How to Take Screenshots Using Steam

Taking screenshots of some of the more hilarious or memorable moments in a video game is something PC gamers have been able to do for the longest time by pressing Print Screen (or PrintScr, on some keyboards) while playing, then exiting the game and pasting the image in a program like MS-Paint. It's a needlessly cumbersome process though, and with most games using Steam nowadays, it's easier to do so and doesn't require you to exit the game. Here's how.
1. Open Steam and login.
2. In Settings, go to the In-Game tab.
3. View or configure the key used by clicking on Screenshot shortcut keys and then pressing the key you want to use. You should ideally use a key that typically won't get used in the game.

4. Click on Screenshot folder and set a folder for your screenshots.
5. You can also modify what happens when a screenshot is taken by ticking or unticking boxes to Display a notification, Play a sound, or Save an uncompressed copy. The last option is useful if you want to show off every possible detail in a game at the cost of a bigger file per screenshot.
6. When you're fine with these settings, right click the game in which you want to take screenshots for, and click on Properties.
7. Tick the box labelled Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.

That's all there is to it. You can now start the game, and then simply press the button you've configured to take screenshots. You can then check them out in the folder you've allocated for them to share when you're done.

How to Download and Install Android M on Google Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 9, and Nexus Player

Android M, the latest version of the world's most popular mobile operating system, was announced at Google I/O 2015 on Thursday. Android M is still some time away from being ready for rollout - the launch to consumers is expected in Q3 of this year - the preview version for developers is now available.
(Also see: Android M: Top New Features in the Next Major Android Release)
This version of the OS is not ready for most people and we strongly suggest that you do not try installing this on your primary device as there is a good chance that there are bugs to iron out at this stage. If you have a spare Nexus device that you want to try the Android M preview on, then you can go ahead and follow the steps described later in this article. Before you do that, it's vital to take a full backup of your Android smartphone.

Android M preview is currently available on just four devices - Google Nexus 5, Google Nexus 6, Google Nexus 9, and GoogleNexus Player.
(Also see: Google Maps to Get New Offline Search, Turn-by-Turn Navigation Features)
Here's how to manually download Android M preview and install it on your Google Nexus devices.

1. Download and install the latest Android Studio Preview on your Windows computer. This installs the ADB and Fastboot programmes, which can be accessed through the command terminal on your PC.
2. Add the SDK folder to the PATH by following these steps:
3. Right click My Computer and click on Properties.
4. Click on Advanced System Settings.
5. Click on System Properties > Advanced > Environment Variables.
6. In the Window, select Path, then click on Edit, and then type in the name of the directory where you installed the SDK, and remember that each entry is separated by a semi-colon.
7. Enable USB debugging on your device. First, go to Settings > About Phone > Software information.
8. Tap Build number seven times.
9. Go to Settings > Developer options. Tick USB debugging.
10. Download the correct factory image for your device.
    
    Android M for Nexus 5
    Android M for Nexus 6
    Android M for Nexus 9
    Android M for Nexus Player
11. Extract the image on your computer.
12. Connect your device to your computer over USB.
13. Start the device in fastboot mode.

The easiest way to do this is to hold a key combination while powering up the device. For Nexus 5, hold the volume up, volume down and power buttons while powering on the device. The full list of key combinations for different devices is here.


You can also boot into fastboot mode using the ADB tool: With the device powered on, go to the command terminal and execute the following: adb reboot bootloader
If needed, unlock the device's bootloader through your computer using the command terminal and executing: fastboot oem unlock

1. Open a command terminal and navigate to the unzipped system image directory.
2. Execute flash-all.bat, which was a part of the unzipped image file. This script installs the necessary bootloader, baseband firmware(s), and operating system. For this to work, you need to have added the folder where ADB and Fastboot are installed to the system's path as described in step 2.
3. When this is done, Google recommends that you lock the bootloader for security. You can do that by booting the device in fastboot mode while still connected via USB, and using the command terminal to execute: fastboot oem lock.

That will install Android M preview on your Nexus device. Android M will receive monthly OTA updates until the final version ships, according to a report, so you won't have to repeat this complicated process again. We still recommend that you just wait a while until the OTA update arrives on your device, unless you want to stay on the bleeding edge of smartphone OS development.
For more tutorials, head to our How To section.

