Laptops For Seniors for Dummies (ISBN - 0470578300)

459 Pages·2021·20.66 MB·English

Nancy Muir

Learn to:
• Choose the right laptop for you

• Work with the built-in touchpad or
attach a wireless mouse

• Use Windows® 7 to manage files
and optimize performance

• Safely send and receive e-mail
and explore the Web

Laptops
For Seniors

Making Everything Easier!™

Open the book and find:

• How to keep your laptop
running smoothly

• What you can do with built-in
applications

• Advice on searching the Web

• Tips for protecting your privacy

• How to access the Internet
when you travel

• How to use accessibility
features for vision or hearing
challenges

• Where to find help

• How to connect printers and
other devices

Nancy Muir is a writer and consultant and the author of more
than 40 books, including Computers For Seniors For Dummies
and Using the Internet Safely For Seniors For Dummies. She
writes a column on computers for Retirenet.com and provides
technology advice on her Web site, SeniorTechSmarts.com.

Computers/Hardware/General

$24.99 US / $29.99 CN / £17.99 UK

ISBN 978-0-470-57830-8

Go to Dummies.com®
for videos, step-by-step photos,
how-to articles, or to shop!

Now’s the time! Learn to pick
a laptop, use Windows, and
take advantage of the Internet

Tired of wondering what all the fuss is about? This
book is written for people like you, who may not know
much about computers but are ready to learn. In
plain English, it tells you how to use a computer, the
Windows operating system, and basic software; what
to look for in a laptop; and how to get online to shop,
e-mail, and chat — safely.

• Compare — understand the differences between
standard “notebook” laptops, netbooks, mids or
minis, and tablet PCs

• Choose wisely — consider weight, monitor size, price,
how you’ll connect to the Internet, processor speed,
and memory

• All the details — charge the battery, set up user
accounts, adjust settings, and manage power

• Learn what you can do — manage your finances,
watch movies, research topics of interest, organize
your photos, and create family newsletters

• Do Windows — log on and off, manage files and
folders, and use accessibility features

• Communicate — set up an e-mail account and join a
social networking site

• Be careful — learn about online risks, how to protect
yourself, and how to recognize fraud and scams

• Simplify your life — shop, bank, and pay bills online

Laptops For Seniors

Muir

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Laptops
For Seniors

FOR
DUMmIES

‰

by Nancy Muir

Laptops For Seniors For Dummies®
Published by
Wiley Publishing, Inc.
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com
Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
Published simultaneously in Canada

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2010921233
ISBN: 978-0-470-57830-8
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

About the Author

Nancy Muir is the author of over 50 books on technology and business
topics. In addition to her writing work, Nancy is the VP of Content and
Curriculum for a non-profit online safety education organization called
LOOKBOTHWAYS Foundation (ilookbothways.com). She writes a
regular column on computers and the Internet on Retirenet.com. Prior
to her writing career Nancy was a manager at several publishing compa-
nies, and a training manager at Symantec.

Dedication

I was lucky enough to have Blair Pottenger, the absolute best editor in
the world, assigned to lead the team on this book. Thanks, Blair, for
once again making the process a pleasure. Thanks also to my friend and
colleague Lisa Bucki for her always able work, in this case as technical
editor, and to Heidi Unger, the book’s copy editor. Last but not least,
thanks to Katie Mohr, Acquisitions Editor, for hiring me to write this
book.

Author’s Acknowledgments

To my wonderful husband, Earl, who seems to put up with all my
foibles happily. Thanks, honey, for your love and support, for lots of
laughter, and for letting me wander through life at your side!

Publisher’s Acknowledgments

We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments at http://dummies.custhelp.com. For
other comments, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 877-762-2974, out-
side the U.S. at 317-572-3993, or fax [phone].

Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:

Acquisitions and Editorial

Project Editor: Blair J. Pottenger

Acquisitions Editor: Katie Mohr

Copy Editor: Heidi Unger

Technical Editor: Lisa Bucki

Editorial Manager: Kevin Kirschner

Editorial Assistant: Amanda Graham

Sr. Editorial Assistant: Cherie Case

Cartoons: Rich Tennant
(www.the5thwave.com)

Composition Services

Project Coordinator: Katie Crocker

Layout and Graphics: Melissa K. Jester.
Christin Swinford, Ronald G. Terry,
Christine Williams

Proofreaders: John Greenough, Betty Kish,
Susan Moritz

Indexer: Christine Karpeles

Publishing and Editorial for Technology Dummies

Richard Swadley, Vice President and Executive Group Publisher

Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher

Mary Bednarek, Executive Acquisitions Director

Mary C. Corder, Editorial Director

Publishing for Consumer Dummies

Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher

Composition Services

Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services

Table of Contents

Introduction ............................................................................. 1
About This Book ........................................................................................1
Foolish Assumptions .................................................................................1
Why You Need This Book .........................................................................2
How This Book Is Organized ....................................................................2
Get Going! ..................................................................................................4
Part I: First Steps with Your Laptop .......................................... 5

Chapter 1: Discovering the Laptop Advantage ................... 7
Understand the Difference between a Desktop and Laptop ...................7
Explore All You Can Do with Your Laptop ..............................................9
Appreciate the Portability Factor .............................................................12
Understand Types of Laptops ..................................................................13

