Synopses & Reviews
Your vacuum comes with one. Even your blender comes with one. But your PC--something that costs a whole lot more and is likely to be used daily and for tasks of far greater importance and complexity--doesn't come with a printed manual. Thankfully, that's not a problem any longer: PCs: The Missing Manual explains everything you need to know about PCs, both inside and out, and how to keep them running smoothly and working the way you want them to work.
A complete PC manual for both beginners and power users, PCs: The Missing Manual has something for everyone. PC novices will appreciate the unassuming, straightforward tutorials on PC basics, such as hooking up a monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, and scanner. Families will enjoy sections on networking several computers to share an Internet connection, sharing one monitor between two PCs, connecting portable media players, and creating a home theater system. Adventurous PC users will like the clear photos explaining how to take your PC apart and replace or upgrade any failing parts; IT professionals will be grateful to have something to hand to their coworkers who need solid, trusted information about using their PC.
In PCs: The Missing Manual, bestselling computer author Andy Rathbone delivers simple, reliable advice on the kinds of things PC users confront every day. He shows you how to connect and configure today's must-have devices (including digital cameras, portable music players, digital camcorders, and keychain drives); burn CDs and DVDs; scan and fax documents, and more. His section on the Internet explains how to choose the best Internet Service Provider and web browser for your needs; send email; find information quickly on the Web; share photos online; set up a blog; set up a webcam; access TV and radio through the Internet; and shop safely online. And Rathbone delivers plenty of guidance on keep your privacy and your PC safe by installing firewalls, creating safe passwords, running antivirus software, removing spyware and adware, and backing up important files.
Synopsis
More and more, consumers have become frustrated by the growing complexity of PCs and their digital products. This guide not only eliminates that frustration, but serves as a complete manual for both novices and power users.
About the Author
David A. Karp is the author of twelve power-user books, including the bestselling Windows Annoyances series of books and O'Reilly's eBay Hacks. David's books are available in ten languages, and can be found under the short legs of tables around the world.
David is the founder of Annoyances.org, one of the most respected and popular computer help sites on the Interwebs. He writes for PC Magazine, but they're curiously reluctant to publish photos of his bicycle. N
Andy Rathbone first wrote "Windows for Dummies" back in 1992, and since then he's updated the book for every subsequent version of the operating system. All of the editions combined have sold more than 11 million copies. He's also the author of "Upgrading and Fixing Your PC for Dummies" and "Tivo for Dummies". All told, Andy has more than 15 million books in print, making him one of the bestselling computer book writers on the planet. He's been on bestseller lists of the New York Times, USA Today, Publisher's Weekly, and many others.
Table of Contents
The Missing Credits; About the Author; About the Creative Team; Acknowledgements; The Missing Manual Series; Introduction; About This Book; About the Outline; About MissingManuals.com; Safari Enabled; Part I: Your PC's Main Parts; Chapter 1: Inside Your PC; 1.1 Finding Out Your PC's Horsepower; 1.2 The PC's Case; 1.3 Opening Your PC's Case; 1.4 Motherboard; 1.5 CPU (Central Processing Unit); 1.6 Adding Memory (aka RAM); 1.7 Installing Expansion Cards; 1.8 Ports; 1.9 Power Supply and Battery; Chapter 2: Keyboards and Mice; 2.1 Keyboard Basics; 2.2 Mouse Basics; 2.3 Game Controllers; Chapter 3: Monitors and Video; 3.1 Monitor Basics; 3.2 Installing a Monitor; 3.3 Plugging Two Monitors into One PC; 3.4 Plugging Two PCs into One Monitor; 3.5 Using TV Sets as Monitors; 3.6 Watching TV on a PC; 3.7 Troubleshooting Your Monitor; 3.8 Video Card (aka Display Adapter); Chapter 4: Printers; 4.1 Printer Basics; 4.2 Installing a Printer; 4.3 Choosing Printer Paper; 4.4 Adjusting Printer Settings; 4.5 Printing Envelopes; 4.6 Printing Specialized Items; 4.7 Printing Digital Photos Professionally; 4.8 Digital Photos on an Inkjet Printer; 4.9 Printing Web Pages; 4.10 Printer Troubleshooting; Part II: Multimedia; Chapter 5: Digital Cameras, Camcorders, and Webcams; 5.1 Digital Camera Basics; 5.2 Moving Pictures from Camera to Computer; 