Windows XP Personal Trainer

Description:

The most widely used operating system in the world, XP is certainly the most reliable and best-looking version of Windows. But it comes with a baffling multitude of features and functionality that you'll struggle to understand--despite all of the hours you've logged with Windows 2000, Windows Me, 98 or 95. And if you're a beginner, where do you start?

Windows XP Personal Trainer enables beginners and experts alike to become black belts, quickly and easily. This fully illustrated book takes a modular approach to learning, allowing you to start with the fundamentals and work your way to advance topics through dozens of task-oriented lessons--at your own pace. The companion CD tutorial guides you through each lesson interactively.

With plenty of detailed diagrams, Windows XP Personal Trainer includes sections on:

• Working with Windows
  
• Using the programs included with Windows XP (such as Media Player)
  
• Organizing files and folders
  
• Modifying the taskbar and desktop
  
• Customizing Windows XP
  
• Optimizing and maintaining the operating system
  
• Exploring the Internet
  
• Networking with Windows XP

If you already have experience with Windows XP, you can dive right into those topics (and only those topics) that you need or want to learn. Unlike many consumer software tutorials that dumb down the material or present it in a confusing fashion, Windows XP Personal Trainer is written in a non-technical and engaging style that you will find fun, easy, and most of all, clear and informative. You can become proficient without wading through tons of jargon and technical information.

Part of our new Personal Trainer Series, this book is based on content from CustomGuide (www.customguide.com), a leading provider of computer training materials. Founded by instructors who grew dissatisfied with the industry's dry course materials, CustomGuide offers courseware (for instructors and students), quick references, to software bulletins and e-learning courses that are fun, flexible, and easy to use.

 

Table of Contents:

Introduction

Chapter 1. The Fundamentals
Lesson 1.1

     A Look at Windows XP and What's New
Lesson 1.2

     Starting and Logging On to Windows XP Home
Lesson 1.3

     Starting and Logging On to Windows XP Professional
Lesson 1.4

     Understanding the Windows XP Screen
Lesson 1.5

     A Look at the New Windows XP Start Menu
Lesson 1.6

     Using the Mouse: Pointing, Clicking, and Double-Clicking
Lesson 1.7

     Using the Mouse: Clicking and Dragging
Lesson 1.8

     Using the Mouse: Right-Clicking
Lesson 1.9

     Using the Keyboard
Lesson 1.10

     Exiting Windows and Turning Off Your Computer

     Chapter One Review

Chapter 2. Working with a Window
Lesson 2.1

     Starting a Program
Lesson 2.2

     Understanding the Parts of a Window
Lesson 2.3

     Minimizing, Maximizing, and Restoring a Window
Lesson 2.4

     Closing a Window
Lesson 2.5

     Moving a Window
Lesson 2.6

     Sizing a Window
Lesson 2.7

     Switching Between Windows
Lesson 2.8

     Tiling and Cascading Windows

     Chapter Two Review

Chapter 3. Working with a Windows Program
Lesson 3.1

     Using Menus
Lesson 3.2

     Using Toolbars
Lesson 3.3

     Filling Out a Dialog Box
Lesson 3.4

     Entering Text in the WordPad Program
Lesson 3.5

     Editing Text
Lesson 3.6

     Saving and Opening a File
Lesson 3.7

     Selecting, Replacing, and Deleting Text
Lesson 3.8

     Using Undo
Lesson 3.9

     Printing a File
Lesson 3.10

     Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Text
Lesson 3.11

     Changing the Font Type and Size
Lesson 3.12

     Using Bold, Italics, and Underline
Lesson 3.13

     Changing Paragraph Alignment
Lesson 3.14

     Getting Help by Contents
Lesson 3.15

     Getting Help with the Help Index and Search
Lesson 3.16

     Saving and Opening Files in Different Locations

     Chapter Three Review

Chapter 4. Working with Files and Folders
Lesson 4.1

     Understanding Storage Devices, Folders, and Files
Lesson 4.2

     Using My Computer to See What's in Your Computer
Lesson 4.3

     Opening a Folder
Lesson 4.4

     Creating and Renaming a Folder
Lesson 4.5

     Copying, Moving, and Deleting a Folder
Lesson 4.6

     Opening, Renaming, and Deleting a File
Lesson 4.7

     Copying and Moving a File
Lesson 4.8

     Restoring a Deleted File and Emptying the Recycle Bin
Lesson 4.9

     A Closer Look at Files and Folders
Lesson 4.10

     Changing How Information Is Displayed
Lesson 4.11

     Selecting Multiple Files and Folders
Lesson 4.12

     Finding a File Using the Search Companion
Lesson 4.13

     Managing the Search Companion
Lesson 4.14

     Using Windows Explorer
Lesson 4.15

     File Management Using Windows Explorer
Lesson 4.16

     Using MS-DOS
Lesson 4.17

     Creating and Using a Compressed Folder

     Chapter Four Review

Chapter 5. Customizing the Taskbar and Desktop
Lesson 5.1

     Using the Windows Classic Start Menu
Lesson 5.2

     Using the Windows Classic Appearance
Lesson 5.3

     Moving, Resizing, and Hiding the Taskbar
Lesson 5.4

     Customizing the Start Menu
Lesson 5.5

     Working with the Quick Launch Bar
Lesson 5.6

     Opening Recent Documents
Lesson 5.7

     Using the Run Command to Start a Program
Lesson 5.8

     Adding Shortcuts to the Desktop
Lesson 5.9

     Starting a Program Automatically When Windows Starts

     Chapter Five Review

Chapter 6. Customizing Windows
Lesson 6.1

     A Look at the Control Panel
Lesson 6.2

     Changing the Date and Time
Lesson 6.3

     Adjusting the Computer's Volume
Lesson 6.4

     Changing the Color Scheme and Appearance
Lesson 6.5

     Adding Wallpaper to the Desktop
Lesson 6.6

     Adjusting the Screen Resolution
Lesson 6.7

     Adjusting the Screen Color Depth
Lesson 6.8

     Using a Screen Saver
Lesson 6.9

     Changing System and Program Sounds
Lesson 6.10

     Adjusting the Mouse
Lesson 6.11

     Customizing How Folders Look and Work
Lesson 6.12

     Customizing Folder View Options

     Chapter Six Review

Chapter 7. The Free Programs
Lesson 7.1

     WordPad
Lesson 7.2

     Notepad
Lesson 7.3

     Calculator
Lesson 7.4

     Sound Recorder
Lesson 7.5

     Paint
Lesson 7.6

     Creating Pictures with Paint
Lesson 7.7

     Play Games
Lesson 7.8

     Character Map

     Chapter Seven Review

