Windows 7 Inside Out

Table of Contents

Foreword; Acknowledgments; Conventions and Features Used in This Book; Text Conventions; Design Conventions; About the CD; What's on the CD; System Requirements; Support Information; Part I: Getting Started; Chapter 1: What's New in Windows 7; 1.1 Introducing the Windows 7 Family; 1.2 Adjusting to the Windows 7 Interface; 1.3 Organizing and Finding Files; 1.4 Saving, Sharing, and Playing Digital Media; 1.5 Networking in New Ways; 1.6 Keeping Your PC Speedy and Safe; 1.7 Using Internet Explorer 8; Chapter 2: Installing and Configuring Windows 7; 2.1 Before You Start; 2.2 Setting Up Windows 7; 2.3 Upgrading from Another Windows 7 Edition; 2.4 Installing and Updating Drivers; 2.5 Activating and Validating Windows 7; 2.6 Transferring Files and Settings from Another Computer; 2.7 Tweaking and Tuning Your Windows Installation; Chapter 3: Obtaining Help and Support; 3.1 Using Windows Help And Support; 3.2 Connecting to Another PC with Windows Remote Assistance; Chapter 4: Personalizing Windows 7; 4.1 Working with the New Taskbar and Start Menu; 4.2 Personalizing the Taskbar and Start Menu; 4.3 Mastering Window Management with Windows 7 Tricks; 4.4 Viewing the Desktop and Gadgets; 4.5 Personalizing Theme Elements: Visuals and Sounds; 4.6 Con figuring Your Display; 4.7 Using and Customizing Desktop Gadgets; 4.8 Setting Power and Sleep Options; 4.9 Adjusting Ease of Access Options; Chapter 5: Adding, Removing, and Managing Programs; 5.1 Dealing with User Account Control; 5.2 Dealing with Compatibility Issues; 5.3 Running Legacy Applications in Windows XP Mode; 5.4 Installing Programs on 64-Bit Editions of Windows; 5.5 Managing Startup Programs; 5.6 Managing Running Programs and Processes with Windows Task Manager; 5.7 Running a Program as an Administrator or Another User; 5.8 Uninstalling Programs; 5.9 Setting Default Programs, File Type Associations, and AutoPlay Options; Chapter 6: Using Internet Explorer 8; 6.1 Choosing a Default Web Browser; 6.2 Browsing with Internet Explorer; 6.3 Working with RSS Feeds and Web Slices; 6.4 Personalizing Internet Explorer; 6.5 Security and Privacy Options; Chapter 7: Adding Windows Live Programs and Services; 7.1 Using Windows Live Programs; 7.2 Using Windows Live Web Services; Part II: File Management; Chapter 8: Organizing Files and Information; 8.1 Mastering Windows Explorer; 8.2 Working with Libraries; 8.3 Using Compressed (Zipped) Folders; 8.4 Arranging Data in Windows Explorer; 8.5 Managing File Properties and Metadata; Chapter 9: Using Windows Search; 9.1 Configuring Search and Indexing Options; 9.2 Advanced Search Tools and Techniques; Chapter 10: Advanced File Management; 10.1 Recovering Lost, Damaged, and Deleted Files and Folders; 10.2 Synchronizing Files Between Multiple Computers; 10.3 Relocating Personal Data Folders; 10.4 Encrypting Information; 10.5 Industrial-Strength File Management with Robocopy and Robocopy GUI; Chapter 11: Backup, Restore, and Recovery; 11.1 Using the Windows Backup Program; 11.2 Configuring System Protection Options; 11.3 Rolling Back to a Stable State with System Restore; Part III: Digital Media; Chapter 12: Playing and Organizing Digital Media Files; 12.1 Which File Formats and Codecs Does Windows 7 Support?; 12.2 Using Windows Media Player; 12.3 Ripping CDs; 12.4 Managing Your Media Library; 12.5 Working with (and Around) Digital Rights Management; Chapter 13: Sharing and Syncing Digital Media; 13.1 Sharing Digital Media over a Network; 13.2 Synchronizing Digital Media with Portable Devices; 13.3 Burning Music and Other Media to CDs and DVDs; 13.4 Creating and Sharing Picture and Video DVDs; Chapter 14: Using Windows Media Center; 14.1 Setting Up and Customizing Media Center; 14.2 Mastering the Media Center Interface; 14.3 Playing Music, Pictures, Videos, and Movies; 14.4 Recording and Watching TV; 14.5 Connecting and Using a Media Center Extender; Part IV: Security and Networking; Chapter 15: Security Essentials; 15.1 Understanding Security Threats; 15.2 What's New in Windows 7; 15.3 Monitoring Your Computer's Security; 15.4 Blocking Intruders with Windows Firewall; 15.5 Staying Secure with Windows Update; 15.6 Blocking Viruses and Worms with an Antivirus Program; 15.7 Stopping Spyware with Windows Defender; 15.8 Preventing Unsafe Actions