Download Manager Tips, Reader Q&A

First record your computer's existing CMOS settings. Boot up and head for your system's Setup screen. Do that by watching the screen for instructions. For instance, my PC wants me to hit the Delete key; my notebook tells me to use F10.

Once the Setup's visible, use a digital camera to snap an image of each page; the other option is to jot the info down using pencil and paper.

BTW, some computers come with a handy program for saving your CMOS settings. You'll have to hunt around in your PC's manual to see if you're one of the lucky ones. Read "Make a Backup of Your CMOS" in an old (but still useful)Answer Linecolumn for details.

Once you've recorded the CMOS settings, print the tutorial atLiveRepair. Now turn off and unplug the PC, take off the cover, and follow the tutorial's step-by-step battery replacement instructions.

Boot your system and step through each page of the setup, changing the settings to match your original settings, and you're good to go.

As newsletter subscribers have noticed, PC World sends out an e-mail with a link to my column online. Unfortunately, too many subscribers have written asking why there aren't any "Dig This" items--though there always are, just interspersed into the text.

When I first started writing the newsletter, I popped time wasters into the copy in order to break things up. My editor and I decided it's probably better to batch everything at the bottom of the newsletter, so the items are easier to find. We also decided to ditch the "Dig This" title. [Sorry, Randy.]

So here it is, the first-ever weekly "Time Wasters" section.

If your hard drive goes south, you can always take it to a chain's repair service instead of doing the heavy lifting yourself. Then again, after watching thisComputer Repair Undercover Investigation, maybe not.

The question is,how many cannibalscould your body feed? Well, it kind of depends on whether you keep kosher or have decided to go vegan. Wait until after lunch to find out.

Take careful aimand see if you can avoid doing what I did--missing the apple.

There are a few golden rules for birders. Number one: Alwayskeep your mouth closedwhen you're looking up at birds.

It's hard to believe anyone would spend the time grabbing what looks like, I dunno, 30,000 URLs and matching logos. ButAllMyFaveshas done it. [Thanks, Tom L.]

Here's adecent illusionfrom one of those wacky Japanese TV celebrity shows. I have to give them credit--it sure looks like the guy's walking through a table.

Steve Bass writes PC World's monthly "Hassle-Free PC" column and is the author of "PC Annoyances, 2nd Edition: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things About Your Personal Computer,"available from O'Reilly. He also writes PC World's dailyTips & Tweaks blog.Sign upto have Steve's newsletter e-mailed to you each week. Comments or questions? Send Stevee-mail.