Windows XP in 10 Steps or Less

✍ Scribed by Bradley L. Jones, Bill Hatfield

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 603
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Quickly, quickly! That is the focus of this book. The authors seem to be aiming this at someone (you) who needs to solve a problem now, without having to spend hours wading through the official manual. So Hatfield and Jones set out to find problems ("tasks" as the book terms these) that could be solved in 10 steps or less. Obviously, by the way, this is a user's manual, not a programmer's manual.

This constraint of 10 steps is broad enough for them to offer solutions to a gamut of common problems. Like copying a song from your music CD to your computer's hard disk. Many users have probably fumbled through the XP manual for this answer. Here, it is task 79. In fact, in recognition of the importance of music, some 14 tasks are grouped together that deal with music related problems.

Perhaps if you are still unsure about this book, try glancing at the contents. It lists 261 tasks, each with a very descriptive subject line. Care has clearly gone into the wording of these.

✦ Table of Contents

Windows XP in 10 Steps or Less......Page 1
Copyright......Page 5
Credits......Page 7
About the Authors......Page 8
Acknowledgments......Page 10
Contents......Page 12
Introduction......Page 20
Part 1: Understanding Windows XP Basics......Page 26
Task 1:Starting Up and Logging In......Page 27
Task 2:Logging Off and Shutting Down......Page 29
Task 3:Activating Windows......Page 31
Task 4:Enabling Fast Switching between Users......Page 33
Task 5:Setting Your Computer’s Clock and
Time Zone......Page 35
Task 6:Setting the Clock Automatically......Page 37
Task 7:Adjusting Your Computer.ˉs Volume......Page 39
Task 8:Automatically Turning the Monitor Off......Page 41
Task 9:Locking and Unlocking the Computer......Page 43
Task 10:Locking Your Computer with a Screen Saver......Page 45
Task
11:Getting Help......Page 47
Task
12:Customizing Help Screens......Page 49
Task
13:Setting Search Options for Help......Page 51
Task
14:Creating a Help and Support Favorites List......Page 53
Task
15:Using the Knowledge Base......Page 55
Task
16:Getting Basic Information about Your System......Page 57
Task
17:Automatically Keeping Windows Up- to- Date......Page 59
Task
18:Manually Updating Windows XP......Page 61
Task
19:Installing New Software......Page 63
Task
20:Removing Application Software......Page 65
Part 2: Working with Folders and Files......Page 68
Task
21:Accessing My Computer......Page 69
Task
22:Navigating What.ˉs on the Hard Drive......Page 71
Task
23:Creating, Renaming, and Deleting Files and Folders......Page 73
Task
24:Creating Copies of Files and Folders......Page 75
Task
25:Moving a File or Folder......Page 77
Task
26:Using Different Folder Views......Page 79
Task
27:Customizing the Details Folder View......Page 81
Task
28:Settings Options on All Folders......Page 83
Task
29:Customizing Windows Explorer......Page 85
Task
30:Recovering Deleted Files......Page 87
Task
31:Setting Recycle Bin Options......Page 89
Task
32:Searching for Files or Folders......Page 91
Task
33:Setting File Properties......Page 93
Task
34:Creating a Shortcut......Page 95
Task
35:Copying Files to a CD- ROM......Page 97
Task
36:Saving Space by Compressing a Drive......Page 99
Task
37:Creating a Zip File......Page 101
Task
38:Accessing and Adding to a Zip File......Page 103
Task
39:Extracting All Items from a Zip File......Page 105
Part 3: Personalizing Windows XP......Page 108
Task
40:Choosing a Theme......Page 109
Task
41:Setting the Screen Colors and Resolution......Page 111
Task
42:Choosing a Desktop Background Image......Page 113
Task
43:Setting or Changing a Screen Saver......Page 115
Task
44:Choosing or Changing an Appearance
......Page 117
Task
45:Assigning Sounds to Events......Page 119
Task
46:Creating a New Theme......Page 121
Task
47:Customizing Your Taskbar......Page 123
Task
48:Customizing the Quick Launch Toolbar......Page 125
Task
49:Customizing the Start Menu......Page 127
Task
50:Adding Shortcuts to Your Desktop......Page 129
Task
51:Arranging Your Desktop Items......Page 131
Task
52:Picking a Program.ˉs Icon to Display......Page 133
Task
