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PCs All-in-One For Dummies®, 5th Edition

Name: PCs All-in-One For Dummies®, 5th Edition
Author: Mark L. Chambers
ISBN: 9780470614549

by Mark L. Chambers

July 2010

Beginner

642 pages

14h 8m

English

Wiley

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Copyright
About the Author
Author's Acknowledgments
Publisher's Acknowledgments
Introduction
What's Really RequiredWhat's Not RequiredAbout This BookConventions Used in This BookStuff that you typeMenu commandsDisplay messagesHow This Book Is OrganizedBook I: PC HardwareBook II: Windows 7Book III: The InternetBook IV: PC Troubleshooting and MaintenanceBook V: Office 2010Book VI: Fun with Movies, Music, and PhotosBook VII: Upgrading and SuperchargingBook VIII: Home NetworkingIcons Used in This Book
I. PC Hardware
1. Starting with the Basics
1.1. Basic Terms1.1.1. Hardware1.1.2. Software1.1.3. Peripherals1.2. The Common Components of a Desktop PC1.2.1. The computer1.2.1.1. Consider thy form factor1.2.2. The monitor1.2.3. The keyboard and mouse1.2.4. Speakers1.3. Desktop PCs versus Laptop PCs1.4. RAM and Processors: The Keys to Performance1.5. Your Friend, Your Operating System
2. Additional Toys Your PC Will Enjoy
2.1. Printers2.1.1. Inkjet versus laser printers2.1.1.1. Laser printer advantages2.1.1.2. Inkjet printer advantages2.1.2. Photo printers2.1.3. Label printers2.2. Scanners2.3. Keyboards, Tablets, and Pointing Things2.3.1. Tickling keys wirelessly2.3.2. Putting a tablet to work2.3.3. Repeat after me: Buy a trackball!2.4. Big-Time Game Controllers2.5. Video and Digital Cameras2.6. External Drives2.6.1. Portable hard drives and DVD/Blu-Ray recorders2.6.2. Backup drives2.6.3. USB flash drives2.7. Surge Protectors and UPS Units
3. Connectors, Ports, and Sundry Openings
3.1. Using USB Stuff3.2. Riding in the Fast Lane with FireWire3.3. Your Fossilized Serial Port3.4. The Once-Renowned Parallel Port3.5. Meet Your Video Port3.6. Audio Connectors You Likely Need3.7. Keyboard and Mouse Ports on Parade
II. Windows 7

