Computers For Seniors For Dummies

Nancy C. Muir is the owner of a writing and consulting company that specializes in business and technology topics. She is the author of over 100 books on technology and business topics, and has taught technical writing and online safety at the college level.

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Foolish Assumptions 1

Beyond the Book 2

Where to Go from Here 2

Part 1: Get Going! 3

Chapter 1: Buying a Computer 5

Understand All You Can Do with Computers 6

Get an Overview of Hardware 9

Appreciate Software 10

Pick a Desktop: Tower or All-in-One? 11

Choose a Laptop 12

Select a Version of Windows 13

Determine Your Price Range 14

Understand Displays 16

Explore Storage Options 17

Choose Features for Faster Performance 18

Determine How You’ll Connect to the Internet 19

Chapter 2: Setting Up Your Computer 21

Connect the Monitor, Keyboard, and Mouse 22

Log In to Windows 10 23

Use the Mouse 25

Work with a Touchscreen 26

Use Shortcuts 27

Set the Date and Time 27

Create a New User Account 29

Switch User Accounts 31

Shut Down Your Computer 31

Chapter 3: Getting Around Windows 10 33

Get an Overview of Windows 10 34

Work with the Desktop 36

Display the Start Menu 38

Use Task View to See Open Apps 39

Use the Snap Feature to Organize Apps on the Desktop 40

Search for Files and Web Content with Cortana 42

Explore the Action Center 43

Find a File or Open an Application with File Explorer 44

Work with Windows 10 Using a Touchscreen 45

Create Additional Desktops 46

View All Apps in the Start Menu 47

Empty the Recycle Bin 48

Add an App to the Start Menu 50

Create a Desktop Shortcut 50

Resize Windows 51

Chapter 4: Setting Up Your Display 53

Customize the Appearance of Windows 54

Set Your Screen’s Resolution 55

Change the Desktop Background and Color 56

Change the Lock Screen Picture 58

Change Your Account Picture 59

Choose a Desktop Theme 62

Set Up a Screen Saver 63

Name Tile Groups 64

Rearrange Tiles in the Start Menu 65

Resize Tiles 65

Chapter 5: Getting Help with Vision, Hearing, and Dexterity Challenges 67

Use Tools for the Visually Challenged 68

Replace Sounds with Visual Cues 71

Make Text Larger or Smaller 72

Set Up Speech Recognition 73

Modify How Your Keyboard Works 76

Use the Onscreen Keyboard Feature 78

Set Up Keyboard Repeat Rates 79

Customize Mouse Behavior 81

Change the Cursor 82

Make Your Touch Visible 83

Chapter 6: Setting Up Printers and Scanners 85

Install a Printer 86

Add a Printer Manually 87

Set a Default Printer 90

Set Printer Preferences 92

View Currently Installed Printers 94

Remove a Printer 96

Modify Scanner Settings 97

Chapter 7: Connecting with Cortana 99

Get an Overview of Cortana 100

Set Up Cortana 101

Set Up Cortana’s Notebook 104

Interact with Cortana 105

Set Reminders 107

Search with Cortana 108

Identify Music with Cortana 110

Part 2: Getting Things Done with Software 111

Chapter 8: Working with Software Programs 113

Launch a Program 114

View Open Apps in Task View 116

Close an App 117

Move Information between Programs 117

Set Program Defaults 119

Uninstall a Program 121

Chapter 9: Working with Files and Folders 123

Understand How Windows Organizes Data 124

Access Recently Used Items 127

Locate Files and Folders on Your Computer with File Explorer 128

Work with the View Ribbon 130

Search with Cortana 131

Move a File or Folder 132

Rename a File or Folder 134

Create a Shortcut to a File or Folder 136

Delete a File or Folder 137

Create a Compressed File or Folder 138

Add a Folder to Your Quick Access List 140

Back Up Files 142

Chapter 10: Working with Windows Apps 145

Get Up to Speed with the News App 146

Display Weather Views 150

Specify a Place in Weather 152

Add a Contact 153

Edit Contact Information 156

Send Email to Contacts 157

Add an Event to Your Calendar 159

Invite People to an Event 162

Use the Maps App 163

Set Your Location 163

Show Traffic 164

Get Directions 166

