Windows Search (Windows Instant) is a program in the Windows Operating System that allows users to search for specific files, folders, or other remnants of data on one or more hard drives or some other storage device. It allows users to search for customized keywords, specify storage locations, browse for files, and toggle through a multitude of functions. Windows Search is very easy to use, can find virtually any type of file on the user’s hard drive (including emails and data files), and supports natural language, allowing users to enter Read More

A hard drive refers to the main storage device for any computer system whether it be a desktop computer or handheld device. Hard drives are usually about the size of a small, paperback book and can exist in both internal and external models. Internal hard drives are usually connected to the computer via an IDE cable while external hard drives use a USB or FireWire cable. Regardless of what kind of hard drive it is or how much information it can hold, all hard drives must be maintained in order Read More

Hidden files and folders are those that the Windows Operating System (OS) keeps the user from seeing when navigating the file system with “My Computer” or “Windows Explorer.” The folders and files that are hidden by the OS will contain system files that should not normally be accessed or modified by the end-user. Unfortunately, a large amount of computer malware and spyware makes use of this feature of the Windows OS in order to hide their presence from the end-user. A common task that you may have arise as a Read More

Your hard drive is where your computer stores the operating system and most folders and files that it uses. Hard drives have grown in capacity over the years, and as storage capacity has increased so has the amount of data one can store on his or her computer. Knowing not only the capacity of your computer’s hard drive, but also the amount of free space available, is crucial when loading large applications such as a new operating system, office applications, or large files such as video or audio. There are Read More

Erasing a hard drive is relatively straight forward and only takes about an hour to accomplish. There are several ways to erase a hard drive and each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Below are few methods for reformatting, using disk sanitizing software, or specifically deleting files. Erase a Hard Drive by Reformatting It The simplest way to erase a hard drive in Windows is to reformat it. This method is extremely popular, especially for those users that have had significant problems with their operating system or computer in Read More