How to Use Custom Download and Install Directories With GOG Galaxy

GOG Galaxy is a new PC game distribution client similar to Steam, minus the negatives such as always online requirement and mandatory DRM. Its catalog includes new games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt as well as classics such as Planescape: Torment and Ice Wind Dale.


Though GOG Galaxy is still in beta (final release features will include ability to rollback game updates and notifications) there are a few things you can still do to make the most of it.
This guide tells you how to manage your GOG game downloads and extras. It's a handy feature that lets you install games on a faster hard drive, or to keep all the installers on a different hard drive in the event of a hard drive crash, or if your usual location cannot take any more data.

1. Download GOG Galaxy. Go to the GOG website and download the Beta.
2. Install GOG Galaxy in a location of your choosing.
3. Run the app. Click on the settings gear cog icon on the bottom left. This opens the settings menu.
   
   
   
   
4. Under Folders, you can set where you want to install the games you download. Either click the box with three dots to browse for a directory, or manually type it in the box provided.
5. In the Settings menu, tick the box that says Manage all folders manually.
6. Now you can choose where to download your games and extras that come along with it. Either click the box with three dots to choose a directory or manually type it in the box provided.

From now on any game you buy on GOG Galaxy is installed at a location of your choice.

How to Use Your Xbox One Controller With a PC

The Xbox One controller is a step up from the Xbox 360 controller, refining an already fantastic gamepad. The 360 controller is the de facto standard for many a PC gamer who prefers to play games without a keyboard and mouse, and thanks to rubberised analogue sticks that give it much needed grip, and a directional pad that's actually usable in fighting games, the Xbox One controller is well worth the price of entry.
While Microsoft is taking its own sweet time in making it usable on the PC without wires, you can easily game on your computer with an Xbox One controller that's wired in.
In addition to a computer with Windows, all you need is a Micro-USB cable (used for charging most Windows and Android smartphones), an Internet connection to download the required drivers, and, of course, an Xbox One controller.

1. Install drivers
   Boot up your PC, connect to the Internet. Download and install one of these driver packages depending on your version of Windows:

PC drivers for 32-bit Windows
PC drivers for 64-bit Windows

2. Connect the controller
   With the drivers installed, plug in the Micro-USB end of the cable to the controller and the USB end of it into your computer's USB port. If it works, the controller will vibrate. If it does not vibrate, try another Micro-USB cable and/ or a different USB port.

That's all you need to do to get your Xbox One controller working on the PC.
Please note:
If you plan on using the same controller with an Xbox One, you will need to re-sync the controller to the console. You can do this by holding the wireless sync buttons on the console and controller at the same time or attaching it to the console via Micro-USB cable.

How to Share Your Steam Games With Friends and Family

Valve's PC game distribution platform Steam has been in the news lately for a lot of reasons, such as allowing (and the removing) paid mods from Skyrim, or for adding a slew of features such as an in-game frame rate counter. One of Steam's many useful features is Family Sharing. As the name suggests, with this feature you can share your library of Steam games with friends and family.
To do this, you'll need access to the computer on which your friends and/ or family play, and you will have to share your Steam account credentials (username and password) on their machine. From there, it's a relatively straightforward process.

1. Enable Steam Guard
On your own computer, go to the Steam settings menu. Click on Account. Select Manage my account with Steam Guard security.

2. Authorise the second computer
On your friend's (or family member's) PC, log in with your Steam account. Go to settings, click on Family. Choose Authorize this computer.

3. Start sharing
On the same PC, after authorising it, log out of your Steam account. Let your friend/ family member now log into their own account. Now they can download and install games from your Steam library.

 

 

Please note:

1. You can authorise up to 5 accounts and 10 computers to access your Steam gaming library.
2. You cannot play any games simultaneously. If someone is using games from your library, then you can't play at the same time. What this means is, if someone is playing Counter-Strike from your library, you cannot play Team Fortress 2 at the same time.
3. You can't use Family Sharing to play games normally unavailable in your region.

How to Upgrade the PS4 Hard Drive

Your PlayStation 4 console comes with a 500GB hard drive, but that is not enough for video games on the the PS4. Most Windows laptops come with a terabyte or more now, and you can't help but feel shortchanged by just 500GB considering that most games take up around 50GB of space each. This handy guide shows you how to replace the 500GB hard drive that comes with your PS4 for something a little more substantial. And no, doing this will not void your warranty; Sony says so in the manual that comes with your console.

