Windows 7: The Definitive Guide: The Essential Resource for Professionals and Power Users

Table of Contents

Preface; How This Book Is Organized; Who Should Read This Book; What You Need Before You Start; Conventions Used in This Book; Other Resources; How to Contact Us; Using Code Examples; Safari® Books Online; Acknowledgments; Setting Up, Customizing, and Tuning Windows 7; Chapter 1: Getting Started with Windows 7; 1.1 Getting to Know Windows 7; 1.2 Installing and Using Windows 7; 1.3 Working with Windows 7; 1.4 Logging On, Switching, Locking, Logging Off, and Shutting Down; Chapter 2: Optimizing Windows 7’s Interface; 2.1 Customizing Windows 7’s Desktop; 2.2 Using Desktop Gadgets; 2.3 Customizing Menus and the Control Panel; Chapter 3: Fine-Tuning Windows 7’s Appearance and Performance; 3.1 Balancing Appearance and Performance; 3.2 Understanding User Account Control and Its Impact on Performance; 3.3 Understanding Windows 7 Personalization; 3.4 Personalizing Windows 7; 3.5 Optimizing Performance; Chapter 4: Installing, Configuring, and Maintaining Software; 4.1 Software Installation: What’s Changed; 4.2 Software Installation: What You Need to Know; 4.3 Installing and Running Your Software; 4.4 Managing Software Once It’s Installed; Chapter 5: Customizing Your Computer’s Hardware Devices; 5.1 Hardware Installation: What’s Changed; 5.2 Hardware Installation: What You Need to Know; 5.3 Learning About Your Computer’s Hardware Devices; 5.4 Customizing Your Computer’s Input Devices, Regional Settings, and Date/Time; 5.5 Installing and Managing Hardware; Mastering Your Data and Digital Media; Chapter 6: Exploring and Searching Your Computer; 6.1 Exploring Your Documents; 6.2 Navigating Your Computer with the Address Bar; 6.3 Putting Windows Explorer to Work for You; 6.4 Searching Your Computer; 6.5 Indexing Your Computer for Faster Searches; Chapter 7: Navigating the Web with Internet Explorer 8; 7.1 Getting Started with Internet Explorer 8; 7.2 Getting Around the Web and Using Internet Explorer 8; 7.3 Protecting Your Computer While Browsing; Chapter 8: Creating Your Media Library with Windows Media Player; 8.1 Getting into Your Multimedia; 8.2 Playing Your Media; 8.3 Building Your Media Library; Chapter 9: Capturing and Managing Your Digital Pictures and Videos; 9.1 Getting Started with Windows Live Photo Gallery; 9.2 Organizing Your Gallery; 9.3 Building Your Photo and Video Gallery; 9.4 Sharing Your Photo and Video Gallery; Chapter 10: Making Video DVDs and Movies; 10.1 Creating Video DVDs with Windows DVD Maker; 10.2 Creating Movies with Windows Movie Maker; 10.3 Creating Movies with Windows Live Movie Maker; Chapter 11: Securing and Sharing Your Data; 11.1 Securing Your Files; 11.2 Controlling Access to Your Data; 11.3 Sharing Your Data; Chapter 12: Setting Up Printers, Scanners, and Fax Machines; 12.1 Installing Printers, Scanners, and Fax Machines; 12.2 Sharing Printers, Scanners, and Fax Machines; 12.3 Configuring Printer, Scanner, and Fax Machine Properties; 12.4 Managing Print, Fax, and Scan Jobs; Chapter 13: Making the Most of Windows’ Accessories; 13.1 Capturing Screens and Windows with the Snipping Tool; 13.2 Creating Sticky Notes; 13.3 Getting Your Computer to Listen; 13.4 Using Laptop and Tablet PC Extras; 13.5 Making Your Computer More Accessible; Connecting and Networking; Chapter 14: Setting Up Your Network; 14.1 Understanding Home and Small-Business Networks; 14.2 Mapping Your Networking Infrastructure; 14.3 Networking with TCP/IP; 14.4 Advanced Networking Concepts; 14.5 Troubleshooting Common Problems on Small Networks; Chapter 15: Protecting Your Computer with Windows Defender and Windows Firewall; 15.1 Navigating the Computer Security Maze; 15.2 Introducing Action Center; 15.3 Using Windows Defender; 15.4 Working with the Windows Firewall; Chapter 16: Using Windows Live for Email, Calendars, and Contacts; 16.1 Getting Started with Windows Live; 16.2 Using Windows Live Mail; 16.3 Using Windows Live Contacts; 16.4 Using Windows Live Calendar; Chapter 17: Mastering Dial-Up, Broadband, and On-the-Go Networking; 17.1 Configuring Dial-Up, Broadband, Wireless, and VPN; 17.2 Wireless Networking; Managing and Supporting Windows 7; Chapter 18: Managing User Accounts and Parental Controls; 18.1 Managing Access to Your Computer; 18.2 Managing Your User Account; 18.3 Managing Other People’s User Accounts; 18.4 Managing Access Permissions with Group Accounts; 18.5 Keeping Your Family Safe While Using Your Computer; Chapter 19: Managing Disks and Drives; 19.1 Configuring Disks and Drives; 19.2 Preparing Disks for Use; 19.3 Maintaining and Recovering Volumes; 19.4 Using Compression and Encryption; Chapter 20: Handling Routine Maintenance and Troubleshooting; 20.1 Maintaining Your System Configuration; 20.2 General Maintenance Tools; 20.3 Scheduling Maintenance Tasks; Chapter 21: Getting Help and Handling Advanced Support Issues; 21.1 Detecting and Resolving Computer Problems; 21.2 Creating Backups and Preparing for Problems; 21.3 Recovering After a Crash or Other Problem; 21.4 Getting Help and Giving Others Assistance; 21.5 Troubleshooting Windows 7 Programs and Features; Advanced Tips and Techniques; Chapter 22: Installing and Running Windows 7; 22.1 Comparing Windows 7 Features and Versions; 22.2 Installing Windows 7; 22.3 Upgrading Your Windows 7 Edition; Chapter 23: Exploring the Windows Boot Environment; 23.1 Introducing the Windows 7 Boot Environment; 23.2 Working with Boot Configuration Data; 23.3 Managing the BCD Data Store; 23.4 Managing the Boot Sector for Hard Disk Partitions; Chapter 24: Using Group Policy with Windows 7; 24.1 Exploring Group Policy in Windows 7; 24.2 Working with Multiple Local Group Policy Objects; 24.3 Updating Active Directory Group Policy Objects for Windows 7; Chapter 25: Mastering Windows Media Center; 25.1 Understanding Windows Media Center Requirements; 25.2 Selecting the Correct Hardware for Windows Media Center; 25.3 Installing and Configuring Windows Media Center Using the Wizard; 25.4 Navigating Windows Media Center; 25.5 Fine-Tuning the Settings for Windows Media Center; 25.6 Troubleshooting Problems with Windows Media Center; Colophon;

William R. Stanek has over 20 years of hands-on experience with advanced programming and development. He has written nearly 100 books including: Microsoft Windows Vista Administrator's Pocket Consultant, Windows Server 2008 Inside Out, Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Administrator's Pocket Consultant 2nd Edition, and Microsoft IIS 7.0 Administrator's Pocket Consultant (all from Microsoft Press). He also wrote MCSE Core Exams in a Nutshell and Windows Vista: The Definitive Guide for O'Reilly.