RESTORE FILES FASTER FILES SPEAK & SEARCH

DELETED SOMETHING? MAKE YOUR HARD DRIVE SEARCH THE INTERNET

GET IT BACK IN SECONDS LOAD WINDOWS FASTER USING JUST YOUR VOICE

50
Plus essential tips for
Windows 8, Vista & XP

ESSENTIAL
WINDOWS
UPGRADES
O Increase your PC's performance
O Customise the interface
O Master your media
O Enhance security

ǙƱǟ6

10
HOW TO FIX
PC PROBLEMS!
A comprehensive guide
REE M EDIA to sorting Windows
F S
PLAYEERD
TEST

Windows tutorials New things to do Buying advice Help & support 100% jargon free
WorldMags.net

WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net

Welcome
Nothing beats that new feeling, whether you’ve just
bought a new Windows machine and unwrapped it for
the first time, or you’ve taken an old PC and reinstalled
your chosen operating system to bring it back to life.
While things will feel much more responsive, new doesn’t
always equate to better.
Let me explain: Windows out-of-the-box just isn’t that
brilliant. It’s not until you start tweaking the way it works
that it becomes really worthy of praise. For instance,
Windows might seem super secure in this day and age,
but you can toughen it up a great deal by adding antivirus
software and changing the firewall. That’s not all – you can
increase its performance in various ways, and you can also
change its looks entirely for something a bit different.
Whatever you’re after, this month’s guide to upgrading
Windows will show you how to get the perfect PC.

Nicholas Odantzis Deputy Editor

www.facebook.com/windowsmag

THE ONLY COMPUTER MAG TO HELP

YOU GET MORE FROM WINDOWS
We pride ourselves in being the only magazine
on the shelves to show you exactly how to get
the best from the Windows operating system,
whether it’s 7, 8, Vista or even XP. Windows 7
Help & Advice also comes with a disc, on which
you can find some of the great apps covered in
the magazine. If you get a chance, take a look at
how you can even read the magazine on your
laptop, phone or tablet.

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 3
 WorldMags.net

FEATURES
14 50 essential upgrades
The very best tweaks and apps for
upgrading your Windows 7 PC

64 The truth about bloatware

Unwanted programs can slow your PC by
40 per cent, but you can get rid of them

70 10 free media players

Looking for an alternative to Windows
Media Player for your music and videos?

REGULARS
6 Discover Use your computer to beat
procrastination and get things done

29 Next month Gaze into the

future… What’s happening in April?

32 Subscriptions Save up to 35 EXPLORE The best PC tutorials

per cent when you subscribe today
42 Reader offers We’ve a selection
of money-saving deals just for you
73 Overseas reader? Get your
mag for less with a subscription
SUPPORT
78 Four pages of essential
expert help for all your
tricky technical queries
4 | Help & Advice | March 2014
<ʝʦɠʔʦLȫɏ1LɭKɼODɡ2GʋQɢʫLɡVʋ\ɡ
“Each month we include as wide a range of tutorials
as possible, to help you use your computer more
HIÀFLHQWO\DQGLQVSLUH\RXWRWU\QHZWKLQJVµ
26 Back up your essential 44 Use Previous Versions
files more easily to restore deleted files
30 Search Google with 48 Mask your online
voice commands digital footprint
34 Benchmark your 50 Use iCloud to sync
system with PC Wizard files with Windows
38 Manage your 54 Troubleshoot problems
desktop more efficiently with Event Viewer
40 Speed up your hard 58 Always open files in
drive with Smart Defrag your favourite programs
Want more? Visit our website at
www.facebook.com/windowsmag
WorldMags.net
 CUT-PRICE
WorldMags.net
SUBS OFFER
Save up to 35% – pay just £23.49 every six months
)ʖQɍʝXɢPʝȾɏʝɚSDȰɏ

UPGRADE
78 Our expert reviews
and recommendations
ON THE COVER
80 Compact cameras
14 See what 82 Sony VAIO Pro 13
Windows 84 Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga

can really do 86 Gigabyte P25

88 F1 2014
90 The Stanley Parable
ON THE COVER 92 Rocksmith 2014

THE TRUTH ABOUT

93 The Wolf Among Us
94 Path of Exile

BLOATWARE 96 World of Warplanes

64 Why is it
there, and what
can you do
about it?

ON THE COVER

10 free
media players
70 Our roundup
of the the best Follow us on…
music and video
players around www.twitter.com/windowsmag

www.facebook.com/windowsmag

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 5
 WorldMags.net

NEW THINGS TO DO AMAZING WEBSITES FASCINATING FACTS

JUST DO IT Use online tools to stop you getting

distracted when you’re juggling lots of tasks

WorldMags.net
6 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Discover
WorldMags.net Productivity
HIʓ Lʎ ȲʑQʃ ʙ ɨ
:ʝʁɖH
USE YOUR COMPUTER
TO GET THINGS DONE
Are you a master of procrastination? Follow our guide and
you’ll soon be the most productive person on the planet
W
hile the internet and
technology have connected
minds around the world
like never before and given
us a definitive repository of the entirety
of human knowledge, this very same
technology means we can spend hours on
end looking a funny cat videos. Not great
if you’ve got urgent work to attend to.
Fortunately, there are steps you can
take to increase your
productivity. The first “Take a step back and
collate all the things you
is to take a leaf out of
David Allen’s book
have to do in a big list in
Getting Things Done:
take a step back and
an app like Evernote”
collate all the things
you have to do in a
big list in an online app such as Evernote
(www.evernote.com). This list can include
everything from fixing the blinds in the
living room to preparing for an upcoming
interview. If there are any tasks that can
be done in less than two minutes, do them
straight away, then tick them off.
Once you’ve worked out what you have
to do, actually doing it can often seem like
HERE’S WHERE TO START Stay focused
Social media and news sites are the top
distraction in the Windows 7: Help &
Advice offices, but with StayFocusd we
can block them so we can get on with
more important things – like making a
magazine. It’s a free plugin for Google
Chrome (www.google.co.uk/chrome),
so you’ll need to make sure you have it
installed first. Visit http://chrome.google.
com/webstore and search for StayFocusd,
then click the ‘+’ symbol followed by ‘Add’.
FOCUS PULLER You’ll find StayFocusd under the
double arrow to the right of the address bar
climbing a mountain. One trick is the 10
minute, two minute rule. Set a timer for
10 minutes and work all the way through,
then take a break for two minutes. Do
this five times and you’ll probably achieve
more than if you just give yourself an
hour. Type 10 minute timer into www.
google.com and it’ll start counting down.
Music can be great for working, but
complex or lyrically-heavy tunes can
be distracting.
focus@will (www.
focusatwill.com) is
said to play the right
sort of music to get
you in the mood for
work, with playlists
featuring tailor-made
non-lyrical songs in various genres.
It’s worth keeping an eye on some
websites for more tricks and tips for
getting things done. Lifehacker (www.
lifehacker.com) is completely dedicated
to finding simple ways to make your life
easier, while Reddit’s Productivity forum
(www.reddit.com/r/productivity) is a
cornucopia of advice for the overworked.
JUST BROWSING Go to a site you’d like to block,
click StayFocusd and choose ‘Block this entire site’
LOCKDOWN You’ll be given 10 minutes on the site
per day, after which StayFocusd will block access
WorldMags.net
March 2014 |
The Knowledge…
YotaPhone
Ah yes, the little wise green chap from
Star Wars. Has he made a phone?
Sadly no, but Russian company Yota
Devices has. Unfortunately it’s got
nothing to do with Yoda from Star Wars,
so we can’t make any bad jokes about it
containing a lightsaber or using the Force
to boost your signal.
That’s disappointing. Why should I be
interested in it, then?
The unique selling point of the YotaPhone
is that it includes a second screen on the
back, which means you can quickly see if
you’ve got texts or emails without going
through the rigmarole of unlocking your
phone and then finding that the only
messages you’ve received are either spam,
or videos of cats doing amusing things
from your mum.
But my antique Motorola flip phone
from 2005 did that.
Yes – but I bet that second display
didn’t use e-ink. Yota Devices has used
technology similar to Amazon’s Kindle
to implement the second screen, which
means it will use far less precious battery
life than the primary screen. In fact, Yota
reckons you’ll be able to get a whopping
58 hours from a single charge if you stick
to the e-ink screen.
That’s pretty impressive. What else can
the screen do?
You can set it to display a favourite picture
– in black and white, of course – and you
can use it to read e-books as you would
on a Kindle, so you only need to carry one
device. Unlike the front screen the e-ink
display isn’t touch-sensitive, but you can
use a panel beneath it to control what
you’re looking at. The e-ink is easy to read
in bright sunlight, too.
How can I get one?
The Yotaphone is set to be released very
soon in the UK, so keep your eyes peeled
for it. It’s set to cost €499 (£418), which
puts it on a par with Samsung’s high-end
phones – but they don’t include a cool
second screen. Look out for more
information and updates on Yota Devices’
website: www.yotaphone.com.
Help & Advice | 7
 WorldMags.net

Ǐ1Ǩ+NJ6 7(5
+NJ1Ǜ<ǀ
NJ Ǣ3 (57
7(Ǩ+

App bars
Windows 8’s Start Screen apps are usually
designed to be as simple as possible to make
touchscreen navigation quick and simple,
but they also include lots of features, which
can make finding your way around a bit
tricky. Thankfully, app options are now easier
to use with Windows 8.1. To access menus
and settings, just fire up an app and simply
click the right button of your mouse, or swipe
upwards if you’re using a touchscreen device.
You’ll now see a range of options to choose
from. In the Weather app, for example, you
can view a map of the current conditions
and change your location. Most apps on the
Windows 8 Store support this functionality,
so it’s worth trying it out with each one to
see what happens.
Check it out
A failing hard drive can lead to all sorts of
problems, from your computer slowing
down and taking ages to start Windows
to files not loading correctly. Fortunately,
Windows Vista includes a built-in disk
checking utility that scans and analyses
your hard drives for any problems or errors.
To activate it, press [Windows]+[E] to show
all the drives currently installed in your PC.
Right-click on one of these (the primary hard
drive is usually C), then choose ‘Properties >
Tools > Check’. This might take a little while
depending on the size and speed of the
drive, but when it’s finished you’ll be given
the option to automatically repair the drive,
hopefully solving your problem.
Clipbook Viewer
Windows XP includes a program that lets
you view and save the contents of your
clipboard (the place where text and images
are kept when you cut or copy them). This
can be very handy, but it’s hidden from
the Start Menu by default. To activate it,
right-click an empty space on your desktop,
then choose ‘New’ followed by ‘Shortcut’.
Type %windir%\system32\clipbrd.exe
and click ‘Next > Finish’. You’ll now find a link
to the ClipBook Viewer on your desktop, and
you can double-click it to see what you last
cut or copied. Choose the ‘File’ menu to save
it, or use the ‘X’ icon to clear the clipboard.

Struggling to get something to work? Need a tip?

Then email us your woes (to windowsmagazine@futurenet.com with the subject line
‘Windows Insider’) and we’ll share your perfect Windows tweaks in a future issue.

Tip of the month Plain text

Copy and paste

Sometimes you want to move text to a new
place, but get rid of the formatting. Here’s how…
Hopefully by now using [Ctrl]+[C] and
[Ctrl]+[V] to copy and paste text and
images in Windows has become
second nature. However, there are
occasions when it doesn’t quite work.
For example, if you’re copying a
chunk of information from a website
into a Word Document, you might find
that all the heading fonts and italics are
preserved, which can look a little odd.
The links might also be pasted, which is
annoying if you click on one accidentally
and it opens in your web browser.
One solution to this problem is to
copy and paste the text into Notepad,
then copy and paste it again to strip
out the formatting, but it’s far easier
just to use [Ctrl]+[Shift]+[V]. This pastes
characters as plain text, so all formatting
is removed and your original font choice
is preserved. It doesn’t work with every
program, but most support it.

WorldMags.net
8 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Discover
WorldMags.net Tech talk

ʢ\ʝȸɏ››ɡWWɪɸʘʖQɒɪ
(Ƀʑʢ Xɢ
ɪEʝX Discover this…

Amazon Prime Air

Goodreads
www.goodreads.com
Although Amazon’s new space age
The huge online retailer takes to the skies to send delivery system may be taking flight, the
packages, but can this far-out tech really deliver? recommendations system built into its
site still leaves a lot to be desired. Buy a
book as a gift for a child and you’ll receive

T
hough it may sound like an April
Fool’s joke, Amazon is serious
about Prime Air, which will see
unmanned flying drones deliver
packages weighing under 5lb to your
doorstep. This will cut delivery times to
as little as 30 minutes.
A video by Amazon demonstrates the
system. The drones sit in a warehouse
waiting for packages to be delivered on a
conveyer belt, and then fly off with them.
Using GPS, they
pinpoint the exact
delivery address.
The customer
unclips their
goods, and the
drone returns to
base to recharge.
The system
poses many
questions. What
if undesirables
shoot it out of the sky with a BB gun
and steal your goods? What if the battery
dies and it falls on someone? Most
importantly, what if the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) fails to change the
rules on unmanned aerial vehicles? At the
and it hopes the new laws “will be in place
suggestions for a slew of similar titles
as early as some time in 2015”.
next time you visit the homepage, and
These rules are designed to tackle
not everyone wants to read Snoggity’s
the issues of public safety. Amazon Adventures in Frumpland. You can choose
says: ‘Safety will be our top priority, and not to receive recommendations based
our vehicles will be built with multiple on a particular purchase, but it takes time.
redundancies and designed to commercial Fortunately, Goodreads is a great place
aviation standards.’ Flying vehicles similar to find new books based on your actual
to the one used by Amazon already reading habits. Sign up for an account and
exist, including DJI’s remote-controlled you’ll be able to see what your friends are
Phantom 2 Vision (£830/$1,200), which reading, choose favourite genres and rate
books you’ve read. Once you’ve created a
records stunning
profile it’ll even recommend new titles for
aerial videos.
you to read, and it links directly to online
Using robots book stores such as Amazon and Kobo.
in commercial
industry is nothing
new. Industrial
automatons have
been used in car
factories since the
1970s, with their
strength and
accuracy making
them ideal for assembling car parts,
but Amazon Prime Air is the first time
robotic vehicles will operate in public.
Amazon’s use of robotics is part of a GOODREADS find amazing new works of
literature with a few clicks of your mouse
growing trend. The company’s Seattle
warehouse is currently testing Kiva

moment it’s illegal to operate commercial
flying drones in the USA, and Amazon
had to film its video elsewhere. According
to Amazon, “the FAA is actively working
on rules for unmanned aerial vehicles”,
Follow us on…
Systems’ robotic shelving, which moves
goods straight to the packing staff, saving
time and effort. Google has also made
investments in robotics technology, but
it’s keeping its plans close to its chest.
www.twitter.com/windowsmag

7+(6(&ǖǕ' ƹƾ,=
ʖ ȷ ɏV Wʋ UWɡQ ʝɦ
3ʑ QɡD ɢʃ ȱ ɏȾHD ʏ ɨ\ʝ ʦ ɠʤ
www.facebook.com/windowsmag

1 Facebook has made

what as an alternative
to ‘Like’ button?
its
A) A ‘Hate’ button
3 What has UK science
minister David
Willetts predicted?
A) Cyborgs that can pass
as humans by 2019
5 Humour site 4chan
tricked gamers into
doing what?
A) Turning their Wii Us
upside-down
NEXT ISSUE ON SALE

B) A ‘Love’ button
C) A ‘Sympathise’ button
2 Coach companies
are testing which
safety measure?
A) Eye tracking to monitor
the driver’s alertness
B) Ejector seats for unruly
passengers
C) Robotic drivers
14
B) A man on Mars within B) Going outside
C) Ruining their Xbox Ones
MARCH
30 years
C) The next Star Wars films
being ‘quite good’
6 Who was the most
talked about person
on Facebook in 2013?
4 Where did US
researchers find the
coldest place on Earth?
A) Barack Obama
B) Miley Cyrus
C) Pope Francis
A) The Arctic
B) The Antarctic Answers 1 C. 2 A. 3 B. 4 B. 5 C. 6 C. FRIDAY
C) Solihull

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 9
 WorldMags.net

Henry Winchester reveals a host 8 IN 10 UK COMPANIES...

of fascinating digital facts

77%
...still print out
documents just to get them
signed. The research,
conducted by YouGov and
commissioned by ARX Inc,
shows that offices are refusing
to go paperless, even though
of US parents believe their family would
secure electronic signing
benefit from a one-hour break from
systems exist. Some 62 per
technology every day, according to research
cent of companies print
commissioned by Foresters. Fifty-six per
additional copies to be signed
cent of US residents are annoyed by the
and kept for their records, and
use of electronic devices during mealtimes.
72 per cent of businesses say
The average US resident admits to spending
processes are delayed because
6.5 hours a day on devices outside of
of the need to
work. We love technology, but it is nice to
collect signatures.
have a break from it from time to time.

RU Research company Pew Internet has divided

online content sharers into two groups: creators
and curators. Creators take their own photos or
make their own videos and share them online,
whereas curators simply take content which has
already been posted online and share it with
other internet users. Of course, many people do
both, but Pew says 54 per cent of internet users
are creators, and 47 per cent are curators.

WorldMags.net
10 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Discover
WorldMags.netFacts & figures

On 2nd May 2000, the US military’s Geocaches come in a variety Geocaches have sometimes been
Global Positioning System (GPS) was of shapes and sizes, ranging mistaken for bombs,
officially switched on for commercial from tiny dice-sized including one planted at
and civilian users. ‘nanos’ to huge University of California,
temporary structures. Santa Cruz that led to
The very next day, GPS enthusiast an evacuation.
Dave Ulmer hid a container in some There‘s a cache hidden
woods in Portland and published its on every continent on At the time of
coordinates online. Earth, including writing, there are
Antarctica. 2,272,957 active
As people sought out Dave‘s caches and
container and exchanged trinkets the You‘ll even find more than
movement grew, with the term one orbiting six million
‘geocaching’ first coined on 30th Earth on the geocachers
May 2000. International worldwide.
Space Station,
In September 2000, www.geocaching. placed by Source: www.
com launched, listing 75 caches entrepreneur geocaching.
around the world. As GPS availability and game com, www.
grew, so did caching. By 2010 there maker Richard wikipedia.com,
were a million caches worldwide. Garriott. www.gps.gov

46%
...have set up their children’s social media profiles,
according to research from McAfee and the Anti-
Bullying Alliance. While it’s great that parents are
keen to give their children an internet presence
from a young age, the survey suggests that they
might be inadvertently exposed to inappropriate
behaviour and cyber-bullying. The study calls for
greater education for parents – especially when it
OF PARENTS... comes to Facebook’s no-under-13s policy.

WHAT DO
AMERICANS
THINK OF
WEARABLE 49% think it’s just a fad

TECH LIKE 43% believe it can be stylish

40% will find it useful in day-to-day life
GOOGLE 37% think it will become common
GLASS? 38% would use it if it replaced their smartphones
WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 11
WorldMags.net

WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net

WorldMags.net
 WorldMags.net

Essential
Upgrades

WorldMags.net
14 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Cover feature
WorldMags.net
50 essential upgrades
See what Windows can really do when it’s
treated to some attention! Ben Andrews
reveals 50 of the best tweaks and apps to
upgrade your operating system
W indows 7 is packed with features, many of
them honed over years of development,
so you could be forgiven for thinking Microsoft
must now have covered every base and
satisfied every need.
The reality is rather different, as anyone
who’s had to fork out for an additional antivirus
package will appreciate. People tend to forget
that essential virus protection, along with
programs like Word and Excel, aren’t included
with Windows, but are actually pricey upgrades.
Don’t worry though, because there are free
alternatives out there that are just as good.
The trusty Internet Explorer and Windows
Media Player are both great programs, but they
are fending off several third-party web browsers
and media players that are brimming with
innovation. Likewise, Windows 7’s updated
WorldMags.net
Paint app may be streets ahead of previous
versions, but it’s still no match for a dedicated
photo-editing package like Gimp.
Extra programs like these are certainly a
tempting way to improve Windows, but there
are also plenty of improvements you can make
to the core Windows tools we often take for
granted. As well as sharing the best free
software, we’ll also show you some tricks of the
trade to fine-tune the tools Windows already
has. From customising Windows Update to
getting the most out of Windows Media Center,
there’ll be something here for you.
So stop putting up with a disorderly desktop
and struggling to find errant files. Here’s our
guide to some of the best upgrades, gadgets
and tweaks around to help you get the best
Windows 7 experience.
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 15
 WorldMags.net
Internet and security
Try a new web browser
Once upon a time, if you wanted to surf
the internet, you’d ride its virtual waves
using Microsoft Internet Explorer (http://
windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/internet-
explorer/download-ie). Now in its 11th
incarnation, Internet Explorer is certainly
a speedy surfing companion, but rival
web browsers such as Google’s Chrome
(www.google.co.uk/chrome) and Mozilla’s
Firefox (www.mozilla.org/firefox) are
even faster in some tests.
Google Chrome has the advantage of
running each web page tab as though it’s
a separate program (a technique known
as sandboxing), so if one tab stops
responding, it won’t crash all the others.
Firefox comes into its own with its huge
range of add-on apps, which let you
customise your internet experience
with gadgets galore – everything from
translating web pages on the fly to
blocking annoying advertisements.
Ensure virus immunity
Virus protection isn’t one of Windows 7’s
strong points, as it doesn’t come with
antivirus software built in. You can fix
this by downloading Microsoft Security
Essentials (http://windows.microsoft.com/
en-GB/windows/security-essentials-
download), but this optional upgrade
pack is still no match for a third-party
antivirus program.
You can shell out for pricey security
software to give you extra peace of mind,
but these days plenty of free alternatives
offer great protection, features and ease
Step-by-step Configure Windows Update
01 Is it enabled?
To improve Windows’ security, it
makes sense to start by checking Windows
Update is enabled. This ensures you’re
using the latest, most secure version of
Internet Explorer, and patches any security
holes identified in Windows itself.
16 | Help & Advice | March 2014
of use too. Avast (www.avast.com) and
AVG (http://free.avg.com) are both forces
to be reckoned with, and receive free daily
updates so your Windows PC is always
equipped to take on anything the web
can throw at it.
Set up a firewall
Windows comes with its own firewall to
help protect you from cyber intruders.
However, as with many standard Windows
features, it can be improved upon.
ZoneAlarm Free Firewall (www.
zonealarm.co.uk) and Comodo Firewall
Free (www.comodo.com) will both give
you far more control over exactly which
programs are allowed to roam free over
the web, and they do a much better job
of keeping virtual villains at bay, too.
Both of these firewalls are also smart
enough to detect potentially suspicious
programs and automatically take
appropriate action, leaving you to get
on with other things without worrying
about net nasties. Remember to only
install one firewall and one antivirus
program at a time, though, otherwise
they will cause no end of problems as
they try to scan and block one another.
Protect your computer from
malicious software
A powerful firewall and an up-to-date
antivirus package are definitely the two
cornerstones of a well-protected PC,
but installing Malwarebytes (available
free from www.malwarebytes.org) will
make extra sure no other malicious
02 Automatic options
Click ‘Start > Control Panel >
System and Security > Windows Update’,
then select the ‘Change settings’ link in the
left-hand pane. Here you can choose how
you’d like to receive updates, and set a
convenient time to install them.
WorldMags.net
software can infiltrate your computer.
Once it’s installed, select the ‘Perform
quick scan’ option. Click the ‘Scan’ button,
then just sit back while the program hunts
out any suspicious software. When it’s
finished, right-click on the results pane
and click ‘Check all items’. This selects
every discovered threat in one fell swoop,
but it’d be wise to have a quick glance at
the findings and un-tick any files that may
have been wrongly flagged as dangerous
before removing them.
Give your important files an
extra layer of security
What if your laptop and the personal
documents it contains were to fall prey
to a light-fingered lout? A Windows
password may give some intruders the
slip, but it’s easily foiled.
Microsoft’s answer is BitLocker – a
brilliant tool that encrypts all the data
on your hard drive. Unfortunately it’s
only included with the most expensive
Ultimate and Enterprise versions of
Windows 7, but there is an alternative.
TrueCrypt is a free app that will protect
internal or external hard disks, and even
USB flash drives. It’s not the easiest
software to use though, so take some
time to read through the detailed guide
here: http://bit.ly/1lYeDMl.
Save time and effort by installing
specialist email software
Are you still logging on to a web-based
email inbox every day to read your
messages? Installing an email client
03 Take manual control
If you’d rather install updates
manually, go back to the previous screen
and hit the ‘Check for updates’ button. You
can then either click the ‘Install updates’
button, or review exactly what’s on offer
by selecting either of the adjacent links.
 Cover feature
WorldMags.net
50 essential upgrades
(a program that downloads and manages
your email) can not only speed up your
communication, but will give you plenty
of other time-saving features too.
Windows Live Mail, which is
incorporated into Microsoft’s Windows
Essentials download pack (http://
windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-
live/essentials), is the obvious place to
start. It’ll let you download email from
Microsoft, Gmail and Yahoo accounts
(along with many others), and comes
with plenty of useful features such as a
calendar and support for RSS feeds.
Alternatively, there’s always Mozilla’s
Thunderbird (www.mozilla.org/en-GB/
thunderbird). It’s similar to Windows Live
Mail, but can tap into Mozilla’s extensive
range of customisation add-ons too.
Take remote control of your
computer, wherever you are
Picture the scene: you’re away from your
computer but really need a particular
saved file or email. Wouldn’t it be great if
you could access your PC remotely from
anywhere with an internet connection?
That’s exactly what LogMeIn Free
(www.logmein.com) can do, letting you
browse your computer from another
Windows PC, Mac or mobile device. You
don’t even need to leave your PC powered
up all day either, as most can be woken
remotely from sleep mode.
With a fast internet connection, this
nifty app will have you zipping around
your files as if you were at your desk.
Share files with friends quickly
and easily
What do you do if you want to send a big
batch of holiday photos – or even a video
– to a friend? Free image sharing websites
often impose strict upload restrictions,
and most videos will be too large to send
as email attachments.
Uploading to the cloud is the answer. In
this sense, the ‘cloud’ is basically a term
that refers to internet-based storage, and
Dropbox (www.dropbox.com) is one of
the most convenient providers. You get
2GB of free storage space, which is
enough for sharing a few videos, or a few
hundred full-resolution photos. Simply
visit www.dropbox.com, create an
account and you’re ready to go.
Make free phone calls with your
PC, Skype and a microphone
You’ve probably heard of Skype (www.
skype/com), but in case you haven’t, it’s
an excellent free app that lets you chat
with other Skype users for free via your
internet connection, saving you money
on your phone bill.
Skype is now owned by Microsoft, but
it’s not included with Windows 7, so you’ll
need to download it from www.skype.
“Plenty of free
antivirus programs
give great protection”
WorldMags.net
March 2014 |
Browser extensions
The internet is a wonderful place,
and thanks to the popularity of
customisable web browsers such
as Chrome and Firefox, you can
make your surfing experience
even more enjoyable.
Tweaking the look of your
browser is nice, but it’s the
plethora of small enhancement
apps called extensions that are
most impressive. Whether you
want to block annoying webpage
adverts, download YouTube
videos with a single mouse click or
increase your browsing security,
there’ll be an extension for the
job. Visit http://addons.mozilla.org
to customise Firefox, or http://
chrome.google.com/webstore for
Chrome extensions.
com. Then it’s just a matter of setting up
a Skype account so you can connect to
friends and family who use Skype too.
You will of course need a PC microphone
to be heard, plus an optional webcam if
you’d like to be seen as well as heard.
Back up your files, programs
and Windows
Backing up your files is the best way to
protect them from viruses, as well as hard
drive failure. Windows 7 does include
a useful feature called ‘Windows Easy
Transfer’ that’ll create file backups, but its
focus is more on shifting content from an
old to a new computer.
A better bet is DriveImage XML (www.
runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm). It’s very
easy to use and has the power to transfer
an exact copy of all your hard drive’s
contents onto an external hard drive,
enabling you to restore not only your
files, but also Windows and programs,
should the worst happen.
Help & Advice | 17
 WorldMags.net
Entertainment and media
Consider your codecs
Ever found that Windows throws a wobbly
when asked to play a DVD or downloaded
video? Chances are Windows Media Player
isn’t to blame – the issue is more likely to
be down to missing codecs. These clever
little files tell Windows how to decode the
compression methods used to reduce the
size of video files.
Thankfully, Windows 7 can be upgraded
with a huge range of codecs that will
ensure slick playback of even the most
modern or obscure video file formats.
Just download and install the Combined
Community Codec Pack from www.
cccp-project.net.
Windows Media Player alternatives
Once you’ve installed copious codecs,
you’d think Windows Media Player would
be up for anything, but even with these
“Free office suites
offer all the features
you rely on”
18 | Help & Advice | March 2014
upgrades, it’s still not immune to issues.
Supplementing it with other video players
such as Media Player Classic (www.
mpc-hc.org) or VLC (www.videolan.org/
vlc) is a wise move.
Both players will handle pretty much
any video file format, but it’s their extra
features that really give them the edge
over Windows Media Player.
Extensive subtitle, video aspect ratio
and frame rate options are all useful
tools, as is VLC’s ability to alter audio
synchronisation so you don’t have to
put up with inaccurate lip-syncing.
Grow your thumbnails
Now you can play pretty much any video
file, but you might find that Windows
Explorer runs into problems when you’re
browsing through your video collection.
It will only generate previews for certain
WorldMags.net
file types, and will turn its virtual nose up
at more recent video file formats, such as
the new MKV standard.
You can broaden Windows 7’s
thumbnail-generating horizons using
Icaros (www.videohelp.com/tools/Icaros).
Simply install the software, open it and
select the video formats that you’d like to
generate thumbnails. Once that’s done,
click the large ‘Activate Icaros’ button
and hey presto, extra video thumbnails
in Windows Explorer!
Edit your photos for free
One area where mobile devices such as
smartphones and tablets seem to have
put the good old PC in the shade is the
availability of free and user-friendly photo
editing apps. All Windows 7 can offer is
its Paint app, but despite improvements
over previous versions, it’s not exactly
what you’d call impressive.
All is not lost though, because free
photo-editor Gimp (www.gimp.org/
downloads) has the power to crop or
resize an image for emailing, boost colour
saturation, or brighten up murky shadows.
There are plenty more features to help
you turn a mediocre snapshot into a
photographic masterpiece, and it won’t
cost you a penny.
View photos in style
It’s easy to take Windows Explorer for
granted. After all, they’re the actual
windows we use to browse our files and
Mobile media
Smartphones and tablets make it
easy to watch videos on the go,
but many devices will only play a
handful of the dozens of video
formats out there. Fortunately
HandBrake (http://handbrake.fr)
will re-encode most types of video
file into a mobile-friendly format,
though slower computers could
need an hour or two to process
a feature film.
If you’re planning to watch
videos on the move, you should
choose the MP4 video format to
ensure compatibility with Apple
and Android hardware. While
you’re at it, you might also want to
shrink the video frame size of HD
footage so it takes up less storage
space on your device.
 Cover feature
WorldMags.net
50 essential upgrades
folders. Trouble is, even with customisable
thumbnail sizes, it’s not really the best way
to view things like photographs.
Google’s Picasa (http://picasa.google.
co.uk) is much more impressive. Its file
browser makes it far easier to customise
your viewing preferences and organise
photos and videos, and there’s seamless
integration with some very nifty photo
editing tools. Picasa also includes a
dedicated photo viewer, which offers a
noticeable improvement in speed and
usability compared with the version
included with Windows.
Take screenshots easily
Sometimes you see something on your PC
that you just have to capture and share,
but the conventional Windows way of
taking a screenshot is a bit of a faff – you
have to press [Print screen], then paste
the resulting grab into an image-editing
program and save it.
SpeedCap, which you can download
free from http://cnet.co/1acbKlX, is a much
better alternative. Simply double-click the
downloaded file, then click and drag a box
around the area of the screen you’d like to
capture. Just like magic, a duplicate image
pops up in your web browser. Right-click
on it and select ‘Save picture as’, or go to
Facebook or Twitter and hit [Ctrl]+[V] to
copy your new screenshot’s web link
straight into a status update.
Add a Windows 8-style app store
to Windows 7
One of Windows 8’s better features is
its integrated app store, which puts
thousands of apps in one easily accessible
place so you don’t have to trawl the net
to find suitable software for your PC.
You can install an app store for
Windows 7 too, courtesy of AllMyApps
(www.allmyapps.com). This free, one-
stop software shop groups apps into
categories like imaging, security and
office, or you can search directly if you
want something specific.
Updating existing apps is also a doddle,
and you’ll find plenty of information and
reviews to ensure you don’t end up
downloading any dud programs.
Get productive with improved
office apps
Okay, office software isn’t everyone’s
idea of entertainment, but getting a free
alternative to Microsoft’s Office package
should put a smile on your face. Windows
7 only comes with the WordPad app as
standard, which isn’t much good if you’re
used to more comprehensive word
processing software.
Thankfully, there are free office suites
that offer all the features you’ve come to
rely on. LibreOffice (www.libreoffice.org)
includes Writer, Calc and Impress, which
are dead ringers for Microsoft’s Word,
Excel and PowerPoint.
If you’d rather embrace the age of cloud
computing, then Google Docs (https://
docs.google.com) is an online office suite
accessible from any internet-connected
computer and comes with up to 15GB of
web-based storage.
Disc-o inferno
Writable CDs and DVDs just can’t match
the convenience of a USB flash drive when
it comes to carrying your files and folders
around, but there are times when you
may want to burn something like an audio
CD, or even a replacement Windows 7
installation DVD. However Windows’ own
disc burning tools are rudimentary at best.
Next time you need to make a disc,
give ImgBurn a go (www.imgburn.com).
WorldMags.net
March 2014 |
Music to your ears
Playing music on your computer
is usually no trouble thanks to
Windows Media Player, and it’ll
even help you organise a fairly
sizable album collection. However
if your digital jukebox is rather
unwieldy, it can start to struggle.
A popular alternative is Apple’s
iTunes (www.apple.com/itunes),
which will satisfy even the most
dedicated audiophile with its
comprehensive and attractive
music organisation, all of which
is seamlessly integrated with
the iTunes store.
For greater customisation, try
one of the free media players
listed on p70. These will handle
albums aplenty, and do so with
fewer frills than Apple’s player.
It’s a free, uncluttered tool that makes
light work of burning all kinds of disc
content. Check out the ImgBurn forums
for detailed guides explaining how to get
the best out of it.
Watch your favourite programmes
on your PC with Media Center
Windows Media Center is an often-
overlooked feature incorporated into
Windows 7 Home Premium and above.
Its main goal is to make it easier to listen
to music, or view photos and videos from
the comfort of your living room.
That’s not all it can do, though – you
can also use it to watch television on your
computer. There is a slight caveat, though,
because you’ll need to add a TV tuner to
your PC. Prices range from £20 to £100,
with some of the more convenient devices
resembling a USB memory stick. Shop
around and you’ll even find models that
come with a remote control. Remember,
you’ll need a TV license if you’re watching
live broadcasts on your PC.
Zip it
When you’re downloading files from
the internet, sooner or later you’ll
come across a compressed file archive,
commonly known as a ZIP file. However,
there are many ways of compressing
files together and compressing them
for internet transfer, and not all forms
can be extracted by Windows alone.
You’ll need to upgrade to something
smarter, like 7-Zip (www.7-zip.org). This
will extract files contained not just in ZIP
archives, but also the popular RAR format,
plus many other compression formats.
7-Zip will also allow you to zip up your
own files, with the output archive often
being compressed into a smaller space
than Windows could manage.
Help & Advice | 19
 WorldMags.net
Performance
Make sure you have the latest
hardware drivers
Drivers are pieces of software that tell
Windows how to communicate with each
item of hardware in your computer, but
Windows Update doesn’t always give you
the latest driver versions, so sometimes
you need to do it yourself.
Upgrading the drivers for your
graphics card tends to provide the most
noticeable improvement in performance,
potentially giving you smoother HD video
playback and a better gaming experience.
It’s easy to make sure you have the latest
version – all of the big three graphics
hardware manufacturers have automatic
driver detection tools to help you
upgrade to the most up-to-date drivers
for your PC. Visit http://support.amd.com,
www.geforce.co.uk/drivers or http://
downloadcenter.intel.com, depending
on what hardware you own.
Free up space and resources by
removing bloatware
Removing unnecessary software (also
known as ‘bloatware’ because of the
effect it has on your computer) is a great
way to free up precious power reserves
for an instant performance boost. The
Programs and Features control panel
is the usual port of call for uninstalling
programs, but it sometimes leaves a
few files behind. Not to worry, though,
because Revo Uninstaller Free (www.
revouninstaller.com) is a very useful app
that removes traces of software that
Windows might miss.
Step-by-step Increase your virtual memory
01 RAM on your hard drive?
When your computer runs out of
memory (RAM), it borrows a portion of
your hard drive to use as virtual memory.
To improve performance by allocating
more virtual memory, click ‘Start’, right
click on ‘Computer’ and select ‘Properties’.
20 | Help & Advice | March 2014
When you’re looking for programs to
uninstall, unused web browser toolbars,
expired antivirus trials and other freebie
apps that came pre-installed on your
computer should all be at the top of your
list. Don’t worry if you mistakenly uninstall
something useful though, because Revo
automatically creates a System Restore
point when it removes an app so you can
undo any mistakes.
Unleash ReadyBoost to give your
PC more virtual RAM
This Windows performance upgrade does
require some additional hardware, but
don’t worry, because it’s something you
probably have lying around the house
already: a simple USB flash drive.
The ReadyBoost feature stores
frequently-used files on the USB flash
drive rather than your PC’s hard drive,
helping to speed up loading times. Not
just any old flash drive will do, though –
you’ll need a fairly nippy one with a
capacity of at least 256MB for ReadyBoost
to work. To see if you’ve already got
something suitably quick, make sure
the drive is blank, then click ‘Start >
Computer’ and right-click on the drive’s
icon. Select ‘Properties’, followed by the
‘ReadyBoost’ tab.
Upgrade to a better defragmenter
to tidy your hard drive
You’ve probably gathered by now that
a tidy PC is a faster PC, so it makes sense
to not only delete unnecessary apps and
files, but also organise the ones that you
02 Do your sums
See the amount of ‘Installed
memory (RAM)’ you have listed here?
Multiply this figure by 1,024 and then
multiply the new number by 1.5. Make a
note of the answer, then click ‘Advanced
system settings’ link on the left.
WorldMags.net
do want. Windows tends to scatter the
data that makes up your files and folders
all over your hard drive. The process of
defragmentation reorganises this mess
so your computer can find what it needs
more quickly.
Although Windows 7 does include a
defragmentation tool, it’s slow and
uninformative. Defraggler (www.piriform.
com/defraggler) gives you more control,
and doesn’t hang around either.
Tweak the Registry for faster
Taskbar previews
Let’s reduce the delay between you
hovering over a taskbar icon and a
preview window appearing.
Click ‘Start’, type regedit in the search
box and press [Enter]. Using the folder
menu pane on the left, double click
‘HKEY_CURRENT_USER’, then select
‘Control Panel’ and click ‘Mouse’. Now find
‘MouseHoverTime’ in the list displayed in
the right-hand pane and double click it to
reveal a new window. The number 400 in
the ‘Value data’ box defines the delay until
a preview window pops up, so decreasing
this to 100 will speed things up nicely.
Click ‘OK’, then restart your computer and
things should be much snappier.
Partition your hard drive to speed
up loading times
Creating a hard drive partition superficially
splits it to form two virtual drives. Now
you can separate your personal data from
Windows and program files to speed up
loading times.
03 Complete the change
On the ‘Advanced’ tab, click the
uppermost ‘Settings’ button, then the
‘Advanced > Change’. Uncheck the top
tickbox, choose the ‘Custom size’ option
and enter your previously noted number
in both boxes. Click ‘Set’, then ‘OK’ to finish.
 Cover feature
WorldMags.net
50 essential upgrades
While Windows 7 is capable of
constructing a partition, upgrading to a
free app like MiniTool’s Partition Wizard
(www.partitionwizard.com) will make the
job easier and give you more options
to play with. Just be sure to back up
any important files before you start the
partitioning process, as messing with
the layout of your hard drive does carry
a small risk of potential data loss.
Download the all-in-one Windows
repair gadget
Windows 7 makes it easier than ever
before to restore or repair your operating
system when something goes wrong, but
there’s still some room for improvement.
Download Windows Repair from www.
tweaking.com. After you’ve installed the
software, a step-by-step tabbed interface
guides you through possible fixes. Be sure
to visit step four to create a System
Restore point and Registry backup before
proceeding to the Start Repairs tab.
The next thing you’ll see is a list of
techy-sounding repair options, but
clicking on a title reveals helpful tips for
using it. Select only the options relevant
to your PC problem, then hit ‘Start’ to set
the wheels in motion.
Beat the heat by keeping fans
and vents clear
You can upgrade Windows and your other
software as much as you like, but it’s
important to also give your computer’s
hardware some love and attention from
time to time. You don’t necessarily need
to throw money at it in the form of costly
component upgrades though – all you
really need is some common sense, and
maybe a vacuum cleaner!
Excessive heat can slow a computer
down and even damage its sensitive
components, so try not to run your laptop
nestled in a cushion or duvet where its air
intake vents will be blocked. Likewise, it
doesn’t take long for the fans in a desktop
PC to become clogged with dust, so it’s
worth vacuuming the dirt from its vents
from time to time.
Downgrade appearance to
upgrade performance
On the following pages you’ll discover
some clever way you can make Windows
7 look more beautiful. That’s all well
and good, but older computers won’t
thank you for slowing them down with
additional visual frills. In fact, if your PC
is getting on in years, you’re better off
losing a little style to gain some speed.
Click ‘Start’, type windows performance
and press [Enter]. Selecting the ‘Adjust
for best performance’ option will disable
all visual effects to give you the biggest
performance boost. Click ‘Apply’. If you
“Revo Uninstaller
removes software
Windows might miss”
WorldMags.net
March 2014 |
CCleaner
Windows 7’s handy built-in Disk
Cleanup tool will remove some
unnecessary computer clutter, but
for a more thorough spring clean
to extract even more performance,
try upgrading to CCleaner (www.
piriform.com/ccleaner).
This free program not only
eradicates superfluous, power-
hogging Windows files; it’ll also
tidy up redundant leftovers from
any web browser software,
Microsoft Office apps and your
antivirus package.
You can choose exactly which
types of file you’d like to keep and
which ones to sweep, so it’s easy
to clear your web browser’s store
of temporary files while retaining
any saved website passwords.
come across something that looks a little
too crude like jagged font edges, you can
always return to this menu and readjust
the offending option.
Want your PC to perform even
better than new?
Disabling speed-sapping features will help
unleash a sluggish PC, but it may also be
possible to give your computer processor
a new lease of life using an advanced
tuning process called overclocking.
This can be achieved via free desktop
software or through the PC’s BIOS, but it’s
not for the faint hearted and is unlikely to
work with laptops. Alter the wrong setting
or try boosting things too far and your PC
could crash or overheat, and don’t expect
a warranty to pick up the pieces.
Research is essential for successful
overclocking and to avoid damaging your
PC, so for more information check out our
sister website, www.techradar.com.
Help & Advice | 21
 WorldMags.net
Customisation
Calibrate your monitor for
better colour reproduction
Calibrating your monitor means adjusting
its colour output so it’s as accurate as
possible. You can splash out big bucks
on a special device to do the job, but
Windows 7 actually includes its own
calibration tool. It’s well hidden, though.
To find it, type calibrate into the Start
Menu search box. You’ll be met with
various simple steps to help you adjust
your monitor’s brightness and contrast,
plus the all-important colour balance.
Don’t expect dazzling image quality
improvements, but if you’re a keen
photographer and want to view your
snaps at their best, calibration is essential.
Give the Taskbar a new home
We’re all familiar with the trusty Windows
Taskbar down at the bottom of the screen,
but did you know it can also be positioned
at the top or on either side of your
desktop? Simply drag and drop it to your
location of choice. If that doesn’t work,
right-click on a blank area of the Taskbar
“Isn’t it time we had
video backgrounds?”
22 | Help & Advice | March 2014
and make sure the ‘Lock the Taskbar’
menu option is un-ticked.
Selecting the ‘Properties’ option on this
menu reveals extra Taskbar customisation
possibilities, including the ‘Taskbar
buttons’ drop-down menu which lets you
revert to traditional buttons which display
labels as well as icons.
Get the Windows 8 look in
Windows 7
Fancy the crisp new Windows 8 Start
screen without the hassle or expense of
a complete Windows upgrade? That’s no
problem – WinMetro (available free from
www.iobit.com/iobit-winmetro.php) can
transform your Windows 7 Start Menu in
just a few clicks.
Add News, Weather, Finance and Photos
apps, which display live updates straight
to your Start screen, or choose from a
selection of convenient search and social
media web links. The only thing missing
is Windows 8’s dedicated app store,
but that’s easily fixed using All My Apps.
Reverting back to the standard Windows 7
WorldMags.net
look is easy too, so there’s no harm in
giving this upgrade a try.
Discover animated wallpapers
with DreamScenes
Desktop wallpapers are so last
millennium. Isn’t it time we had video
backgrounds instead? It’s actually a trick
that was included in Windows Vista, and
though Windows 7 discontinued the
feature, it can be reactivated.
First, visit bit.ly/1gGAeZc and download
the DreamScene Activator. Once you’ve
installed the program, open it and click
the big ‘off’ slider, wait a moment until ‘on’
is displayed, then restart your computer.
Only WMV and MPG video formats will
work, so if you’re short of suitable content,
head over to www.dreamscene.org for
some cool animated backgrounds. Once
you’ve downloaded your video of choice,
right-click the file and select ‘Set as
Desktop Background’.
Faster filing
Ah, filing. It’s a chore in the real world,
and not much fun in Windows either. At
least MyFolders (www.coretechnologies.
com/products/MyFolders) can simplify
the process for you.
Install the app, then right-click on a
file you’d like to organise and find the
menu entry entitled ‘MyFolders’. Click it
to reveal ‘Copy to’ and ‘Move to’ options,
whereupon you can specify the folder
you’d like to shift the file into. It’s also a
Make over
your desktop
Right-click the desktop
and select ‘Gadgets’ to
see some handy tools,
such as a calendar, news
and weather feeds. It’s a
nice touch, but for more
choice, Rainmeter (www.
rainmeter.net) lets you
choose from many more,
as well as integrated app
shortcuts. Everything is
customisable, but it won’t
alter any crucial Windows
files. If you want to get
stuck in, click ‘Rainmeter
101’ at the end of the
installation process for
more information.
 Cover feature
WorldMags.net
50 essential upgrades
good idea to accept MyFolders’
suggestion to add this folder of choice to
its favourites list, making it even easier in
future to move files to this location.
Ditch the Start menu
The Start menu has to be one of the most
loved Windows features, yet trawling
through its list of installed software to find
a particular program is hardly enticing.
A quicker way to track down files and
programs would be nice, and that’s the
beauty of Launchy (www.launchy.net).
Once it’s installed, simply hit [Alt]+[Space]
to reveal its simple search box. Start
typing the name of the file or program
you’re after and it immediately starts to
list possible matches. Hit [Enter] to open
the first item on the list, or click a different
result of your choice.
Copy files faster
Simply copying and pasting files in
Windows isn’t something you’d imagine
could be upgraded, but Supercopier
does exactly that. Download and install
it from http://ultracopier.first-world.info/
supercopier.html and it’ll automatically
replace Windows 7’s normal copy status
window with its own.
Why use Supercopier? Well, it’ll copy
data faster than Windows does itself,
plus it lets you pause and resume the
process whenever you want. You can
also cap the transfer speed to avoid your
hard drive becoming unresponsive during
prolonged copying, and if you start to
copy a large batch of files but want to get
your hands on some of them more
quickly, they can be prioritised.
Bypass driver restrictions
If you have a 64-bit version of Windows 7,
you can only install hardware drivers that
have been signed off by Microsoft. That’s
great for quality control, but if you’re stuck
with an uncommon or old component,
chances are you may have no choice but
to install an ‘unsigned’ driver.
Fortunately there’s a way to fix this.
Download and install ReadyDriver Plus
from www.citadelindustries.net/rdp.php.
This will automatically load prior to
Windows and stop it disabling any drivers
that aren’t on its preferred list. Make sure
you’ve installed ReadyDriver Plus before
installing an unsigned driver, and don’t be
tempted to alter any of its setup options
unless you really need to.
One monitor, multiple desktops
Even with a well-organised desktop, you
could still be struggling for space. If only
there could be more than one desktop!
Dexpot (www.dexpot.de) turns such a
dream into reality by creating up to 20
virtual desktops.
Apart from customising each one with a
dedicated wallpaper and the icons of your
choice, you can also set certain programs
to open in a particular desktop. It almost
gives the illusion of multiple computers
all hooked up to the same monitor, and is
great for separating work and play. All it
takes to switch between each desktop is
a quick tap of a customisable hotkey.
WorldMags.net
March 2014 |
Put up fences
Just as your real-life desk
can easily descend into
chaos, so too can the
Windows 7 desktop. We fill
it with program shortcuts
and downloaded files, but
Windows doesn’t offer
much in the way of
desktop organisation.
That’s where Fences
(www.stardock.com, $9.99)
comes in. Click and drag
to create a box (a ‘fence’)
anywhere on the desktop,
then move folders and
shortcuts into it. You can
create as many fences
as you like, customise
their size, background
transparency and more.
Ultimate Windows Tweaker
What if you’re not a fan of those mini
preview thumbnails that appear
whenever you hover over a taskbar icon,
or you’d like more control over how
Internet Explorer uses tabs?
Easy, just search Google for Ultimate
Windows Tweaker. Download the
program and you’ll be able to install
and tweak settings like these and many
more using one simple program. Many
of these settings can of course be altered
using the standard Windows Control
Panel, but finding the right section can
often be frustratingly slow. Although
most tweaks can be easily disabled, you’d
be wise to steer clear of altering anything
you’re not familiar with.
Brush up on the basics
It’s often easy to overlook some of
Windows 7’s own customisation features.
One of the most useful is Snap. Drag a
window to the left or right of your
monitor and it’ll automatically expand to
fill half the screen. Alternatively drag it to
the top to fully maximise the window.
On the other hand, if you’re swamped
with open windows, give the one you’d
like to focus on a quick shake by clicking
and holding on to its uppermost title bar,
and watch as the other
windows minimise.
Another shake
restores them
to where
they were
before. Q
Help & Advice | 23
WorldMags.net

WorldMags.net
 WorldMags.net

WINDOWS TIPS INTERNET ADVICE YOUR DISC SOFTWARE

Welcome
Whether
you’re stuck for
inspiration or
want to become
a master of your
Windows computer, our
Explore section is the place
to come. Each month we pack
it with tutorials covering a
range of subjects suitable for
all levels of expertise.
This month Catherine shows
you how to search Google
without typing, Mayank
explains how to organise
your Windows desktop with
RocketDock, and I show you
the best ways to make your
laptop’s battery last longer
between charges.
There’s never been a better
time to see how your PC can
make your life easier than ever!
Nick Odantzis, deputy editor
nick.odantzis@futurenet.com
)ʅɸɗʙLVʤʖQɒ
26 Back up your essential 48 Mask your online
files more easily digital footprint
30 Search Google with 50 Use iCloud to sync
voice commands files with Windows
34 Benchmark your 54 Troubleshoot problems
system with PC Wizard with Event Viewer
38 Manage your Windows 58 Always open files in
desktop more efficiently your favourite programs
40 Speed up your hard 60 Extend your laptop’s
drive with Smart Defrag battery life
44 Use Previous Versions
to restore deleted files


<ʝʦɠʔʦLȫɏ
0ʋ\ʋɻɖ6KʋʢPɈVʋ\ɡ
“PC Wizard is full of
features to help you keep
tabs on every aspect of
your PC’s configuration”
7ʦʢɚWɛSDȰɏIʝɠPʝȾɏ

Our promise to you…

Get more from Windows, software and all your favourite sites

Packed with informative tutorials
Every issue, we guarantee to pack the
magazine with great tutorials teaching
you all the best things you can do with your PC.
Each article features step-by-step instructions
to make learning new skills fast and enjoyable.
Get more from your favourite websites
We all have our list of favourite sites
but often we miss out on great features
EHFDXVHWKH\·UHGLIÀFXOWWRXVHRUKLGGHQIURP
sight. We’ll show you how to do more online,
for a more satisfying web life.

Customise Windows to work your way
We all know how to do the basics but
getting the most from Windows isn’t
always easy. Our dedication to the operating
system means you get the very best tips and
tricks for all versions of Windows.
Use our full software to try new things
Our exclusive industry access enables us
to pack your free disc with full commercial
software. From speed-up and security software
to superb photo apps, there’s always
something new to try on your PC.

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 25
 WorldMags.net
/HʋʢɚKʝɦWɛ
Back up files BACKUP TAB

more easily
The top tab gives you an
overview of your account,
as well as the ability to
choose a backup plan. The
Destinations area is a less
detailed version of the
<ʝʦɠʔʦLȫɏ&ʕʢLVʤLʋɚ+ɪɸɗVʋ\ɡ Destinations tab, and lets
“Backing up your PC can be a time-
you start or pause a backup.

consuming process. That’s why I let

CrashPlan do all the hard work for me”
At a glance…
C
rashPlan has quickly become
established as one the
SKILL LEVEL
world’s most popular online
Anyone can do it backup services, mainly because
Straightforward it’s easy to manage from a simple
Tricky in parts desktop interface. CrashPlan works in
the background, protecting all your
TIME TAKEN important files just in case your PC

30 minutes fails. Music, photos and documents

are all backed up automatically, so
you can rest easy and forget other CRASHPLAN OPTIONS
SUITABLE FOR more time-intensive methods. These sidepanel tabs are the
CrashPlan is primarily a cloud different areas of CrashPlan.
Windows 8 backup service, but you can use it to Each of them opens up its
Windows 7 back up your files to other volumes own area on the right with
Windows Vista or external devices, too. CrashPlan’s the options you need. Some
Windows XP cloud backups are a subscription of the options are available
service, with plans available for both from the Backup tab so
personal and business use. You can you’ll visit that area most.
restore backups from the web, and
access files from mobile devices.
The system can be set to back up
your files at specific times, or work
continually in the background – it’s
entirely up to you.

