02_046401 ftoc.qxp 3/12/07 10:57 PM Page vii Contents Acknowledgments . xxiii Introduction . xxiv Part I: Beginner’s Crash Course 1 Chapter 1: Getting Started . 3 Getting to Know Your Computer’s Hardware. 3 Using Your Mouse or Touchpad. 5 Using Your Keyboard. 6 Typing Those key1 + key2 Things . 8 Getting to Know Your Computer’s Software . 9 What Is Windows Vista? . 9 Why Learn Windows Vista? . 9 Starting Windows Vista . 10 The Windows Desktop . 13 The Taskbar . 15 The Notification Area . 17 Using Icons. 17 Working Common Controls . 19 Using Scroll Bars . 20 Hiding and Showing Details . 21 Using Dragging Handles . 22 About Disabled (Dimmed) Controls . 23 The Right Way to Turn Off Your Computer . 24 Summary . 25 Chapter 2: Workin’ It. 27 Understanding Objects and Properties . 27 Introducing Control Panel . 28 COPYRIGHTEDControl Panel Home View and ClassicMATERIAL View . 30 Using Dialog Boxes . 31 Using Tabs . 33 Using Option Buttons. 34 Using Check Boxes . 34 Using Spin Boxes . 35 02_046401 ftoc.qxp 3/12/07 10:57 PM Page viii viii Contents Using Drop-Down Lists . 35 Using List Boxes. 36 Using Sliders. 38 Getting Help in Dialog Boxes. 39 Using Buttons . 40 What’s the Default? . 41 Typing Text and Passwords . 41 Changing Text in a Text Box . 42 Changing Chunks of Text . 42 Combo Boxes and AutoComplete . 44 Typing Passwords. 44 Summary . 45 Chapter 3: Getting Help When You Need It. 47 Using Help and Support . 47 Searching for Specific Information . 51 Getting Around in Help and Support . 53 Troubleshooting. 54 Getting Guided Help. 54 Windows Vista Maintenance Help. 56 Asking for Help . 57 Getting Help Online. 58 Closing Help and Support . 59 Getting Help with Your Computer . 59 Other Sources of Help. 60 Summary . 61 Part II: Programs, Documents, and Folders 63 Chapter 4: Running Programs. 65 Starting Programs . 65 Finding a Lost Program . 67 Taking Control of Program Windows . 68 Tools Found in Most Program Windows . 69 About the Active Window . 70 Arranging Open Program Windows . 73 Maximizing and Minimizing Program Windows . 75 See the Desktop by Minimizing All Open Windows . 77 Sizing a Window . 77 Moving a Program Window. 79 Working the Menu Bars. 79 Watch Out for Collapsible Menus!. 81 Using Toggles on Menus . 81 Getting Help in Programs. 82 Closing Program Windows . 82 Saving Your Work Before Closing . 83 Closing Multiple Windows . 83 Summary . 84 02_046401 ftoc.qxp 3/12/07 10:57 PM Page ix Contents ix Chapter 5: Navigating Your Folders . 85 Understanding Documents. 85 All About Folders . 87 How Folders Are Organized . 88 Parent Folder and Subfolders . 90 Using Windows Explorer . 91 Windows Explorer Components. 92 The Windows Explorer Toolbar . 93 Explorer’s Search . 93 The Windows Explorer Detail Pane . 93 The Windows Explorer Navigation Pane . 93 The Windows Explorer Menu Bar . 94 The Preview Pane. 95 The Windows Explorer Taskbar Button. 95 Navigating Through Folders . 96 Different Ways to View Icons. 98 The Icon View . 99 The Tiles View . 100 The List View. 101 The Details View . 102 Arranging Icons in Explorer . 105 Closing Windows Explorer . 106 Summary . 107 Chapter 6: Working with Documents . 109 Understanding Document Types . 109 Showing/Hiding File Name Extensions. 110 Common Document File Types . 112 Using a Program to Create a Document . 113 Saving a Document. 114 How to Save a Document . 114 Using the Save As Dialog Box. 115 Save Your Work Often!. 118 Troubleshooting Saves . 118 Closing a Document . 119 Opening Documents . 120 Opening a Recent Document . 120 Opening a Document from Its Folder . 122 Using the Open Dialog Box . 122 Opening a Document in a Different Program . 124 Changing the Default Program . 125 When Windows Can’t Open a Document . 126 Changing the Document Type. 128 Working with Multiple Document Windows . 129 Summary . 131 Chapter 7: Type, Edit, Copy, and Paste . 133 Typing on a Screen . 134 Indenting and Aligning Text. 135 Setting Margins. 136 02_046401 ftoc.qxp 3/12/07 10:57 PM Page x x Contents Choosing a Page Orientation . 137 Printing Text . 137 Navigating Text . 138 Selecting Text to Change . 139 Changing Text . 140 Deleting and Replacing Large Chunks of Text. 141 Styling Text . 141 Copying, Moving, and Pasting Text . 143 Copying from One Document to Another . 144 Copy and Paste a Picture . 146 Move a Chunk of Text within a Document. 147 Dragging and Dropping Text . 147 Adding Special Characters to Text . 148 Saving Your Text . 150 Summary . 150 Chapter 8: Printing Documents . 151 Printing a Document. 151 Common Printing Options . 152 Choosing a Print Quality . 153 Previewing What You’re Printing. 154 Stopping the Printer, Managing Print Jobs. 155 Managing Printers and Faxes . 157 Changing the Default.