Special Edition Using Windows XP Home Edition, Bestseller Edition

Robert Cowart has written more than 30 books on computer programmingand applications, with more than a dozen on Windows. His titles includeWindows NT Unleashed, Mastering Windows 98, Windows NT ServerAdministrator's Bible, and Windows NT Server 4.0: No ExperienceRequired. Several of his books have been best sellers in their category, andhave been translated into more than 20 languages. He has written on a wide rangeof computer-related topics for such magazines as PC Week, PCWorld, PC Magazine, PC Tech Journal, Mac World, andMicrosoft Systems Journal. In addition to working as a freelanceconsultant specializing in small businesses, he has taught programming classesat the University of California Extension in San Francisco. He has appeared as aspecial guest on the PBS TV series Computer Chronicles, CNN'sHeadline News, ZD-TV's The Screen Savers, and ABC'sWorld News Tonight with Peter Jennings. He is president and co-founder ofBrainsville.com, a company specializing in creating multimedia trainingmaterials. Robert resides in Berkeley, California. In his spare time he is involved in the music world, presenting chamber-musicconcerts and playing classical piano. He also is a teacher of the TranscendentalMeditation technique, and meditates regularly in hopes of rewiring his innercomputer. Brian Knittel has been a software developer for more than 20 years.After doing graduate work in nuclear medicine and magnetic resonance imagingtechnologies, he began a career as an independent consultant. An eclectic mix ofclients have led to long-term projects in medical documentation, workflowmanagement, real-time industrial system control, and most importantly, 15 yearsof real-world experience with MS-DOS, Windows, and computer networking in thebusiness world. Previously, he co-authored Special Edition Using MicrosoftWindows 2000 Professional and contributed to several of Bob Cowart'sother Windows books. Brian lives in Albany, California, halfway between thetidal wave zone and the earthquake fault. He spends his free time restoringantique computers and trying to perfect his wood-fired pizza recipes. Elaine Kreston has been a contributing author on other computer booktitles, and is a creator and designer of Web sites. Her natural affinity forhelping others solve computer problems was discovered while procrastinating fromher real job, that of a professional cellist. Mark Edward Soper has been a PC user for 18 years, and has been acomputer trainer and technical writer since 1988. Author of more than 150magazine articles and several books, including The Complete Idiot'sGuide to High-Speed Internet Connections and TechTV's Upgrading YourPC, he also has written frequently about Windows from version 3.1 to Windows2000. He lives in Evansville, Indiana, where he enjoys researching the historyof transportation. James Michael Stewart has been writing about Microsoft, the Internet,and certification for nearly seven years. Michael has contributed to more than75 books in this area. Michael's technical interests include ITcertification, Windows, security, and the Internet. Michael also is aninstructor at Networld+Interop. He spends his spare time learning to doeverything, one hobby at a time. Will Schmied (BSET, MCSE 2000, MCSA, CWNA, Server+, Network+, A+) is afreelance consultant and technical writer. Will has contributed works to severalof the Internet's largest ITWeb sites, including MCPMag.com, TCPMag.com,TechRepublic.com, CertCities.com, Cramsession.com, ISAServer.org, andMSExchange.org. Will has also worked on books for several publishers, includingQue, Osborne/McGraw Hill, and Syngress, in addition to several print magazinearticles. Will holds a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering Technology from OldDominion University. Will currently resides in Newport News, Virginia, with hiswife Allison, their children Christopher, Austin, Andrea, and Hannah, and theirpets Peanut and Squeaky. When he is not busy playing with the latest intechnologies, you can usually find Will trying to improve his bowling average orlogging some serious time on Dungeon Siege. You can visit Will at http://www.netserverworld.com or http://www.soitslikethat.com.

Introduction.
I. INTRODUCING WINDOWS XP HOME EDITION.

1. Introducing Windows XP Home Edition.


An Overview of Windows XP Home Edition. A Little Windows History. What's New in Windows XP? What Is Not in Windows XP Home Edition. Differences Between Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional, and 64-Bit Windows XP Versions.

2. Getting Your Hardware and Software Ready for Windows XP.


General Considerations. Hardware Requirements. Preparing Your Hardware for Windows XP. Preparing Your Software for Windows XP. Troubleshooting. Tips from the Windows Pros: Shopping for the Right Hardware and Software.

3. Installing Windows XP Home.


Choosing an Upgrade Path. Choosing a File System: FAT, FAT32, or NTFS? Getting Your Network Information Together. It's Backup Time! Clean Installation Procedure. Upgrading Over an Existing Operating System. Making Startup Floppies. Troubleshooting. Tips from the Windows Pros: Automating Setup.

II. GETTING YOUR WORK DONE.

4. Using the Windows XP Interface.


Who Should Read This Chapter? Logging in to Windows XP Using Windows XP-The User Experience. The Taskbar, Start Menu, and Other Tools. Running Your Applications. Using the Help System. Exiting Windows Gracefully. Dealing with a Crashed Applicationor Operating System. Troubleshooting. Tips from the Windows Pros: Working Efficiently.