You could use a solid state drive (SSD) or a hybrid drive but we recommend sticking to a standard 5,400rpm laptop drive as others are not officially supported by Sony. Once you have your drive, you're good to begin.

1. First, follow the instructions on how to back up your PS4 games and data.
2. Once the data has been backed up, turn off the PS4 and unplug it from its power source.
3. The PS4 hard drive bay is located beneath the glossy section of the console. Push it up to remove it.
4. You'll notice a PlayStation branded screw (pictured below), remove it with a screw driver.
5. Pull the HDD toward the front of the system to remove it.
6. Using a phillips screwdriver, remove the screws (four places).
7. Do not remove the rubber inserts from the screw holes.
8. Place the replacement hard drive on the mounting bracket, and then attach using the screws (four places). Be careful not to make them too tight.
9. Attach the hard drive to the system using the screws, ensuring it is fully inserted in the hard drive bay.
10. Reinstall your PS4's system software (instructions are here).
11. Now you can copy the data you backed up earlier via pen drive to the PS4 after switching it on. Keep in mind that you must be signed in with the same PSN account used when you first copied the saved data:

• Connect a USB storage device to the system.
• Select Settings from screen.
• Go to Application Saved Data Management > Saved Data on USB Storage Device > Copy to System Storage.
• Select a title.
• Press X to add a checkmark in the checkbox for the saved data you want to copy, and then choose Copy.

You're good to get back to gaming on your PS4. Now with more storage space.

How to Reinstall Your PS4's System Software

While the PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a good gaming console, it isn't perfect. Sometimes you'll find yourself in a situation when you need to reinstall the system software. You need to reinstall the software if you plan to replace a hard drive, or if you're facing issues with games and menus slowing down, or if your console was on during a power outage. This is different from the usual system update procedure.

This how-to has two parts to it, the first is finding the right software update and the second needs the PS4 to boot in safe mode.

To do this to your PS4, you'll need a USB hard drive or a thumb drive (with around 1GB of free space) and a computer with Internet access.

Obtain the correct update

1. Download the PS4 firmware from this page on your PC, the link you're looking for is labelled as Download Now. This is not your usual system update that is around 300MB, rather, this is the entire software. To tell if you're downloading the right file, it's around 800MB. Even if you are on a fast connection, downloading it may take some time due to Sony's servers. The file name should be PS4UPDATE.PUP.
2. Plug the hard drive into your PC's USB port. Open it and create a new folder. Name it PS4. In PS4, create another folder. Name it UPDATE. Use exactly that name, in capital letters only, so it can be recognised by the PS4.
3. Copy the file to the UPDATE folder on your USB flash drive.

Put your PS4 in safe mode

1. Connect the USB to your PS4.
2. If your PS4 is on, switch it off. If the power indicator is lit up in orange (rest mode), hold the power button until you hear the system beep for a second time.
3. Your PS4 now boots up in safe mode. Select Initialize PS4(Reinstall System Software).
   
   

   
4. Just follow the screens to complete the update, there are no further settings to choose.

Please note:

1. If your PS4 does not recognise the update file, check that the folder names and file name are correct. If they are not exactly as listed above, in UPPERCASE characters, this will not work.
2. Also, all users and all data will be deleted, so back up your data before doing this

How to Take a Backup of Your PS4 Games and Data

The PlayStation 4 (PS4) got the hotly anticipated Yukimura update, also known as firmware 2.50, on Sunday. It was crucial for a host of reasons, the most important of which is the ability to back up the entire contents of your PS4, including game installs.

This will help if you ever need to re-install a game. Some of which, like Grand Theft Auto V weigh in at around 40GB. With the new update, you won't have to re-download any of your digitally purchased games if you decide to upgrade your PS4's hard drive to something more substantial than the existing 500GB it comes with. It could also be useful if you've deleted a game to make space on your console, and want to play it again.

