Latest Storage How-To Stories
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How-To
The ABCs of SSDs
Whether you buy a new PC with a solid state drive already installed, or choose to upgrade your existing drive, zippy performance makes an SSD an appealing option.Answer Line
Move to a New Hard Drive
Joseph Blough Jr. plans to upgrade his hard drive. How does he move Windows, his applications, and his files to their new, larger home?Answer Line
Resize Your Partitions
Conrado Bryson Bush wants to resize the partitions on his hard driveHassle-Free PC
Watch Blu-Ray Movies on Your PC
It's possible, but first you need to ask yourself the question: Is it worth the bother?How-To
How to Partition Your PC’s Hard Drive
Disk partitioning–separating your hard drive into multiple independent volumes–can relieve all sorts of computer-related headaches.Answer Line
Recover Files From a NAS
Frederic Hugues asked about recovering missing files from an NAS driveAnswer Line
What’s All This About DVD Regions?
John Gumbs asked the Answer Line forum why you can only change a DVD drive’s region a limited number of timesHow-To
How to Upgrade Your Laptop’s Hard Drive to an SSD
Want to speed up your laptop and lengthen its battery life? Swap the hard disk drive out for a speedy solid-state drive.Answer Line
USB Interferes with Boot
Richard Purdy's PC won't boot when he has a flash drive plugged into itAnswer Line
Windows 7’s Built-in Backup
Robert wants to know if Windows 7’s built-in backup program is worth usingAnswer Line
Reasons to Partition
Michael Crandall wants to know if dividing his hard drive into multiple, smaller partitions will improve its speedHow-To
Free Up Hard-Drive Space, Fast
Need to clear some storage space on your hard drive? Here's how to put it through a crash diet and free up a few gigs right now.How-To
Disaster-Proof Your PC: Image Your Drive, Make a Backup Plan
Here's how to prepare for disaster by imaging your hard drive and setting up a data backup system.How-To
How (and Why) to Partition Your Hard Drive
Use Windows' built-in Disk Management tool to make your backups easier, to set up an emergency recovery partition, or even to install another operating system.Answer Line
Restore Data After Motherboard Death
Peter’s motherboard died. How can he retrieve the data on his hard drive?Answer Line
Securely Wipe a Dead Hard Drive
Dwma needs to return a dead hard drive to the manufacturer. Is there a way to first remove sensitive data?How-To
Speed Up Everything
Is your PC dragging? Does your broadband network creep along at dial-up speeds? Do Web pages take forever to load on your smartphone? Don't wait! These fixes will get you back into the fast lane.Answer Line
When the Backup Drive Gets Full
Rat74136’s external hard drive is full. How does he keep backing up?Answer Line
Why is My Computer Slowing Down?
A41202813 asked the Answer Line forum why his once quick PC is slowing downAnswer Line
Could I Just Destroy the Hard Drive?
Joel Edillon wants my opinion on physically destroying a hard drive instead of wiping itHow-To
7 Backup Strategies for Your Data, Multimedia, and System Files
Nobody likes backing up, but one day, it’ll save your bacon. Here are the most efficient methods of protecting your stuff, no matter what your situation.How-To
How to Resurrect a Crashed Hard Drive
Recover data using the freezer and Frisbee tricks and more.Answer Line
More on Image Backups
Mike Bell asked the Answer Line forum what an image backup actually backs up; I offer more advice than he asked forAnswer Line
What Size External Drive?
Carperl asked the Answer Line forum what size external hard drive he should buy for backupAnswer Line
Remove Sensitive Data Before You Sell an Old PC
Brian Ellis wants to know the best way to secure an old PC for a new ownerAnswer Line
Should I Image the Hard Drive or Clone It?
Tom Luoma asked why I often recommend backing up your hard drive with imaging software, but never mention cloning software.How-To
57 Amazing Things You Didn’t Know Your Tech Could Do!
We've worked long and hard to come up with the best tips and tricks for your PCs, smartphones, cameras, game controllers, music players, and the Web. Let's start with PC, laptop, and networking tips.How-To
The List: 57 Amazing Things You Didn’t Know Your Tech Could Do!
Here are all 57 of the tips and tricks we've pulled together for PCs, laptops, smartphones, cameras, the Web and more.Answer Line
I Think My Hard Drive is Dying
Repartitioning software told Bloodboughtme that his hard drive had "bad blocks." He asked the Answer Line forum for advise.How-To
‘How to Build a PC,’ the Interactive Geek Tech Video
Anyone can show you how to build a PC from scratch. We're going to let you pick your path through PC construction through the use of an interactive YouTube video!Answer Line
My PC Doesn’t See My New Hard Drive
Bobby installed a second internal drive for backup purposes, then he asked the Answer Line forum how come it doesn't show up in My Computer.How-To
Copy Everything From Your Old Drive to Your New One
Whether you need to replace your old hard drive or add a second drive to expand your storage, the right software tools will make it easy to put all your files where you want them.How-To
Your Backup Resolutions: Five Strategies to Back Up Your Data, Now
We help you find the perspective and the technology to put yourself on the path to smoother backups.How-To
Fast Fixes for Common PC Problems
Struggling with dead components, a recalcitrant Windows, and uncooperative applications? Our easy hardware repairs, simple software remedies, and quick tweaks will put your PC in the pink.How-To
Reinstall and Restore Your Windows PC in Eight Easy Steps
Eliminate problems and improve performance by wiping out Windows and reinstalling it from scratch. Here's a simple guide to help you back up your data and restore your PC quickly.Answer Line
What’s the Safest Way to Resize a Partition?
Kevin Germino keeps programs and data on separate partitions, but he needs to adjust their sizes. Can he do this safely?Answer Line
Add eSATA to Your PC
Kathy Anton wants access to faster, eSATA external hard drives. But her PC, like most of them, lacks an eSATA port.Answer Line
Why Can’t My DVDs Hold as Much as Other DVDs?
Sharful wants to copy some DVDs, but they contain more information than will fit on his blank discs.Answer Line
What’s the Best Way to Backup What I Need to Backup?
David Edelbaum wants to know the best techniques and programs for backing up his PC.Answer Line
Which Disc is Which and What Can My Drive Burn?
Charles Woods, a self-defined "rank amateur," needs clear definitions of the optical disc varieties that his new PC's DVD/CD drive can burn.Answer Line
How I Upgraded My Laptop’s Hard Drive and Almost Lost My Mind
In which a simple hardware upgrade allows me to channel my inner Laurel and Hardy.How-To