PCs for dummies

Introduction: -- What's new in this edition? -- Where to start -- Conventions used in this book -- Foolish assumptions -- Icons used in this book -- Where to go from here -- Part 1: Hello, PC!: -- What Is This Thing, This PC?: -- Some Quick Questions To Get Out Of The Way: -- What is a PC? -- Why not just use a tablet or smartphone instead of a PC? -- Should I buy a Dell? -- Will my computer explode? -- Basic Computer Concepts In Easily Digestible Chunks: -- What a computer does -- Hardware and software -- Buy Yourself A PC!: -- Step 1: What do you want the PC to do? -- Step 2: Find software -- Step 3: Match hardware to the software -- Step 4: Locate service and support -- Step 5: Buy it! -- What to do with an old computer -- Final thing to remember -- PC Knobs, Buttons, And Doodads Tour: -- Big picture -- All Around The Console: -- There is no typical console -- Major points of interest on the console, front -- Stuff found on the console's rump -- I/O panel -- Helpful hints, hieroglyphics, and hues -- PC Setup: -- Computer Assembly: -- Unpacking the boxes -- Setting up the console -- Plugging in and connecting -- Plugging-Things-In Guide: -- Attaching the keyboard and mouse -- Setting up the monitor -- Connecting to the network -- Adding a printer -- Hooking up the speakers -- It Must Have Power: -- Plugging everything into a power strip -- Taking advantage of a UPS -- Using the UPS (a short play) -- Both On And Off: -- Turn on your PC -- Windows, ahoy! -- Turn Off The Computer: -- Shutting down Windows -- Putting Windows to sleep -- Restarting the PC -- Signing out -- Reviewing other shutdown options -- Should You Leave Mr PC On All The Time?: -- I want to leave my computer off all the time -- I want to leave my computer on all the time --

Part 2: Nerd's-Eye View: -- Deep Inside The Console: -- Computer Guts: -- Looking under the hood -- Powering Mr computer -- Lurking on the motherboard -- Corralling all the mass storage devices -- King Processor: -- Understanding the processor's role -- Naming PC processors -- Measuring processor speed -- Discovering your PC's processor -- Your Computer Is Also A Timepiece: -- Viewing the date and time -- Using the Internet to set the clock -- PC Memory: -- What is computer memory? -- Tasty chocolate memory chips -- Memory, one byte at a time -- Memory Q & A: -- How much memory is in my PC right now? -- Do I have enough memory? -- Does my PC have enough memory? -- Can I test whether my PC has enough memory? -- Can I add memory to my PC? -- Will the computer ever run out of memory? -- What is virtual memory? -- What is video memory? -- What about shared video memory? -- Mass Storage System: -- PC's Mass Storage System: -- Surveying the mass storage landscape -- Identifying the primary storage device -- Finding mass storage devices -- Inserting a media card or thumb drive -- Inserting an optical disc -- Ejecting media -- Adding more storage -- Mass Storage Alphabet: -- Handing out drive letters -- Exploring drive icons and names -- Checking drive capacity -- Using mass storage -- Accessing removable media -- Merry Monitor Mayhem: -- PC's Graphics System: -- Minding the monitor -- Discovering the display adapter -- Show Me What Ya Got: -- Measuring a monitor -- Connecting the monitor to the PC -- Reading monitor messages -- Working the monitor's controls -- Windows Controls What You See: -- Setting resolution -- Adding a second monitor -- Orienting the monitor -- Input This!: -- Meet Mr Keyboard: -- Attaching a keyboard -- Examining the typical PC keyboard -- Using modifier keys -- Changing keyboard behavior keys -- Touring some useful keys -- Understanding strange keys -- Understanding keys for math -- Controlling the keyboard in Windows -- Say "Eeek!" To The Mouse: -- Connecting the mouse -- Reviewing basic mouse parts -- Exploring mouse species -- Moving the mouse -- Changing mouse settings -- Touchscreen Input: -- Using basic touchscreen techniques -- Typing on a touchscreen -- System Expansion: -- It's a port -- Versatile USB Port: -- Understanding USB cables -- Connecting a USB device -- Working with USB-powered gizmos -- Removing a USB device -- Using hubs to expand the USB universe -- Expansion Slots: -- Shopping for expansion cards -- Adding an expansion card -- Bluetooth Thing: -- Checking for Bluetooth -- Controlling Bluetooth in Windows -- Pairing a Bluetooth peripheral -- Reviewing paired devices -- Un-pairing a Bluetooth device -- P Is For Printer: -- Printer, The Paper, The Document Maker: -- Surveying the printer landscape -- Touring the typical printer -- Using the printer's control panel -- Drinking ink -- Eating paper -- Choosing the proper paper -- Where The Printer Meets The PC: -- Connecting the printer -- Finding printers in Windows -- Setting the default printer -- Printer Operation: -- Printing something -- Stopping a printer run amok -- PC Audio Abilities: -- Noisy PC: Setting up speakers -- Using headphones -- Exploring microphone options -- Sound Control In Windows: -- Configuring the speakers -- Configuring the microphone -- Enabling the microphone -- Adjusting the volume -- Windows goes bleep -- It Listens: -- Recording our own sounds -- Dictating to the PC --