5. Using the Simple Supplied Applications.


A Sea of Freebies. Notepad. WordPad. Paint. Calculator. Character Map. Volume Control. Working with the Windows Clipboard. Using the Search Applet. Troubleshooting.

6. Printing and Faxing.


Windows XP Printing Primer. Installing and Configuring a Printer. Installing a Local Printer. Changing a Printer's Properties. Removing a Printer from the Printers and Faxes Folder. Printing from Windows Applications. Working with the Printer Queue. Viewing and Altering Document Properties. Printing to Disk Option. Color Management. Faxing. Troubleshooting. Tips from the Windows Pros: Does the Green Ink Have You Seeing Red?

7. Multimedia and Imaging.


Multimedia, Imaging, and Windows. What's Built in to Windows XP for Photographs? Using the Scanner and Camera Wizard. What's Built in to Windows XP for Video? Video Capture with Microsoft Movie Maker. Windows Media Player.

III. WINDOWS XPAND THE INTERNET.

8. Internet and TCP/IP Connection Options.


Going World Wide. Connection Technologies. Choosing an Internet Service Provider. Choosing Equipment. Ordering the Service. Installing the Hardware. Configuring Your Internet Connection. Adjusting Dial-Up Connection Properties. Configuring a High-Speed Connection. Enabling the Internet Connection Firewall. Making and Ending a Dial-Up Connection. Changing the Default Connection. Managing Multiple Internet Connections. Troubleshooting. Tips from the Windows Pros: Staying Connected While Traveling Abroad.

9. Browsing the World Wide Web with Internet Explorer.


Origins and Development of the World Wide Web. What's New in Internet Explorer 6? Internet Explorer 6 Quick Tour. Dealing with Multimedia Browsing and Downloading. Customizing the Browser and Setting Internet Options. Effectively Searching the Web. MSN Explorer Browser-The Touchy-Feely Alternative to IE. Getting a Passport to Microsoft Country. Troubleshooting. Tips from the Windows Pros: Finding and Using PDF Documents on the World Wide Web.

10. Sending E-mail with Outlook Express.


Choosing an E-mail Client. Outlook Express Quick Tour. Creating and Sending New Mail. Using the Address Book. Handling Unique Mail Situations. Troubleshooting. Tips from the Windows Pros: How to Create Formatted E-mail.

11. Reading Newsgroups with Outlook Express.


Newsgroups and the Internet. Setting Up a Newsgroup Account in Outlook Express. Finding and Reading Newsgroups. Newsgroup Safety. Customizing Outlook Express for Newsgroups. Troubleshooting. Tips from the Windows Pros: Newsgroups... for More Than Just News.

12. Chatting and Conferencing with Windows Messenger.


An Overview of Windows Messenger. Getting Started with Windows Messenger. Chatting with Text. Communicating with Voice. Communicating with Video. Conferencing Options. What About NetMeeting? Troubleshooting. Tips from the Windows Pros: Extending Your Chat Community.

13. Troubleshooting YourInternet Connection.


It's Great When It Works, But…. Before You Run into Trouble. Troubleshooting. Troubleshooting Internet Problems with Windows TCP/IP Utilities. Third-Party Utilities. Tips from the Windows Pros: Pinging with Larger Packets.

IV. NETWORKING.

14. Overview of Windows XP Networking.


Network Concepts. Network Connection Technologies. Ways of Connecting to Windows XP Networks. Windows XP's Network Services. Tips from the Windows Pros: Becoming a Networking Professional.

15. Creating a Windows XP Home Network.


Creating or Joining a Network. Planning Your Network. Choosing a Network and Cabling System. Installing Network Adapters. Installing Network Wiring. Configuring a Peer-to-Peer Network. Network Security. Checking Out the Neighborhood. Install and Configure Backup Software. Bridging Two Network Types with Windows XP. Troubleshooting. Tips from the Windows Pros: Grassroots Networking.

16. Using a Windows XP Network.


Windows XP Was Made to Network. Traditional Versus Web Sharing. My Network Places. Using Shared Folders. Exploring and Searching the Network. Using Web Folders. Using Printers on the Network. Using Network Resources Effectively. Sharing Folders and Drives. Sharing Printers. Managing Network Use of Your Computer. Managing Network Resources Using the Command Line. Troubleshooting. Tips from the Windows Pros: Using Command-Line Utilities.

17. Windows Unplugged: Remote and Mobile Networking.


Going Unplugged. Dial-Up Networking. Wireless Networking. Web Folders and Web Printing. Virtual Private Networking. Remote Desktop. Remote Assistance. Copying Files Between Two Computers. Infrared File Transfers. Multiple LAN Connections. Troubleshooting. Tips from the Windows Pros: Access to Your Computer When You Travel.

