background behind the logon screen.

Google Desktop Sidebar

The Google Desktop Sidebar is a gadget that comes with Google Desktop. The sidebar is similar in many ways to the sidebar in Windows 7. When installing Google Desktop, you must select "Sidebar with Gadgets" to get this feature. Popular gadgets for the Google Desktop Sidebar include a calendar, a clock, a desktop search feature, news and weather gadgets.

How to Increase Netflix Streaming Speed

2011-08-16T13:43:00.000-07:00

Maintaining a high streaming speed is essential to getting high video and audio quality when streaming Netflix movies or TV episodes on your computer. There are many different factors that can affect your overall streaming speed. Surprisingly, not all of them are on your computer. If you have any other software, computers or devices competing for your bandwidth, it can affect your Netflix streaming speed, causing pixelation and interruptions.

Netflix System Requirements

To play Netflix instant movies and TV shows on your computer, you must have an overall broadband Internet connection of at least 1.5 megabits per second (Mbps) for standard definition and 3 Mbps for high definition. If you're using a Windows computer, you must have at least Windows XP SP2, Vista or 7, Internet Explorer 6.0, Firefox 3 or Chrome 7, a 1.2 gigahertz (GHz) processor and 512 megabytes (MB) of RAM. If you're on a Mac, your computer must be Intel-based and have OS 10.4.11 or higher installed. You must also have Safari 3 or Firefox 3 or later and 1 gigabyte (GB) of RAM.

If your computer or Internet connection don't meet these minimum system requirements, then you will not be able to stream Netflix instant movies and TV episodes at an acceptable level of quality and without interruption.

Run a Speed Test

What your Internet service provider says your download speed is and what it actually is are two different things. In order to find the actual speed at which you're downloading Netflix instant streaming movies and TV, you must test your Internet connection. You can do this quickly and easily online.

One of the best sites to test your Internet speed is Speedtest.net. When you click Begin Test Recommended Server, Speedtest.net automatically chooses a server near you. You can choose Begin Test Your Preferred Server if you have an account with Speedtest.net and are logged in. You can also select a server by clicking on the white dots on the map. This test provides both your download speed and upload speed. It's normal for the upload speed to be significantly slower than the download speed.

Another great Internet speed test is the CNET Bandwidth Meter. You just select your location, then the speed test starts automatically. This site measures your download speed in kilobits per second (Kbps), so you must divide by 1000 to get your speed in Mbps. CNET's website provides only your download speed in its test results.

You must have Adobe Flash Player installed to run these online speed tests. You can run multiple tests on multiple sites to get an average download speed.

Shut Down Competing Software and Devices

If you're having trouble with streaming Netflix movies and TV, and your computer meets their system requirements, you may have other software or devices competing for the same bandwidth resources. You can find out which programs are running on a Windows computer by pressing CTRL+ALT+DELETE simultaneously to pull up Task Manager. (On a Mac, click Applications, Utilities and then Activity Monitor.)

Review the processes listed to determine which ones are using the most bandwidth. Neither Task Manager nor Activity Monitor will tell how much each process is using directly; however, both of these utilities have a Network tab that will tell you how much of your network resources are being used at any given time. Take care when ending processes manually. Ending certain essential processes while they're running can crash your computer. Types of programs that tend to use up bandwidth include online backup, BitTorrent, download managers and automatic update software.

Also check any other computers on your network to see if they're running any bandwidth-intensive programs. Turn off these programs or for even better results, shut down the other computers completely.

Other devices on your network may be using your available bandwidth. These include Internet-connected game consoles, Blu-ray players, HDTVs and digital video players. Turn these off and, if necessary, unplug them. (The Roku digital video player, for example, is an always-on device that must be unplugged to be turned off.)

Resolving IP Address Conflicts

If you have an IP address conflict with another device, your Internet connection can slow down to a crawl. The best way to resolve these is to shut down the competing device. However, if you must leave the other device on, you can solve the problem another way. Open a command window. To do this in Windows XP, click Start, Run, type cmd in the field and press Enter. In Windows Vista and 7, type cmd in the Start Search box, then select cmd.exe from the list of programs. Type ipconfig/release at the command prompt and press Enter. Then type ipconfig/renew and press Enter again. When this step is complete, your computer should have a new IP address, which hopefully will not conflict with other devices.

Test Your Download Speed Again

Running another download speed test will tell you whether your efforts to free up bandwidth were successful. If not, continue troubleshooting your Internet connection until you get an acceptable available download speed (preferably over 1.2 Mbps.)

The Best Free Anti-Virus Software Programs for Windows in 2011

2011-08-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

Everyone needs anti-virus software on their computers. However, there's no need to spend enormous amounts of money on expensive anti-virus software and yearly virus definition subscriptions. There are full-featured anti-virus software programs available that are absolutely free. The right free anti-virus software program for you will depend on what type of computer you have and how you typically use it.

