Table of Contents
What This Book Will Do for You
Part I: Introducing Windows Vista
CHAPTER 1: Welcome to Windows Vista
A Complete Redesign of Windows Awaits You
Graphical Differences with Aero Glass
A Leaner and Cleaner Start Menu
Vista Has Vastly Improved Security
Find So Much More So Much More Quickly
Vista Introduces a Better Internet Explorer
Pictures and Multimedia Improve in Vista
Vista’s New Features Keep on Coming
CHAPTER 2: Exploring the Welcome Center
The Welcome Center: Vista’s Welcome Wagon
Highlights of the Welcome Center
Transfer Windows Settings from One Computer to Another
Add New Users to Your Computer
Part II: Getting Started with Windows Vista
CHAPTER 3: Clicking Your Start Button
Searching Is Simple with Start
Selecting the Start Menu Type and Recently Displayed Programs and Documents
Customize the Start Menu’s Right Pane
Modifying Additional Start Menu Settings
Returning Your Start Menu to Its Default State
Determining Your Start Menu’s Internet Browser and Mail Programs
Modify Your Start Menu Without Using the Customization Dialog Box
CHAPTER 4: Starting and Stopping Windows
Is Powering Off Your Computer Always Best?
Vista’s Other Shutdown Options
Help for the Stubborn Computer
CHAPTER 5: Managing Your Programs
Manage Multiple Programs and Windows
Working with the See-Through Windows
CHAPTER 6: Taking the Taskbar to Task
Put Your Taskbar Where You Want It
Using the Quick Launch Toolbar
Understanding Your Notification Area
Managing Multiple Windows with Your Taskbar
CHAPTER 7: Changing Windows Vista’s Look
Rearranging Your Desktop Icons
Adding and Removing Desktop Icons
Change Your Display Settings to See More
Changing Your Desktop’s Color Scheme
Changing Your Desktop Background
Making Your Mouse Work the Way You Want It To
CHAPTER 8: Mastering Vista’s Explorer Windows
Navigating Files and Folders with Windows Explorer
Going Back to Previous Versions of a File
Use Your Explorer Toolbar to Your Advantage
The Always-Present Vista Search Box
Copying and Moving Files and Folders
Using the General Tab Settings
Exploring Vista’s Various Explorer Windows
Sort Explorer Windows Contents
Part III: Working with Windows Vista
CHAPTER 9: Working with the Sidebar and Gadgets
Adding Gadgets to Your Sidebar
Download Additional Gadgets from Microsoft
Modifying Your Sidebar Properties
CHAPTER 10: Exploring the Windows Vista Accessories
CHAPTER 11: Taking Time Out with Windows Vista Games
The Old Standby: Windows Solitaire
Search and Destroy with Minesweeper
A Quick Glance at Spider Solitaire
Play Three Imaginary Players in a Game of Hearts
Chess Titans—You Against the Machine
Mahjong Titans—Tosses Tiles to Trick You
Setting Game Parental Controls
Introducing Vista’s Help and Support
Using the Help and Support Window’s Toolbar
The Help and Support Window Options
CHAPTER 13: Finding Information All Over Windows
Searching for Files and Folders
How to Search When You Don’t Know a File’s Location
Narrowing the Search Folder to Specific File Types
Part IV: Making Things Happen with Windows Vista
CHAPTER 14: Going Multimedia with Vista
Windows Vista Advances Multimedia
Multimedia Is No Longer for Geeks
Introducing Windows Vista’s Multimedia Tools
Organize Your Pictures with Windows Photo Gallery
Stop, Look, and Listen with Windows Media Player
Record Audio with Vista’s Sound Recorder
Windows Movie Maker Puts Hollywood’s Tools at Your Disposal
Introducing Your New Entertainment Center for the Twenty-First Century: Vista’s Media Center
Media Center Isn’t for Everybody...Yet
CHAPTER 15: Managing Your Entertainment Experience with Media Player
Getting to Your Music, Videos, and Pictures
Stop, Look, and Listen the Way You Want
CHAPTER 16: Going Digital with Your Camera or Scanner
Getting Pictures onto Your Computer
Moving Digital Photos to Your Vista-Based Computer Over a Network
Getting Pictures from Your Digital Camera
Importing from Your Camera or Scanner Directly into Photo Gallery
CHAPTER 17: Modifying and Sharing Photos
Telling Photo Gallery You Have Pictures
Displaying Photo Gallery’s Images and Videos
Using Photo Gallery’s Control Panel
Fix a Photo with Photo Gallery’s Editing Tools
Printing Pictures from Photo Gallery
Send Your Photos to a Professional Photo Service
Put Pictures and Videos on DVDs
Creating a Video DVD Using Windows DVD Maker
Creating a Movie from Photo Gallery Images and Videos
Send Pictures and Videos in Email Messages
CHAPTER 18: Recording Simple Audio
About Sound Recorder’s Format and Quality
Physically Getting Sound to Your Computer
Simple Recording Tips You Can Use
CHAPTER 19: Making Movies with Windows Movie Maker
Movie Maker’s Past and Present
Keep the Background in the Background
Presenting Windows Movie Maker
Obtaining Video for Your Movie
CHAPTER 20: Dating with Windows Calendar
Adjusting Windows Calendar’s Options
CHAPTER 21: Scheduling Tasks to Run Later
Creating a Task Scheduler Task
