Laptops For Dummies^®, 2nd Edition

by Dan Gookin (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho)

• ISBN13: 9780470054321
• ISBN10: 0470054328
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-10-01
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

Understand your laptop, power it up, and play it safe Follow Dan's plan for picking the perfect laptop and hit the road You hold in your hands the next-best thing to a laptop itself -- the complete fun-and-easy guide to choosing and using the laptop that fits your needs. Here's Dan Gookin's should-be-patented five-step process for buying a computer plus the complete laptop lowdown -- power management, wireless access, special security issues, and more. Discover how to * Decide what you want and shop accordingly * Use Windows Vista on your laptop * Connect external devices via USB ports * Hook up with a wireless network * Protect your laptop and your data

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(4)
Part I: Getting Your Very Own Laptop	5	(32)
Sometimes You Can Take It with You	7	(16)
The Power Cord can Stretch Only So Far	7	(12)
The Osborne 1	9	(1)
The loveable luggables	10	(1)
The Model 100	11	(1)
The lunch buckets	12	(2)
Early PC laptops	14	(2)
The search for weightlessness	16	(1)
From laptop to notebook	17	(1)
The modern notebook	17	(1)
The future of the laptop	18	(1)
Why You Need a Laptop	19	(2)
Why You Don't Need a Laptop	21	(2)
Buying a Laptop Just for You	23	(14)
Buy That Laptop!	24	(10)
The five steps to buying any computer	24	(1)
The hunt for software	25	(1)
Figuring out how much basic laptop hardware you need	26	(1)
Finding out what you don't need	27	(1)
CD/DVD/R/RW/+/-/EI-EI-O	28	(1)
Specific laptop issues	28	(3)
Laptop expansion options	31	(1)
Communications choices	32	(1)
Energy management hardware	33	(1)
Docking stations and port replicators	33	(1)
Hunting for Service and Support	34	(1)
Where to Buy	35	(1)
The Final Step: Buying Your Laptop	36	(1)
Part II: Discover Your Laptop	37	(118)
Out of the Box and into Your Lap	39	(10)
Basic Box Unpacking 101	39	(4)
Making piles for the various things in the box	40	(2)
``How long should I keep the box?''	42	(1)
When to send in the warranty	43	(1)
Setting Up Your Laptop	43	(4)
Do you need to charge the battery?	43	(1)
``Is some assembly required?''	44	(1)
Finding a place for the laptop	45	(1)
The last thing to do: Plug it in!	46	(1)
``Should I plug the laptop into a UPS?''	47	(1)
What to Do Next	47	(2)
An Entire Chapter About Turning a Laptop On and Off	49	(24)
Turning On a Laptop	50	(4)
Before you turn on the power!	50	(1)
Open the lid	50	(1)
``Where is the power button?''	51	(1)
``What is the moon button for?''	52	(1)
Random power-button symbols	53	(1)
Punch the power button	54	(1)
A Brief Foray into Windows	54	(5)
Windows for the first time	56	(1)
Special-deal software	56	(1)
Windows starts every time you start your laptop	57	(1)
Behold the desktop	58	(1)
Various Options for Turning Off (or Not) the Laptop	59	(8)
Properly shutting down your laptop	60	(1)
``I need to restart Windows''	61	(1)
The bliss of sleep mode	62	(2)
Hibernation is better than sleep	64	(3)
The Windows Vista power button	67	(1)
Shutting down when the laptop doesn't want to	67	(1)
Changing the Whole On-Off Scheme of Things	67	(6)
Power button functions in Windows Vista	68	(2)
Power button functions in Windows XP	70	(3)
Basic Laptop Hardware	73	(22)
Your `Round-the-Laptop Tour	73	(7)
A place for your CD/DVD	74	(1)
Does Mr. Laptop have a floppy drive?	74	(1)
A home for Mr. PC Card	75	(1)
Mystery things called ports	76	(3)
A place for the old ball and chain	79	(1)