Step-by-step Back up everything safely with CrashPlan

1 Choose a plan
Navigate to www.crashplan.com and click the ‘Try/Buy’
link on the right. You’ll then see all the subscription packages,
but we’re going to start with the free version for now. This will
work well if you’re planning to store your backups at home, but if
you want cloud backups you’ll have to pay after the 30-day trial.
Click ‘Download’ and then follow the steps to install.
2 Create an account
Offline backup applications don’t usually require this, but
as CrashPlan is an online subscription service you’ll need to
register for an account. You’ll need this to back up to friends’
machines (more on that later) and to access your backups from
other devices. After this you’ll see the main CrashPlan interface
and file scanning of your local drives will have started.

WorldMags.net
26 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Explore
WorldMags.net
Back up files more easily
CHOOSE A DESTINATION
The four options here
show where you can store
your backups, including
the online backup facility
CrashPlan Central.
Ǩ+ƺǏ6ƼƮDŽ1›6%NJ67ƼǏ3
&UDʂɓ3Oʋɚ›ɡȿHWʤʖQJɡȵHɢ\ʝɤ
ȿHɢQRʤLʓLFDʤLʝQɡʃKDɢʨɵɸɗ
Zʋʢɚ\ʝɤLɑEDɭʘʦSɡʋȾɏ
IʋɵʙʖQɒIʝɠʑ[ʋʛɿȵɏ 

START BACKUP
Click here to begin,
or select on one of
the options to tweak
your preferences for
each backup method.

MONITOR PROGRESS
Keep an eye on your
backup from here as
CrashPlan analyses
your files and uploads
them online or to
another drive volume.

3 Start your backup

CrashPlan opens on the Backup tab by default. Under the
‘Destinations’ area you’ll see that you have four choices. As a
permanent part of the free CrashPlan service you can pick ‘Folder
(drive volume)’ or ‘Another computer’. Here we’ll back up to
another internal drive. Choose ‘Destinations > Folders’, then
choose a drive and click ‘Start backup’.
4 Explore CrashPlan Central
You control your online backups through CrashPlan Central.
Select ‘Destinations > Cloud’ and you can back up your entire PC
to CrashPlan’s servers. This is likely to take a very long time, even
with a reasonable broadband connection, because of the amount
of data involved. Future backups will be much faster, because only
files that have been changed recently will be uploaded.

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 27
 WorldMags.net
5 Define uploads
Select ‘Files’ to see the size of your backup. If this is many
gigabytes, it could take days to upload. To prioritise uploads, click
‘Change’ and toggle the checkboxes for folders/documents. You
can always add more files later, once your most important files
are safely in the cloud. This is a good way to start if your internet
connection is a little on the slow side.
7 See your logs
Under the History area you’ll see a log of your CrashPlan
activity. This isn’t something that you’ll usually give much
attention, but it can be a handy reminder if you want to check
when you paused a backup, perhaps due to bandwidth limits
imposed by your internet service provider, or to check the
amount of data uploaded on a particular date.
9 Get rapid access
Along with the standard CrashPlan desktop software, the
installer will also add a tray application to the taskbar on your
desktop. This gives you quick access to CrashPlan without you
having to launch the main app. It’s limited, but crucially you can
see how the backup is doing, and you can pause it if it’s taking
up too much of your bandwidth.
WorldMags.net
28 | Help & Advice | March 2014
6 Tweak your settings
Click the Backup tab. By default, CrashPlan runs all of the
time, but you can change this if you want. Under the Backup
tab you’ll see the heading ‘Backup will run’, followed by a list of
options. Select ‘Between specified times’ and then define times
the service can run and on what days, it’s best to pick times when
you’re more likely to get a fast web connection.
8 Manage friends’ backups
In the Friends area you can invite friends to back up to your
account. CrashPlan will generate a special code for this purpose,
which you can change by clicking it. Click the ‘Invite’ button to
open a web page where you can invite friends by entering their
email addresses. You can also add friends to CrashPlan if they give
you their backup codes.
10 Keep your files safe
The free subscription expires after 30 days, but if you sign
up for a year it works out at $5 per month, which I think is pretty
reasonable. If you ever need to restore files, go to ‘Restore’, select
the relevant computer and choose your files. When you’re happy
with your selection, click ‘Restore’. Remember that it can take a
long time if you’re restoring many gigabytes of data. Q
 WorldMags.net
Windows 7 Help & Advice is an internationally licensed title and is
exported to another 22 countries.
Future Publishing Ltd, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath BA1 2BW
Tel: 01225 442244 Fax: 01225 732275 ON SAL
Friday E
Email: windowsmagazine@futurenet.com
Web: www.facebook.com/windowsmag
14 Marc
EDITORIAL h
2014

THE
Deputy editor Nick Odantzis
New media editor Jeremy Ford

ART/PRODUCTION
Art editor Fraser McDermott

DEFINITIVE
Deputy art editor Mat Gartside
Managing editor Catherine Emma Ellis

CONTRIBUTORS
Editorial Ben Andrews, Dan Grabham, Christian Hall,

WINDOWS
Nick Peers, Mayank Sharma, Henry Winchester
Production Alan Stonebridge
Design Cormac Jordan
Photography Joseph Branston, Dave Caudrey, Philip Sowels,
Thinkstock.com, iStockphoto.com, Gettyimages.com

TIPS ISSUE
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Group art director Steve Gotobed
Group senior editor Paul Newman
Head of computing group Ian Robson
Group managing director Nial Ferguson
Creative director Bob Abbott

The ultimate guide

Editorial director Jim Douglas

to getting more
ADVERTISING
Advertising director james.ranson@futurenet.com
Advertising sales manager ashley.snell@futurenet.com

from your PC
Senior advertising manager charlie.said@futurenet.com
Senior sales executive michael.carrington@futurenet.com
Senior sales executive sally.mclachlan@futurenet.com
Account manager tamzyn.young@futurenet.com

CIRCULATION AND MARKETING

Group marketing manager philippa.newman@futurenet.com
Trade marketing manager colin.hornby@futurenet.com

PRINT PRODUCTION
Production controller ian.wardle@futurenet.com
Logistics manager mark.constance@futurenet.com

10 of the best
Ad production coordinator nola.cokely@futurenet.com

INTERNATIONAL LICENSING
International licensing manager regina.erak@futurenet.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS  DETAILS ON PAGE 32

Phone our UK hotline on 0844 848 2852
Subscribe online at www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk YouTube add-ons
Printed in the UK by William Gibbons and Sons Ltd on behalf

3ʙXɡɪɸɗʃʕLɡʋQɍʛXɭɓPʝȾɏ
of Future.
Distributed in the UK by Seymour Distribution Ltd, 2 East Poultry
Avenue, London EC1A 9PT. Tel: 0207 429 4000

Recover data from a

Next issue on sale 14 March 2014

PC that won’t boot

Watermark batches
of photos at once
Use Autocorrect in
any program
Read Kindle books
on your PC

A member of the Audit

Bureau of Circulations
Catch up with us on…
© Future Publishing Limited 2014. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may
be used or reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Future
Publishing Limited (company number 2008885) is registered in England and Wales.
The registered office of Future Publishing Limited is at Beauford Court, 30
Monmouth Street, Bath BA1 2BW. All information contained in this magazine is for

www.facebook.com/windowsmag
information only and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press.
Future cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such
information. You are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with
regard to the price of products/services referred to in this magazine. If you submit
unsolicited material to us, you automatically grant Future a licence to publish your
submission in whole or in part in all editions of the magazine, including licensed
editions worldwide and in any physical or digital format worldwide. Any material
you submit is sent at your risk and, although every care is taken, neither Future nor

www.twitter.com/windowsmag
its employees, agents or subcontractors shall be liable for loss or damage.
We are committed to only using magazine

www.facebook.com/windowsmag
paper which is derived from well managed,
certified forestry and chlorine-free
manufacture. Future Publishing and its
paper suppliers have been independently
certified in accordance with the rules of the
FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 29
 WorldMags.net
/HʋʢɚKʝɦWɛ
Search with voice
commands <ʝʦɠʔʦLȫɏ&Dʃȱʑʢʖȸɏ(ʛPɈ(ɸʙLɡVʋ\ɡ
“Google Voice Search makes it faster
DQGHDVLHUWRÀQGGLUHFWLRQVIDFWV
images and more. Just say the word!”
At a glance…
W
ith Google, the entire
internet is at your fingertips,
SKILL LEVEL
but sometimes your hands
Anyone can do it or your keyboard are otherwise
Straightforward occupied. For example, what if you’re
Tricky in parts using your laptop in the kitchen and
need to look up a recipe, but you’re
TIME TAKEN up to your elbows in flour? What if

20 minutes you’ve spilled lemonade on your

keyboard, rendering it a useless,
sticky mess, and need to know the
SUITABLE FOR best way to clean it? What if you’ve
already cleaned it, but have put the
Windows 8 keys back in the wrong order?
Windows 7 That’s where Google Voice Search
Windows Vista comes in. It’s a great tool that lets you
Windows XP make hands-free searches by simply
speaking into your PC’s microphone.
Just say what you’re looking for, or
ask a question, and the answer will
appear in a matter of seconds. ȉ$7+(ƺǏ1(›6%NJ67ƼǏ3
It’s worth noting that there’s also a ,ɑ*ȹRɳȵɏKDɡʤUʝʅɬȵɏ
service called Google Voice, but this is ʖQɀʑʢʠȾHʤʖQɒ\ʝʦɠʣȼȭHɭɓ ʤʢɨ
a service for making phone calls from
WɛȾHʏXȪɏEDɭNʔUʝʦQɍQʝLȿɏ
your PC, not for searching via speech.
ʋQɍʣȼHɪɖOʝXȫʑɠ
Step-by-step Use Google Voice Search

1 Get Google Chrome

Google Voice Search doesn’t work in Internet Explorer or
Firefox, so before you can begin you’ll need to download Google’s
own browser, Chrome. You’ll find it at www.google.com/chrome.
Chrome has lots of handy features, such as extensions and apps,
and if you log in with your Google username, you can access your
bookmarks and settings on any PC with it installed.
2 Install the browser
Click the blue button marked ‘Download Chrome’. When
prompted, click ‘Run’ to start the installer. Your browser settings
will be imported, including your home page and history. You’ll
be asked whether you want to make Chrome your new default
browser as well, but I recommend using it for a while first – you
can always make it your default later if you like it.

WorldMags.net
30 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Explore
WorldMags.net
Search with voice commands
3 Search with speech
In Chrome, go to www.google.com and click the
microphone icon on the right-hand side of the search box. Google
will use your PC’s microphone (whether it’s built-in or attached via
USB) to pick up your voice. Click ‘Allow’ to give it permission, then
say what you’re looking for. Google will interpret each word as
you say it, then display its results when you’ve finished speaking.
5 Detailed queries
You can also use Voice Search to find images, look up
profiles of people or businesses, and show locations on Google
Maps. For example, say “Future Publishing” to see the company’s
Wikipedia page and stock price, try “Show me pictures of funny
cats” for some lunchtime entertainment, or ask “Where is the
nearest cinema?” if you’re in the mood for a film tonight.
7 Troubleshooting
If nothing happens when you speak, there’s probably a
problem with your microphone. If you’re using an external one,
start by making sure it’s plugged in firmly. If you’re still having
trouble click ‘Start’ and enter the word microphone in the search
box and select the Recording Audio Troubleshooter. This will scan
your PC for recording devices and try to correct any problems.
WorldMags.net
4 Questions and answers
You can ask Google questions the same way you’d talk
to a person. For example, you could ask “What is the time in
London?” “Directions to Amarillo” or “What is five hundred divided
by seven?” This is much faster and more convenient than typing,
and it’s a great way to find solutions to those nagging trivia
questions that pop into your head from time to time.
6 Find your way
You can also use Voice Search to find directions, too. Saying
“Distance from Swindon to Aberystwyth”, for example, will tell you
how far apart the two towns are, provide you with a route, and tell
you how long the drive will take. You can plan epic road trips this
way (it would take four days and seven hours to drive from Paris
to Ulaanbaatar, for example), or just a visit to the supermarket.
8 Have fun!
There are some hidden tricks in Google Voice Search that
are fun to play with. For example, if you say “Do a barrel roll”, the
browser window will rotate obligingly as it loads the results. Also
try saying “Beam me up Scotty!” or asking the eternal question
“How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck
could chuck wood?” Make sure you have your speakers on! Q
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 31
 WorldMags.net

SUBSCRIBE WANT

AND START
THE DIGITAL
EDITION?
Turn to p53

SAVING TODAY!
Save a fantastic 35%
when you subscribe to
Windows 7: Help & Advice
S
ubscribe to Windows 7 Help & Advice A Windows 7 Help & Advice subscription
and get the only guide you’ll ever also makes an ideal gift for a friend or a loved
need for getting more from your one. Imagine the look of glee on their face, not
Windows computer, whether you only when they open your present but every
own a desktop, laptop or tablet. month for a whole year!
If this world of computers is new to you, we’ll Windows 7 Help & Advice is the essential guide
show you how to get to grips with the different to getting the most out of your PC. It’s 100 per
operating systems, whether that’s Windows XP, cent jargon free and you can get 13 issues of the
Vista, 7 or Windows 8. We also go in-depth with magazine direct to your door for just £23.49 by
a wealth of features and tutorials which, for six monthly Direct Debit.
example, will show you how to speed up your
PC, reinstall your operating system should you
experience problems, and make your computer
secure against internet viruses and scams. You’ll
even save money as we go to lengths to find the Nicholas Odantzis, Deputy Editor
best hardware for you. nick.odantzis@futurenet.com

START SUBSCRIBING FROM AS

TERMS AND CONDITIONS This offer is
for new UK print subscribers only. You will
receive 13 issues in a year. Full details of
the direct debit guarantee are available on
request. If you are dissatisfied in any way

LITTLE AS £23.49 EVERY 6 MONTHS

you can write to us or call us to cancel your
subscription at any time and we will refund
you for all unmailed issues. Prices correct
at point of print and subject to change.
For full terms and conditions please visit
www.myfavm.ag/magterms. Offer ends:
18th March 2014.

WorldMags.net
32 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Subscribe and receive
WorldMags.net
UK subscription offer

DON’T MISS
OUT!
Q Get the boss to pay
with our corporate subs
scheme. For more details
visit www.myfavourite
magazines.co.uk/
corporate-subscriptions
Q See pages 37 and
53 for great digital
subscription offers
Q Live overseas? Turn to
page 73 for a special
money-saving offer!

WHY
SUBSCRIBE?
Q Save up to 35% on the
shop price
Q Pay as little as £3.61
per issue
Q Get clear, informative
articles and advice
delivered to your door
Q Get your copy up to a
week before it hits the
shops!

HOW MUCH?
Q £49.99 – one year
subscription – Save 30%
Q £23.49 – six month
subscription – Save 35%

TWO EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE

Click: www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/WOMP2S
Call: 0844 848 2852 quoting code WOMP2S
Lines are open 8am to 9.30pm weekdays, and 8am to 4pm Saturdays

Hurry! Offer ends: 18th March 2014

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 33
 WorldMags.net
/HʋʢɚKʝɦWɛ
Benchmark
your computer <ʝʦɠʔʦLȫɏ0ʋ\ʋɻɖ6KʋʢPɈVʋ\ɡ
“Get an overview of your PC’s
health with the freely available
and feature-rich PC Wizard tool.”
TOOLBAR
At a glance…
T
he System Information utility This is divided into
built into Windows is great five categories, each
SKILL LEVEL
when you need information of which houses
Anyone can do it about your PC’s hardware, but the several components.
Straightforward free PC Wizard tool goes into much
Tricky in parts more detail, and can also be used to
benchmark your computer.
TIME TAKEN PC Wizard is full of features to

30 minutes help you keep tabs on every aspect

of your PC’s configuration. It can
identify a large number of system
SUITABLE FOR components, including those that
have only just been released.
Windows 8 Furthermore, the tool can
Windows 7 benchmark the performance of
Windows Vista various hardware. You can use it
to gauge the performance of your
Windows XP
computer’s CPU, cache, memory, ƳDŽǂDŽǕ.›6%NJ67ƼǏ3
hard disk, flash drives, optical drives 7ȱɏWRɼɗLɡʦSGDɀHɍȾHʔʅOʋʁʙɨ
and more. It presents the results WɛȴȭʑɞSDȪɏʨLʃɓȸʑɦ
graphically for easier consumption. ɀHɭʕQɼORʔɨVɛPɪȴɏʣʦȾɏ\ʝɤ
So whether you want to overclock KʋɃɏʃȱɏODɀHVɢɃʑUʣLʝɚ 
your PC or are just curious about its
performance, PC Wizard is a versatile
utility that fits the bill nicely.

Step-by-step Take stock of your PC

1 Download and Install

Get PC Wizard from your free disc, or go to http://bit.
ly/1d0L6OA and download the setup file. Double-click the
executable file to install the application. During setup, select
the ‘Full installation’ option when asked to select the installation
components. You’ll also be prompted to install various other
third-party applications, which you can safely ignore.
2 First run
After completing the installation, the app will launch
automatically. It takes some time to start, because it analyses
the hardware components available in your system as it opens.
The default screen shows you information about the hardware
it has just scanned including the processor, motherboard, RAM,
hard disk, network cards and so on.

WorldMags.net
34 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Explore
WorldMags.net
Benchmark your computer

OVERVIEW
This section lists the
broad components
of the item you’ve
selected in the
toolbar on the left.
Jargon buster!
Benchmark
The act of running a
series of programs
and tests to assess
the performance of a
PC component.
Cache
A place that stores
frequently used data
for faster access.
Overclock
The process of
modifying the
default system
parameters to make
a computer operate
faster than specified
by the manufacturer.

INFORMATION
Here you’ll find details
about the component
selected in the
Overview above.

3 Sensor settings
On subsequent launches, the PC Wizard app will begin
by showing you a window containing a list of components and
sensors that it can detect, monitor and track on your PC. By
default, all of these components are selected, but if you are only
interested in certain ones, you can uncheck the rest to speed
things up and ensure you only get relevant results.
4 Dig deeper
The main screen gives you a summary of all the
components in your PC. If one of these piques your interest
and you want to see more information, you'll need to click its
individual icon in the toolbar on the left. Each component you
click will present you with a list containing several parameters,
which you can click to get additional details.

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 35
 WorldMags.net
5 Analyse Windows
Next, you should check up on the configuration of your
Windows operating system. Click the ‘Configuration’ link in the
toolbar on the left to display several icons. Each one brings up
information about a particular Windows component, such as
DirectX or Microsoft Applications, and you can see a list of
updates and patches too.
7 Benchmark hardware
To check the performance of your hardware, click
‘Benchmark’ in the toolbox. You’ll see the various types of tests
that you can run. Remember that benchmark tests inevitably
take some time to complete and your computer might become
unresponsive during that period. For the best results, try to run
benchmarks when your computer is idle.
9 On-screen monitoring
It’s useful to keep the PC Wizard tool running in the
background even if you are not using it. When it’s minimised to
the taskbar, PC Wizard adds a small display on the desktop that
shows data about your PC’s processor. You can move it around
the desktop like any other Windows gadget. To customise it, head
to ‘Tools > Options > Monitoring’.
WorldMags.net
36 | Help & Advice | March 2014
6 Advanced analysis
As before, you can choose to probe deeper into the
operating system by selecting ‘System files’ from the toolbar.
This section lets you see the contents of important system files,
including information like the CMOS values, boot configuration
data, environment variables and more. Again, you can click on
each item for even more detail.
8 Generate reports
Raw benchmark results are nothing but a series of numbers,
but PC Wizard helps you make sense of that mass of raw data
by drawing up reports and laying the information out in handy
charts. You can save the reports in a variety of formats including
plain text, RTF, HTML, PDF and CSV. You can also generate a
comprehensive report for printing.
10 Test stability
PC Wizard is an invaluable tool for anyone who uses
Windows. There’s no learning curve involved in using the tool,
but you’ll have to refer to other resources such as online manuals
to interpret some of its results. You can also compare benchmarks
with other configurations from within the tool and even run some
simple tests to check the computer’s stability. Q
 WorldMags.net

Plus essential tips for

Windows 8, Vista & XP

AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUR iPAD AND iPHONE

TWO
FREE
ISSUES
WHEN YOUE
SUBSCRIB
TODAY

SEARCH FOR
“WINDOWS 7 HELP & ADVICE”
IN THE APP STORE

WorldMags.net
 WorldMags.net
/HʋʢɚKʝɦWɛ
Manage your desktop
more efficiently
<ʝʦɠʔʦLȫɏ0ʋ\ʋɻɖ6KʋʢPɈVʋ\ɡ
“Take control of all your favourite
applications and windows by organising
them with RocketDock.”
At a glance…
R
ocketDock is a feature-
packed application launcher.
SKILL LEVEL
If you’re looking for an
Anyone can do it attractive alternative to the quick
Straightforward launch bar to house your favourite
Tricky in parts apps, this will fit the bill nicely.
RocketDock is a slick and
TIME TAKEN lightweight tool that provides

15 minutes smooth icon transitions without

taxing your PC’s resources. The dock
can live on any of the four edges of
SUITABLE FOR your monitor and you can customise
its behaviour so that it always stays
Windows 8 on top of open windows, or hides
Windows 7 itself automatically to give more
Windows Vista space to open windows.
Windows XP The app can be heavily
personalised and you can pick
custom icons – even for apps that
already have an icon of their own.
The result is an attractive and highly
customisable dock that will make
using your Windows desktop a more
pleasant experience, and save you
valuable time. Let’s get started!

Step-by-step Organise your desktop

1 Install RocketDock
Unlike some similar apps, RocketDock has modest system
requirements. All it needs is 10MB of RAM and a CPU faster than
500MHz, which means it should run on any PC that is capable
of running Windows. Grab RocketDock from your free disc and
double-click the file to launch the setup wizard. Run through the
straightforward installation process by pressing the ‘Next’ button.
2 Launch the app
Once the application is installed, type RocketDock into
the Start Menu search bar to launch the app. By default, your
dock will appear on the top of the screen and will hold 10 icons,
including places like My Computer, along with libraries such as
My Documents, My Pictures and My Music. There’s also an icon
that will display all items from the Control Panel.

WorldMags.net
38 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Explore
WorldMags.net
Manage your desktop
3 Add an app
To add your commonly used apps to the dock, right-click
it and select ‘Add item > File’. Now navigate to the application’s
executable file (ending in EXE), which is usually under the
Program Files folder. Select it and the app will be added to the
dock. If you point to a file that isn’t an executable, the dock will
open it using the default app (Word for DOC files, for example).
5 Customise the dock
The default dock contains the Dock Settings icon, which
gives you access to all of RocketDock’s configuration options.
The settings are divided into five broad categories. From the
‘General’ tab you can enable app indicators, which display a
small marker next to icons of a running app and allow minimised
windows to appear as icons on the dock.
7 Tweak the look and feel
Head to the ‘Style’ tab to change the dock’s appearance.
RocketDock comes with over two dozen themes, which you
can find under the ‘Theme’ drop-down list. You can also change
the transparency of the background which is fully transparent
by default. The other controls on the page let you tweak the
appearance of the text that is displayed under the icons.
WorldMags.net
4 Customise your icons
You can rearrange the icons in your dock by simply
dragging them around until you’re satisfied. To change the
appearance of any icon, right-click it and select the ‘Icon settings’
option. This opens up a window that you can use to change
the default icon for an item, and even specify some advanced
parameters for launching specific programs.
6 Change position and behaviour
To move the dock around the desktop, head over to
the ‘Position’ tab. From here you can move the dock to another
side of your screen. By default the dock will stick to the edge of
the screen and be positioned at the centre, but you can move it
around using the ‘Centering’ and ‘Edge offset’ sliders. You can also
prevent open windows from covering it.
8 Lock and load
Take time to explore the array of customisation options
available in RocketDock and tweak it to your heart’s content. Flesh
out the dock by adding shortcuts to applications, and links to
commonly used files and folders. When you are satisfied with the
position of the items you can lock them in place by right-clicking
on the dock and selecting the ‘Lock items’ option. Q
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 39
 WorldMags.net
/HʋʢɚKʝɦWɛ
Give your hard drive
a speed boost <ʝʦɠʔʦLȫɏ&ʕʢLVʤLʋɚ+ɪɸɗVʋ\ɡ
“If you’re using Windows 7 on a traditional hard drive you’ll
EHQRVWUDQJHUWRÀOHIUDJPHQWDWLRQZKLFKVORZV\RXU3&
GRZQ6PDUW'HIUDJZLOOJHWLWEDFNXSWRVSHHGµ
At a glance…
O
ver time, you might notice
that your PC is slower than
SKILL LEVEL
it used to be. This is caused
Anyone can do it by something called fragmentation.
Straightforward When you edit a file, the edited
Tricky in parts version is often stored in a different
physical place on your hard disk to
TIME TAKEN the original file. Additional changes

30 minutes are saved to even more locations.

Over time, both the file and the hard
disk become fragmented, with bits
SUITABLE FOR of files all over the place, and your PC
slows down as it has to look in many
Windows 8 different places to find them all.
Windows 7 Smart Defrag 2 provides efficient
Windows Vista defragmentation to streamline your
Windows XP file system. Unlike Windows’ own
Disk Defragmenter, which relies on
scheduled defragmentation, Smart
Defrag 2 can work automatically and
discreetly in the background. Ǩ+ƺǏ6ƼƮDŽ1›6%NJ67ƼǏ3
Don’t use this tutorial if you have )ʝɠIDVɀʑɠȫHʓUDJʔʖQɒLʔQʝȾɏ
an SSD (solid-state drive). These don’t OʋUȰɏʓɵȵHɡʝɃʑɠƬ%7ʦʢɚ
need defragmenting, and trying to
ʃȱɏʝSʤLʝɚʝɚʖɚš*ʑȸʑUɪɗ
do so can shorten their lifespan.
6HWʤʖQJɡ!'HʓUDʔȷʑQWDʤLʝɚ›
Step-by-step 'HIUDJWKHLQWHOOLJHQWZD\ZLWK6PDUW'HIUDJ

1 Choose your look

Install Smart Defrag 2 from your free disc, or get it from
www.iobit.com/Iobitsmartdefrag.html. At the end of the process
you’ll see this screen, which lets you pick a ‘skin’ for the Smart
Defrag interface from the drop-down list. You can select a
different one later if you change your mind. Choose one, select
your language and click ‘Start now’.
2 The main interface
At the top of the main interface you’ll the volumes listed on
your hard disk. Pick one that you want to analyse and defragment.
You’ll see your drive map in the middle with a corresponding key
below it showing you what the colours mean: green is frequently
used and red is fragmented. Above the map are five tabs for
different defrag settings and the defrag report.