Determining a Program’s Filename and Location
Locating and Using Program Arguments
Setting Up Disk Cleanup Argument Sets
Finishing Task Scheduler’s Disk Cleanup Entry
Running Disk Defragmenter with Task Scheduler
CHAPTER 22: Making Windows More Accessible
Getting to the Accessibility Tools
Turn On a High Contrast Screen
Vista Can Suggest Accessibility Tools for You
Accessing All the Accessibility Tools
Reviewing Two Common Keyboard Accessibility Tools
CHAPTER 23: Speaking to Your Computer
Preparing for Speech Recognition
Train Your Computer to Understand Your Voice
Train Yourself for Speech Recognition
CHAPTER 24: Controlling Windows Vista
Get Familiar with Your Control Panel
Use the Search Box to Locate Control Panel Options
Many Control Panel Options Appear Elsewhere
Stay Alert When Using Your Control Panel
User Accounts and Family Safety
Appearance and Personalization
CHAPTER 25: Setting Up Windows Program Defaults
Setting Program-Related Defaults
Specifying Default Program File Types
Associating File Types to Programs Revisited
Specifying Default Programs to Run
CHAPTER 26: Separating Users Gives Each the Access They Need
Make the Most of User Accounts
Working with Your User Account
Assigning a User Account Password
Changing Your Account’s Picture
Working with Multiple User Accounts
About the User Account Control
Switching Between User Accounts
CHAPTER 27: Managing Your Windows Security
Vista Security—A Brief Overview
You Cannot Have Too Much Money, Too Much Good Health, or Too Much Computer Security
Become Familiar with Control Panel’s Security Features
Let Windows Defender Help Protect Your Files
CHAPTER 28: Adding and Removing Programs
The Ease of Installing Programs Changed
Installing an Online Program to Your Vista Computer
Part VI: Interfacing Windows and Hardware
CHAPTER 29: Printing with Windows Vista
A Little History Helps Explain a Lot
CHAPTER 30: Faxing and Scanning
CHAPTER 31: Restoring Your Windows System to a Previous State
What System Restore Actually Does
System Restore Protects You from Itself
Vista Creates Restore Points Automatically
Creating Manual Restore Points
Restoring a Saved Restore Point
CHAPTER 32: Improving Disk Performance and Storage
Disk Defragmenter’s Biggest Danger: A Power Failure
CHAPTER 33: Configuring Windows Vista
Configuring Your Clock, Language, and Region
Quickly Display a Clock and Calendar
Change Your Date and Time Settings
Set Your Clock to Synchronize with the Internet
Customizing Your Region and Language Options
CHAPTER 34: Saving Power with Windows Vista
About Your Computer’s Power Consumption
Your Computer Maker Can Offer Additional Power Plans
CHAPTER 35: Protecting Your Data and Programs
It’s Not Always the Fault of Your Hardware
Where You Back Up to Makes a Difference
Making a Complete Image Backup
Restoring a Complete Image Backup
Backing Up Selected Data Files and Folders
Part VII: Running Windows Vista in a Connected World
CHAPTER 36: Combining Vista, Networks, and the Internet
Networking Is Not as Technical as Before
Windows Vista Helps You Network
Your Graphical Network Connection
Allow for File and Printer Sharing
Password-Protecting Your Files and Printers
CHAPTER 37: Exploring the Internet with Vista and Internet Explorer
The World’s Shortest Internet Introduction
Working with the Favorites Center
Search the Web from Within Internet Explorer
CHAPTER 38: Staying in Touch with RSS and Instant Messaging
All About Really Simple Syndication
Learning Whether a Site Supports RSS Feeds
Instant Messaging Lets You Stay in Touch with Others Online
Installing Your Instant Messaging Program
CHAPTER 39: Synchronizing Your Computer with Other Devices
Establishing a Mobile Device Connection
Using the Set Up Your Device Option to Establish an Initial Partnership
Managing an Existing Sync Partnership
CHAPTER 40: Mailing with Windows Mail
Setting Up an Email Account in Windows Mail
Some Words About Importing Data
Sending Mail with Windows Mail
Receiving Email in Windows Mail
Your Blocked Senders and Junk Email Options
CHAPTER 41: Accessing a World of Information in Newsgroups
Introducing the World of Newsgroups
Reading Messages in Newsgroups
Cleaning Up the Newsgroup Clutter
Part VIII: Making Vista Work Better for You
CHAPTER 42: Vista’s Ten Best Tips That Save You Time and Grief
Eliminate User Account Control Message Boxes
Make Yourself More Comfortable
Instantly Speed Up Any Computer with ReadyBoost
Type an Application’s Name to Run It
Spend Some Time in Windows Explorer
CHAPTER 43: Ten Terrific Online Tips to Help and Traps to Avoid
Review Internet Explorer’s Options
Pay Attention to That Phishing Detector
Save Your Tabbed Home Pages and Order Them Properly
Add Your Links to Your Taskbar Too
Keep Windows Mail’s Deleted Folder Clean
Your Inbox Should Also Be Cleared
CHAPTER 44: Your Windows Vista Future
Vista’s Understanding of Data Flow
Your Vista Version Is Always Upgradeable