Windows XP in 10 Simple Steps or Less

Bradley L. Jones, Bill Hatfield9780764542367, 0764542362

If you need Windows XP solutions fast, then this book is for you – whether you’re new to Windows XP or you need help dealing with the applications that come with it. Open the book and you’ll discover clear, easy-to-follow instructions for more than 250 key Windows XP tasks, each presented in ten quick steps – or less. Easy-to-navigate pages, lots of screen shots, and to-the-point directions guide you through every common (and not-so-common) Windows XP challenge – and help you get more done in less time.* Each solution is ten steps – or less – to help you get the job done fast * Self-contained two-page spreads deliver the answers you need – without flipping pages * A no-fluff approach focuses on helping you achieve results * A resource packed with useful and fun ways to get the most out of Windows XPAuthor Bio: BILL HATFIELD is the bestselling author of computer books, including several popular “For Dummies” titles. He is also the editor of two computer journals from Pinnacle. Bill teaches computer classes for professionals throughout the nation.BRADLEY L. JONES is the site manager for a number of high-profile sites for Internet.com that focus on making technical information easy to understand and easy to learn. In addition to weekly eNewsletters, he has written numerous articles focused on making complex topics easy to follow and understand. He is also an internationally bestselling author of a number of books.

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Table of contents :
Windows XP in 10 Steps or Less……Page 2
Copyright……Page 6
Credits……Page 8
About the Authors……Page 9
Acknowledgments……Page 11
Contents……Page 13
Introduction……Page 21
Part 1: Understanding Windows XP Basics……Page 27
Task 1:Starting Up and Logging In……Page 28
Task 2:Logging Off and Shutting Down……Page 30
Task 3:Activating Windows……Page 32
Task 4:Enabling Fast Switching between Users……Page 34
Task 5:Setting Your Computer’s Clock and
Time Zone……Page 36
Task 6:Setting the Clock Automatically……Page 38
Task 7:Adjusting Your Computer.ˉs Volume……Page 40
Task 8:Automatically Turning the Monitor Off……Page 42
Task 9:Locking and Unlocking the Computer……Page 44
Task 10:Locking Your Computer with a Screen Saver……Page 46
Task
11:Getting Help……Page 48
Task
12:Customizing Help Screens……Page 50
Task
13:Setting Search Options for Help……Page 52
Task
14:Creating a Help and Support Favorites List……Page 54
Task
15:Using the Knowledge Base……Page 56
Task
16:Getting Basic Information about Your System……Page 58
Task
17:Automatically Keeping Windows Up- to- Date……Page 60
Task
18:Manually Updating Windows XP……Page 62
Task
19:Installing New Software……Page 64
Task
20:Removing Application Software……Page 66
Part 2: Working with Folders and Files……Page 69
Task
21:Accessing My Computer……Page 70
Task
22:Navigating What.ˉs on the Hard Drive……Page 72
Task
23:Creating, Renaming, and Deleting Files and Folders……Page 74
Task
24:Creating Copies of Files and Folders……Page 76
Task
25:Moving a File or Folder……Page 78
Task
26:Using Different Folder Views……Page 80
Task
27:Customizing the Details Folder View……Page 82
Task
28:Settings Options on All Folders……Page 84
Task
29:Customizing Windows Explorer……Page 86
Task
30:Recovering Deleted Files……Page 88
Task
31:Setting Recycle Bin Options……Page 90
Task
32:Searching for Files or Folders……Page 92
Task
33:Setting File Properties……Page 94
Task
34:Creating a Shortcut……Page 96
Task
35:Copying Files to a CD- ROM……Page 98
Task
36:Saving Space by Compressing a Drive……Page 100
Task
37:Creating a Zip File……Page 102
Task
38:Accessing and Adding to a Zip File……Page 104
Task
39:Extracting All Items from a Zip File……Page 106
Part 3: Personalizing Windows XP……Page 109
Task
40:Choosing a Theme……Page 110
Task
41:Setting the Screen Colors and Resolution……Page 112
Task
42:Choosing a Desktop Background Image……Page 114
Task
43:Setting or Changing a Screen Saver……Page 116
Task
44:Choosing or Changing an Appearance
……Page 118
Task
45:Assigning Sounds to Events……Page 120
Task
