PCs: The Missing Manual

PCs: The Missing Manual

by Andy Rathbone, David A. Karp
Released December 2005
Publisher(s): O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ISBN: 9780596100933

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Book description

Your vacuum comes with one. Even your blender comes with one. But your PC--something that costs a whole lot more and is likely to be used daily and for tasks of far greater importance and complexity--doesn't come with a printed manual. Thankfully, that's not a problem any longer: PCs: The Missing Manual explains everything you need to know about PCs, both inside and out, and how to keep them running smoothly and working the way you want them to work.

A complete PC manual for both beginners and power users, PCs: The Missing Manual has something for everyone. PC novices will appreciate the unassuming, straightforward tutorials on PC basics, such as hooking up a monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, and scanner. Families will enjoy sections on networking several computers to share an Internet connection, sharing one monitor between two PCs, connecting portable media players, and creating a home theater system. Adventurous PC users will like the clear photos explaining how to take your PC apart and replace or upgrade any failing parts; IT professionals will be grateful to have something to hand to their coworkers who need solid, trusted information about using their PC.

In PCs: The Missing Manual, bestselling computer author Andy Rathbone delivers simple, reliable advice on the kinds of things PC users confront every day. He shows you how to connect and configure today's must-have devices (including digital cameras, portable music players, digital camcorders, and keychain drives); burn CDs and DVDs; scan and fax documents, and more. His section on the Internet explains how to choose the best Internet Service Provider and web browser for your needs; send email; find information quickly on the Web; share photos online; set up a blog; set up a webcam; access TV and radio through the Internet; and shop safely online. And Rathbone delivers plenty of guidance on keep your privacy and your PC safe by installing firewalls, creating safe passwords, running antivirus software, removing spyware and adware, and backing up important files.

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Table of contents

  1. PCs: The Missing Manual
  2. A Note Regarding Supplemental Files
  3. The Missing Credits
    1. About the Author
    2. About the Creative Team
    3. Acknowledgements
    4. The Missing Manual Series
  4. Introduction
    1. About This Book
      1. Assumptions
      2. About → These → Arrows
    2. About the Outline
    3. About MissingManuals.com
    4. Safari Enabled
  5. I. Your PC’s Main Parts
    1. 1. Inside Your PC
      1. 1.1. Finding Out Your PC’s Horsepower
      2. 1.2. The PC’s Case
      3. 1.3. Opening Your PC’s Case
        1. 1.3.1. Troubleshooting Overheating Problems
      4. 1.4. Motherboard
      5. 1.5. CPU (Central Processing Unit)
      6. 1.6. Adding Memory (aka RAM)
        1. 1.6.1. Adding or Replacing Memory
          1. 1.6.1.1. Adding memory
        2. 1.6.2. Troubleshooting Memory Problems
      7. 1.7. Installing Expansion Cards
        1. 1.7.1. Identifying Cards and Slots
        2. 1.7.2. Adding or Removing a Card
        3. 1.7.3. Troubleshooting Card Problems
      8. 1.8. Ports
        1. 1.8.1. Video (aka VGA)
        2. 1.8.2. USB Ports (aka Universal Serial Bus)
          1. 1.8.2.1. Troubleshooting USB problems
