Laptops For Seniors For Dummies, 5th Edition

Nancy C. Muir is the owner of a writing and consulting company that specializes in business and technology topics. She is the author of more than 100 books, and she has taught technology courses online.

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 Laptop 5

Understand All You Can Do with Laptops 6

Overview of Hardware 9

Appreciate Software 10

Understand the Difference between a Desktop and Laptop 11

Choose a Laptop 14

Select a Version of Windows 17

Determine Your Price Range 18

Understand Displays 19

Opt for Longer Battery Life 20

Use USB Ports for Storage or DVDs 21

Choose Features for Faster Performance 21

Determine How You’ll Connect to the Internet 23

Chapter 2: Setting Up Your Laptop 25

Install and Charge the Battery 26

Log on to Windows 10 27

Use the Mouse 29

Work with a Touchscreen 31

Use Shortcuts 31

Use the Function Keys 32

Set the Date and Time 33

Create a New User Account 34

Switch User Accounts 37

Shut Down Your Laptop 37

Chapter 3: Getting Around Windows 10 39

Get an Overview of Windows 10 40

Work with the Desktop 42

Display the Start Menu 44

Use Task View to See Open Apps 45

Use the Snap Feature to Organize Apps on the Desktop 46

Search for Files and Web Content with Cortana 48

Explore the Action Center 49

Find a File or Open an Application with File Explorer 50

Work with Windows 10 Using a Touchscreen 51

Create Additional Desktops 52

View All Apps in the Start Menu 53

Empty the Recycle Bin 54

Add an App to the Start Menu 56

Create a Desktop Shortcut 56

Resize Windows 57

Chapter 4: Managing Power 59

Change How Quickly the Computer Goes to Sleep 60

Change How Quickly the Display is Turned Off 62

Change the Display Brightness 63

Adjust the Battery Saver 64

Choose a Power Plan 65

Create a Customized Power Plan 67

Define Power Button Functions 68

Chapter 5: Setting Up Your Display 71

Customize the Appearance of Windows 72

Set Your Screen’s Resolution 73

Change the Desktop Background and Color 74

Change the Lock Screen Picture 76

Change Your Account Picture 77

Choose a Desktop Theme 79

Set Up a Screen Saver 81

Name Tile Groups 82

Rearrange Tiles in the Start Menu 83

Resize Tiles 83

Chapter 6: Getting Help with Vision, Hearing, and Dexterity Challenges 85

Use Tools for the Visually Challenged 86

Replace Sounds with Visual Cues 89

Make Text Larger or Smaller 91

Set Up Speech Recognition 92

Modify How Your Keyboard Works 95

Use the Onscreen Keyboard Feature 96

Set Up Keyboard Repeat Rates 98

Customize Mouse Behavior 99

Change the Cursor 101

Make Your Touch Visible 102

Chapter 7: Setting Up Printers and Scanners 105

Install a Printer 106

Add a Printer Manually 107

Set a Default Printer 110

Set Printer Preferences 112

View Currently Installed Printers 114

Remove a Printer 116

Modify Scanner Settings 116

Part 2: Getting Things Done with Software 119

Chapter 8: Connecting with Cortana 121

Get an Overview of Cortana 122

Set Up Cortana 123

Set Up Cortana’s Notebook 126

Interact with Cortana 127

Set Reminders 128

Search with Cortana 130

Identify Music with Cortana 131

Chapter 9: Working with Software 133

Launch Software 134

View Open Apps in Task View 136

Close Software 137

Move Information between Apps 137

Set App Defaults 140

Uninstall an App 141

Chapter 10: Working with Files and Folders 145

Understand How Windows Organizes Data 146

Access Recently Used Items 149

Locate Files and Folders in Your Laptop with File Explorer 150

Work with the View Ribbon 152

Search with Cortana 153

Move a File or Folder 154

Rename a File or Folder 156

Create a Shortcut to a File or Folder 157

Delete a File or Folder 158

Create a Compressed File or Folder 159

Add a Folder to Your Quick Access List 161

Back Up Files 163

Chapter 11: Working with Windows Apps 165

Get Up to Speed with the News App 166

Display Weather Views 170

Specify a Location in Weather 171

Add a Contact in the People App 173

Edit Contact Information 175

Send Email to Contacts 176

Add an Event to Your Calendar 178

Invite People to an Event 181

Work with Paint 182

Discover Paint 3D 184

Part 3: Going Online 187