53:Placing Standard Items and Icons on the Desktop......Page 135
Task
54:Putting Web Pages on Your Desktop......Page 137
Task
55:Customizing Mouse Options......Page 139
Task
56:Customizing the Mouse Pointers......Page 141
Task
57:Setting Keyboard Options......Page 143
Task
58:Automatically Starting a Program at Startup......Page 145
Task
59:Changing Regional Settings......Page 147
Task
60:Changing Number and Currency Formatting......Page 149
Part 4: Graphics and Digital Photography......Page 152
Task
61:Copying Pictures from Your Camera to Your Hard Drive......Page 153
Task
62:Using a Scanner to Capture Photographs......Page 155
Task
63:Capturing a Picture of Your Screen......Page 157
Task
64:Creating Your Own Icons in Paint......Page 159
Task
65:Drawing Pictures in Paint......Page 161
Task
66:Organizing Your Pictures into Folders and Photo Albums......Page 163
Task
67:Storing and Retrieving Information about Your Pictures......Page 165
Task
68:Viewing, Zooming, and Reorienting Your Pictures......Page 167
Task
69:Resizing a Picture......Page 169
Task
70:Cropping a Picture......Page 171
Task
71:Adding Notes and Drawings to a Picture......Page 173
Task
72:Converting a Picture.ˉs File Type......Page 175
Task
73:Printing a Picture......Page 177
Task
74:Ordering Prints of Your Pictures Online......Page 179
Task
75:Putting Your Pictures on the Web......Page 181
Task
76:Creating a Screen Saver with Your Own Pictures......Page 183
Part 5: Working with Digital Music......Page 186
Task 77:Upgrading Windows Media Player......Page 187
Task 78:Playing Music CDs......Page 189
Task 79:Copying Music from a CD to Your Hard Drive......Page 191
Task 80:Identifying Your Album Name,Artist, and Tracks......Page 193
Task 81:Finding and Playing Music in Your Media Library......Page 195
Task 82:Searching for Music to Add to Your Media Library......Page 197
Task 83:Adding and Viewing Song Lyrics......Page 199
Task 84:Creating and Listening to a Playlist......Page 201
Task 85:Downloading Music from the Internet......Page 203
Task 86:Tuning in to Internet Radio......Page 205
Task 87:Copying Music to a Portable Music Player......Page 207
Task 88:Creating Your Own Audio CD......Page 209
Task 89:Duplicating an Audio CD......Page 211
Task 90:Making Windows Media Player Beautiful with Skins......Page 213
Part 6: Working with Digital Movies......Page 216
Task 91:Upgrading Windows Movie Maker......Page 217
Task 92:Playing a Movie on DVD......Page 219
Task 93:Playing a Video File......Page 221
Task 94:Creating and Deleting Collections in Windows Movie Maker......Page 223
Task 95:Importing Clips and Other Items into Your Collections in Windows Movie Maker......Page 225
Task 96:Making Movies......Page 227
Task 97:Capturing Video from Your Camcorder......Page 229
Task 98:Capturing a Photograph from a Video......Page 231
Task 99:Capturing Live Video......Page 233
Task 100:Splitting and Combining Video Clips......Page 235
Task 101:Trimming a Video Clip......Page 237
Task 102:Adding Transitions between Your Video Clips......Page 239
Task 103:Adding Video Effects to Your Clips......Page 241
Task 104:Adding Titles and Credits to Your Movie......Page 243
Task 105:Adding Photographs to a Movie......Page 245
Task 106:Adding Background Music and Sound Effects to a Movie......Page 247
Task 107:Adding Narration to a Movie......Page 249
Task 108:Saving a Movie to View on Your Computer......Page 251
Task 109:Sending a Movie via Email......Page 253
Part 7: Working with Notepad......Page 256
Task 110:Creating a New Document Using Notepad......Page 257
Task 111:Saving a Document from Notepad......Page 259
Task 112:Changing Page Setup in Notepad......Page 261
Task 113:Creating Headers and Footers on a Notepad Document......Page 263
Task 114:Changing the Font in Notepad......Page 265
Task 115:Printing a Document in Notepad......Page 267
Task 116:Finding and Replacing Text in Notepad......Page 269
Task 117:Creating a Log File with Notepad......Page 271
Task 118:Creating a Web Page in Notepad......Page 273
Part 8: Working with WordPad......Page 276
Task 119:Creating a New Document in WordPad......Page 277
Task 120:Saving a Document in WordPad......Page 279
Task 121:Changing the Page Setup in WordPad......Page 281
Task 122:Using WordPad.ˉs Print Preview......Page 283
Task 123:Printing from WordPad......Page 285
