Laptops For Dummies®, 3rd Edition

Table of Contents

Introduction

About This Book

And Just Who Are You?

Icons Used in This Book

Where to Go from Here

Part I: Getting Your Very Own Laptop

Chapter 1: The Quest for Portable Computing

Making It Mobile

The Xerox Dynabook

The Osborne 1

The loveable luggables

The Model 100

The lunch buckets

Early PC laptops

The search for weightlessness

From laptop to notebook

The modern notebook

The tablet computer

The future of the laptop

Why You Need a Laptop

Why You Don’t Need a Laptop

Chapter 2: A Laptop Just for You

Buy That Laptop!

Things to ignore when buying a laptop

Things to heed when buying a laptop

Other important, computery stuff

Optical disc, oui or nyet?

Communications choices

Energy management hardware

Docking stations and port replicators

Service, Support, and Warranty

The Final Step: Buying Your Laptop

Part II: Discover Your Laptop

Chapter 3: Out of the Box and into Your Lap

Box Unpacking 101

Making piles for the various items in the box

“How long should I keep the box?”

Knowing when to send in the warranty

Setting Up Your Laptop

Find a place for the laptop

Charge the battery!

“Should I plug the laptop into a UPS?”

Figuring Out What to Do Next

Chapter 4: The Chapter about Turning a Laptop On and Off

Turning On a Laptop

Open the lid

“Where’s the power button?”

Punch the power button

It’s Windows!

Windows for the first time

Logging in to Windows

Other ways to log in to Windows

Behold the desktop

Various Options for Turning Off (or Not) the Laptop

Properly shutting down your laptop

“I need to restart Windows”

The bliss of Sleep mode

Better than sleep is hibernation

The software power button

Logging off

Locking Windows

“What happens when you just shut the lid?”

Shutting down when the laptop doesn’t want to

Power Button, What’s Your Function?

Commanding the power button to do something

Controlling the software power button

Chapter 5: Around Your Laptop in 18 Pages

The Basic Laptop Tour

Removable storage spots

Removable storage storage

The PC Card garage

Holes of mystery

A place for the old ball and chain

The thing’s gotta breathe

Look at the Pretty Lights!

This Isn’t Your Daddy’s Keyboard

The general keyboard layout

Where did the numeric keypad go?

The Fn key is the Fun key!

Mind these specific keys

This Isn’t Your Momma’s Mouse

The touchpad

Where is the wheel button?

The “happy stick” keyboard mouse

Manipulating the mouse pointer

Get a real mouse!

Chapter 6: Windows on Your Laptop

Windows on the Face of It

The desktop

The Start thing

Goodies in the notification area

Storage Devices

A Place for Your Stuff

Accessing your home folder

Placing the home folder on the desktop

Special folders for your stuff

Where the Programs Lurk

“Where is Windows?”

“Where are the programs and other software?”

Out on the Network

The Control Panel

Visiting the Control Panel

The Control Panel on the Start menu

Fun places to visit in the Control Panel

Chapter 7: Behold the Tablet PC

Sing to Me, O Tablet PC Muse

Discover Your Tablet PC

Touring special tablet hardware

Settings in the Control Panel

The Pen Is Mightier than the Mouse

Training the pen

Using the Input Panel

Taking advantage of gestures and flicks

Giving your laptop the finger

Special Tablet PC Software

Windows Journal

Sticky Notes

InkBall

Chapter 8: You and Your Laptop

Make Windows Yours

Configuring your user account

Setting up your laptop’s display

Dealing with User Account Controls (UACs)

The Software Side

Adding new software

Removing old software

The Laptop and the Printer

Displaying the Printers window

Connecting a printer to your laptop

“What is the default printer?”

Using the Print dialog box

Considering options for when you don’t have a printer

Keep It Clean

Sprucing up the case

Grooming the keyboard

Cleansing the screen

Chapter 9: Power Management Madness

The Battery Will Get a Charge Out of This!

Types of batteries

Locate the laptop’s battery

Monitor the battery

What happens when the power gets low

Adjust low battery warnings

To charge the battery

Love that spare battery

Should you keep the battery in the laptop when you use AC power all the time?