Chapter 2: Buying a Laptop ............................................. 15
Understand Hardware and Software .......................................................16
Select a Type of Laptop ............................................................................18
Choose a Version of Windows ................................................................20
Determine a Price Range .........................................................................21
Select a Monitor .......................................................................................23
Choose an Optical Drive .........................................................................24
Understand Processor Speed and Memory ............................................25
Determine How You’ll Connect to the Internet ....................................26
Buy a Customized Laptop .......................................................................28
Get Accessories for Your Laptop .............................................................29

Chapter 3: Setting Up Your Laptop .................................. 31
Install and Charge the Battery .................................................................32
Turn On Your Laptop and Log On and Off Windows 7 .......................33

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Laptops For Seniors For Dummies

Use the Touchpad, Your Laptop’s Built-In Mouse .................................35
Use the Function Keys .............................................................................37
Set the Date and Time .............................................................................38
Create a New User Account .....................................................................40
Switch User Accounts ...............................................................................42
Change Your User Account Picture .........................................................43
Shut Down Your Laptop ..........................................................................44

Chapter 4: Managing Power ........................................... 47
Choose a Power Plan ...............................................................................48
Create a Customized Power Plan ............................................................49
Adjust Display Settings ............................................................................51
Change How Quickly the Computer Goes to Sleep ..............................53
Define Power Button Functions ..............................................................54
Part II: Exploring Windows ..................................................... 57

Chapter 5: Getting Around the Windows 7 Desktop ........ 59
Understand the Desktop ..........................................................................60
Work with the Start Menu .......................................................................62
Work with Frequently Used Programs ....................................................65
Arrange Icons on the Desktop .................................................................66
Empty the Recycle Bin .............................................................................67
Find a File with Windows Explorer ........................................................69
Create a Shortcut to a File or Folder .......................................................70
Start a Program .........................................................................................72
Resize Windows .......................................................................................74
Switch between Programs ........................................................................76
Close a Program .......................................................................................77

Chapter 6: Setting Up Your Display ................................. 79
Customize Windows’ Appearance ..........................................................80
Set Your Screen’s Resolution ...................................................................81
Change the Desktop Background ...........................................................82

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vii

Table of Contents

Choose a Desktop Theme ........................................................................84
Set Up a Screen Saver ...............................................................................86
Change the Color and Appearance of Windows ...................................87
Modify Windows’ Transparency ..............................................................89

Chapter 7: Customizing Windows and Accessibility .......... 91
Use Tools for the Visually Challenged....................................................92
Replace Sounds with Visual Cues ...........................................................95
Make Text Larger or Smaller ....................................................................96
Set Up Speech Recognition......................................................................98
Modify How Your Keyboard Works .................................................... 101
Use the Onscreen Keyboard Feature .................................................... 103
Set Up Keyboard Repeat Rates ............................................................. 105
Customize Touchpad Behavior ............................................................ 106
Change the Cursor ................................................................................ 108

Chapter 8: Setting Up Printers and Scanners .................. 111
Install a Printer ...................................................................................... 112
Set a Default Printer .............................................................................. 115
Set Printer Preferences .......................................................................... 117
View Currently Installed Printers ......................................................... 120
Remove a Printer ................................................................................... 121
Install a Scanner .................................................................................... 122
Modify Scanner Settings ....................................................................... 124

Chapter 9: Getting Help ................................................. 127
Explore the Help Table of Contents .................................................... 128
Search for Help ...................................................................................... 130
Post a Question in Windows Communities ....................................... 132
Access Windows Online Help .............................................................. 135
Connect to Remote Assistance ............................................................. 137
Change Windows Help and Support Display Options ...................... 139
Contact Microsoft Customer Support .................................................. 140

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Laptops For Seniors For Dummies

Part III: Having Fun and Getting Things Done with Software .....143

Chapter 10: Working with Software Programs .............. 145
Launch a Program ................................................................................. 146
Move Information between Programs ................................................. 148
Start a Program Automatically ............................................................. 151
Set Program Defaults ............................................................................ 153
Remove a Program ................................................................................ 154

Chapter 11: Working with Files and Folders .................. 157
Understand How Windows Organizes Data ....................................... 158
Access Recently Used Files .................................................................... 160
Locate Files and Folders in Your Laptop ............................................. 162
Search for a File ..................................................................................... 163
Move a File or Folder ............................................................................ 165
Rename a File or Folder ........................................................................ 167
Create a Shortcut to a File or Folder .................................................... 169
Delete a File or Folder .......................................................................... 170
Compress a File or Folder ..................................................................... 172
Add a File to Your Favorites List .......................................................... 173
Back Up Files to a Read/Writable CD or DVD .................................... 175

Chapter 12: Using the Desktop Gadget
Gallery and Gadgets .................................................. 177
Open the Gadget Gallery and Add Gadgets to the Desktop .............. 178
Check the Time ..................................................................................... 180
Display a Continuous Slide Show ....................................................... 181
Use the Windows Calendar .................................................................. 183
Play with Puzzles .................................................................................. 184
Convert Currency .................................................................................. 185
Use the Feed Headlines Gadget ........................................................... 187
Monitor Your CPU ................................................................................ 188

Chapter 13: Creating Documents with
Works Word Processor ............................................... 191
Open a New Document and Enter and Edit Text ............................... 192