WorldMags.net
40 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Explore
WorldMags.net
Speed up your hard drive
3 Choose a defrag method
Below the drive map is the ‘Defrag’ button. Click the down
arrow to choose a method. ‘Defrag only’ helps you defragment
without file placement optimisation. ‘Defrag and fast optimize’
helps to eliminate blank space for optimal performance, while
‘Defrag and fully optimize’ organises drive data for maximum
program performance and your drive’s long term health.
5 Automatic defrag
On the Automatic Defrag tab you can choose to let Smart
Defrag 2 take control of continual defragmentation to keep your
drive in top condition. Click the ‘Configure’ button to choose more
optional settings for Automatic Defrag to suit your preference or
simply click ‘Yes’ to activate Automatic Defrag. The graph shows
your current processes at the top and fragmentation below.
7 Exclude list
If there are certain files and folders that you don’t want
to be analysed or defragmented, that’s not a problem – you can
simply tell Smart Defrag 2 to leave them alone. Just click ‘Add
file’ or ‘Add folder’ to add those files and folders (including their
sub-folders) to the Exclude list. None of the items in this list will
be analysed, defragmented or moved.
WorldMags.net
4 Run defrag
When you’re ready, hit the blue ‘Defrag’ button. You’ll see
the squares on the drive map change as defragmentation takes
place. When the process has finished you’ll be shown a report.
You can also instruct your computer to shut down, hibernate or
sleep after defragmentation. I recommend choosing ‘Shut down
PC after defragmentation’ to save power.
6 Boot Time Defrag
You can start to defragment your files as soon as you
turn on your PC thanks to the Smart Defrag 2’s handy Boot Time
Defrag option. Turn on Boot Time Defrag (you’ll find it on the
third tab along) and choose the files you want to defragment
the next time your PC starts up. Click ‘Configure’ to choose from
four possible timing options.
8 Stay tidy
You’re now equipped with everything you need to know
to keep your PC’s hard drive in peak condition. If you click the
‘Report’ tab, you can check the details of all the fragmented files
and directories. You can also click ‘Save report’ to create a text file
for future reference, and you can select the ‘Action Center’ tab to
install other tools from publisher IObit. Q
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 41
 WorldMags.net

Discover practical and creative ways

Keep your magazines Kindle: Unlock the
looking neat and tidy! full potential
Organise a year’s Welcome to the
worth of Windows 7: complete manual for
Help & Advice with owners of every
this stylish binder. No Kindle out there.
more torn corners or Customise it to your
folded pages – store liking and get free
all your issues neatly books to keep you
on a bookcase. reading into the late
hours.

Only Only
£9.99! £9.99!

http://bit.ly/17GayFS www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk

Windows Online Security Get the Windows 7 Help &

Handbook Advice digital edition today!
Do you own an Interact with the high-resolution magazine on your
e-reader? If you do, computer, laptop, tablet PC or smartphone
then read this: the ‡'RZQORDGWKHGD\LWJRHVRQVDOH
Windows Online ‡5HDGLWLQSDJHVZLSLQJJORU\
Security Handbook is ‡3D\MXVW…IRULVVXHV SAVE!
s just
13 issue 9!
the guide to staying
safe online, whether
you’re shopping,
£19.9
banking or catching
up with friends.

Only
£1.79!
Get your ebook at amzn.to/sec-owm http://gb.zinio.com & http://itunes.apple.com

WorldMags.net
42 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 WorldMags.net

to use your PC
Windows 8.1: Secrets
and Hacks
Go beyond the basics
of Windows 8.1!
Discover how to fix
annoyances, make
Windows fast, stay
secure and even
more. It’s the perfect
manual whether you
have Windows 8 or
8.1.

Only
£12.99!
www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk

Subscribe to Windows 7 Start up your

Help & Advice own business
Make sure you don’t The essential guide
miss any issues of to starting from
the only Windows mag scratch and being
to help you get the your own boss. We’ll
most from your PC. show you how to
‡Every issue delivered launch your business,
straight to your door use crowdfunding to
‡-XVW…HYHU\ find investors and
six months how to make it all a
roaring success.

35% off!
Subscribe
today
Only
£9.99!
www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/WOMP2S www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 43
 WorldMags.net
/HʋʢɚKʝɦWɛ
Restore
deleted files <ʝʦɠʔʦLȫɏ0ʋʁɖ:ɵOVʝɚVʋ\ɡ
´$FFLGHQWDOO\GHOHWLQJDÀOHRU PREVIOUS VERSIONS TAB
saving an unwanted change isn’t You can access the Previous
DSUREOHPZLWK3UHYLRXV9HUVLRQVµ
Versions tab by right-clicking
a folder or file and selecting
it from the context menu, or
At a glance…
A
ccidentally deleting a by moving to this tab after
particularly important file – selecting ‘Properties’.
SKILL LEVEL
it’s something we’ve all
Anyone can do it done. I’ve certainly done it enough
Straightforward times in the past to recognise that
Tricky in parts feeling of instant regret. But erasing
a file isn’t the only thing that can go
TIME TAKEN wrong with documents; it’s also very

1 hour easy to edit a document, save it and

then later change your mind about
the editing you’ve done.
SUITABLE FOR The good news is that the Previous
Versions feature of Windows 7 can
Windows 8 help to eliminate these problems by
Windows 7 making it possible to automatically FILES AND FOLDERS
Windows Vista save snapshots of your hard drive, Windows maintains a history
Windows XP so you have the option of reverting of file and folder versions so
individual files to an earlier version you can choose which one
if necessary – or even restoring files you would like to restore.
that have been accidentally deleted. You can browse through the
Previous Versions is surprisingly easy selection listed here to find
to get up and running, and you never the one you need.
know when it might come in useful in
the future so it’s best to activate it as
soon as possible!.

Step-by-step 3URWHFW\RXUILOHVZLWK3UHYLRXV9HUVLRQV

1 Enable System Protection

To set up Previous Versions, begin by clicking ‘Start’ and
then selecting the ‘Control Panel’ shortcut to the right. Now click
the ‘System’ icon, followed by the ‘System Protection’ link to the
left of the window. In the Protection Settings section towards the
centre of the dialog that appears, click the entry for your C drive
and then the ‘Configure’ button.
2 Configure restoration options
Select the option labelled ‘Restore system settings and
previous versions of files’. Use the slider that appears in the
bottom portion of the dialog box to choose how much of your
disk space should be set aside for previous versions of files and
System Restore Points. This will depend on the size of your hard
drive. Once you’ve finished, click the ‘OK’ button.

WorldMags.net
44 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Explore
WorldMags.net
Restore deleted files

Ƴ$Ǜ.›6%NJ67ƼǏ3 -DUJRQEXVWHU
(Qɪɬȵɏ6\Vɀʑə3URɀHFʤLʝɚ
ʓUʝəʃȱɏ&ʝQʤUɼɗ3ʋȸɰɗWɛ C drive
ʠURɀHFɢ\ʝʦɠʓɵȵHɡʋQɍPɪȴɏ The primary hard
LɢSRVʣɵɬȵɏWɛȾHVWʝȾɏʃȱʑə drive. Early PCs had
floppy drives A and
B, so when the hard
drive came along, it
became the C drive.

Control Panel
This enables you to
configure Windows
RESTORE YOUR DATA and your hardware.
Once you’ve identified a
previous version you would Hard drive
like to restore, you can use The physical
this button to put it back in its component of your
PC that stores data.
original location, replacing
any file version that’s Previous Versions
currently in place. A Windows 7 feature
that makes it
possible to revert to
earlier versions of a
document, or even
restore files that
you’ve deleted by
accident. System
CREATE A COPY Protection needs to
For the purposes of safety be turned on.
you may decide to create
a copy of the file or folder
you’re restoring in a new
location – this avoids the risk
of overwriting files you later
decide you need.

3 Create a Restore Point

Windows automatically starts to create System Restore
Points so you can return your PC to the way it was at an earlier
date, and begin saving multiple versions of files for you. Get
started by clicking the ‘Create’ button on the System Properties
tab. Enter a name for your first Restore Point before clicking
‘Create’. The date and time are automatically added for you.
4 Complete System Restore
You may have to wait for a little while as the System Restore
Point is created – it’s quite a complex process that uses a lot of
your PC’s resources. Once it’s complete, click the ‘Close’ button
that appears. You can then close the System Properties window
by clicking the ‘OK’ button, and the System Control Panel by
clicking the cross in the upper right-hand corner of the window.

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 45
 WorldMags.net
-DUJRQEXVWHU
Restore Points
Snapshots of the
state of your PC
taken by Windows.
These can be used to
reverse unwanted
changes and
overcome a variety
of problems.

System Protection
An automated
back-up feature in
Windows that can
protect important
5 Accessing previous versions
If you discover that you’ve made and saved
6 Check file contents
A list of previous versions of the selected
system files and
provide you with the
unwanted changes to a document, right-click it file is displayed and you can then choose which opportunity to roll
and select the ‘Restore previous versions’ option. one you would like to work with – click the ‘Open’ back your PC to an
earlier time.
Alternatively, you can right-click a file and select button to check the contents of a particular
the ‘Properties’ option from the menu that appears document. Work through the list until you identify
before moving to the Previous Versions tab. the file version that you would like to restore.

8 Create a copy
To avoid overwriting
an existing file with one
you’re restoring – which
could cause a problem
if you still need some
data in the file or if you
accidentally restore the
wrong file – it’s a good idea
to use the option to create
a copy of the older version
of the file. To do this, on the
Previous Versions click the
‘Copy’ button, navigate to
the folder you would like
to use and then click the
7 Restore previous version
Once you’ve decided which file you’re
‘Copy’ button again.

interested in, click the ‘Restore’ button. Take note of

the warning message that appears explaining that
continuing will overwrite any existing file and then
click the ‘Restore’ button if you’re happy to continue.
Once the process is complete, click ‘OK’.

9 Restore deleted files

If you realise you’ve deleted a file by accident, it’s no longer
a problem – thanks to Previous Versions, you can get it back
quickly and easily. Right-click the folder it was stored in and select
the ‘Restore previous version’ option from the menu that appears.
You can then double-click one of the previous versions of the
folder and create a copy of the file you’re trying to retrieve.
10 Work with your documents
Having breathed a sigh of relief, you can now continue
to work with your files as though nothing untoward ever
happened. Whether you made an unwanted change to your CV
or accidentally deleted some of your favourite holiday photos,
Windows Previous Versions can help to save you a great deal of
stress, work and heartache. Q

WorldMags.net
46 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 GO BEYOND THE
WorldMags.net

MICROSOFT MANUAL

OUT
NOW!

DELIVERED DIRECT TO YOUR DOOR

2UGHURQOLQHDWwww.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk
RU¾QGXVLQ\RXUQHDUHVWVXSHUPDUNHWQHZVDJHQWRUERRNVWRUH
WorldMags.net
 WorldMags.net
/HʋʢɚKʝɦWɛ
Mask your online
digital footprint
<ʝʦɠʔʦLȫɏ0ʋ\ʋɻɖ6KʋʢPɈVʋ\ɡ
“Use the free Tor Browser Bundle to stay anonymous
and browse the internet without the shadow of
Big Brother looking over your shoulder.”
At a glance…
T
or, or The Onion Router
as it’s also known, is a tool
SKILL LEVEL
that creates a network
Anyone can do it to allow people to browse the
Straightforward web anonymously. Under normal
Tricky in parts circumstances, when you visit a
website, your computer establishes
TIME TAKEN a direct connection between your

20 minutes computer and the website. The

website knows your IP address and
where it’s coming from, and your
SUITABLE FOR internet service provider (ISP) knows
which websites you are visiting.
Windows 8 It works by creating a network of
Windows 7 Tor relay nodes across the internet.
Windows Vista When you visit a website using Tor,
Windows XP the data to and from your computer
is bounced around these nodes
before ending up at the website. This
masks your origins from the website. ƳDŽǂDŽǕ.›6%NJ67ƼǏ3
The only downside to this is that <ʝɤFʋɚɪOVɛXȿɏ7ʝɠWɛʧLʣLɢ
the website loads slower as the ɄɰEʣLɀHɡʃKDɢɬORɭɖVʝȷɏ
network data goes through so many
ʧLʣLWʝUɡEDȿHɍʝɚʃȱʑʖɠ
relay nodes in the middle, so bear
that in mind when you’re using it. ȰHRʔUʋɿʕLɋORFDʤLʝɚ 

Step-by-step Set up the Tor Browser Bundle

1 Download Tor
The easiest way to use Tor is to download the Tor Browser
Bundle from www.torproject.org. The bundle includes everything
you need to connect to the Tor network of relays, including a
customised version of the Firefox browser known as the Tor
Browser. You can install the bundle on your hard drive or on a
portable USB flash drive.
2 Extract the bundle
Once you’ve downloaded the Tor browser bundle,
double-click on the executable file, which is a self-extracting
archive. There’s no installation involved – all you need to do is
select a location for the bundle to be extracted to. This could
be somewhere on your hard drive, or on an attached USB drive.
Make sure you have about 90MB of available disk space.

WorldMags.net
48 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Explore
WorldMags.net
Mask your digital footprint

Jargon buster!
Tor relays
Also referred to as
nodes, these are PCs
that receive traffic on
the Tor network and
pass it along. For
maximum security,
all Tor traffic passes
through at least
three relays.

IP address
A unique label
assigned to every
computer in a
3 Launch Tor
Now navigate to the folder to which you
4 Browse anonymously
When you are connected to the Tor network,
network. Just like a
geographic address,
extracted the bundle and double-click on the file Vidalia will launch the Tor Browser. The browser, an IP address helps
named Start Tor Browser. This will launch the Vidalia by default, points to http://check.torproject.org, identify its location.
Control Panel, which will automatically connect you which will confirm that you can now browse
to the Tor network. The entire process of mapping anonymously and display your masked IP address
the Tor relays might take up to 10 seconds. as it will be visible to websites you visit.

6 View the
network
You can actually see the
Tor network by selecting
‘View the network’ from the
Vidalia Control Panel. This
brings up a world map that
shows the locations of the
active relays and how your
web traffic is being routed.
The panel on the left lists
the currently active relays.
The middle box shows the
nodes that are routing your
traffic. Information about
these nodes such as their
5 Configure security add-ons
The Tor Browser includes various components
location, bandwidth and
uptime are listed in the
that make it unique, including add-ons to help you bottom right corner.
stay anonymous and protect your privacy. Some
of the most useful are TorButton for configuring
Tor, and HTTPS Everywhere to force the use of the
secure HTTPS protocol for popular websites.

7 Get a new identity

Some websites block access based on the geographical
location of the visitor. Tor circumvents such checks by routing
your traffic through its relays. If you need to generate a new IP
address manually, click the ‘Use a new identity’ button in Vidalia.
You could do this when a website is blocking your existing Tor IP
address, or when you need to visit the website as a different user.
8 End your session
You’re now all set to browse the web without compromising
your privacy. Besides the slight hit to your browsing speed, and
the inability to play Flash content, the Tor Browser will behave
like any other browser. When you’ve finished, close any open Tor
Browser windows. This will automatically delete the list of web
pages you’ve visited and disconnect you from the Tor network. Q

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 49
 WorldMags.net
/HʋʢɚKʝɦWɛ
Use iCloud
MAIL, CONTACT, CALENDARS AND TASKS
Your iCloud data is divided into these three
categories – just tick the items to sync with
iCloud and you’ll have the same data on all

to sync files
your iOS devices. Your mail will sync with
Outlook, but if you don’t have it installed
you’ll get a link to www.icloud.com instead.

<ʝʦɠʔʦLȫɏ&ʕʢLVʤLʋɚ+ɪɸɗVʋ\ɡ
“Thanks to Apple’s iCloud service
\RXFDQEDFNXSDQGV\QFÀOHV
then access them using Windows.”
At a glance…
A
pple’s iCloud is pretty much
essential if you own an iOS
SKILL LEVEL
device such as an iPad or
Anyone can do it iPhone, and many people use it every
Straightforward day as a straightforward way to back
Tricky in parts up photos and documents without
having to do much themselves. It
TIME TAKEN works mainly on the Apple devices

15 Minutes themselves and via a web-based

interface, but there’s also a handy
Windows desktop tool to make
SUITABLE FOR managing it from your PC easier.
iCloud is more than just a backup
Windows 8 tool, though. It also lets you access
Windows 7 your music, apps, photos and more
Windows Vista from whichever device you’re using,
Windows XP and it keeps your email, contacts, and
calendars up to date too. iCloud’s
web interface now includes iWork for
iCloud too, which is the complete
iWork set of apps in a web interface, ICLOUD ACCOUNT You can use the
allowing you to make documents, iCloud Control Panel for multiple
spreadsheets and presentations. It’s a accounts, but only one at a time. This
brilliant tool, and I’ll show you how to area shows which account is being
get the most out of it. used at the moment.

Step-by-step Master iCloud on the desktop

1 Log in to iCloud.com
You need to have iCloud activated on your iPad or iPhone
before you can use it. You can do this at any time by going to
‘Settings > iCloud’ and entering your Apple ID. Once that’s done,
go to www.icloud.com and log in with your Apple ID again. The
main interface is laid out a little like an iOS device’s screen with
icons for each app and service.
2 Mail, Contacts, Calendar
The first three icons you’ll see are for the core iPad and
iPhone communication apps. They are all synced in the cloud
with your iPad or iPhone so you can access your messages and
appointments easily wherever you happen to be. There’s a
Settings icon (shaped like a cog) in the bottom left of each app,
which you can select to set your preferences.

WorldMags.net
50 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Explore
WorldMags.net
Use iCloud to sync files from iOS devices

Ǩ+ƺǏ6ƼƮDŽ1›6%NJ67ƼǏ3 Jargon buster!

4ʦLɭɷʙɨȫHʎLȫɏʇʕLɭɓGDWɈ
\ʝɤZʋQɢWɛʣʪQɋʍɨJʝʖQɒWɛ iCloud
š6HWʤʖQJɡ!ɔ&OʝXɍ›ʝɚ\ʝʦɠ This is Apple’s
BOOKMARKS ɔǖ6ȫʑʧLȪɏ  cloud storage
iCloud makes bookmark service. It’s used for
syncing easier than ever. Click backing up data and
‘Options’ and you can choose a synchronising iOS
desktop browser to sync with. devices and PCs via
the desktop tool.

iOS
The operating
system that runs
on the iPad, iPhone
and iPod Touch.
iCloud has been
fully updated to
match the look and
feel of the latest
version, called iOS 7.

PHOTO STREAM You can use
this to sync photos across all
your devices. It’s handy if you
have an iPhone or iPod Touch,
which have excellent cameras.
STORAGE DETAILS This bar shows
you how much of your 5GB you’ve
used. If you’re close to the limit,
you can buy more by selecting a
package from the ‘Manage’ option.

3 Notes and Reminders

These work in a similar way to the other apps, but there
are no settings here that you can change. You’ll notice that the
Reminders icon uses the same alert style as it does on a device
running iOS 7. The number in red indicates how many overdue
reminders you have outstanding. If you want to remove a
reminder, you can do so by choosing ‘Details > Delete’.
4 Find my iPhone (iPad)
This is a vital extension to the usual iCloud backup and file
synchronising features. It enables you to log in to iCloud over
the web on any PC and find out where your lost iOS device is. You
need to have Location Services switched on, but if you haven’t
you’ll see the last known location instead. If you need to, you can
erase the device’s contents remotely.

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 51
 WorldMags.net
5 Try iWork for iCloud
One of the new features in Apple’s iCloud service is the
full iWork suite of apps as cloud applications. You can still create
and edit documents on iOS devices and then have iCloud save
them, but here you can do all that through the web interface.
The yellow annotations when you launch an iWork app provide
helpful tips to help you get the most out of it.
7 Sync bookmarks
You’ll now be presented with the iCloud Control Panel
window. To sync your browser’s bookmarks you need to tick the
‘Bookmarks’ option. You’ll then be asked if want to merge your
Safari bookmarks with iCloud (if the browser is installed on your
PC). If you choose ‘Options’ here, you can select an alternative
browser from which to merge data.
9 Manage storage
Click ‘Manage’ and then scroll through and select an app
from the list in the left-hand column. You’ll then be shown the
files saved in that app. All files are shown alongside their file size.
Click on one and choose ‘Delete’ to remove it from iCloud. Back on
the left-hand column at the top you’ll see the option to delete the
backup for an entire device.
WorldMags.net
52 | Help & Advice | March 2014
6 Get the iCloud Control Panel
As well as the iOS app for your Apple devices and the web
interface, there’s also a Windows desktop application for iCloud
that makes it a bit easier to see what’s going on. Download the
latest version (iCloud Control Panel 3.0) at http://support.apple.
com/kb/dl1455. Run the installer, then start the program and
sign in with your Apple ID as usual.
8 Sync Photo Stream
Photo Stream is widely regarded as one of iCloud’s best
features, enabling you to take a photo using your iPhone, for
example, and then see it on your iPad or PC just seconds later.
Photo Stream can also sync with a particular folder on your
Windows PC. Choose ‘Options’, then navigate to the photos
folder that you want to sync with.
10 Buy more space
With iCloud, you automatically get 5GB free storage.
That should be plenty of room because of the way iCloud stores
your content – it doesn’t include your purchased music, apps,
books, movies and your Photo Stream. If you do need more space
though – for a large email inbox, for example – click on ‘Manage >
Buy more storage’. Q
WorldMags.net

GET OUR
DIGITAL EDITION!

TWO
FREE
ISSUES
WHEN YOUE
SUBSCRIB
TODAY*
ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION:
£19.99 – SAVE 38%
SINGLE ISSUE: £2.49

AVAILABLE ON YOUR DEVICE NOW

WorldMags.net
*Free issues not available on Zinio.
 WorldMags.net
/HʋʢɚKʝɦWɛ
Troubleshoot
PC problems <ʝʦɠʔʦLȫɏ1Lɭɖ3ȭʑUɡVʋ\ɡ
“Take a look under the hood of
Windows to track down the cause
of stubborn problems.”
At a glance…
N
obody likes an ailing PC, and
while Windows has become
SKILL LEVEL
ever more reliable with each FILTER VIEW
Anyone can do it new release, there are still times You can examine specific
Straightforward when even tools like Action Center parts of your system – such
Tricky in parts and the built-in Troubleshooters as applications or different
can’t diagnose a problem and come parts of Windows – by
TIME TAKEN up with a solution. browsing through the

15 minutes Thankfully, there’s a less well available list of logs. You can
known program that can step into also create custom views.
the breach: Windows Event Viewer.
SUITABLE FOR Windows records a series of logs
chronicling everything that’s going
Windows 8 on under the hood of your PC,
Windows 7 including any problems – both
Windows Vista visible and hidden away. By carefully
Windows XP examining these logs you can find
out what’s causing all kinds of
glitches, from obvious – if cryptic EVENT DETAILS
– error messages to more vague When you’re using Event Viewer, try to
issues, such as sluggish behaviour include all the details the log gives you
or periodic freezes. In this tutorial in your searches, including Event ID,
I’ll show you how to collect this source (or application file or name) and
information, then use it to track down any error codes that you see.
possible solutions to your woes.

Step-by-step Identify and solve issues

1 Launch Event Viewer

Windows 8 users can launch Event Viewer via the
Quick Access Menu, which you can access quickly by pressing
[Windows]+[X] on your keyboard. Windows 7 and Vista users
should press [Win]+[R] to open the Run dialog box, then type
eventvwr and press [Enter]. If you see a prompt from User
Account Control, click ‘Yes’ or ‘Continue’.
2 Get a summary
The main Event Viewer screen will now appear. After a
short pause while the tool analyses your system, the middle
pane here will display three categories of information. You should
concentrate on the Summary of Administrative Events at the top,
which displays a list of each type of event logged. Pay particular
attention to Critical, Error and Warning events.

WorldMags.net
54 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Explore
WorldMags.net
Troubleshoot PC problems
ERROR FREQUENCY
In isolated cases, errors and warnings ƴ,Ǩ.›6%NJ67ƼǏ3 Jargon buster!
can be ignored, but if they keep 6ʤɵɸɗVʤXɭɖ"(Pʋɵɗ6ʦʠSʝUɢ
cropping up – even if it doesn’t happen 6ʡXDɍDɢʨʖQGʝZʣPDJɈʫʖȸɏ# Event ID
all the time – it’s a good idea to ʓXʤʦȾʑȸHɢFʝəʨLʃɓ\ʝʦɠʑɃʑQɢ The number used
investigate further. ORɒʋQɍɄɏ›ɸɗWɪȴɏɈORɼɖ  to identify a specific
type of event. This
number is consistent,
which makes it easier
to track down other
instances of the
problem through the
web source.

Source
The application (or
part of Windows)
that logs the event
being displayed. This
doesn’t always help
identify the source of
the problem – check
the event’s details
pane for specific
filenames or drivers.

Task Scheduler
A tool built into
Windows that can
be used to trigger
actions – such as
launching programs
ASK OTHERS – either at a specified
If all else fails, pass on the details to date and time, or
someone who can help you. Right-click when a certain event
the event to copy its details to the has occurred.
clipboard and you can paste them into
an email or web forum post.

SEARCH ONLINE
Clicking ‘Event log online help’ usually
throws up an error on the TechNet
website. Use the Bing search box on
this page to enter your event details to
find more advice.

3 Browse events
Note how each event type is logged according to the last
time it occurred. If the problem you’re investigating happened
recently, this will help you focus your search on a specific section.
Click the section header to expand it and use the annotation to
help identify possible events that could potentially be related to
the problem you’re experiencing.
4 View event detail
Double-click an event from this list to view all instances
of it, including the time and date when each of these instances
occurred. This can help link the event to a particular problem.
Make a note of the description – the ‘Details’ tab provides more
technical data if you (or someone who’s helping troubleshoot
your system) need it later.