1. Shake Hands with Windows 7
1.1. A Windows 7 Primer1.1.1. Why Windows 7, anyway?1.1.2. Flavors à la Windows1.1.3. Upgrade or clean install1.1.4. System requirements for the Big 71.1.4.1. Processor and RAM1.1.4.2. Hard drive space1.1.4.3. Graphics card1.1.4.4. And now for the rest of the story1.2. Starting and Shutting Down Windows 71.2.1. Shutting down completely1.2.2. Restarting your PC1.2.3. Using sleep mode1.2.4. Yes, your PC can hibernate1.2.5. Multiuser options1.3. Your Windows 7 Controls1.3.1. Icons1.3.2. That constantly changing cursor1.3.3. The Start menu1.3.4. The taskbar1.3.5. Menus and toolbars1.3.5.1. The miracle of menus1.3.5.2. Those tremendous toolbars1.4. Using Bill's Funky Keys1.4.1. The Windows keys1.4.2. The Shortcut key1.4.3. Other important keys1.5. Using the Windows 7 Help System1.5.1. Displaying Help1.5.2. Searching for specific help1.5.3. Yelling for assistance
2. The Many Windows of Windows
2.1. Managing Windows Means Productivity2.1.1. Opening and closing windows2.1.2. Scrolling windows2.1.3. Minimizing and restoring windows2.1.4. Maximizing and restoring windows2.1.5. Moving windows2.1.6. Resizing windows2.1.7. Switching windows2.2. A Field Guide to Icons2.2.1. Hardware icons2.2.2. Program icons2.2.3. File icons2.2.4. Folder icons2.2.5. Shortcut icons2.2.6. System icons2.3. Selecting Icons2.3.1. Selecting a single icon2.3.2. Selecting multiple contiguous icons by dragging2.3.3. Selecting multiple contiguous icons by clicking2.3.4. Selecting multiple separated icons by clicking2.4. Using the Toolbar
3. Windows 7 Basics
3.1. Running Applications from the Start Menu3.2. Running Applications from Your Hard Drive3.3. Running Applications from a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM3.4. Running Applications from a Network Drive3.5. Exiting a Program3.6. Putting Your Files in Order3.6.1. Copying and moving stuff3.6.2. Creating a new folder3.6.3. Deleting stuff with mouse and keyboard3.6.4. Displaying properties3.6.5. Renaming items3.7. Emptying the Recycle Bin3.8. Recovering Items from the Recycle Bin3.9. Putting the Start Menu through Its Paces3.9.1. Tossing the Recent Applications list3.9.2. Using the Run item3.9.3. Accessing printers3.9.4. Working with your network3.9.5. Configuring the Start menu3.10. Handling the Taskbar3.10.1. Switching programs3.10.2. Controlling the notification area3.10.3. Adding icons to the taskbar3.10.4. Configuring the taskbar3.11. Terminating a Program with Prejudice3.12. How to Avoid Formatting a Floppy Disk
4. Advanced Windows 7
4.1. Personalizing Your Desktop4.1.1. Changing the background4.1.2. Using themes4.1.3. Changing system sounds4.1.4. Adding the Sidebar and gadgets4.2. Switching Views and Sorting Items4.3. Don't Forget the Preview Pane!4.4. What's This Stuff in the My Users Folder?4.5. A Word about Libraries4.6. Share the Documents ... and Other Stuff4.7. Using Your HomeGroup4.8. Creating a Shortcut4.9. Multiuser Operation For Dummies4.9.1. Logging in4.9.2. Be my guest4.10. Fax Me, Please4.10.1. Setting up faxing under Windows 74.10.2. Sending faxes4.11. Doing the Multimedia Thing4.11.1. Playing your MP3 files4.11.2. Viewing and downloading digital photographs4.11.3. Recording your own CDs4.11.4. Watching a DVD movie
5. Taking Control of the Control Panel