RIP, battery

Managing Your Laptop’s Power

Power-saving tricks and tips

Using a power management plan

Creating your own power management plan

Chapter 10: Expanding Your Laptop’s Universe

USB Expansion Options

The miraculous expandability options of the USB port

That USB thing

The USB cable

Plug in that USB gizmo

USB-powered devices

Here a hub, there a hub

Adding external USB storage

Removing external USB storage

Plugging in the PC Card

Parking a PC Card in the PC garage

Using the PC Card

Backing a PC Card out of the PC garage

Reading Media Cards

Adding Some Big-Boy Toys

“I want an external keyboard!”

Connecting a second monitor

Gotta getta mouse

Part III: Your Laptop Talks to the World

Chapter 11: Fear Not Networking

Basic Networking

Network hardware overview

Network software overview

Connecting to a peer-to-peer network

Finding other computers on the network

Accessing network storage

Accessing network printers

Sharing a folder from your laptop

It’s a Wireless Life

Wireless networking protocol

Wireless networking hardware

Connecting to a wireless network

“What if I don’t know the SSID?”

“What’s my computer’s MAC address?”

Renewing your lease

Accessing a pay-service wireless network

Disconnecting the wireless connection

Chapter 12: Doing the Internet

Mobile Internet Tips

Broadband Internet Access

Broadband access overview

Watch out! That network is public

Disconnecting from broadband access

Dialup Internet Access

Configuring a dialup connection

Making the dialup connection

Don’t forget to disconnect the dialup connection!

Shared Internet Access

Chapter 13: That Modem Thing

Introducing Mr. Modem

Modem Setup

You’ll find the modem deep in the Control Panel jungle

Setting modem properties

Silencing the modem

Adding special modem-command settings

Dialing Out of Strange Places

Location, location, location

Area code madness! To dial or not to dial

Calling card info

The Various Disconnect Timeouts

The general timeout

Timeouts for each session

Putting the Fax in Fax/Modem

Finding the fax modem

Sending a fax

Visiting Fax Central

Receiving a fax

Chapter 14: Internet Security

The Four Horsemen of the Internet Apocalypse

Behind the Firewall

Using Windows Firewall

Monitoring Windows Firewall

Antivirus Software

Checking for an antivirus program

Scanning for viruses

Disabling the antivirus program

Protecting your laptop from the viral scourge

Sneaky Spyware

Chapter 15: Portable Internet Stuff

Web Browsing When You’re Out and About

E-Mail Tips Galore

Read your e-mail on the Web

Get a Web-based e-mail account

Access your e-mail from a friend’s computer

Forward your e-mail

Disconnect after picking up e-mail

Disable automatic checking

Send everything in one batch

Skip messages over a given size

Chapter 16: The Desktop–Laptop Connection

Can We Talk?

Sneakernet

Ugly octopus net

Ethernet

The Bliss of Synchronization

Visiting the Sync Center

Reviewing your syncs

Synchronizing files

Accessing synced files

Syncing a new file

Scheduling automatic synchronization

Ending a sync

Your PC from Afar

Setting up for Remote Desktop

Accessing Remote Desktop on the network

Part IV: Hit the Road, Jack

Chapter 17: On the Road Again . . .

Nancy Drew and the Case of the Laptop Case

Avoid the manufacturer’s case

Things to look for in a case

Recommended brands

I’m Leaving on a Jet Plane Checklist

Things to do before you go

Things to pack in your laptop bag

Looming Questions at the Airport

Is your laptop case one carry-on bag or half a carry-on bag?

Laptop inspection

All aboard!

Airplane mode

Up, up in the air

Air power

Café Computing

Where to sit?

Be a socket sleuth

Other tips ’n’ stuff

Laptopping in Your Hotel Room

Mind the Laptop’s Temperature

Chapter 18: Laptop Security

Laptops Are Easy to Steal

What to Do before Your Laptop Is Stolen

Mark your laptop

Avoid using an obvious laptop carrying case

Register the laptop and its software

Be mindful of your environment

Attach the old ball-and-chain

Protecting Your Data

Avoid the Setup password

Use a password on your account

Tell Windows not to memorize Internet passwords

Disable the Guest account

Lock Windows

Having the Laptop Phone Home

Your Fingerprint, Please

Backing Up Your Data

Preparing for backup

Doing an initial backup

Restoring from a backup

Chapter 19: Meeting Expectations

Presentation Information

The dog-and-pony show

Setting up your presentation

Close Encounters of the Laptop Kind

Annoying people near you

Starting Windows Meeting Space

Getting people to join a meeting

Doing a meeting

Part V: Troubleshooting

Chapter 20: Major Trouble and General Solutions

The Universal Quick-Fix

System Restore to the Rescue!