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 55
 WorldMags.net
5 Get help online
To learn more about the event in question – and possibly
track down a solution if it’s not obvious what needs to be done
– click the ‘Event Log Online Help’ link at the bottom of the page.
Review the information being sent and click ‘Yes’ to see if there’s
more information at TechNet (Microsoft’s own assistance and
resource site for IT professionals).
7 Search yourself
TechNet may return no results for your Event ID, but don’t
give up yet. Make a note of the Event ID, Source and description
under the General tab, then try typing these into a search engine
(Bing or Google are best) and see what results come up. You may
come across helpful troubleshooting information via a technical
support web page or discussion forum.
9 Browsing logs
If you’re finding it difficult to isolate a specific event that
correlates with your problem, you can browse the available logs
manually to help narrow your search. Expand ‘Windows Logs’
in the left-hand pane where you’ll find logs organised into
categories. Use Applications to search for program-related
problems, and System for Windows and hardware.
WorldMags.net
56 | Help & Advice | March 2014
6 Help via TechNet
Most of the time, TechNet will claim that the page is not
found, but don’t become disheartened – try typing the Event ID
number plus the word EventID into the Search box and you’ll
find links to further information that might help resolve the
problem you’re investigating, including troubleshooting guides
for specific error messages.
8 Narrow your search
If too few results are returned, try searching for fewer words
or omitting either the Source or Event ID from your terms. If your
search gives you too many results, try narrowing them down by
including more information about your specific problem: version
of Windows, hardware device or software program, for example,
then search again and see what comes back.
10 Filter logs
Event Viewer records all manner of information, much of
which will be irrelevant. Click the ‘Filter current log’ button in the
right-hand pane to sort the list in a number of different ways: by
the time the event occurred, the type of event (focus on Critical,
Error and Warning), event sources, IDs, keywords or any
combination of these. Click ‘OK’ when you’re done.
 Explore
WorldMags.net
Troubleshoot PC problems
11 Create a custom view
If you want to create a filter across multiple logs, or make
a filter that you can access easily in future, click ‘Create custom
view’. It’s a handy function that works in exactly the same way
as the standard filter. To monitor more than one log with your
custom view, click the ‘Event logs’ drop-down menu and then tick
the logs you wish to include.
13 Schedule alerts
The Event Viewer also lets you create handy alerts in
Windows 7 or Vista that are triggered when specific events occur.
This can be a useful tool for troubleshooting if you’re trying to
find an underlying problem. Once you’ve located the event that
you wish to monitor, start by right-clicking it and choosing the
option ‘Attach task to this event’.
15 Remove alert
Eventually, once you’ve resolved your Windows issues, you
may no longer want that alert popping up. To remove it, open
Task Scheduler by clicking ‘Start > All Programs > Accessories >
System Tools’. Expand ‘Task Scheduler Library > Event Viewer
Tasks’, right-click on the unwanted alert and choose ‘Delete’
followed by ‘Yes’ when prompted.
WorldMags.net
12 Save your view
Click the ‘OK’ button, then give your custom view a suitably
descriptive name and choose where you want to save it within
the Custom Views tree in the left-hand pane. In future you’ll be
able to access this view at any time directly from here – perfect
if you’re going to be engaging in targeted troubleshooting over
an extended period of time.
14 Create alert
Change the name of the alert to something more
descriptive and useful, then click the ‘Next’ button twice. Tell
Event Viewer whether you want to be alerted by email or a
pop-up dialog box and click ‘Next’. Fill in the details – where to
send the email to, along with the alert message – and click ‘Next’,
followed by ‘Finish’ and ‘OK’.
16 Troubleshooting made easier
Now that you’ve discovered the basics of how Windows
Event Viewer works, you can use it to help you track down
problems with your computer, giving you the information you
need to not just diagnose what’s ailing your PC, but also hopefully
find a solution to bring it back to good working order, too. Best of
luck with your troubleshooting! Q
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 57
 WorldMags.net
/HʋʢɚKʝɦWɛ
Always open files in
your favourite programs
<ʝʦɠʔʦLȫɏ1LɭKɼODɡ2GʋQɢʫLɡVʋ\ɡ
´1HYHURSHQDÀOHLQWKHZURQJSURJUDPDJDLQ
7HOO:LQGRZVZKDW\RXOLNHWRXVHDQGSRLQWLWLQ
WKHULJKWGLUHFWLRQZKHQVRPHWKLQJQHZDUULYHVµ
At a glance…
F
ile extensions don’t just
tell you what kind of file
SKILL LEVEL
you’re looking at in Windows
Anyone can do it Explorer, they tell also Windows what
Straightforward to do, and which program to open
Tricky in parts when you double-click on them.
Windows needs to know that a JPG,
TIME TAKEN for instance, is an image that you

1 hour want to look at, or that an MP3 file

contains music that you want to play.
By default, Windows handles a
SUITABLE FOR wide assortment of file types itself.
As you install more applications,
Windows 8 however – each of which takes over
Windows 7 certain file types and throws their
Windows Vista own into the mix – things get more
Windows XP complicated. Take a ZIP archive, for
example. Double-clicking on one in
Windows opens it like a folder, which
is handy. Other archives, though, such
as RAR require separate applications.
Do you prefer an easy exception or
consistency every time you open a
file? With these tips such questions
will never pose a problem again.

Step-by-step &RQWURO\RXUH[WHQVLRQV

1 New associations
As a general rule, whenever you install new software, it
automatically tells Windows which files it should handle. These
files are then shown in Windows Explorer with the appropriate
icon, which will be either that program’s logo, or a representation
of what the file contains (a text document, for example). If a file
isn’t associated with a program, you’ll see a blank icon.
2 Set associations
If you come across one of these blank icons and need to
open the file it represents, double-click it and Windows will ask
you whether you want to go online to find out what the file is and
which programs can handle it. This option, ‘Use the web service to
find the correct program’, is best only when used for well-known
formats, however, such as PDF.

WorldMags.net
58 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Explore
WorldMags.net
Open files in your favourite programs

-DUJRQEXVWHU
Archive
One file containing
many files or folders.
Technically a ZIP, but
Windows calls them
compressed folders.

File extension
The (usually) three
letters at the end of
a filename, such as
JPG, TXT and DOC.

Icon
A representation of a
3 Automatic apps
Select this option and you’re shown a screen
4 Manual selection
The best approach is to choose ‘Select a
file that’s stored on
your computer.
like this, listing various tools that might read the program from a list of installed programs’. This
file in question. This is purely a guess based on the shows you every program you have installed on
name. If multiple tools use the same extension, your computer. Select the correct one from the
Windows can get confused and give you bad list and click ‘OK’. Now, any time you double-click
(though well-meaning) advice. on this file type, Windows knows what to do.

6 Correction!
File types being
assigned to the wrong
application is annoying,
but easily fixed. Find an
example, then hold down
[Shift] and right-click on it.
A new option called ‘Open
with’ appears in the pop-up
menu. Move the mouse
over it and select ‘Choose
default program’. The
window from the previous
steps appears, and you can
assign whatever application
you like. This is especially
5 Extra apps
If the application you want isn’t on the list
helpful if a program you
use gets grabby and tries
(for instance, if it was installed by simply copying to seize control of files you
files, instead of running a set-up program), click want handled separately.
‘Browse’. This brings up a Windows Explorer panel,
which you can use to find it. Usually, the one you
want is called (name of application).exe.

7 Always open
The File Associations window has an extra option called
‘Always use the selected program to open this kind of file’. By
default, it’s ticked. Untick it and click ‘OK’, and the file will only be
opened with the program you’ve selected this time – you’ll be
prompted to choose one again next time. This is handy if you
need, say, one TXT file opened in Word for its spell-checker.
8 Seize control
When installing a new application, especially something
that handles media, the first thing it often tries is taking over
every file type it can possibly handle, regardless of whether you
want it to do so. It’s best to work through the list and clip its
wings, unless you don’t mind letting it have free reign. You now
have the tools to do exactly that. Q

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 59
 WorldMags.net
/HʋʢɚKʝɦWɛ
Extend your
battery life <ʝʦɠʔʦLȫɏ1LɭKɼODɡ2GʋQɢʫLɡVʋ\ɡ
“You can make your laptop
battery last all day with just a few
simple power-saving tips.”
THE SLEEP BUTTON
At a glance…
I
t’s frustrating when your
This can help in terms of
laptop runs out of power
SKILL LEVEL managing your machine’s
when you need it, but
Anyone can do it power consumption.
thankfully it’s really easy to give it a
Straightforward Leaving your laptop for a
longer life. While we can’t guarantee
few minutes? Why not put
Tricky in parts to transform older batteries that
it to sleep first?
have been through the mill, we
TIME TAKEN can say that you will be able to

1 hour stockpile power by performing a few

housekeeping tasks on your laptop.
It’s important to look after your
SUITABLE FOR laptop battery. Even though the
latest lithium ion batteries can be CLOSING THE LID
Windows 8 recharged and discharged at will, We recommend that you
Windows 7 we still find it’s worth completely opt to have your computer
discharging then recharging them sleep when you close its
Windows Vista lid. We’d certainly never
Windows XP regularly. If your laptop’s battery is
completely shot, it’s worth looking leave a laptop fully on
around for a replacement; eBay is a when its lid is closed –
good place to look, but get a new what’s the point?
battery – you don’t want somebody
else’s cast-offs. The tips here are
mainly for Windows 7, but you can
perform similar measures in older
versions of Windows, too.

Step-by-step Save battery power

1 Your battery power

The amount of life left in your battery is shown by the icon
in your Windows 7 Notification Area, or your System Tray if you’re
using an older version of Windows. By clicking on the icon, you
can see the exact length of time your battery will last before it
needs recharging, as well as your current power plan – we’ll be
taking a closer look at that next.
2 View Power Options
By left-clicking on the battery icon at the bottom of the
screen, you can access this menu. We’ll be investigating the
Windows Mobility Center in just a moment, but for now simply
select ‘Power Options’. The other option that you can see on this
menu enables you to turn icons on or off in the Notification Area,
but that’s not something we’re interested in right now.

WorldMags.net
60 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Explore
WorldMags.net
Extend your battery life
ƴ,ǨƭǖƱDŽ6›%NJ67ƼǏ3
6ʋɃɏSʝɄʑɠʍɨXʣʖQɒʃȱɏ7Dʂɖ
0ʋQDȰʑɠʠȾHVɡ>&ʤʁɗ@>$ɸɢ@ Jargon buster!
>'ɰȵHɀɏ@WɛLȫʑQʤLʓɨʋQɍɭORȿɏ
ʦʜZʋQɀHɍʠURʔUʋPɡ Lithium ion
The type of battery
that is commonly
used in laptops
DEFINE POWER BUTTONS as well as other
electronic devices,
Choosing what your sleep such as digital
buttons do can have a great cameras.
impact on your system’s
power consumption, so it’s Power plan
important to choose the The settings
right options. Windows uses to
help manage your
computer’s power,
DEFINE POWER BUTTONS such as when to turn
Changing some settings – off the display and
such as what happens when power down
the computer.
you close your lid – for when
your laptop is plugged in or
battery-dependent can
create good habits and save
even more power in the
long run.

3 Select a power plan

The Power Options window enables you to change settings
that affect how your laptop consumes energy. That means you
can conserve as much power as possible when you need to be
frugal, and give your machine a boost when you need more
performance (when playing games, for example). Click ‘Change
plan settings’ next to the ‘High Performance’ label.
4 Power computing
As you can see, the default settings for this Power Plan
always leave the display on and never put the computer to sleep,
regardless of whether it has its power adapter plugged in or not.
This isn’t ideal if you’re going to be away from a mains outlet for
some time! Leave this plan by clicking ‘Cancel’, then select ‘Change
plan settings’ next to the ‘Power saver’ label.

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 61
 WorldMags.net
5 Frugal computing
This plan uses far less power than the standard one; as you
can see, the display will turn itself off after a relatively short time,
and the entire laptop will sleep after just 10 minutes of non-use if
it’s running on battery power – ideal when it’s not plugged into
the mains. We’ll now look at editing your current plan, so leave
this plan and navigate to your default one.
7 Restore defaults
Many laptops also include a ‘Balanced‘ power plan, which
should offer a good trade-off between frugality and performance
– not wasting power, but not putting it to sleep too soon, either.
If you’ve made changes to one of the standard power plans, such
as Power Saver or High Performance, you can always undo these
by clicking ‘Restore default settings’ in the plan window.
9 Advanced mobility
While the Power Options windows are something that’s
worth taking a look at every so often, the Windows Mobility
Center (which is also accessed by clicking on the battery icon)
might be something you keep open whenever your laptop isn’t
plugged in. It enables you to quickly and easily change settings
that affect your power consumption.
WorldMags.net
62 | Help & Advice | March 2014
6 Edit a plan
You can choose any of the plans shown or create your
own custom one using the option provided in the main window.
Your laptop might also have a bespoke power plan created
by the manufacturer, which won’t necessarily be the best for
consuming power. You can change any of these settings; just
click ‘Save changes’ after doing so.
8 Advanced settings
You’ll notice that there is also a ‘Change advanced power
settings’ option. This enables you to alter other power options
that are normally micro-managed by Windows, such as the time
after which it rests your hard disk. Tweaking such things may
affect your machine’s performance, but if battery life is your key
priority then you may find it worthwhile.
10 Turn off wireless
As well as changing your power plan and seeing at a glance
how much power you have left, you can also use the Windows
Mobility Center to turn your wireless networking on and off.
Wi-Fi is great when you want to use the internet or connect to
other devices wirelessly, but if you’re not using it, you can save
a lot of juice by turning it off completely.
 Explore
WorldMags.net
Extend your battery life

Jargon buster!
Function keys
The keys along the
top of your keyboard
generally have extra
functions, such as
turning off Wi-Fi or
muting your laptop.
You’ll often see their
second function
printed in blue, and
you usually have to
press these keys in
tandem with the [Fn]
key in the bottom-
left of your keyboard
11 Wi-Fi switches
Some laptops have hardware switches that
12 Stop your DVD drive
Your DVD drive is a major consumer of battery
(also coloured blue)
to make them work.
turn off the wireless card completely, while others, power – even if you’re not using it. Discs can spin at
such as this Dell Inspiron, use function keys to do strange moments, so if you have anything in your
the same thing – this usually turns off Bluetooth, drive, take it out. And if you have to use a disc while
too. You’ll be able to tell if it’s still on by the relevant on battery power, it can be worth copying the files
LEDs at the top of your keyboard. to your desktop to reduce disc drive use.

14 Mute your
volume
This might seem like just
a small thing, but it can
make a big difference. The
sound system in some
laptops is quite hefty, so
don’t play music at high
volume or you’ll drain
your power. To limit power
usage, turn the sound
down or, better still, use
the function key shortcut
to mute your system
completely. That way, you
won’t get taken unawares
13 Stop scanning
If your laptop has any security software
by websites playing their
own annoying soundtracks
installed on it, ensure that it isn’t set to scan when – and it’s a great way to
you’re running on batteries – this can rapidly avoid upsetting other
consume power and needs to be nipped in the bud. people if you’re using your
This also goes for Windows Defender, which you laptop in a public place
can see scanning our machine here. like a cafe or train.

15 Dim your screen

This is probably the most important step of the lot, and
can make a huge difference to your battery’s life. The display is
responsible for a lot of the power drawn from your laptop, and
some laptop screens have been known to account for up to 40
per cent of the power used at any one time. Dim your screen
using the keyboard shortcuts shown.
16 Longer life
Congratulations, you’ve now learned how to increase your
laptop’s battery life and reduce its power consumption, saving
you hassle and money. If you only remember one thing, take heed
of the effect of bright screens. If you’ve only got a few minutes of
power left, drop the brightness right down and you’ll be able to
use your system for longer before it needs charging. Q

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 63
 WorldMags.net

WorldMags.net
64 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Cover feature
WorldMags.net
The truth about bloatware

THE TRUTH ABOUT

BLOATWARE Research shows that unwanted programs
installed on new PCs can slow your computer
by over 40 per cent. So, why are they there
and how can you get rid of them?

B
uying a new computer should be a thrill,
prompting all manner of exciting questions
when you eagerly unbox it, such as, “What
amazing new tricks can it perform for me?”
Unfortunately, you may find yourself asking a few less
encouraging questions. “Who stuck all those icons on
my desktop?” you may wonder as you boot up your
brand new machine. “What’s with all the pop-ups,
and why is everything so slow?” Welcome to the less
than wonderful world of bloatware – all of the software
on your new PC that you didn’t ask for. It’s a term that
is as accurate as it is unflattering.

You’ve been bloatwared

In a crowded, ultra-competitive market, computer
manufacturers operate with razor-thin profit margins,
and as a result they’ll do pretty much anything to make
a few more pennies on a sale – and software firms are
happy to pay them those pennies if the PC-makers will
stick a few programs on your hard drive.
Unfortunately for us, that can turn the joy of owning
a new PC into something altogether more sour –
installing programs you don’t want means you end
up sacrificing hard disk space and PC performance
for products you didn’t ask for and don’t intend to use.
At best, all that unwanted software can take up space
you’d rather use for other things. At worst, it can make
Windows look rotten, get on your nerves and slow
down your brand new PC.
Over the next few pages we’ll discover what it
is, who’s responsible – and how to get rid of it.

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 65
 WorldMags.net
A new phenomenon
You’ve got to admire the computer
industry’s nerve sometimes. A few
years back, when commentators –
including some senior Microsoft
executives – suggested that
pre-installed software often
bunged up otherwise decent new
computers, Sony offered to remove
it – provided the consumer was
prepared to pay an extra $50 for the
privilege of what it called a ‘fresh
start’. Predictably, widespread
public mockery forced Sony to bin
that particular money-spinner in
pretty short order.
Fast-forward to 2013 and some
hardware manufacturers – Apple
being perhaps the best example –
offer computers with little or no
pre-installed software. But the odds
still remain that if you buy a new
computer – particularly at the
budget end of the market – you’ll
have to spend time uninstalling
programs you neither want nor
need; time that you’d rather spend
getting to grips with what your new slower-than-should-be laptop”, BOX FRESH can have a massive effect on
device can do for you. an optimised Signature computer Is your new laptop your PC’s performance.
full of software
The phenomenon of bloatware goes to sleep 23.1 per cent faster, you don’t want?
has now become so widespread starts up 39.6 per cent faster and A necessary evil?
in home computing that it is even resumes a significant 51.3 per cent But is all pre-installed software
being used as a selling point by more quickly. on your new computer actually
some canny manufacturers. For It’s a good idea to take such obnoxious bloatware? There’s no
example, Microsoft’s Signature line claims with a hefty pinch of salt. doubt that some factory-fresh PCs
of laptops are sold – somewhat Microsoft’s Signature laptops still come stuffed with stuff – with
disingenuously – on the basis of come with a bunch of software, some programs definitely more
their bloatware-free experience. including Adobe Reader, Windows useful than others.
According to Microsoft, the Live and Microsoft Security For example, Samsung’s Series 7
difference between a Signature PC Essentials, and the Signature Gamer laptops come with the

6
and a non-Signature one makes scheme also involves optimising genuinely useful Windows Live
compelling reading. Compared Windows itself – but there’s no suite, Skype, Acrobat Reader and
with a “cluttered, trialware-filled, doubt that unwanted programs Office Starter 2010 installed.

OF THE WORST
The PC Decrapifier is designed to remove unwanted Windows programs. Its creators
publish a list of the most commonly removed software. These are the top six…

1 MSN Toolbar
Microsoft’s browser add-on has since
been renamed – it’s the Bing Bar now – and
in its MSN incarnation, it was removed
by 54 per cent of PC Decrapifier users
whose software detected it. Toolbars are
a particular bugbear for PC power users as
they clutter up the screen and encourage
you to use the toolbar maker’s services.
2 Ask Toolbar
Thirty-seven per cent of PC Decrapifier
users got shot of this one, and like the MSN
Toolbar, it does a good job of adding more
buttons to your browser in case you forget
how to use bookmarks or type Amazon or
Facebook in the search bar. Ask’s version
was classified as malware by at least one
security program.
3 Norton Online Backup
When it was detected, some 68 per
cent of Decrapifier users voted to remove
this piece of software. It’s not a bad
program by any means – as the name
suggests, it’s a utility for backing up key
files online – but it’s a free trial, not a free
product, so be aware that it will cost you
after your first month.

WorldMags.net
66 | Help & Advice | March 2014

WorldMags.net
The truth about bloatware
However, some of the other
additions are debatable; CyberLink
Media Suite, CyberLink YouCam
and Samsung’s Control Center are
simply extra programs that perform
simple Windows functions.
As another example, HP’s sleek
Folio 13 Ultrabook is supplied
with HP Setup Manager, Support
Assistant and Recovery Manager,
together with HP Launch Box, HP
Rara Music, Adobe Reader and
Adobe Flash Player. All are vying
for your attention – and none are of
much value to the user.
4 Acer Registration
Some 76 per cent of users opted to
remove this one, and 100 per cent of them
were Acer owners. This is a manufacturer-
specific program that keeps popping up,
asking you to register your PC. In many
cases, it continued to pop up every hour
or so even after users had registered
their laptops. Grrr…
Cover feature
Antivirus trial versions – such as
Norton Internet Security found on
Lenovo’s G570 – are common, and
pop-ups will annoy you until you
either delete the software or cave in
and buy the package.
So, who wins? Unfortunately,
not you. Often, manufacturers are
paid by the software firms to install
the programs – and in a cut-throat
market, that can help compensate
for thin profit margins. It’s good
news for the software firms too,
because pre-installed software can
be a powerful form of marketing.
PESTER POWER
Although it’s a good
program, trials of
software such as
Norton simply want
you to pay for services
5 Times Reader
The New York Times’s application is
one of those programs that seems like a
good idea until you use it. While it does a
nice job of delivering a digital newspaper,
most of the content is locked behind a
paywall. Accordingly, 58 per cent of PC
Decrapifier users booted it off their PCs.
We hope the NYT is listening.
WorldMags.net
March 2014 |
So, if your PC is already running a
30-day trial of SuperSafe Security
SafeSuite Pro, then a few scary
pop-ups at the end of the trial
“Compared with
DWULDOZDUH¾OOHG
computer, an
optimised PC’s
start-up time is
a dramatic 40
per cent faster”
period – “SuperSafe Security
SafeSuite Pro expires tomorrow
and then your computer will
explode, so buy now,” or words to
that effect – can easily result in a
subscription or a sale.
We approached the biggest
names in pre-installed software
to ask what benefits the practice
of bundled programs brought us:
tellingly, they declined to comment.
That’s a shame, because while some
pre-installed software is nothing
more than a pain in the backside,
some of it is useful.
Microsoft’s bundled Office
Starter, for example, enables you to
work on Word documents without
buying the full £89 package.
However, manufacturers need to be
selective about what they include,
so as not to ruin consumers’ first
hours with their brand new PC.
6 PDF Complete
PDF readers often appear high in
bloatware charts – the programs can be
massive, and they’re often overkill for
opening the odd PDF file – and 87 per
cent of Decrapifier users opted to remove
this particular one. It’s a trial version of a
corporate PDF application that can often
be found pre-installed on HP laptops.
Help & Advice | 67
 WorldMags.net
What to do with the
programs you don’t
want on your PC
Pre-installed programs might not
have cost you any extra money, but
they do still come with a price
attached, and that’s the burden they
put on your PC. They take up space,
waste your time by annoying you
with pop-ups and update
reminders, and most importantly of
all, they can significantly affect the
performance of your new computer.
If your PC has to load lots of
additional programs when it starts
Windows, that’s obviously going
to make the boot process take named PC Decrapifier is a great
longer – and if it’s carrying lots of place to start. This free utility,
extra data in RAM, then that’s which you can download from
going to have an impact on your http://pcdecrapifier.com, is
PC’s overall performance. This designed to automatically recognise
effect is particularly noticeable on repeat bloatware offenders and
computers that don’t have much remove them for you. This is
memory, or whose owners use particularly useful if you’re unsure
them for memory-intensive tasks. about which programs are safe to
In other words, the harder your delete, and need a helping hand.
computer works, the more of an Otherwise, if your computer is
impact unwanted applications are stuffed with programs you don’t
likely to have on its performance. want and you’ve got a Windows
So, if you’re looking to remove installation DVD handy, the
some of the useless programs on solution is simple: back up your
your new laptop, the charmingly files and reinstall Windows.
However, in most cases things
FRESH HEADACHES
Slow performance
are a little bit more complicated
can ruin the than that, especially when it
experience of comes to laptops. If your laptop
owning a new PC manufacturer has given you a
system restore program to make
your own installation discs, as
many of them do these days, that
means it’ll restore your system to
its original factory condition – and
therefore also resurrect all the
programs you don’t want.
Thankfully, it seems that some
hardware companies are beginning
to see the light. For example, some
recent HP computers provide you
with the option to run a minimised
image recovery, which gives
you Windows and your essential

“The charmingly named

3&'HFUDSL¾HULVDJUHDW
tool for removing some
useless programs”

CUT THE CRAP

Even the most cluttered computer can be tamed, and tamed quickly. All you need are
the right Windows components and applications. These are our favourite six PC pruners

1Control Panel
Unlike malware writers, reputable
software firms don’t usually hide their
2 3&'HFUDSLÀHU
applications from Windows, so in many
cases, removing unwanted programs is
just a matter of heading for ‘Control Panel
> Programs > Programs and Features’,
selecting the program you want to get
rid of and clicking ‘Uninstall’.
Where Control Panel lists everything
it finds installed on your PC, dedicated
3 Revo Uninstaller
rubbish removers such as PC Decrapifier
(www.pcdecrapifier.com) only flag up
programs they think you’ll want to get
rid of. That’s good if you want something
simple, but it does mean that some
programs can be missed.
The $39.95 (£25) Revo Uninstaller
(www.revouninstaller.com) can remove
stubborn programs other uninstallers
can’t, and it can remove the leftovers,
too, such as installations. It’s a powerful
all-round PC cleaning product, and there’s
a 30-day free trial that you can use to put
it through its paces.

WorldMags.net
68 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Cover feature
WorldMags.net
The truth about bloatware
drivers, but doesn’t include any PLAY IT SAFE When your PC
is free of bloatware, set a
of the various additional – and Restore Point in Windows
unwanted – applications.
As you’ll see from the panel
below, there are stacks of utilities
you can use to get rid of these
unwanted applications. But if you’d
rather not go through that whole
routine all over again, then once
you’ve got your PC just how you like
it, you have two main options.
The first is to use System Restore
to create a new restore point, which
you can use to travel back in time
whenever you want to reset your
PC, and the second is to use a
third-party program such as CLEAN AND TIDY
Acronis True Image (£34.25 from PC Decrapifier
www.acronis.co.uk) to create a disk removes pre-installed
software for you
image on an external drive or DVD.
This effectively clones your
computer, enabling you to reinstall

The final word

your entire PC from the clone
whenever you need it. It’s much,
much quicker than reinstalling
Windows from scratch, then
downloading endless Windows
Updates and then removing all
the software the recovery disks
put back on your PC.
In conclusion
In a time of tight margins, we can
understand why manufacturers add
paid-for software to new machines.
However, they seem oblivious to
the fact that it sullies that special
experience of a brand-new PC.
We’re begging them all – cut
out the rubbish, put the focus on
quality, and people will respond by
opening their wallets.
Not all pre-installed software is bloatware,
but there’s no doubt that some hardware
firms are a little too enthusiastic when it
comes to giving us goodies we don’t really
want. Imagine if cars were sold the same way
as PCs – you would have to spend hours
removing furry dice, pink seat covers and
8-track cartridge machines the moment you
got your hands on the keys.
Things have improved – thankfully, the days
when PCs were plagued with genuinely awful
bloatware have largely passed – but there’s
still a very good chance that your shiny new
PC will contain a bunch of things you don’t
really want. The problem with bloatware is
that for many manufacturers, it’s necessary.
Their margins are so thin that even an extra
couple of quid on the price tag could cost
sales, so they keep the sticker price as low as
possible and try to get some money back
from companies who want them to pre-install
their software. It’s no coincidence that the
company with the highest profit margins in
the business, Apple, doesn’t bother with
pre-installed trialware.
So, if you really begrudge spending time
removing unwanted applications, perhaps
the answer is a more expensive computer. Q

4 06&RQÀJ
Programs that run automatically
whenever you boot Windows can be
5 Autoruns
an enormous pain in the backside, and
Windows has a built-in tool you can use
to find and disable them. Click ‘Start’,
search for MSConfig and then click on
the ‘Start-up’ tab. You can now disable
anything you don’t want.
Fancy something more powerful
than MSConfig? Autoruns (http://
technet.microsoft.com/en-us/
sysinternals/bb963902) is one of the most
comprehensive start-up monitors. If it’s
running when your PC starts up, Autoruns
will find it. It hides essential Windows bits
so you won’t disable anything by accident.
6 CCleaner
Like Revo, CCleaner (www.piriform.
com/ccleaner) is a comprehensive Windows
cleaner that removes unwanted files, cleans
up the leftovers from previous uninstalls,
zaps temporary files and helps protect your
privacy. It’s very quick and, unless you want
tech support, won’t cost a penny. A great
program worth keeping on your PC.

