TechTV's Microsoft Windows XP for Home Users

Michael Miller is a successful and prolific author with a reputation for practical advice and technical accuracy. Michael has written more than three dozen "how-to" and reference books since 1989 for Que and other major publishers. His books for Que include Using Windows 95, Using Windows 98 Preview Addition, and Special Edition Using the Internet. Michael is also president of The Molehill Group, a strategic consulting and authoring firm based in Carmel, IN. As a consultant, he specializes in providing strategic advice to and writing business plans for internet and technology based businesses.

Introduction.


How This Book Is Organized. Special Features in This Book.

Part I - Getting to Know Windows XP.

1. New Windows for Old Users: What's New, What's Changed.


What Windows XP Is-and What It Isn't. Under the Hood. Windows XP's New "Look and Feel" Features. Windows XP's New Internet Features. Windows XP's New Multiuser and Multiple-PC Features. Windows XP's New Audio and Video Features. Windows XP's New System Utilities. Changing Default Applications. Windows XP's Help and Registration Features. Feature Comparison. Old Versus New: How to Do What You Used to Do. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #1: Secrets of the Windows Masters.

2. Changing the Way Windows Looks-and Acts.


Understanding and Using the Control Panel. Fine-Tuning the Display. Configuring the Desktop. Working with Desktop Shortcuts. Working with Toolbars, the Taskbar, and the System Tray. Managing the Start Menu. Changing Your Cursors. Changing Your Click. Using a Screen Saver. Changing System Sounds. Adding and Removing Fonts. Configuring Other System Settings. Changing Default Applications. Even More Personalization-with Tweak UI. Making Windows XP Look Like Windows 9X/Me. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #2: Change the OEM Information. Part II - Working with Files, Programs, and Peripherals.

3. Managing Files.


Understanding Files and Folders. Windows XP's File Management Tools. Configuring File and Folder Views. Basic Navigation and Operations. Essential File Management. Compressing and Decompressing Files. Working with File Types and Associations. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #3: Select the Inverse.

4. Running Programs.


Adding and Removing Software. Installing Programs from the Internet. Launching Programs. Launching Programs When Windows Starts. Switching Between Programs. Arranging Windows on Your Desktop. Closing Stuck Programs. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #4: Remove Ads from XP's Messenger.

5. Controlling Printers.


Adding and Removing Printers. Configuring Printers. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #5: Speech Recognition.

6. Adding New Hardware.


Understanding Ports. Installing New Peripherals. Updating Device Drivers. Solving Device Conflicts. Most Popular Peripherals. Working with Hardware Profiles. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #6: Add a Boot Menu to Windows XP.

Part III - Taking Windows Online.

7. Making the Connection.


Configuring a New Account. Connecting Via MSN. Understanding Broadband Internet. Sharing an Internet Connection. Activating the Firewall. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #7: The Uses of Ping.

8. Surfing the Web with Internet Explorer.


Introducing Internet Explorer 6. Personalizing the Browser Interface. Configuring the Browser. Surfing Safely. Speeding Up Your Browser. Working with Web Sites. Changing Browsers. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #8: Maximize Your Links Bar.

9. Sending and Receiving E-mail with Outlook Express.


Introducing Outlook Express 6. Configuring Outlook Express. Protecting Against E-mail Viruses. Sending and Receiving E-mail. Sending Fancy Messages. Connecting to Web Mail. Working with Folders and Message Rules. Using the Address Book. Using Outlook Express with Newsgroups. Using Alternative E-mail/Newsreader Clients. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #9: Back Up Your Address Book.

10. Chatting Online with Windows Messenger.


Introducing Windows Messenger. Getting Connected. Finding New Contacts. One-to-One Messaging. Group Chats. Making Internet Phone Calls. Video Conferencing. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #10: Stop XP's Messenger from Loading.

Part IV - Sounds and Pictures.

11. Working with Pictures.


Working with My Pictures. Tracking Details. Different Views. Editing Picture Files. Working with Picture Files. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #11: Add Captions to Your Photos.

12. Working with Digital Cameras and Scanners.


Installing and Configuring a Digital Camera or Scanner. Scanning Pictures. Uploading Pictures from a Digital Camera. Working with Pictures in the Camera. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #12: Downloading Photos to XP.

