Laptops. 5th edition FOR. by Dan Gookin. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. WILEY

(1)

Laptops

FOR

5th

edition

by

Dan

Gookin

WILEY

(2)

Laptop

715

Chapter

9:

Using

Your

Laptop

117

Chapter

10: PortablePower 129

Chapter

11: The

Laptop,

thePrinter,and the Fax 143

Chapter

12:

Expanding

Your

Laptop's

Universe 155

Part

IV:

Laptop

Communications

167

Chapter

13: Basic

Networking

169

Chapter

14: The Wireless Life 183

Chapter

15:

Hello,

Internet 197

Chapter

16: The Modem Lives 207

Chapter

17: Online

Safety

219

Chapter

18: Portable Web

Browsingand

E-Mail

Tips

233

Chapter

19: Between the

Desktop

and

Laptop

241

Part V: The

Laptop

Goes Elsewhere

253

Chapter

20: O thePlaces You'll Go 255

Chapter

21:AMore Secure

Laptop

271

(3)

Part

VI:

Troubleshooting

and

Maintenance

303

Chapter

23:

Laptop Troubleshooting

305

Chapter

24:

Laptop

Maintenanceand

Upgrading

313

Part

V\h

The Part

of

Tens

319

Chapter

25: Ten

Battery Tips

and Tricks 321

Chapter

26: Ten

Handy Laptop

Accessories 327

Chapter

27: Ten

Things

to Throw in Your

Laptop

Case 333

(4)

Table of

Contents

Introduction

/

About This Book 1

And JustWho AreYou? 2

Icons Used in This Book 3

WheretoGo from Here 4

Part

1:

This

Laptop

Ihinq

5

Chapter

1: The Portable

Computing

Quest

7

Laptop History

7

The Xerox

Dynabook

8

The Osborne 1 8

The loveable

luggables

9

The Model 100 11

The lunch buckets 13

Dawn of the PC

laptop

14

The search for

light

16

Modern

Laptops

17

Thenotebook 17

TheTablet PC 18

The subnotebooks 19

Chapter

2: A

Laptop

of Your Own

21

Do You Needa

Laptop?

21

Why

you needa

laptop

22

Why

you don't need a

laptop

23

Laptop

Shopping

24

Things

to

ignore

when

buying

a

laptop

24

Things

to heed when

buying

a

laptop

25

Software for Your

Laptop

26

The operating system 26

Othersoftware 26

Laptop

Hardware

Buying

Decisions 27

Important

laptop

hardware _guts 27

Communications choices 29

The _green

laptop

29

Service,

Support,

and

Warranty

29 The Final

Step: Buying

Your

Laptop

30

(5)

Laptops

For

Dummies,

5th Edition

Part

11:

Say

Hello

to

four

Laptop

31

Chapter

3: The

Out-of-the-Box

Experience

33

Basic Box

Unpacking

33

Step-by-step unpacking

directions 34 "How long should 1

keep

the box?" 36

Whento send in the_warranty 36

Set

Up

Your

Laptop

37

Find a

place

forthe

laptop

37

Charge

the

battery!

38 "Should I

plug

the

laptop

intoaUPS?" 39

WhattoDo Next 40

Chapter

4:

To Turn On

a

Laptop

41

Turn On Your

Laptop

41

Step

1:

Open

the lid 42

Step

2:

Adjust

the lid for

optimal viewing

42

Step

3: Locate the power button 43

Step

4: Punch the power button 44

It's Windows! 44

Running

Windows for the first time 45

Activating

Windows 46

Logging

intoWindows 46

Logging

into_{Windows in unusual ways} 48

Introducing

the Windows 8 Start screen 49

Beholding

the

desktop

49

What's Next? 51

Chapter

5: To Turn Off

a

Laptop

53

O the

Ways

toTurn Off a

Laptop

53

Finding

the Shutdownmenu 54

Shutting

down your

laptop

55

Restarting

Windows 56

Putting

Mr.Laptoptosleep 57

Waking

up from

Sleep

mode 58

Using

hibernation 58

Logging

off 59

Locking

Windows 60

Shutting

the

laptop's

lid 61

Shutting

down when the

laptop

doesn'twant to 61 PowerButton,What's Your Function? 61

Chapter

6: Around Your

Laptop

in 16

Pages

65

The Standard

Laptop

Tour 65

Optical

drive location 65

(6)

Table of Contents

tfj

The PC Card garage 66

A

place

for the oldball-and-chain 68

The

thing's

gotta breathe 68 Notahole,butan_eye 68

Those

Pluggable-Innable

Holes 69

Look at the

Pretty

Lights!