Avast!

Avast! Free Anti-virus is one of the most popular free anti-virus software programs for Windows. Free for personal use only, Avast! includes anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-rootkit protection. This anti-virus software provides resident protection and lets you run either a quick or full scan of your computer and memory. The latest version of Avast! will even allow you to schedule your virus scan to run automatically. Automatic updates happen in the background without interrupting your use of the computer. The software includes Avast! WebRep, an application that reports on the reputation of websites while you're surfing the Web. If you don't want to use the application, you can easily uninstall it later. Avast! must be registered online every year to remain fully functional. Avast! can be installed under Windows 2000 Service Pack 4, Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later, Windows Vista and Windows 7.

AVG

AVG Free Anti-virus provides basic protection for your computer. It includes full resident anti-virus and anti-spyware protection, a full virus scanner and automatic updates. It also includes LinkScanner, a feature that checks website links for safety before you click on them. AVG employs smart scanning, which performs a single scan of files marked as safe, the scans them again only if they've changed. AVG's Social Networking Protection helps you stay safe on sites like Facebook and Twitter, and its Protective Cloud Technology to find emerging and unknown malware. The downside is that AVG tends to be a memory hog. If your system has less than 1 GB of memory, you might want to consider a different anti-virus program. AVG will install under Windows XP, Vista or 7.

Comodo

One of the best features of Comodo anti-virus is that it's free for both personal and commercial use. Comodo is also a very light-weight program with low system requirements; you only need 128 MB of RAM and 350 MB of free hard drive space to install it. This anti-virus software includes anti-virus and spyware protection, full scanning features, scan scheduling, automatic updates, Auto Sandbox Technology which isolates untrusted programs and prevention-based protection. Comodo can be a bit overzealous, however, continually stopping programs you want to run. Thankfully, the program is completely customizable, so if you can adjust it to your needs. Comodo installs under Windows XP SP2 or later, Vista or 7.

Avira Antivir

Free for personal use only, Avira Antivir is another anti-virus program that's easy on system resources, especially under Windows XP. It includes complete resident anti-virus, worm, Trojan, spyware and rootkit protection, customizable scanning and automatic updates. Avira has the ability to quarantine potential threats, then restore the files later if they turn out not to be harmful. Avira installs under Windows XP 32-bit or 64-bit, Windows Vista 32-bit or 64-bit and Windows 7.

How to Connect a Computer to an HDTV

2011-08-10T14:58:00.000-07:00

Connecting your computer to your HDTV is a great way to watch streaming movies and TV shows from the Internet. The trouble is that making the connection can get a bit complicated. This guide helps to demystify the process of connecting your computer to your HDTV. There's a good chance you already have everything you need to get started.

What You Will Need

To connect your computer to an HDTV, you'll need a desktop or laptop computer with video output ports and an HDTV with corresponding input ports. While this sounds fairly simple, it's a taller order than it seems. You can pay a higher price for a TV-ready computer with the right output ports (such as HDMI) or a computer-ready HDTV with the right input ports (such as S-Video, VGA or DVI.) However, if you already have a computer and HDTV that don't want to play nice, you can purchase a TV tuner or PC to TV converter box for your computer.

A computer TV tuner can attach to your computer either internally in a spare PCI slot or externally by USB. A PC to TV converter is typically an external device. The main difference between a TV tuner and a PC to TV converter box is that the TV tuner has its own TV receiver, which you can use with an antenna or with your cable receiver box. The PC to TV converter only converts PC signals to a format the TV can understand.

Both of these devices are fairly simple to install. However, if you feel intimidated by the prospect of installing a PCI card inside your computer, consult a professional or stick with the external device.

Next, you will need the right cable. First, inspect both your computer and HDTV to find out which video and audio input and output ports they have. When in doubt, consult the documentation that came with the device. There are at least 6 different connection formats for connecting your computer to your HDTV. They include composite, component, HDMI, VGA, DVI and S-Video. Use the chart below to identify the cables for these connection types. Also make sure you have separate audio cables if you will be using VGA, DVI, S-Video, or composite or component cables without bundled audio cables.

High Definition (HD) Connections

If you're looking to get a high definition signal to your HDTV, then your connection choices are HDMI, DVI and component. HDMI will give you the best overall picture and sound quality by far, up to full 1080p high definition. a DVI high definition cable can also send 1080p signals to your HDTV, but requires a separate audio cable to send the sound signals. Component A/V cables have three separate video cables, each one carrying a separate video signal, and two audio cables. While an component cable is an analog cable, it can approach the quality of a digital high definition signal. To use one of these connections, your computer must have an HDMI, DVI or component output port and your HDTV must have a corresponding input port.

