Getting StartED with Windows 7

Getting StartED with Windows 7

by Joseph Moran, Kevin Otnes
Released November 2009
Publisher(s): Apress
ISBN: 9781430225034

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Book description

Whether this is your first time with Windows, you're switching from another operating system, or you're upgrading from Windows XP or Vista, you'll find a wealth of new ideas and innovations in Windows 7. Getting StartED with Windows 7 highlights those features to make your time in Windows more productive and more pleasurable.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. About the Authors
  3. About the Technical Reviewer
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Introduction
    1. Who This Book Is For
    2. How this book is structured
    3. About the Boxes in the Series
  6. 1. Navigating Windows 7
    1. 1.1. The Start menu
      1. 1.1.1. Running programs
      2. 1.1.2. Finding programs
      3. 1.1.3. Customizing the program list
      4. 1.1.4. Using Jump Lists to open files and run programs
      5. 1.1.5. Browsing folders and settings
      6. 1.1.6. Shutting down and logging off
    2. 1.2. The taskbar
      1. 1.2.1. Previewing program windows
      2. 1.2.2. Adding program buttons to the taskbar
      3. 1.2.3. Using Jump Lists from the taskbar
      4. 1.2.4. Using the notification area
    3. 1.3. Manipulating windows with the mouse
      1. 1.3.1. Stretching a window vertically
      2. 1.3.2. Arranging windows side-by-side
      3. 1.3.3. Minimizing background windows
      4. 1.3.4. Minimizing all windows
    4. 1.4. Browsing open windows with the keyboard
      1. 1.4.1. Alt+Tab
      2. 1.4.2. Windows+Tab
      3. 1.4.3. Alt+Esc
    5. 1.5. Summary
  7. 2. Managing User Accounts
    1. 2.1.
      1. 2.1.1. Exploring Windows 7 account types
      2. 2.1.2. Creating a user account
      3. 2.1.3. Using the guest account
      4. 2.1.4. Logging off an account
    2. 2.2. Switching between accounts
    3. 2.3. Setting up account passwords
      1. 2.3.1. Creating an account password
      2. 2.3.2. Changing an existing password
    4. 2.4. Creating a password reset disk
      1. 2.4.1. Using a password reset disk
      2. 2.4.2. Changing account options as an administrator
    5. 2.5. Using Parental Controls
    6. 2.5. Summary
  8. 3. Working with Files and Folders
    1. 3.1. Browsing storage devices
      1. 3.1.1. Operating system folders
      2. 3.1.2. Account folders
      3. 3.1.3. Public folder
    2. 3.2. Using libraries
      1. 3.2.1. Using standard libraries
      2. 3.2.2. Viewing the contents of a library
      3. 3.2.3. Modifying a library
      4. 3.2.4. Creating a new library
    3. 3.3. Using Windows search
      1. 3.3.1. Understanding the index
      2. 3.3.2. Searching from the Start menu
      3. 3.3.3. Searching from an Explorer window
      4. 3.3.4. Expanding searches
      5. 3.3.5. Using filters
      6. 3.3.6. Saving searches
      7. 3.3.7. Searching nonindexed locations
      8. 3.3.8. Changing index settings
    4. 3.4. Summary
  9. 4. Personalizing Windows 7
    1. 4.1. Personalizing your login screen
    2. 4.2. Personalizing your desktop
      1. 4.2.1. Choosing a theme
      2. 4.2.2. Viewing or changing your desktop background
    3. 4.3. Setting up your screen saver
    4. 4.4. Making your screen easier to view and read
      1. 4.4.1. Changing the size of text and items in Windows
      2. 4.4.2. Changing your screen resolution
    5. 4.5. Cleaning up and organizing your desktop
      1. 4.5.1. Tidying up your desktop icons
      2. 4.5.2. Hiding or showing common Windows desktop icons
      3. 4.5.3. Deleting or moving desktop icons
      4. 4.5.4. Accessing your desktop with a toolbar
    6. 4.6. Customizing your computer sounds
      1. 4.6.1. Changing system sounds
      2. 4.6.2. Adjusting the volume or muting your computer
    7. 4.7. Customizing Windows for visual, audio, mobility, or cognitive needs
    8. 4.8. Customizing program preferences and personal information
    9. 4.9. Summary
  10. 5. Fixing Problems from A to Ctrl+Z
    1. 5.1. Using Windows 7 to fix problems
      1. 5.1.1. Using Windows Troubleshooters
        1. 5.1.1.1. Opening the troubleshooter in Control Panel
        2. 5.1.1.2. Accessing troubleshooters through Help and Support
        3. 5.1.1.3. Using a troubleshooter to fix problems with hardware
