| | | Copyright |
| | | About the Author |
| | | Acknowledgments |
| | | We Want to Hear from You! |
| | | Introduction |
| | | | How This Book Is Organized |
| | | | Conventions Used in This Book |
| | | | Let Me Know What You Think |
| | | Part i. Getting Started |
| | | | Chapter 1. Understanding Your PC Hardware |
| | | | What Your Computer Canand Can'tDo |
| | | | Getting to Know Your Personal Computer System |
| | | | Computer Hardware Basics |
| | | | Chapter 2. Setting Up Your New Computer System |
| | | | Before You Get Started |
| | | | Connecting the Cables |
| | | | Turning It On and Setting It Up |
| | | Part ii. Using Windows |
| | | | Chapter 3. Understanding Microsoft Windows XP |
| | | | What Windows Isand What It Does |
| | | | Different Versions of Windows |
| | | | Working Your Way Around the Desktop |
| | | | Important Windows Operations |
| | | | Using the Start Menu |
| | | | Understanding Files and Folders |
| | | | All the Other Things in Windows |
| | | | Getting Help in Windows |
| | | | Chapter 4. Taking Windows for a Spin |
| | | | Playing a Game |
| | | | Launching a Programand Printing and Saving a Document |
| | | | Viewing Your Documents |
| | | | Examining Your Hard Disk |
| | | | Shutting Down Your System |
| | | | Chapter 5. Personalizing Windows |
| | | | Changing the Look of Your Desktop |
| | | | Organizing Desktop Icons |
| | | | Changing the Way the Start Menu Works |
| | | | Activating Special Effects |
| | | | Changing Your Click |
| | | | Using a Screensaver |
| | | | Resetting the Time and Date |
| | | | Setting Up Additional Users |
| | | | Chapter 6. Working with Files and Folders |
| | | | Viewing Folders and Files |
| | | | Navigating Folders |
| | | | Creating New Folders |
| | | | Renaming Files and Folders |
| | | | Copying Files |
| | | | Moving Files |
| | | | Deleting Files |
| | | | Working with Compressed Folders |
| | | Part iii. Upgrading and Maintaining Your System |
| | | | Chapter 7. Adding New Hardware And Devices To Your System |
| | | | Most Popular Peripherals |
| | | | Understanding Ports |
| | | | Adding New External Hardware |
| | | | Adding New Internal Hardware |
| | | | Using the Add Hardware Wizard |
| | | | Connecting Portable Devices to Your PC |
| | | | Chapter 8. Setting Up a Home Network |
| | | | How Networks Work |
| | | | Setting Up a Wired or Wireless Network |
| | | | Running the Network Setup Wizard |
| | | | Setting Up Wireless Security |
| | | | Sharing Files and Folders Across the Network |
| | | | Chapter 9. Performing Routine Maintenance |
| | | | Free Up Disk Space by Deleting Unnecessary Files |
| | | | Make Your Hard Disk Run Better by Defragmenting |
| | | | Perform a Hard Disk Checkup with ScanDisk |
| | | | Keep Your Hardware in Tip-Top Condition |
| | | | Chapter 10. Dealing with Common Problems |
| | | | How to Troubleshoot Computer Problems |
| | | | What to Do When Windows Freezes |
| | | | Dealing with a Major Crash |
| | | | Undoing the Damage with System Restore |
| | | Part iv. Using Computer Software |
| | | | Chapter 11. Installing New Software |
| | | | Automatic Installation |
| | | | Manual Installation |
| | | | Installing Software from the Internet |
| | | | Removing Old Programs |
| | | | Chapter 12. Working with Microsoft Works |
| | | | Different Versions of Works |
| | | | Working with Works |
| | | | Other Popular Software Suites |
| | | | Chapter 13. Working with Words |
| | | | Exploring the Word Interface |
| | | | Working with Documents |
| | | | Working with Text |
| | | | Printing a Document |
| | | | Formatting Your Document |
| | | | Working with an Outline |
| | | | Working with Pictures |
| | | | Chapter 14. Working with Numbers |
| | | | Understanding Spreadsheets |
| | | | Entering Data |
| | | | Inserting and Deleting Rows and Columns |
| | | | Using Formulas and Functions |
| | | | Sorting a Range of Cells |
| | | | Formatting Your Spreadsheet |
| | | | Creating a Chart |
| | | | Chapter 15. Working with a Database |
| | | | Creating a New Database |
| | | | Changing Views |
| | | | Editing Your Database |
| | | | Sorting and Filtering |
| | | | Creating a Report |
| | | | Chapter 16. Working with Presentations |
| | | | Understanding Microsoft PowerPoint |
| | | | Creating a New Presentation |
| | | | Formatting Your Slides |
| | | | Adding Graphics |
| | | | Applying Slide Transitions |
| | | | Start the Show! |
| | | | Chapter 17. Managing Your Finances |
| | | | Setting Up Your Accounts |
| | | | Navigating Money |
| | | | Managing Your Bank Account |
| | | | Banking Online |
| | | | Chapter 18. Playing Games |
| | | | Building a State-of-the-Art Gaming System |
| | | | Installing and Playing PC Games |