46:Creating a New Theme……Page 122
Task
47:Customizing Your Taskbar……Page 124
Task
48:Customizing the Quick Launch Toolbar……Page 126
Task
49:Customizing the Start Menu……Page 128
Task
50:Adding Shortcuts to Your Desktop……Page 130
Task
51:Arranging Your Desktop Items……Page 132
Task
52:Picking a Program.ˉs Icon to Display……Page 134
Task
53:Placing Standard Items and Icons on the Desktop……Page 136
Task
54:Putting Web Pages on Your Desktop……Page 138
Task
55:Customizing Mouse Options……Page 140
Task
56:Customizing the Mouse Pointers……Page 142
Task
57:Setting Keyboard Options……Page 144
Task
58:Automatically Starting a Program at Startup……Page 146
Task
59:Changing Regional Settings……Page 148
Task
60:Changing Number and Currency Formatting……Page 150
Part 4: Graphics and Digital Photography……Page 153
Task
61:Copying Pictures from Your Camera to Your Hard Drive……Page 154
Task
62:Using a Scanner to Capture Photographs……Page 156
Task
63:Capturing a Picture of Your Screen……Page 158
Task
64:Creating Your Own Icons in Paint……Page 160
Task
65:Drawing Pictures in Paint……Page 162
Task
66:Organizing Your Pictures into Folders and Photo Albums……Page 164
Task
67:Storing and Retrieving Information about Your Pictures……Page 166
Task
68:Viewing, Zooming, and Reorienting Your Pictures……Page 168
Task
69:Resizing a Picture……Page 170
Task
70:Cropping a Picture……Page 172
Task
71:Adding Notes and Drawings to a Picture……Page 174
Task
72:Converting a Picture.ˉs File Type……Page 176
Task
73:Printing a Picture……Page 178
Task
74:Ordering Prints of Your Pictures Online……Page 180
Task
75:Putting Your Pictures on the Web……Page 182
Task
76:Creating a Screen Saver with Your Own Pictures……Page 184
Part 5: Working with Digital Music……Page 187
Task 77:Upgrading Windows Media Player……Page 188
Task 78:Playing Music CDs……Page 190
Task 79:Copying Music from a CD to Your Hard Drive……Page 192
Task 80:Identifying Your Album Name,Artist, and Tracks……Page 194
Task 81:Finding and Playing Music in Your Media Library……Page 196
Task 82:Searching for Music to Add to Your Media Library……Page 198
Task 83:Adding and Viewing Song Lyrics……Page 200
Task 84:Creating and Listening to a Playlist……Page 202
Task 85:Downloading Music from the Internet……Page 204
Task 86:Tuning in to Internet Radio……Page 206
Task 87:Copying Music to a Portable Music Player……Page 208
Task 88:Creating Your Own Audio CD……Page 210
Task 89:Duplicating an Audio CD……Page 212
Task 90:Making Windows Media Player Beautiful with Skins……Page 214
Part 6: Working with Digital Movies……Page 217
Task 91:Upgrading Windows Movie Maker……Page 218
Task 92:Playing a Movie on DVD……Page 220
Task 93:Playing a Video File……Page 222
Task 94:Creating and Deleting Collections in Windows Movie Maker……Page 224
Task 95:Importing Clips and Other Items into Your Collections in Windows Movie Maker……Page 226
Task 96:Making Movies……Page 228
Task 97:Capturing Video from Your Camcorder……Page 230
Task 98:Capturing a Photograph from a Video……Page 232
Task 99:Capturing Live Video……Page 234
Task 100:Splitting and Combining Video Clips……Page 236
Task 101:Trimming a Video Clip……Page 238
Task 102:Adding Transitions between Your Video Clips……Page 240
Task 103:Adding Video Effects to Your Clips……Page 242
Task 104:Adding Titles and Credits to Your Movie……Page 244
Task 105:Adding Photographs to a Movie……Page 246
Task 106:Adding Background Music and Sound Effects to a Movie……Page 248
Task 107:Adding Narration to a Movie……Page 250
Task 108:Saving a Movie to View on Your Computer……Page 252
Task 109:Sending a Movie via Email……Page 254
Part 7: Working with Notepad……Page 257
Task 110:Creating a New Document Using Notepad……Page 258
Task 111:Saving a Document from Notepad……Page 260
Task 112:Changing Page Setup in Notepad……Page 262
Task 113:Creating Headers and Footers on a Notepad Document……Page 264
Task 114:Changing the Font in Notepad……Page 266
Task 115:Printing a Document in Notepad……Page 268
Task 116:Finding and Replacing Text in Notepad……Page 270
Task 117:Creating a Log File with Notepad……Page 272
Task 118:Creating a Web Page in Notepad……Page 274
Part 8: Working with WordPad……Page 277
