Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics

385 Pages·2002·12.76 MB·English

00 0789728966 fm 10/28/03 1:25 PM Page i
Absolute
Beginner’s
Guide
to
Computer Basics
Michael Miller
800 East 96th Street,
Indianapolis, Indiana 46240
00 0789728966 fm 10/28/03 1:25 PM Page ii
Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Computer Associate Publisher
Basics Greg Wiegand
Copyright © 2003 by Que Publishing
Managing Editor
All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a Thomas Hayes
retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, pho-
tocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the Acquisitions Editor
publisher. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the Angelina Ward
information contained herein. Although every precaution has been taken
Development
in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no
Editor
responsibility for errors or omissions. Nor is any liability assumed for dam-
ages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. Nicholas J. Goetz
International Standard Book Number: 0-7897-2896-6
Project Editor
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2002113709 Natalie Harris
Printed in the United States of America
Indexer
First Printing: November 2002 Kelly Castell
06 05 04 03 9 8 7 6 5
Proofreader
Kellie Cotner
Trademarks
Team Coordinator
All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be trademarks or ser-
Sharry Leigh Gregory
vice marks have been appropriately capitalized. Que cannot attest to the
accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this book should not be
Interior Designer
regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark.
Anne Jones
Cover Designer
Warning and Disclaimer
Anne Jones
Every effort has been made to make this book as complete and as accu-
rate as possible, but no warranty or fitness is implied. The information pro-
vided is on an “as is” basis. The author and the publisher shall have
neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to
any loss or damages arising from the information contained in this book.
00 0789728966 fm 1/6/03 9:07 AM Page iii
Contents at a Glance
Introduction, 1 22 Using Instant Messaging and Chat,
231
Part I Getting Started, 7 23 Using Newsgroups, Message
Boards, and Mailing Lists, 237
1 Understanding Your Computer
Hardware, 9 24 Downloading Files, 243
2 Setting Up Your New Computer 25 Creating Your Own Web Page,
System, 31 247
Part II Using Windows, 39 Part V Working with Music and
Pictures, 253
3 Understanding Microsoft Windows
XP, 41 26 Working with Pictures, 255
4 Taking Windows for a Spin, 59 27 Playing CDs and DVDs, 269
5 Personalizing Windows, 71 28 Playing Internet Audio and Video,
277
6 Working with Files and Folders, 83
29 Downloading and Playing Digital
Music, 283
Part III Using Computer Software, 97
30 Burning Your Own CDs, 295
7 Installing New Software, 99
31 Editing Your Own Home Movies,
8 Using Microsoft Works Suite, 105 299
9 Working with Words, 113
10 Working with Numbers, 127 Part VI Protecting and Maintaining
Your System, 307
11 Working with a Database, 139
12 Managing Your Finances, 147 32 Protecting Yourself and Your Kids
Online, 309
13 Creating Greeting Cards and Other
Cool Projects, 159 33 Adding New Hardware, 319
14 Learning with Educational 34 Setting Up a Home Network, 325
Software, 165 35 Performing Routine Maintenance,
15 Playing Games, 171 333
36 Dealing with Common Problems,
Part IV Using the Internet, 177 341
16 Understanding the Internet, 179 Index, 351
17 Getting Connected to the Internet,
183
18 Surfing the Web, 191
19 Finding Stuff Online, 199
20 Buying and Selling Online, 209
21 Sending and Receiving Email, 221
00 0789728966 fm 1/6/03 9:07 AM Page iv
00 0789728966 fm 1/6/03 9:07 AM Page v
Table of Contents
Introduction 1 Hard Disk Drives: Long-Term Storage 20
Disk Drives: Portable Storage 20
How This Book Is Organized 2
CD-ROM Drives: Storage on a Disc 21
Conventions Used in This Book 3 DVD Drives: Even More Storage on a Disc
Menu Commands 3 22
Shortcut Key Combinations 4 Keyboards: Fingertip Input 22