Chapter 8. Working with Pictures and Multimedia
Lesson 8.1

     Introduction to the Digital Camera
Lesson 8.2

     Transferring Digital Photos to the Computer
Lesson 8.3

     Viewing and Managing Digital Photos
Lesson 8.4

     Printing Digital Photos
Lesson 8.5

     E-mailing Digital Photos
Lesson 8.6

     Ordering Prints Online
Lesson 8.7

     Introduction to the Windows Media Player
Lesson 8.8

     Playing a CD
Lesson 8.9

     Copying a CD to the Hard Drive
Lesson 8.10

     Creating a Playlist
Lesson 8.11

     Burning a Music CD
Lesson 8.12

     Listening to Internet Radio Stations
Lesson 8.13

     Changing Skins
Lesson 8.14

     Playing a DVD

     Chapter Eight Review

Chapter 9. Optimizing and Maintaining Your Computer
Lesson 9.1

     Repairing Disk Errors
Lesson 9.2

     Defragmenting Your Hard Disk
Lesson 9.3

     Freeing Up Space on Your Hard Disk
Lesson 9.4

     Scheduling Tasks
Lesson 9.5

     Installing New Software
Lesson 9.6

     Removing Software
Lesson 9.7

     Adding and Removing Windows Components
Lesson 9.8

     Installing a Printer
Lesson 9.9

     Changing Printer Settings and the Default Printer
Lesson 9.10

     Shutting Down a Frozen Program
Lesson 9.11

     Installing New Hardware
Lesson 9.12

     Using Automatic Updates
Lesson 9.13

     Using Windows Update
Lesson 9.14

     Restoring Your Computer
Lesson 9.15

     Using the Device Manager
Lesson 9.16

     Formatting a Disk

     Chapter Nine Review

Chapter 10. Exploring the Internet
Lesson 10.1

     Introduction to the Internet
Lesson 10.2

     Connecting to the Internet
Lesson 10.3

     Displaying a Specific Web Page
Lesson 10.4

     Browsing the Web
Lesson 10.5

     Searching the Web
Lesson 10.6

     Adding a Web Page to Favorites and Changing Your Home Page
Lesson 10.7

     Displaying a History of Visited Web Pages
Lesson 10.8

     Clearing the History of Visited Web Pages
Lesson 10.9

     Downloading Pictures and Files
Lesson 10.10

     Understanding the Information Bar
Lesson 10.11

     Using the Pop-up Blocker
Lesson 10.12

     Understanding Information Security
Lesson 10.13

     Understanding Windows Firewall
Lesson 10.14

     Introduction to E-mail
Lesson 10.15

     Composing and Sending E-mail
Lesson 10.16

     Adding a Name to the Address Book
Lesson 10.17

     Receiving E-mail
Lesson 10.18

     Replying to a Message
Lesson 10.19

     Forwarding and Deleting a Message

     Chapter Ten Review

Chapter 11. Passwords, Logons, and User Accounts
Lesson 11.1

     Workgroup vs. Domain
Lesson 11.2

     Creating a New User Account on a Workgroup Computer
Lesson 11.3

     Creating a New User Account on a Domain Computer
Lesson 11.4

     Editing a User Account on a Workgroup
Lesson 11.5

     Editing a User Account on a Domain
Lesson 11.6

     Logging Off Windows on a Workgroup
Lesson 11.7

     Logging Off Windows on a Domain
Lesson 11.8

     Logging On to Windows on a Workgroup
Lesson 11.9

     Logging On to Windows on a Domain
Lesson 11.10

     Changing Your Password on a Workgroup
Lesson 11.11

     Changing Your Password on a Domain
Lesson 11.12

     Changing the Logon Process on Windows XP Home

     Chapter Eleven Review

Chapter 12. Networking with Windows XP
Lesson 12.1

     Introduction to Networks
Lesson 12.2

     Browsing the Network
Lesson 12.3

     Mapping a Network Drive
Lesson 12.4

     Connecting to a Network Printer
Lesson 12.5

     Sharing Your Files and Printers on the Network
Lesson 12.6

     Changing Access Permissions to a Shared Folder
Lesson 12.7

     Specifying Security Options to a Shared Folder

     Chapter Twelve Review

Chapter 13. Setting Up a Network
Lesson 13.1

     A Look at Common Network Hardware
Lesson 13.2

     Ethernet Networks
Lesson 13.3

     Installing an Ethernet Home Network
Lesson 13.4

     Wireless Networks
Lesson 13.5

     Installing a Wireless Home Network
Lesson 13.6

     Connecting to a Wireless Network
Lesson 13.7

     Connecting to a Wireless Network Manually
Lesson 13.8

     Connecting to a Wireless Network Automatically
Lesson 13.9

     Basic Network Troubleshooting
Lesson 13.10

     Installing a Network Card
Lesson 13.11

     Managing Network Protocols and Components
Lesson 13.12

     Understanding and Configuring TCP/IP

     Chapter Thirteen Review

Index