You'll need an external hard drive or USB pen drive to store your existing data from your PS4. Follow these steps to back up and restore your data:

1. Format the USB storage device
• Plug in an USB hard drive to your Windows PC. 
• Right click, select Format. 
• Choose the exFAT format option. 
• For the allocation unit size option, choose the maximum possible value listed in the drop down menu.
2. Back up data for games


• Connect the USB storage device to the system. 
• From the function screen, select Settings > System > Back up and Restore .
• Choose Back Up PS4.
• Press X to add a checkmark in the checkbox for saving Applications. 
• Your PS4 will now restart and transfer all the data. Depending on the amount of data, it could take a few hours, to longer than a day.
3. Now you can copy the data you backed up earlier to the PS4 after switching it on. 
   Keep in mind that you must be signed in with the same PSN account used when you first copied the saved data.
   
   
   • Connect the USB storage device you used to back up games to the system.
   • From the functions screen, select Settings > Application Saved Data Management > Saved Data on USB Storage Device > Copy to System Storage.
   • Select a title.
   • Press X to add a checkmark in the checkbox for the saved data you want to copy, and then choose Copy.

Once you do this, the game is copied to your PS4 and you can get back to playing it whenever you want to.

How to Record GTA V Videos and Share Them on YouTube

The PC version of Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) has taken almost two years to launch after the game initially released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2013. But it comes with its own unique features. Of these, the most convenient one is in-built recording and editing. What this means is, you don't need a third-party solution like FRAPS to record your GTA V gameplay on PC. Instead, everything can be managed within the game. Here's how you can make the most of it.

1. Recording your clips
Holding ALT and pressing F1 turns on Manual Recording. This lets you start and stop recording during gameplay. Pressing Left ALT and F1 saves it while pressing Left ALT and F3 cancels it. Saved clips will playback in-sequence.


Pressing F2 lets you use Action Replay. This allows you to save gameplay moments right after they have happened. The game will constantly buffer recorded data in the background but it will not save anything until you decide to create an Action Replay.
When an event worth sharing occurs you can choose to capture it by holding ALT and pressing F1 to choose 'Save Action Replay', similar to how tapping a button on the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One lets you record gameplay footage after it happens.
Cancelling the recording (Left ALT and F3) will delete all data recorded since the last clip was saved.
2. Clip details
The duration of an Action Replay clip depends on the amount activity during a recording. If it's a segment that's not too busy, it will be up to one minute and 30 seconds. More chaotic scenes will clock up to 30 seconds. If you want to have more control over the clip, you can use the manual recording instead.
Clips are automatically titled when saved. This is in the format 'Month DD YYYY Clip XXXX' (e.g., 'Apr 11 2012 Clip 0021').


You can manage the amount of space used to store clips by going to Pause Menu > Settings > Rockstar Editor. And you can go to Clip Management to delete unwanted clips and free up more space.
3. Editing clips
Press the pause button and select Rockstar Editor. You can view your clip in Clip Management. Then open Create New Project. Choose Add Clip.
Select from your recorded clips and place them on the timeline. Once you've placed a clip press ENTER or double click each clip to edit.
Use the mouse wheel to scroll through each frame in the video.


Delete clips with DEL, duplicate a clip with LEFT CTRL and C. Press LEFT CTRL and X to 'pick up' and move highlighted clips on your timeline to a different location, or click and drag them.
You can also use a variety of effects such as adjusting depth of field, adding audio, speed and in certain cases, manipulate camera angles too, which are all available as options to click on.
4. Saving and exporting your video
Pressing F5 allows you to quick save to prevent any untoward data loss. To change the name of your project or to save different versions of the same project use Save Project As.
Export your project once you are done by selecting Export in the Project Main Menu.



Set Frame Rate and Bit Rate using export options. Depending on your hardware and choices, the export may take slightly longer than the length of the video or in our case, around 20 minutes for a one minute, high bitrate, 60 frames per second video.
5. Upload your video
Once you have exported a video, you can choose to upload it to YouTube from your Video Gallery. The complete video will appear in your Video Gallery in the Rockstar Editor Main Menu. You can view it in fullscreen and upload it to YouTube or the Rockstar Social Club.

Please note

1. All videos will be uploaded to YouTube; any videos uploaded as Public or Unlisted will also be linked on Rockstar Games Social Club.
2. You can set your YouTube upload status as Public, Private or Unlisted in the Rockstar Editor tab of the Settings menu. Any videos you upload will use the last defined status.