Work with Paint 168

Discover Paint 3D 170

Part 3: Going Online 173

Chapter 11: Understanding Internet Basics 175

Understand What the Internet Is 176

Explore Different Types of Internet Connections 178

Set Up a Wi-Fi Internet Connection 181

Practice Navigation Basics with the Microsoft Edge App 183

Use Other Browsers 184

Understand Tabs in Browsers 186

Understand Start and Home Pages 187

Set Up a Home Page in Microsoft Edge 188

Chapter 12: Browsing the Web 191

Learn More about Microsoft Edge 192

Search the Web 194

Search the Web with Cortana 196

Use Reading View 198

Find Content on a Web Page 199

Add Your Own Notes to a Web Page 200

Add a Web Page to the Reading List 201

Pin a Tab 202

Add a Website to Favorites and Create a Folder 203

Use Favorites 204

View Your Browsing History 205

View Your Reading List 207

Print a Web Page 208

Adjust Microsoft Edge Settings 209

Chapter 13: Staying Safe While Online 213

Understand Technology Risks on the Internet 214

Use Suggested Content 217

Download Files Safely 219

Use InPrivate Browsing 221

Use SmartScreen Filter 222

Change Privacy Settings 223

Understand Information Exposure 224

Keep Your Information Private 227

Spot Phishing Scams and Other Email Fraud 229

Create Strong Passwords 231

Chapter 14: Keeping in Touch with Mail 235

Sign Up for an Internet-Based Email Account 236

Set Up Accounts in the Mail App 238

Get to Know Mail 241

Open Mail and Receive Messages 243

Create and Send Email 245

Send an Attachment 247

Read a Message 248

Reply to a Message 250

Forward Email 252

Make Account Settings in Mail 253

Chapter 15: Working in the Cloud 257

Use Applications Online 258

Understand How OneDrive Works with the Cloud 260

Add Files to OneDrive Online 262

Share a Folder or File Using OneDrive 264

Create a New OneDrive Folder 265

Turn On the Sync Feature 266

Choose Which Settings You Want to Sync 268

Chapter 16: Connecting with People Online 269

Use Discussion Boards and Blogs 270

Participate in a Chat 273

Understand Instant Messages 274

Explore Skype and Add Contacts 276

Send and Receive Instant Messages in Skype 278

Make a Call 279

Use a Webcam 281

Get an Overview of Collaborative and Social Networking Sites 283

Sign Up for a Social Networking Service 284

Understand How Online Dating Works 287

Select a Dating Service 288

Play Games Online 289

Part 4: Having Fun 291

Chapter 17: Getting Visual: Using the Video, Photos, and Camera Apps 293

Get an Overview of Media Apps 294

Find Movies and TV Shows in the Store 296

Play Movies and TV Shows 298

Stream Videos from Other Sources 301

Upload Photos and Videos from Your Digital Camera or Smartphone 302

Take Photos with the Camera App 303

Retrieve Photos from a Phone 304

Record Videos with the Camera App 305

View Photos in the Photos App 307

Edit Photos 309

Share a Photo 311

Run a Slide Show in the Photos App 312

Chapter 18: Playing Music in Windows 10 315

Set Up Speakers 316

Adjust System Volume 318

Use Windows Media Player to Rip Music 319

Find Music in the Store 321

Buy Music 323

Search for Music with Cortana 324

Create a Playlist 325

Play Music 328

Part 5: Windows Toolkit 331

Chapter 19: Working with Networks 333

Join a Homegroup 334

Make a Connection to a Network 335

Specify What You Want to Share over a Network 336

Set Up a Wireless Network 338

Make Your Computer Discoverable via Bluetooth 340

Connect to Bluetooth Devices 341

Go Online Using Your Cellular Network 342

Chapter 20: Protecting Windows 345

Understand Computer Security 346

Use Other Software Protection 347

Understand Windows Update Options 348

Check for Windows Updates 349

Enable Windows Firewall 351

Run a Scan with Windows Defender 353

Change Your Password 354

Allow Firewall Exceptions 356

Chapter 21: Maintaining Windows 359

Shut Down a Nonresponsive Application 360

Create a System Restore Point 361

Restore Your PC 363

Reset Your PC 365

Optimize a Hard Drive 367

Free Disk Space 368

Index 371