5.1. First, Put the Control Panel on the Start Menu!5.2. Configuring the Date and Time5.2.1. Date and Time tab5.2.2. Additional Clocks tab5.2.3. The Internet Time tab5.3. Changing Personalization Settings5.3.1. Theme5.3.2. Desktop background5.3.3. Sounds5.3.4. Screen saver5.4. Adjusting Display Settings5.5. Choosing AutoPlay Options5.6. Adjusting the Power Options5.7. Tweaking the Keyboard5.7.1. The Speed tab5.7.2. The Hardware tab5.8. Adjusting Thy Mouse5.9. Configuring Internet Options5.9.1. The General tab5.9.2. The Security tab5.9.3. The Privacy tab5.9.4. The Content tab5.9.5. The Connections tab5.9.6. The Programs tab5.9.7. The Advanced tab5.10. Uninstalling and Repairing Programs and Features5.11. Fine-Tuning User Accounts5.12. Configuring Phone and Modem Options5.12.1. The Dialing Rules tab5.12.2. The Modems tab5.12.3. The Advanced tab
III. The Internet
1. Making Sense of the Internet
1.1. Exactly What Is the Internet, Anyway?1.2. Exploring the Potential of the Web1.2.1. Surf the Web1.2.2. Build a Web site1.2.3. Blogging1.2.4. E-mail and instant messaging1.2.5. FTP file transfer1.2.6. Newsgroups1.2.7. Webcams and Web videoconferencing1.2.8. Enjoy digital media over the Internet1.3. Understanding Internet Connections1.3.1. Dialup connections1.3.2. DSL connections1.3.3. Cable modem connections1.3.4. Satellite connections1.4. "What Exactly Do I Need?"
2. Adding an Internet Connection to Windows 7
2.1. Gathering the Account Incantations2.2. Making the Physical Connection2.3. Creating a New Dialup Connection in Windows 72.4. Creating a New DSL, Satellite, or Cable Connection in Windows 72.5. "Is My Connection Alive?"2.6. "My Connection Appears to Be Dead"
3. Protecting Your Internet Privacy
3.1. What Can Really Happen?3.2. Common Sense Goes a Long Way3.2.1. Passwords3.2.2. Risky behavior3.2.3. E-mail3.3. Using the Built-in Windows 7 Firewall3.4. Using Antivirus Software
4. Cruising the Web with Internet Explorer
4.1. Running Internet Explorer4.2. The Explorer Window and Basic Controls4.2.1. More buttons for your buck4.2.2. Finding a home page4.3. Navigating the Web4.3.1. Simplifying surfing with Favorites4.3.2. Searching for the hay in the needlestack4.3.3. Doing the Tab thing4.4. Downloading Files4.5. Keeping Track of Where You've Been4.6. Printing and Saving Web Pages4.6.1. Putting the Web in print4.6.2. Saving the best (for last)
5. Harnessing Your E-Mail
5.1. Introducing the Mail Window5.2. Setting Up Your Mailbox5.3. The Three R's: Receiving, Reading, and Replying5.3.1. Receiving e-mail5.3.2. Reading e-mail5.3.3. Replying to and forwarding e-mail5.3.4. To Bcc, or not to Bcc5.3.5. E-mail housekeeping: Deleting and filing5.4. Creating and Sending E-Mail5.4.1. Formatting a message5.4.2. Creating and sending a draft5.4.3. Windows Live Mail 1025.5. Sending and Receiving File Attachments5.6. Spam: I Hate It — Truly I Do!5.7. Working with Your Contacts
6. Instant Messaging Done Right
6.1. Selecting a Chat Client6.1.1. AIM6.1.2. ICQ6.2. Running Windows Live Messenger6.3. Configuring Windows Live Messenger6.4. Keeping Track of Friends and Family6.5. Chatting with Your Brethren6.6. Selecting a Status6.7. Squelching the Unwelcome Few
IV. PC Troubleshooting and Maintenance
1. Easy PC Troubleshooting
1.1. Relax and Breathe Easy1.2. The Troubleshooting Process, Step by Step1.3. Drastic Things That You Won't Do Often1.3.1. Using System Recovery Options1.3.2. Reinstalling Windows 71.4. HELP! Additional Troubleshooting Resources1.4.1. The Windows 7 Help system1.4.2. Microsoft tech support1.4.3. The Microsoft Web site1.4.4. Those unsupported newsgroups
2. Maintaining Windows 7
2.1. Device Manager: The Hardware Tool2.2. Checking Your Hard Drives in Windows 72.3. Defragmenting Just Plain Rocks2.4. Be Smart: Back Up Your Stuff2.5. Safeguarding Your System with System Restore2.6. Have at Thee, Foul Virus!2.7. Using Windows Defender2.8. Windows 7 Boot and Recovery Options2.8.1. Using Safe mode2.8.2. Using the last known good configuration2.9. Using Windows Update2.9.1. The fully automatic way2.9.2. The (somewhat) manual way