Task 124:Changing Font Characteristics in WordPad......Page 287
Task 125:Formatting Paragraph Margins in WordPad......Page 289
Task 126:Adding Lists to a WordPad Document......Page 291
Task 127:Searching and Replacing Text in WordPad......Page 293
Task 128:Inserting a Picture into a WordPad Document......Page 295
Task 129:Adding an Object to a WordPad Document......Page 297
Task 130:Changing Object Properties in a Document......Page 299
Task 131:Sending a WordPad Document to Someone Else......Page 301
Task 132:Setting Options in WordPad......Page 303
Part 9: Getting Connected to the Internet......Page 306
Task 133:Creating an MSN Account to Access the Internet Using a Modem......Page 307
Task 134:Connecting to the Internet with a Modem Using Another ISP......Page 309
Task 135:Connecting to the Internet with a Broadband Cable or DSL Line......Page 311
Task 136:Connecting to the Internet with a LAN and a Router......Page 313
Task 137:Connecting to a Virtual Private Network......Page 315
Part 10: Surfing the Web with Microsoft Internet Explorer......Page 318
Task 138:Using Internet Explorer for the First Time......Page 319
Task 139: Going to a Site’s Address with Microsoft Internet Explorer......Page 321
Task 140:Searching the Web......Page 323
Task 141:Saving a Web Page......Page 325
Task 142:Emailing Web Pages......Page 327
Task 143:Printing Web Pages......Page 329
Task 144:Downloading Files from the Web......Page 331
Task 145:Copying and Saving Images from the Web......Page 333
Task 146:Keeping a Favorites List of Sites......Page 335
Task 147:Organizing Your Favorites List of Sites......Page 337
Task 148:Customizing the Links Bar......Page 339
Task 149:Checking Your History in Internet Explorer......Page 341
Task 150:Clearing and Customizing History Features......Page 343
Task 151:Deleting Temporary Internet Files......Page 345
Task 152:Setting Your Home Page......Page 347
Task 153:Customizing Internet Explorer.ˉs Support Programs......Page 349
Task 154:Customizing Internet Explorer.ˉs Tools and More......Page 351
Task 155:Choosing Privacy Settings......Page 353
Task 156:Choosing Security Settings......Page 355
Task 157:Restricting Objectionable Materials......Page 357
Part 11: Interacting with Email......Page 360
Task 158:Setting Up Your Email......Page 361
Task 159:Retrieving and Viewing Email Messages......Page 363
Task 160:Opening and Saving Received Attachments......Page 365
Task 161:Creating and Sending Email......Page 367
Task 162:Forwarding or Replying to a Message......Page 369
Task 163:Sending a Picture or File as an Attachment......Page 371
Task 164:Using Stationery......Page 373
Task 165:Creating Your Own Stationery......Page 375
Task 166:Creating and Using a Signature......Page 377
Task 167:Organizing Your Inbox......Page 379
Task 168:Filing Your Email into Folders......Page 381
Task 169:Finding a Message......Page 383
Task 170:Using Your Address Book......Page 385
Task 171:Creating Your Own Virtual Business Card......Page 387
Task 172:Sending Virtual Business Cards......Page 389
Task 173:Adding Virtual Business Cards Business Card......Page 391
Task 174:Using Message Rules to Kill Spam and Do Other Cool Stuff......Page 393
Part 12: Discussing with Newsgroups......Page 396
Task 175:Connecting to a Newsgroup Server......Page 397
Task 176:Searching for and Subscribing to Newsgroups......Page 399
Task 177:Reading Newsgroup Messages......Page 401
Task 178:Posting a New Message to a Newsgroup......Page 403
Task 179:Replying to a Newsgroup Message......Page 405
Task 180:Downloading Newsgroup to Newsgroups......Page 407
Task 181:Downloading Multipart Newsgroup Message Attachments......Page 409
Task 182:Searching for Messages in a Newsgroup......Page 411
Part 13: Exploring Windows Messenger......Page 414
Task 183:Creating a Passport Account......Page 415
Task 184:Adding and Deleting Contacts......Page 417
Task 185:Carrying On a Conversation......Page 419
Task 186:Changing Your Look in Windows Messenger......Page 421
Task 187:Sending a File or a Picture......Page 423
Task 188:Receiving a File or a Picture......Page 425
Task 189:Configuring Your Audio and Video in Windows Messenger......Page 427
Task 190:Adding Voice and Video to Your Conversation......Page 429