71

This Isn't Your

Daddy's Keyboard

72

The

general keyboard layout

73 Where didthe numeric

keypad go?

74

The Fn

key

is the Fun

key!

76

Mind these

specific

keys 77

This Isn't Your Momma's Mouse 77

The touch

pad

77

Where is the wheel button? 79 The

"happy

stick"

keyboard

mouse 79

Get arealmouse! 79

Chapter

7: Your

Laptop

and Windows

81

The

Big

Windows Picture 81

The Start screen 82

The

desktop

82

The Start button and Start button menu 82

Goodies in the notification area 84

TheCharmsbar 85

The Windows 8 shortcutmenu 86

Windows and Mass

Storage

Devices 86

A Place for Your Stuff 88

Accessing

your UserProfile folder 88

Special

folders foryour stuff 89

Sharing

files with Libraries 89

Placing

the User Profile folderon the

desktop

90

Where the

Programs

Lurk 90

"Where isWindows?" 90

"Wherearethe programs and other software?" 91

Outonthe Network 91

Visiting

the Network window 91

Perusing

the

HomeGroup

92

The PC

Settings

Screen 92

The Control Panel 93

Opening

the Control Panel 94

Visiting laptoppy

places

inthe Control Panel 95

Chapter

8: The Tablet PC

99

Types

of Tablet PCs 100

TheTablet PC Tour 101

Looking

at

special

tablet hardware 101

(7)

« «

XII

Laptops

For

Dummies,

5th Edition

The Pen Is

Mightier

Thanthe Mouse 105

Training

the_pen 105

Accessing

theonscreen

keyboard

108

Writing

textonthescreen 110

Giving

your

laptop

the

finger

112

Special

Tablet PC Software 112

Windows Journal 113

Sticky

Notes 113

InkBall 114

Part

111:

l/ou

and

\lour

Laptop

...115

Chapter

9:

Using

Your

Laptop

117

You, the

Computer Operator

117

Changing

youruseraccount

picture

118

Configuring

your

laptop's display

118

Dealing

with User Account Control

(UAC)

alerts 120

The Ins and Outsof Removable

Storage

121

Adding

adrive 121

Inserting

media 122

Removing

media from the

laptop

123

Removing

an external drive 124

TheSoftware Side 125

Adding

newsoftware 125

Removing

software 127

Chapter

10:

Portable Power

129

The

Battery

WillGeta

Charge

Out ofThis! 129

What'sa

battery?

130

Types

of batteries 131

Locate the

laptop's battery

132 Monitorthe

battery

133

Should

you

keep

the

battery

in the

laptop

whenyouuseAC_{power all the time?} 134

RIP, battery

135

When the PowerGets Low 135

Receiving

low-battery warnings

135

Adjusting low-battery warnings

136

Charging

the

battery

138

Using

asecond

battery

138

Managing

Your

Laptop's

Power 139

Power-saving

tricks and

tips

139

(8)

Table of

Contents

*««

XIII

Chapter

11: The

Laptop,

the

Printer,

and the Fax

143

APortablePrinter for Your

Laptop

143

Laptop

Printer

Setup

₁₄₄

Finding printers

in Windows 144

Adding

a

printer directly

_{to your}

laptop

146

Adding

anetworkorwireless

printer

147 "What is thedefault

printer?"

147

Print

Something

₁₄₈

Printing something

inWindows 148

Stopping

aprinter run amok 149

Printing

when youdon't havea

printer

150

The Fax Printer ₁₅₁

Sending

a fax 151

Visiting

FaxCentral 153

Receiving

a fax ₁₅₃

Chapter

12:

Expanding

Your

Laptop's

Universe

155

USB

Expansion

Options

155

That USB

thing

156

The USB cable 156

Plug

in aUSB

gizmo

158

USB-powered

devices 158 Here ahub, therea hub 159 USB

goodies galore

159

The PCCard 161

Parking

aPC Card in the PC _garage 161

Using

the PC Card 162

Backing

aPC Cardout of the PC_garage 162

The

Laptop

Becomesa

Desktop

163

Using

a full-size

keyboard

andmouse 163

Using

a second monitor 164

Running

the

laptop

withits lid closed 165

Part

IV:

Laptop

Communications

167

Chapter

13:

Basic

Networking

169

Wired

Networking

Overview 170

Network hardware 170

Network software 171

Your

Laptop Plays

onthe Network ₁₇₃

Setting

your

laptop's

networkname 173

Finding

othercomputersonthenetwork 174

HomeGroup

Sharing

175

Doing

the

HomeGroup thing

176

Creating

a

HomeGroup

176

(9)

Laptops

For

Dummies,

5th Edition

Using

the

HomeGroup

178

Sharing

afolderor

Library

with the

HomeGroup

179

Folder

Sharing

180

Finding

ashared folder 180

Sharing

afolder from your

laptop

181

Unsharing

afolder 182

Chapter

14: The Wireless Life

183

No MoreWires 184

Wireless

networking

hardware 184

Wireless

networking

software 185

Wireless

networking protocols

185

Hello, Wireless Network! , 186

Connecting

toawireless network 187

Connecting

toawireless network when you don't

know the network's name 189

Getting

the

laptop's

MAC address 191

Renewing

your lease 192

Accessing

a

pay-service

wireless network 193

Disconnecting

fromawireless network 193

That Bluetooth

Thing

194

Checking

for Bluetooth 195

Pairing

with aBluetooth

gizmo

195

Chapter

15:

Hello,

Internet

197

Mobile InternetConnection

Tips

197

Broadband Internet Access 199

Understanding

broadband 199

Setting

the network's location 201

Disconnecting

from broadbandaccess 201

Dialup

InternetAccess 202

Creating

a

dialup

connection 202

Making

the

dialup

connection 204

Disconnecting

the

dialup

connection 205

Managing dialup

connections 205

Chapter

16: The Modem

Lives

207

About Mr. Modem 207

Broadbandmodems 208

Dialup

modems 208 The

smartphone tethering

trick 209

Modem

Setup

210

Finding

modem control 210

Setting

modem properties 211

Silencing

the modem 212

Adding special

modem-command

settings

212

(10)

Table of

Contents

Dialing

areacodes 214

Setting

up

calling

card info 215

Drat Those Disconnect Time-Outs! 216

Setting

the

general

time-out 216

Setting

time-outsforeach session 217

Chapter

17: Online

Safety

219

TheWindowsAction Center 219

Antivirus Software 220

Checking

foranantivirus program 221

Getting

a free antivirus program 221

Scanning

for viruses 222

Disabling

theantivirusprogram 223

Protecting

your

laptop

from theviral scourge 224

Behind the Firewall 225

Finding

the firewall 226

Getting

a firewall_warning 227

Sneaky Spyware

228

SafeandPrivate

Browsing

228

Summoning

anInPrivate

Browsing

window 229

Checking

a_suspectweb_page 229

Deleting

your web

browsing

history

230

Windows

Update

₂₃₁

Chapter

18: Portable

Web

Browsing

and

E-Mail

Tips

233 Web

Browsing

WhenYou're Out and About 233

E-Mail

Tips

Galore 235

Reading

e-mailonthe road 235

Opening

aweb-based e-mail account 236

Accessing

e-mailfrom afriend's _computer 236

Forwarding

your messages 237

Setting

up an

autoresponder

238

Dialup

E-Mail

Tips

238

Disconnecting

after

picking

up e-mail 238

Disabling

automatic

checking

239

Sending

everything

in one batch 240

Chapter

19:

Between

the

Desktop

and

Laptop

241

Data from Here toThere 241

Sneakernet 241

Ugly

octopusnet 242

Ethernet 243

Internet

sharing

with

Dropbox

243

Synchronized

Bliss 244

Visiting

the

Sync

Center 244

Using

the

Sync

Center 245

(11)

Laptops

For

Dummies,

5th

Edition

Reviewing

sync

partnerships

246

Synchronizing

files 247

Accessing

synced

files 247

Syncing

a newfile 248

Ending

a_sync

partnership

248

Your PC from Afar 249

Setting

up for RemoteDesktop 249

Accessing

Remote

Desktop

onthe network 250

Part V: The

Laptop

Goes

Elsewhere

253

Chapter

20: 0 the Places You'll Go

255

On the Case 255

Featurestolook for ina

laptop

case 256

Recommended brands 257

I'm-Leaving-On-a-Jet-Plane

Checklist 258

Things

to _{do before you} _go 258

Things

to

pack

_{in your}

laptop bag

259

Looming

Questionsat the

Airport

260

Is your

laptop

case onecarry-on

bag

orhalfa_carry-on

bag?

