My Microsoft Windows 7 PC

Description

Step-by-step instructions with callouts to Windows 7 photos that show you exactly what to do

Help when you run into Windows 7 problems or limitations

Tips and Notes to help you get the most from your Windows 7 computer

Full-color, step-by-step tasks walk you through getting and keeping your Windows® 7 computer working just the way you want. Learn how to:

* Get started fast!

* Quickly set up your Windows 7 PC, and transfer files and programs

* Master the Windows 7 updated interface and new productivity shortcuts

* Connect printers, cameras, tablets, media players, smartphones, and other devices

* Protect yourself by preparing for system recovery

* Instantly find files, media, and anything else on your computer or the Web

* Share and secure your Windows 7 computer

* Find, download, install, and run new programs

* Reliably connect to the Internet

* Get and send messages via email, IM, and more

* Make the most of Internet Explorer 9 and Windows Media Player 12

* Use Windows Media Center to watch Internet TV and stream favorite shows

* Set up the Xbox 360 as a Windows Media Center extension

* Organize, fine-tune, and share your photos

* Set up a HomeGroup and connect all the Windows 7 computers in your house

* Keep your Windows 7 computer up-to-date and reliable

CONTENTS:

Introduction 1

Highlights of Windows 7 2

Versions of Windows 7 3

What You'll Find in This Book 4

Let's Begin 6

Chapter 1 Getting Started with Windows 7 9

Starting and Stopping Windows 7 10

    Starting Windows 7 11

Using the Start Menu 13

    Finding What You Need on the Start Menu 13

Learning the Taskbar 17

    Learning Taskbar Tools 17

Navigation Basics: Using the Mouse and Keyboard 22

    Using the Mouse 22

Working with Windows 26

    Starting a Program 26

    Opening a Document 29

    Switching to a Different Window 30

    Arranging Windows 31

Getting the Help You Need 35

Chapter 2 Preparing Your Windows 7 PC 41

Transferring Files 42

    Using Windows Easy Transfer 42

Setting Up Programs 45

Setting Up Your Printer 48

Getting Ready to Use Hardware 51

    Updating Drivers 53

Setting Up Internet Connections 56

Managing Your PC Power 59

Preparing for Recovery 62

Chapter 3 Getting and Staying Connected: Phones, Devices, and Tablets 67

Connecting Devices to Windows 7 68

Syncing Your Phone 69

Syncing Your MP3 Player 75

Moving Files from a Flash Drive 79

Setting Up Your Drawing Tablet 82

    Getting Started with Your Drawing Tablet 82

Chapter 4 Securing Your Windows 7 PC 89

Working with the Action Center 90

    Working with an Action Center Alert 92

Setting Up User Accounts 97

Setting a Password 102

Using Windows Defender 105

Turning on Your Windows Firewall 109

Changing User Account Control Settings 111

Chapter 5 Find What You're Looking for--Fast! 115

Performing a Simple Search 116

    Using the Search Box 117

    Using the Search Folder 119

Extending a Search 120

    Understanding Search Filters 121

    Expanding Your Search 122

    Searching Online 123

Customizing and Saving a Search 126

    Creating a Custom Search 126

    Saving Your Search 129

Chapter 6 Exploring, Downloading, and Running Programs 133

Finding and Starting a Program 134

Working with Program Windows 138

    Exploring a Program Window 139

    Copying Content Between Programs 141

Closing a Program 143

Downloading and Installing Programs 144

    Getting Ready to Download a Program 145

    Purchasing, Downloading, and Installing a Program 147

Repairing and Uninstalling Programs 149

Repairing Installations 149

    Uninstalling Programs 150

Working with Gadgets 153

    Display Running Gadgets 154

Chapter 7 Organizing Files and Folders 161

Working with Windows 7 Libraries 162

    Getting Started with Windows 7 File Libraries 162

    Taking a Look at Windows Explorer 164

    Using the Navigation Pane 166

    Adding Folders to Libraries 167

    Creating a Library 168

    Arranging Library Display 171

Managing Folders 173

    Finding the Folder You Want 173

    Removing Folders 180

Finding, Organizing, and Sharing Your Files 181

    Finding Files 181

    Previewing Files 182

    Displaying and Updating File Information 183

    Tagging Files 184

    Compressing and Uncompressing Your Files 189

Chapter 8 Doing the Web Thing (Plus Email and Calendars, Too) 193

Getting Online with Internet Explorer 194

    Starting Internet Explorer 194

    A Look Around the Internet Explorer Window 195

    Displaying Browser Toolbars 197

    Using the Notification Bar 198

    Selecting Your Home Page 199

Browsing and Searching the Web 200

    Navigating the Web 202

    Searching for Information 204

    Adding a Search Provider 206

Working with Tabs 210

    Opening a New Tab 210

    Changing the Tab Display 211

    Displaying Colorful Tabs 212

    Pinning a Site to the Taskbar 213

Working with IE9 Tools 215

    Changing Site Display 217

Adding and Managing Favorites 218

    Viewing Your RSS Feeds 223

    Adding Web Slices 226

Securing Your Browsing Experience 227

    Blocking ActiveX Controls 228

Sending a Link by Email with Windows Live Mail 235

    Sending Mail 236

Chapter 9 Ready, Set, Media! 241

Watching TV and Movies on Your PC 242

    Looking Around the Windows Media Center Window 243

    Watching Internet TV on Your PC 245

    Watching Live TV on Your PC 249

    Recording a Series or a Show 251

    Setting Recording Options 252

    Sharing Media on Your Phone 256

Enjoying Media with Windows Media Player 258

    Exploring the Windows Media Player Window 259

    Playing Tunes in Windows Media Player 260

    Creating a Playlist 265

    Streaming Your Media 268

    Viewing the Media Guide 271

Chapter 10 Cataloging and Fine-Tuning Your Photos 275

Adding Pictures to Your PC 276

    Connecting Your Camera and Downloading Pictures 276

    Adding and Viewing Pictures from Your Phone 278

    Viewing Photos on Windows Phone 7 278

Viewing Photos in the Pictures Library 281

    Looking Around the Pictures Library 281

    Viewing Pictures in the Picture Library 282

    Using the Windows Photo Viewer 284

Managing Your Pictures 287

    Rotating Pictures 288

    Tagging Pictures 292

Sharing Your Pictures 296

Printing Pictures 299

    Printing Your Photos 299

Chapter 11 Personalizing Windows 7 303

Changing Your Desktop 303

    Choosing a New Background 304

    Choosing a Desktop Theme 306

Adjusting the Look of Windows 7 310

    Choosing a Color Scheme 310

    Changing the Font Size 314

Adjusting the Mouse 320

    Changing Mouse Pointers 320

Changing System Sounds 325

Chapter 12 Networking - at Home and on the Road 329

Setting Up a Home Network 330

    Gathering Your Equipment 330

Getting Started with a HomeGroup 335

    Creating and Setting Up a HomeGroup 336

Using Your HomeGroup 340

Chapter 13 Windows 7 Care, Feeding, and Troubleshooting 345

Updating Windows 7 346

Backing Up and Restoring Your Files 349

    Backing Up Your Files 349

Using System Tools 354

    Disk Cleanup 354

    Disk Defragmenter 356

Compatibility with Windows 7 357

    Using the Windows Compatibility Center 358

Index 363