Enabling System Restore

Setting a restore point

Restoring your system

Safe Mode

Entering Safe mode

Testing in Safe mode

“My laptop always starts in Safe mode!”

Common Problems and Solutions

“The keyboard is wacky!”

Touchpad touchiness

Making the mouse pointer more visible

“My laptop won’t wake up”

Power-management woes

“The battery won’t charge”

Maintenance

Chapter 21: Upgrading Your Laptop

How ’bout Some New Software?

Upgrading your software

Updating Windows

Upgrading to a new version of Windows

Giving Your Laptop New Hardware

Part VI: The Part of Tens

Chapter 22: Ten or So Battery Tips and Tricks

Don’t Drop the Battery, Get It Wet, Short It, Play Keep-Away with It, Open It, Burn It, or Throw It Away

Every Few Months, Drain the Battery All the Way

Turn Down the Monitor’s Brightness

Power Down the Disk Drives

Add RAM to Prevent Virtual Memory Disk Swapping

Keep RAM Empty

Guard the Battery’s Terminals

Avoid Extreme Temperatures

Store the Battery If You Don’t Plan to Use It

Understand That Batteries Drain Over Time!

Deal with the Low-Battery Warning

Chapter 23: Ten Handy Laptop Accessories

Laptop Bag or Travel Case

Spare Battery

Docking Station or Port Replicator

Cooling Pad

Minivac

USB Lamp

Full-Size Keyboard

External Mouse

ID Card or Return Service Sticker

Theft-Prevention System

Chapter 24: Ten Things to Throw in Your Laptop Case

Power Cord and Brick

Spare Battery

Mouse

Screen Wipes and Cleaner

Laptop Lock

Removable Media

Headphones

Some Necessary Utensils

Cables, Cables, Cables

Not the End of the List

Chapter 25: Ten Tips from a PC Guru

Remember That You Control the Computer

Realize That Most Computer Nerds Love to Help Beginners

Use Antivirus Software

Understand That Upgrading Software Isn’t an Absolute Necessity

Don’t Reinstall Windows

Perfectly Adjust Your Monitor

Unplug Your Laptop When You Upgrade Hardware

Subscribe to a Computer Magazine

Shun the Hype

Don’t Take It So Seriously

Laptops For Dummies®, 3rd Edition

by Dan Gookin

Laptops For Dummies®, 3rd Edition

Published by
Wiley Publishing, Inc.
111 River St.
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2008934175

ISBN: 9780470507636

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

About the Author

Dan Gookin has been writing about technology for way, way too long. He has contributed articles to numerous high-tech magazines and written over 110 books on personal computers, many of them accurate.

Dan combines his love of writing with his gizmo fascination to create books that are informative, entertaining, and not boring. Having sold more than 14 million titles translated into over 30 languages, Dan can attest that his method of crafting computer tomes seems to work.

Perhaps his most famous title is the original DOS For Dummies, published in 1991. It became the world’s fastest-selling computer book, at one time moving more copies per week than the New York Times #1 bestseller (though, as a reference, it could not be listed on the NYT bestseller list). That book spawned the entire line of For Dummies books, which remains a publishing phenomenon to this day.

Dan’s most popular titles include Word 2007 For Dummies, Laptops For Dummies, and PCs For Dummies (all published by Wiley). He also maintains the vast and helpful Web page www.wambooli.com.

Dan holds a degree in communications/visual arts from the University of California, San Diego. Presently, he lives in the Pacific Northwest, where he enjoys spending time with his sons playing video games inside while they watch the gentle woods of Idaho.

Publisher’s Acknowledgments

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Introduction

You hold in your hands something lightweight, high-tech, and portable. It’s the product of years of research, a long-time dream of engineers and scholars, something people hunger for all over the world. It’s wireless. It’s about communications. And it will help you become the ultimate mobile computer user. Yes, of course, I’m talking about this book. Welcome to the third edition of Laptops For Dummies.

Laptop computers are all the rage. Sales are exceeding those of desktop PCs year after year. Whether you’re merely interested in laptop computing or you need a laptop for your job or you already have a portable PC, this book holds those answers you desperately seek. It’s full of tips, suggestions, examples, information, good advice, and plenty of quality humor and attitude. You won’t find any desktop bias here. Everything cuddled between this book’s yellow covers is all about portable computing, PC style.

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!

Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!