Absolute beginner's guide to computer basics
By: Michael Miller.
Edition: 4th ed.
Publisher: Que
Published: 2007
Place of publication: Indianapolis, Ind
Language: eng
Number of pages: 430
ISBN-13: 9780789736734
Subjects: Computers
Notes: Includes index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: How this book is organized; title: Which version of Windows?; title: Conventions used in this book; title: Let me know what you think; title: I. Getting started; title: 1. Understanding desktop PCs; title: What your computer can, and can't, do; title: Getting to know your personal computer system; title: Computer hardware basics; title: 2. Understanding notebook PCs; title: Notebooks PCs : pros and cons; title: Key elements of a notebook PC; title: Different types of notebook PCs; title: Special considerations for using a notebook PC; title: 3. Setting up your new computer system; title: Before you get started; title: Connecting the cables; title: Turning it on and setting it up; title: II. Using Windows; title: 4. Getting to know Windows Vista; title: Introducing Windows Vista; title: Working your way around the desktop; title: Important Windows operations; title: Using the start menu, and switching programs; title: Using Windows Explorers; title: All the other things in Windows; title: Getting help in Windows; title: Shutting down Windows, and your computer; title: 5. Using Windows XP on older computers; title: Before Vista : previous versions of windows; title: Getting to know Windows XP; title: Upgrading from Windows XP to Windows Vista; title: 6. Personalizing Windows; title: Getting to know the Windows control panel; title: Changing the look of your desktop in Windows Vista; title: Changing the look of your desktop in Windows XP; title: Organizing desktop icons; title: Changing the way the start menu works; title: Resetting the time and date; title: Setting up additional users; title: 7. Working with files, folders, and disks; title: Understanding files and folders; title: Viewing folders and files; title: Navigating folders; title: Searching for files; title: Creating new folders; title: Renaming files and folders; title: Copying files; title: Moving files; title: Deleting files; title: Working with compressed folders; title: Copying files to another computer; title: Backing up your important files; title: III. Upgrading and maintaining your system; title: 8. Adding new hardware and devices to your system; title: Most popular peripherals; title: Understanding ports; title: Adding new external hardware; title: Adding new internal hardware; title: Connecting portable devices to your PC; title: 9. Setting up a home network; title: How networks work; title: Setting up a wired or wireless network; title: Configuring Windows for your new network; title: Setting up wireless security; title: Sharing files and folders across the network; title: Sharing a printer across your network; title: Sharing an Internet connection; title: 10. Performing routine maintenance; title: Free up disk space by deleting unnecessary files; title: Make you hard disk run better by defragmenting; title: Perform a hard disk checkup with ScanDisk; title: Keep you hardware in tip-top condition; title: Backing up your important data with Windows backup; title: 11. Dealing with common problems; title: How to troubleshoot computer problems; title: What to do when Windows freezes; title: Dealing with a major crash; title: Undoing the damage with system restore; title: 12. Protecting your PC from viruses, spam, and other online nuisances; title: Safeguarding your system from computer viruses; title: Fighting email spam; title: Resisting phishing scams; title: Hunting down spyware; title: Defending against computer attacks; title: Shielding your children from inappropriate content; title: IV. Using computer software; title: 13. Installing new software; title: Automatic installation; title: Manual installation; title: Installing software from the Internet; title: Removing old programs; title: 14. The suite spot : working with Microsoft Works and Microsoft Office; title: Different versions of Works; title: Working with Works; title: Introducing Microsoft Office; title: 15. Letters, memos, and more : working with Microsoft Word; title: Exploring the Word interface; title: Working with documents; title: Working with text; title: Printing a document; title: Formatting your document; title: Working with an outline; title: Working with pictures; title: 16. Crunching numbers : working with Microsoft Excel; title: Understanding spreadsheets; title: Entering data; title: Inserting and deleting rows and columns; title: Using formulas and functions; title: Sorting a range of cells; title: Formatting your spreadsheet; title: Creating a chart; title: 17. Presenting