| | | | Playing Games Online |
| | | | Playing Games Against Other Players |
| | | | Finding Videogame News and Tips Online |
| | | Part v. Using the Internet |
| | | | Chapter 19. Connecting to the Internet |
| | | | Different Types of Connections |
| | | | Before You Connect |
| | | | Setting Up a New Connection |
| | | | Connecting via a Commercial Online Service |
| | | | Sharing an Internet Connection |
| | | | Chapter 20. Surfing the Web |
| | | | Understanding the Web |
| | | | Using Internet Explorer |
| | | | Basic Web Surfing |
| | | | Advanced Operations |
| | | | Let's Go Surfin'! |
| | | | Chapter 21. Finding Stuff Online |
| | | | How to Search the Web |
| | | | Where to Search |
| | | | Searching for People and Businesses |
| | | | Searching for News, Sports, and Weather |
| | | | Searching for Financial Information |
| | | | Searching for Medical Information |
| | | | Chapter 22. Shopping Online |
| | | | How to Shop Online |
| | | | How to Find the Best Prices Online |
| | | | How to Shop Safely |
| | | | Booking Travel Reservations Online |
| | | | Chapter 23. Buying and Selling in eBay Auctions |
| | | | How Does an eBay Auction Work? |
| | | | eBay Bidding, Step-by-Step |
| | | | Buy It Quick with Buy It Now |
| | | | Protecting Yourself Against Fraudulent Sellers |
| | | | eBay Selling, Step-by-Step |
| | | | Chapter 24. Sending and Receiving Email |
| | | | Setting Up Your Email Account |
| | | | Understanding the Outlook Express Window |
| | | | Managing Your Email |
| | | | Sending Files via Email |
| | | | Protecting Against Email Viruses |
| | | | Using Address Book to Manage Your Contacts |
| | | | Chapter 25. Using Instant Messaging and Chat |
| | | | Sending and Receiving Instant Messages |
| | | | Chatting with Friends Online |
| | | | Chapter 26. Using Newsgroups, Message Boards, and Blogs |
| | | | Reading and Posting to Usenet Newsgroups |
| | | | Participating in Web-Based Message Boards |
| | | | Joining the Blog Community |
| | | | Chapter 27. Downloading Files |
| | | | Finding Files Online |
| | | | Downloading from a File Archive Website |
| | | | Downloading Files from Any Web Page |
| | | | Chapter 28. Creating Your Own Web Page |
| | | | Building a Web Page at a Home Page Community |
| | | | Using Page-Building Software |
| | | | Uploading Your Pages |
| | | | Chapter 29. Protecting Your PC from Viruses, Spam, and Other Nuisances |
| | | | Safeguarding Your System from Computer Viruses |
| | | | Fighting Email Spam |
| | | | Hunting Down Spyware |
| | | | Defending Against Computer Attacks |
| | | | Shielding Your Children from Inappropriate Content |
| | | Part vi. Playing Movies and Music |
| | | | Chapter 30. Playing CDs and DVDs |
| | | | Understanding CD/DVD Playback |
| | | | Using Windows Media Player |
| | | | Playing a CD |
| | | | Playing a DVD |
| | | | Chapter 31. Ripping and Burning CDs |
| | | | Understanding Digital Audio Formats |
| | | | Ripping Songs from CD to Your PC |
| | | | Burning Your Own CDs |
| | | | Copying Entire CDs |
| | | | Chapter 32. Downloading and Playing Digital Music |
| | | | Downloading from Online Music Stores |
| | | | Downloading from Free Music Sites |
| | | | Downloading from File-Trading Networks |
| | | | Playing Digital Music with Windows Media Player |
| | | | Listening to Internet Radio |
| | | | Chapter 33. Using Your PC with a Portable Music Player |
| | | | Working with the Apple iPod |
| | | | Transferring Songs to Other Portable Music Players |
| | | | Chapter 34. Editing Your Own Home Movies |
| | | | Configuring Your System for Video Editing |
| | | | Choosing a Video Editing Program |
| | | | Working with Windows Movie Maker |
| | | | Chapter 35. Burning and Copying DVDs |
| | | | Choosing a DVD Creation Program |
| | | | Creating a Movie DVD Direct from Tape |
| | | | Creating a Movie DVD from Video Files |
| | | | Creating a DVD Slideshow |
| | | | Copying a DVD |
| | | Part vii. Working with Digital Pictures |
| | | | Chapter 36. Connecting a Digital Camera or Scanner |
| | | | Making the Connection |
| | | | Transferring Pictures via USB or FireWire |
| | | | Transferring Pictures from a Memory Card Reader |
| | | | Scanning a Picture |
| | | | Chapter 37. Managing Your Digital Photos |
| | | | Managing Your Photos |
| | | | Choosing a Photo Editing Program |
| | | | Editing Your Photos with Adobe Photoshop Elements |
| | | | Printing Your Photos |
| | | | Printing Photos Online |
| | | | Chapter 38. Creating Digital Scrapbooks and Other Photo Projects |
| | | | Checking Out Digital Scrapbook Programs |
| | | | Using Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Designer Deluxe |
| | | | More Fun Photo Projects |
| | | Index |