      2. 5.1.2. Using Programs and Features to fix problems
      3. 5.1.3. Running Windows 7 in Safe Mode
      4. 5.1.4. Using System Restore to fix problems
      5. 5.1.5. Updating device drivers
        1. 5.1.5.1. Examples of devices that may need updated drivers
        2. 5.1.5.2. Locating updated drivers
        3. 5.1.5.3. Updating the drivers on your computer
      6. 5.1.6. Using Advanced Recovery
        1. 5.1.6.1. Using a System image to recover
        2. 5.1.6.2. Using a recovery disc
        3. 5.1.6.3. Carrying out an advanced recovery
    2. 5.2. Fixing things at the document level
      1. 5.2.1. Undoing
      2. 5.2.2. Using Save As
      3. 5.2.3. Using autosave and saving regularly
      4. 5.2.4. Creating copies of the original
      5. 5.2.5. Saving your scraps
    3. 5.3. Getting help from within Windows
    4. 5.4. Accessing Help and Support
    5. 5.5. Summary
  11. 6. Protecting Your Data
    1. 6.1. Backup types
      1. 6.1.1. File backup
      2. 6.1.2. System image backup
    2. 6.2. Choosing a backup storage device
    3. 6.3. Creating automatic file and system image backups
    4. 6.4. Creating a system image manually
    5. 6.5. Creating a system repair disc
    6. 6.6. Restoring data from backups
      1. 6.6.1. Restoring from a file backup
      2. 6.6.2. Restoring previous versions of a file
      3. 6.6.3. Restoring a system image when Windows won't start
    7. 6.7. Summary
  12. 7. Creating a Home Network
    1. 7.1. Checking your current network connections
    2. 7.2. Connecting to the Internet
      1. 7.2.1. Connecting through a wireless network
      2. 7.2.2. Connecting through a wired network
      3. 7.2.3. Connecting through a power line or phone line network
    3. 7.3. Connecting to a homegroup
      1. 7.3.1. Creating a homegroup
      2. 7.3.2. Joining a homegroup
      3. 7.3.3. Changing homegroup settings
      4. 7.3.4. Leaving the homegroup
      5. 7.3.5. Excluding files or folders from sharing
    4. 7.4. Sharing printers on a home network
      1. 7.4.1. Choosing which printers to attach to your network
        1. 7.4.1.1. Color printers
        2. 7.4.1.2. All-in-one printers
        3. 7.4.1.3. Photo printers
        4. 7.4.1.4. Personal photo printers
        5. 7.4.1.5. Black-and-white (monochrome) laser printers
        6. 7.4.1.6. Recommendations
      2. 7.4.2. Installing a shared printer
        1. 7.4.2.1. Attaching a printer to a computer in your homegroup
        2. 7.4.2.2. Installing the printer on other homegroup computers
        3. 7.4.2.3. Installing a printer that is not attached to a homegroup computer
        4. 7.4.2.4. Installing and sharing a wired or wireless printer
        5. 7.4.2.5. Installing and sharing a printer attached to a NAS device
        6. 7.4.2.6. Installing and sharing a printer attached to a Windows Vista or XP computer
        7. 7.4.2.7. Adding a shared printer to a Windows 7 computer from a non-Windows 7 computer or device
    5. 7.5. Sharing files with computers or devices that are not part of a homegroup
      1. 7.5.1. Viewing and changing the workgroup name on Windows XP
      2. 7.5.2. Viewing and changing the workgroup name on Windows Vista or Windows 7
      3. 7.5.3. Viewing and accessing shared folders on your network
      4. 7.5.4. Accessing shared folders from Windows XP
      5. 7.5.5. Accessing shared folders from Windows Vista
      6. 7.5.6. Accessing shared folders from Windows 7
      7. 7.5.7. Sharing a folder if it does not appear available from another computer
        1. 7.5.7.1. Sharing a folder on Windows XP
        2. 7.5.7.2. Sharing a folder on Windows Vista
        3. 7.5.7.3. Sharing a folder on Windows 7
    6. 7.6. Enhancing network security
    7. 7.7. Summary
  13. 8. Using Windows 7 Programs
    1. 8.1. Using Internet Explorer
      1. 8.1.1. Viewing a website
      2. 8.1.2. Viewing multiple websites
      3. 8.1.3. Saving favorite sites
      4. 8.1.4. Configuring a home page
      5. 8.1.5. Searching
    2. 8.2. Using Windows Media Player
      1. 8.2.1. Creating a playlist
    3. 8.3. Using WordPad
    4. 8.4. Using Windows Photo Viewer
    5. 8.5. Using Windows Fax and Scan
      1. 8.5.1. Configuring Windows Fax and Scan
      2. 8.5.2. Sending and receiving faxes
      3. 8.5.3. Scanning a document
    6. 8.6. Using Calculator
    7. 8.7. Using Sticky Notes
    8. 8.8. Exploring the Windows Media Center
