"running" videos at 5min

As you work with Windows 7, open application windows tend to pile up on the desktop. Check out the new Aero Shake feature in Windows 7 to quickly clear the desktop and focus in on the application you want to run. When you're done, restoring your open applications is equally simple... and dare we say, fun.

Hot colors is a new feature in the Windows 7 taskbar. Mousing over a program lets you see at a glance whether or not it's running. The program icon changes color according to the program's status.

When considering upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7, you'll need to do some fact-finding first. What type of processor do you have? Is your Windows XP machine Windows 7 capable? Michael "Doctor File Finder" Callahan runs through the checklist to get you started in this tutorial.

As you can't do a direct upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7, you'll need to decide whether to start fresh, moving your workflow from XP to Windows 7 losing the former in the process, or you can opt to "dual boot" Windows XP and Windows 7. This means you can choose which operating system to run when you boot up your computer and your Windows XP install remains intact.

Google Earth lets you configure the look and feel of the program in a number of ways. Through the use of "layers" you can determine what you see and what remains hidden. This is handy if you're looking for something specific or if Google Maps runs slowly on your computer.

The Palm Pre has been marketed in part on its media playing capabilities and its ability to sync with iTunes. If you stay one version behind on the iTunes update cycle, that's true. However, Apple seems to be actively trying to make sure iTunes syncing doesn't work on the Palm Pre. With each iTunes update you install, you run the risk of disabling syncing from the Palm Pre to iTunes and vice-versa.

Perhaps the biggest differentiating factor for the Palm Pre versus the iPhone is that the former has a full hardware QWERTY keyboard. This is great for BlackBerry devotees who need the QWERTY keyboard but who want a prettier and more finger-friendly user interface. Jay Goldman runs through the finer points of the Palm Pre's keyboard.

With two monitors running from your MacBook Pro, you can choose to keep your laptop monitor as the primary display or, when connected to the secondary monitor, use that one as the primary display. You can also choose where you want the Dock and the system menu to display on either display.

We've got a beat. We've got a melody. Now it's time to change the arrangement in the FL Studio song playlist. Andrew Carr runs through how to arrange patterns into songs and shows us how to split our patterns and use them to create a bonafide electronic song.

Aside from educating yourself as to what spyware is and isn't and changing some browser settings to avoid some attacks, the best spyware detection software should be considered a must-have. Michael "Doctor File Finder" Callahan runs through a few of the best spyware applications to keep your computer spyware and malware free. Only install anti-spyware software from a trusted source; we've noticed a lot of spyware, malware and other crapware masquerading as anti-spyware software!

There are times when the Windows Registry becomes corrupted to the point where the computer can no longer boot. Perhaps your own Windows Registry editing went awry or perhaps the Registry just got corrupted over time. Whatever the case, it's possible to restore the Windows Registry from a back-up (like the one we made in part 3 of this series, Precautions for using the Windows Registry editor. Even if Windows won't boot it's possible to get it back up and running with your Windows Registry back

Every router has an administration section where you can keep things running smoothly. Whether it's changing the password, turning on a log file, or doing a firmware upgrade, it's all right there for you.

The Windows Registry is actually a database that stores all the information about your computer. The software, the devices, the files and much, much more has a home here. It's perfectly safe to work with the Registry as long as you understand certain things about it. tweaking the Windows Registry can also speed up your computer without buying software, can fix computer problems and more. Michael "Doctor File Finder" Callahan runs through this beginner's guide to the Windows Registry in this vid

One of the reasons that Ubuntu and other Linux distributions are so secure and safe is because problems are found and fixed so quickly. If there's a security flaw it's discovered and patched before anyone really has time to take advantage of it. That's a benefit of being lean and mean. With frequent updates you can keep your software and your system running smoothly.