18. Connecting Your LAN to the Internet.


It's a Great Time to Connect Your LAN to the Internet. The Nuts and Bolts of the Connection. Getting Your Internet Service Started. Configuring Your LAN. Making Services Available. Troubleshooting. Tips from the Windows Pros: Squeezing Top Speed from Your High-Speed Connection.

19. Network Security.


Who Would Be Interested in My Computer? Preparation. Active Defenses: Blocking Known Methods of Attack. Testing, Logging, and Monitoring. Disaster Planning: Preparation for Recovery After an Attack. Specific Configuration Steps for Windows XP. Learn More About Security. Troubleshooting.

20. Troubleshooting Your Network.


When Good Networks Go Bad. Diagnostic Tools. Testing Network Cables. Checking Network Configuration. Testing Network Connectivity. Diagnosing File and Printer Sharing Problems. Testing Network Throughput. Tips from the Windows Pros: A Network Troubleshooting Checklist.

V. SYSTEM CONFIGURATION AND CUSTOMIZATION.

21. Tweaking the GUI.


GUI: To Tweak or Not to Tweak. Start Menu Pizzazz! Display Properties. Tweak UI. Miscellaneous GUI Tips. Customizing Folder Views. Configuring the Recycle Bin. Tuning Visual Effects. Troubleshooting.

22. Configuration via Control Panel Applets.


Sizing Up the Control Panel. Opening the Control Panel. Accessibility Options. Add Hardware. Add or Remove Programs. Date and Time. Fonts. Game Controllers. Keyboard. Mouse. Phone and Modem Options. Regional and Language Options. Scanners and Cameras. Sounds and Audio Devices Troubleshooting.

23. Maintaining and Optimizing System Performance.


Running a Tight Ship. Measuring System Performance with Performance Monitor. Tuning Windows Performance with the System Applet. Program Compatibility Wizard. Configuring the Program Environments. VDM: The Virtual DOS Machine. The Windows XP Command Line. Troubleshooting. Tips from the Windows Pros: Getting More Out of the Command Prompt with Command Extensions.

VI. SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION AND MAINTENANCE.

24. System Utilities.


Getting Under the Hood. Scheduled Tasks. System Applet. Administrative Tools. System Tools. Accessibility. Windows Update. Task Manager. Protecting the System Files. Troubleshooting. Tips from the Windows Pros: Power User Tricks.

25. Managing Users.


Multiple Users on One Machine. User Account Types. Working with Passwords. Creating and Managing User Accounts. Sharing Files Among Users. Simple File Sharing. User Profiles. Making Icons Available to All Users. Troubleshooting. Tips from the Windows Pros: Setting Up for Multiple Users.

26. Managing the Hard Disk.


Hard Disk Management. Windows XP's Disk Management Tools. Third-Party Management Tools. Move Versus Copy. CD Burning. Hard Disk Troubleshooting. Tips from the Windows Pros: Quieting a Noisy System

27. Installing and Replacing Hardware.


Upgrading Your Hardware. Adding Hardware. Using the System Applet. Understanding and Resolving Hardware Conflicts. Hardware Resources and Windows XP. Installing and Using Multiple Monitors. Installing a UPS. Using Hardware Profiles. Troubleshooting Tips from the Windows Pros: Upgrading and Optimizing Your Computer.

28. Multibooting Windows XP with Other Operating Systems.


Why Multiboot? Preparation. File System Specifics. Application Considerations. The Windows XP Boot Loader. Multiboot Scenarios. Dual-Booting Windows XP Home Edition and Windows Me/9x. Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional. Windows XP and Linux. The Virtual Machine Approach. Macintosh and Windows. Troubleshooting. Tips from the Windows Pros: Living with More Than One OS.

29. The Registry.


What Is the Registry? How the Registry Is Organized. Registry Contents. Backing Up and Restoring the Registry. Using Regedit. Editing Registry Entries for Another User. Other Registry Tools. Troubleshooting. Tips from the Windows Pros: Registry Tips on the Web.

30. Troubleshooting and Repairing Windows XP.


Troubleshooting 101. Boot Options. Recovery Console. Parallel Copies of Windows XP. As a Last Resort. Preventing Problems. System Restore. Black Magic of Troubleshooting. Scatter-Gun Troubleshooting.

Appendix A. Installing Service Pack 1.


About Service Packs. Installation Options. Standalone Upgrade. Express Upgrade. Integrated. Removing SP1.

Appendix B. New Features in Service Pack 1.


What's New? Windows CE for Smart Displays (Mira). Windows XP Media Center Edition. USB 2.0 Support. IPv6. Department of Justice Consent Decree Compliance. Windows .NET Messenger 4.7. Tablet PCs. Product Activation. Security Fixes and Other Improvements.

Index.