Introduction:
What's new in this edition?
Where to start
Conventions used in this book
Foolish assumptions
Icons used in this book
Where to go from here
Part 1: Hello, PC!:
What Is This Thing, This PC?:
Some Quick Questions To Get Out Of The Way:
What is a PC?
Why not just use a tablet or smartphone instead of a PC?
Should I buy a Dell?
Will my computer explode?
Basic Computer Concepts In Easily Digestible Chunks:
What a computer does
Hardware and software
Buy Yourself A PC!:
Step 1: What do you want the PC to do?
Step 2: Find software
Step 3: Match hardware to the software
Step 4: Locate service and support
Step 5: Buy it!
What to do with an old computer
Final thing to remember
PC Knobs, Buttons, And Doodads Tour:
Big picture
All Around The Console:
There is no typical console
Major points of interest on the console, front
Stuff found on the console's rump
I/O panel
Helpful hints, hieroglyphics, and hues
PC Setup:
Computer Assembly:
Unpacking the boxes
Setting up the console
Plugging in and connecting
Plugging-Things-In Guide:
Attaching the keyboard and mouse
Setting up the monitor
Connecting to the network
Adding a printer
Hooking up the speakers
It Must Have Power:
Plugging everything into a power strip
Taking advantage of a UPS
Using the UPS (a short play)
Both On And Off:
Turn on your PC
Windows, ahoy!
Turn Off The Computer:
Shutting down Windows
Putting Windows to sleep
Restarting the PC
Signing out
Reviewing other shutdown options
Should You Leave Mr PC On All The Time?:
I want to leave my computer off all the time
I want to leave my computer on all the time


Part 2: Nerd's-Eye View:
Deep Inside The Console:
Computer Guts:
Looking under the hood
Powering Mr computer
Lurking on the motherboard
Corralling all the mass storage devices
King Processor:
Understanding the processor's role
Naming PC processors
Measuring processor speed
Discovering your PC's processor
Your Computer Is Also A Timepiece:
Viewing the date and time
Using the Internet to set the clock
PC Memory:
What is computer memory?
Tasty chocolate memory chips
Memory, one byte at a time
Memory Q & A:
How much memory is in my PC right now?
Do I have enough memory?
Does my PC have enough memory?
Can I test whether my PC has enough memory?
Can I add memory to my PC?
Will the computer ever run out of memory?
What is virtual memory?
What is video memory?
What about shared video memory?
Mass Storage System:
PC's Mass Storage System:
Surveying the mass storage landscape
Identifying the primary storage device
Finding mass storage devices
Inserting a media card or thumb drive
Inserting an optical disc
Ejecting media
Adding more storage
Mass Storage Alphabet:
Handing out drive letters
Exploring drive icons and names
Checking drive capacity
Using mass storage
Accessing removable media
Merry Monitor Mayhem:
PC's Graphics System:
Minding the monitor
Discovering the display adapter
Show Me What Ya Got:
Measuring a monitor
Connecting the monitor to the PC
Reading monitor messages
Working the monitor's controls
Windows Controls What You See:
Setting resolution
Adding a second monitor
Orienting the monitor
Input This!:
Meet Mr Keyboard:
Attaching a keyboard
Examining the typical PC keyboard
Using modifier keys
Changing keyboard behavior keys
Touring some useful keys
Understanding strange keys
Understanding keys for math
Controlling the keyboard in Windows
Say "Eeek!" To The Mouse:
Connecting the mouse
Reviewing basic mouse parts
Exploring mouse species
Moving the mouse
Changing mouse settings
Touchscreen Input:
Using basic touchscreen techniques
Typing on a touchscreen
System Expansion:
It's a port
Versatile USB Port:
Understanding USB cables
Connecting a USB device
Working with USB-powered gizmos
Removing a USB device
Using hubs to expand the USB universe
Expansion Slots:
Shopping for expansion cards
Adding an expansion card
Bluetooth Thing:
Checking for Bluetooth
Controlling Bluetooth in Windows
Pairing a Bluetooth peripheral
Reviewing paired devices
Un-pairing a Bluetooth device
P Is For Printer:
Printer, The Paper, The Document Maker:
Surveying the printer landscape
Touring the typical printer
Using the printer's control panel
Drinking ink
Eating paper
Choosing the proper paper
Where The Printer Meets The PC:
Connecting the printer
Finding printers in Windows
Setting the default printer
Printer Operation:
Printing something
Stopping a printer run amok
PC Audio Abilities:
Noisy PC: Setting up speakers
Using headphones
Exploring microphone options
Sound Control In Windows:
Configuring the speakers
Configuring the microphone
Enabling the microphone
Adjusting the volume
Windows goes bleep
It Listens:
Recording our own sounds
Dictating to the PC