Standard Definition Connections

You can use a standard definition connection option if your computer doesn't have an HD output port or if you're unable to stream video in HD. The most common connections include composite (also called A/V or RCA), S-Video and VGA. You'll probably only have a composite output port on your computer if you have a TV tuner or converter installed. However, almost all computers, including most laptops, have a VGA out port. VGA is just the basic RGB connection typically used to connect a computer to a monitor. Some HDTVs have a VGA input port, but the feature isn't extremely common. S-Video (short for Super-Video) is another video-only connection typically used with computers. Like DVI, a VGA or S-Video connection requires a separate audio cable to send sound signals to an HDTV.

Making the Connection

Keep in mind that most HDTVs have a limited number of compatible computer resolution settings, which is a concern if you're using VGA, DVI or S-Video. If you're using one of these connections, check your HDTV's user manual to find out which resolution settings it supports. Then set the computer to an appropriate resolution setting prior to connecting it to the HDTV.

Turn off both your HDTV and your computer. Attach the correct cable, then turn both the HDTV and the computer on. If you're using a laptop computer or using your HDTV in addition to a computer monitor, you must set up your HDTV as a second monitor. Otherwise, you're probably home free. Check your user manuals or contact the manufacturer of your computer, graphics card or HDTV if you experience problems.

Best Websites to Watch Television Online for Free

2011-08-09T15:44:00.000-07:00

If you're subscribing to expensive cable or satellite television service with DVR, you're probably wasting your money, because many of the TV shows you love to watch are available to watch online, on demand, for free. The TV episodes available include popular shows from both free-to-air and paid networks. Adobe Flash Player and a broadband Internet connection is required to watch the free TV episodes on each of these websites.

Hulu.com

Hulu.com offers full episodes of many popular TV series for free. The TV episodes are supported by limited commercial interruptions, typically one or two at a time, about 30 seconds in length. The most popular TV shows on Hulu include the NBC Today Show, E! News Now, Family Guy, Wilfred, Alphas, Misfits, Switched at Birth, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Hell's Kitchen, MasterChef, the Bachelorette and Bachelor Pad. Hulu requires Adobe Flash Player 10.0.32 or higher, Internet Explorer 7.0, Firefox 2.0, Safari 3.0 or higher or Google Chrome, Windows XP SP2 or higher, Mac OS X 10.4 or higher or Linux. You must also have JavaScript and cookies enabled in your browser to use this service. The free Hulu service doesn't stream TV episodes for free, but you can get episodes in 720p HD by subscribing to Hulu Plus. You can sign up for a free account on Hulu.com to add TV episodes to your queue and watch them on Hulu Desktop, Hulu's free video player.

TVGuide.com

Powered by Hulu and other websites such as Amazon.com and Xfinity.com, TVGuide.com streams full episodes of hot TV series from its website for free. The most popular TV series on TVGuide.com include So You Think You Can Dance, America's Got Talent, Pretty Little Liars, The Bachelorette, Love in the Wild, Secret Life of the American Teenager and Rookie Blue. Not all of the full TV episodes listed on TVGuide.com are free, so you may have to dig a bit to get around the paid TV shows. However, if you check out the Most Popular Episodes list, you'll find that just about everything is free. Also, older TV series tend to be free. One of the best benefits to watching TV episodes on TVGuide.com is the ability to create a Watchlist of your favorite episodes. You must have a TVGuide.com account to use this feature. Check the external website hosting the TV shows for system requirements.

TVLand.com

TVLand.com has both new and classic TV episodes which you can stream for free. The most popular TV shows include Hot in Cleveland, Happily Divorced and Bewitched. You can also watch full episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, Boston Legal, Everybody Loves Raymond, Gunsmoke, Good Times, I Dream of Jeannie, Leave it to Beaver, The Jeffersons, Roseanne and more. There are also video clips from television series such as Bonanza, All in the Family, the Brady Bunch, The Cosby Show and others. The full episodes on TVLand.com are ad-supported.

XFinity TV

Formerly Fancast, XFinity TV is a website provided by Comcast. Comcast subscribers can watch all the full TV episodes on XFinity TV for free. Non-subscriberts can watch any TV episode with a green arrow at the bottom. The most popular free shows on XFinity TV include House, NCIS, Moderns Family, Vampire Diaries, 30 Rock, Hoarders, MasterChef and the Secret Life of the American Teenager. Some of the free episodes are provided by Hulu.com, and are thus ad-supported. However, there are plenty of free episodes that play without ads. To watch XFinity TV with a Windows computer you must have a Pentium 4 or higher processor, Windows XP SP2, Vista or 7, 512 MB of RAM, a 32 MB video card, Internet Explorer 6, Firefox 3, Safari 3 or Google Chrome 3 or higher and 800 by 600 video resolution. To watch XFinityTV on a Mac, you must have an Intel Core Duo 1.83 GHz or higher processor, Mac OS X 10.5 or later, 512 MB of RAM, a 32 MB video card and Firefox 3 or Safari 3 or higher and 800 by 600 resolution.

