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Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics

by: Miller, Michael

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics

by: Miller, Michael

ISBN 13:
9780789731753
ISBN 10:
0789731754
Edition: 2nd
Format: Paperback
Copyright: 01/01/2004
Publisher: Que
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Summary

Guides beginning users through basic PC operations in Microsoft Windows, demonstrating how to print letters, manage finances, shop online, send and receive e-mail, and customize the desktop.

Introduction

(1)

How This Book Is Organized

(1)

Conventions Used in This Book

(2)

Menu Commands

(1)

Shortcut Key Combinations

(1)

Web Page Addresses

(1)

Special Elements

(1)

Let Me Know What You Think

(2)

I Getting Started

(30)

1 Understanding Your Computer Hardware

(20)

What Your Computer Can-and Can't-Do

(1)

Good for Work

(1)

Good for Play

(1)

Good for Managing Your Finances

(1)

Good for Keeping in Touch

(1)

Good for Getting Online

(1)

Getting to Know Your Personal Computer System

(3)

Pieces and Parts-Computer Hardware

(1)

The Right Tools for the Right Tasks-Computer Software

(1)

Making Everything Work-with Windows

(1)

Don't Worry, You Can't Screw It Up-Much

(1)

Computer Hardware Basics

(15)

Your PC's System Unit-The Mother Ship

(3)

Microprocessors: The Main Engine

(1)

Computer Memory: Temporary Storage

(1)

Hard Disk Drives: Long-Term Storage

(1)

Disk Drives: Portable Storage

(1)

CD-ROM Drives: Storage on a Disc

(1)

DVD Drives: Even More Storage on a Disc

(1)

Keyboards: Fingertip Input

(1)

Mice: Point-and-Click Input Devices

(1)

Modems: Getting Connected

(1)

Sound Cards and Speakers: Making Noise

(1)

Video Cards and Monitors: Getting the Picture

(2)

Printers: Making Hard Copies

(1)

Laptop PCs-Lightweight All-in-One Systems

(3)

2 Setting Up Your New Computer System

(10)

Before You Get Started

(1)

Connecting the Cables

(3)

Connect in Order

(1)

Connect by Color

(1)

Turning It On and Setting It Up

(6)

Powering On for the First Time

(2)

Powering On Normally

(2)

II Using Windows

(56)

3 Understanding Microsoft Windows XP

(18)

What Windows Is-and What It Does

(1)

Different Versions of Windows

(1)

Working Your Way Around the Desktop

(1)

Important Windows Operations

(7)

Pointing and Clicking

(1)

Double-Clicking

(1)

Right-Clicking

(1)

Dragging and Dropping

(1)

Hovering

(1)

Moving and Resizing Windows

(1)

Maximizing, Minimizing, and Closing Windows

(1)

Scrolling Through a Window

(1)

Using Menus

(1)

Using Toolbars

(1)

Using Dialog Boxes, Tabs, and Buttons

(1)

Using the Start Menu

(2)

Launching a Program

(1)

Switching Between Programs

(1)

Shutting Down Windows-and Your Computer

(1)

Understanding Files and Folders

(4)

Managing PC Resources with My Computer

(1)

Managing Files with My Documents

(1)

Managing Windows with the Control Panel

(1)

All the Other Things in Windows

(1)

Accessories

(1)

Internet Utilities

(1)

System Tools

(1)

Getting Help in Windows

(2)

4 Taking Windows for a Spin

(10)

Playing a Game

(3)

Launching a Program-and Printing and Saving a Document

(3)

Opening Notepad

(1)

Writing Your Note

(1)

Printing Your Note

(1)

Saving Your File

(1)

Closing the Program

(1)

Viewing Your Documents

(1)

Examining Your Hard Disk

(2)

Shutting Down Your System

(1)

5 Personalizing Windows

(14)

Changing the Look of Your Desktop

(3)

Changing the Desktop Size

(1)

Selecting a New Desktop Theme

(1)

Personalizing the Desktop Background

(1)

Changing the Color Scheme

(1)

Organizing Desktop Icons

(1)

Creating New Shortcuts on the Desktop

(1)

Changing the Name of a Shortcut

(1)

Arranging Icons on the Desktop

(1)

Cleaning Up Your Desktop Shortcuts

(1)

Changing the Way the Start Menu Works

(3)