How to Take Screenshots on the Xbox One and Share Them

Many think of gamers as loners who spend countless hours in the basement playing their favourite titles. Well, that may be true, but when we come across something beautiful - like the perfect goal in FIFA or a photo finish race in Forza Horizon 2 - we like sharing it with our friends as much as the next guy.

Microsoft may not have gotten around to adding screenshot capabilities to the Xbox One when it shipped, but a recent update brought this feature to the shiny gaming console. Here's how you can take a screenshot on the Microsoft Xbox One:

1. While playing a game double tap the Xbox button on your controller to capture a screenshot and pressing Y to save the screenshot. Or if you're one of the rare few with Kinect plugged into your Xbox One, you can say "Xbox, take a screenshot" to take and save a screenshot.
2. After saving the screenshot. Press the Xbox button to suspend the game.
   

   
3. Go to the Upload app on your Xbox One and choose the screenshot you want to share from Manage Captures.
4. Press the Menu button and choose Share.
5. The screenshot can be uploaded to Twitter, OneDrive, your Xbox activity feed, private message, or your own personal showcase. Choose the service you want to upload it to.

That's about it - taking a screenshot and sharing it from the Xbox One couldn't be simpler, right?

Please note:

1. The first time you connect to Twitter or OneDrive on the Xbox One, you need to enter your username and password for services.
2. Though Twitter lets you upload multiple pictures on other devices, on the Xbox One you are limited to uploading only one image at a time.

How to Take Screenshots on the PS4 and Share Them

For gamers, the PlayStation 4 (PS4) isn't just a spanking new kit to play games on - there's a social element to it as well. Yes we spend hours playing our favourite games, but when we get that perfect headshot, unlock a new level, or simply run into a weird bug, we want to share it with our friends.

Sony acknowledges this and this is why the PS4 controllers comes with a dedicated Share button. Before you can share screenshots, there's a few things to keep in mind:

1. The first time you connect to Twitter or Facebook on the PS4, you need to enter your username and password for services.
2. Though Twitter and Facebook let you upload multiple pictures on other devices, here you are limited to uploading only one image at a time.
3. In certain situations you may not be allowed to take a screenshot. These include some game opening screens or cut-scenes that maybe deemed as spoilers by developers.

With those disclaimers out of the way, here's how you can share your greatest - or worst - gaming moments with your friends by taking a screenshot on the Sony PlayStation 4:

1. Press the Share button on your PS4 controller for at least one second.
2. This will open up the share menu. Here, press the triangle button to save the screenshot.
   

   
3. If you want to discard the screenshot, press the circle button on the PlayStation 4 controller.
4. To share the screenshot, press the Share button again, choose the Upload Screenshot option.
5. Now you can choose which screenshot you'd like to share. Choose the screenshot you want by navigating to the image of your choice.
6. You will now be asked to choose which online service you would like to share it to.
7. Choose your service i.e. Facebook or Twitter.
8. Enter a comment (or not) and select Upload.

That's it, you just shared your first screenshot from the Sony PlayStation 4.

How to Update Your PS4

With a bunch of great games like DriveClub and LittleBigPlanet 3 already available, and the likes of BloodBorne and Uncharted 4, amongst others, on the horizon, the PlayStation 4 (PS4) is undoubtedly the most popular next-generation console right now.

And the PS4 is getting better with each update, the latest of which promises to bring much awaited features such as Suspend/ Resume that's present on the Xbox One.

Another reason to keep your PS4 updated is to prevent losing access to network functionality. This makes itself felt with an annoying error message asking you to "Update system software to use network features." Updating system software fixes this and is necessary for games that have online multiplayer such as Destiny and Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare.

Here's what you need to know on how to update your PS4 - and there's a way to do it even if the PlayStation 4 isn't connected to the Internet.

Update via the Internet

1. If your PS4 is already connected to the Internet, switch it on. Either press the console's on button or the PlayStation button on the Dual Shock 4 controller. It's the button in the centre of the controller.
2. On the home screen, select the toolbox icon called Settings.
3. In settings, select System Software Update. Choose Update Using Internet. This lets your console check for the latest firmware update. If you aren't already on the latest firmware, you will be prompted to download it and it should start immediately.
   

   
4. The moment the download is complete there will be a notification on the left top corner. On the home screen, select the Notification icon and then selectDownloads. In Downloads, choose the firmware file and follow the instructions to install it.