Solve Computer Startup Problems in Windows XP, Vista and 7

2011-08-05T14:36:00.000-07:00

There are many problems that can cause Windows to startup slowly or to hang at startup. The most common culprit is unwanted programs loading at startup. However, you may also have problems due to recent changes made to your computer. Windows XP, Vista and 7 all have tools that will fix these problems quickly and get your computer running smoothly again.

Disabling Startup Items

Windows loads programs called startup items every time you start your computer. The simplest way to disable startup items is by using the Microsoft System Configuration Utility. To access this program in Windows XP, click Start, then Run and type msconfig in the field provided and press Enter. In Windows Vista and 7, type msconfig in the Start Search box, then select msconfig.exe from the program list.

Click the General tab, then click Selective Startup. Click the Startup tab. Remove the check mark beside each program you would like to prevent from loading at startup. If you're not sure what a program does, look up its file name on the Uniblue System Process Library website.

Click OK to save your changes. Then save your work, close all open programs and select Restart to restart your computer, or select Exit without Restart to restart later. The next time you start your computer, the programs you unchecked will not load at startup.

Using System Restore

System Restore is a utility that can restore your computer's settings to a previous state. If you are having problems with startup due to the installation of new software or drivers or changes to youre computer's settings, you can use System Restore to get your computer working again.

In Windows XP, click Start, Control Panel, Performance and Maintenance and System Restore. Select Restore my computer to an earlier time and click Next.

In Windows Vista and 7, click the Start button, then type System Restore in the Start Search box and select System Restore from the program list. If Windows offers you a recommended restore point, select Choose a different restore point, then click Next. If necessary, click the check box beside Show restore points older than 5 days in Windows Vista or Show more restore points in Windows 7.

Choose a restore point for a date and time when you know your computer was working properly, or before the time the undesired changes occurred. Click Next and then Finish.

Using Windows Defender

Windows Defender is a download for Windows XP and comes included with Windows Vista and 7. The Windows XP and Vista versions of Windows Defender include a nifty little program called Software Explorer that can find all the programs installed on your computer, even ones that were installed without your knowledge or consent. Unfortunately, this feature is absent from the Windows 7 version of Windows Defender.

To use this feature, open Windows Defender, then click Tools and Software Explorer. Choose Startup Programs from the drop-down list, then review the list of installed programs. Select a program from the list and click Disable. This is the best option, since you can reverse the changes at any time by re-enabling the program. Clicking Remove will remove the program from the list of programs that start automatically when Windows starts. Don't click this button unless you're certain you wish to permanently remove the program from startup.

Best Sites to Watch Movies Online for Free

2011-08-05T12:57:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a great movie to watch tonight, you don't have to shell out a lot of cash to go to the theater or get a DVD rental. There are plenty of websites that let you download movies or stream them online for free. If you have the right equipment, you can even watch these movies on your widescreen HDTV. You must have the latest version of Adobe Flash Player installed on your computer to watch the movies on each of these sites. You must also have a broadband DSL or cable Internet connection of at least 1.5 megabits per second.

IMDB.com

The Internet Movie Database has a large collection of free full-length movies on its website. They include classic movies, independent features and documentaries. They include movies made from the 1890s to the present day. You can browse an alphabetical list of the movies or search for movies on the Video Search Page. The best movies on IMDB include The 39 Steps, AKA Tommy Chong, Babes in Toyland, The Little Shop of Horrors, Lost in Translation, The Thirteenth Floor, Muppets from Space and Night of the Living Dead.

Crackle.com

Crackle.com has free full-length movies, including both older classic movies and blockbusters. You can watch such titles as Pineapple Express, Resident Evil, Men in Black, Silverado, Flatliners, Gridiron Gang, We Own the Night, Stranger than Fiction and 8MM on Crackle. The movies are organized by Featured, Most Popular, Recently Added and Genres. You can also search for movies by keyword on Crackle.

The Internet Archive

The Internet Archive provides free classic and independent movies that you can either download or watch on streaming. The best movies on Archive.org include His Girl Friday, Penny Serenade, DOA, A Star is Born, Farewell to Arms, Meet John Doe, Little Lord Fauntleroy and Scrooge. You can search the Internet Archive by keyword, and sort the results by relevance, average rating, download count, date or date added. Movies on the Internet Archive are organized by collection, so you can browse each collection for movies if you like. The Most Downloaded Items Last Week, Most Downloaded Items and Staff Picks lists can help you to find movies to watch.