5.3 Moving Pictures from a Card Reader to a PC; 5.4 Viewing and Editing Photos; 5.5 Sharing Photos with Friends; 5.6 Troubleshooting Digital Cameras; 5.7 Camcorder Basics; 5.8 Connect the Camcorder to Your PC; 5.9 Editing Video; 5.10 Editing with Movie Maker; 5.11 Webcams; Chapter 6: Scanners; 6.1 Choosing a Scanner; 6.2 Installing a Scanner; 6.3 Three Ways to Scan an Image; 6.4 Using Windows Scanner and Camera Wizard; 6.5 Digitizing Old Photos and Slides; 6.6 Troubleshooting Scanners; Chapter 7: Sound; 7.1 Understanding Sound Adapters (Sound Cards); 7.2 Sending Sound into and out of Your PC; 7.3 Choosing Music File Formats; 7.4 PC Music for Musicians; 7.5 Troubleshooting Sound; Chapter 8: Digital Music Players; 8.1 Choosing a Digital Music Player; 8.2 Your Digital Player and Your PC; 8.3 iPod and iTunes; 8.4 Windows XP's Media Player; 8.5 Troubleshooting Digital Music Players; Part III: Storing Information; Chapter 9: Hard Drives and Floppy Drives; 9.1 Your PC's Drives: An Overview; 9.2 Hard Drives: An Introduction; 9.3 Your Hard Drive's Available Space; 9.4 Removing Unused Programs and Files; 9.5 Speeding Up a Hard Drive; 9.6 Installing a Hard Drive; 9.7 Troubleshooting Hard Drives; 9.8 Floppy Drives: An Introduction; 9.9 Formatting a Floppy Disk; 9.10 Installing a Floppy Drive; Chapter 10: CD and DVD Drives; 10.1 CDs: An Introduction; 10.2 Playing CDs; 10.3 Buying the Right Type of Blank CD; 10.4 Ripping CDs; 10.5 Burning CDs; 10.6 Duplicating CDs; 10.7 Erasing CDs; 10.8 DVDs: An Introduction; 10.9 Playing DVD Movies; 10.10 Buying the Right Type of Blank DVD; 10.11 Specialty Disc Formats; 10.12 Ripping DVDs; 10.13 Burning DVDs; 10.14 Buying a CD or DVD Drive; 10.15 Installing a CD or DVD Drive; 10.16 Troubleshooting CD and DVD Drives; Part IV: Talking to the World; Chapter 11: Getting Online; 11.1 Different Ways to Connect to the Internet; 11.2 Setting Up a Modem; 11.3 Subscribing to an Internet Service; 11.4 Setting Up an Internet Connection; 11.5 Dialing into the Internet; 11.6 Troubleshooting Online Connections; Chapter 12: Email; 12.1 Choosing an Email Program; 12.2 Setting Up Outlook Express; 12.3 Composing and Sending Email; 12.4 Reading and Processing Email; 12.5 Managing Your Address Book; 12.6 Email Etiquette; 12.7 Troubleshooting Email Problems; Chapter 13: Surfing the Web; 13.1 Choosing and Setting Up a Browser; 13.2 Managing Forms and Passwords; 13.3 Blocking Pop-up Ads and Other Nuisances; 13.4 Browsing the Web; 13.5 Viewing RSS Feeds; Chapter 14: Networking; 14.1 Choosing a Network; 14.2 Networking Hardware: What You Need; 14.3 Setting Up a Simple Home Network; 14.4 The Network Setup Wizard; 14.5 Securing Your Network; 14.6 Sharing an Internet Connection; 14.7 Sharing Printers; 14.8 Exchanging Files Between PCs; 14.9 Sharing Monitors; 14.10 Networking Two PCs; 14.11 Troubleshooting Network Problems; Part V: Maintenance, Security, and Troubleshooting; Chapter 15: Security; 15.1 Backing Up Your Computer; 15.2 Creating Passwords; 15.3 Activating Windows Update; 15.4 Preventing Theft; 15.5 Phishing; 15.6 Adware, Spyware, and Other Threats; 15.7 Installing a Firewall; Chapter 16: Fixing Common Problems; 16.1 Undeleting Deleted Files; 16.2 Quitting Frozen Programs; 16.3 System Restore; 16.4 Resetting Windows XP Passwords; 16.5 Troubleshooting Driver Problems; 16.6 Speeding Up a Slow PC; 16.7 Windows Activation; 16.8 Windows' Troubleshooters; Chapter 17: Advanced Troubleshooting; 17.1 Watching Your PC Start; 17.2 Editing the BIOS Settings; 17.3 Replacing Firmware; 17.4 Searching for Clues with Google; 17.5 Reverting to Old Programs; 17.6 Swapping Parts; 17.7 Microsoft's Knowledge Base; 17.8 Last Resort: Data Grabs with Knoppix; Part VI: Appendices; Appendix A: Setting Up a PC; A.1 Removing Your PC from Its Box; A.2 Choosing Your PC's Location; A.3 Plugging In Accessories; A.4 Activating Your PC and Windows Update; Appendix B: Memory Cards and USB Drives; B.1 Memory Cards; B.2 USB Drives; B.3 Troubleshooting Flash Memory; Appendix C: Other Cool Things You Can Do Online; C.1 Faxing with Your PC; C.2 Gambling Online; C.3 Using Google Maps; C.4 Sending Greeting Cards; C.5 Instant Messaging; C.6 Playing Online Games; C.7 Creating a Web Site; C.8 Making Internet-based Phone Calls; Appendix D: Dealing with Technical Support; D.1 Getting Good Tech Support; D.2 Before Contacting Tech Support; D.3 Choosing Your Support; D.4 Sending Your PC to the Repair Shop; Appendix E: Packing a Laptop Bag; E.1 Fully Charged Battery; E.2 Power Adapter and Accessories; E.3 Business Card; E.4 Wireless Adapters; E.5 Mouse; E.6 Cables; E.7 PC Card Flash Reader; E.8 Manuals; E.9 DVD/CDs; E.10 FedEx Envelope and Airbill; E.11 Skype Account; Colophon;