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

Going Wireless with Infrared

In the 1980s, IBM introduced the PCJr, a PC designed for home use and one that used an infrared port for its keyboard. You cannot see infrared light, but infrared signals work well in remote-control devices such as television remotes. A wire on the keyboard did not encumber the user; the user could lean back in the chair and point the keyboard in the general direction of the PC to use the PCJr.

IBM was years ahead of its time and years behind the market. The PCJr's sales bombed.

Today, the home computer market has not only grown, but it has far surpassed anyone's expectations. With the integration of the television and PC, along with wireless keyboards and other peripherals, it is easy to see that part of the PCJr's demise was bad timing.

Windows XP fully supports infrared devices. At the time of the Windows XP release, the most common device that uses infrared technology is the laptop PC and printers. Infrared allows the laptop user to transfer files from one PC to another without networks or even cables. As you saw in Hour 15, "Exploring Your Hardware Interface," the direct cable connection for Windows XP makes transferring files simple; however, you can make it even simpler by using infrared transfer. Just point your laptop at another laptop or a desktop with an infrared transmitter, and Windows automatically senses the infrared devices and makes the connection you need.

Most infrared devices are truly Plug and Play. Turn on your printer and Windows configures itself for the printer, emitting a sound telling you that the infrared ports are communicating.

As with many Windows features, including the PC card support described in the previous section, an infrared icon appears on your taskbar when your PC or laptop is ready for infrared communications. If you do not see the icon, you can add it to your taskbar.

You must enable your infrared port before you can use it. This To Do item shows you how to let Windows know that you want the port enabled for use.

To Do: Enabling Your Infrared Port

1. Open the Start, Settings, Control Panel window.
2. Click Switch to Classic View to display the full Control Panel window if you have only the category view showing.
3. Open the Wireless Link's window to display the Wireless Link dialog box. Figure 17.5 shows this dialog box.
   

   Figure 17.5 Enable your infrared device from the Wireless Link dialog box.

4. The choices you make determine how the infrared, wireless link operates. Check the top option to display the wireless link's icon on the taskbar that will indicate when your laptop sends or receives infrared instructions. Check the second option if you want to transfer files to your laptop via the wireless link. The final option shows the status of a wireless transfer during the operation.
5. When you click OK, your taskbar will show the infrared icon during a wireless transmission.

When you enable your infrared port, the icon will appear on your taskbar and your PC will be ready to search for another infrared device. Your PC sends out a signal every time interval that you specify in the Wireless Link dialog box, and the icon will show a second icon if another device comes within range.

Connecting another infrared device to your laptop is simple. Windows does all the configuration as long as you bring the second device within wireless range. You will have no need to hook cables between two PCs with infrared devices or between a PC and an infrared printer. The infrared port is especially helpful for laptop users who want to use a wireless connection to transfer files between the PCs using the Direct Cable Connection Wizard.

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