Update via USB

1. Procure a USB flash drive. It should have at least 320MB free and be in FAT32 file format.
2. Plug the flash drive into your PC's USB port. Open it and create a new folder. Name it PS4. In PS4, create another folder. Name it UPDATE. It is mandatory that the file names are named as is, in capital letters only, so it can be recognised by the PS4.
3. Download the update file from Sony's website to your PC. Copy it to the UPDATE folder on your USB flash drive. The file name should be PS4UPDATE.PUP.
4. Connect the USB flash drive to the PS4. From Settings, select System Software Update. Choose Update from USB Storage Device. Follow instructions to update.
   

   
5. If the PS4 system does not recognise the update file, check that the folder names and file name are correct. Enter the folder names and file name in upper case.

Update via Game Disc

1. When you insert a disc that contains a newer version of the system software, it shows you a screen that guides you through the update process. Follow the the instructions to update.

As you can see, Sony's provided for every possibility in the event your PS4 isn't connected to the Internet. For more tutorials, visit our How to section.

How to Completely Wipe Your BlackBerry 10 Phone

If you are reselling your old phone, or just handing it over to a loved one, you want to make sure that all your personal data is completely deleted before you do this. We've already described the process in case you're moving on from an iPhone, Android, orWindows Phone. If you have a BlackBerry 10 phone, this is what you need to know.

microSD card

In case you're moving to another BlackBerry or an Android handset, then you can just transfer your old microSD card, but if you're moving to a phone without a microSD card, or to a newer, bigger microSD card, and plan to give the existing one away, then you want to make sure that all the data on the card is deleted first.

First you'll want to back up all files on the microSD card.

1. On your phone, go to Settings > Storage and Access. Scroll to the bottom, and turn on the switch marked USB Mass Storage. Tap Continue.

2. Connect your phone to the computer with a USB cable.

3. Open My Computer on your PC, or Finder on your Mac.

4. Navigate to the SD card and copy all the files you want to save to your computer.

5. After the copying is done, you can safely eject your phone.

Now, you can erase your memory card.

1. On your phone, go to Settings > Storage and Access. You have to turn off USB Mass Storagefor the next step.

2. Scroll to the bottom and tap Erase SD card. You'll see a warning message telling you that you'll lose all the data on the card. According to BlackBerry, this permanently deletes all the contents of the card. Tap OK to continue. You're given one last warning and have to tap OK again, and then the process may take a few minutes, depending upon the size of your card.

3. Once this is done, all the data on the card is erased but the card cannot be used right away. In case you are handing over the card along with your phone, then you need to format the card. To do this, just tap Format Media Card in the same menu. This is a much quicker process and usually takes just about a minute.

Backing up the data on your phone
Your BlackBerry can be set to use Google accounts - this will back up your contacts and calendar. If you've set up Gmail on your phone then this should already be active, and your contacts and calendar data is already backed up to Google's servers, provided you haven't changed anything in the last 30 minutes (the default sync interval). If not, this is how you can enable it:

1. Go to Settings > Accounts. Tap Add Account from the bottom of the screen and then tap Email, Calendar and Contacts.

2. On the next page, enter your Gmail address and tap Next. Then enter your password and tap Sign in. This will set up the account. Make sure that all three switches are on.

You can also back up your messages, call records and other information using theBlackBerry Link software for Windows and Mac. Once that is done, start the software, and connect the phone to your computer using a USB cable.

Once the software is running, all you need to do is sign in with your BlackBerry ID, and the first thing it does is make an automatic backup of all your data. In case the backup doesn't start automatically, in BlackBerry Link click on Back Up and Restore > Back Up Device. There is no easy way of transferring this data to a non-BlackBerry device, but you can use this in case you are switching to a new BlackBerry phone.

Delete everything
Now that you've made a backup, you can safely delete everything on your phone.According to BlackBerry the Security Wipe is meant to permanently delete all data so it can't be recovered. This operation should not be interrupted and takes around 15 minutes, so you should connect your phone to the charger before wiping it. Here's what you want to do:

1. First, fully erase the SD card as discussed above or take it out and keep it safely if you plan to use it in your new phone.

2. Next, you have to perform a Security Wipe, which removes all the data and accounts on your phone. Go to Settings > Security and Privacy > Security Wipe.