Chapter 12: Hitting the Road with Your Laptop 189

Use the Maps App 190

Set Your Location 190

Show Traffic 191

Get Directions 192

Plan Travel Online 194

Get Travel Advice and Information 196

Chapter 13: Understanding Internet Basics 199

Understand What the Internet Is 200

Explore Different Types of Internet Connections 202

Set Up a Wi-Fi Internet Connection 205

Practice Navigation Basics with the Microsoft Edge App 207

Use Other Browsers 209

Understand Tabs in Browsers 210

Understand Start and Home Pages 212

Set Up a Home Page in Microsoft Edge 212

Chapter 14: Browsing the Web 215

Learn More about Microsoft Edge 216

Search the Web 218

Search the Web with Cortana 220

Use Reading View 221

Find Content on a Web Page 222

Add Your Own Notes to a Web Page 224

Add a Web Page to the Reading List 225

Pin a Tab 226

Add a Website to Favorites and Create a Folder 227

Use Favorites 228

View Your Browsing History 229

View Your Reading List 231

Print a Web Page 232

Adjust Microsoft Edge Settings 233

Chapter 15: Staying Safe While Online 235

Understand Technology Risks on the Internet 236

Use Suggested Content 239

Download Files Safely 241

Use InPrivate Browsing 243

Use SmartScreen Filter 244

Change Privacy Settings 245

Understand Information Exposure 246

Keep Your Information Private 249

Spot Phishing Scams and Other Email Fraud 251

Create Strong Passwords 253

Chapter 16: Keeping in Touch with Mail 255

Sign Up for an Internet-Based Email Account 256

Set Up an Email Account 258

Get to Know Mail 261

Open Mail and Receive Messages 263

Create and Send Email 265

Send an Attachment 267

Read a Message 269

Reply to a Message 270

Forward Email 272

Make Account Settings in Mail 273

Chapter 17: Working in the Cloud 277

Use Applications Online 278

Understand How OneDrive Works with the Cloud 280

Add Files to OneDrive Online 282

Share a File or Folder Using OneDrive 284

Create a New OneDrive Folder 285

Turn On the Sync Feature 286

Choose Which Settings You Want to Sync 288

Chapter 18: Connecting with People Online 289

Use Discussion Boards and Blogs 290

Participate in Chat 292

Understand Instant Messages (IMs) 294

Explore Skype and Add Contacts 296

Send and Receive Instant Messages (IMs) in Skype 298

Make a Call 299

Use a Webcam 301

Get an Overview of Collaborative and Social Networking Sites 303

Sign Up for a Social Networking Service 304

Understand How Online Dating Works 307

Select a Dating Service 308

Play Games Online 309

Part 4: Having Fun 311

Chapter 19: Getting Visual: Using Video, Photos, and Camera Apps 313

Get an Overview of Media Apps 314

Find Movies and TV Shows in the Store 316

Play Movies and TV Shows 318

Stream Videos from Other Sources 321

Upload Content from Your Digital Camera or Smartphone 321

Take Photos with the Camera App 322

Record Videos with the Camera App 324

View Photos in the Photos App 325

Edit Photos 327

Share Photos 328

Run a Slide Show in the Photos App 330

Chapter 20: Playing Music in Windows 10 331

Set Up Speakers 332

Adjust System Volume 333

Use Windows Media Player to Rip Music 335

Find Music in the Store 337

Buy Music 339

Search for Music with Cortana 340

Create a Playlist 341

Play Music 343

Part 5: Windows Toolkit 347

Chapter 21: Working with Networks 349

Join a Homegroup 350

Make a Connection to a Network 351

Specify What You Want to Share over a Network 353

Set Up a Wireless Network 354

Make Your Laptop Discoverable to Bluetooth 356

Connect to Bluetooth Devices 357

Go Online Using Your Cellular Network 358

Chapter 22: Protecting Windows 361

Understand Laptop Security 362

Use Other Software Protection 363

Understand Windows Update Options 364

Check for Windows Updates 365

Enable Windows Firewall 367

Run a Scan with Windows Defender 369

Change Your Laptop Password 370

Allow Firewall Exceptions 372

Use a Lock to Deter Thieves 374

Use a Fingerprint Reader 375

Protect Your Laptop from Damage 376

Use a Service to Find a Lost Laptop 377

Chapter 23: Maintaining Windows 379

Shut Down a Nonresponsive Application 380

Create a System Restore Point 381

Restore Your Laptop 383

Reset Your Laptop 385

Optimize Your Hard Drive 387

Free Disk Space 389

Index 391