260

Laptop

inspection 260

All aboard! 261

Airplane

mode 262

Up,

up in theair 263

Air power 264

In-flight

Wi-Fi 265

Cafe

Computing

265

Where to sit? 266

Beasocket sleuth 266

Other

tips

'n'stuff 267

In Your Hotel Room 268

Mind the

Laptop's Temperature

269

Chapter

21: A More Secure

Laptop

271

The HotLaptop 271

Before Your

Laptop

Is Stolen 272

Mark your

laptop

272

Register

the

laptop

and itssoftware 273 Be mindful of your environment 273

Attach the old ball-and-chain 274

Protect Your Data 275

Avoid the

Setup password

275

Usea

password

on _youraccount 276

Tell Windowsnot to memorize Internet

passwords

277

Disable the Guestaccount 279

(12)

Table of Contents

Jfl/H

Laptop,

PhoneHome 280

Your

Fingerprint,

Please 280

Back

Up

YourData 281

Preparing

for

backup

₂₈₂

Finding

that

backup

_program 282

Configuring

for

backup

283

Backing

up yourstuff 285

Restoring

froma

backup

285

Chapter

22: A

Laptop

for

Work,

a

Laptop

for

Play

289

Presentation Information 289 The

dog-and-pony

show 290

Setup your presentation 291

Laptop

Music 294

Playing

aCD 294

Loading

sometunes 295

Configuring

Windows Media

Player

to

automatically rip

aCD....297

Videos onthe

Laptop

₂₉₇

Watching

aDVD movie 297

Viewing

System

Restoretothe Rescue! 307

Safe Mode 308

Entering

Safemode 309

Testing

inSafemode 309

"My laptop always

starts in Safe mode!" 310

Common Problems and Solutions 310

"The

keyboard

is

wacky!"

310 Touch

pad

touchiness 311

Making

themouse

pointer

morevisible 311

"My laptop

won't wake

up"

311

Power-management

woes 312

(13)

Laptops

For

Dummies,

5th Edition

Chapter

24:

Laptop

Maintenance

and

Upgrading

313

New

Laptop

Hardware 313

How'bout Some NewSoftware? 314

Upgrading

yoursoftware 314

Upgrading

toa newversion of Windows 315

Laptop

Maintenance 316

Maintaining

software 316

Keeping

it clean 317

Sprucing

up the case 317

Grooming

the

keyboard

317

Cleansing

the screen 318

Part

(Ah

The Part

of

Tens

319

Chapter

25: Ten

Battery Tips

and Tricks

321

Don't

Drop

the

Battery,

Get It

Wet,

Short

It, Play Keep-Away

withIt, Open

It,

Burn

It,

orThrowIt

Away

321

Turn Down the Monitor's

Brightness

322

PowerDown the Disk Drives 322

Add RAM toPrevent Virtual

Memory

Disk

Swapping

323

Keep

RAM

Empty

324

Guard the

Battery's

Terminals 324

Avoid Extreme

Temperatures

325

Storethe

Battery

If You Don't PlantoUse It 325

Understand That Batteries Drain Over Time! 325

Deal with the

Low-Battery Warning

326

Chapter

26:

Ten

Handy

Laptop

Accessories

327

Laptop Bag

orTravel Case 327

Spare Battery

327 Webcam 328

Cooling

Pad 328 Minivac 329 USB

Lamp

329 Full-Size

Keyboard

329 External Mouse 330

ID CardorReturn Service Sticker 330

Theft-Prevention

System

331

Chapter

27: Ten

Things

to

Throw in Your

Laptop

Case

333

PowerCord and Brick 333

Spare Battery

334

(14)

Table of Contents

Screen

Wipes

and Cleaner 334

Laptop

Lock 334

Removable Media 334

Headphones

335

Office

Supplies

335

Cables, Cables,

Cables 335 Not the End ofthe List 336