Applying Start Menu Special Effects

(1)

Displaying More-or Fewer-Programs on the Start Menu

(1)

Selecting Which Icons to Display on the Start Menu-and How

(1)

Adding a Program to the Start Menu-Permanently

(1)

Activating Special Effects

(2)

Enabling ClearType

(1)

Using the Effects Dialog Box

(1)

Using the Performance Options Dialog Box

(1)

Changing Your Click

(1)

Using a Screensaver

(1)

Resetting the Time and Date

(1)

Setting Up Additional Users

(2)

6 Working with Files and Folders

(14)

Viewing Folders and Files

(3)

Changing the Way Files Are Displayed

(1)

Sorting Files and Folders

(1)

Grouping Files and Folders

(1)

Saving Your Settings, Universally

(1)

Navigating Folders

(1)

Creating New Folders

(1)

Renaming Files and Folders

(1)

Copying Files

(1)

The Easy Way to Copy

(1)

Other Ways to Copy

(1)

Moving Files

(1)

The Easy Way to Move

(1)

Other Ways to Move a File

(1)

Deleting Files

(2)

The Easy Way to Delete

(1)

Restoring Deleted Files

(1)

Managing the Recycle Bin

(1)

Working with Compressed Folders

(4)

Compressing a File

(1)

Extracting Files from a Compressed Folder

(2)

III Upgrading and Maintaining Your System

(38)

7 Adding New Hardware and Devices to Your System

(10)

Most Popular Peripherals

(1)

Understanding Ports

(2)

Adding New External Hardware

(1)

Connecting via USB or FireWire Ports

(1)

Connecting via Parallel or Serial Ports

100

(1)

Adding New Internal Hardware

100

(1)

Using the Add Hardware Wizard

101

(1)

Connecting Portable Devices to Your PC

102

(3)

8 Setting Up a Home Network

105

(10)

How Networks Work

106

(2)

Wired Networks

106

(1)

Wireless Networks

106

(1)

Connecting and Configuring

107

(1)

Setting Up a Wired Network

108

(1)

How It Works

108

(1)

What You Need

108

(1)

Making the Connections

109

(1)

Setting Up a Wireless Network

109

(3)

How It Works

109

(1)

What You Need

110

(1)

Making the Connections

111

(1)

Sharing Files and Folders Across Your Network

112

(3)

9 Performing Routine Maintenance

115

(8)

Free Up Disk Space by Deleting Unnecessary Files

116

(1)

Make Your Hard Disk Run Better by Defragmenting

117

(1)

Perform a Hard Disk Checkup with ScanDisk

118

(1)

Keep Your Hardware in Tip-Top Condition

119

(5)

System Unit

119

(1)

Keyboard

119

(1)

Mouse

120

(1)

Monitor

120

(1)

Printer

121

(2)

10 Dealing with Common Problems

123

(8)

How to Troubleshoot Computer Problems

124

(2)

Using Windows Troubleshooters

125

(1)

Troubleshooting in Safe Mode

125

(1)

What to Do When Windows Freezes

126

(1)

What Causes Windows to Freeze?

126

(1)

Dealing with Frozen Windows

126

(1)

Dealing with a Frozen Program

127

(1)

Dealing with a Major Crash

127

(1)

Undoing the Damage with System Restore

128

(6)

Setting System Restore Points

128

(1)

Restoring Your System

129

(2)

IV Using Computer Software

131

(88)

11 Installing New Software

133

(6)

Automatic Installation

134

(1)

Manual Installation

134

(1)

Installing Software from the Internet

135

(1)

Removing Old Programs

136

(3)

12 Using Suites and Bundles

139

(8)

Evaluating the Most Popular Software Bundles

140

(2)

Microsoft Works

140

(1)

Microsoft Works Suite

140

(1)

Microsoft Office

141

(1)

Corel WordPerfect Suite

142

(1)

Working with Works

142

(6)

Finding Your Way Around the Task Launcher

143

(1)

Launching a Program

144

(1)

Creating a New Document

144

(1)

Opening an Existing Document

145

(2)

13 Working with Words

147

(14)

Exploring the Word Interface

148

(2)

What's Where in Word

148

(2)

Viewing a Word Document-in Different Ways

150

(1)

Zooming to View

150

(1)

Working with Documents

150

(3)