3. Maintaining Your Hardware
3.1. When Should You Move Your PC?3.2. Avoiding Dust Bunnies3.3. Watching Your Cables3.4. Cleaning Monitors and Scanners3.5. Cleaning Your Mouse and Keyboard3.6. Cleaning and Maintaining Your Printer3.6.1. Cleaning laser printers3.6.2. Changing inkjet cartridges3.6.3. Calibrating your printer3.6.4. Cleaning inkjet cartridges3.6.5. Refilling inkjet cartridges
V. Office 2010
1. Introducing Office 2010
1.1. The Components of Office 20101.1.1. Word 20101.1.2. Excel 20101.1.3. PowerPoint 20101.1.4. Access 20101.1.5. Outlook 20101.2. Putting the Office Clipboard to Work1.3. Using the Office Help System1.3.1. Displaying the Help system1.3.2. The three controls of justice
2. Using Word
2.1. Running Word2.2. The Elements of Word2.3. A Word about Views2.3.1. Draft view2.3.2. Outline view2.3.3. Print Layout view2.3.4. Web Layout view2.3.5. Full Screen Reading view2.4. Typing, Selecting, and Editing Text2.4.1. Typing like the wind2.4.2. Selecting what you will2.4.3. Editing text in Word2.5. Finding and Replacing Stuff2.6. Building Tables2.7. Adding Bulleted and Numbered Lists2.8. Adjusting Tabs and Margins2.8.1. Setting margins with the ruler2.8.2. Setting margins from the Ribbon2.8.3. Setting tabs with the ruler2.8.4. Setting tabs from the Ribbon2.9. Applying Formatting2.9.1. Font formatting2.9.2. Paragraph formatting2.9.3. AutoFormatting2.10. Adding Graphics2.11. Doing the Collaboration Thing2.11.1. Using revision marks2.11.2. Using comments2.11.3. Using highlighting2.12. Printing Your Document2.13. Creating Web Pages with Word
3. Putting Excel to Work
3.1. Running Excel3.2. Waltzing Around the Excel Window3.3. Selecting, Entering, and Editing Cell Data3.3.1. Filling a cell to the top3.3.2. Moving around the worksheet3.3.3. Selecting cells the easy way3.3.4. Editing cell contents3.4. Working with Numbers and Dates3.5. Working with Rows and Columns3.5.1. Resizing rows and columns3.5.2. Inserting blank cells3.5.3. Inserting cells from the Clipboard3.5.4. Inserting rows and columns3.6. Formatting in Excel3.6.1. Font formatting3.6.2. Cell alignment3.6.3. Changing borders and shading3.7. The Basics of Excel Formulas3.8. Working with Graphics in Excel3.9. Adding a Chart3.10. Linking Cells3.11. Adding Headers and Footers3.12. Printing Your Worksheets
4. Performing with PowerPoint
4.1. Getting Your Bearings in PowerPoint4.2. Changing Views4.2.1. Normal view4.2.2. Slide Sorter view4.2.3. Notes Page view4.2.4. Reading view4.2.5. Slide Show view4.3. Creating Slides4.3.1. Inserting slides4.3.2. Inserting a document4.4. Typing, Selecting, and Editing Text4.4.1. Adding text4.4.2. Moving within text fields4.4.3. Selecting text and objects4.4.4. Editing text4.4.5. Moving slide elements4.5. Installing Graphics in Your Slides4.6. Applying a Theme4.7. Entering Notes4.8. Using Movies and Sound4.9. Building and Running a Slide Show4.10. Making a Transition 'twixt Slides4.11. Using Package for CD4.12. Printing Your Document
5. Doing Database Magic with Access
5.1. Running Access5.2. A Quick Tour of the Access Window5.3. Creating Access Tables5.4. Creating a Form with the Wizard5.5. Entering and Editing Fields Manually5.6. Using Access Templates5.7. Printing Your Data
6. Staying in Touch with Outlook
