Almost everyone knows that YouTube is a site where you can watch streaming videos. However, if you’re stuck with a slow internet connection, you won’t be able to watch any video easily.

Others, of course, might want to download videos from YouTube before it gets deleted. For both these types of users, downloading videos from YouTube is a good and viable option.

So, here are download options that one can use in order to download videos from YouTube:

#1: Websites to Download YouTube Videos

You can find websites that will help you to download YouTube videos apart from other vide-sharing sites. All you have to do is visit one of these sites, and paste the URL of the video you want to download and hit ‘Download’ or ‘Get Video’.

Some examples of websites are Catchvideo, SaveTube, VideoGetting or iDesktop.

#2: Download Software for Windows

Another option is to download and install software if you’re using Windows and since there are several options, the installation and download instructions will differ. However, you’ll find help files that should help download these videos easily.

Some examples of software are Orbit Downloaders, Moyea YouTube FLV Downloader and VDownloader.

#3: If using Mac OS X

If you use a Mac with OS X as the operating system, there are certain programs (software) that have been designed to support this operating system. Similar to software that supports Windows, the options available to you have varying installation and download instructions with help files to assist you through the process.

Some examples of software for Mac OS X are TubeSock and TubeTV.

No matter how fast your browsers work, there comes a time when they begin to slow down for numerous reasons.

But before you go about installing software, there are simpler steps to go about bringing your browser back to speed. So, here are a ways to consider if you need to speed up your browser:

#1: If you are using Firefox, then the first thing that you must do is clear recent history by going to Tools in the Menu bar, select Clear Recent History and the Time Range as since the beginning of time as well as all the components in the list. If you are using Google Chrome, then you will have to go to Wrench Icon, select Options and Under the Hood and then Clear Browsing Data. Also, select Time Range since the beginning of time and all the components under them.

#2: Increasing your cache size is one of the best ways by which you can increase your browsing speed. Better still, block Javascript and Flash and you’ll find that sites with Flash and a large number of ads will come through a lot quicker.

#3: Most browser speed tests end up with Safari and Opera being much better than Internet Explorer and FireFox at loading pages. Of course, there are good reasons why the latter two are used but if you use these browsers to surf the Web, then the first two as well as Google Chrome are your best choices.

#4: Using secure and automatic passwords by means of a master password option (which is used in FireFox usually), it works well to not only keep snoopers away but also help you browse much faster as well.

There are several reason why making an invisible file comes in handy. Whether you want to keep certain files that might be deemed inappropriate to others or is just personal such as a diary, creating a hidden file is probably the best thing to do – especially if other people share your PC.

So, here is a list of steps that shows you how to create a hidden file, in particular, on Windows Operating Systems:

#1: First, create a folder in the directory where you want to store the file. For this, all you have to do is right click (when in the directory), select New and Folder.

#2: Next, in order to change the folder into an invisible one, we’ll have to change the icon by performing the right-click action on the folder, selecting Properties, the tab Customize and Change Icon. There are four blank spaces that you will as you scroll to your right. Pick anyone of these blank spaces (folder, actually!), select ‘apply’ and ‘Ok’.

#3: Next you have to rename your folder, and for this, right-click for options on the new folder, and select rename. Delete the original name and while the cursor is blinking, hold down ALT and type the numbers 0160 on the numeric keypad on the right-hand side of the keyboard. You will find that the cursor moves one step and this also makes the folder name invisible.

#4: Now you can highlight the area where the invisible folder is located so that you can find so as to enter start adding your personal or valuable files.

While it’s a good idea to keep your computer up to speed with the latest updates in order to ensure optimal performance, the same can be said of removing unnecessary clutter, in the form of browsing history that might have slipped under your ‘radar’.

So here are the steps to deleting browser history that might have gone unnoticed on your computer:

#1: First and foremost, you’ll have to turn on your computer.

#2: Once you’ve done this, then hold down the CTRL button on your keyboard and press SHIFT and DELETE simultaneously. Remember that you have to press all these keys together all at once.

#3: If you have managed to press these keys correctly, then a box will pop up titled ‘Settings – Clear Browsing Data’ – which is where you will carry out the task of deleting browser history and more.

#4: Not only can you decide as to whether you want to delete browsing history from the past hour but also ‘since the beginning of time’ as well. The default option is ‘since the beginning of time’.

#5: Better still, you can also delete cookies, empty the cache and clear saved passwords along with clearing browsing history. All you have to do is select the checkboxes for each of the aforementioned options and then click ‘Clear Browsing History’.

#6: Once this is done, the dialog box titled ‘Setting – Clear Browsing Data’ will close by itself (since the task is complete) and you can get on with what you need to do for the day in the knowledge that you’ve done your part when it comes to removing unnecessary browsing data that is stored on your computer.