Part 3: Basic Computing:
Relevant Parts Of Windows:
What's an operating system?
Windows And Its Gooey, Glorious Graphical Interface:
Starting at the desktop
Working the taskbar
Accessing the start menu
Looking at the notifications area
Summoning the action center
Settings And Controls:
Using the settings app
Visiting the control panel
Programs On Your PC:
Software nomenclature
Run That Program:
Hunting down programs in Windows
Starting an app from tablet mode
Finding a program when you know its name
Pinning a program
Install And Remove Programs:
Obtaining software from the Internet
Installing a program from external media
Uninstalling a program
Fun With Files And Folders:
Behold The File!:
Describing a file
Creating a new file
Understanding the filename extension
Folder Folderol:
Understanding subfolders and parent folders
Finding a place for your stuff
Making a new folder
Working with folders in the open and save as dialog boxes
Manage Files Because They Can't Manage Themselves:
Selecting files
Manipulating files
Finding files lost, missing, or dead
Life On The Cloud:
Cloud thing
Cloud Storage:
Adding a cloud storage service
Copying a file to cloud storage
Accessing cloud storage from another device
Online Media:
Keeping your pictures on cloud storage
Accessing cloud storage pictures
Sharing a picture from cloud storage
Listening to your cloud music
Weird World Of Networking:
Why network?
Network Hardware:
Reviewing the network configuration
Setting up a gateway
Network Connection:
Connecting to a wired network
Connecting to a wireless network
Connecting to a hidden Wi-Fi network
Checking the network type
Resetting the network type
Disconnecting from a network
Forgetting a Wi-Fi connection
On The Network:
Accessing a network folder
Mapping a network drive
Sharing a folder
Accessing shared media
Activating media sharing on your PC


Part 4: Your Digital Life:
Internet Refresher:
What is the Internet?
Internet access
It's A World Wide Web We Weave:
Finding another web browser
Locating the web browser commands
Going undercover on the web
Browsing tips
Printing web pages
Searching-the-web tips
Get Stuff From A Web Page:
Saving an image from a web page
Copying text from a web page
Sharing a web page
Email Messages:
Understanding email acronyms
Finding an email program
Hello, Other Gizmo:
AutoPlay:
Dealing with another device
Manually summoning AutoPlay
Setting AutoPlay options
Connect Something To Your PC:
Importing images
Getting video into you PC
Ripping music from a CD
Images Digital:
Image Resolution:
Understanding resolution
Setting resolution
Digital camera tips
Scanner:
Introducing the scanner
Scanning an image
Picture Files:
Storing pictures in Windows
Viewing pictures in Windows
Printing your digital photos
Changing picture file formats
Electronic Entertainment:
PC Movies:
Storing video in Windows
Viewing a video
Uploading a video to YouTube
Sharing your videos
Your PC Is A TV:
Getting a TV tuner
Watching Internet TV
Your TV is a PC
Your PC Is Your Stereo:
Enjoying music from the stream
Running Windows media player


Part 5: Security And Maintenance:
System Security:
Tools to fight the bad guys
Take Action Against The Barbarian Hoard:
Finding the action center
Setting up the Windows Firewall
Protecting the PC with Windows Defender
Paying attention to the UAC warnings
System Privacy Settings:
Setting the screen saver lock
Reviewing Windows 10 privacy options
Latest Version:
Updating and upgrading
Updating Windows
That All-Important Safety Copy:
File You Had Yesterday:
Obtaining an external backup device
Configuring Windows 10 file history
Setting up Windows 7 backup
Recovering a previous version of a file
Restoring files from a backup
Exploring Internet backup utilities
Compressed Folder Archives:
Compressing files
Working with a compressed folder
Installing software from a compressed folder
Maintenance Chores:
Storage Utilities:
Freeing storage space
Checking for errors
Running defrag
Network troubleshooting
Manage The PC's Power:
Setting power options in Windows 10
Configuring a power management plan
Adding the hibernate option
Windows 10 do-over


Part 6: Part Of Tens:
Ten PC Commandments:
Thou shalt not fear thy PC
Thou shalt save thy work
Thou shalt back up thy files
That shalt not open or delete things unknownst
Thou shalt not be a sucker
Thou shalt use antivirus software, yea verily, and keepeth it up-to-date
Thou shalt upgrade wisely
Thou shalt compute at a proper posture
Thou shalt keepeth Windows up-to-date
Thou shalt properly shut down windows
Ten Things Worth Buying For Your PC:
Mouse pad and wrist pad
External mass storage
Cleaning materials
Internal expansion
USB hub and cables
Better keyboard and mouse
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
Headset
Scanner
Thumb drives and media cards
Ten Tips From A PC Guru:
Remember that you're in charge
Mind who "helps" you
Give yourself time to learn
Create separate accounts
Mind what you download
Organize your files
Don't reinstall Windows
Shun the hype
Keep on learning
Remember not to take this computer stuff too seriously
Index.