        3. 1.8.3. FireWire (aka IEEE 1394, i.Link)
          1. 1.8.3.1. Troubleshooting FireWire problems
        4. 1.8.4. Ethernet and Phone
        5. 1.8.5. Keyboard/Mouse (PS/2)
        6. 1.8.6. Sound
        7. 1.8.7. Joystick/Game Controller/MIDI Port
        8. 1.8.8. Serial and Parallel Ports
      9. 1.9. Power Supply and Battery
        1. 1.9.1. Replacing a Dead Power Supply
          1. 1.9.1.1. Finding the replacement’s correct wattage
          2. 1.9.1.2. Buying a replacement power supply that fits your case
          3. 1.9.1.3. Replace the old power supply
        2. 1.9.2. Replacing the Motherboard’s Battery
    2. 2. Keyboards and Mice
      1. 2.1. Keyboard Basics
        1. 2.1.1. Types of Keyboards
        2. 2.1.2. The Mystery Keys
        3. 2.1.3. The Windows Keys
        4. 2.1.4. The Ctrl+Alt+Del Cure for Frozen Programs
        5. 2.1.5. Controlling Windows with only a Keyboard
        6. 2.1.6. Typing Symbols
        7. 2.1.7. Using Keyboards in Foreign Countries
        8. 2.1.8. Installing a Keyboard
        9. 2.1.9. Adjusting the Keyboard’s Sensitivity
        10. 2.1.10. Troubleshooting Keyboards
      2. 2.2. Mouse Basics
        1. 2.2.1. Controlling Windows with only a Mouse
        2. 2.2.2. Installing a USB or PS/2 Mouse
        3. 2.2.3. Troubleshooting Mice
          1. 2.2.3.1. Plug it in all the way
          2. 2.2.3.2. Cleaning the mouse ball
          3. 2.2.3.3. Cleaning a mouse’s optical sensor
          4. 2.2.3.4. Adjusting a mouse
          5. 2.2.3.5. Buttons tab
          6. 2.2.3.6. Pointers tab
          7. 2.2.3.7. Pointer Options tab
          8. 2.2.3.8. Wheel tab
          9. 2.2.3.9. Hardware tab
      3. 2.3. Game Controllers
    3. 3. Monitors and Video
      1. 3.1. Monitor Basics
        1. 3.1.1. LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
        2. 3.1.2. CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) Monitors
      2. 3.2. Installing a Monitor
      3. 3.3. Plugging Two Monitors into One PC
        1. 3.3.1. See if Your PC Supports Two Monitors
        2. 3.3.2. Plug in the Second Monitor
        3. 3.3.3. Activate the Second Monitor
        4. 3.3.4. Identify, Position, and Assign the Monitors
      4. 3.4. Plugging Two PCs into One Monitor
      5. 3.5. Using TV Sets as Monitors
        1. 3.5.1. Display Your PC’s Video Signal on Your TV
        2. 3.5.2. Play Your PC’s Audio Through Your TV’s Speakers
      6. 3.6. Watching TV on a PC
      7. 3.7. Troubleshooting Your Monitor
        1. 3.7.1. No Picture on the Monitor
          1. 3.7.1.1. Adjust a CRT monitor
          2. 3.7.1.2. Adjust an LCD monitor
      8. 3.8. Video Card (aka Display Adapter)
        1. 3.8.1. Adjust Video Settings in Windows XP
        2. 3.8.2. Upgrade Your PC’s Video Card
        3. 3.8.3. Troubleshooting Video Card Problems
    4. 4. Printers
      1. 4.1. Printer Basics
        1. 4.1.1. Inkjet
        2. 4.1.2. Laser
        3. 4.1.3. All-in-One Printers
        4. 4.1.4. Garage Sale Models
      2. 4.2. Installing a Printer
        1. 4.2.1. Network and Bluetooth Printers
        2. 4.2.2. Parallel, Serial, and Infrared Printers
        3. 4.2.3. Add Printer Wizard
        4. 4.2.4. Setting Up a Printer’s Default Preferences
      3. 4.3. Choosing Printer Paper
      4. 4.4. Adjusting Printer Settings
      5. 4.5. Printing Envelopes
      6. 4.6. Printing Specialized Items
      7. 4.7. Printing Digital Photos Professionally
        1. 4.7.1. In-Store Kiosks
        2. 4.7.2. Photo Printing Web Sites
      8. 4.8. Digital Photos on an Inkjet Printer
