Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft Windows 7 in 10 Minutes, Portable Documents

Product Author Bios

Mark Edward Soper is the author or coauthor of more than 20 books on technology topics, including two books on Windows Vista, one previous book on Windows 7, and many print and online articles on Windows Vista and Windows 7 for Maximum PC print and online editions and InformIT.com. Mark has also contributed to Special Edition Using and In Depth books on Windows versions from Me and XP through Windows 7 and has also written and coauthored three A+ Certification books. Mark also has 20 years of consumer and corporate training experience in Windows, application software, networking, and hardware upgrading and repair.

Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft Windows® 7 in 10 Minutes gives you straightforward, practical answers when you need fast results. By working through its 10-minute lessons, you’ll learn how to get more done with Windows 7…get it done quicker with no hassle…and have more fun along the way!

 

Tips point out shortcuts and solutions.

Cautions help you avoid common pitfalls.

Notes provide additional information.

 

10 minutes is all you need to learn how to…

• Quickly discover Windows 7’s best new features
• Personalize Windows 7 just the way you like it
• Use the newest Internet Explorer to browse the web faster and more safely
• Set up and connect to wireless networks quickly
• Create and use network Homegroups
• Find files and programs in no time with Instant Desktop Search
• Accomplish tasks more quickly with Jump Lists and Libraries
• Create slideshows with Windows 7’s media tools
• Enjoy videos and music with Windows 7’s media tools
• Safeguard your files with Windows Backup
• Reliably set up printers and other devices
• Make the most of Windows 7 on netbooks and notebooks
• Maintain and troubleshoot any Windows 7 computer
• Recover lost account passwords with a password reset disk

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

1 Getting Started with Windows 7 5

Logging In to Windows 7 5

Using the Start Menu 7

Searching for Files and Programs 14

Using the Password Reset Disk 19

Working with Jump Lists 21

Shut Down and Other Options 26

2 Managing Your Desktop 29

Working with the Taskbar and Jump Lists 29

Personalizing Your Desktop with Themes 32

Saving a New Theme 42

Adjusting Screen Resolution 43

Configuring Additional Displays 45

Adding Programs (Gadgets) to the Desktop 46

Summary 48

3 Working with Libraries 49

Windows 7’s Libraries 49

Adding a Folder to a Library 50

Viewing, Sorting, and Grouping Folders and Files 52

Learning More About a File 66

Managing Your Library 68

4 Enjoying Photos and Media 71

Windows 7 Media Tools 71

Starting Windows Photo Viewer 71

Using Windows Photo Viewer 73

Printing a Picture 81

Using Windows Media Player 83

Using Windows Media Center 91

5 Managing Devices and Printers 101

Accessing Devices and Printers 101

Managing Devices 103

Managing Printers and Faxes 114

Installing or Removing a Device or Printer 118

Troubleshooting a Device 119

Viewing Device Properties 120

6 Connecting to a Wireless Network 123

Checking Your System for Wireless Network Support 123

Troubleshooting Network Adapter Problems 126

Viewing Available Wireless Networks 128

Connecting to a Wireless Network. 130

Configuring Network Location Settings 135

Managing Wireless Connections 136

7 Browsing the Web Faster and More Securely with IE8 143

Starting Internet Explorer 8 143

Changing Your Home Page 144

Selecting Search Providers 145

Using Compatibility View 147

Revisiting Websites More Quickly 148

Using InPrivate Browsing 149

Creating and Using New Tabs 150

Closing a Tab 152

Saving a Tab Group as a Favorite 154

Making a Tab Group Your Home Page 155

Opening a Tab Group 156

8 Creating and Using a Homegroup 159

Understanding Homegroups 159

Setting the Network Location to Home 159

Creating a Homegroup 162

Adding Other Windows 7 PCs to a Homegroup 163

Using Files and Printers on Other Homegroup Computers 165

Changing Sharing Settings 167

Changing Homegroup Settings 168

Leaving a Homegroup. 175

9 Connecting to Other Windows Computers 177

Viewing Computers Running Older Versions of Windows 177

Connecting to Windows XP—Based PCs 179

Opening Shared Folders 185

Adding a Shared Printer to Your Printer Menu 186

Printing to a Shared Printer 188

10 Using Windows Backup 191

Understanding Windows Backup 191

Using Windows Backup 191

Running Your First Backup 192

Creating a System Repair Disc 197

Restoring Files and Testing Your Backup 199

11 Using Action Center 203

Understanding Action Center 203

Starting Action Center 203

The Action Center Interface 205

Launching Troubleshooters from Action Center 209

Index 213