The thing's gotta breathe	79	(1)
Look at the Pretty Lights!	80	(1)
This Isn't Your Daddy's Keyboard	81	(5)
The general keyboard layout	81	(2)
Where did the numeric keypad go?	83	(1)
The Fn key is the Fun key!	84	(2)
Mind these specific keys	86	(1)
This Isn't Your Momma's Mouse	86	(6)
The mouse pad	87	(2)
Where is the wheel button?	89	(1)
The IBM ``happy stick'' keyboard mouse	89	(1)
Controlling the mouse	90	(1)
Get a real mouse!	91	(1)
Keeping It Clean	92	(3)
Sprucing up the case	93	(1)
Grooming the keyboard	93	(1)
Cleansing the screen	94	(1)
Exploring Windows on Your Laptop	95	(22)
Places to Know and Go in Windows	95	(4)
The desktop	96	(1)
The Start thing	96	(2)
Goodies on the system tray	98	(1)
Storage and Disk Drives	99	(1)
A Place for Your Stuff	100	(3)
Placing the Account folder from the desktop in Windows Vista	101	(1)
Placing the My Documents folder on the desktop in Windows XP	101	(1)
Network things you're connected to	102	(1)
Other, special folders for your stuff	103	(1)
Where Your Programs Lurk	103	(4)
``Where is Windows?''	103	(1)
``Where are the programs and other software?''	104	(1)
Installing new software	104	(1)
Removing old software	105	(2)
Visiting the Control Panel	107	(10)
The Control Panel	107	(2)
The optional Start menu approach	109	(1)
What you see on the display	110	(2)
Windows Mobility Center	112	(1)
Networking stuff	112	(1)
Power options	113	(1)
System	113	(1)
The Device Manager	114	(1)
Phone and modem options	114	(1)
Printers / Printers and faxes	115	(1)
Infrared / Wireless link	115	(1)
User Accounts	115	(2)
Expanding Your Laptop's Universe	117	(20)
Going Beyond Your Lap	118	(10)
The miraculous expandability options of the USB port	118	(2)
Doing the USB thing	120	(2)
What are the A and B ends of a USB cable?	122	(1)
Plug in that USB gizmo	122	(1)
USB-powered devices	123	(1)
Here a hub, there a hub	124	(1)
The joys of external USB storage	124	(3)
Removing USB external storage	127	(1)
Plugging In the PC Card	128	(2)
Park a PC Card in the PC garage	128	(1)
Using the PC Card	129	(1)
Backing a PC Card out of the PC garage	129	(1)
Adding Some Big-Boy Toys	130	(3)
``I want an external keyboard!''	130	(1)
Connecting a second monitor or video projector	131	(1)
Two eyeballs, two monitors	132	(1)
Gotta getta mouse	132	(1)
The Laptop and the Printer	133	(4)
Setting up the printer	133	(2)
Printing in Windows	135	(1)
Options for when you don't have a printer	136	(1)
Power Management Madness	137	(18)
The Battery Will Get a Charge Out of This!	138	(13)
Types of batteries	138	(2)
Finding your laptop's battery	140	(1)
Monitoring the battery	140	(3)
What happens when the power gets low	143	(5)
Charging the battery	148	(1)
Love that spare battery	149	(1)
Don't fall off the battery cycle!	149	(1)
Should you keep the battery in the laptop when you use AC power all the time?	150	(1)
RIP, battery	150	(1)
Managing Your Laptop's Power	151	(4)
Part III: Yesterday Your Lap, Today the World	155	(100)
All That Networking Nonsense	157	(24)
Adding Your Laptop to an Existing Network	158	(11)
Making the hardware connection	158	(1)
Looking at the software side of networking on a laptop	159	(2)
Connecting to a peer-to-peer workgroup	161	(1)
Adding and removing your laptop to and from the network	162	(1)
Finding other computers on the network	163	(2)
Getting into another computer's disk drives	165	(1)
Accessing network printers	165	(1)
Sharing a folder from your laptop	166	(3)
Look, Ma --- No Wires!	169	(12)
The ABGs of 802.11	169	(1)
Wireless networking hardware	170	(1)
Connecting to a wireless network	170	(4)
``What if I don't know the SSID?''	174	(3)
``What's my computer's MAC Address?''	177	(1)