        1. 4.8.1. Choosing Photo Paper
        2. 4.8.2. Choosing Your Photo’s Size and Resolution
        3. 4.8.3. Adjusting Your Printer Settings
      9. 4.9. Printing Web Pages
      10. 4.10. Printer Troubleshooting
        1. 4.10.1. Paper Jams
        2. 4.10.2. Replacing Inkjet Cartridges
        3. 4.10.3. Replacing Toner Cartridges
        4. 4.10.4. Cleaning Inkjet Nozzles
        5. 4.10.5. Other Options
  6. II. Multimedia
    1. 5. Digital Cameras, Camcorders, and Webcams
      1. 5.1. Digital Camera Basics
      2. 5.2. Moving Pictures from Camera to Computer
      3. 5.3. Moving Pictures from a Card Reader to a PC
      4. 5.4. Viewing and Editing Photos
        1. 5.4.1. Viewing Photos
        2. 5.4.2. Rotating and Editing Photos
      5. 5.5. Sharing Photos with Friends
        1. 5.5.1. Sending Photos Through Email
        2. 5.5.2. Posting Photos on a Sharing Site
          1. 5.5.2.1. Flickr
          2. 5.5.2.2. Kodak EasyShare Gallery
          3. 5.5.2.3. Fotolog
      6. 5.6. Troubleshooting Digital Cameras
      7. 5.7. Camcorder Basics
      8. 5.8. Connect the Camcorder to Your PC
        1. 5.8.1. Digital Video (DV) Camcorder
        2. 5.8.2. Analog Camcorder
      9. 5.9. Editing Video
        1. 5.9.1. Capture Video
      10. 5.10. Editing with Movie Maker
        1. 5.10.1. Troubleshooting Movie Maker
      11. 5.11. Webcams
        1. 5.11.1. Video Camera
        2. 5.11.2. Video Capture Software
        3. 5.11.3. Internet Connection, Web Site, and a Web Page
        4. 5.11.4. Troubleshooting Webcam Problems
    2. 6. Scanners
      1. 6.1. Choosing a Scanner
      2. 6.2. Installing a Scanner
      3. 6.3. Three Ways to Scan an Image
      4. 6.4. Using Windows Scanner and Camera Wizard
      5. 6.5. Digitizing Old Photos and Slides
      6. 6.6. Troubleshooting Scanners
        1. 6.6.1. Cleaning the Scanner’s Glass
        2. 6.6.2. Common Scanning Issues
    3. 7. Sound
      1. 7.1. Understanding Sound Adapters (Sound Cards)
        1. 7.1.1. Integrated Audio
        2. 7.1.2. Sound Cards
        3. 7.1.3. Plug-in Box
      2. 7.2. Sending Sound into and out of Your PC
        1. 7.2.1. Microphone
        2. 7.2.2. Speakers
        3. 7.2.3. Synthesizer
        4. 7.2.4. Audio In
        5. 7.2.5. Copy Records onto CDs and MP3s
      3. 7.3. Choosing Music File Formats
        1. 7.3.1. WAV (WAVeform audio file)
        2. 7.3.2. MP3 (Moving Picture Experts Group Audio Stream, Layer III)
        3. 7.3.3. WMA (Windows Media Audio)
        4. 7.3.4. AAC (Advanced Audio Coding)
        5. 7.3.5. MID (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)
      4. 7.4. PC Music for Musicians
        1. 7.4.1. Understanding MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)
      5. 7.5. Troubleshooting Sound
        1. 7.5.1. Finding the Right Port
        2. 7.5.2. Adjusting the Mixer Settings
        3. 7.5.3. Volume Level
        4. 7.5.4. Drivers
    4. 8. Digital Music Players
      1. 8.1. Choosing a Digital Music Player
      2. 8.2. Your Digital Player and Your PC
      3. 8.3. iPod and iTunes
        1. 8.3.1. Adding Music to Your iTunes Library
          1. 8.3.1.1. Importing your PC’s existing music
          2. 8.3.1.2. Buying music online
        2. 8.3.2. Transferring Songs to an iPod Automatically
        3. 8.3.3. Transferring Songs to an iPod Manually
        4. 8.3.4. Transferring Data to Your iPod
        5. 8.3.5. Transferring Your Contacts and Calendar to Your iPod
        6. 8.3.6. Transferring Notes
      4. 8.4. Windows XP’s Media Player
        1. 8.4.1. Adding Music to Media Player
