Windows 7 QuickSteps

Step-by-Step, Full-Color Graphics! Start using Windows 7 right away--the QuickSteps way. Color photos and screenshots with clear instructions make it easy to get up to speed on all the features of this versatile operating system. Follow along and quickly learn how to customize your desktop, manage files, connect to the internet, use email, add hardware and software, print documents, and secure your system. You'll also get tips for using Windows 7 to work with your photos, play music, and make movies. Written by a senior for seniors, this practical, fast-paced guide helps you get the most out of Windows 7. The unique, oblong layout of the QuickSteps series mimics your computer screen, displays graphics and explanations side by side, and lays flat so you can easily refer to the book while working on your computer. Use these handy guideposts: Shortcuts for accomplishing common tasks Personal insights from other seniors Need-to-know facts in concise narrative Helpful reminders or alternate ways of doing things Bonus information related to the topic being covered Errors and pitfalls to avoid

WINDOWS ® 7 QuickSteps New York Chicago San Francisco Lisbon London Madrid Mexico City Milan New Delhi San Juan Seoul Singapore Sydney Toronto MARTY MATTHEWS Copyright © 2010 by Matthews Technologies. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. ISBN: 978-0-07-163570-7 MHID: 0-07-163570-X The material in this eBook also appears in the print version of this title: ISBN: 978-0-07-163569-1, MHID: 0-07-163569-6. All trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners. Rather than put a trademark symbol after every occurrence of a trademarked name, we use names in an editorial fashion only, and to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement of the trademark. 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Carole and Michael I am exceptionally lucky to have Carole as my partner and wife for more than 37 years and to have Michael as my son for 23 of those years. Thank you both. I love you! About the Author Marty Matthews has used computers for more than 40 years, from some of the early mainframe computers to recent personal computers. He has done this as a programmer, systems analyst, manager, vice president, and president of a software fi rm. As a result, he has fi rsthand knowledge of not only how to program and use a computer, but also how to make the best use of all that can be done with a computer. Twenty-nine years ago, Marty wrote his fi rst computer book on how to buy minicomputers. Twenty-fi ve years ago, Marty and his wife Carole began writing books as a major part of their occupation. In the intervening years, they have written more than 70 books, including ones on desktop publishing, Web publishing, Microsoft Offi ce, and Microsoft operating systems—from MS-DOS through Windows 7. Recent books published by McGraw-Hill include Windows Vista QuickSteps, Windows Server 2008: A Beginner’s Guide, and Microsoft Offi ce 2007 QuickSteps. Marty and Carole live on an island in Puget Sound, where, on the rare moments when they can look up from their computers, they look west across seven miles of water and the main shipping channel to the snow-capped Olympic Mountains. About the Technical Editor John Cronan has more than 30 years of computer experience and has been writing and editing computer-related books for 17 years. His recent books include eBay QuickSteps Second Edition, Dynamic Web Programming: A Beginner’s Guide, Microsoft Offi ce Excel 2010 QuickSteps, and Microsoft Offi ce Access 2010 QuickSteps. John and Faye (and cat Little Buddy) reside in Everett, WA. Contents at a Glance Chapter 1 Stepping into Windows 7 1 Start and log on to Windows 7; use the mouse, screen, window, dialog box, and Start menu; exit Windows 7; get help; have fun Chapter 2 Customizing Windows 7 . 23 Personalize Windows; change the desktop, icons, Start menu, date/time, sounds, and regional settings; manage gadgets Chapter 3 Storing Information 45 Display files and folders; change Explorer views; create folders; copy, move, rename, delete, and zip files and folders Chapter 4 Using the Internet 67 Connect to the Internet, set up communications, search the Internet, control security, use email, participate in newsgroups, use IM Chapter 5 Managing Windows 7 . 103 Start, stop, switch, and schedule programs; use Task Manger and Run; update and restore Windows; add/remove software Chapter 6 Working with Documents and Pictures . 133 Create and print documents and pictures, use cameras and scanners, handle fonts, capture Snips, use Sticky Notes Chapter 7 Working with Multimedia . 