Microsoft Windows XP Plain & Simple

Description:

Your fast-answers, no-jargon guide to Windows® XP!

Get the fast facts that make learning Windowsâ XP plain and simple!

Here’s WHAT you’ll learn:
• Find the simplest ways to get stuff done in Microsoft® Windows
• Play DVDs, download music, burn CDs—all in one spot
• Send e-mail, browse the Web, make phone calls with your PC
• Organize your digital photos—even make a movie!
• Run programs and play games
• Perform easy tune-ups and fix problems fast

Here’s HOW you’ll learn it:
• NUMBERED STEPS show exactly what to do
• Color SCREEN SHOTS keep you on track
• Handy TIPS teach easy techniques and shortcuts
• Quick TRY THIS! exercises put your learning to work
• CAUTION notes help keep you out of trouble

Table of Contents:

Acknowledgments	x
1  About This Book	1
No Computerese!	1
A Quick Overview	2
What's New in Windows XP?	3
A Few Assumptions	4
A Final Word (or Two)	4
2  Jump Right In	5
What's Where in Windows XP?	6
Starting Up and Shutting Down	8
Switching Users	10
Starting a Program	11
Accessing Your Documents	12
Switching Among Open Windows	14
Mouse Maneuvers	15
Managing Windows	16
Getting Help	18
Using Shortcut Menus for Quick Results	20
3  Running Programs and Playing Games	21
Composing a Document	22
Saving, Closing, and Opening a Document	24
Copying Material Between Documents	26
Dialog Box Decisions	27
Inserting Special Characters	28
Crunching Numbers	29
Running Commands	30
Playing FreeCell	32
Playing Hearts	33
Playing Minesweeper	34
Playing Pinball	35
Playing Solitaire	36
Playing Spider Solitaire	37
Playing Games Over the Internet	38
Running Older Programs	39
Starting a Program When Windows Starts	40
Changing the Way a Program Starts	41
Quitting When You're Stuck	42
4  Exploring the Internet	43
Finding a Web Page	44
Setting Your Home Page	45
Returning to Your Favorite Sites	46
Saving a Web Page	47
Viewing Web Pages Off Line	48
Copying Material from a Web Page	50
Finding Something on the Internet	51
Exploring with MSN Explorer	52
5  Communicating	53
Sending E-Mail	54
Receiving and Reading E-Mail	55
Designing Your Default Message	56
Sending or Receiving a File	58
Replying to or Forwarding a Message	60
Subscribing to Newsgroups	61
Reading and Writing the News	62
Reading E-Mail and News Off Line	63
Managing Your E-Mail Contacts	64
Transferring Files	66
Adding Online Contacts	67
Sending Instant Messages	68
Having a Voice and Video Chat	69
Sharing Items with Your Contacts	70
Illustrating Your Conversation	72
Sending a File by Windows Messenger	73
Formatting Your Message	74
6  Working with Pictures and Movies	75
Drawing a Picture	76
Editing a Picture	78
Scanning a Picture	80
Downloading Digital Camera Pictures	82
Viewing Pictures	84
Publishing Pictures on the Web	86
Recording a Video Clip	87
Making a Movie	88
Editing Your Movie	90
Adding Audio to Your Movie	92
Making Movies that People Actually Enjoy	94
Adding Slides to a Movie	96
7  Working with Music, Voice, and Sounds	97
Playing a Music CD	98
Changing Media Player's Skin	99
Copying CD Music	100
Playing a Saved Media File	102
Playing Media Using a Playlist	103
Controlling the Volume	104
Letting Your Computer Do the Talking	106
Creating a Sound File	107
Creating an Audio Clip	108
Associating a Sound with an Event	110
8  Printing and Faxing	111
Printing from a Program	112
Printing a Document	113
Specifying a Default Printer	114
Controlling Your Printing	115
Printing Your Photographs	116
Printing Web Pages	117
Sending a Fax	118
Receiving a Fax	120
Reviewing a Fax You've Received	121
Viewing and Annotating a Fax	122
Creating a Fax Cover Page	124
9  Managing Files and Folders	125
Organizing Your Files	126
Recovering a Deleted Item	128
Changing the Window View	129
Windows Views	130
Compressing Files	132
Adding Files and Folders to the Desktop	134
Sharing Files with Other Users	136
Creating Quick Access to a File or Folder	137
Copying Files from and to a Removable Disk	138
Managing a Removable Disk	139
Copying Files to a CD	140
Finding a File	142
Navigating with Toolbars	144
10  Networking	145
Exploring Your Network	146
Sharing Items over the Network	148
About Networks	150
Creating a Connection to a Network Folder	151
Controlling a Shared Dial-Up Internet Connection	152
Communicating over the Network	153
Controlling a Computer on Your Network	154
Controlling a Computer at Your Workplace	156
Connecting to a Network Using a Modem	158
Connecting to a Network over the Internet	160
Connecting to Your Computer from Another Location	162
11  Setting Up	163
Transferring Files and Settings	164
Adding or Removing Windows Components	166
Installing a Software Program	168
Setting Up Dial-Up Internet Access	169
Setting Up Outlook Express	170
Setting Up for Faxing	172
Setting Up a Printer	173
Setting Up a Network	174
Adding Hardware	176
12  Customizing	177
Changing the Overall Look	178
Customizing the Desktop	180
Creating a Custom Desktop Background	182
Displaying and Arranging the Toolbars	183
Customizing the Start Menu	184
Customizing the Taskbar	186
Changing the Logon	187
Customizing Your Folders	188
Changing the Way a CD Starts	190
Changing Your Account Picture	191
Using Alternative Ways of Working	192
Using a Screen Saver	194
13  Maintaining Security	195
Keeping Your Files Private	196
Know Your Rights, Know Your Format	197
Setting Your Password	198
Changing Your Password	199
Resetting Your Password	200
Protecting Your Files with a Password	201
Restricting User Rights	202
Protecting Personal Information on the Internet	203
Restricting Internet Access	204
Configuring an Internet Firewall	205
Locking Your Computer	206
14  Managing Windows XP	207
Adding and Deleting User Accounts	208
Tidying Up the Desktop	210
Changing the Date or Time	211
Changing the Display	212
Compressing a Drive or a Folder	213
Changing the Disk Format	214
Maintaining Your Computer	215
Controlling the Power Options	216
Updating Your System	218
Preventing Hardware Problems	220
Removing a Software Program	221
Starting Up When There's a Problem	222
Fixing System Problems	223
Documenting Your System	224
Managing Everything	225
Helping Each Other	226
Editing Windows XP Settings	228
INDEX	229