Renewing your lease	178	(1)
Accessing a pay service wireless network	178	(1)
Disconnecting the wireless connection	179	(2)
Laptop to Internet, Hello?	181	(14)
What You Need to Get on the Internet	181	(2)
Finding a Good ISP	183	(1)
Getting ISP access from all over the country	183	(1)
Checking for Web-based e-mail access	184	(1)
Connecting Your Laptop to the Internet the Ethernet Way	184	(4)
Getting on the Internet	184	(1)
Connecting your laptop directly to a DSL or cable modem	185	(1)
Connecting to a router	185	(3)
Dialing Into the Internet the Old-Fashioned Way	188	(5)
Configuring a dialup connection	188	(2)
Making the dialup connection	190	(2)
Don't forget to disconnect the dialup connection!	192	(1)
Connecting to Another PC That Has Internet Access	193	(2)
A Very Merry Modem	195	(16)
The Modem Hardware	195	(1)
Where the Modem Dwells in Windows	196	(4)
Setting the modem's volume	198	(1)
Adding special modem-command settings	198	(1)
Disabling the modem	199	(1)
Dialing Outof Strange Places	200	(6)
Location, location, location	200	(3)
Creating a new location	203	(1)
Area code madness! To dial or not to dial	203	(2)
Automatically using a calling card	205	(1)
Finding the Various Disconnect Timeouts	206	(1)
The general timeout	206	(1)
Timeouts for each session	207	(1)
Putting the Fax in Fax/Modem	207	(4)
Setting up the fax modem	208	(1)
To send a fax	208	(1)
Fax Central	209	(1)
Receiving a fax	209	(2)
Internet Security	211	(14)
The Four Horsemen of Internet Protection	212	(1)
Behind the Firewall	213	(4)
Behold Windows Firewall	214	(1)
Monitoring the firewall	215	(1)
Checking the list of blocked programs	216	(1)
Setting Up Antivirus Software	217	(4)
Scanning for viruses	218	(2)
Shutting down your antivirus program	220	(1)
Good advice to help protect you from the viral scourge	221	(1)
Concealing Yourself from Spyware	221	(3)
Protecting yourself from spyware	222	(1)
Finding some anti-spyware software	223	(1)
Foiling a Hijack and Fooling a Phish	224	(1)
Portable Web Browsing and E-Mail Tips	225	(12)
Web Browsing When You're Out and About	226	(1)
E-Mail Away from Home	227	(4)
Reading your e-mail on the Web	227	(1)
Getting a Web-based e-mail account	228	(1)
Accessing your e-mail from a friend's computer	229	(1)
Forwarding your e-mail	230	(1)
E-Mail Options Worthy of Consideration	231	(6)
Omit your password	231	(1)
Disconnect after picking up e-mail	232	(1)
Disable automatic checking	233	(1)
Send everything in one batch	234	(1)
To pick up or leave on server	234	(1)
Skip messages over a given size	235	(2)
The Desktop-Laptop Connection	237	(18)
Connecting Desktop and Laptop	237	(2)
The hard way: Sneaker net	238	(1)
The easy way: Over the network	238	(1)
Connecting Desktop and Laptop the Primitive Way	239	(4)
Using the infrared port	239	(1)
That ugly wire thing	239	(2)
Toiling with the Windows XP direct connection	241	(2)
Synchronizing Files between the Desktop and the Laptop	243	(5)
Creating a Briefcase	244	(1)
Populating the Briefcase	244	(1)
Moving the Briefcase over to your laptop	245	(1)
Tips for using Briefcase files on your laptop	246	(1)
Synchronizing your files when you return	247	(1)
Is the Briefcase the best answer?	248	(1)
Accessing the Desktop from Elsewhere	248	(7)
The amazing Windows Vista Remote Desktop	248	(3)
The awkward Windows XP Remote Desktop	251	(1)
Real Virtual Network Computing	251	(4)
Part IV: Hit the Road, Jack	255	(38)
On the Road Again	257	(16)
Nancy Drew and the Case of the Laptop Case	258	(4)
Avoid the manufacturer's case	258	(2)
Things to look for in a case	260	(1)
Recommended brands	261	(1)