Updates are a common practice in order to ensure optimal performance of any computer, whether it’s a Mac or PC.

Most of these updates are usually created to fix bugs or software errors or even protect your computer from viruses, spyware or malware. In the case of the Mac, you can check for and install software updates by looking for the ‘Software Update’ menu.

So, here are steps that one should take so as to check and install updates in the case of a Mac only:

#1: With your mouse, click the Apple menu on your Mac desktop, and select ‘Software Update’ which will open on your screen.

#2: Now there are two options that you can choose from: either to have updates checked for and installed automatically or create a schedule when the updates should be checked for and installed as well. In order to enable either, you’ll have to select either the ‘Check for updates’ or ‘Download updates automatically’.

#3: If you would like to check for updates as you access the ‘Software Update’ menu then select the ‘Check Updates Now’ button.

#4: Once this is done, also select the updates that you want to download, and which will be installed in the next step. You can find out whether you need to download each of these updates or not by reviewing the ‘Before You Install’, ‘Read Me’ or ‘About document for each of these updates.

#5: Click the ‘Install’ button once updates are downloaded while keeping in mind that you’ll have to enter your user name and password. Also, remember that you’ll have to restart your Mac after the installation is complete.

There are several situations in which your PC might stop functioning properly, thanks to incomplete installations, frequent hard disk formatting or even a virus infection that has slowed your PC down or even caused heating issues – in other words, performance issues that you can do without.

While this might call for drastic measures by formatting one’s disk, one can also opt to use the utility tool known as System Restore which can reset your system to a time when it was last working without any glitches without removing any data that is saved.

So, here are the steps to restore your computer if you use Windows:

#1: Click Start, All Programs, Accessories and then System Tools where you will have to select System Restore. Also, you can click start and run while typing ‘restore’ in the dialog box that appears. Now double-click the icon labeled ‘rstrui.exe’.

#2: When the System Restore window is opened, you will be asked to restore your computer to an earlier time or create a system restore point. Select the first option and click next. Alternatively, you can use the second option to create a system restore point which can be used later if you want to enable the system restore option.

#3: In the final step, select the date that you want the system restored to and then click next. This will start the system restore process.

#4: Once the process is complete, your computer will restart on its own, and boot with the settings that were a part of the restore date you selected earlier.

Optimizing Windows 7 for efficiency and greater speed is easier than you think. All you need to carry out is the tweaking of some special features and settings that are unique to Windows 7.

It’s no surprise that your computer will slow down once you install a couple of new programs and so, here is a list of tips that you can use in order to speed up your computer’s performance:

#1: Restart Your Computer

It is recommended that you restart your computer at least once a week. This will clear your system of applications or program that has been running unseen.

#2: Reduce the number of programs you are running at the same time

Running multiple programs simultaneously will slow down your computer. Close the ones that you aren’t using and you’ll find an improvement in performance.

#3: Uninstall programs you barely use

Removing unused programs will ensure that you free up memory and improve the performance of your computer. All you have to do is go to “Start”, then “Control Panel” and “Uninstall a Program” under the Programs section. Select a program and click Uninstall.

#4: Use Windows 7 Performance Troubleshooter

The Troubleshooter will check (and fix) any problems related to processes that slow down your computer. Type troubleshooter in the “Search Programs and Files” search box and select it to check for performance issues

#5: Run Disk Defragmenter

File fragmentation occurs when your computer does not have enough space to store files in one place as a whole. Using the Disk Defragmenter will rearrange these file in places that will optimize Windows 7.

There are several advantages to partitioning your hard disk, and that includes preventing your data from being corrupted.

However, not many people partition their hard disk nor do they know how to carry out this task which really is about breaking your hard disk into multiple logical units. So, here are the steps to partition your hard disk if you are using Windows 7 as your operating system:

#1: Type ‘computer management’ in the search bar at the bottom of the search menu and hit ‘Enter’.

#2: Select the Disk Management Tool and click ‘Disk Management’ on the left side to see all the disk and partitions made, if any.

#3: Next, right click on the partition that you would like to resize and select the ‘Shrink Volume’ option to make a new partition. Select the size you wish to shrink the disk size to, and hit the ‘Shrink’ button.

#4: You should now find an unallocated partition in the Disk Management window. Right click the ‘unallocated partition’. Select the option, ‘New Simple Volume’.

#5: Select the size that you wish for your new partition and hit the ‘Next’ button. Assign a new letter name or path for the new partition after that, which will be used by Windows to navigate to the new volume.

#6: Adjust the settings for the new volume by selecting NTFS for the File System, Default for the Allocation Unit Size, name your drive in Volume Label and click on ‘Perform a quick format’. Hit Next.

#7: Check the settings of the new volume and hit the Finish button. Format the new volume, and check in Disk Management for your new Disk Drive.