6.1. Running Outlook6.2. Elements of the Outlook Window6.3. Configuring Your Mail Account6.4. Reading and Replying to E-Mail6.5. Composing and Sending Messages6.6. Using File Attachments6.7. Keeping Track of Your Contacts6.7.1. Entering a contact6.7.2. Editing a contact6.8. Using the Outlook Calendar6.8.1. Creating an appointment6.8.2. Displaying appointments in Outlook Today6.9. Printing within Outlook
7. Working with SkyDrive
7.1. Answers to Your Online Storage Queries7.2. Signing In to SkyDrive7.3. Marking Your Own Territory and Adding Files7.4. Saving Files within Office Applications
VI. Fun with Movies, Music, and Photos
1. Scanning with Gusto
1.1. What Happens inside a Scanner?1.2. Your Friend, the Flatbed1.3. Popular Scanner Features1.4. Basic Scanning with Windows Live Photo Gallery1.4.1. Acquiring the image1.4.2. Rotating and cropping images1.4.3. Converting and saving the image1.5. Scanning Do's and Don'ts1.6. Those Irritating (Or Invaluable) Copyrights
2. Dude, MP3 Rocks!
2.1. An MP3 Primer2.2. Ripping Your Own MP3 Files2.3. Listening to Your Stuff2.4. Downloading to an MP3 Player2.5. Using Other Sound Formats2.5.1. WAV format2.5.2. WMA format2.5.3. AAC format2.5.4. AU format2.5.5. AIFF format2.5.6. MIDI format2.6. Burning Audio CDs from MP3 Files
3. Making Movies with Your PC
3.1. Getting the Lowdown on Windows Live Movie Maker3.2. Rounding Up Clips and Images3.3. Building Your First Movie3.4. Adding Transitions without Breaking a Sweat3.5. Adding Special Effects without Paying George Lucas3.6. Adding Sound3.7. You've Just Gotta Have Titles!3.8. Previewing Your Oscar-Winning Work3.9. Saving and Sharing Before Traveling to Cannes3.9.1. Creating a digital video file3.9.2. Sharing your masterpiece on YouTube
4. I Can Make My Own DVDs?
4.1. Welcome to Windows DVD Maker4.2. Clips 'R Easy!4.3. Time to Preview4.4. Burning Your DVD and Celebrating Afterward
5. I'm Okay, You're a Digital Camera
5.1. How Does a Digital Camera Work?5.2. The Pros and Cons of Digital Photography5.3. Digital Camera Extras to Covet5.3.1. External card readers5.3.2. Rechargeable batteries5.3.3. Lenses5.3.4. Tripods5.4. The Lazy Man's Guide to Composing Photographs5.4.1. The rule of thirds5.4.2. The rule of asymmetry5.4.3. Using lighting creatively5.5. Organizing Your Pictures5.6. Downloading Your Images
VII. Upgrading and Supercharging
1. Determining What to Upgrade
1.1. Making Performance Upgrades: CPU, Motherboard, and Memory1.1.1. Upgrading your CPU and motherboard1.1.2. Adding memory1.2. Expansion Upgrades: eSATA, USB 2.0, and FireWire1.3. Making Storage Upgrades: Internal and External Drives1.3.1. Adding a hard drive1.3.2. Adding a recorder or a tape drive1.4. Making Sound and Video Upgrades: Sound and Video Cards1.4.1. Sound cards on parade1.4.2. Deciding which video card is right for you
2. Adding RAM to Your Hot Rod
2.1. Defining the Different Types of RAM2.1.1. DDR2.1.2. DDR22.1.3. DDR32.1.4. RDRAM2.1.5. SDRAM2.2. Figuring Out Which Type of RAM to Buy2.3. Deciding How Much RAM Is Enough2.4. Installing Extra RAM
3. Adding Hard Drive Territory to Your System
3.1. The Tale of Virtual Memory3.2. Recognizing a Well-Dressed Hard Drive3.2.1. Size definitely matters3.2.2. How fast is your access?3.2.3. What does rpm have to do with hard drives?3.3. Internal versus External Storage3.4. Adding a Second Internal Hard Drive
4. Partying with USB, FireWire, and eSATA
4.1. A Tale of Three Fine Ports4.1.1. Comparing USB ports4.1.2. I vote for FireWire4.1.3. The latest power user port: eSATA4.2. Or Do You Just Need a Hub?4.3. Installing a Port Card
5. Pumping Up Your Sound and Video