Task 119:Creating a New Document in WordPad……Page 278
Task 120:Saving a Document in WordPad……Page 280
Task 121:Changing the Page Setup in WordPad……Page 282
Task 122:Using WordPad.ˉs Print Preview……Page 284
Task 123:Printing from WordPad……Page 286
Task 124:Changing Font Characteristics in WordPad……Page 288
Task 125:Formatting Paragraph Margins in WordPad……Page 290
Task 126:Adding Lists to a WordPad Document……Page 292
Task 127:Searching and Replacing Text in WordPad……Page 294
Task 128:Inserting a Picture into a WordPad Document……Page 296
Task 129:Adding an Object to a WordPad Document……Page 298
Task 130:Changing Object Properties in a Document……Page 300
Task 131:Sending a WordPad Document to Someone Else……Page 302
Task 132:Setting Options in WordPad……Page 304
Part 9: Getting Connected to the Internet……Page 307
Task 133:Creating an MSN Account to Access the Internet Using a Modem……Page 308
Task 134:Connecting to the Internet with a Modem Using Another ISP……Page 310
Task 135:Connecting to the Internet with a Broadband Cable or DSL Line……Page 312
Task 136:Connecting to the Internet with a LAN and a Router……Page 314
Task 137:Connecting to a Virtual Private Network……Page 316
Part 10: Surfing the Web with Microsoft Internet Explorer……Page 319
Task 138:Using Internet Explorer for the First Time……Page 320
Task 139: Going to a Site’s Address with Microsoft Internet Explorer……Page 322
Task 140:Searching the Web……Page 324
Task 141:Saving a Web Page……Page 326
Task 142:Emailing Web Pages……Page 328
Task 143:Printing Web Pages……Page 330
Task 144:Downloading Files from the Web……Page 332
Task 145:Copying and Saving Images from the Web……Page 334
Task 146:Keeping a Favorites List of Sites……Page 336
Task 147:Organizing Your Favorites List of Sites……Page 338
Task 148:Customizing the Links Bar……Page 340
Task 149:Checking Your History in Internet Explorer……Page 342
Task 150:Clearing and Customizing History Features……Page 344
Task 151:Deleting Temporary Internet Files……Page 346
Task 152:Setting Your Home Page……Page 348
Task 153:Customizing Internet Explorer.ˉs Support Programs……Page 350
Task 154:Customizing Internet Explorer.ˉs Tools and More……Page 352
Task 155:Choosing Privacy Settings……Page 354
Task 156:Choosing Security Settings……Page 356
Task 157:Restricting Objectionable Materials……Page 358
Part 11: Interacting with Email……Page 361
Task 158:Setting Up Your Email……Page 362
Task 159:Retrieving and Viewing Email Messages……Page 364
Task 160:Opening and Saving Received Attachments……Page 366
Task 161:Creating and Sending Email……Page 368
Task 162:Forwarding or Replying to a Message……Page 370
Task 163:Sending a Picture or File as an Attachment……Page 372
Task 164:Using Stationery……Page 374
Task 165:Creating Your Own Stationery……Page 376
Task 166:Creating and Using a Signature……Page 378
Task 167:Organizing Your Inbox……Page 380
Task 168:Filing Your Email into Folders……Page 382
Task 169:Finding a Message……Page 384
Task 170:Using Your Address Book……Page 386
Task 171:Creating Your Own Virtual Business Card……Page 388
Task 172:Sending Virtual Business Cards……Page 390
Task 173:Adding Virtual Business Cards Business Card……Page 392
Task 174:Using Message Rules to Kill Spam and Do Other Cool Stuff……Page 394
Part 12: Discussing with Newsgroups……Page 397
Task 175:Connecting to a Newsgroup Server……Page 398
Task 176:Searching for and Subscribing to Newsgroups……Page 400
Task 177:Reading Newsgroup Messages……Page 402
Task 178:Posting a New Message to a Newsgroup……Page 404
Task 179:Replying to a Newsgroup Message……Page 406
Task 180:Downloading Newsgroup to Newsgroups……Page 408
Task 181:Downloading Multipart Newsgroup Message Attachments……Page 410
Task 182:Searching for Messages in a Newsgroup……Page 412
Part 13: Exploring Windows Messenger……Page 415
Task 183:Creating a Passport Account……Page 416
Task 184:Adding and Deleting Contacts……Page 418
Task 185:Carrying On a Conversation……Page 420
Task 186:Changing Your Look in Windows Messenger……Page 422
Task 187:Sending a File or a Picture……Page 424
Task 188:Receiving a File or a Picture……Page 426