Creating a New Document

151

(1)

Opening an Existing Document

152

(1)

Saving the Document

152

(1)

Working with Text

153

(2)

Entering Text

153

(1)

Editing Text

153

(1)

Formatting Text

154

(1)

Checking Spelling and Grammar

154

(1)

Printing a Document

155

(1)

Previewing Before You Print

155

(1)

Basic Printing

155

(1)

Changing Print Options

155

(1)

Formatting Your Document

156

(2)

Formatting Paragraphs

156

(1)

Using Word Styles

156

(1)

Assigning Headings

157

(1)

Working with an Outline

158

(1)

Working with Pictures

159

(3)

Inserting a Picture from the Clip Art Gallery

159

(1)

Inserting Other Types of Picture Files

159

(1)

Formatting the Picture

160

(1)

14 Working with Numbers

161

(12)

Understanding Spreadsheets

162

(1)

Entering Data

162

(1)

Inserting and Deleting Rows and Columns

163

(1)

Insert a Row or Column

163

(1)

Delete a Row or Column

163

(1)

Adjusting Column Width

163

(1)

Using Formulas and Functions

164

(3)

Creating a Formula

164

(1)

Basic Operators

164

(1)

Including Other Cells in a Formula

164

(1)

Quick Addition with AutoSum

165

(1)

Other AutoSum Operations

165

(1)

Using Functions

166

(1)

Sorting a Range of Cells

167

(1)

Formatting Your Spreadsheet

168

(1)

Applying Number Formats

168

(1)

Formatting Cell Contents

168

(1)

Creating a Chart

169

(4)

15 Working with a Database

173

(8)

Creating a New Database

174

(1)

Creating a Preformatted Database

174

(1)

Creating a Blank Database

174

(1)

Changing Views

175

(1)

Editing Your Database

176

(1)

Adding Data

176

(1)

Adding New Records

176

(1)

Adding New Fields

177

(1)

Sorting and Filtering

177

(1)

Sorting Data

177

(1)

Filtering Data

178

(1)

Creating a Report

178

(4)

Printing a List

178

(1)

Using ReportCreator to Create a Report

179

(2)

16 Working with Presentations

181

(10)

Understanding Microsoft PowerPoint

182

(1)

The PowerPoint Workspace

182

(1)

Changing Views

183

(1)

Creating a New Presentation

183

(3)

Applying a Template

183

(1)

Inserting New Slides

184

(1)

Working from an Outline

185

(1)

Adding Text

185

(1)

Formatting Your Slides

186

(2)

Formatting Text

186

(1)

Changing Backgrounds

186

(2)

Adding Graphics

188

(2)

Inserting Pictures

188

(1)

Creating Charts

189

(1)

Applying Slide Transitions

190

(1)

Start the Show!

190

(1)

17 Managing Your Finances

191

(10)

Getting Started with the Setup Assistant

192

(1)

Navigating Money

193

(1)

Home Sweet Home

193

(1)

Money's Financial Centers

194

(1)

Managing Your Bank Account

194

(3)

Entering Transactions

194

(1)

Paying Recurring Bills

195

(2)

Balancing Your Checkbook

197

(1)

Banking Online

197

(5)

Setting Up Online Banking

198

(1)

Paying Bills Online

198

(3)

18 Creating Cool Projects and Greeting Cards

201

(6)

Designing Simple Home Projects

202

(1)

Popular Home Publishing Programs

202

(1)

Creating a Project

203

(1)

Sending Electronic Greeting Cards

203

(5)

Popular Greeting Card Sites

203

(1)

Sending a Card at Yahoo! Greetings

204

(3)

19 Learning with Educational Software

207

(6)

Finding the Best Educational Software

208

(2)

Early Learning

208

(1)

Elementary

208

(1)

High School

209

(1)

Continuing Education

209

(1)

Using Encyclopedia Programs

210

(4)

The Best Encyclopedia Software

210

(1)

Using Microsoft Encarta

210

(3)

20 Playing Games

213

(6)

Building a State-of-the-Art Gaming System

214

(1)

Installing and Playing PC Games

215

(1)

Playing Games Online

216

(1)

Playing Games Against Other Players

217

(1)

Finding Videogame News and Tips Online

218

(1)

V Using the Internet

219

(82)

21 Connecting to the Internet

221

(8)