3. A warning informs you this will delete all the data on the device, all apps and synced accounts. Also, if you had used the encryption settings to encrypt the SD card, it will become completely inaccessible. To go ahead with the wipe, you have to type in blackberry in the text box, and then tapDelete Data.

4. You get one final warning, and you have to tapOK - and then the phone deletes everything. This is a slow process that took around 20 minutes, with multiple restarts. It also took more than half our battery to complete but once this is done, your phone is ready to recycle.

Restoring your files on another phone
If you followed the steps mentioned above in backing up properly, then you should be able to get all your data back without any difficulty at all. For one thing, if you're continuing to use your old microSD card in your new phone, then your movies, music and photos get transferred automatically.

Otherwise, when you get your new phones, just sign in with the same Google account to carry over your contacts and calendar data, and transfer the files from your computer using the USB cable in the same way that you copied them to the computer, as described above. The same steps should work for most Android phones too.

In case you are switching to an iOS device, you can still sync your Google account to transfer your contacts and calendar, while you can use iTunes to transfer the backed up media files.

If you're moving to a new BlackBerry, then you should ideally have used the desktop software. When you connected your new phone to the computer, just sign in with the same BlackBerry ID as before and it will automatically recognise the new device and ask if you want to restore your data from the backup. Just keep tapping OK until it's done. In case the automatic restore doesn't take place, run BlackBerry Link and go toBack Up and Restore > Restore Device. Select the latest backup file, and clickRestore.

If you found this tutorial useful, check out more in our How To section. If you have any tips that can help to securely wipe BlackBerry phones, let us know via the comments.

How to Return Items Purchased on Flipkart

Our newsroom is full of people who mostly shop online, and it's safe to say that many people reading this also buy a lot of things from sites like Flipkart and Amazon. But sometimes you get products that are not up to the mark for one reason or the other. If you bought something online but need to return it though, then the process is really simple as long as you do it right away.

We've already explained the process for Amazon, but if you're a Flipkart shopper, the process is equally simple. This is what you need to do:

1. Go to your Flipkart Orders page.

2. You'll see a list of all your recent orders on this page. You can return items up to one month from the date of delivery, so don't take too much time to do this. Find the item you need to return, and click the Return button on the right.

3. On the next page you'll have to select reasons for return - this could be a missing item in your shipment, the wrong item, quality issues, or defective product. Choose the specific problem from the next drop down menu, and explain the problem in the comments box.

4. In the next drop down menu, the only option you can select is to request a new piece. Once that's done, click on the REQUEST RETURN button on the bottom right to confirm the return.

5. That's it - Flipkart will then contact you to confirm that a return is required, and will do the pickup from the address you ordered from. This can take a few days. In case you need to return the item from a different address, make sure you tell the customer care operative who calls.

6. Flipkart will then send someone to collect the item, and send a replacement. You'll get email updates throughout the process, and a receipt when the book is collected, which you should keep safe until the replacement arrives.

Have you ever received the wrong item from an online seller? What did you buy and what did you get? Tell us about your experience via the comments.

How to Add an External HDD to Your Game Console

If you're a gamer then you have probably found the best deals on games are there when you buy digital copies. Along with that, services like Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus guarantee you a couple of free games you can download each month. But with current generation games clocking in at 50GB or more, the 500GB hard drive in your Xbox One or PlayStation 4 starts to fill up really quickly.
You're a little better off with a PlayStation 3 or an Xbox 360, where games will usually be under the 10GB mark, but the hard drives on those consoles were also smaller, so it's still a problem. Since you can keep music and movies on the consoles as well, they fill up really quickly.
Luckily, gamers can just plug an external HDD into the console's USB port and use that make room on the internal drive. One thing you need to remember is that the hard drive needs to be formatted to use - this means that every single thing on the drive will be deleted before you can use it.
If there is any important data on the drive, make sure you save it before going ahead with any of the steps below. Formatting a drive is an irreversible step and it can take hours, depending on the size of the drive, so make any backups as needed, and then start the process only when you know you have the time.
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 will work with external storage of up to 32GB, in the FAT32 file system. For this reason, we would recommend using a USB thumb drive, instead of an external hard drive with your Xbox 360. While 32GB does not sound like much, this will allow you to save at least three full games, along with their save data, on one pen drive. If you're a fan of indie games, then you will probably be able to fit a lot more in there.
The one thing you'll need to do is make sure the thumb drive you're using is on the FAT 32 file system - some guides suggest that you can go directly to Step 7 and the Xbox 360 will format the drive for you, but we tried this with a couple of different thumb drives and that was not always the case. So, you could try step 7 first, but if your thumb drive is not detected, then start with Step 1.
1. Connect the thumb drive to your Windows PC, and go to My Computer.
2. Right click on the drive's icon, and click on Properties. Under the name of the drive, it should state the file type. If it's FAT32, then you can jump to step 7. Otherwise, you need to format the drive. This will delete everything on the drive, so back up any data you need to keep.
3. The fastest way to convert it to FAT32 is to use the command prompt. First, press the Windows Key + R to show the run dialogue box.

