Introduction 1
Highlights of Windows 7 2
Versions of Windows 7 3
What You'll Find in This Book 4
Let's Begin 6
Chapter 1 Getting Started with Windows 7 9
Starting and Stopping Windows 7 10
Starting Windows 7 11
Using the Start Menu 13
Finding What You Need on the Start Menu 13
Learning the Taskbar 17
Learning Taskbar Tools 17
Navigation Basics: Using the Mouse and Keyboard 22
Using the Mouse 22
Working with Windows 26
Starting a Program 26
Opening a Document 29
Switching to a Different Window 30
Arranging Windows 31
Getting the Help You Need 35
Chapter 2 Preparing Your Windows 7 PC 41
Transferring Files 42
Using Windows Easy Transfer 42
Setting Up Programs 45
Setting Up Your Printer 48
Getting Ready to Use Hardware 51
Updating Drivers 53
Setting Up Internet Connections 56
Managing Your PC Power 59
Preparing for Recovery 62
Chapter 3 Getting and Staying Connected: Phones, Devices, and Tablets 67
Connecting Devices to Windows 7 68
Syncing Your Phone 69
Syncing Your MP3 Player 75
Moving Files from a Flash Drive 79
Setting Up Your Drawing Tablet 82
Getting Started with Your Drawing Tablet 82
Chapter 4 Securing Your Windows 7 PC 89
Working with the Action Center 90
Working with an Action Center Alert 92
Setting Up User Accounts 97
Setting a Password 102
Using Windows Defender 105
Turning on Your Windows Firewall 109
Changing User Account Control Settings 111
Chapter 5 Find What You're Looking for--Fast! 115
Performing a Simple Search 116
Using the Search Box 117
Using the Search Folder 119
Extending a Search 120
Understanding Search Filters 121
Expanding Your Search 122
Searching Online 123
Customizing and Saving a Search 126
Creating a Custom Search 126
Saving Your Search 129
Chapter 6 Exploring, Downloading, and Running Programs 133
Finding and Starting a Program 134
Working with Program Windows 138
Exploring a Program Window 139
Copying Content Between Programs 141
Closing a Program 143
Downloading and Installing Programs 144
Getting Ready to Download a Program 145
Purchasing, Downloading, and Installing a Program 147
Repairing and Uninstalling Programs 149
Repairing Installations 149
Uninstalling Programs 150
Working with Gadgets 153
Display Running Gadgets 154
Chapter 7 Organizing Files and Folders 161
Working with Windows 7 Libraries 162
Getting Started with Windows 7 File Libraries 162
Taking a Look at Windows Explorer 164
Using the Navigation Pane 166
Adding Folders to Libraries 167
Creating a Library 168
Arranging Library Display 171
Managing Folders 173
Finding the Folder You Want 173
Removing Folders 180
Finding, Organizing, and Sharing Your Files 181
Finding Files 181
Previewing Files 182
Displaying and Updating File Information 183
Tagging Files 184
Compressing and Uncompressing Your Files 189
Chapter 8 Doing the Web Thing (Plus Email and Calendars, Too) 193
Getting Online with Internet Explorer 194
Starting Internet Explorer 194
A Look Around the Internet Explorer Window 195
Displaying Browser Toolbars 197
Using the Notification Bar 198
Selecting Your Home Page 199
Browsing and Searching the Web 200
Navigating the Web 202
Searching for Information 204
Adding a Search Provider 206
Working with Tabs 210
Opening a New Tab 210
Changing the Tab Display 211
Displaying Colorful Tabs 212
Pinning a Site to the Taskbar 213
Working with IE9 Tools 215
Changing Site Display 217
Adding and Managing Favorites 218
Viewing Your RSS Feeds 223
Adding Web Slices 226
Securing Your Browsing Experience 227
Blocking ActiveX Controls 228
Sending a Link by Email with Windows Live Mail 235
Sending Mail 236
Chapter 9 Ready, Set, Media! 241
Watching TV and Movies on Your PC 242
Looking Around the Windows Media Center Window 243
Watching Internet TV on Your PC 245
Watching Live TV on Your PC 249
Recording a Series or a Show 251
Setting Recording Options 252
Sharing Media on Your Phone 256
Enjoying Media with Windows Media Player 258
Exploring the Windows Media Player Window 259
Playing Tunes in Windows Media Player 260
Creating a Playlist 265
Streaming Your Media 268
Viewing the Media Guide 271
Chapter 10 Cataloging and Fine-Tuning Your Photos 275
Adding Pictures to Your PC 276
Connecting Your Camera and Downloading Pictures 276
Adding and Viewing Pictures from Your Phone 278
Viewing Photos on Windows Phone 7 278
Viewing Photos in the Pictures Library 281
Looking Around the Pictures Library 281
Viewing Pictures in the Picture Library 282
Using the Windows Photo Viewer 284
Managing Your Pictures 287
Rotating Pictures 288
Tagging Pictures 292
Sharing Your Pictures 296
Printing Pictures 299
Printing Your Photos 299
Chapter 11 Personalizing Windows 7 303
Changing Your Desktop 303
Choosing a New Background 304
Choosing a Desktop Theme 306
Adjusting the Look of Windows 7 310
Choosing a Color Scheme 310
Changing the Font Size 314
Adjusting the Mouse 320
Changing Mouse Pointers 320
Changing System Sounds 325
Chapter 12 Networking-at Home and on the Road 329
Setting Up a Home Network 330
Gathering Your Equipment 330
Getting Started with a HomeGroup 335
Creating and Setting Up a HomeGroup 336
Using Your HomeGroup 340
Chapter 13 Windows 7 Care, Feeding, and Troubleshooting 345
Updating Windows 7 346
Backing Up and Restoring Your Files 349
Backing Up Your Files 349
Using System Tools 354
Disk Cleanup 354
Disk Defragmenter 356
Compatibility with Windows 7 357
Using the Windows Compatibility Center 358
Index 363
