Windows XP in 10 Simple Steps or Less (10 Steps or Less)

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. 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

if You Need Windows Xp Solutions Fast, Then This Book Is For You-whether You're New To Windows Xp Or You Need Help Dealing With The Applications That Come With It. Open The Book And You'll Discover Clear, Easy-to-follow Instructions For More Than 250 Key Windows Xp Tasks, Each Presented In Ten Quick Steps-or Less. Easy-to-navigate Pages, Lots Of Screen Shots, And To-the-point Directions Guide You Through Every Common (and Not-so-common) Windows Xp Challenge-and Help You Get More Done In Less Time.
* Each Solution Is Ten Steps-or Less-to Help You Get The Job Done Fast
* Self-contained Two-page Spreads Deliver The Answers You Need-without Flipping Pages
* A No-fluff Approach Focuses On Helping You Achieve Results
* A Resource Packed With Useful And Fun Ways To Get The Most Out Of Windows Xp