Part 3: Basic Computing: -- Relevant Parts Of Windows: -- What's an operating system? -- Windows And Its Gooey, Glorious Graphical Interface: -- Starting at the desktop -- Working the taskbar -- Accessing the start menu -- Looking at the notifications area -- Summoning the action center -- Settings And Controls: -- Using the settings app -- Visiting the control panel -- Programs On Your PC: -- Software nomenclature -- Run That Program: -- Hunting down programs in Windows -- Starting an app from tablet mode -- Finding a program when you know its name -- Pinning a program -- Install And Remove Programs: -- Obtaining software from the Internet -- Installing a program from external media -- Uninstalling a program -- Fun With Files And Folders: -- Behold The File!: -- Describing a file -- Creating a new file -- Understanding the filename extension -- Folder Folderol: -- Understanding subfolders and parent folders -- Finding a place for your stuff -- Making a new folder -- Working with folders in the open and save as dialog boxes -- Manage Files Because They Can't Manage Themselves: -- Selecting files -- Manipulating files -- Finding files lost, missing, or dead -- Life On The Cloud: -- Cloud thing -- Cloud Storage: -- Adding a cloud storage service -- Copying a file to cloud storage -- Accessing cloud storage from another device -- Online Media: -- Keeping your pictures on cloud storage -- Accessing cloud storage pictures -- Sharing a picture from cloud storage -- Listening to your cloud music -- Weird World Of Networking: -- Why network? -- Network Hardware: -- Reviewing the network configuration -- Setting up a gateway -- Network Connection: -- Connecting to a wired network -- Connecting to a wireless network -- Connecting to a hidden Wi-Fi network -- Checking the network type -- Resetting the network type -- Disconnecting from a network -- Forgetting a Wi-Fi connection -- On The Network: -- Accessing a network folder -- Mapping a network drive -- Sharing a folder -- Accessing shared media -- Activating media sharing on your PC --

Part 4: Your Digital Life: -- Internet Refresher: -- What is the Internet? -- Internet access -- It's A World Wide Web We Weave: -- Finding another web browser -- Locating the web browser commands -- Going undercover on the web -- Browsing tips -- Printing web pages -- Searching-the-web tips -- Get Stuff From A Web Page: -- Saving an image from a web page -- Copying text from a web page -- Sharing a web page -- Email Messages: -- Understanding email acronyms -- Finding an email program -- Hello, Other Gizmo: -- AutoPlay: -- Dealing with another device -- Manually summoning AutoPlay -- Setting AutoPlay options -- Connect Something To Your PC: -- Importing images -- Getting video into you PC -- Ripping music from a CD -- Images Digital: -- Image Resolution: -- Understanding resolution -- Setting resolution -- Digital camera tips -- Scanner: -- Introducing the scanner -- Scanning an image -- Picture Files: -- Storing pictures in Windows -- Viewing pictures in Windows -- Printing your digital photos -- Changing picture file formats -- Electronic Entertainment: -- PC Movies: -- Storing video in Windows -- Viewing a video -- Uploading a video to YouTube -- Sharing your videos -- Your PC Is A TV: -- Getting a TV tuner -- Watching Internet TV -- Your TV is a PC -- Your PC Is Your Stereo: -- Enjoying music from the stream -- Running Windows media player --

Part 5: Security And Maintenance: -- System Security: -- Tools to fight the bad guys -- Take Action Against The Barbarian Hoard: -- Finding the action center -- Setting up the Windows Firewall -- Protecting the PC with Windows Defender -- Paying attention to the UAC warnings -- System Privacy Settings: -- Setting the screen saver lock -- Reviewing Windows 10 privacy options -- Latest Version: -- Updating and upgrading -- Updating Windows -- That All-Important Safety Copy: -- File You Had Yesterday: -- Obtaining an external backup device -- Configuring Windows 10 file history -- Setting up Windows 7 backup -- Recovering a previous version of a file -- Restoring files from a backup -- Exploring Internet backup utilities -- Compressed Folder Archives: -- Compressing files -- Working with a compressed folder -- Installing software from a compressed folder -- Maintenance Chores: -- Storage Utilities: -- Freeing storage space -- Checking for errors -- Running defrag -- Network troubleshooting -- Manage The PC's Power: -- Setting power options in Windows 10 -- Configuring a power management plan -- Adding the hibernate option -- Windows 10 do-over --

Part 6: Part Of Tens:

Ten PC Commandments:

Thou shalt not fear thy PC

Thou shalt save thy work

Thou shalt back up thy files

That shalt not open or delete things unknownst

Thou shalt not be a sucker

Thou shalt use antivirus software, yea verily, and keepeth it up-to-date

Thou shalt upgrade wisely

Thou shalt compute at a proper posture

Thou shalt keepeth Windows up-to-date

Thou shalt properly shut down windows

Ten Things Worth Buying For Your PC:

Mouse pad and wrist pad

External mass storage

Cleaning materials

Internal expansion

USB hub and cables

Better keyboard and mouse

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

Headset

Scanner

Thumb drives and media cards

Ten Tips From A PC Guru:

Remember that you're in charge

Mind who "helps" you

Give yourself time to learn

Create separate accounts

Mind what you download

Organize your files

Don't reinstall Windows

Shun the hype

Keep on learning

Remember not to take this computer stuff too seriously

Index.