Web Page Addresses 4 Mice: Point-and-Click Input Devices 23
Special Elements 4 Modems: Getting Connected 24
Sound Cards and Speakers: Making Noise
Let Me Know What You Think 5 24
Video Cards and Monitors: Getting the
Picture 25
I Getting Started
Printers: Making Hard Copies 27
Portable PCs—Lightweight All-in-One
1 Understanding Your Computer Hardware
Systems 27
9
2 Setting Up Your New Computer System
What Your Computer Can—and Can’t—Do
10 31
Good for Work 10
Before You Get Started 32
Good for Play 10
Good for Managing Your Finances 10 Connecting the Cables 32
Good for Keeping in Touch 11
Good for Getting Online 11 Turning It On and Setting It Up 34
Powering On for the First Time 34
Getting to Know Your Personal Computer Powering On Normally 35
System 11
Pieces and Parts—Computer Hardware Setting Up Additional Users 36
11
The Right Tools for the Right Tasks—
II Using Windows
Computer Software 12
Making Everything Work—with Windows
3 Understanding Microsoft Windows XP
13
41
Don’t Worry, You Can’t Screw It Up—
Much 14 What Windows Is—and What It Does 42
Computer Hardware Basics 14 Different Versions of Windows 42
Your PC’s System Unit—The Mother Ship
14 Working Your Way Around the Desktop 43
Microprocessors: The Main Engine 17
Computer Memory: Temporary Storage
19
00 0789728966 fm 1/6/03 9:07 AM Page vi
vi ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO COMPUTER BASICS
Important Windows Operations 44 Saving Your File 65
Pointing and Clicking 44 Closing the Program 65
Double-Clicking 44
Viewing Your Documents 66
Right-Clicking 44
Dragging and Dropping 45
Examining Your Hard Disk 67
Hovering 45
Moving and Resizing Windows 45 Shutting Down Your System 69
Maximizing, Minimizing, and Closing
Windows 46 5 Personalizing Windows 71
Scrolling Through a Window 47
Changing the Desktop Size 72
Using Menus 47
Using Toolbars 48
Enabling ClearType 73
Using Dialog Boxes, Tabs, and Buttons
49 Changing Your Desktop Theme 73
Using the Start Menu 51 Personalizing the Desktop Background 73
Launching a Program 51
Changing the Color Scheme 75
Switching Between Programs 52
Shutting Down Windows—and Your
Activating Special Effects 75
Computer 52
Using the Effects Dialog Box 75
Using the Performance Options Dialog Box
Understanding Files and Folders 53
76
Managing PC Resources with My
Computer 54
Changing Your Click 77
Managing Files with My Documents 55
Managing Windows with the Control Changing the Way the Start Menu Works
Panel 55 78
All the Other Things in Windows 56 Displaying More—or Fewer—Programs on the
Accessories 57 Start Menu 79
Internet Utilities 57
Selecting Which Icons to Display on the Start
System Tools 57
Menu—and How 79
Getting Help in Windows 57
Adding a Program to the Start Menu—
Permanently 80
4 Taking Windows for a Spin 59
Using a Screensaver 80
Playing a Game 60
Changing System Sounds 81
Launching a Program—and Printing and
Saving a Document 63 Resetting the Time and Date 82
Open Notepad 63
Writing Your Note 64
Printing Your Note 64
00 0789728966 fm 1/6/03 9:07 AM Page vii
CONTENTS vii
6 Working with Files and Folders 83 8 Using Microsoft Works Suite 105
Viewing Folders and Files 84 What’s in Works 106
Changing the Way Files Are Displayed Microsoft Works—Including Works
84 Spreadsheet, Works Database, Works
Sorting Files and Folders 85 Calendar, and Address Book 106
Grouping Files and Folders 85 Microsoft Word 107
Saving Your Settings, Universally 86 Microsoft Money 107
Microsoft Picture It! Photo 107
Navigating Folders 87
Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 108
Microsoft Streets & Trips 108
Creating New Folders 88
Working Works 108
Renaming Files and Folders 88
Finding Your Way Around the Task
Copying Files 89 Launcher 108
The Easy Way to Copy 89 Launching a Program 109
Other Ways to Copy 90 Launching a New Task 110
Launching an Old Document 111
Moving Files 90
The Easy Way to Move 91
9 Working with Words 113
Other Ways to Move a File 91
Exploring the Word Interface 114
Deleting Files 91
What’s Where in Word 114
The Easy Way to Delete 91
Viewing a Word Document—in Different
Restoring Deleted Files 92
Ways 115
Managing the Recycle Bin 93