Task 189:Configuring Your Audio and Video in Windows Messenger……Page 428
Task 190:Adding Voice and Video to Your Conversation……Page 430
Part 14: Exploring the Other Accessories……Page 433
Task 191:Using the Basic Calculator……Page 434
Task 192:Using the Scientific Calculator……Page 436
Task 193:Performing Statistical Calculations……Page 438
Task 194:Converting Numbers……Page 440
Task 195:Configuring Your Computer to Send Faxes……Page 442
Task 196:Sending a Fax……Page 444
Task 197:Recording Sounds: The Sound Recorder……Page 446
Task 198:Mixing and Modifying Sounds……Page 448
Part 15: Accessibility Features……Page 451
Task 199:Changing the Windows Font Size……Page 452
Task 200:Using the Magnifier……Page 454
Task 201:Using the Narrator……Page 456
Task 202:Using the On- Screen Keyboard……Page 458
Task 203:Selecting the On- Screen Keyboard Layout……Page 460
Task 204:Setting Usability Feature Options……Page 462
Task 205:Setting Usability Feature Options with the Accessibility Wizard……Page 464
Task 206:Using and Setting StickyKeys……Page 466
Task 207:Using and Setting FilterKeys……Page 468
Part 16: Working with User Accounts……Page 471
Task 208:Setting Up a Guest Account……Page 472
Task 209:Creating New User Accounts……Page 474
Task 210:Deleting a User Account……Page 476
Task 211:Changing a User.ˉs Account Name……Page 478
Task 212:Changing the Icon on a User Account……Page 480
Task 213:Changing a User.ˉs Account Type……Page 482
Task 214:Adding a Password to a User Account……Page 484
Task 215:Changing a User Account.ˉs Password……Page 486
Task 216:Removing a Password from a User Account……Page 488
Part 17: Configuring Your Hardware……Page 491
Task 217:Checking Your Hardware.ˉs Status……Page 492
Task 218:Customizing Speaker Settings……Page 494
Task 219:Installing a Printer……Page 496
Task 220:Using a Removable Storage Device……Page 498
Task 221:Installing a Game Controller……Page 500
Task 222:Setting Up Two Monitors……Page 502
Task 223:Uninstalling a Device……Page 504
Part 18: Creating a Simple Network ( LAN)……Page 507
Task 224:Setting Up Your Own Network……Page 508
Task 225:Configuring Your Computers for the Network……Page 510
Task 226:Sharing a Printer……Page 512
Task 227:Accessing a Shared Printer……Page 514
Task 228:Sharing Files……Page 516
Task 229:Accessing Shared Files……Page 518
Task 230:Assigning a Drive Letter to a Shared Folder……Page 520
Part 19: Taking Windows XP on the Road……Page 523
Task 231:Conserving Power……Page 524
Task 232:Putting Your Computer to Sleep: Hibernating……Page 526
Task 233:Creating Multiple Dial- Up Connections……Page 528
Task 234:Taking Files with You:Identifying Offline Files……Page 530
Task 235:Using Offline Files and Resynchronizing……Page 532
Task 236:Creating and Using a Briefcase……Page 534
Part 20: Maintenance and Optimization……Page 537
Task 237:Checking Your Hard Drive for Errors……Page 538
Task 238:Defragmenting Your Hard Drive……Page 540
Task 239:Cleaning Up Your Hard Drive and Making Room……Page 542
Task 240:Adding and Removing Windows Components……Page 544
Task 241:Removing an Application……Page 546
Task 242:Cleaning Up Your Desktop……Page 548
Task 243:The Ultimate Undo: System Restore……Page 550
Task 244:Creating a Restore Point……Page 552
Task 245:Configuring System Restore……Page 554
Task 246:Backing Up Your Files……Page 556
Task 247:Restoring Files from a Backup……Page 558
Task 248:Updating Your System with the Latest Patches and Add- Ons……Page 560
Part 21: Troubleshooting……Page 563
Task 249:Getting Detailed Information about Your Computer……Page 564
Task 250:Getting Older Programs to Run in Windows XP……Page 566
Task 251:Closing a Program That Stops Responding……Page 568
Task 252:Finding Lost Files……Page 570
Task 253:Fixing the Screen When It Doesn.ˉt Look Right……Page 572
Task 254:Configuring Your System for Remote Access……Page 574
Task 255:Using Remote Desktop……Page 576
Task 256:Asking for Remote Assistance……Page 578
Task 257:Providing Remote Assistance……Page 580
Task 258:Updating Your Video Driver……Page 582
Task 259:Reporting Errors to Microsoft……Page 584
Task 260:Fine- Tuning Your System.ˉs Performance……Page 586
Task 261:My Computer.ˉs Still Too Slow!……Page 588
Index……Page 591