5.1. Sound Card Features to Covet5.1.1. 3D spatial imaging5.1.2. Surround sound support5.1.3. MP3 encoding support5.1.4. Game and FireWire ports5.1.5. MIDI ports5.2. Shopping for a Monster Graphics Card5.2.1. Just say, "PCI Express"5.2.2. Exploring the differences between chipsets5.2.3. Other video card features that you'll want5.3. Installing Sound and Video Cards
VIII. Home Networking
1. Do I Really Need a Network?
1.1. Discovering the Advantages of a Network1.1.1. File transfer1.1.2. Sharing that-there Internet1.1.3. One word: Games!1.1.4. Shared documents and applications1.2. What Can I Connect To?1.3. What Hardware Do I Need?1.4. What Software Do I Need?
2. Ethernet to the Rescue
2.1. A Quickie Ethernet Primer2.2. The Hardware You Need2.2.1. Cables2.2.2. Switches2.2.3. NICs2.3. Doing the Cable Dance2.4. Configuring Windows 7 for Your Network2.4.1. Ah, sweet DHCP2.4.1.1. Setting up the host2.4.1.2. Setting up the clients2.4.2. Browsing the neighborhood2.4.3. Sharing folders and documents2.5. Printing across the Network2.6. Using a Standard Switch with a Cable or DSL Modem2.7. Troubleshooting Your Network2.7.1. Windows 7 doesn't recognize my NIC2.7.2. No lights show up on my network card(s) or switch2.7.3. Nothing shows up when I browse2.7.4. I can't connect (or print) to a shared printer
3. Going Wireless
3.1. Understanding Wireless Networking3.1.1. Comparing wireless with wired3.1.2. Keeping track of the standards involved3.1.2.1. The original standard: 802.11b3.1.2.2. The misfit: 802.11a3.1.2.3. The mainstream: 802.11g3.1.2.4. Raising the bar to 802.11n3.1.2.5. The strangely named: Bluetooth3.1.3. AC and phoneline networking3.2. Using Wireless Hardware in Windows 73.2.1. Preparing to install3.2.2. Installation tricks3.2.3. Making the connection
4. Sharing Your Internet Connection
4.1. Why Share Your Internet Connection?4.2. Sharing through Hardware4.2.1. Wired sharing devices4.2.2. Wireless sharing devices4.3. Sharing through Software in Windows 7
5. Securing Your Home Network
5.1. Common Sense Tips for Wired Networks5.2. Ensuring Security on Your Wireless Network5.3. Using Shared Folders (The Right Way)5.4. Knowing Why You Need NAT5.5. Marveling at the Magic of Virtual Private Networking

Overview

One-stop shopping for everything you need to know about PCs!

If you're a PC owner, you have a pretty good idea of just how much there is to discover about your PC, whether you use it for work or play. Comprised of eight minibooks, this All-in-One guide covers essential PC topics from soup through nuts, including the latest updates to PC hardware, Windows 7, the Internet, Office 2010, digital media, upgrading and troubleshooting, social media, and home networking.

This new edition features expanded coverage of using popular social media such as Twitter, Facebook, WordPress, and blogging. Plus, you'll walk through the new Windows 7 operating system and explore revisions for each of the Office 2010 applications.

Provides PCs users of all levels of experience with a series of eight minibooks that include the most up-to-date coverage of PC hardware, Windows 7, the Internet, Office 2010, digital media, upgrading and troubleshooting, social media, and home networking
Explores step-by-step procedures for using the new Windows 7 operating system
Discusses updates to each of the Office 2010 applications, the latest features of version 8 of Internet Explorer, and new information on the latest PC hardware
Reviews ways to protect your PC from viruses, troubleshooting tips, and upgrading and supercharging your PC.

PCs All-in-One For Dummies covers everything you need to know in order to get acquainted with your PC!

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
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