4. Type cmd, and click on OK.
5. In the window that pops up, type in the following text, leaving out the quote marks: "format /FS:FAT32 X:". You'll need to change X: to the name of the drive.
You can see the name of the drive in the My Computer window - do not accidentally type in the wrong letter because once you confirm this command, the process is not reversible.
6. You're given a prompt to press enter when you run the program. Just to be safe, double check the name of the drive you entered in the command before pressing the enter Key. This finishes the process, and you can check the filesytem of the drive as described in Step 2 to confirm.

7. To use the thumb drive, you can now eject it from your computer, and connect it to the Xbox 360.
8. Go to System settings > Memory > USB Storage > Configure Now. This process took a minute, and after that, we could store games, demos, save games to this drive.
You can also follow steps 1-6 to format an external HDD to FAT32, which can then be used with your Xbox 360. You can save movies and music to the HDD and play them from your Xbox 360 automatically, so this is useful if you are using the console as a music player. However, you won't be able to use more than 32GB for saving games.
PlayStation 3
Unlike the Xbox 360, you can't save PS3 games to the external drive, so here, we'd suggest using an external HDD to keep all the music, movies and TV shows you want to watch while the games stay on the internal HDD on your console.
The PS3 also only recognises FAT32 drives, so you'll need to follow steps 1-6 described above first. After that, you'll have to do one more thing to use it with your console.
1. After you've converted the drive to FAT32, go back to My Computer and open the drive.
2. Create the following folders: MUSIC, PHOTO, GAME and VIDEO. You can now fill up all the folders (except GAME) with the media content you want to access on your PS3.
While you can't play games from the external HDD, you can back up your downloaded games to the HDD; this means that if you delete a game, you don't have to waste data to redownload it. To back up a game:
1. After you've connected the HDD to the PS3, go to Settings > System Settings > Backup Utility > Backup.
2. Select Confirm and then select USB Drive, and your entire PS3 will be backed up on to the HDD. This process will take some time. Once this is done, you still can't play games from the external HDD, but if you need to make space, you can delete old games from the PS3, and transfer them back on later.
3. To recover games from the backup, start the PS3, then go to Game > Saved Data Utility
4. Select the external HDD. Scroll through the list to find the game you want to import. Press the triangle button on your controller, and then select Copy. This will copy the backup to the PS3 and you can use it again.
Xbox One
The newer consoles are a lot more like computers, and using an external hard drive is also relatively simpler. With the Xbox One, there is only one caveat - the HDD has to support USB 3.0, and has to be at least 256GB in size. If you're just looking at the external HDD to store your media and not your games, then there isn't a minimum storage limit or a requirement for USB 3.0 either.
1. To use it, just connect the HDD to your Xbox One. You will be asked if you want to format the HDD.
2. You have to choose Yes to use the HDD. This process is automatic and will take a little time. That's it - once you do this, it'll automatically be used to save games and other content.
PlayStation 4
The PS4 does not allow you to save games to the external HDD. You can simply plug an external HDD into the PS4, and use it to store all your movies and TV shows. You can copy videos from the PS4 to the HDD, so you can save all your gameplay footage without worrying about filling up the console's storage. However, you can't save games to the external drive with the PS4. Since the PS4 supports USB 3.0, if you use an external HDD with USB 3.0 then you'll obviously get much faster data transfer speeds - but it is compatible with older HDDs as well.
We hope this guide helped you with a space crunch on your console. If you have any console tips and tricks to share with our other readers, let us know via the comments.