Different Types of Connections

222

(1)

Traditional Dial-Up

222

(1)

Broadband DSL

222

(1)

Broadband Cable

222

(1)

Broadband Satellite

223

(1)

Before You Connect

223

(1)

Setting Up a New Connection

223

(1)

Connecting via a Commercial Online Service

224

(1)

Sharing an Internet Connection

225

(5)

The Bridge Configuration

225

(1)

The Combination Modem/Hub Bridge Configuration

226

(1)

The Gateway Configuration

227

(2)

22 Surfing the Web

229

(8)

Understanding the Web

230

(1)

Using Internet Explorer

230

(2)

Basic Web Surfing

232

(1)

Advanced Operations

232

(2)

Saving Your Favorite Pages

232

(1)

Revisiting History

233

(1)

Printing

234

(1)

Let's Go Surfin'!

234

(3)

23 Finding Stuff Online

237

(10)

How to Search the Web

238

(1)

Constructing a Query

238

(1)

Using Wildcards

238

(1)

Searching for an Exact Phrase

239

(1)

Where to Search

239

(4)

Google-the Most Popular Search Site on the Web

239

(2)

Other Search Engines

241

(1)

Directories

242

(1)

Metasearch Engines

242

(1)

Searching for People

243

(1)

Searching for News, Sports, and Weather

243

(2)

Searching for the Latest News

243

(1)

Searching for Sports Headlines and Scores

244

(1)

Searching for Weather Reports

244

(1)

Searching for Financial Information

245

(1)

Searching for Medical Information

245

(2)

24 Buying and Selling Online

247

(12)

Shopping Online

248

(3)

How to Shop-Safely

248

(1)

Making an Online Purchase

249

(1)

Finding the Best Prices Online

250

(1)

Buying-and Selling-at eBay Auctions

251

(4)

How Online Auctions Work

252

(1)

eBay Bidding, Step-by-Step

252

(2)

eBay Selling, Step-by-Step

254

(1)

Buying a Car Online

255

(1)

House Hunting Online

256

(1)

Booking Travel Reservations Online

257

(2)

25 Sending and Receiving Email

259

(8)

Setting Up Your Email Account

260

(1)

Understanding the Outlook Express Window

261

(1)

Managing Your Email

261

(2)

Composing a Message

262

(1)

Reading New Messages

263

(1)

Replying to a Message

263

(1)

Sending Files via Email

263

(1)

Attaching a File to an Email Message

263

(1)

Opening an Email Attachment

264

(1)

Protecting Against Email Viruses

264

(1)

Using Address Book to Manage Your Contacts

265

(2)

26 Using Instant Messaging and Chat

267

(6)

Sending and Receiving Instant Messages

268

(2)

Getting Connected

268

(1)

Adding New Contacts

269

(1)

Sending a Message

270

(1)

Receiving a Message

270

(1)

Chatting with Friends Online

270

(4)

Chatting at Yahoo!

271

(1)

Other Chat Sites

272

(1)

27 Using Newsgroups, Message Boards, and Blogs

273

(6)

Reading and Posting to Usenet Newsgroups

274

(1)

Reading Newsgroup Articles

274

(1)

Creating and Posting Newsgroup Articles

275

(1)

Participating in Web-Based Message Boards

275

(2)

Using Yahoo! Message Boards

276

(1)

Where to Find Message Boards

277

(1)

Joining the Blog Community

277

(2)

28 Downloading Files

279

(4)

Finding Files Online

280

(1)

Downloading from a File Archive

280

(2)

Downloading Files from Any Web Page

282

(1)

29 Creating Your Own Web Page

283

(6)

Building a Web Page at a Home Page Community

284

(3)

Visiting the Communities

284

(1)

Creating a Home Page at Yahoo! GeoCities

284

(3)

Using Page-Building Software

287

(1)

Uploading Your Pages

288

(1)

30 Protecting Your PC from Viruses, Spam, and Other Nuisances

289

(12)

Safeguarding Your System from Computer Viruses

290

(2)

Signs of Infection

290

(1)

How to Catch a Virus

290

(1)

Practicing Safe Computing

291

(1)

Disinfecting Your System with Antivirus Software

291

(1)

Fighting Email Spam

292

(2)

Protecting Your Email Address

292

(1)