          1. 8.4.1.1. Importing your PC’s music
          2. 8.4.1.2. Buying music online
        2. 8.4.2. Copying Songs to Your Portable Player
          1. 8.4.2.1. Transferring songs automatically
          2. 8.4.2.2. Transferring songs manually
        3. 8.4.3. Transferring Data
      5. 8.5. Troubleshooting Digital Music Players
        1. 8.5.1. iPod’s “Do Not Disconnect” Message
        2. 8.5.2. Making Your PC Notice Your Player
        3. 8.5.3. Reformatting Your Player’s Hard Disk
        4. 8.5.4. Sharing an iPod Between Two PCs
        5. 8.5.5. Digital Rights Management Problems
        6. 8.5.6. Problem Tags
        7. 8.5.7. PC Crashes
  7. III. Storing Information
    1. 9. Hard Drives and Floppy Drives
      1. 9.1. Your PC’s Drives: An Overview
      2. 9.2. Hard Drives: An Introduction
      3. 9.3. Your Hard Drive’s Available Space
      4. 9.4. Removing Unused Programs and Files
      5. 9.5. Speeding Up a Hard Drive
      6. 9.6. Installing a Hard Drive
        1. 9.6.1. Identifying Your Internal Drive’s Interface
        2. 9.6.2. Shopping for a New Drive
        3. 9.6.3. Installing an External Hard Drive
        4. 9.6.4. Installing an Internal Hard Drive
        5. 9.6.5. Changing a Drive Letter
      7. 9.7. Troubleshooting Hard Drives
        1. 9.7.1. Disk Testers
        2. 9.7.2. Checking Your Hard Drive’s Health
        3. 9.7.3. Converting from FAT32 to NTFS
      8. 9.8. Floppy Drives: An Introduction
      9. 9.9. Formatting a Floppy Disk
      10. 9.10. Installing a Floppy Drive
    2. 10. CD and DVD Drives
      1. 10.1. CDs: An Introduction
      2. 10.2. Playing CDs
      3. 10.3. Buying the Right Type of Blank CD
      4. 10.4. Ripping CDs
        1. 10.4.1. Ripping CDs with Windows XP’s Media Player
        2. 10.4.2. Ripping CDs with iTunes
      5. 10.5. Burning CDs
        1. 10.5.1. Burning Data to a CD
        2. 10.5.2. Burning Music to a CD
          1. 10.5.2.1. Burning a music CD with Windows Media Player
          2. 10.5.2.2. Burning a music CD with iTunes
        3. 10.5.3. Burning a VCD (Video CD)
      6. 10.6. Duplicating CDs
      7. 10.7. Erasing CDs
      8. 10.8. DVDs: An Introduction
      9. 10.9. Playing DVD Movies
      10. 10.10. Buying the Right Type of Blank DVD
      11. 10.11. Specialty Disc Formats
      12. 10.12. Ripping DVDs
      13. 10.13. Burning DVDs
      14. 10.14. Buying a CD or DVD Drive
        1. 10.14.1. Choosing a CD Drive
        2. 10.14.2. Choosing a DVD Drive
      15. 10.15. Installing a CD or DVD Drive
      16. 10.16. Troubleshooting CD and DVD Drives
        1. 10.16.1. Avoiding Skips or Errors When Burning CDs or DVDs
        2. 10.16.2. DVD Region Settings
        3. 10.16.3. Extracting Stuck Discs
        4. 10.16.4. Codec Problems
  8. IV. Talking to the World
    1. 11. Getting Online
      1. 11.1. Different Ways to Connect to the Internet
        1. 11.1.1. Wireless Internet Connections
        2. 11.1.2. Broadband (Cable and DSL) Connections
        3. 11.1.3. Dial-up Connections
      2. 11.2. Setting Up a Modem
        1. 11.2.1. Setting Up a Dial-Up Modem
        2. 11.2.2. Setting Up a Cable or DSL Modem
      3. 11.3. Subscribing to an Internet Service
        1. 11.3.1. Choosing a Regular ISP vs. an Online Service
        2. 11.3.2. Finding the Best Internet Service Provider
      4. 11.4. Setting Up an Internet Connection
        1. 11.4.1. Firing Up the New Connection Wizard
        2. 11.4.2. Viewing or Changing Your Internet Connections
      5. 11.5. Dialing into the Internet
        1. 11.5.1. Starting a Dial-Up Connection
