The Complete Idiot's Guide to PCs, 2E

by Kraynak, Joe

• ISBN13: 9780028642758
• ISBN10: 0028642759
• Edition: 8th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-10-01
• Publisher: DK Publishing, Inc.

Summary

Guides the beginner through the process of purchasing a PC, customizing the system, using Microsoft Windows, managing disks and directories, creating and saving documents, and getting connected to the Internet.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Basic Training	1	(76)
Savvy Consumer Guide to Buying a Computer	3	(12)
Buy a computer that's not overly obsolete for a price you can afford
Kick-Starting Your Computer	15	(16)
Set it up, turn it on, tune it in, and start working
Taking Control with Your Keyboard and Mouse	31	(8)
Driver's ed for your Keyboard, mouse, and other input devices
Playing Disk Jockey with Hard Disks, Floppy Disks, CDs, and DVDs	39	(12)
Nickel tour of your disk drives
Windows Survival Guide	51	(12)
Windows bare-bone basics
Windows Tips, Tricks, and Traps	63	(14)
Optimize, customize, and accessorize Windows
Part 2: Get with the Program	77	(92)
Do-It-Yourself Program Installation Guide	79	(10)
Install the programs you buy (and uninstall them)
Running and Juggling Programs	89	(8)
Run your programs and switch from one program to another
Barking Out Commands	97	(8)
Menus, button bars, dialog boxes, and other tools for talking to your programs
Making, Saving, and Naming Documents	105	(14)
Save it or lose it!
Giving Your Documents the Editorial Eye	119	(10)
Delete, cut, and move text; check for typos; and polish your documents
Sprucing Up Your Documents with Formatting	129	(8)
Give your text a facelift with fancy type styles
Picture This (Working with Graphics)	137	(12)
Illustrate your documents with pictures and scanned images
Printing and Faxing Your Creations	149	(12)
Print and fax your documents and recover from printing mishaps and catastrophes
Surviving Without Documentation	161	(8)
Cheat your way through any program with its online help system
Part 3: Get Organized! (Managing Disks, Folders, and Files)	169	(26)
Formatting and Copying Floppy Disks and Recordable CDs	171	(6)
Use a floppy disk for something other than a soft-drink coaster
Copying, Moving, and Nuking Folders and Files	177	(8)
Take control of the files and folders on your disks
Networking (for Those Corporate Types)	185	(10)
Reach out and touch another (network) computer
Part 4: Going Global with Modems, Online Services, and the Internet	195	(88)
First You Need a Modem	197	(12)
Buy, install, and set up a modem
Going Online with America Online and Other Services	209	(10)
Explore online services with free trial offers
Doing the Internet Shuffle	219	(10)
Everything you need to know to connect your computer to the Internet
Whipping Around the World Wide Web	229	(14)
Find information, products, movies, people, and more on the World Wide Web
E-Mail: Postage Free, Same Day Delivery	243	(10)
Never lick another postage stamp
Passing Notes in Newsgroups	253	(8)
Pets, cars, tattoos, talk shows, gossip, and more in newsgroups
Reaching Out with Chat and Instant Messaging	261	(12)
Exchange Messages and chat online with friends, family, and complete strangers
Online Security Issues	273	(10)
Protect your computer, your personal data, and your kids
Part 5: Guerrilla Computing	283	(44)
Do-It-Yourself Computer Tune-Ups	285	(14)
Make your computer run faster and more reliably
Life on the Run: Notebook Computing	299	(12)
Power conservation, docking stations, PC cards, and more
Now for the Fun Stuff! Computer Gadgets and Gizmos	311	(16)
Digital cameras and camcorders, MP3 music players, WebTV, and other toys
Part 6: ``Houston, We've Got a Problem''	327	(38)
Free (or at Least Cheap) Computer Maintenance	329	(6)
Keep your computer clean and fit
Backing Up for the Inevitable Crash	335	(10)
Protect your data and recover it after a catastrophe
Do-It-Yourself Fixes for Common Ailments	345	(14)
Home remedies for common computer problems
Help! Finding Technical Support	359	(6)
Where to look for free professional help
Glossary	365	(12)
Index	377