Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Foolish Assumptions 1
Icons Used in This Book 2
Beyond the Book 3
Where to Go from Here 3
Part 1: Get Going! 5
Chapter 1: Buying a Computer 7
What Can You Can Do with a Computer? 8
Get Up to Speed on Hardware 11
Input Devices: Putting Stuff In 15
Output Devices: Getting Stuff Out 16
What Is Software? 17
Decide on a Type of Computer 19
Choose a Display Type 24
Evaluate Your Storage Options 26
Consider How You Will Get Online 28
Where to Shop for Your New PC 30
Chapter 2: Setting Up Your Computer 33
Out of the Box: Set Up Your New PC 34
Set Up Windows 38
Take a First Look at Windows 40
Use a Mouse, Trackball, or Touchscreen 42
Get Familiar with the Start Menu 44
Sign Out and In 48
Switch Accounts 49
Lock Windows while You're Away 51
Restart Windows 51
Place the Computer in Sleep Mode 52
Shut Down Your Computer 53
Create Additional User Accounts 54
Change an Account's Type 57
Manage Family Settings 58
Chapter 3: Buying and Setting Up a Printer 61
Do You Need a Printer? 62
Choose the Right Printer 62
Unpack and Install a New Printer 64
Set Up a Printer to Work with Windows 64
Set a Default Printer 67
Set Printer Preferences 69
Manage a Print Queue 72
Remove a Printer 73
Part 2: Getting Up to Speed with Windows 75
Chapter 4: Working with Apps in Windows 77
Learn the Names of Things 78
Start an App 81
Exit an App 85
Find Your Way Around in a Desktop App 86
Find Your Way Around in a Microsoft Store App 90
Work with a Window 91
Switch among Running Apps 95
Move and Copy Data between Apps 97
Install New Apps 101
Remove Apps 104
Chapter 5: Six Great Apps that Come with Windows 107
Do the Math with the Calculator App 108
Write Brilliant Documents with WordPad 110
Jot Quick Notes with Notepad 114
Set Alarms and Timers 116
Keep Up on the Weather 119
Save Time with Cortana 121
Explore Other Windows Apps 124
Chapter 6: Managing Your Personal Files 127
Understand How Windows Organizes Data 128
Explore the File Explorer Interface 132
Move between Different Locations 134
Locate Files and Folders 136
View File Listings in Different Ways 139
Select Multiple Items at Once 142
Move or Copy an Item 142
Delete or Undelete an Item 144
Rename an Item 145
Create a Shortcut to an Item 146
Create a Compressed File 148
Customize the Quick Access List 149
Back Up Files to an External Drive 150
Chapter 7: Making Windows Your Own 153
Customize the Windows 11 Start Menu 154
Customize the Windows 11 Taskbar 156
Customize the Windows 10 Start Menu 157
Customize the Windows 10 Taskbar 160
Customize the Screen Resolution and Scale 161
Apply a Desktop Theme 163
Change Desktop Background Image 164
Change the Accent Color 165
Manage Desktop Icons 167
Add Widgets to the Desktop 168
Make Windows More Accessible 170
Part 3: Going Online 175
Chapter 8: Getting Connected to the Internet 177
What Is the Internet? 178
Explore Different Types of Internet Connections 180
Identify the Hardware Required 184
Set Up a Wi-Fi Internet Connection 187
Assess Your Software Situation 189
Chapter 9: Browsing the Web 191
Meet the Edge Browser 192
Search the Web 196
Find Content on a Web Page 199
Pin a Tab 200
Create and Manage a Favorites List 200
Use Favorites 203
View Your Browsing History 204
Print a Web Page 205
Create Collections 207
Customize the New Tab Page and the Home Page 208
Adjust Microsoft Edge Settings 211
Chapter 10: Staying Safe While Online 213
Understand Technology Risks on the Internet 214
Download Files Safely 216
Use InPrivate Browsing 219
Use SmartScreen Filter and Block Unwanted Apps 220
Change Edge Privacy Settings 221
Understand Information Exposure 223
Keep Your Information Private 226
Spot Phishing Scams and Other Email Fraud 228
Create Strong Passwords 230
Chapter 11: Keeping in Touch with Mail 233
Sign Up for an Email Account 234
Set Up Accounts in the Mail App 236
Get to Know the Mail Interface 238
Receive Messages 239
Reply to or Forward a Message 241
Create and Send Email 243
Manage Addresses 245
Send an Attachment 247
Change Mail Account Settings 248
Chapter 12: Working in the Cloud 253
Understand Cloud-Based Applications 254
Use Office Online 256
Access Your OneDrive Storage 257
Add Files to OneDrive 259
Share a Folder or File Using OneDrive 261
Create a New OneDrive Folder 263
Use the Personal Vault 264
Adjust OneDrive Settings 265
Configure Online Synchronization 266
Chapter 13: Connecting with People Online 269
Use Discussion Boards and Blogs 270
Participate in a Chat 273
Understand Instant Messages 275
Explore Microsoft Teams 277
Explore Skype 280
Use a Webcam 282
Get an Overview of Collaborative and Social Networking Sites 283
Sign Up for a Social Networking Service 285
Understand How Online Dating Works 287
Part 4: Having Fun 289
Chapter 14: Let's Play a Game! 291
Learn the Types of Game Delivery 291
Explore the Various Gaming Genres 293
Understand How Game Makers Get Paid 299
A Few of My Favorites 300
Chapter 15: Creating and Viewing Digital Photos and Videos 305
Capture Pictures and Video with the Camera App 306
Make Audio Recordings with Voice Recorder 311
Find and Play Videos Using the Movies & TV App 314
Transfer Photos and Videos from a Camera or Phone 318
View and Edit Photos in the Photos App 319
Create a Video with the Video Editor 321
Chapter 16: Listening to Music on Your PC 325
Preparing to Listen to Digital Music 326
Introducing Windows Media Player 330
Make Your Stored Music Available in Windows Media Player 332
Play Music 333
Create a Playlist 335
Rip a Music CD 337
Burn a Music CD 338
Acquire New Music 339
Part 5: Windows Toolkit 341
Chapter 17: Working with Networks 343
Plan and Set Up a Home Network 344
Enabling Wireless Router Security 346
Set Up File Sharing on Your PC 348
Choose What Folders to Share 351
Share a Local Printer 354
Connect Bluetooth Devices to Your PC 357
Use Your Cell Phone as a Hotspot 358
Chapter 18: Protecting Windows 361
Choose Security Software 362
Update Windows 364
Check Windows Security Settings 367
Change Your Microsoft Account Password 369
Change How You Sign Into Windows 371
Chapter 19: Maintaining Windows 373
Shut Down an Unresponsive Application 374
Troubleshoot Application Problems 376
Repair or Remove an App 377
Set an App to Run in Compatibility Mode 378
Restore Your System Files 379
Use Windows Troubleshooter Utilities 382
Reset Your PC: The Last Resort 383
Free Up Disk Space 385
Index 389