Part 14: Exploring the Other Accessories......Page 432
Task 191:Using the Basic Calculator......Page 433
Task 192:Using the Scientific Calculator......Page 435
Task 193:Performing Statistical Calculations......Page 437
Task 194:Converting Numbers......Page 439
Task 195:Configuring Your Computer to Send Faxes......Page 441
Task 196:Sending a Fax......Page 443
Task 197:Recording Sounds: The Sound Recorder......Page 445
Task 198:Mixing and Modifying Sounds......Page 447
Part 15: Accessibility Features......Page 450
Task 199:Changing the Windows Font Size......Page 451
Task 200:Using the Magnifier......Page 453
Task 201:Using the Narrator......Page 455
Task 202:Using the On- Screen Keyboard......Page 457
Task 203:Selecting the On- Screen Keyboard Layout......Page 459
Task 204:Setting Usability Feature Options......Page 461
Task 205:Setting Usability Feature Options with the Accessibility Wizard......Page 463
Task 206:Using and Setting StickyKeys......Page 465
Task 207:Using and Setting FilterKeys......Page 467
Part 16: Working with User Accounts......Page 470
Task 208:Setting Up a Guest Account......Page 471
Task 209:Creating New User Accounts......Page 473
Task 210:Deleting a User Account......Page 475
Task 211:Changing a User.ˉs Account Name......Page 477
Task 212:Changing the Icon on a User Account......Page 479
Task 213:Changing a User.ˉs Account Type......Page 481
Task 214:Adding a Password to a User Account......Page 483
Task 215:Changing a User Account.ˉs Password......Page 485
Task 216:Removing a Password from a User Account......Page 487
Part 17: Configuring Your Hardware......Page 490
Task 217:Checking Your Hardware.ˉs Status......Page 491
Task 218:Customizing Speaker Settings......Page 493
Task 219:Installing a Printer......Page 495
Task 220:Using a Removable Storage Device......Page 497
Task 221:Installing a Game Controller......Page 499
Task 222:Setting Up Two Monitors......Page 501
Task 223:Uninstalling a Device......Page 503
Part 18: Creating a Simple Network ( LAN)......Page 506
Task 224:Setting Up Your Own Network......Page 507
Task 225:Configuring Your Computers for the Network......Page 509
Task 226:Sharing a Printer......Page 511
Task 227:Accessing a Shared Printer......Page 513
Task 228:Sharing Files......Page 515
Task 229:Accessing Shared Files......Page 517
Task 230:Assigning a Drive Letter to a Shared Folder......Page 519
Part 19: Taking Windows XP on the Road......Page 522
Task 231:Conserving Power......Page 523
Task 232:Putting Your Computer to Sleep: Hibernating......Page 525
Task 233:Creating Multiple Dial- Up Connections......Page 527
Task 234:Taking Files with You:Identifying Offline Files......Page 529
Task 235:Using Offline Files and Resynchronizing......Page 531
Task 236:Creating and Using a Briefcase......Page 533
Part 20: Maintenance and Optimization......Page 536
Task 237:Checking Your Hard Drive for Errors......Page 537
Task 238:Defragmenting Your Hard Drive......Page 539
Task 239:Cleaning Up Your Hard Drive and Making Room......Page 541
Task 240:Adding and Removing Windows Components......Page 543
Task 241:Removing an Application......Page 545
Task 242:Cleaning Up Your Desktop......Page 547
Task 243:The Ultimate Undo: System Restore......Page 549
Task 244:Creating a Restore Point......Page 551
Task 245:Configuring System Restore......Page 553
Task 246:Backing Up Your Files......Page 555
Task 247:Restoring Files from a Backup......Page 557
Task 248:Updating Your System with the Latest Patches and Add- Ons......Page 559
Part 21: Troubleshooting......Page 562
Task 249:Getting Detailed Information about Your Computer......Page 563
Task 250:Getting Older Programs to Run in Windows XP......Page 565
Task 251:Closing a Program That Stops Responding......Page 567
Task 252:Finding Lost Files......Page 569
Task 253:Fixing the Screen When It Doesn.ˉt Look Right......Page 571
Task 254:Configuring Your System for Remote Access......Page 573
Task 255:Using Remote Desktop......Page 575
Task 256:Asking for Remote Assistance......Page 577
Task 257:Providing Remote Assistance......Page 579
Task 258:Updating Your Video Driver......Page 581
Task 259:Reporting Errors to Microsoft......Page 583
Task 260:Fine- Tuning Your System.ˉs Performance......Page 585
Task 261:My Computer.ˉs Still Too Slow!......Page 587
Index......Page 590