        2. 11.5.2. Disconnecting from a Dial-Up Connection
      6. 11.6. Troubleshooting Online Connections
        1. 11.6.1. Stopping a Program or PC from Trying to Connect
        2. 11.6.2. Web Sites That Don’t Answer
        3. 11.6.3. Busy Signals
    2. 12. Email
      1. 12.1. Choosing an Email Program
        1. 12.1.1. Outlook Express
        2. 12.1.2. Eudora
        3. 12.1.3. Thunderbird
        4. 12.1.4. Web-based Email
          1. 12.1.4.1. Gmail
          2. 12.1.4.2. Hotmail
          3. 12.1.4.3. Yahoo
      2. 12.2. Setting Up Outlook Express
      3. 12.3. Composing and Sending Email
        1. 12.3.1. Attaching Files to Email
        2. 12.3.2. Spell Checking
      4. 12.4. Reading and Processing Email
        1. 12.4.1. Deleting Email
        2. 12.4.2. Replying to Email
        3. 12.4.3. Forwarding Email
        4. 12.4.4. Sorting and Filing Email
        5. 12.4.5. Printing Email
        6. 12.4.6. Opening and Saving Attachments
      5. 12.5. Managing Your Address Book
      6. 12.6. Email Etiquette
      7. 12.7. Troubleshooting Email Problems
        1. 12.7.1. Stopping Spam
        2. 12.7.2. Blocking Offensive Senders
    3. 13. Surfing the Web
      1. 13.1. Choosing and Setting Up a Browser
        1. 13.1.1. Internet Explorer
          1. 13.1.1.1. Features
          2. 13.1.1.2. Pros
          3. 13.1.1.3. Cons
          4. 13.1.1.4. Setting up Internet Explorer
          5. 13.1.1.5. Backing up settings
        2. 13.1.2. Firefox
          1. 13.1.2.1. Features
          2. 13.1.2.2. Pros
          3. 13.1.2.3. Cons
          4. 13.1.2.4. Setting up Firefox
          5. 13.1.2.5. Privacy
          6. 13.1.2.6. Backing up bookmarks
        3. 13.1.3. Opera and Netscape
      2. 13.2. Managing Forms and Passwords
        1. 13.2.1. Autofilling Forms in Internet Explorer
        2. 13.2.2. Autofilling Forms in Firefox
      3. 13.3. Blocking Pop-up Ads and Other Nuisances
      4. 13.4. Browsing the Web
        1. 13.4.1. Finding Sites
        2. 13.4.2. Printing Sites
        3. 13.4.3. Saving Information from Web Sites
          1. 13.4.3.1. Saving photos
          2. 13.4.3.2. Saving text snippets
          3. 13.4.3.3. Saving a Web page
          4. 13.4.3.4. Saving parts of a Web site automatically for offline reading
        4. 13.4.4. Forwarding Sites
        5. 13.4.5. Downloading Files
      5. 13.5. Viewing RSS Feeds
    4. 14. Networking
      1. 14.1. Choosing a Network
        1. 14.1.1. Wired Networks
          1. 14.1.1.1. Ethernet
          2. 14.1.1.2. Powerline (HomePlug)
        2. 14.1.2. Wireless (WiFi)
        3. 14.1.3. Mixing Wired and Wireless
      2. 14.2. Networking Hardware: What You Need
        1. 14.2.1. Router
          1. 14.2.1.1. Buying recommendation
        2. 14.2.2. Network Adapter
        3. 14.2.3. Ethernet Cables
          1. 14.2.3.1. Buying recommendation
      3. 14.3. Setting Up a Simple Home Network
      4. 14.4. The Network Setup Wizard
        1. 14.4.1. “Before you continue”
        2. 14.4.2. “Select a connection method”
        3. 14.4.3. “Give this computer a description and name”
        4. 14.4.4. “Name your network”
        5. 14.4.5. “File and printer sharing”
        6. 14.4.6. “Ready to apply network settings”
        7. 14.4.7. “You’re almost done”
      5. 14.5. Securing Your Network
        1. 14.5.1. Securing Your Wireless Connection
          1. 14.5.1.1. Name your wireless network and add a password
          2. 14.5.1.2. Tell the password to your wirelessly connected PCs
        2. 14.5.2. Activating Powerline Security
