Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft Windows XP in 24 Hours

By Greg Perry

• Table of Contents
  • Copyright
  • About the Author
  • Acknowledgments
  • Tell Us What You Think!
  • Introduction
  • Part I: Wake Up with Windows XP
  • Hour 1. Taking a Bird's-Eye Look at Windows XP
  • Hour 2. Getting Started with Windows XP
  • Hour 3. Managing the Windows XP Interface
  • Part II: Morning Windows Desktop Exploration
  • Hour 4. Working with the My Computer Window
  • Hour 5. Navigating Files with Windows Explorer
  • Hour 6. Calling for Help
  • Hour 7. Improving Your Windows Desktop Experience
  • Part III: Early Afternoon Windows Exploration
  • Hour 8. Installing Programs with Windows XP
  • Hour 9. Finding Files, Folders, and Friends
  • Hour 10. Using the Desktop Accessories
  • Part IV: Late Afternoon Internet Integration
  • Hour 11. Surfing the Web with Internet Explorer
  • Hour 12. Tying Windows into the Web
  • Hour 13. Networking with Windows XP
  • Hour 14. Managing E-mail and Newsgroups with Outlook Express
  • Part V: An Evening with Advanced Windows
  • Hour 15. Exploring Your Hardware Interface
  • Hour 16. Understanding Printing and Fonts
  • Hour 17. Using Windows on the Road
    • Docking Your Laptop
    • Using PC Cards
    • The Windows Briefcase
    • Going Wireless with Infrared
    • A Word About Power
    • Summary
    • Q&A
    • Workshop
  • Hour 18. Giving Windows XP a Tune-Up
  • Hour 19. Managing Your Hard Drives
  • Hour 20. Tinkering with the Advanced System Tools
  • Part VI: Having Fun at Nighttime
  • Hour 21. Using Media Player
  • Hour 22. Picturing Windows XP Graphics
  • Hour 23. Making Movies with Windows XP
  • Hour 24. Advanced Windows XP Tips
  • Part VII: Appendixes
  • Appendix A. Differences Between the Windows Home and Professional Edition
  • Appendix B. Glossary
  • Appendix C. Answers to Quizzes

Docking Your Laptop

The Microsoft programmers understood the need for mobile computing environments when they developed Windows XP. Mobile computing environments refer to those environments in which portable computers such as laptops are used. In the past few years, companies have begun developing docking stations for computer users who take a laptop with them on the road. Now they can come home and plug the laptop directly into a docking station. The docking station is a device that connects the laptop to a full-size color screen, printer, mouse, and keyboard. Therefore, the computer user uses the laptop on the road and then uses the laptop's system unit at home or in the office, with regular-size peripheral equipment.

Figure 17.1 shows a laptop connected to a docking station. Windows can detect whether a computer is docked and make appropriate adjustments instantly and accordingly. When undocked, Windows can use the laptop's screen, and when docked, Windows can immediately adjust the screen to a larger and higher-resolution monitor.

Figure 17.1 A docking station lets you utilize full-size desktop peripherals from your laptop.

Windows XP can often recognize that a computer has been docked, but most hardware does not allow you to undock your PC without Windows knowing about the undocking. If Windows does not recognize the fact that you've undocked, you can select Eject PC from the Start menu, and Windows will know to reconfigure for the undocking and use the laptop's own configuration. For example, if your laptop contains an internal modem, the laptop, when undocked, will no longer be configured to use the docking station's modem.

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