13. Using Windows Media Player.


Understanding Digital Media Files. Introducing Windows Media Player. Configuring WMP. Playing Audio Files. Listening to Internet Radio. Watching DVDs. Organizing Your Media Files. Using Other Media Players. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #13: Watch DivX Movies on Your Windows Media Player.

14. Playing and Recording MP3 and WMA Audio.


Introducing Digital Audio. Finding and Downloading Digital Audio Files. Copying (Ripping) CD Tracks to Your PC. Burning Audio Files to a CD. Other Rippers and Burners. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #14: Customize Your IE Logo.

15. Playing and Editing Digital Movies.


Introducing Windows Movie Maker. Assembling Your Source Material. Editing Your Video. Saving Your Movie. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #15: Put a CPU Meter in Your XP Taskbar

16. Enhancing Windows XP with Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition


Checking Out Microsoft's Latest Plus! Pack. Using Plus! DME for Photos. Using Plus! DME for Music. Using Plus! DME for Home Videos. sing Plus! DME for Portable Devices. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #16: Windows' Hidden Scientific Calculator

17. Using Windows XP Media Center Edition


What Media Center Is. Buying a Media Center PC. Setting Up Your Media Center PC. Using Windows XP Media Center. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #17: Resize Pics with a Right-Click

Part V - In the Home and On the Road

18. Working with Multiple Users


Planning for Multiple Users. Types of Users. Setting Up New Users. Editing User Settings. Switching Users. Sharing-or Not Sharing-Files and Folders. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #18: Restrict User Logon Hours

19. Playing Games


Installing and Configuring Game Controllers. Building a Better Gaming System. Embracing DirectX. Troubleshooting Game Problems. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #19: Put Some Holiday Spirit in XP

20. Setting Up a Home or Small Business Network


Understanding Different Types of Networks. Setting Up Your Network. Running the Network Setup Wizard. Setting Up Network Sharing. Accessing Files, Printers, and Other Computers on Your Network. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #20: Fastest Way to Shut Down Windows XP CHAPTER = 21. Using Windows XP on Portable PCs



Improving Your Display with ClearType. Optimizing Battery Life. Connecting Two PCs with a Direct Network Connection. Controlling Another Computer with Remote Desktop Connection. Using Briefcase to Synchronize Files. Working with Offline Files. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #21: Save Your Remote Desktop Connection Settings in XP

Part VI - Maintenance and Troubleshooting

22. Getting Help


Introducing Windows XP's New Help and Support Center. Finding More Help Online. Getting Remote Assistance. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #22: Disable Balloon Tips

23. Updating Windows


Picking and Choosing Windows Components. Downloading and Extracting Device Drivers. Updating Windows Online. Upgrading to Service Pack 1. Transferring Files and Settings. Creating an Emergency Startup Disk-or Not. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #23: DLLs to Save Your Windows Machine

24. Keeping Windows Healthy and Happy


Cleaning Up Unnecessary Files. Defragging Your Disk. Performing a Hard Disk Checkup with ScanDisk. Viewing System Performance. Viewing More System Information. Displaying Key System Properties. Managing Your Devices. Accessing More System Information-and Utilities. Scheduling Your Maintenance. Backing Up and Restoring Critical Files. Managing the Windows Registry. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #24: Speed Up Windows Display

25. Recovering from System Crashes


Starting in Safe Mode. Tracking Down Problems with the System Configuration Utility. Undoing Something Bad with System Restore. Avoiding and Recovering from Computer Viruses. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #25: Restore Registry Defaults in Windows XP and 2000

26. Troubleshooting Common Problems


Basic Troubleshooting Tips. Troubleshooting Technical Problems with Technical Tools. Simple Solutions to Common Problems. The Bottom Line. TechTV Tip #26: Manage XP's Environment Variables

Part VII - Appendixes

Appendix A - Upgrading to Windows XP


The Typical Upgrade Installation. The "Clean" Installation. Activating and Registering Windows. Uninstalling Windows XP

Appendix B - Windows Accessories


Calculator. Character Map. Gamesl. HyperTerminal. Notepad. Paint. Sound Recorder. WordPad

Appendix C - Accessibility Options


Control Panel Accessibility Options. Other Accessibility Tools. Using the Accessibility Wizard

Index