Hulu.com

Hulu.com hosts lots of classic and independent movies and documentaries. They have a list of their most popular movies and documentaries on the Movies page. You can obtain a more complete list of the most popular and highest rated movies by clicking the Most Popular link at the top of the page. You can also browse movies alphabetically, by title and by playlist, and search the movie list by keyword. The best available movies include Reign of Fire, All the Pretty Horses, Dirty Dancing, Mad Love, Super Size Me, Last Action Hero and a variety of Lifetime Movies.

Download and Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files

2011-08-03T14:33:00.000-07:00

You can download and convert YouTube videos to MP3 if you have the right software installed on your computer. You can then transfer the MP3 files to any portable device that supports the file type. You can download and install the download and conversion software for free.

YouTube Downloader

YouTube Downloader is a free program that will download and convert Flash video files to other formats, such as MOV, MP4, MP3 and AVI. In addition to YouTube, you can download videos from sites like Facebook, Google Videos, Yahoo! Video and more. You can download this software from CNET's Download.com or from the YouTube Downloader website.

Make sure that you download and install the latest version of YouTube downloader, as YouTube sometimes makes changes to the site that prevent the software from functioning properly.

Navigate to the website which has the video you'd like to download. Copy the URL of the desired video, then open YouTube Downloader. When you select YouTube Downloader, the URL should paste automatically into the top field marked Download a video from YouTube or other video site. If it doesn't, paste it manually.

Select the download quality. Best Available will download the highest quality video that's available on YouTube. There are also selections for 1080p high definition (HD,) 720p HD, 480p high quality (HQ,) 360p HQ Flash video (FLV) and 360p HQ MP4. Normal will most likely download the file in FLV format.You can only download in these formats if they're available on the website. Naturally, the higher quality you choose, the longer the download will take and the larger the file will be. Select the download location, then click Download.

To convert the video to MP3, select the radio button beside Convert or play a video you have already downloaded. Under Select the video file, click the Browse button, find and select your video and click Open. Under Convert video to, select MPEG Audio Layer 3 (MP3), then click Convert.

VDownloader

VDownloader is another free YouTube download and conversion software program. You can download this free program directly from the VDownloader.com website. VDownloader will also download videos from websites like DailyMotion, Break.com, Veoh, Blip.tv and MySpace.

Go to the video site with the video you'd like to download and convert. Then copy the video's URL. Open VDownloader. As with YouTube Downloader, the URL should paste automatically into the field marked Video URL. Paste it manually if it doesn't. If you select Simple under Output Format, then select the Video Quality from the drop-down menu. Choose Video (Highest Quality) if you'd like to watch the video in HD or HQ format. Select Video (Small File Size) to create a lower quality file that saves space on your hard drive. Select Audio (Highest Quality) to download the file as a high-quality MP3. Select Audio (Small File Size) to save it as a lower quality, smaller MP3 file. If you prefer, you can also select Advanced as the output format to download the file without conversion. Click Download, pick and download location, then click Save.

Troubleshooting

If you can't download or convert a YouTube video using these software programs, try uninstalling and reinstalling the latest version of the software. You can also try downloading the video in one program and converting it in another. Other options for downloading YouTube videos include a free plugin for Firefox called Video DownloadHelper, and websites such as Video2MP3.net, where you can download and convert YouTube videos online for free.

Tips for Troubleshooting a Linksys Wireless Router

2011-08-02T14:22:00.000-07:00

Linksys wireless routers are excellent tools for setting up your home network. However, they're not completely trouble-free. There may be times when you can't connect to the Linksys wireless router from your remote computer, or when the connection doesn't function optimally. Thankfully, there are simple ways to troubleshoot your Linksys wireless router, should it give you trouble.

Every Linksys wireless router has an IP address that helps your computer to find it. Chances are that your Linksys IP address is 192.168.1.1. Just open a web browser window and type or copy and paste this number into the address bar. Your Linksys wireless router should prompt you for your administrator username and password. You should keep this information in a safe place should you need it, since it's very important for managing your Linksys router. You can also use the Linksys IP address to log into your router from a remote computer, as long as it's connected to the router.

If you've lost your Internet connection, it may be because your username or password has become corrupted. Replace them with the correct information in the Basic Setup section of the Setup tab. Also ensure that the correct connection type is selected beside Internet Connection Type. If you have DSL, most likely you're using PPPoE. You may use PPTP or L2TP if your computer is part of a Virtual Private Network. You'll need Telstra Cable only if you have Telstra service. If you're not sure which protocol to use, select Automatic Configuration - DHCP. When you're finished, press Save Settings. You may have to repeat this step several times before your Internet connection is restored.