yourself : working with Microsoft PowerPoint; title: Understanding Microsoft PowerPoint; title: Creating a new presentation; title: Formatting your slides; title: Adding graphics; title: Applying slide animations; title: Start the show!; title: 18. Banking and beyond : working with Microsoft Money and Quicken; title: Managing your money with Microsoft Money; title: Quick and easy banking with Quicken; title: Doing online banking; title: V. Using the Internet; title: 19. Connecting to the Internet, at home and on the road; title: Different types of connection; title: Before you connect; title: Setting up a new connection; title: Sharing an Internet connection; title: Connecting to a public WiFi hotspot; title: 20. Sending and receiving email; title: Setting up your email account; title: Understanding the Windows Mail window; title: Managing your email; title: Sending files via email; title: Protecting against spam, phishing scams, and viruses; title: Using address book to manage your contacts; title: 21. Surfing the Web with Internet Explorer; title: Understanding the Web; title: Using Internet Explorer 7; title: Basic Web surfing; title: Using tabbed browsing; title: Advanced operations; title: Internet security with IE7; title: 22. Searching the Web; title: How to search the Web; title: Where to search; title: Searching for people and businesses; title: 23. Shopping online; title: How to shop online; title: How to find the best prices online; title: How to shop safely; title: Booking travel reservations online; title: 24. Buying and selling in eBay online auctions; title: Who sells on eBay?; title: How does an eBay auction work?; title: eBay bidding, step-by-step; title: Buy it quick with buy it now; title: More than auctions : eBay express, eBay stores, and Half.com; title: Protecting yourself against fraudulent sellers; title: eBay selling, step-by-step; title: 25. Exploring blogs and podcasts; title: Welcome to the blogosphere; title: Reading, and commenting on, blogs; title: Searching for blogs; title: Tracking your blogs with feed reader software; title: Creating your own blog; title: Blogs on the radio : listing to podcasts; title: 26. Social networking with MySpace; title: What is MySpace?; title: Browsing MySpace profiles; title: Creating your own MySpace profile; title: MySpace for parents; title: 27. Creating your own Web page; title: Building a Web page at a home page community; title: Using page-building software; title: Uploading your pages to a Web host; title: 28. Exploring other cool and useful Websites; title: News, sports, and weather; title: Financial information; title: Medical information; title: Photos, clip art, and other images; title: Maps and travel guides; title: Classified and local shopping; title: Job hunting; title: Religion; title: Entertainment; title: Education and reference; title: Games; title: Sites for kids; title: Sites for seniors; title: 29. Sending and receiving instant messages; title: Understanding instant messaging; title: Using AOL instant messenger; title: VI. Exploring the digital lifestyle; title: 30. Using your PC with a digital camera; title: Transferring pictures via USB; title: Transferring pictures from a memory card; title: Scanning a picture; title: Storing your photos in Windows; title: 31. Organizing and editing your digital photos; title: Choosing a photo editing program; title: Editing your photos with Windows Photo Gallery; title: Printing your photos; title: 32. Sharing your digital photos online; title: Emailing digital photos; title: Sharing photos at a photo sharing site; title: Printing photos online; title: 33. Playing, ripping, and burning CDs; title: Choosing a music player program; title: Using Windows Media Player; title: Using Apple iTunes; title: 34. Downloading and playing digital music; title: Understanding digital audio formats; title: Downloading from online music stores; title: Playing digital music on your PC; title: Listening to Internet radio; title: 35. Using your PC with an iPod or MP3 player; title: Working with the Apple iPod; title: Using Windows Media Player with other MP3 players; title: 36. Playing DVDs and videos on your PC; title: Using Windows Media Player to play DVDs; title: Playing video files with Windows Media Player; title: Playing recorded TV programs with Windows Media Player; title: 37. Downloading and playing videos from the Web; title: Looking for videos on the Web; title: Viewing videos on YouTube; title: Viewing and downloading videos from Google video; title: Downloading videos from the iTunes store; title: 38. Making your own digital home movies; title: Configuring your system for video editing; title: Choosing a video editing program; title: Working with Windows Movie Maker; title: Burning your movie to DVD.