Zooming to View 116
Working with Compressed Folders 93
Working with Documents 116
Compressing a File 93
Creating a New Document 117
Extracting Files 94
Opening an Existing Document 118
Saving the Document 118
III Using Computer Software
Working with Text 119
Entering Text 119
7 Installing New Software 99
Editing Text 119
Formatting Text 120
Automatic Installation 100
Checking Spelling and Grammar 120
Manual Installation 101
Printing a Document 121
Installing Programs from the Internet 101 Previewing Before You Print 121
Basic Printing 121
Removing Old Programs 102
Changing Print Options 121
Things to Remember 103
00 0789728966 fm 1/6/03 9:07 AM Page viii
viii ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO COMPUTER BASICS
Formatting Your Document 122 11 Working with a Database 139
Formatting Paragraphs 122
Creating a New Database 140
Using Word Styles 122
Creating a Preformatted Database 140
Assigning Headings 123
Creating a Blank Database 140
Working with an Outline 124
Changing Views 141
Working with Pictures 125
Editing Your Database 142
Inserting a Picture from the Clip Art
Adding Data 142
Gallery 125
Adding New Records 142
Inserting Other Types of Picture Files
Adding New Fields 142
125
Formatting the Picture 126
Sorting and Filtering 143
Sorting Data 143
The Absolute Minimum 126
Filtering Data 143
10 Working with Numbers 127
Creating a Report 144
Printing a List 144
Understanding Spreadsheets 128
Using ReportCreator to Create a Report
Creating a New Spreadsheet 129 145
Entering Data 129
12 Managing Your Finances 147
Formatting Your Spreadsheet 129
Configuring Microsoft Money 148
Applying Number Formats 129
First-Time Setup with the Setup Assistant
Formatting Cell Contents 130
148
Setting Up Your Accounts 149
Inserting and Deleting Rows and Columns
Setting Up Your Categories 149
130
Insert a Row or Column 130
Navigating Money 150
Delete a Row or Column 130
Home Sweet Home 150
Adjusting Column Width 131
Money’s Financial Centers 150
Using Formulas and Functions 131
Track Your Budget 151
Creating a Formula 131
Basic Operators 131 Doing Your Banking—Electronically 152
Working with Other Cells 132 Entering Transactions 152
Quick Addition with AutoSum 133 Balancing Your Checkbook 153
Using Functions 133 Online Banking 154
Sorting a Range of Cells 134 Paying Recurring Bills 155
Scheduling the Payment 155
Creating a Chart 135
Paying the Bill 156
Printing Checks in Money 156
The Absolute Minimum 137
Paying Bills Online 157
00 0789728966 fm 1/6/03 9:07 AM Page ix
CONTENTS ix
13 Creating Greeting Cards and Other Cool 17 Getting Connected to the Internet 183
Projects 159
Different Types of Connections 184
Using Home Publishing Software 160
Choosing an ISP 184
Sending Electronic Greeting Cards 162
Before You Connect 185
Popular Greeting Card Sites 162
Sending a Card at Yahoo! Greetings
Setting Up a Completely New Account 186
162
Setting Up an Existing Account 187
14 Learning with Educational Software
Sharing an Internet Connection 187
165
Configuring the Host PC 188
Finding the Best Educational Software 166 Configuring the Client PCs 189
Early Learning 166 Configuring Non-Windows XP PCs 189
Elementary 166
Connecting 190
High School 167
Continuing Education 167
18 Surfing the Web 191
Using Encyclopedia Programs 168
Understanding the Web 192
The Best Encyclopedia Software 168
Using Microsoft Encarta 168
Using Internet Explorer 192
15 Playing Games 171 Basic Web Surfing 194
Building a State-of-the-Art Gaming System Advanced Operations 194
172 Saving Your Favorite Pages 195
Revisiting History 196
Installing and Playing PC Games 173
Printing 196
Playing Games Online 174
Let’s Go Surfin’! 196
Playing Games—Against Other Players 175
19 Finding Stuff Online 199
How to Search 200
IV Using the Internet
Constructing a Query 200
Using Wildcards 200
16 Understanding the Internet 179
Where to Search 201
What the Internet Is—and What It Isn’t 180
Directory Searching with Yahoo! 201
How an Internet Connection Works 180 Index Searching with Google 202
Other Good Search Sites 202
The Most Important Parts of the Internet
181 Searching for People 202