If this doesn't solve your problem, select the Wireless tab of the Linksys setup program. Choose the right settings in the drop-down menu beside Radio Band. If you're not sure which settings are correct, choose one and see if it solves the problem. If your wireless router is Wireless N and you have different types of access points, such as Wireless N, B and G, in your network, choose Mixed as your Network Mode. Make sure that your Network Name has been typed correctly. This is the same as the username which you use to log into your wireless router. Press the Save Settings button.

Select the Security tab. Disable the Linksys wireless router's firewall if you already have a firewall on each computer. Otherwise, you may get added security by enabling it. If you're having trouble downloading specific types of content, make sure that the boxes under Web Filter are unchecked. Press Save Settings.

Select the Access Restrictions tab. Ensure that you haven't blocked access to the Internet in a way that hampers your online activities. Beside Access Restriction, either select Allow or select Deny and choose a schedule that allows you to use the Internet when you're on the computer. Also make sure that you haven't blocked any specific website addresses, keywords or applications that you wish to use. If you need parental controls for your children, you're much better off using the parental controls features that come with Windows Vista and Windows 7 than setting them in your router. Press Save Settings.

Select the Applications and Gaming tab if online applications such as games won't run. Select Port Range Forwarding. Then find your network adapter's IP address. To do this in Windows XP, click Start, Run, type cmd in the field and press Enter. In Windows Vista and 7, type cmd in the Start Search box, then select cmd.exe from the list of programs. Type IPCONFIG in the command window and press Enter. Make a note of the number beside IP Address under Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection. Type the last three numbers in the field under To IP Address. Then type the port range associated with the application you're trying to run into the field marked Start ~ End Port. Press the Save Settings button.

If you're still having problems, disconnect your Linksys wireless router from the power. Then power off your cable or DSL modem. Wait about two minutes, then turn the modem back on. Wait another two minutes before reconnecting the Linksys wireless router to the power.

How to Use a Computer Monitor as a TV

2011-07-29T15:58:00.000-07:00

If you have an extra monitor lying around the house, there's no need to scrap it. With the right equipment, you can use it as a TV set. An LCD computer monitor can act much like a flat screen HDTV. A CRT monitor can function as a standard television. There are two ways to do this, either with or without a computer.

Using a TV Tuner and a Computer

To use your extra monitor as a television set with a spare computer, you'll need to install a TV tuner. A TV tuner has an internal receiver that can pick up television signals. TV tuners come in both internal and external types. You can probably easily install an internal TV tuner card in the PCI slot of your desktop computer with just a screwdriver. However, if you have a laptop computer, you're better off getting an external TV tuner or leaving the installation of the internal TV tuner to a professional. Whatever you choose, make sure that the tuner has output ports that match the input ports on the monitor.

Using a Digital Cable Box or DTV Converter Box

Digital cable boxes and DTV converter boxes often have ouput ports that are compatible with computer monitors. Check your digital cable box to see if it has a DVI or HDMI output port. Then check your computer monitor to see if it has a matching input port. To use a DTV converter box, check for an S-Video output port on the converter and a corresponding input port on the monitor.

Choosing a Connection Method

Choosing your connection method wisely will help you to achieve success when converting your monitor into a TV. An HDMI cable is your best bet if the connection is available on both your TV tuner, cable box or DTV converter and your computer monitor. This connection method will provide high definition signals to the computer monitor, if the monitor supports it. DVI or VGA are your next best choice. DVI sends a digital signal, VGA does not. However, If you select DVI or VGA, you will need to use a separate audio cable to get audio to the computer monitor. Check the monitor to see if it has internal speakers installed. If it does, there should be an audio input jack on the back of the monitor. If your monitor doesn't come with speakers, you must provide external speakers to get sound.

After HDMI, DVI and VGA, your best options are S-Video, composite and component AV cables. S-Video is a video-only format, so you will need to use a separate audio format for that connection method as well. Composite AV cables use one video cable with either one or two audio cables. Component AV cables use three video cables and two audio cables for superior picture and sound. So you should choose either S-Video or component over composite if the option is available.

How to Add Private Channels to the Roku Digital Video Player

2011-07-29T14:57:00.000-07:00

Unlike public channels, which you can add directly to your Roku digital video player, private channels can only be added on your computer. You should already have created an account on Roku.com to begin using your player. If you haven't, then visit Roku.com click Sign in, then click Create account. Make sure you're signed into your account before continuing.

You must provide a code to add a private channel to your Roku digital video player. Since Roku.com doesn't provide a list of private channels or codes, you must find these elsewhere. There are several lists of Roku private channels available online. Developers of private channels, such as TheNowhereman and TheEndless, have posted online lists of their channels and codes. You can also find current private channels and codes on the Roku Forums.

