Media files, data synchronization, and remote backups, oh my! Home computing has advanced to a point where it's practical to run your own home server, and we're running down the five best tools for the job. Photo by Rudolf Schuba. Earlier this week we asked you to tell us what software you used to p...

Live CDs (and DVDs) are versatile tools, allowing you to boot into an operating system without installing anything to your hard drives. Let's take a closer look at the five most popular live CDs. Photo by bulinna. Earlier this week we asked you to tell us which live CD was your favorite. After tally...

Live CDs—that is, hard-disk independent tools and operating systems that boot from simple optical discs—are handy for everything from data recovery to test driving new systems. We want to know which one is best. Photo by bulinna. What Live CD has been the most valuable to you? This week ...

The Windows system tray can be so much more than a parking lot for programs you don't want cluttering up your task bar. Read on to see the five most popular tray tools readers can't live without. Earlier this week we asked you to share your favorite applications system tray applications, with an emp...

Whether you got a shiny new flash drive over the holidays or your old thumb drive is looking for a new lease on life, pack it full of goodness with these five killer portable applications. Earlier this week we asked you to share which programs you've stashed on your thumb drive that you can't live w...

Looking for a new job in a struggling economy is hard work. Make it easier on yourself by getting to know the best tools for the task at hand. Earlier this week we asked you to share your favorite online job search sites, and today we're back with the most popular answers. Keep reading for a detaile...

Popular cross-platform media center XBMC emerged victorious from this weekend's hard-fought Hive Five Best Media Center Applications with a commanding 43% of the vote. XBMC spinoff Boxee secured the second spot, while Windows Media Center took home third....

The internet has made it easier than ever to share media and data with friends, family, and co-workers, but that doesn't mean burning your own CDs and DVDs is a thing of the past. Blank optical discs are dirt cheap, they work virtually everywhere, and if you bought your computer sometime in the last...

There are two things that stand in the way for most of us when we put off setting up backups for our hard drive. The first is motivation, but if you're already reading Lifehacker, we'll assume you understand why backup is so important. The second is knowing where to get started, including what softw...

You download, create, delete, and move around countless files and endless piles of data on your PC every day. While your PC would ideally handle all of this data for you, it doesn't take long before you end up with a disorganized, cluttered computer. On Tuesday we asked you to share your favorite Wi...