Easy Computer Basics, Windows Vista Edition

Easy Computer Basics, Windows Vista Edition

by Michael Miller
Released April 2008
Publisher(s): Que
ISBN: 9780768682717

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Book description

See it done. Do it yourself. It’s that Easy! Easy Computer Basics, Windows Vista Edition teaches you the fundamentals to help you get the most from your computer hardware and software. Fully illustrated steps with simple instructions guide you through each task, building the skills you need to do what you want to do. No need to feel intimidated; we’ll hold your hand every step of the way.

Learn how to…

  • Set up and configure your new computer system

  • Upgrade your computer with new hardware and software

  • Use Windows Vista--and personalize it just for you

  • Connect to the Internet for web surfing, email, and instant messaging

  • Manage and edit digital photos with Windows Photo Gallery

  • Play, copy, and burn your own music CDs--and download music from the Internet to play on your iPod

  • Protect your family and your computer from viruses, spam, and spyware

  • Set up a wireless home network and share your Internet connection with multiple computers

    • Easy steps guide you through each task.

    Items you select or click are shown in bold.

    Each step is fully illustrated.

    Category: Computers

    Covers: General Computing

    User Level:  Beginning

    Introduction 1

    Part 1: Understanding How Your Computer Works 2

    Part 2: Setting Up and Using a Desktop PC 14

    Part 3: Setting Up and Using a Notebook PC 28

    Part 4: Using Microsoft Windows Vista 38

    Part 5: Working with Files and Folders 62

    Part 6: Using Microsoft Word 78

    Part 7: Connecting to the Internet 96

    Part 8: Setting Up a Wireless Home Network 132

    Part 9: Playing Music and Movies 150

    Part 10: Working with Digital Photos 168

    Part 11: Adding New Devices to Your System 190

    Part 12: Protecting Your Computer 200

    Part 13: Taking Care of Your Computer 214

    Glossary 228

    Table of contents

    1. Contents (1/2)
    2. Contents (2/2)
    3. 1 Understanding How Your Computer Works
      1. Getting to Know Your System Unit
      2. Inside the Case
      3. Hard Disk Drives: Long-Term Storage
      4. CD and DVD Drives
      5. Keyboard
      6. Mouse
      7. Sound Cards and Speakers
      8. Video Cards and Monitors
      9. Printers
    4. 2 Setting Up and Using a Desktop PC
      1. Connecting the Mouse and Keyboard
      2. Connecting the Monitor
      3. Connecting the Audio System
      4. Connecting a Broadband Modem
      5. Connecting a Printer
      6. Connecting the System Power Cable
      7. Powering On
      8. Logging On to Windows Vista
      9. Shutting Down
    5. 3 Setting Up and Using a Notebook PC
      1. Connecting the Power Cable
      2. Connecting a Printer
      3. Connecting a Broadband Modem
      4. Powering On
      5. Using Sleep Mode
      6. Shutting Down
      7. Running on Batteries
    6. 4 Using Microsoft Windows Vista
      1. Using the Mouse
      2. Scrolling a Window
      3. Maximizing, Minimizing, and Closing a Window
      4. Using the Windows Start Menu
      5. Opening a Program
      6. Switching Between Programs
      7. Using Menus
      8. Using Toolbars and Ribbons
      9. Managing PC Resources with Computer Explorer
      10. Managing Windows with the Control Panel
      11. Personalizing the Desktop Background
      12. Changing the Color Scheme
      13. Using a Screensaver
      14. Using the Windows Sidebar
      15. Setting Up Additional Users
      16. Getting Help in Windows
    7. 5 Working with Files and Folders
      1. Changing the Way Files Are Displayed
      2. Sorting Files and Folders
      3. Navigating Folders
      4. Navigating with the Navigation Pane
      5. Creating a New Folder
      6. Renaming a File or Folder
      7. Copying a File or Folder
      8. Moving a File or Folder