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 69
 WorldMags.net

FREE MEDIA
PLAYERS
If you’re looking for an alternative to Windows
Media Player, here’s our roundup of the best
music and video players out there

1 VLC MEDIA
PLAYER
VLC (www.videolan.org) will handle pretty much any
media file you can throw at it. Its default interface will
be familiar if you’ve ever used Windows Media Player,
but you can give it a different look by downloading free
‘skins’ from VideoLAN’s website.
Using VLC is easy as pie, and it includes some nice
little extras like colourful patterns that move in time
with your music, and subtitles for TV shows and films.
It even supports gestures for quick navigation, and the
website offers a range of user-created add-ons.
VLC was created by a non-profit organisation with
the help of volunteers, so you might like to make a
small cash donation to support future updates if it NO FRILLS VLC Media Player has a simple interface that’s easy to master, but includes
becomes your main media player. some little extra touches such as visual effects that move in time with your music

WorldMags.net
70 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Feature
WorldMags.net
10 free media players

2 GOM MEDIA
MODULAR DESIGN With GOM Media Player, you can decide which
playlists and menus you want to see, and position them yourself
PLAYER
GOM (www.gomlab.com) looks fantastic, with only a
discreet text ad at the bottom and a couple of
toolbars to avoid during installation. The first time it
runs, it asks you to choose a playback option (normal,
high-quality and TV output) to ensure it works well
with your media setup, which is a thoughtful touch.
Have a poke around the menus and you’ll find lots
of interesting bonus features, including the ability
to cut the vocals out of songs to create your own
karaoke tracks. In fact, the sheer wealth of options
could be a little overwhelming for newcomers, but
it’s well worth taking the time to explore them all.

3 SMPLAYER
If you’ve got a stack of DVDs sitting beside
your PC, take a look at SMPlayer (http://
smplayer.sourceforge.net). We particularly like its
built-in YouTube support, which lets you search for
and stream high-res videos straight to your desktop.
You can also download subtitles from the
Opensubtitles.org database, which is a feature we’d
like to see in all players. SMPlayer remembers the
settings for your files, so if you close a video, you can
re-open it and pick up where you left off. There are
also some nifty features for audio playback, including
the ability to turn your favourite songs into karaoke
tracks by stripping out the vocals, as in GOM.
When installing SMPlayer, select ‘Custom’ if you MOVIE STAR SMPlayer is a brilliant free msuic and video player,
don’t want the Amazon browser bar or Outfox.tv. and includes built-in support for high-resolution YouTube content

4 ZOOM
PLAYER
Zoom Player (www.inmatrix.com) has a stylish
modular layout that lets you mix and match
menus to your heart’s content. It’s beautifully
designed too, with a range of colour schemes.
Zoom works with all versions of Windows,
and can detect and install missing components
that could stop your videos playing properly.
© THINKSTOCK.COM

It organises your files into neat categories, and

will fine-tune the sound and picture to suit
your hardware. If that sounds a bit complicated,
there are video tutorials on the developer’s
YouTube channel to help you find your feet.

5 KMPLAYER
KMPlayer (http://kmplayer.kde.org) stands
out thanks to its brilliant support forums,
where you can chat with other users, learn about
updates and report any bugs. Many languages are
catered for, including Chinese, Polish and Farsi.
Again, it’s important to take care during the
installation if you don’t want to add the Ask toolbar
to your browser or join the Paltalk Network (clicking
‘Decline’ won’t stop the player installing).
The player is slick and professional-looking, but
there’s lots of advertising, with extra pop-up ads
appearing at the bottom periodically. If you can
overlook these, it’s a feature-packed program that
can handle a huge variety of media files, and can
even connect to your social media accounts.

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 71
 WorldMags.net
6 EASY-DATA
MEDIACENTER
When you fire up EDM (www.easy-data.no), you could
be forgiven for thinking you’d travelled back to the
mid-1990s. It’s a competent player, but it’s no looker. To
jazz it up, you can take your pick from a range of
wallpapers (though the default stars are the most
tasteful), or try a full-screen psychedelic effect.
Another quirk is that the ‘Get artist information’ link
takes you to the band’s Wikipedia page rather than
scouring the web for track titles, as you might expect.
It’s an odd one, no question, but if you have a taste
for retro software, it might be just the ticket.
OLD FAVOURITE
With 18 years of
development
under its belt,
RealPlayer is a
pleasure to use
8 JETAUDIO
JetAudio (www.jetaudio.com) is a hefty download, so if
your internet connection is a bit poky, you might want to
consider one of the more lightweight options such as VLC or MPC
Home Cinema. JetAudio is also a bit sneaky – although we were careful
during the installation process, we still ended up with two unwanted
programs installed on our PC in addition to the media player. They’re
easy to remove, but it’s hassle we would rather avoid.
Once you’re past that, this is a great little media player that would
make a fine addition to your desktop. As its name suggests, it’s
designed chiefly for music rather than video. We like the modular
design, which lets you choose which controls and playlists you’d like
to display, and arrange them however you like. You can also rip music
from your CD collection and convert file formats, which is very handy.
MUSIC TO YOUR EARS The team behind foobar2000 have focused their energies
on doing just one thing very well, and the result is a fantastic free music player
WorldMags.net
72 | Help & Advice | March 2014
7 REALPLAYER
RealPlayer (www.real.com) has been around
for a long time – even longer than Winamp.
It’s available for just about every operating system
there is (both desktop and mobile), and is packed with
features. You can listen to internet radio, sync music
with your phone, download videos from the web and
share them via social media, and lots more.
The player scans your PC for media, which eliminates
the need to load everything manually. Unfortunately it
also attempts to install browser toolbars and a Norton
trial, so read the text carefully before you click anything.
RealPlayer looks very smart. Some options, such
as ‘Clean up media library’, are actually links to the
paid-for version of the player, but if you’re enjoying the
free edition it might be worth considering the upgrade.
9 MPC HOME
CINEMA
Sometimes you don’t want to mess around with
fancy interfaces – you just want to relax with your
favourite music or grab some popcorn and enjoy a
film. That’s where Media Player Classic Home Cinema
(www.mpc-hc.org) comes in. The player downloads
and installs in moments, making it ideal
if your internet connection is a bit on the slow side.
Its interface is pared down to the bare minimum, but
it can still fulfil all your media-playing needs. Best of
all, its system requirements are very modest; it will
even work on a 10-year-old PC running Windows XP.
10 FOOBAR2000
We’re very impressed with foobar2000
(www.foobar2000.org) – a modest player
that’s frugal with your PC’s resources, making it great for older
PCs. It doesn’t look especially glamorous, but everything is
arranged in a neat and sensible way. Your library
is arranged down the left-hand side, much as it is in Windows
Media Player, and your current playlist is in the centre. A little
equaliser at the bottom is the only nod towards embellishment.
When downloading foobar2000, ignore any large green
buttons on the website labelled ‘Download now’; these are
actually cunningly disguised ads. Instead, select the ‘Download’
tab from the menu at the top of the home page, then grab the
latest stable version (the player is updated regularly).
The only drawback is that foobar2000 doesn’t support video,
so you’ll have to try one of the other players here if you’re more
of a film buff than an audiophile. Q
TERMS AND CONDITIONS Europe and RoW have no set newsstand prices therefore we cannot advertise the specific savings
you will make. All customers will be charged in GBP. This offer is for new overseas print subscribers only. You will receive 13

WorldMags.net
issues a year. If you are dissatisfied in any way you can write to us or call us to cancel your subscription at any time and we will
refund you for all unmailed issues. Prices correct at point of print and subject to change. For full terms and conditions please
visit www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/terms. Offer ends 20th February 2014.

INTERNATIONAL
READERS CAN
SUBSCRIBE TOO!
'RQ·WZDLWIRUWKHODWHVWLVVXHWR
UHDFK\RXUORFDOVWRUH²VXEVFULEH
WRGD\DQGOHW:LQGRZV+HOS 
$GYLFHFRPHVWUDLJKWWR\RX

WHY SUBSCRIBE?
‡6WRSSD\LQJRYHUVHDVFRYHUSULFHV
DQGVDYH\RXUVHOIPRQH\
‡1HYHUPLVVDQRWKHULVVXH
‡$OOLVVXHVD\HDUZLOOEHGHOLYHUHGGLUHFWWR
\RXUKRPHRUZRUNSODFHE\DLUPDLO

TO SUBSCRIBE
‡Live in Europe?
3D\…D\HDUIRULVVXHV
‡Live in the USA?
3D\MXVW…D\HDUIRULVVXHV
‡Live elsewhere? 
3D\MXVW…D\HDUIRULVVXHV

7268%6&5,%(*272
www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/WOMP2N
2UFDOORXUKHOSOLQHRQ
DQGTXRWH¶WOMP2N’
Contact centre opening times are: 8am to 9.30pm weekdays, 8am to 4pm on Saturdays

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 73
 WorldMags.net

Windows folder, and uninstalling and Programs and Features Control

MISSING ENTRY POINTS
ON STARTUP
Do you have a Q When I start my Windows 7
PC problem? 64-bit PC, I receive two errors
Get in touch… about LifeExp.exe and vprot.exe.
Email full details of Both mention missing procedure
your problem to the entry points in MSVCP90.dll. A
support team and we’ll similar error occurs when I try to
do our best to help launch Corel PaintShop Pro X4,
windowsmagazine@ which refuses to start. I’ve tried
futurenet.com repairing Windows, replacing the
MSVCP90.dll file in the System32
reinstalling PaintShop Pro, but
nothing appears to fix the problem.
I would be grateful for any ideas.
David Stewart
Adam’s solution
The common factor in
all of David’s problems
is the DLL file, which is
linked to Microsoft’s Visual C++
2008 package. This could be linked
to a recent update – if you open the
Panel and scroll through the list you
should find a number of entries
pointing to Microsoft Visual C++
2008. Try removing the last version
on the list, rebooting and seeing if
this fixes the problem.
If it doesn’t, try removing the
software fully, then download and
install the latest version from http://
bit.ly/J7JXeH (note that this is the
64-bit version). Doing so should
reset the offending DLL file and let
your software work correctly again.

Applications
WHERE ARE MY
CONTACTS?
Q After being given a Windows 7
laptop, I finally took the hint
and switched to it from my trusty,
but ageing Windows XP PC. Having
discovered that Outlook Express
was no longer present in Windows,
I installed Windows Essentials,
DLL DIAGNOSTICS primarily for Windows Live Mail.
Identify the However, on launching it I can’t find
offending DLL file
to resolve the
the contacts I imported across from
causes of entry my old PC – please help!
point errors Keith Edwards

|
WorldMags.net
74 Help & Advice | March 2014

WorldMags.net
FIND THE SOLUTION! Diagnose blue screens
Technical help
Download WhoCrashed 5.0 from www.resplendence.com/
whocrashed to get a more detailed analysis of PC crashes.
Nick’s solution
Thanks to the ham-
fisted way Microsoft has
integrated (or rather
not integrated) the Mail tool with
Windows, there’s no direct link
between your Windows Contacts
folder – which is where your
Outlook Express address book
resides when it’s transferred across
to your new PC – and the Contacts
folder in Windows Live Mail.
If your contacts have been
transferred using Windows Easy
Transfer or a program like Laplink’s
PCmover (open your personal user
folder and double-click ‘Contacts’
to verify this) then simply open
Mail, click ‘Contacts’ and then click
the ‘Import’ button on the ribbon
and choose ‘Address book for
current Windows user’ to import
them into Windows Live Mail.
If your contacts are still on your
old PC, switch to that PC and click
‘Start > Run’. Type %appdata% and
press [Enter], then open the
Microsoft\Address Book folder to
locate your Windows Address Book
(.wab) file. Copy this file to your new
PC. Open Windows Live Mail, click
the ‘Contacts’ button and choose
‘Import > Windows address book
(.wab)’ to move the contacts across.
Note that Windows Contacts will
continue to act independently of
your Windows Live Contacts, so
changes to one won’t be reflected
in the other. That could be an issue
going forward if you synchronise
your contacts from some portable
devices (including Apple’s iPhone)
with your PC, as they use the
Windows Contacts folder.
Windows
WINDOWS EXPLORER
RIGHTCLICK GLITCH
Q While I’m still able to drag
and drop files as normal, if I
attempt to right-click on a file my
PC freezes up and eventually tells
Support
me Windows Explorer is not
responding. You’ve mentioned
an alternative Explorer program –
could this be the solution I’m
looking for here?
Eric Howman
Simon’s solution
This problem is usually
linked to a shell
extension, which a
third-party program has added
to the Windows context menu
to provide convenient access to
various options provided by that
application. Identifying it is the
hardest part of the process, and
for this you’ll need to install
ShellExView from your free disc.
Launch the program and choose
‘Options > Filter by extension type’.
Click ‘Context menu’ so it’s the only
highlighted entry and click ‘OK’.
Now click the ‘Company’ column
header to the right of Product
Name to sort all the entries, making
it easier to group the non-Microsoft
entries together (these should also
be marked in pink).
WorldMags.net
OLD CONTACTS
Getting your Quickfire questions
Windows
contacts into
Windows Live I keep getting an ‘unspecified
Mail is easy when error’ each time I try to restore
you know how my system using System
Restore. How can I fix this?
Barry Jones
Assuming your Restore Points
aren’t corrupted, try accessing
System Restore from either
Safe mode or your computer’s
recovery options screen.
I love Word’s AutoCorrect
feature – is there some way to
extend it to other programs?
Franky Orwell
Try the free WordExpander
tool from www.wordexpander.
net, which also provides
AutoText functions in addition
to AutoCorrect, and works
across all your software.
Jargon buster!
64-bit
There are two versions of
Windows: 32-bit and 64-bit,
depending on the type of
processor you have. 64-bit
versions are becoming more
common, but before Windows
7, most were 32-bit.
DLL file
This tands for Dynamic Linked
Library, and refers to files that
HANGING MENU
A shell extension is contain resources shared by
the most common one or more programs or
reason for hangs in system tools.
Windows Explorer
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 75
 WorldMags.net
Quickfire questions
How do I go about upgrading
the graphics card on my
Advent DA2207 all-in-one PC?
Jill Killian
Sadly you can’t – one of the
limitations of all-in-one
computers is that, like laptops,
the core components aren’t
upgradeable. That’s partly due
to a lack of space – there’s not
even room to fit a low-profile
PCI Express card.
On some web pages, the
page gets stuck and has to be
recovered. What is the cause of
this problem, and how do I go
about fixing it?
Adam Frere
These kinds of problems can
often be traced to a plug-in
used by the page failing –
often Flash or Shockwave.
Check your browser’s add-on
settings and try disabling the
plug-ins to see if the pages
stop sticking (but note that
you’ll lose some of the page
functionality by doing so).
How I do resolve a data cycle
redundancy error (code 23)
when attempting to back up
with Macrium Reflect Free?
Ronald Bell
This is usually a symptom of a
corrupted drive – try running
the Check Disk tool on the
drive, and check its physical
health using a program like
CrystalDiskInfo (http://
crystalmark.info/?lang=auto),
which will warn you if it’s
about to fail.
Hold [Ctrl] and click
on each of the pink
entries in turn to select
them. Once they’re
selected, choose ‘File >
Disable selected items’,
and click ‘Yes’. Now
choose ‘Options >
Restart Explorer’.
Again, click ‘Yes’ when
prompted. Try right-
clicking now – if the
problem goes away, you
know it’s one of the
entries you’ve disabled.
From here you simply
re-enable each entry
one at a time,
then restart Explorer,
until the problem
reappears. Once
you’ve identified the
culprit, visit its web
page for an update
or to see if the
problem is a known one, remove GADGET SECURITY these well-known and tested
the program completely or simply There is a technical Gadgets from reputable sources?
risk, but trusted
leave the shell extension disabled. Gadgets are safe to Joe Claudio Di Veroli
use in Windows 7
Security Adam’s solution
ARE WINDOWS While there are clearly
GADGETS SAFE? acknowledged flaws
Q I am an IT professional and with the Windows 7
use a handful of Windows Gadgets, I agree that the danger is
Gadgets on a Windows 7 PC. I’ve perhaps overstated. The risk comes
never come across any security solely from third-party Gadgets, so
threats, but after Microsoft Microsoft’s default Gadgets remain
discontinued Gadgets due to safe to use. Therefore, while there
“unsolvable security flaws” a couple is a technical risk using third-party
of years ago, I decided to heed its gadgets, you can make yourself
advice and try the best alternative, as safe as Joe has by sticking to
Rainmeter. Sadly, none of its tried-and-trusted Gadgets from
Gadgets compare to the three I safe sources – if in doubt, using a
previously used (CPU Usage, GPU tool like the Web of Trust plugin
Meter and Network Meter), so (www.mywot.com) to vet a site
I tried to find evidence of the before downloading from it, and
dangers of using Gadgets online. always try to use the vendor’s
Other than infections caused by site for downloads. With these
downloading Gadgets from rogue precautions in place, I’m confident
websites, I can find none. Am I Joe can continue to use these three
wrong to feel I would be safe using Gadgets with no worries.

FORGOTTEN UAC
PASSWORD
Q I have lost the password for
User Account Control – how
can I retrieve it?
James Wake

Matt’s solution
The User Account
Control password is
the same one you use
to log into your own user account,
assuming you’re the administrator.
If you’re running Windows 7 or an
earlier version, and have forgotten
you own user account password,
read on for a possible way of
retrieving it.
1 Download and burn
Go to http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net
and click ‘Download ophcrack LiveCD’.
Choose XP or Vista/7 depending on your
version of Windows. Save the ISO file to your
hard drive, then burn the ISO file to disc
using ISO Recorder (www.alexfeinman.com).
2 Boot from disc
With the disc in the drive, reboot
your PC. It should boot to the Ophcrack
start screen (check your BIOS settings if not).
Leave ‘Ophcrack Graphic mode – automatic’
selected and press [Enter]. Wait for the startup
messages to run before it starts searching.

|
WorldMags.net
76 Help & Advice | March 2014
 Support
WorldMags.net
Technical help
Internet
CAN’T PRINT EMAILS
Q I am using BT Yahoo Email.
When I want to print an email
I click ‘Print’ and it comes up with a
blank page. If I right-click the email
and then choose ‘Print’ it prints just
the header and footer. I installed
another printer but get the same
frustrating results. Please help!
Joe Pester
Nick’s solution
Joe confirmed that he
was trying to print the
email using the ‘Print’
icon on the Yahoo website itself.
He also confirmed that the issue
was the same when using another
web browser. Sadly he didn’t reply
to our follow-up email, where we
asked him to try printing from
other similar websites to verify that
the issue lay with the Yahoo site.
If the issue is restricted to the
Yahoo site, the only suggestion we
have is a workaround. Joe’s default
browser is Firefox, so first he needs
to select the body of the email by
clicking and dragging around it
using his mouse. He should then
open the Firefox menu and select
‘Print’, then choose ‘Selection’
under ‘Print range’ and click ‘OK’ to
see if it prints the body correctly.
If this doesn’t work, Joe’s best
bet is to access his email via a mail
program such as Thunderbird
(www.mozilla.org/thunderbird),
which he can use for printing. He
should visit http://bit.ly/1cTQEg5 for
a guide to configuring Thunderbird
with BT Yahoo accounts.
anything I can do to rectify this?
Trying to watch something I’ve
streamed online through the port
is pretty much impossible.
Laurie Austin
James’s solution
You’re not alone in
having these problems,
and it appears to affect
all kinds of laptops, including those
with plenty of power. Assuming
your laptop is running smoothly
when not connected to an external
display (try cleaning it, defragging
the drive or even upgrading the
memory if you have 2GB or less
installed), there are various things
you can try to resolve the problem.
First, connect using HDMI if you
can to see if the problem persists.
Also make sure your TV or projector
is set as the primary monitor.
Right-click the desktop and choose
‘Screen resolution’. Click on your TV
or projector’s screen and tick the
‘Make this my main display’ box
before clicking ‘Apply’ to see if that
improves things.
Assuming it doesn’t, make sure
your laptop’s display matches Do you have
a supported resolution on your a PC problem?
external display – it takes its Get in touch…
resolution from the source, so Email full details of your
try scaling it down to 1,280 x 720 problem to the
to match the standard 720p HD support team and we’ll
resolution and see if that improves do our best to help
matters. It’s also worth switching windowsmagazine@
off any post-processing effects the futurenet.com
TV may apply, such as game or
movie mode. Also consider trying
different inputs – if your laptop
has an S-Video port, try using it
to connect to your TV’s analog
sockets. The resolution will be
lower, but it may improve matters.
It’s possible none of these tweaks
will work, in which case you may
have to try a different TV or accept
that you won’t be able to pipe
streamed video footage from your
laptop to an external display.Q
TV ISSUES
Streaming content
from your laptop
to TV can be a
tricky experience

Hardware
PROJECTOR SLOWS
DOWN LAPTOP “Connect using HDMI to see if the problem
Q When I connect a projector or
TV to my laptop’s VGA port, it
slows right down. A friend suggests
persists and make sure that your TV or
this is a graphics issue – is there projector is set as the primary monitor”

Jargon buster!
Gadgets
Mini applications created using
script and HTML (the language
used to create web pages) to
extract and display information
on the user’s desktop.

3 Load tables
Click the ‘Tables’ button. Click ‘Install’,
select ‘Computer’, then double-click ‘/’
followed by ‘media > hdc > tables’. Open the
folder you find inside and click ‘Choose’. The
table should appear in the Table Selection list
marked green. Click ‘OK’.
Context menu
The menu that appears when
4 Start search
Now click ‘Crack’ and wait while
you click on an object with the
right mouse button.
Ophcrack attempts to guess your password
– it may appear in two parts under LM Pwd 1 Shell extension
and LM Pwd 2, or in its entirety under NT A plug-in that adds extra
Pwd. Hopefully it’ll be found. Click ‘Stop’ functionality to Windows.
followed by ‘Exit’ when it’s revealed.

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 77
 WorldMags.net

NEW HARDWARE ESSENTIAL ACCESSORIES LATEST GAMES

Welcome 7ʕLɡLVʣɂɏ›ɡʕLɳɴʙLɳKWɡ
The days of your
computer being a
grey box on your
desk are long gone.
You can now take
your PC with you everywhere
you go, ready for whenever
you want to type out a report
or relax and have fun.
They say that the best camera 80 Budget compact cameras 82 Sony VAIO Pro 13
is the one you have with you, Capture amazing moments whenever they A traditional clamshell laptop that’s thin,
but that doesn’t mean you have happen with a top-quality camera that’s powerful and amazingly light. A great
small enough to tuck into your pocket. choice for working on the move.
to rely on your smartphone for
those rare photo opportunities.
We’ve tested five excellent
cameras that are tiny enough to
carry with you anywhere.
We’ve also looked at three of
the latest Windows 8 laptops for
business and pleasure, as well as
a selection of great new games
to play on them. Enjoy!
86 Gigabyte P25 94 Path of Exile
Nick Odantzis Deputy editor More compact than many gaming laptops, Embark on an epic journey in a cursed land
nick.odantzis@futurenet.com but no less powerful, with top components and take your character from zero to hero
packed into a beautifully designed chassis. in this free-to-play action RPG.

Our review guarantee Our awards…

Only the very
We use only acknowledged experts to review products, so you can use ÀQHVWSURGXFWV
receive our Best
our ratings with full confidence to make your buying decision
On Test Award.
These will have
How we review verdict as to which is the very We guarantee to test every excellent marks
One of the key tenets of our best in that category. The pace piece of hardware rigorously for quality.
review philosophy is that of development in computer and thoroughly, using only
hardware should be compared hardware means that it is very acknowledged experts to Our Best Value
against like products wherever GLIÀFXOWWRFRPSDUHVFRUHV establish the worth of a Award is given
possible. It is only when you pit from today with those from, product. We always review to products that
quite simply
WKHÀQHVWSURGXFWVRIDFHUWDLQ say, six months ago. Magazines from the viewpoint of our represent the
type against one another – at and websites that review a new readers; the day-to-day best value for
the same time – that you can product on its own run the risk practicality and quality of your money.
UHDOO\FRPHXSZLWKDGHÀQLWLYH of confusing or misleading. a product is paramount.

RATING EXPLAINED Superb Very good Good Disappointing Poor

WorldMags.net
78 | Help & Advice | March 2014

WorldMags.net
What’s inside…
84 Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga: the flexible hybrid
gets a smart makeover for professional users
86 Gigabyte P25: a top gaming laptop
for a surprisingly reasonable price
Our promise to you…
The Upgrade section is your key to finding out about the latest
products, all designed to help you get more from your PC
You can trust our reviews
Our expert reviewers are 100 per cent
independent, with years of experience
in the world of computing. Our rigorous
testing procedures mean that only
genuine, high-quality products are
awarded high star ratings. Further, very
few are handed our Best Value or Best
on Test Awards. If you see an item of
hardware bearing one of these marks,
\RXFDQEHFRQÀGHQWWKDWLWLVDQH[FHOOHQW
product. Always check when the award
was given, to ensure it is still up-to-date.
Upgrade
)ʅɸɗʙLVʤʖQɒ
80 Canon IXUS 140
80 Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS3
81 Nikon Coolpix S02
81 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX60
81 Samsung WB250F
82 Sony VAIO Pro 13
84 Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga
86 Gigabyte P25
88 F1 2014
90 The Stanley Parable
92 Rocksmith 2014
93 The Wolf Among Us
94 Path of Exile
96 World of Warplanes
“Whether we opted for Lewis Hamilton’s
Petronas Mercedes or Fernando Alonso’s
Ferrari, we were racing the best-looking
Grand Prix cars our PCs have seen”
7ʦ ʢɚWɛSDȰɏʴ
We’ll introduce you to new stuff
Wherever we can, we review new
hardware comparatively, pitching
it head-to-head against other similar
products. (Full details of our policy can be
found in the opposite page, under ‘Our
We choose the best products review guarantee’.) Of course, this isn’t
Thousands of new products for your always possible with new products and
computer are released every year and part of our duty to you is to introduce you
choosing between them can sometimes be a wide range of fascinating new hardware,
an impossible task. Our experts select only software, services and games.
the best hardware and software to feature The reviews of standalone hardware
in this magazine, making your decision on and software are just as thorough as our
which one to choose easier. Even better, comparative reviews. However, we do not
our awards and star rating system make it allocate scores to them because this can
VLPSOHWRÀQGWKHEHVWSURGXFWVIRU\RXU often be misleading. The only exception to
needs, with our recommended products this rule is on our games reviews, where
section giving you a fast, trustworthy guide the pace of change is a lot slower and
to a wide range of hardware and software. single scores can be genuinely useful.
WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 79
 WorldMags.net

Make sharper shooting your new

year’s resolution

Canon IXUS 140

Price £140 | $na (www.canon.com)

Canon’s Ixus cameras have always been

a top point-and-shoot choice, and this
16MP metallic wonder is no exception,
blending practicality with style and
convenience – it has the footprint of a
credit card and is as thin as your finger.
The auto mode recognises up to 32
scenarios and adjusts to give colour-rich,
detailed snaps. Shooting video is as easy
as tapping a button, and there’s Wi-Fi too.
The three-inch screen is high-resolution,
and the stabilised 8x zoom starts at a
wide-angle 28mm equivalent. Sure, sound
is mono and video isn’t Full HD 720p, but
this is a chic, user-friendly bargain.