      6. 14.6. Sharing an Internet Connection
      7. 14.7. Sharing Printers
      8. 14.8. Exchanging Files Between PCs
        1. 14.8.1. Viewing, Copying, and Moving Files on Other PCs
        2. 14.8.2. Sharing Additional Folders
        3. 14.8.3. Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
        4. 14.8.4. Windows Briefcase
        5. 14.8.5. Mapping Network Drives
      9. 14.9. Sharing Monitors
      10. 14.10. Networking Two PCs
        1. 14.10.1. Ethernet Crossover Cable
        2. 14.10.2. FireWire Cable
        3. 14.10.3. Powerline
        4. 14.10.4. Wireless
        5. 14.10.5. Bluetooth
          1. 14.10.5.1. Connecting with a Bluetooth device
          2. 14.10.5.2. Transferring and receiving files
      11. 14.11. Troubleshooting Network Problems
        1. 14.11.1. General Network Problems
        2. 14.11.2. Wireless Network Problems
        3. 14.11.3. Bickering Wireless Software
        4. 14.11.4. Signal Strength
  9. V. Maintenance, Security, and Troubleshooting
    1. 15. Security
      1. 15.1. Backing Up Your Computer
        1. 15.1.1. Backing Up Individual Items
        2. 15.1.2. Backing Up with Microsoft Backup
          1. 15.1.2.1. Start the Backup program
          2. 15.1.2.2. Choose Backup or Restore
          3. 15.1.2.3. Decide what to back up
          4. 15.1.2.4. Choose a backup type, destination, and name
          5. 15.1.2.5. Automate your backup
        3. 15.1.3. Restoring a Backup with Microsoft Backup
      2. 15.2. Creating Passwords
      3. 15.3. Activating Windows Update
        1. 15.3.1. Setting Windows Updates to Automatic
        2. 15.3.2. Windows XP’s Two Service Packs
      4. 15.4. Preventing Theft
      5. 15.5. Phishing
      6. 15.6. Adware, Spyware, and Other Threats
        1. 15.6.1. Types of Malware
        2. 15.6.2. Symptoms
        3. 15.6.3. Removal
          1. 15.6.3.1. Antivirus programs
          2. 15.6.3.2. Removing spyware and adware
      7. 15.7. Installing a Firewall
        1. 15.7.1. Hardware Firewall
        2. 15.7.2. Software Firewall
        3. 15.7.3. Windows Firewall
    2. 16. Fixing Common Problems
      1. 16.1. Undeleting Deleted Files
      2. 16.2. Quitting Frozen Programs
      3. 16.3. System Restore
        1. 16.3.1. Performing a System Restore
        2. 16.3.2. Creating a Restore Point
      4. 16.4. Resetting Windows XP Passwords
      5. 16.5. Troubleshooting Driver Problems
        1. 16.5.1. Troubleshooting with the Add Hardware Wizard
        2. 16.5.2. Working with Drivers in the Device Manager
          1. 16.5.2.1. Red Xs
          2. 16.5.2.2. Yellow !s
        3. 16.5.3. Finding a New Driver
        4. 16.5.4. Installing or Updating a Driver
        5. 16.5.5. When the New Driver Doesn’t Work
      6. 16.6. Speeding Up a Slow PC
      7. 16.7. Windows Activation
      8. 16.8. Windows’ Troubleshooters
    3. 17. Advanced Troubleshooting
      1. 17.1. Watching Your PC Start
      2. 17.2. Editing the BIOS Settings
        1. 17.2.1. Entering the BIOS Settings
        2. 17.2.2. Navigating the BIOS Menu Screens
        3. 17.2.3. Disabling “Silent Boot”
        4. 17.2.4. Changing the Power-On Password
          1. 17.2.4.1. Remove the battery
          2. 17.2.4.2. Remove the password jumpers
          3. 17.2.4.3. Back door passwords
          4. 17.2.4.4. Remove the hard drive
        5. 17.2.5. Upgrading BIOS Firmware
        6. 17.2.6. Disabling Onboard Motherboard Circuits
        7. 17.2.7. Changing the Boot Drive Order
        8. 17.2.8. Numeric Keypad
        9. 17.2.9. Exit the BIOS