    9. 8.9. Using gadgets
    10. 8.10. Finding games to play
    11. 8.11. Exploring Windows Live Essentials
      1. 8.11.1. Getting Windows Live Essentials
    12. 8.12. Configuring default programs
      1. 8.12.1. Choosing default programs
      2. 8.12.2. Configuring file associations
      3. 8.12.3. Opening a file with a non-default program
    13. 8.13. Changing AutoPlay settings
    14. 8.14. Installing programs
    15. 8.15. Uninstalling programs
    16. 8.16. Turning off Windows 7 programs
    17. 8.17. Summary
  14. 9. Safeguarding Your Computer
    1. 9.1. Setting up your computer for protection from logon to logoff
      1. 9.1.1. Every person using your computer should have a user account, and every user account should have a password
      2. 9.1.2. Adjust User Account Control to an appropriate level
      3. 9.1.3. Creating and using a disaster recovery plan
    2. 9.2. Security features that protect your computer
    3. 9.3. Checking the security status of your computer
      1. 9.3.1. Fixing security issues
    4. 9.4. Adjusting Windows Update
      1. 9.4.1. Important and optional updates
      2. 9.4.2. Setting Windows Update to automatically install updates
      3. 9.4.3. Checking for new updates available for download or installation
    5. 9.5. Adjusting Windows Firewall settings
      1. 9.5.1. Adding or removing programs from the Windows Firewall allowed programs and features list
    6. 9.6. Protecting against spyware
      1. 9.6.1. How does spyware protection work?
      2. 9.6.2. Using Windows Defender for spyware protection
        1. 9.6.2.1. Turning on Windows Defender
        2. 9.6.2.2. Scanning your computer for spyware
    7. 9.7. Choosing an antivirus program
      1. 9.7.1.
        1. 9.7.1.1. Getting security software for free or cheap
        2. 9.7.1.2. Tips for getting security software
        3. 9.7.1.3. Getting antivirus software through Action Center
      2. 9.7.2. Using the Security Center from a third-party Internet security suites
        1. 9.7.2.1. Running and maintaining virus protection
    8. 9.8. Surfing the Internet and exchanging e-mail safely
      1. 9.8.1. Defending against e-mail threats
        1. 9.8.1.1. To protect yourself against e-mail threats
      2. 9.8.2. Safe surfing on the Internet
    9. 9.9. Security check list
    10. 9.10. Summary
  15. 10. Moving Files and Settings to Your Windows 7 Computer
    1. 10.1. Moving to a new computer: the big picture
    2. 10.2. Understanding Windows Easy Transfer
    3. 10.3. Using Windows Easy Transfer for a Windows upgrade installation on the same computer
    4. 10.4. Preparing to move to the new computer
      1. 10.4.1. Preparing the data on your old computer for transfer
      2. 10.4.2. Preparing and verifying a transfer method
        1. 10.4.2.1. Easy Transfer Cable
        2. 10.4.2.2. Network
        3. 10.4.2.3. External hard disk or USB flash drive
      3. 10.4.3. Ensuring that your computers are not interrupted during transfer
        1. 10.4.3.1. Run your computer on AC power, not your batteries
        2. 10.4.3.2. Turn off all sleep, hibernation, standby, and power conservation modes
        3. 10.4.3.3. Turn off your screen saver
        4. 10.4.3.4. Turn off scheduled virus scans, spyware scans, and backups
        5. 10.4.3.5. Close down all other programs
        6. 10.4.3.6. Locate installation discs for the programs and devices installed on your old computer
    5. 10.5. Transferring files with an Easy Transfer cable
    6. 10.6. Transferring files and settings via a network in real time
      1. 10.6.1. Setting up the network connection between the old and new computers
      2. 10.6.2. Choosing the connection method
    7. 10.7. Using a USB flash drive, external hard disk, or network location for Windows Easy Transfer
      1. 10.7.1. Creating the transfer file from your old computer
      2. 10.7.2. Transferring the Windows Easy Transfer file from the storage location to the new computer
    8. 10.8. Carrying out post-migration tasks
    9. 10.9. Using alternatives to Windows Easy Transfer
    10. 10.10. What to do with your old PC
    11. 10.11. Exploring related information
    12. 10.12. Summary

Product information

  • Title: Getting StartED with Windows 7
  • Author(s): Joseph Moran, Kevin Otnes
  • Release date: November 2009
  • Publisher(s): Apress
  • ISBN: 9781430225034