      9. Deleting a File or Folder
      10. Restoring Deleted Files
      11. Emptying the Recycle Bin
      12. Compressing a File
      13. Extracting Files from a Compressed Folder
    8. 6 Using Microsoft Word
      1. Navigating Word 2007
      2. Creating a New Document
      3. Saving a Document
      4. Opening an Existing Document
      5. Entering Text
      6. Cutting/Copying and Pasting Text
      7. Formatting Text
      8. Formatting Paragraphs
      9. Applying Styles
      10. Checking Your Spelling
      11. Printing a Document
    9. 7 Connecting to the Internet
      1. Setting Up a New Home Internet Connection
      2. Connecting to an Internet Wi-Fi Hotspot
      3. Surfing the Web with Internet Explorer
      4. Saving Your Favorite Pages
      5. Returning to a Favorite Page
      6. Revisiting History
      7. Searching the Web with Google
      8. Finding News and Other Information Online
      9. Watching Web Videos on YouTube
      10. Shopping for Bargains at Shopping.com
      11. Bidding for Items on eBay
      12. Setting Up an Email Account
      13. Reading an Email Message
      14. Replying to an Email Message
      15. Composing a New Email Message
      16. Sending a File via Email
      17. Adding Contacts in Windows Live Messenger
      18. Instant Messaging with Windows Live Messenger
    10. 8 Setting Up a Wireless Home Network
      1. Setting Up Your Network’s Main PC (1/2)
      2. Setting Up Your Network’s Main PC (2/2)
      3. Connecting Additional PCs to Your Wireless Network
      4. Managing Your Network with the Network and Sharing Center
      5. Enabling Public Folder Sharing
      6. Enabling Printer Sharing
      7. Accessing Other Computers on Your Network
    11. 9 Playing Music and Movies
      1. Playing a CD with Windows Media Player
      2. Ripping a CD to Your Hard Disk
      3. Creating a Playlist
      4. Playing a Playlist
      5. Burning a Music CD
      6. Connecting an iPod to Your PC
      7. Creating iPod Playlists
      8. Downloading Music from the iTunes Store
      9. Playing a DVD
    12. 10 Working with Digital Photos
      1. Transferring Pictures from a Digital Camera
      2. Transferring Pictures from a Memory Card
      3. Scanning a Picture
      4. Viewing Photos with Windows Photo Gallery
      5. Cropping a Photo
      6. Removing Red Eye
      7. Adjusting Brightness and Contrast
      8. Adjusting Color and Hue
      9. Printing a Photo
      10. Ordering Prints Online
    13. 11 Adding New Devices to Your System
      1. Adding a New External Device via USB
      2. Adding New Internal Hardware (1/2)
      3. Adding New Internal Hardware (2/2)
    14. 12 Protecting Your Computer
      1. Defending Against Computer Attacks with Windows Firewall
      2. Removing Spyware with Windows Defender
      3. Protecting Against Computer Viruses with Windows Live OneCare
      4. Fighting Email Spam in Windows Mail
      5. Protecting Your Children with Parental Controls
      6. Dealing with User Account Control
    15. 13 Taking Care of Your Computer
      1. Backing Up Important Files
      2. Restoring Your Computer After a Crash
      3. Deleting Unnecessary Files
      4. Defragmenting Your Hard Disk
      5. Checking Your Hard Disk for Errors
      6. Keeping Your Computer in Tip-Top Shape
    16. Glossary
      1. A
      2. B
      3. C
      4. D
      5. E
      6. F
      7. G
      8. H
      9. I-J
      10. K-L
      11. M-N
      12. O-P
      13. Q-R
      14. S
      15. T-U-V
      16. W-X-Y-Z
    17. Index
      1. A
      2. B
      3. C
      4. D
      5. E
      6. F
      7. G-H
      8. I
      9. J-K-L
      10. M
      11. N
      12. O
      13. P
      14. Q-R
      15. S
      16. T
      17. U
      18. V
      19. W
      20. X-Y-Z

    Product information

    • Title: Easy Computer Basics, Windows Vista Edition
    • Author(s): Michael Miller
    • Release date: April 2008
    • Publisher(s): Que
    • ISBN: 9780768682717