Panasonic Lumix
DMC-XS3
Price £120 | $150 (www.panasonic.com)

The 14.1MP XS3 is even more slender than the

Canon and Fuji – 14mm deep and 103g in
weight. You could get it into a generously sized
wallet. You won’t need to part with much money
though, and with a 5x zoom, 1080p video,
microSD and a 230-shot rechargeable battery
you get a lot for your cash.
With a focal range starting at a wide 24mm
(35mm equivalent), low-light shots composed
via a 2.7-inch, 230k-dot LCD are aided by bright
f/2.8 aperture. There’s no Wi-Fi, you can only use
digital zoom for video and results are a tad basic,
but if you want a truly tiny camera, it’s ideal.

WorldMags.net
80 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Upgrade
WorldMags.net
Budget compacts

Nikon Coolpix S02

Price £120 | $180 (www.nikon.com)

At 100g, this camera retains the pretty stylings and tiny size of its S01 predecessor. The 3x zoom is still
here, but the sensor has been upgraded from a bog-standard 10MP CCD to a superior 13.2MP CMOS,
while the touchscreen has grown from 2.5 inches to 2.7 and 230k dots, so it’s less fiddly and awkward to
select icons. The video is Full HD with stereo sound, though you can’t use the optical zoom with it.
There’s no SD card or Wi-Fi, but the 7.3GB internal storage is plenty for capturing moments when
you’re out and about. Images are of the snapshot quality you’d expect, which is fair enough at this price.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX60

Price £149 | $223 (www.sony.com)

With a 16.2-megapixel, 1/2.3-inch CMOS, 8x zoom lens and one-touch

video recording with stereo sound, this is yet another excellent affordable
camera. This Sony is light enough to be carried in a pocket, and its controls
are straightforward enough for new users to grasp straight away. It produces
good colours and zoom transitions, and quality audio on video.
The only flies in the ointment are the tiny, fiddly buttons and a 2.7-inch,
231k LCD that’s not ideal for composition and review. It also comes in pink
if you’d like something a bit different from the usual silver and black.

Samsung WB250F
Price £140 | $250 (www.samsung.com)

This originally sold for around £199 but is now available

for a more reasonable £120-£140. That money will get you
one-touch, 1080p video with use of the stabilised, 18x zoom,
a back-illuminated, 14MP, 1/2.3-inch CMOS, a three-inch,
460k-dot touchscreen, and Wi-Fi that lets you control the
camera via your smartphone.
Its weight and design aren’t as impressive as some of the
other devices here, but it’ll fit in the pocket of your jeans, and
the rounded grip makes it easier to hold than the super-
skinny Ixus and Lumix. It delivers colourful results, and is a
practical way to capture winter memories.

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 81
 WorldMags.net

Sony Vaio Pro 13

£999 | $1,330 www.sony.com
A stunning lightweight build packed with real power and touchscreen tech

T
he 13.3-inch clamshell laptop
has become an endangered
species in the new era of
Windows 8 tablets. The tried and
tested form factor is certainly out
of vogue in the offices of Microsoft,
Samsung, Sony and Lenovo.
The rise of the tablet and the
Windows 8 revolution have thrown
new designs into the mix, and Sony
has been one of the pioneers of the
hybrid PC. The Sony VAIO Duo 11
and Duo 13 are the flagships of its
Windows 8 line-up, and old-style
laptops are relegated to the
business market. Add to that a
legion of hybrids such as the Asus
Vivobook, Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga
and, of course, Microsoft’s Surface
Pro 2, and it’s a crowded arena.
However, the hybrid gamble
hasn’t paid off. Touchscreen
devices account for just 10 per cent
of PC sales, and complaints about
usability, weight and battery life
are well founded. For those who
want to work, surf and create, the
clamshell is still the best choice –
and the Sony VAIO Pro 13 is one of
the most advanced there is.
Modern classic
As you unbox the Sony VAIO Pro
13, it’s hard not to be impressed –
the machine that slides out of the
packaging is astonishingly slim.
It has a trick up its sleeve, too: the
screen is fully touch-enabled, which
means you get a fantastic Windows
8 experience. This, along with its
super lightweight build, makes the
VAIO Pro 13 every bit as convenient
as the latest hybrids.
In keeping with its ‘Pro’ tag, the
laptop sports a corporate colour
scheme of pure black, but unlike
other business-focused machines,
it’s far from bland. Each surface
is contoured, with the interior
boasting shiny glass around the
bezel, brushed metal-effect plastic,
and matte plastic around the keys.
The VAIO Pro 13 barely troubles
the scales at a mere 1kg, and
measures just 12mm at its thickest
point. Other manufacturers have
attempted to use the lightest
materials to build super-thin
laptops, but the result is often a
machine that flexes alarmingly in
use, detracting from the premium
experience. Not so here. Although
it’s supremely light and svelte, the
Sony VAIO Pro 13 feels reassuringly
strong and resilient.
The VAIO Pro 13 boasts one
of Intel’s snazzy new generation
processors. The Intel Core i5 2000U
is a low-power chip, which extends
the machine’s battery life. Its
performance isn’t a patch on the
chips you’ll find in chunky desktop
replacement laptops, but being
an Intel Core chip, it can burst
up to 2.3GHz when performing
demanding tasks, such as movie
playback or image editing.
Inside you’ll find the standard
4GB of RAM, which is more than
enough to keep Windows feeling
sprightly. While many budget

WorldMags.net
82 | Help & Advice | March 2014

WorldMags.net
Sony Vaio Pro 13
laptops up the RAM to around 6GB
or 8GB, there’s little need to push
beyond the standard 4GB.
You get a 128GB SSD hard drive
as standard, which not only offers
twice the amount of space available
on most tablets, but is also of the
super-fast solid-state variety. This
keeps loading times down and
ensures the system is responsive.
The screen is a gorgeous full
HD panel, which (as we’ve already
mentioned) is fully touch-enabled.
In our experience, laptops with
touchscreens tend to be top-heavy
“The VAIO Pro 13 is such a strong all-round
performer, it’s impossible not to recommend”
with lacklustre visuals, but the VAIO
13 Pro defies that reputation. The
performance of the panel is superb,
and on full brightness the screen
is eye-searingly bright. The deep
colours are immediately pleasing
too, although they’re not the best
on the market. The shiny coating
also means it’s a little hard to use
in bright conditions. However, it
proved miraculously resistant to
fingerprints, even after extended
use, and we found the touch
controls accurate and responsive.
The benefits are tangible no
matter what you’re doing; text
looks crisp, and movies and photos
are stunning. This is all the more
impressive when you consider how
light and slim the VAIO Pro 13 is.
Graphics performance is left to the
Upgrade
Intel chip; there’s no separate
graphics card, which means serious
gaming is out of reach. That’s no
surprise – the VAIO 13 Pro is a
business laptop first and foremost
– but there’s certainly enough
grunt for image and video editing,
and you could easily play games
such as SimCity (on reduced
graphical settings), or offerings
from the Windows Store.
Keys and connectivity
Many Windows 8 hybrids fall down
due to cramped and uncomfortable
keyboards, but this is where the
VAIO Pro 13 really rams home its
advantage. The keyboard is as
good as it gets, with light and
responsive keys that are well
spaced and comfortable. It’s easy to
type quickly and accurately, and it’s
suitable for nearly any task, from
quick emails to long dissertations.
The trackpad is also excellent,
and supports a range of gestures,
including pinch-to-zoom and
scrolling. It never succumbs to the
mis-registering that has plagued so
many other trackpads we’ve tested.
The Pro 13 doesn’t break any
records for connectivity, but it has
everything you’re likely to need.
There are two USB 3.0 ports, which
offer excellent data speeds, an
HDMI port and an SD card slot.
WorldMags.net
March 2014 |
KEY FEATURES
Sony Vaio Pro 13
Supplier www.sony.co.uk
Operating system Windows 8.1
Processor Intel Core i5 4200U 1.6GHz
Storage 128GB SSD
RAM 4GB
Graphics Intel HD 5000 graphics chipset
Connectivity 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth 4.0, HDMI, USB 3.0
Weight 1.06kg
Screen size 13.3-inch touchscreen
Display resolution 1,920 x 1,080 Full HD
Battery life proved to be
excellent, despite the slim build
and powerful processor, and the
laptop lasted 220 minutes in our
movie looping tests. That means
five hours of web surfing, which is
impressive given its size.
The Sony VAIO Pro 13 shows that
the future of laptops is still rosy.
This fantastic machine manages
to combine power, decent battery
life and incredible usability with
a diminutive build – and it has an
excellent touchscreen to boot.
It’s rare to see a device that
makes no obvious compromises,
but the VAIO Pro 13 is pretty close.
Anyone who wants to play games
and send the odd email will be
better served by the Surface or one
of the plethora of top Windows 8
tablets. However, if you want to
work effectively and still have the
benefits of a touchscreen PC, the
Sony VAIO Pro 13 is a great choice.
It’s easy to fall in love with because
it gets so much right. The well-
spaced keyboard, great screen and
negligible weight make it such a
strong all-round performer, it’s
impossible not to recommend.
There are obvious downsides to
the clamshell design, and having to
operate the touchscreen with your
hands held over the keyboard does
make it feel a little like an add-on.
If Sony had employed a twisting or
backward-folding hinge to turn the
VAIO Pro 13 into a tablet, it would
be an even stronger proposition,
but this form factor comes with its
own challenges, and we applaud
Sony for creating one of the best
laptops we’ve ever reviewed. Q
In a world of hybrids, the Sony
VAIO Pro 13 shows there’s still life
in the classic clamshell design.
Help & Advice | 83
 WorldMags.net

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga

£780 | $1,300 www.lenovo.com
Lenovo’s Yoga line brought style to Windows 8. Can this new version continue the trend?

L
enovo’s flexible Yoga series
has proved to be one of the
best demonstrations of the
hybrid laptop concept, regardless
of widespread scepticism about
the design. However, the Yoga’s
ability to switch deftly between a
notebook and three quasi-tablet
form factors has been the sole
territory of casual users – until now.
This new laptop is the ThinkPad
Yoga – a fusion of Lenovo’s flagship
consumer and professional laptops,
packed into a chassis that’s just
18mm thick. But with the rather
excellent Yoga 2 Pro already on
the scene, what’s so special about
this new version?
Professional styling
For one, this Windows 8.1 Pro-
powered Intel Ultrabook comes
with a 12.5-inch, 1,920 x 1,080
Full HD Gorilla Glass panel with
10-point multi-touch controls.
It can’t compete with the Yoga 2
Pro’s razor-sharp 3,200 x 1,800
QHD+ screen, but what would you
really need that many pixels for?
As for aesthetics, the Yoga 2 Pro
has a soft-touch finish throughout
(even on its touchpad), whereas
the ThinkPad Yoga is completely
housed in a magnesium alloy frame
that feels almost matte. This is
also the only Yoga with Lenovo’s
trademark touchpad, red TrackPoint
mouse nub, and illuminated logos
on the lid and palm rest.
There’s another major difference
between the ThinkPad Yoga and its
cousin: Lenovo’s new Lift ‘n’ Lock
keyboard. Lenovo wouldn’t dare
change its lauded chiclet keyboard
design, but this version appears
to recede into the chassis as you
fold the screen toward the bottom
of the machine. In reality, the
keyboard frame rises to sit flush
with the keyboard deck and palm
rest, in what Lenovo calls an
"engineering optical illusion".
The big, zinc alloy hinge returns,
allowing this Ultrabook to bend a
full 360 degrees. This feature makes
the Yoga line’s four modes possible:
the standard notebook mode,
a stand mode that rests on the
keyboard’s face, a tent mode that
stands at a 270-degree angle, and
a full-blown tablet mode with the
keyboard on the back. The new Lift
‘n’ Lock design means these modes
are considerably more comfortable
than on previous Yoga laptops
– especially the tablet mode – but
at 1.6kg, you won’t be able to hold
the ThinkPad Yoga comfortably
with one hand for long.
The ThinkPad Yoga’s stand and
tent modes are more useful for
consuming content than creating
it. The tent mode in particular is
ideal for watching TV at home,
browsing the web and playing
Angry Birds, thanks to the snappy
and responsive touchscreen.
The ThinkPad Yoga sits in the
middle of two different design
ideologies that work against each
other The result: an IdeaPad-

WorldMags.net
84 | Help & Advice | March 2014

WorldMags.net
Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga
shaped ThinkPad, but with the
materials ThinkPads are known
for. The smooth magnesium shell
causes the screen to slip slightly
when in tent mode, despite the
rubber strip at the end of the
keyboard deck. It’s a limitation that
was necessary to achieve as true a
ThinkPad look and feel as possible.
Limited connectivity
The ThinkPad Yoga has just two
USB ports, and lacks the Ethernet
and VGA ports that many of us use
on a daily basis. The addition of
“The ThinkPad Yoga is a fusion of Lenovo’s
flagship consumer and professional laptops”
mini-HDMI is nice, but it doesn’t
make up for having to use a USB
Ethernet adapter.
This setup largely matches
what’s on offer from the Yoga 2
Pro. The major differences here
are the ThinkPad Yoga’s 802.11ac
networking, which does not come
as standard, and the 1080p display.
While the Yoga 2 Pro lacks the
snappier AC wireless standard, it
offers a sharper IPS touch panel.
These specs match those of the
13-inch MacBook Air, and even
exceed them in some regards,
such as CPU clock speed. However,
Apple’s machine offers double
the storage and costs slightly less.
Each core in this latest-
generation Intel processor can
ramp up to 2.3GHz with both cores
Upgrade
active using Intel’s Turbo Boost.
However, users who spend a lot of
time knee-deep in multi-sheet
Excel projects or graphics-heavy
applications like Photoshop might
be better served by the extra RAM
and the 2.1GHz, dual-core Core
i7-4600U of the upgraded version.
That chip can be boosted up to
3.3GHz. For anyone upgrading from
a third-generation Intel chip, the
most noticeable gain will be in
endurance, but more on that later.
There’s no choice of graphics
configurations to choose from.
All of the available CPU options
include Intel’s integrated HD
Graphics 4400, and the ThinkPad
Yoga doesn’t offer a dedicated
graphics processor.
Good all-rounder
The ThinkPad Yoga didn’t blow
the doors off in any of our tests,
but certainly met their demands
like any laptop with these specs
should. This is a very capable
hybrid device, even in its base
configuration. However, although
its performance is on a par with
other new Ultrabooks, don’t expect
to play any serious 3D games on it.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga, like
most solid state drive-equipped
notebooks, boots up and launches
apps almost instantly, and although
WorldMags.net
March 2014 |
KEY FEATURES
Lenovo Yoga
Supplier www.lenovo.com
Operating system Windows 8.1 Pro
Processor Dual-core Intel Core i5-4200U
1.6GHz
Storage 128GB SSD
RAM 4GB
Graphics Intel HD Graphics 4400
Connectivity Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth 4.0, mini-HDMI, USB 3.0
Weight 1.6kg
Screen size 12.5-inch with 10-point
multi-touch
Display resolution 1,920 x 1,080 Full HD
you’ll have to leave Battlefield 4
to your gaming PC or Xbox One,
casual games like Angry Birds will
run without a hitch. They also
look like a dream on that 1080p
multi-touch display.
The ThinkPad Yoga’s battery life
is respectable but nothing to write
home about, and the synthetic test
PCMark 8 pegged this Ultrabook
at just three hours and six minutes.
This may seem very brief, but
keep in mind that both tests were
conducted at maximum brightness
and on the highest performance
setting. The ThinkPad Yoga should
last for at least another hour or
two with its screen dimmed, the
keyboard backlight turned off and
on a more battery-friendly power
setting. Still, it’s not quite up to
snuff compared with the Yoga 2 Pro
and MacBook Air, which lasted five
and nine hours, respectively.
A Full HD resolution seems to
be the sweet spot for Windows 8.1.
Anything sharper and you start to
run into problems, as the Yoga 2
Pro demonstrates. The ThinkPad
Yoga’s 1080p panel shines at 400
nits and offers terrific viewing
angles, with zero distortion even
at 180 degrees. Reading text on
the screen is a delight thanks to
font smoothing, and touch input
is quick and responsive.
In some ways, the ThinkPad
Yoga shines, offering snappy
performance in a striking form
factor. In others it falls short, with
modes that seem superfluous,
despite a welcome (and innovative)
improvement to its keyboard. Q
An attractive and perplexing
machine that tries to combine the
best of home and office designs.
Help & Advice | 85
 WorldMags.net

Gigabyte P25
£1,300 | $1,500 www.gigabyte.com
A solid gaming laptop that’s less expensive than most

T
he P25 is the new bread and
butter in Gigabyte’s range
of gaming portables, cutting
a nice line between the larger
17-inch laptops and their slimline
Ultrabook counterparts. Whereas
those laptops make compromises
in order to provide a larger screen
or better portability, the P25 caters
mainly for gamers who want
maximum performance, without
having to lug an unnecessarily
large chassis around with them.
Mind you, at 2.8kg, the P25 isn’t
exactly what we’d call lightweight.
Nor is it particularly slim, but if you
want decent graphics capabilities,
something has to give. Thankfully,
Gigabyte has done a decent job of
reining things in and making the
most of every inch of space.
Most of the competition in the
gaming arena is from 17-inch
laptops. The P25 has a 15.6-inch
screen, which puts it at a bit of a
disadvantage, but makes it much
more portable. It’ll fit in a bag
with a 15-inch laptop pocket with
a little gentle persuasion.
No frills
Although this is a gaming PC,
Gigabyte hasn’t gone over the top
with flashy additions that have no
real bearing on performance. Okay,
the back of the screen is a little
garish, and the fan vents at the rear
have been designed to mimic the
exhaust tail pipes of a supercar, but
you can choose to have it clad in
plain black, and elsewhere the P25
is quite minimalist. It’s a solid thing,
that’s for sure, though it does feel a
tiny bit cheap in places.
Instead of spending time on the
aesthetics, Gigabyte has included
some top-of-the-line components
to keep gamers happy, including a
new generation Intel processor, as
well as a storming graphics card
from Nvidia. The Gigabyte P25
houses Intel’s Core i7 4700MQ chip.
It’s very powerful, and because it’s
based on Intel’s fourth-generation
technology, it consumes less power
than its predecessor, resulting in
improved battery life.
The 4700MQ isn’t the top of the
range – there are several higher-
performing chips above it – but
it offers great value for money.
Anything else would have raised
the laptop’s price much higher.
The Nvidia Geforce GTX 770M
graphics aren’t the top of the line
either, but that kind of power costs
a lot more, too. Nevertheless, the
770M delivers the goods in terms
of performance, and equivalent
gaming notebooks, such as the MSI
GS70, make do with a GTX765M
card. The Asus G750JX offers almost
identical performance for a similar
price, but it lacks the Gigabyte’s
super-responsive SSD and is a much
heavier laptop (part of which is
down to the bigger screen).
The 8GB of memory is good
(though not uncommon at this
level), but it’s the triple-storage
solution that’s really worth

WorldMags.net
86 | Help & Advice | March 2014

WorldMags.netGigabyte P25
highlighting. The model we tested
came with just a 128GB SSD, but
Gigabyte lets you customise your
storage setup. You can keep it
simple with a single SSD and a
conventional HDD (up to 1TB), or
you can add two SSDs (up to 512GB
each – that’s 1TB in total). This is a
great idea if you’re not sure what
you want right now, or you simply
can’t afford a second SSD. The
hard drive option means you have
somewhere to deposit your files
without adding an external drive
to complement your main unit.
“It won’t blow you away in terms of performance,
but it will play the latest games at high settings”
If that’s not enough, the P25 also
comes with a Blu-ray drive which
supports the writing and rewriting
of discs, which gives you yet
another option for backing up your
files. The Blu-ray drive – naturally
– allows you to watch HD movies,
and the Dolby Home Theatre v4’s
Movie setting is designed to create
a pseudo-surround-sound effect.
It certainly gives the audio a boost
for films, but, even with the levels
fine-tuned in the advanced options,
it’s hard to improve the somewhat
flat tone of the speakers.
Keyboard warrior
The P25’s keyboard features
adjustable backlighting for
night-time gaming. Unlike other
gaming laptops, such as the MSI
Upgrade
GS70, which go all-out to give you
a completely customised setup,
the P25 is a much more subdued
affair. As is traditional in the world
of gaming, Gigabyte has isolated
the [W], [S], [A] and [D] keys to give
gamers immediate access to the
controls they need most.
We found the P25 quite nice to
type on, with just the right amount
of feedback – slightly spongy and
not too shallow a travel. It makes
long bouts of typing easy, with no
mis-registered keystrokes. It also
has a keypad, which is handy if
you’re working on spreadsheets
frequently. The trackpad is nice and
spacious too, but we occasionally
found it a little on the sensitive side,
and the left and right buttons need
to be pressed right on the edge,
otherwise they won’t register.
The P25 comes with an array of
connections, including two USB 3.0
ports, HDMI, an SD card reader,
D-sub and a handy eSATA/USB
combo port. A Kensington lock
rounds things off nicely, enabling
you to tether the laptop to a desk
if you feel the need.
Although gaming laptops are
never really intended to be left
unplugged from a mains charger
for long, the P25 surprised us in
the mobile stakes with an entirely
commendable 154 minutes of
WorldMags.net
March 2014 |
KEY FEATURES
Gigabyte P25
Supplier www.gigabyte.com
Operating system Windows 8.1 Pro
Processor Quad-core Intel Core i7
4700MQ 2.4GHz
Storage 128GB SSD
RAM 8GB
Graphics Nvidia GeForce GTX 770M
GDDR5 3GB
Connectivity 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth 4.0, USB 3.0
Weight 2.8kg
Screen size 15.6-inch
Display resolution 1,920 x 1,080 Full HD
battery life, helped no doubt by its
excellent processor.
Noisy breathing
When the P25 needs a lick of speed,
the dual rear fans kick in and you
can really feel a rush of air coming
from the back vents. It’s certainly
no church mouse – this thing really
makes a lot of noise. You’ll need a
good pair of headphones to keep
out the racket, otherwise you might
end up with a headache.
Unfortunately, while the speakers
are loud enough to smother the
fans, they’re pretty much devoid
of any sort of charm. There are no
fancy audio effects gracing the
P25’s specification sheet.
In this day and age we’d expect
to find an IPS screen, but although
Gigabyte’s less-gaming-focused
P35 model includes such a display
for richer colours and less reflection
in most lighting situations, the P25
makes do with a slightly cheaper
matte LED display. Some gamers
prefer this, but most manufacturers
have moved to IPS, making it an
odd choice. It doesn’t quite have
the zing of an IPS and has a distinct
‘gravelly’ appearance, but its
viewing angles are fine.
Overall, we were impressed with
the Gigabyte P25. It won’t blow you
away in terms of performance, but
it’s enough to play the majority of
new games at high settings thanks
to the excellent Core i7 processor
and 8GB of RAM. If you’re after a
gaming PC but your budget won’t
stretch to the likes of the MSI GX60,
the P25 is definitely worth a look. Q
A surprisingly powerful gaming
laptop for the money, with great
components in a stylish chassis.
Help & Advice | 87
 WorldMags.net
Pit crews can replace a driver’s
entire body in under five seconds

Play this…
Six new games available to
play on your Windows computer

F1 2013
Codemasters cuts DIHZFRUQHUVEXWNHHSVLWVIRRWWRWKHÁRRU
Price £30 | $60
Developer Codemasters
Publisher Codemasters
Multiplayer Up to 16 on Steam (plus six AI) DRM Steam Web www.formula1-game.com
Recommended specs Dual-core CPU, 4GB RAM, 1GB DirectX 10 graphics card
Although coded
primarily for the
gamepad crowd, this
multi-platform sequel
offers wheel-and-pedal
equipped sim racers a
persuasive reason to take
a break from their online
iRacing contests.
Codemasters’ EGO 3.0
gaming engine can’t match
top-line simulations for
outright driving fidelity, but it
fakes the process well enough
to give those pricey force-
feedback wheels an enjoyable
workout – especially with
cheats such as ABS and
traction control switched off.
Enable the game’s brilliant
dynamic weather, and rain
adds further drama to an
already challenging search for
purchase on the road.
Featuring all 11 teams, 22
drivers and 19 tracks from the
2013 Formula One season, the
game’s exclusive F1 licensing
remains a key selling point.
Codemasters has expertly
replicated each vehicle, right
down to the wheel nuts, and
whether we opted for Lewis
Hamilton’s Petronas Mercedes
or Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari,
we were racing the best-
looking Grand Prix cars our
PCs have seen. The circuits are
similarly well done, boasting
levels of detail to impress even
the most demanding F1 fan
while remaining surprisingly
playable on mid-range PCs
(we were able to max out
all graphics settings on our
dual-core, 4GB RAM, Radeon
HD 5850 machine).
Ghost riders
F1 2013’s flashiest new feature
is the addition of classic Grand
Prix cars from decades past.
Flinging Alan Jones’s FW07B
Williams through Brands
Hatch’s knuckle-whitening
Paddock Hill Bend, or smoking
the tyres of Gerhard Berger’s
turbocharged Ferrari F1/87 out
of the final hairpin at Circuito
de Jerez was both exhilarating
and tempering as we came to
appreciate the limits, nuances
and personalities of each car.
The basic game offers five of
these beasts, plus two 1980s
tracks, while the Classic edition
includes five 1990-era cars and
two more circuits (albeit for
an additional £10). The limited
car count sets up some rather
sad-looking 10-car grids – a
1980 Williams has no business
racing a turbo-era 1988 Lotus
– but the nostalgia factor is
definitely compelling.
Multiple play modes include
an expanded Young Drivers
Test and carry-over Career,
Time Trial, Time Attack, and
Season Challenge options.
Codemasters has also reprised
the much-missed full season
Grand Prix mode and
swapped F1 2012’s Champions
mode for an entertaining
new Scenario alternative, with
gamer-centric challenges. Solo
players will also appreciate
the better AI, less draconian
penalty system and overdue
inclusion of mid-race game

WorldMags.net
88 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Upgrade
WorldMags.net Play this…
The dynamic weather
is terrifyingly good What’s in a wheel?
Drivers’ dashboards, then and now

Featuring enough buttons, displays, switches and dials to operate a small

starship, Formula One steering wheels have evolved into carbon fibre
command modules that cost more than your car. F1 2013 gives you the
freedom to romp around in old-school ’70s, ’80s and ’90s machines, or
elevate your standards to 2013’s button-festooned era of paddle shifters,
hand clutches and engine management controls.

1976 Ferrari 312T You can almost smell the Alcantara leather.

How many polygons?

All of them

2013 Ferrari F138 That middle dial updates your Facebook page.

If you want
full F1 2013
licensing, this
is your game

saves. Apart from some 1980 Williams FW07B A study in British reserve.
warping issues in graphically
intense wet races, the
RaceNet-enhanced online
multiplayer game is hiccup-
free, hopefully attracting more
players than F1 2012’s woefully
under-populated effort.
F1 2013 does have speed
bumps: most notably its
pathetically short, non- 2013 Williams FW35 Distracted driving much? Texting kills.
saveable replays, mouse-less
console interface, and
overpriced ’90s car collection,
but these are poor design
decisions, not bugs. There’s
enough simulation here to
keep F1 fans burning those
Pirelli slicks down to the cords,
and enough game to etch a
smile on their faces too. Q

Fans of modern Formula One

will likely praise its depth,
while railing about missteps.