If you're not already in your account screen, click My Account at the top right of the page. Click Add a Private Channel. Type or copy and paste the code into the field and click Add Channel. In the next screen, you will see an icon and rating for the private channel. If this is the channel you wanted to add, click Yes, Add Channel. Otherwise, click Cancel and return to the Add a Private Channel screen to enter the correct code.

New channels will generally appear on your Roku player within 24 hours of the time you add the code. If the channel doesn't show up or you want it to display sooner, enter the Roku Channel Store with your remote control, then exit it again. The new private channel should then appear in your channel list.

If the private channel still doesn't appear, then it may be because your Roku doesn't meet the hardware or firmware requirements for the channel. Go back and check to see if the channel has any special requirements for installation. To update the firmware manually, select Settings from within the channel list in the home screen. Select Player Info, then select Check for Update and Yes. When prompted, select OK to complete the update by restarting the Roku digital video player.

Unfortunately, it's not possible at this time to add Roku public channels to your Roku digital video player on your computer. However, you can find out more about public channels on Roku.com. Just click the What's On link to access the online guide to the Roku Channel Store.

If you have any more difficulty with adding private channels on the Roku, check the Roku support pages or read the Roku online user guide.

Set Up a Second Monitor in Windows

2011-07-29T12:26:00.000-07:00

The latest versions of Windows, including XP, Vista and 7, all support the installation of multiple monitors. You can use this feature of Windows to install a second monitor or to connect an HDTV as a a second display. If you're setting up an additional monitor on a laptop computer, the you will have to set it up using the multiple monitors feature. Turn off your computer and monitor, then connect the extra monitor using the correct cable before setting up the monitor in Windows.

In Windows XP

Click Start, Control Panel and then Appearance and Themes. Open Display Properties by clicking Display. Select the Settings tab. Choose the primary monitor from the drop-down menu marked Display. Click and drag the slider to set the resolution settings. Select the desired color quality from the drop-down menu on the right. Then select the second monitor using the drop-down list beside Display. Set the desired resolution and color quality for the second monitor. If desired, click the icons for both the primary and secondary monitor and click Identify to see which monitor is which.

In Windows Vista

Click the Start button, then select Control Panel. If you're using a laptop computer with Windows Vista, select Mobile PC. Select Connect to a projector or other external display under Windows Mobility Center. Click Connect Display. Choose how your second monitor should work in the New Display Detected dialogue box. Choose Mirrored to create the same display on each monitor. Choose Extended to extend your desktop across both monitors. Choose External Display Only to turn off the built-in monitor on your laptop, and make the desktop appear only on the additional monitor.

If you're using a desktop computer, click the Start button, Control Panel, Appearance and Personalization and then Personalization. Click Display Settings to open the Display Settings dialogue box. Select the primary monitor from the drop-down menu under Display. Make sure that the box beside This is my main monitor is checked. Set the resolution and the colors settings for the primary monitor. Select the second monitor from the drop-down list. Set the resolution and colors settings for the second monitor. Select Extend the desktop onto this monitor if you want to spread your desktop across both monitors.

In Windows 7

Click the Start button, then click Control Panel, Appearance and Personalization and Adjust screen resolution. Check to see if your additional monitor appears as an icon at the top of the dialogue box. If not, click Detect.

Select the primary monitor from the drop-down list beside Display. Set the resolution and orientation for the monitor. Then select the second monitor from the drop-down list, and set its resolution and orientation as well.

Click the drop-down list beside Multiple Displays. Select Duplicate these displays to show the same display on both the primary and secondary monitor. Choose Extend these displays to stretch the desktop across both monitors. Choose Show desktop only on 1 to cause the desktop to appear on the primary monitor and cause the second monitor to appear blank. Choose Show desktop only on 2 to make the primary monitor blank and make the desktop appear only on your second monitor.

Stream Netflix from Your Computer to Your HDTV

2011-07-28T16:21:00.000-07:00

You probably know that Netflix instant streaming is one of the best services to watch cheap, high quality movies and TV online. However, did you know that you can use your computer to stream Netflix to your HDTV? Whether your computer already has a television output port or not, you can get this service on your HDTV fairly easily.

Connecting Your Computer to Your HDTV

Your computer, whether a desktop or a laptop, may already have a television output port installed. The types of connections you can use to connect your computer to your HDTV include HDMI, AV/composite, component, S-Video, VGA and DVI. Check your computer's output ports to see if it has one of these connections. Also check your HDTV to ensure that it has a corresponding input port. If you choose S-Video, VGA or DVI, you must use a separate audio cable to get the sound from your computer to your HDTV.