      3. 17.3. Replacing Firmware
      4. 17.4. Searching for Clues with Google
      5. 17.5. Reverting to Old Programs
      6. 17.6. Swapping Parts
      7. 17.7. Microsoft’s Knowledge Base
      8. 17.8. Last Resort: Data Grabs with Knoppix
  10. VI. Appendices
    1. A. Setting Up a PC
      1. A.1. Removing Your PC from Its Box
      2. A.2. Choosing Your PC’s Location
      3. A.3. Plugging In Accessories
        1. A.3.1. Your Chair and Your Posture
        2. A.3.2. Monitor
        3. A.3.3. Power Strip
        4. A.3.4. Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
        5. A.3.5. Mouse and Keyboard
        6. A.3.6. Telephone Cable
        7. A.3.7. Ethernet Cable
        8. A.3.8. Speakers
        9. A.3.9. Printer
      4. A.4. Activating Your PC and Windows Update
    2. B. Memory Cards and USB Drives
      1. B.1. Memory Cards
        1. B.1.1. Types of Memory Cards
          1. B.1.1.1. CompactFlash (CF)
          2. B.1.1.2. Microdrive
          3. B.1.1.3. Memory Stick
          4. B.1.1.4. Secure Digital (SD)
          5. B.1.1.5. SmartMedia
          6. B.1.1.6. xD Picture
        2. B.1.2. Moving Data Between a Card and a PC
        3. B.1.3. Caring and Feeding for Memory Cards
      2. B.2. USB Drives
        1. B.2.1. Staying Safe
        2. B.2.2. Moving Data Between a USB Drive and a PC
        3. B.2.3. USB Drive Travel Kit
      3. B.3. Troubleshooting Flash Memory
        1. B.3.1. Recovering Erased Photos or Data
    3. C. Other Cool Things You Can Do Online
      1. C.1. Faxing with Your PC
        1. C.1.1. Faxing Requirements
        2. C.1.2. Setting Up the Fax Program
        3. C.1.3. Receiving Faxes
        4. C.1.4. Sending Faxes
      2. C.2. Gambling Online
      3. C.3. Using Google Maps
        1. C.3.1. Plotting a Trip
        2. C.3.2. Browsing the Maps
      4. C.4. Sending Greeting Cards
      5. C.5. Instant Messaging
        1. C.5.1. Adding Friends
          1. C.5.1.1. Windows Messenger
          2. C.5.1.2. AOL Instant Messenger
        2. C.5.2. Sending and Receiving Information
      6. C.6. Playing Online Games
        1. C.6.1. Arcade Games
        2. C.6.2. Massive Multiplayer Online Games
        3. C.6.3. LAN Parties
      7. C.7. Creating a Web Site
        1. C.7.1. Creating Content
        2. C.7.2. Editing a Web Site
        3. C.7.3. Finding Web Space
        4. C.7.4. Delivering Content to Your Site
      8. C.8. Making Internet-based Phone Calls
        1. C.8.1. Installing Skype Software
        2. C.8.2. Making Calls with Skype
        3. C.8.3. Receiving Calls with Skype
        4. C.8.4. Troubleshooting Skype
    4. D. Dealing with Technical Support
      1. D.1. Getting Good Tech Support
      2. D.2. Before Contacting Tech Support
      3. D.3. Choosing Your Support
        1. D.3.1. Web-based Support
        2. D.3.2. Online Chat
        3. D.3.3. Email Support
        4. D.3.4. Phone Support
      4. D.4. Sending Your PC to the Repair Shop
    5. E. Packing a Laptop Bag
      1. E.1. Fully Charged Battery
      2. E.2. Power Adapter and Accessories
      3. E.3. Business Card
      4. E.4. Wireless Adapters
      5. E.5. Mouse
      6. E.6. Cables
      7. E.7. PC Card Flash Reader
      8. E.8. Manuals
      9. E.9. DVD/CDs
      10. E.10. FedEx Envelope and Airbill
      11. E.11. Skype Account
  11. Index
  12. About the Authors
  13. Colophon
  14. Copyright

Product information

  • Title: PCs: The Missing Manual
  • Author(s): Andy Rathbone, David A. Karp
  • Release date: December 2005
  • Publisher(s): O'Reilly Media, Inc.
  • ISBN: 9780596100933