Blocking Spammers in Outlook Express

293

(1)

Fighting Spam with Microsoft Outlook

293

(1)

Using Anti-Spam Software

294

(1)

Hunting Down Spyware

295

(1)

Defending Against Computer Attacks

296

(1)

Using the Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall

296

(1)

Using Third-Party Firewall Software

297

(1)

Shielding Your Children from Inappropriate Content

297

(7)

Using Content Filtering Software

297

(1)

Kids-Safe Searching

298

(1)

Encouraging Safe Computing

298

(3)

VI Working with Music, Movies, and Photos

301

(60)

31 Playing CDs and DVDs

303

(6)

Understanding CD/DVD Playback

304

(1)

Using Windows Media Player

304

(2)

Playing a CD

306

(1)

Playing a DVD

306

(4)

Using Windows Media Player to Play DVDs

306

(1)

Changing Display Size

307

(1)

Navigating DVD Menus

307

(1)

Changing Audio Options

308

(1)

Playing in Slow Motion-or Fast Motion

308

(1)

Displaying Subtitles and Closed Captions

308

(1)

32 Ripping and Burning CDs

309

(8)

Understanding Digital Audio Formats

310

(1)

Get the Right Software

311

(1)

Ripping Songs from CD to Your PC

312

(1)

How Ripping Works

312

(1)

Ripping a CD with Musicmatch Jukebox

312

(1)

Burning Your Own CDs

313

(2)

How CD Burning Works

314

(1)

Burning CDs with Musicmatch Jukebox

314

(1)

Copying CDs

315

(2)

33 Downloading and Playing Digital Music

317

(10)

Downloading from Online Music Stores

318

(3)

iTunes Music Store

318

(1)

Napster2.0

319

(2)

Other Online Music Stores

321

(1)

Downloading from Free Music Sites

321

(1)

Downloading from File-Trading Networks

322

(2)

Where to Trade Files Online

322

(1)

Downsides to File Trading

323

(1)

Playing Digital Music with Windows

Media Player

324

(1)

Playing Digital Audio Files

324

(1)

Creating a Playlist of Your Favorite Songs

325

(1)

Listening to Internet Radio

325

(2)

34 Using Your PC with a Portable Music Player

327

(6)

Working with the Apple iPod

328

(3)

Connecting an iPod to Your PC

329

(1)

Managing Your Music with iTunes

329

(1)

Assembling Playlists

330

(1)

Downloading Songs from the iTunes Music Store

331

(1)

Transferring Songs to Other Portable Music Players

331

(2)

35 Editing Your Own Home Movies

333

(6)

Configuring Your System for Video Editing

334

(1)

Choosing a Video Editing Program

334

(1)

Working with Windows Movie Maker

335

(5)

Recording from a Camcorder

335

(1)

Editing Your Video

336

(1)

Titles, Transitions, and Other Options

337

(1)

Saving-and Watching-Your Movie

337

(1)

Burning Your Movie to DVD

338

(1)

36 Burning and Copying DVDs

339

(8)

Choosing a DVD Creation Program

340

(1)

Creating a Movie DVD Direct from Tape

340

(1)

Creating a Movie DVD from Video Files

341

(1)

Creating a DVD Slideshow

342

(2)

Copying a DVD

344

(3)

37 Connecting a Digital Camera or Scanner

347

(4)

Making the Connection

348

(1)

Transferring Pictures from a Digital Camera

348

(1)

Transferring Pictures from a Memory Card Reader

349

(1)

Scanning a Picture

349

(2)

38 Working with Digital Pictures

351

(10)

Managing Your Photos

352

(1)

Choosing a Photo Editing Program

353

(1)

Editing Your Photos with Adobe Photoshop Elements

353

(5)

Opening a Picture for Editing

353

(1)

Touching Up a Picture

354

(1)

Removing Red Eye

355

(1)

Cropping a Picture

356

(1)

Resizing a File for the Internet

356

(2)

Printing Your Photos

358

(1)

Choosing the Right Printer-and Paper

358

(1)

Making the Print

358

(1)

Printing Photos Online

359

(2)

Ordering from a Photo-Processing Site

359

(1)

Ordering from Within Windows XP

360

(1)

Index

361

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics

9780789731753

0789731754

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Write a Review

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics

9780789731753

0789731754

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Write a Review

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