Shame about the non-

saveable replays

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 89
 WorldMags.net
It looks impressive, but
it’s hardly practical

The Stanley Parable

Flicking through a magazine, Stanley paused to read a review…
Price £8 | $15
Developer Galactic Cafe
Publisher In-house
Multiplayer None DRM Origin Web www.stanleyparable.com
Recommended specs 3GHz CPU, 128MB GPU, 2GB RAM
This is the 11th time
we’ve completed The
Stanley Parable. We’ll
avoid spoiling the
story for you, and instead say
that in the 15 or so minutes
it took us to finish our last
playthrough, we laughed,
felt a pang of sadness and,
more than anything, were
genuinely surprised.
Even after 10 previous
attempts – more if you count
those with the Half-Life 2 mod
that inspired this full version
– we were still being shown
something new. The Stanley
Parable isn’t a long game, but
it is a broad one.
If you’ve played that mod,
we can save you some time
by giving you our review in a
nutshell. The Stanley Parable
is broader, denser, smarter,
funnier and darker. It’s a
wonderfully twisted maze of
consequence that’s packed
with jokes and surrealism.
Four stars. For everyone else,
let’s begin again.
The Stanley Parable starts
in an office. There you meet
Stanley, on the day that the
orders from his menial job
stop and his co-workers
disappear. You also meet the
narrator: the disembodied
voice telling Stanley’s tale.
The Stanley Parable isn’t that
story, but it is the story about
that story.
Forking paths
From Stanley’s first-person
perspective, you follow the
narrator’s instructions. When
he says that Stanley leaves his
office, you leave the office.
When he says that Stanley
walks through the empty
corridors, you walk through
the empty corridors. When
he says that Stanley heads
through the left door, you... ah.
There are two doors here, and
you’re not Stanley. You’re you,
with all the free will and sense
of rebellion that implies.
So what do you do?
Whatever option you
choose, The Stanley Parable
branches, and branches, and
branches again. At each of the
game’s many intersections,
you can either follow the
narrator’s instructions or
ignore them and face the
consequences of your petty
resistance. Each combination
of choices leads to something
unique. Some of these
‘endings’ are lighthearted,
some are absurd, some are
unnerving, most are self-
referential and many centre
upon the narrator’s attempts
to get back to his story.
There are a few reasons
why it works so well, the
most obvious of which is the
narrator’s character. At times,
he feels like an antagonist,
but really he’s narrative
design personified. Often
exasperated, he’s as trapped
by your whims as you are by
his retribution. Depending on
the path you’re walking, he
can be grandiose, affectionate,
cold, impassioned, pleading,
and, often, wearied.

WorldMags.net
90 | Help & Advice | March 2014

WorldMags.net
You didn’t expect it to
make sense, did you?
Backing up his versatile
performance is the level
design, which acts as a third,
equally petulant character.
Moment to moment
interactions with the game
are light – mostly walking
and pressing an occasional
button. But Stanley feels more
engaging than other first-
person ambulators (like Dear
Esther or Proteus) in the way
that it’s constantly challenging
you to find ways of reinforcing
your agency over the game.
In response to these actions
the map can warp, glitch and
double back on itself, load into
something new, or restart into
a false opening. Every loading
screen elicits a spark of
anticipation, because it feels
as if anything could be on the
other side of that transition.
There are pacing issues,
but they’re inherent in the
illusory freedom. The more
subtle endings can fall flat if
Upgrade
Play this…
Never has a whiteboard
doodle been so apt
Suicide? If only it
were that easy
Stanley, before
his parable
experienced directly after the
most shocking and bizarre
ones as well.
The first choice
More ironically, this game Two doors, many possibilities
about game endings doesn’t
actually have a proper one of
its own. Having run through
our internal checklist of
possible paths, we’re now left
poking around for possible
secrets. And so The Stanley
Parable ends on a whimper,
but to have it any other way
would spoil the frequent
bangs along the way. Q
Inventive, surprising and
hilarious. This is how to make
a game about games.
Go left for... Go right for...
The broom closet, a keypad, an A nice room, a third door, an elevator,
escape, an interactive tour, buttons, happiness, sadness, love, adventure,
freedom, death, a breakdown, a restarts, a survey, a phonecall, an
countdown, The Stanley Parable. instructional video and a baby.
WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 91
 WorldMags.net
Rocksmith requires a unique
0.25in jack to USB cable
The lag issues of the previous
game have been eradicated
The game will even help
you tune your guitar correctly
Rocksmith 2014
Pick up your axe and learn to bend, pick and shred like a rock god
Price £40 | $60
Developer Ubisoft San Francisco
Publisher Ubisoft
Multiplayer Local co-op DRM Steam, Uplay Web http://rocksmith.ubi.com
Recommended specs Dual-core CPU, 512MB GPU, 4GB RAM
New guitar players
have never had it
so good. In my day,
you’d hear a Nirvana
song on the radio, blow your
savings on a crummy Fender
Stratocaster clone, and then
spend the next 15 years
trying to remember how
to finger an open G chord.
It took guts to try, but the
effort meant we might get
to play some stupid open
mic night at college and
maybe impress a girl, as the
rock ‘n’ roll gods intended.
That’s not the way things
will pan out in the future,
though. The next generation
of young guitar heroes will
have Rocksmith 2014 to teach
them how to play, and it’s a far
better teacher and motivator
in the craft of playing guitar
than anything our teenage
selves could have imagined,
back in the day.
92 | Help & Advice | March 2014
Rocksmith will point you to new
techniques when it feels you’re ready
This year’s edition of the
game – which requires you
to attach an actual, real-life
guitar to your computer using
a specialised USB cable –
improves on everything from
the original. Every song and
nearly every mode is available
right from the beginning, and
developer Ubisoft guides you
through the game’s many
parts by assigning you small,
manageable goals, which are
known as Missions.
We missed almost every
note in the bridge to White
Zombie’s Thunderkiss ’65,
and Rocksmith picked up on
that fact, giving us a Mission
to play through the bridge
in Riff Repeater until we
had mastered it. The game
also monitors when a song
will introduce you to new
techniques, such as slides or
hammer-ons, and points you
towards handy video tutorials
WorldMags.net
Minigames offer new incentives
to improve your technique
and chord charts when the
moment is right.
More importantly, Rocksmith
2014 obliterates the visual and
audio lag that plagued its
predecessor. Every note we
played was on target with the
game’s notational elements,
and resonated clearly through
the software amplifiers as we
plucked the strings. It’s exactly
how the first Rocksmith should
have worked.
Jam session
Rocksmith’s standout feature is
Session mode, where you pick
up to three other instruments
that will improvise based on
your playing. It sounds cheesy
on paper, but as we fingered
through the pentatonic scale
presented to us, the software
bandmates jammed along
with us, changing tempo and
intensity based on our playing.
If only real bandmates were as
When you see that, it will make
you feel like a real rock star
responsive – and as talented
– as these virtual ones.
The game’s collection
of minigames and its Score
Attack mode offer new
incentives to improve your
technique. The minigames,
in particular, are inspired by
classic coin-op games, right
down to the fake arcade
boot-up screens.
The biggest mark against
Rocksmith 2014 is that, at its
core, it’s a guitar-teaching tool.
Even experienced guitarists
will enjoy playing the diverse
setlist, though, and may even
learn a thing or two. Ubisoft
will also add DLC in the form
of albums and songs, much
like the original Rocksmith.
We’ll probably buy quite a
few of them, too.
We’ve never had a guitar
teacher who was as much fun
as Rocksmith 2014, and we’ve
never wanted to practise as
much as we do now. Q
Not just a fun game, but also
the best way to learn to play
or improve your technique.
 Upgrade
WorldMags.net Play this…
Remember that time you 1980s New York
huffed, and you puffed? was really, really pink

Crime is a disease. Meet He’s just as mean

the cure. It’s a mongoose as he looks

“Wait, Telltale’s Dickensian

adventure is next month?”

The Wolf Among Us

When murder comes to Fabletown, Bigby Wolf goes on the prowl
Price £19 | $25 (for five episodes)
Developer Telltale Games
Publisher In-house
Multiplayer None DRM Steam Web www.telltalegames.com
Recommended specs Core 2 Duo CPU, 3GB RAM, 1GB graphics card
Bigby Wolf isn’t
worried about survival.
Before he left the
Homeland, he was the
Big Bad Wolf. The one who
terrorised the Three Little
Pigs. The one who schemed
to have Little Red Riding
Hood for dinner. He can
handle himself. But he is
worried about his job as
sheriff of Fabletown, a
community of fairytale
immigrants (Fables) hiding
out in 1980s New York.
The moral dilemmas that
have become the signature of
developer Telltale Games form
the core of this new episodic
adventure, but Bigby comes
from Bill Willingham’s Fables
comic series with already-
established relationships. We
never felt as though we were
trying to build emotional
bonds with Mr Toad or Bigby’s
boss, Snow White, the way
that we did with The Walking
Dead’s survivors.
Faith, which kicks off this
five-episode series, introduces
Bigby and Fabletown before
dropping a grisly murder
on the sheriff’s doorstep.
However, investigating the
crime doesn’t involve a great
deal more than walking
around and clicking on items
in the environment.
Unhappily ever after
Telltale has distanced itself
from traditional adventure
game trappings, such as
environmental puzzles,
and without them The Wolf
Among Us is a leaner, moodier
detective thriller. The game’s
artists have done an incredible
job of re-envisioning ’80s New
York as a place where harsh
shadows collide with neon
pinks and purples. The bold
colours give Wolf an
oppressive, grungy vibe.
This feels like the kind of
place where people would
be murdered all the time.
But Fables are more
resilient than humans, which
is a convenient basis for some
brutal quicktime brawls. The
fights are flashily animated,
but also our least favourite
portions of the game, because
we mostly lose control of
Bigby’s character.
Thankfully, the majority
of the first episode’s snappy
two-hour runtime is devoted
to conversation. The dialogue
system is identical to The
Walking Dead’s, where four
conversation options cover the
spectrum from ‘gruff jerk’ to
‘gruff silent type’.
Faith presents a couple of
major choices that influence
how future episodes play out,
but our favourite moment
was a tense sequence that
was unusually open-ended.
We had to decide when to
ambush a suspicious ruffian
rooting around a crime scene.
If we jumped out of hiding too
soon, we wouldn’t learn why
he was skulking around. If we
waited too long… well, there
was a gun in the room, and we
didn’t want to find out what
he might do with it.
The more we’ve thought
about The Wolf Among Us,
the more its choices and their
ramifications have got under
our skin. We lied to someone
in the first episode, in the
belief that it was better
not to get involved in their
problems. But what if they
learn the truth? We also let a
violent Fable escape, and now
he’s prowling Fabletown’s
shadowy streets somewhere.
We don’t think he’s a killer, but
if he is, will the next death be
on our hands? We’re afraid to
find out, but we can’t wait. Q
A deft application of Telltale
Games’ moral quandries to a
murder mystery setting.

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 93
 WorldMags.net
Blood apes are resistant to fire.
Must be the asbestos fur

Occasional boss monsters

boost the challenge

Path of Exile
your weapons glow, or give
your character new emotes.
There are a few upgrades such
as expanded item storage, but
you won’t need these until
you’re seriously invested in
Kill, loot and upgrade your way to action RPG glory maxing out a few characters.
We mention this now because
Price Free-to-play, £2 to £15 for cosmetic upgrades the game’s granular skill
Developer Grinding Gear system, which is based on a
Publisher In-house huge number of individual
Multiplayer Up to six, co-op DRM Steam Web www.pathofexile.com skill nodes, could easily have
Recommended specs 1.4GHZ CPU, 2GB RAM, GeForce 7800GT/Radeon X1950, 5GB HDD, 2GB RAM been monetised to death.
Levelling up gives you a
point to spend on the levelling
Compulsion is a A more glamorous locale feeling, Path of Exile is the board: a vast and daunting
dubious sort of than Path of Exile’s grey beach 200-hour time sink for you. maze of connected nodes,
pleasure, but it’s what would lessen the triumphant each representing a skill
action RPGs excel at. moment 12 hours later when Free-for-all increase. You plot a course
With their slow levelling you annihilate a 20-strong Your adventures take place in across this board by spending
curves, gradually unlocking giant spider brood and think the cursed land of Wraeclast. levelling points to ignite
skills and swelling hordes back to those first moments. All the immediately playable adjacent nodes. Powerful
of foes, Diablo, Titan Quest, Sometimes you’ll find folk character classes have been gold-encrusted variants are
Torchlight and now Path of waiting beneath exclamation thrown out of their cushy scattered here and there,
Exile all aim to ensnare rather marks to give you quests, but homelands for various offering major stat buffs that
than instantly delight. mostly you punch, loot, level reasons, and must now carve can help you specialise and
The 15-year-old formula up, equip your stolen gains out a new life for themselves, develop your character.
has barely evolved, but is still and mould your bedraggled slicing up thousands of I spent most of my time
effective. You begin dressed vagrant into a killing machine. monsters in dark dungeons. levelling a Duellist, a dexterous
in rags, punching zombies in It’s a character arc of sorts; The game is free-to-play but powerful rogue type.
a gloomy town with your bare one plotted to the sound of a and very generous. The He’s one of Path of Exile’s
hands, because any grander thousand mouse-clicks, but microtransaction store is seven classes, which also
beginning would curtail your which comes with a quiet almost entirely stocked with include the magic-wielding
slow ascent to godhood. satisfaction. If you value that cosmetic effects that make Witch, the powerful Marauder,

WorldMags.net
94 | Help & Advice | March 2014

WorldMags.net
The catacombs are
especially menacing
Activate shrines for
a brief deadly aura
long-range specialist the Arrow Marauder’, or
Ranger, a Templar who’s hundreds of others, each
good at both whacking and carefully turned over by other
zapping, a lithe assassin called community members. Good
the Shadow, and the Scion, knowledge of these builds
an expert class unlocked by is well rewarded by PoE’s
playing the game. Your class popular community races,
denotes your starting position challenge participants to
on the levelling board. rush as far as possible through
Dexterity classes like the the game in a two-hour sprint.
Duellist will have a short trip to It’s a clever way to create a
dual-wielding and bow nodes, sense of cohesion among
while magical classes like the disparate adventurers.
Witch start closer to magic-
power bonuses. Jewel-wielding
The best thing about the Your character’s abilities aren’t
board is that it links all the unlocked on the levelling
classes, which means I can board, they take the form
eventually guide my Duellist of skill gems that drop when
into mage territory with you kill enemies and complete
enough levels. Most nodes quests. You can use a skill
offer an incremental stat in the field as long as you
bonus that only slightly have the relevant gem slotted
improves the efficiency of your into your weapons or armour.
slaughter. Every +10 dexterity Linked equipment slots enable
buff I light up makes my hero you to use support gems to
hit slightly faster, but I have to adjust your skills. For example,
wait until I reach one of those my Duellist’s area-of-effect
golden nodes, with their Cleave ability is in a slot
plump 20 per cent buffs, to connected to a support gem
enjoy a noticeable knock-on. that infuses it with extra frost
It’s a theorycrafter’s damage. These crystals gain
paradise, however. The game’s levels with you, becoming
forums are overflowing with more powerful the longer you
players peddling their latest have them installed.
character ideas. If you get The formation of slots
bored of tailoring your own gouged into each piece of
builds, you can sample the equipment is as important as
Duellist’s ‘Facebreaker build the stat boosts they convey to
using Infernal and Dominating your character, but these can
Blow’, or go for an ‘Explosive be rearranged with one of
WorldMags.net
Look out for the hordes
of exploding squid
Flesh-eating monkeys are
vulnerable to fire traps
PoE’s selection of orbs.
Orbs reshuffle the magical
properties of an item, re-roll
the number and formation
of the slots it has, and upgrade
ordinary items to uncommon
or rare ones. They ensure that
every piece of equipment that
drops can potentially be useful
to your build, and are the
centrepiece of Path of Exile’s
barter economy. There is no
money here. You exchange
items for orb fragments that
combine to make functional
item modifiers.
The cleverness behind this
rethink of long established
action RPG systems extends
to your health and mana
potions. No longer must
you hoard them in hundred-
high stacks. Instead you carry
five magical flasks that refill
with every kill. Inevitably,
these flasks can have magical
properties of their own, which
increase the amount of health
regenerated and the speed at
which it regenerates.
Beaten track
Path of Exile avoids the
influence of recent action
RPG competitors. The muted
locales and claustrophobia of
its dungeons reject Torchlight’s
vivid visuals. The intensive
levelling options defy Diablo
III’s straightforward choices.
PoE is well placed to capture
March 2014 |
Upgrade
Play this…
gamers alienated by Blizzard’s
new direction, although, like
its controversial older brother,
it still requires an internet
connection to play.
It also can’t match the visual
splendour and satisfying
feedback of Diablo III. The
combat improves after the
first few hours when you start
fighting large and varied
swarms, but occasional lag
and sync issues can send
your slashes right through
monsters, and the attacks lack
the apocalyptic thwunk of
PoE’s big-budget competitor.
It’s still entertaining to wade
through PoE’s larger mobs,
but the combat isn’t quite
best-in-class.
The plain fields and
character models look a
little dated, and the gear
design stays firmly within the
boundaries of Path of Exile’s
grimy medieval aesthetic. That
suits the game’s deliberate
lack of glamour, but limits the
tactile pleasure of equipping
ridiculously powerful kit.
Extraordinary gear doesn’t
look extraordinary here.
If you play action RPGs as
a cathartic power trip, to slam
into monstrous hordes and
watch their bodies hurtle
across the scenery, then Path
of Exile will seem dry. This isn’t
the kind of game that will
deliver instant gratification –
it’s about slowly forging an
inventive character over three
acts and three difficulty tiers.
Once it has its claws in, Path
of Exile is as compulsive as any
game in its class. After a few
hours the combat becomes
automatic. The objectives are
moot, the quests, characters
and creatures incidental. Every
stab and slash is in service of
the journey across that vast
levelling board. Every 500 to
1,000 clicks lights up another
node, and the little warrior
takes another step away from
being a template and toward
something uniquely yours. Q
What this action-RPG lacks
in punch it makes up for in
depth and value for money.
Help & Advice | 95
 WorldMags.net
Smoke doesn’t just signal damage,
but serious mechanical problems too

World of Warplanes
Brings air combat to all, but loses something along the way
Price Free
Developer Wargaming.net
Publisher In-house
Multiplayer Massively DRM Log-in account Web www.worldofwarplanes .com
Recommended specs 2.6GHz CPU, 3GB RAM, GeForce 8600GT or equivalent
The developer of
World of Warplanes
faced an almost
insurmountable
dilemma: if its game was
easy to control, it wouldn’t
feel like actual flying and
dogfighting, and if it did feel
authentic, it would put off
most of its intended audience
of casual gamers.
Yet somehow, the good
people at Wargaming.net
pulled off a miracle, and made
a fun-for-all dogfighting game
that is recognisably in the
tradition of Red Baron or Secret
Weapons of the Luftwaffe. It
feels shockingly natural with
mouse and keyboard controls,
and we spent our first few
days with it marvelling at that
achievement. Then, as the
pace of unlocks slowed and
the grind began, we came to
realise what was missing: a
competitive game that invites
teamwork and tactical depth.
Warplanes is at its best
during the early stages. You
start with a hangar full of Tier
1 aircraft – the kind of biplanes
that were cutting-edge in the
late ’20s and early ’30s. Accrue
XP points in each aircraft to
purchase the next plane in
the tech tree (all the way up
to advanced jet-fighters), or
spend them on upgrades for
your existing planes.
We were absolute killers
with the German Arado
Ar 65 and Japanese A5M (the
precursor to the Zero), so we
continued flying those even
after unlocking better aircraft,
and used a small amount of
premium currency to make
their experience available
across every tech tree.
We also chose to fly those
aircraft because they remained
a fun and distinct experience.
The Tier 1 biplanes are slow,
fragile and manoeuvrable.
They are completely different
from their successors, which
are more about managing
speed in the midst of a furball.
But if you want a wide
variety of aircraft across the
different tiers, prepare to
cough up some cash. Even the
$80 package of 6,000 gold will
only buy you room for 20 or
so planes, and that won’t save
you any time on the grind.
While we’re not sure we’d ever
need more than 20 aircraft
on-hand, it feels like getting
the full World of Warplanes
experience costs an awful lot
of time and money.
Missing-man formation
We’re also not sure that the
investment of either is richly
rewarded. Every air combat
enthusiast has a ‘dream team’
of aircraft, many of which are
missing here. The German
Focke-Wulf 190, for instance, is
easily the second or third most
iconic Luftwaffe aircraft, but
it’s nowhere to be found in
Warplanes’ hanger. Neither is
the RAF’s Hurricane, nor the
American P-47 Thunderbolt.
While model revisions matter,
it’s hard to get excited about
the third variation of the P-51

WorldMags.net
96 | Help & Advice | March 2014

WorldMags.net
You can’t win ‘em all
Mustang in a row. Too often,
these variants feel like filler as
players wait for the missing
stars of WWII combat aviation
to make their appearance.
In this stage the
fundamental simplicity of
World of Warplanes begins
to feel like shallowness. To
an extent, this problem is
not Wargaming.net’s fault.
Warplanes is a game about
dogfighting, which basically
means that two teams fly at
each other, and then all hell
breaks loose. Despite the
visually spectacular maps –
battles take place above a
desert lake, a Pacific atoll
and an Arctic peninsula – the
fact remains that there’s no
terrain at 18,000 feet in the
air. There’s no space for team
tactics because everyone is
twisting and turning through
the battle, and the games
themselves last only a few
minutes before one team is
shot out of the sky.
Teams can theoretically win
games by getting supremacy
(destroying enough ground
These guys tried to destroy our base to
win the game. They’re about to die
targets to win the game), but
theory and practice are miles
apart. Aircraft engaging
ground targets are easy prey
for their high-flying cousins,
and ground targets soak up so
much punishment that once
the bomb supply is exhausted,
strafing runs are more erosive
than destructive.
Killing Bernoulli
The mouse and keyboard
controls also begin to show
their limitations as aircraft
get faster. When you’re flying
slow, agile Tier 1 aircraft, you
can pull of a lot of small
movements and tight, twisting
turns, but when you’re trying
to stay with a BF-109 while
turning out of a 350mph
dive, that joystick gathering
dust in the corner looks a lot
more inviting. While there are
advanced options that make
the planes behave a lot more
realistically, getting a balance
takes a lot of trial and error.
To its credit, Warplanes
offers great support for flight
sticks such as my Saitek X52.
WorldMags.net
Future’s so bright…
The problem is that it’s not
really the right tool for the
simplified flight model.
Because Warplanes completely
separates pitch, roll and yaw, it
becomes almost impossible to
execute even a simple banked
turn without applying vast
amounts of rudder.
Still, Warplanes doesn’t really
need brilliant, convincing
controls. It succeeds at
what it sets out to do: make
fast-paced air-combat easy,
accessible and fun for a large
audience. It brings to life the
chaos and excitement of a
huge furball – planes diving
through rivers of tracer fire
and dense clouds, black smoke
belching from their engines.
Warplanes also makes the
chase for achievements fun
and meaningful. Winning
an Ace medal by racking
up five kills in a mission is a
tremendous achievement,
and running up the kill count
on the Sky Scourge medal
– a kill-streak tracker across
several games for as long as
you can continue to avoid
March 2014 |
Upgrade
Play this…
Just like shooting womp
rats in Beggar’s Canyon
being shot down – turns World
of Warplanes into a genuinely
tense score chase.
We’re not sure Warplanes
will ever become an obsession
the way some competitive
free-to-play games do. We can
feel our interest in it starting to
wane, but it’s still something
we will jump into when we
have a few minutes and feel
like some quick action. In time,
perhaps new modes and
aircraft types will make it more
interesting, but for now, World
of Warplanes is everything it
needs to be: a fast, accessible
air combat game with no
flight-sim baggage. Q
Very entertaining despite
its simplicity, with brilliant
graphics and matchmaking.
Help & Advice | 97
 Your disc
WorldMags.net

FULL PRODUCTS HANDPICKED TOOLKITS ESSENTIAL RESOURCES

Hello and welcome

to your free disc,
exclusive to
Windows 7 Help &
Advice. This month’s
packed CD-ROM features great
programs to help you get the
best from your computer, plus
essential resources for every
Windows user. 34 Put your computer’s power to 38 Give your desktop a Mac-style
This month’s disc will help you the ultimate test with PCWizard makeover with RocketDock
protect all the precious photos,
videos and other files on your
PC. We’ve also packed in a great
selection of our favourite free
writing tools. Whether you have
a lot of letters to write or check
your spelling on online forums,
there’s something for you

Jeremy Ford Disc editor 40 Let Smart Defrag 2 tidy up your 74 Solve Windows Explorer
jeremy.ford@futurenet.com hard drive for a quick speed boost problems with ShellExView

Step-by-step How to use your free disc

1 Get started
Place your free disc into your computer’s disc drive. The
AutoPlay prompt should appear on your screen and once this
has happened, click ‘Run OWV.exe’ to start up the disc interface.
A new window appears, telling you some important information.
Read it, then click on ‘I agree’ to continue.
2 Browse the categories
Click on one of the categories in the menu underneath the
magazine logo to discover all the programs that are contained in
each. Simply click on an app’s name to find out more about it.
Full commercial products usually have information about how
to register. To try out an app, just click the ‘Install Now’ button.

WorldMags.net
98 | Help & Advice | March 2014
 Your disc
WorldMags.net
FIND THE SOLUTION! How to get your disc to play
If the disc doesn’t start automatically, hit the Windows key, then
Make the most of it!
click Computer. Now double click the DVD drive to get going.

SE
ECU URITY Y
‡ Comodo Internet
Security
‡ Files Terminator Free
‡)UHH)LOH&DPRXÁDJH
‡ IObit Malware Fighter
‡ LOK-IT USB Storage
Device
‡ PrivaZer
‡ Silver Key Free
‡6SRWÁX[
‡ Windows Vulnerability
Scanner
‡ Wise Folder Hider

ST
TARRTUUP AND
SH
HUTD DOWWN
‡ Auto Shutdown
‡ AutoRuns
‡ Free Auto Shutdown
‡ SmartPower
‡ Soluto
‡ Startup Delayer
‡ TimeComX Basic
‡ WhatInStartup
‡ WinPatrol
‡ Wise Auto Shutdown

WORD PR ROCESSIING
‡ AbiWord
‡ Jarte
‡ Kingsoft Writer
If you have ‡ LyX
a problem… ‡ MobiText
‡ PhraseExpress
Please visit www.
futurenet.com/support. ‡ The Form Letter
To contact our reader Machine
support team, email ‡ TinySpell
support@futurenet.com ‡ WordGraph
or call 01225 822743, ‡ yWriter4
quoting the magazine
name and issue. We are
only able to provide help EXXTRAS
with this disc, not the ‡ Auslogics Browser Care
software contained on it. ‡ Avant Browser Ultimate
3 Install the program
When you begin to install your chosen applications, the
‡ Fav-Links
‡ PC-Wizard
disc brings up another message window to take you through the
installation process. Each one of these is different – just follow the ‡ Razer Game Booster
prompts until you get a message telling you that the installation ‡ And more!
is complete. Now it’s time to try out your free apps – have fun!

WorldMags.net
March 2014 | Help & Advice | 99
 WorldMags.net
9001

WorldMags.net
9000