If your computer and HDTV don't have matching ports, you'll need to install a TV tuner or PC to TV converter box to get the right output port. These come in both internal and external varieties. Internal devices are best for desktop computers that have an available expansion slot. Make sure that the device matches the expansion slot. In the grand majority of cases, internal TV tuners and converters will use a PCI slot.

External TV tuners and converters typically connect to a computer by USB. They're easier to install, but they take up more space. These external devices are best for laptop computers or for use with multiple computers.

Make sure to check the system requirements of the TV tuner or converter box before making your purchase. Ordinarily, to use a TV tuner or converter to watch Netflix, you will need at least Windows XP, Vista or 7 or Mac OS X.

Next, you'll need the right cables. You can use a composite, component or HDMI cable if your HDTV has a matching input port for the output port on your computer. Component, DVI and HDMI are your only options to get an HD signal to your HDTV. However, there are also conversion cables available that will convert one standard (such as S-Video or VGA) to HDMI or composite. There's no guarantee that these will work with an HDTV, so if you decide to purchase one, check the seller's return policy and keep your receipt.

To make the connection, turn off both your computer and HDTV, connect them with the correct cable, then turn them on. You may have to set up your HDTV as a second monitor to make use of the connection.

Installing Netflix

Netflix instant streaming movies and TV shows will stream in your web browser or in Windows Media Center. If you're running Windows, you must install Silverlight to use Netflix, regardless of which option you choose. If you try to stream instant Netflix in either WMC or your browser, Silverlight will install automatically.

The minimum system requirements for streaming instant movies and TV from Netflix in Windows are Windows XP SP 2, Vista or 7, Internet Explorer 6, Firefox 3, Chrome 7 or higher, a 1.2 gigahertz (GHz) processor and 512 megabytes (MB) of RAM. To use Netflix instant streaming on a Mac, you must have an Intel-based Mac with OS 10.4.11 or higher, Safari 3 or Firefox 3 or higher and 1 GB of RAM. You will also need a broadband Internet connection of at least 1.5 megabits per second (Mbps) for standard definition and 5 Mbps for high definition. You cannot stream Netflix instant movies and TV over a dial-up Internet connection.

Once your computer is connected to your HDTV with the right cable, Netflix is installed and working, you should be able to watch Netflix on your HDTV as with any Netflix-ready device. If you experience problems, check the documentation that came with your computer or HDTV for solutions.

How to Send Email File Attachments in Gmail

2011-07-28T15:25:00.000-07:00

Sending file attachments such as documents or files in Gmail's online mail interface is easy. However, if you run into a problem, these tips can help.

One of the best ways to send files to another computer or person is to include them as attachments in Gmail. While the method for sending email attachments in Gmail is relatively straight-forward, there are restrictions on the size of the files you can send. There are also certain types of files you cannot send as attachments in Gmail. To use the advanced email attachment tool, you must have Adobe Flash Player installed.

Using the Flash-Based Email Attachment Tool

The standard view in Gmail uses Adobe Flash Player to add enhanced features to its email service, such as the ability to add multiple file attachments to an email message at once. Make sure you have the latest version of Flash Player before using this feature. You should also have a high-speed Internet connection to make the best use of the standard Gmail service. When logging into Gmail, make sure that "Standard view" is enabled.

Adding Email Attachments in Gmail's Standard View

Click "Compose mail" in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.

After typing in the email address of your recipient and giving your email a subject line, click the "Attach a file" link to browse your hard drive for files to attach. Navigate to the location on your hard drive where the files you'd like to attach are located. Select the file or files that you want to attach to the email message and click "Open." Click the "Attach another file" link to attach an additional file. If you cannot use the standard view in Gmail, you can still send email attachments in the HTML view. If you encounter a problem with the advanced attachment tool, enable HTML view and try uploading your file attachments again.

Adding Email Attachments in Gmail's HTML View

Click "Compose Mail." Add your recipient's email address and type the subject line. Under "Attachments," click the "Browse" button. Select a single file to attach and click "Open." To add more attachments to send in your email at once, click the "Attach More Files" button. Click the "Browse" button beside one of the numbered fields to add a file from your hard drive. Click the next numbered field in the window to add another attachment. You can add up to 10 file attachments in each window. Click "Attach More Files" to add another group of attachments. Click "Done" when you're finished.

File Attachment Type and Size Limits in Gmail

You can send a wide range of different file types as attachments in Gmail. However, for security purposes, you can't send executable (.exe) files. While there is no specific restriction on the size of the file attachments you can send, your total message size can't exceed 25 megabytes (MB.) If you need to send multiple large files that are up to 25 MB in size, your best bet is to send each one in a separate email message. If you need to send files that are larger than 25 MB, you should use another free service such as Pando.com, YouSendIt.com or SendThisFile.com.