with User Account Control; Chapter 16: Managing User Accounts, Passwords, and Logons; 16.1 Introducing Access Control in Windows; 16.2 Working with User Accounts; 16.3 Setting a Logon Password; 16.4 Managing the Logon Process; 16.5 Controlling Your Children's Computer Access; Chapter 17: Setting Up a Small Office or Home Network; 17.1 Introducing Windows 7 Networking; 17.2 Configuring Your Network Hardware; 17.3 Setting Up a Wireless Network; 17.4 Using HomeGroup to Connect Your Computers at Home; Chapter 18: Sharing and Managing Network Resources; 18.1 Sharing Files, Digital Media, and Printers in a Homegroup; 18.2 Sharing Resources with Older Windows Versions; 18.3 Finding and Using Shared Resources on a Windows Network; 18.4 Connecting to Another Computer with Remote Desktop; Chapter 19: Fixing and Tweaking Your Network; 19.1 Viewing Status in Network And Sharing Center; 19.2 Diagnosing Problems Using Network Map; 19.3 Troubleshooting Network Problems; 19.4 Maximizing Network Performance; 19.5 Changing Network Settings; 19.6 Managing Network Connections; Part V: Tuning, Tweaking, and Troubleshooting; Chapter 20: Tuning Up and Monitoring Performance; 20.1 Establishing a Performance Baseline; 20.2 Monitoring Performance in Real Time; 20.3 Basic Strategies for Improving Performance; 20.4 Advanced Performance Analysis Tools and Techniques; Chapter 21: Performing Routine Maintenance; 21.1 Introducing Action Center; 21.2 Keeping Your System Secure with Windows Update; 21.3 Checking Disks for Errors; 21.4 Defragmenting Disks for Better Performance; 21.5 Managing Disk Space; Chapter 22: Using Advanced System Management Tools; 22.1 Viewing System Information; 22.2 Finding and Decoding Information in System Information; 22.3 Using Microsoft Management Console; 22.4 Using the Windows 7 Task Scheduler; 22.5 Managing Services; 22.6 Editing the Registry; Chapter 23: Troubleshooting Windows Errors and Crashes; 23.1 Reporting Problems and Finding Solutions; 23.2 Checking for Solutions to Problems; 23.3 Using Troubleshooters to Solve Problems; 23.4 Using Problem Steps Recorder to Get Help; 23.5 Reviewing Problem Reports with Reliability Monitor; 23.6 Troubleshooting Hangs and Other Problems with Resource Monitor; 23.7 Digging Deeper with Event Viewer; 23.8 Understanding Stop Errors; 23.9 Recovering from a Crash; Part VI: Windows and Your PC; Chapter 24: Setting Up and Configuring Hardware; 24.1 Installing a New Plug and Play Device; 24.2 Managing Devices with Devices And Printers; 24.3 Managing Devices with Device Stage; 24.4 Managing Devices with Device Manager; 24.5 Configuring Legacy Devices; 24.6 Changing Settings for an Installed Device; 24.7 Managing Installed Drivers; 24.8 Enabling and Disabling Individual Devices; 24.9 Decoding Hardware Errors; Chapter 25: Managing Disks and Drives; 25.1 The Windows 7 Disk-Management Toolkit; 25.2 Running Disk Management; 25.3 Managing Disks from the Command Prompt; 25.4 Setting Up a New Hard Disk; 25.5 Managing Existing Disks and Volumes; 25.6 Working with Virtual Hard Disks; Chapter 26: Using Pen, Touch, and Voice Input; 26.1 Enabling and Customizing Pen and Touch Features; 26.2 Reading, Writing, and Editing with Pen and Touch Tools; 26.3 Using Speech Recognition and Voice Commands; Windows 7 Editions at a Glance; Features Available in All Windows 7 Editions; Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic; Windows 7 Home Premium; Windows 7 Professional; Windows 7 Ultimate/Enterprise; Working with the Command Prompt; Starting and Ending a Command Prompt Session; Using Commands; Using Environment Variables; Customizing Command Prompt Windows; Index to Troubleshooting Topics;

Ed Bott is an award-winning journalist and one of the most recognized voices in the computing world. He's been writing about Microsoft® Windows® and Office for two decades and is the author of more than two dozen books.

Carl Siechert specializes in implementing and documenting operating system technologies. He has coauthored several Windows®-related books, including the popular Windows Vista® Inside Out, Deluxe Edition, with Ed Bott and Craig Stinson.

Craig Stinson is a journalist and author. He has written or coauthored more than 20 books including Windows Vista® Inside Out, Deluxe Edition and Microsoft® Office Excel® 2007 Inside Out.