I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane Checklist	262	(1)
Things to do before you go	262	(1)
Things to pack in your laptop bag	263	(1)
Looming Questions at the Airport	263	(4)
Is your laptop case one carry-on bag or half a carry-on bag?	264	(1)
Laptop inspection	264	(1)
All aboard!	265	(1)
Up, up in the air	265	(1)
Air power	266	(1)
Cafe Computing	267	(2)
Where to sit?	267	(1)
Be a socket, sleuth	268	(1)
Other tips `n' stuff	268	(1)
Laptopping in Your Hotel Room	269	(1)
Dealing with the Low-Battery Warning	270	(1)
Minding the Laptop's Temperature	271	(2)
Laptop Security	273	(14)
Laptops Are Easy for the Bad Guys to Steal	274	(1)
What to Do Before It's Stolen	274	(3)
Mark your laptop	275	(1)
Avoid using an obvious laptop carrying case	275	(1)
Register the laptop and its software	276	(1)
Be mindful of your environment	276	(1)
The old ball and chain	277	(1)
Protecting Your Data	277	(7)
Use the BIOS password	278	(1)
Use the NTFS file system	278	(1)
Set a password on your account	279	(1)
Disable the Guest account	280	(1)
Lock Windows	281	(1)
Encrypt important files or folders	281	(1)
Disable the infrared port	282	(1)
Back up your data!	283	(1)
Having the Laptop Phone Home	284	(1)
Your Thumbprint, Please	285	(2)
Giving a Presentation	287	(6)
Setting Up PowerPoint	287	(4)
Creating the presentation	288	(1)
Hooking up to the video projector	289	(2)
PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts Worthy of Knowing	291	(2)
Part V: Troubleshooting	293	(22)
Major Trouble and General Solutions	295	(14)
Soothing Words of Support for the Computer Weary	296	(1)
The Universal Quick-Fix	296	(1)
The Miracle of System Restore	297	(5)
Enabling System Restore	298	(1)
When to use System Restore	299	(1)
Restoring your system	300	(2)
Major Troubleshooting with Safe Mode	302	(3)
Entering Safe mode	303	(1)
Testing in Safe mode	304	(1)
``My laptop always starts in Safe mode!''	304	(1)
Common Problems and Solutions	305	(2)
``The keyboard is wacky!''	305	(1)
Making the mouse pointer more visible	305	(1)
The laptop won't wake up	306	(1)
Power-management woes	306	(1)
The battery won't charge	306	(1)
``I Need Help, and I Can't Find the Answer Here''	307	(2)
Upgrading Your Laptop	309	(6)
How `Bout Some New Software?	309	(3)
Upgrading your software	310	(1)
Updating Windows	310	(2)
Upgrading to a new version of Windows	312	(1)
Giving Your Laptop New Hardware	312	(3)
Part VI: The Part of Tens	315	(20)
Ten Battery Tips and Tricks	317	(6)
Don't Drop the Battery, Get It Wet, Short It, Play Keep-Away with It, Open It, Burn It, or Throw It Away	318	(1)
Every Few Months, Drain the Battery All the Way	318	(1)
Turn Down the Monitor's Brightness	318	(1)
Power Down the Hard Drives	319	(1)
Add More RAM to Prevent Virtual Memory Disk Swapping	319	(2)
Run as Few Programs as Possible, and Close Unused Programs	321	(1)
Guard the Battery's Terminals	321	(1)
Avoid Extreme Temperatures	321	(1)
Store the Battery If You Don't Plan on Using It	322	(1)
Understand That Batteries Drain Over Time!	322	(1)
Ten Handy Laptop Accessories	323	(6)
Laptop Bag or Travel Case	323	(1)
Spare Battery	324	(1)
Docking Station or Port Replicator	324	(1)
Cooling Pad	325	(1)
Mini-Vac	326	(1)
USB Lamp	326	(1)
Full-Size Keyboard	326	(1)
External Mouse	327	(1)
ID Card or Return Service Sticker	327	(1)
Theft-Prevention System	327	(2)
Ten Things to Throw in Your Laptop Case	329	(6)
Power Card and Brick	330	(1)
Spare Battery	330	(1)
Mouse or Trackball	330	(1)
Screen Wipes and Cleaner	331	(1)
Laptop Lock	331	(1)
Removable Media	331	(1)
Headphones	332	(1)
Some Necessary Utensils	332	(1)
Cables, Cables, Cables	332	(1)
Not the End of the List	333	(2)
Index	335