Learn to build a PC in under two minutes

Building a computer is a great way to get a custom configuration, save some money and have fun. In this how-to video, we'll show you how to build one in less than two minutes.

Asus Z87-A motherboard - $140Intel Core i5-4430 Haswell 3.0GHz quad-core processor - $190G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB DDR3 SDRAM - $80Radeon HD 5450 graphics card - $30Rosewill wireless card - $10Seagate Barracuda 1TB hard drives (x2) - $70 eachOptical drive - $20Antec 550W power supply - $65Corsair 400R mid tower - $100Asus PB278Q 27" LED monitor with speakers - $550Logitech M705 wireless mouse - $40Logitech K120 keyboard - $11Windows 7 Home Premium - $75

Total: $1,451

First, lay the case on its side and install the motherboard. It may require spacing screws in order to make it level with the cutouts on the back of the case, but either way be sure to secure the motherboard to the case using the supplied screws.

Put the memory into the slots recommended in the motherboard's manual. Make sure the memory clicks into place and is secure.

Add the CPU, which is the most important and most delicate part of the computer. Handle it by its sides and then add the processor to the motherboard and secure it using the clamp.

Add some thermal paste which will help transfer heat from the CPU to the heat sink. Then add the heat sink and fan. Check the motherboard's manual on where to plug the fan into for power.

Add any PCI cards into the corresponding slots. We'll install a wireless card and a graphics card. Those can go into any of the empty slots, just make sure they're accessible from the back of the case.

All of the components will need power so connect the power supply, which typically goes at the bottom of the case. Tighten the screws to hold it in place. Then connect the power supply to the various components.

Then add the hard disk drives and optical drive. Those will usually slide into the bays and either click into place or need to be secured using screws.

Hard drives and optical drives will need both data and power cables. Power cables will come from the power supply and data from the motherboard.

After installing all of the components, connect the monitor, keyboard and mouse and then hit the power button on the case. Keep the cover off the case to monitor the start up.

If it's all installed correctly the BIOS screen should appear. Choose the option to boot from the optical drive. Insert the Windows disc and restart the computer.

Updated on September 26 with a video from IDG News Service.

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Learn how to cancel your online accounts

Have you ever tried to cancel, say, your Pandora account? Then you know what a hassle it can be. First you have find the cancellation page, which isn’t exactly easy, then fill out an email form.

This is standard practice with a lot of Web services, which work hard to get you signed up and are understandably reluctant to see you go. Though some make it easier than others to cancel an account, it can definitely be a time-consuming process.

JustDelete.me provides links to the cancellation pages for hundreds of services, from Adobe to Zoho. And it color-codes each listing so you know at a glance whether it's easy, medium, hard, or even impossible to cancel.

All you do is click the name of any service you want to leave; that'll immediately take you to the corresponding cancellation page. Before you do so, however, you may want to click Show Info, which provides a brief overview of the requirements and/or policy for that service.

The info for Pandora (rating: hard), for example, reads as follows:

You have to email support from the email associated with your account. If you do not have access to that, you need to provide the email address, birth year, and zip code on the account.

JustDelete.me is handy not only for canceling accounts you already have, but also for investigating services before you sign up for them. A Pinterest account, for example, can be deactivated, but your profile and pins live on indefinitely. Who knew?

Now you do.

Contributing Editor Rick Broida writes about business and consumer technology. Ask for help with your PC hassles at hasslefree@pcworld.com. Sign up to have the Hassle-Free PC newsletter e-mailed to you each week.

For more than 20 years, Rick Broida has written about all manner of technology, from Amigas to business servers to PalmPilots. His credits include dozens of books, blogs, and magazines. He sleeps with an iPad under his pillow.
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