.

The Windows Hosts file is a file that Windows uses to control and map IP addresses. By editing the Hosts file, Windows can be customized to block or redirect specific websites and even protocols that are used by programs and applications. To get started editing the Windows Hosts file, you first need to locate it. Open Windows Explorer and click on  This PC  or  My Computer . Double-click on C:\, then the  Windows  folder and scroll down the page until you reach the  System32  folder. Inside of that folder, open  drivers  and then open  etc . You’ll now see several files, one of which is  hosts . Now, notice that the file type for the  hosts  file is listed as  File . Because there is no default program set to open a file type like this, double clicking the hosts file will simply give you a Windows prompt, asking you which program you would like to use to open the file. From this prompt, you ca...

​Whether it's a problem, or just a preventative measure, it's always a good idea to be aware of what devices are connecting to your home network. by  Nicole Cozma    @c0z July 18, 2014 4:14 PM PDT Sometimes a Wi-Fi password just isn't enough to keep a neighbor or a stranger from stealing your Internet connection. You may notice that websites, videos, or file transfers aren't moving as fast as they used to. The problem may not be theft, but simply a case of too many devices trying to share a slow connection. To get to the root of the issue you can use a free app for Windows. Let's investigate: Step 1:  Install a copy of  Who Is On My WiFi  (henceforth known as WIOMW). Step 2:  After opening the app, follow the tutorial steps, which will initiate your first (and likely a second) network scan. You can configure the port range that will be scanned, but if you just want to get started, you don't need to mess with any ...

Check out this guide to network activity in the Windows Resource Manager, and how to look up processes you don't recognize that are using bandwidth. by  Nicole Cozma    @c0z December 23, 2014 4:53 PM PST Nicole Cozma/CNET A change in your Internet speed can be the result of several different factors. If you've already ruled out issues with your ISP, router or other networking equipment, then it might be time to look at the computer itself. To make sure that nothing suspicious is happening in the background, it's a good idea to check which applications are accessing the Internet from your computer. Thankfully, the Windows Resource Manager has a built-in tool for tracking network activity. Here's how to use it: Step 1:  Start by opening the Resource Monitor. Although this can be done several different ways, the fastest way is to head to Start > Run > type resmon and press enter. ( Windows 8  users may need to search for resm...

By  Codrut Neagu  on 06/17/2014 Previous editions of Windows allowed users to create ad hoc wireless connections between computers. You could use those connections to create a wireless network between multiple computers or to share the Internet connection that was available on one of them. This can no longer be done in Windows 8.1, at least not using a visual interface and the mouse. However, with the help of the  Command Prompt  and a few commands, you too can turn your Windows 8.1 laptop or hybrid device into a WiFi access point. Here's how: What You Need in Order for This to Work In order to use your Windows 8.1 laptop or hybrid device as an WiFi access point for other devices, it must have at least 2 network cards installed and one of them must be a wireless network card. One of them must be connected to the internet. Setup scenarios we tested and worked great include: One laptop using its Ethernet connection for Internet access and its...

Problem: I’ve decided to re-install windows because of some issues. My new install is ok but I can’t delete the directory of my old windows anymore! Solution: The folder you are trying to delete has it’s administrative privileges locked from your previous windows. You could change the ownership of your folder by right clicking on the folder -> Properties -> Security -> Advanced -> Owner -> Edit -> Select Administrator and put a check on “Replace owner on subcontainers and objects” An Easier Solution: You can also do a command prompt to remove the ownership which is a more straightforward process. To do this, press your window’s Start button, type “cmd”, right click on the “cmd” program that shows up, right click and select run as administrator (running the command prompt with administrator privileges is important). In the command prompt, enter the following command: cacls “c:\WINDOWS.OLD” /t /g administrators:F Note: Don’t forget to change the drive letter...

Looking for a quicker way to install Windows 7 than via DVD? Try this. by  Emil Protalinski  -  The USB flash drive has replaced the floppy disk drive as the best storage medium for transferring files, but it also has its uses as a replacement for CDs and DVDs. USB drives tend to be higher in capacity than disc media, but since they are more expensive, they cannot (yet) really be used as a replacement. There are reasons why you would, however, choose a USB device over a DVD disc, and bootable software is definitely one of them. Not only is it faster to copy data such as setup files from a USB drive, but during usage the access times are also significantly faster. Therefore, installing something like Windows 7 will work that much faster from a USB drive than from a DVD (and of course, is particularly useful for the PCs without an optical drive; this isn't something we should just leave for the  pirates  to enjoy). This guide will show you two differen...

Installing Windows from a USB flash drive has several advantages : First of all, the overall speed of the installation process will increase significantly, carrying a USB stick is much more convenient than a DVD, and finally it becomes possible to install the OS even on those systems that do not have a DVD drive, such as a netbook.   In this post, I will show you how to load the Windows installation on to your USB flash drive and make it bootable just like the DVD. There are Two Options: 1.  Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool. 2.  Basic Option. 1. Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool: Just Download this Tool and Installed in your Desired PC then follow some easy Steps:- Click to Download   or  Click to Download 2. Basic Option: Tools Required: 1 . USB flash drive with a minimum capacity of 4 GB. 2 . Windows 7 Setup DVD.   Step 1 :  Plug-in your USB flash drive. Step 2  : Open the PowerShell (OR Command Prompt if...