159 Play CDs, access and buy online media, locate music, copy and burn CDs, play DVDs, make a movie, explore Media Center Chapter 8 Controlling Security . 181 Set up users and passwords, switch users, set parental controls, share files, encrypt files, set up an Internet firewall Chapter 9 Setting Up Networking . 207 Select a network, set up and enable a wired and a wireless network, configure and test networking, review security Chapter 10 Using Networking 227 Explore a network; use network addressing; find, copy, and share network files; use Remote Desktop; use a wireless network Index . 245 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Windows 7 QuickSteps v This page intentionally left blank Windows XP QuickSteps Storing Information vii Windows 7 QuickSteps vii Acknowledgments . xiii Introduction . xv Chapter 1 Stepping into Windows 7 1 Start Windows .2 Using the Mouse 3 Log On to Windows .3 Use the Mouse 3 Use the Screen 3 Using the Notification Area 4 Open the Start Menu .5 Use the Start Menu 5 Starting a Program .8 Use a Window 8 Use a Menu .10 Changing the Window Layout 11 Use a Dialog Box 11 Navigate the Windows Desktop 13 End Your Windows Session 18 Having Fun with Windows 19 Get Help 19 Play FreeCell .19 Chapter 2 Customizing Windows 7 . 23 Change the Look of Windows 7 .23 Use the Personalization Window 23 Add Windows Program Icons 29 Change Desktop Icons 30 Adding Other Program Icons to the Desktop 31 Change the Start Menu .31 Change the Taskbar .33 Changing Taskbar Properties .34 Permanently Pin Icons to the Taskbar 34 Change How Windows 7 Operates .35 Changing the Notification Area .36 Set and Use the Date and Time 36 Change Ease-of-Access Settings 38 Using the Control Panel 39 Customize the Mouse 39 Customize the Keyboard 41 Change Sounds 42 Change Regional Settings .42 Manage Gadgets 43 Contents 2 1 4 3 Chapter 3 Storing Information 45 Use the Windows File System 46 Open Windows Explorer 47 Changing the Windows Explorer Layout 48 Customize Windows Explorer .48 Use Windows Explorer Menus 49 Locate and Use Files and Folders .51 Identify Storage Devices .51 Select and Open Drives and Folders .52 Navigate Folders and Disks .52 Renaming and Deleting Files and Folders .54 Create New Folders .54 Select Multiple Files and Folders .55 Use the Recycle Bin 56 Create Shortcuts .57 Search for Files and Folders .57 Copying and Moving Files and Folders .58 Create Files 59 Encrypt Files and Folders .60 Change Other File and Folder Attributes .61 Zipping Files and Folders .62 Back Up Files and Folders 62 Managing Disks .64 Write Files and Folders to a CD or DVD 64 Chapter 4 Using the Internet 67 Connect to the Internet 67 Types of Internet Connections .68 Choose an Internet Connection .68 Set Up Communications .69 Configure an Internet Connection .72 Browsing the Internet 74 Use the World Wide Web 75 Search the Internet .75 Keep a Favorite Site .76 Use Tabs .77 Change Your Home Page 79 Organizing Favorite Sites .80 Access Web History .81 Controlling Internet Security .82 Copy Internet Information .83 Play Internet Audio and Video Files .85 Use Internet Email 86 Get Windows Mail .86 Establish an Email Account 87 Create and Send Email 88 Receive Email .89 Respond to Email .89 Using the Contacts List .90 Use Stationery 91 Apply Formatting 91 viii Windows 7 QuickSteps Windows 7 QuickSteps ix 6 5 Using Web Mail 93 Attach Files to Email .93 Use Calendar 94 Participate in Newsgroups .96 Use Windows Live Messenger .99 Set Up Windows Live Messenger 99 Using Windows Live Messenger .101 Chapter 5 Managing Windows 7 103 Start and Stop Programs 103 Automatically Start Programs .104 Start Programs Minimized .105 Schedule Programs 105 Switching Programs 107 Control Programs with the Task Manager .108 Stopping Programs 109 Start a Program in Run 110 Start Older Programs . 111 Control Automatic Programs .112 Control Windows Indexing 113 Running Accessory Programs 114 Maintain Windows 7 114 Update Windows 7 114 Use the Action Center .117 Restore Windows 7 117 Get System Information 120 Set Power Options .121 Add and Remove Software 122 Add Hardware .125 Use Remote Assistance .127 Chapter 6 Working with Documents and Pictures . 133 Create Documents and Pictures .133 Create a Picture 133 Acquiring a Document 134 Install Cameras and Scanners 134 Scan Pictures .137 Import Camera Images .138 Work with Photo Gallery Pictures .139 Viewing Other Pictures .142 Capture Snips .142 Print Documents and Pictures 143 Using Sticky Notes 144 Install a Printer .144 Printing 148 Print Pictures 148 Print to a File .149 Configure a Printer 150 Control Printing .153 Handling Fonts .156