If you need Windows XP solutions fast, then this book is for you-whether you're new to Windows XP or you need help dealing with the applications that come with it. Open the book and you'll discover clear, easy-to-follow instructions for more than 250 key Windows XP tasks, each presented in ten quick steps-or less. Easy-to-navigate pages, lots of screen shots, and to-the-point directions guide you through every common (and not-so-common) Windows XP challenge-and help you get more done in less time.
* Each solution is ten steps-or less-to help you get the job done fast
* Self-contained two-page spreads deliver the answers you need-without flipping pages
* A no-fluff approach focuses on helping you achieve results
* A resource packed with useful and fun ways to get the most out of Windows XP

Table of Contents:
About the Authors.

Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

Part 1: Understanding Windows XP Basics.

Task 1: Starting Up and Logging In.

Task 2: Logging Off and Shutting Down.

Task 3: Activating Windows.

Task 4: Enabling Fast Switching between Users.

Task 5: Setting Your Computer’s Clock and Time Zone.

Task 6: Setting the Clock Automatically.

Task 7: Adjusting Your Computer’s Volume.

Task 8: Automatically Turning the Monitor Off.

Task 9: Locking and Unlocking the Computer.

Task 10: Locking Your Computer with a Screen Saver.

Task 11: Getting Help.

Task 12: Customizing Help Screens.

Task 13: Setting Search Options for Help.

Task 14: Creating a Help and Support Favorites List.

Task 15: Using the Knowledge Base.

Task 16: Getting Basic Information about Your System.

Task 17: Automatically Keeping Windows Up-to-Date.

Task 18: Manually Updating Windows XP.

Task 19: Installing New Software.

Task 20: Removing Application Software.

Part 2: Working with Folders and Files.

Task 21: Accessing My Computer.

Task 22: Navigating What’s on the Hard Drive.

Task 23: Creating, Renaming, and Deleting Files and Folders.

Task 24: Creating Copies of Files and Folders.

Task 25: Moving a File or Folder.

Task 26: Using Different Folder Views.

Task 27: Customizing the Details Folder View.

Task 28: Settings Options on All Folders.

Task 29: Customizing Windows Explorer.

Task 30: Recovering Deleted Files.

Task 31: Setting Recycle Bin Options.

Task 32: Searching for Files or Folders.

Task 33: Setting File Properties.

Task 34: Creating a Shortcut.

Task 35: Copying Files to a CD-ROM.

Task 36: Saving Space by Compressing a Drive.

Task 37: Creating a Zip File.

Task 38: Accessing and Adding to a Zip File.

Task 39: Extracting All Items from a Zip File.

Part 3: Personalizing Windows XP.

Task 40: Choosing a Theme.

Task 41: Setting the Screen Colors and Resolution.

Task 42: Choosing a Desktop Background Image.

Task 43: Setting or Changing a Screen Saver.

Task 44: Choosing or Changing an Appearance.

Task 45: Assigning Sounds to Events.

Task 46: Creating a New Theme.

Task 47: Customizing Your Taskbar.

Task 48: Customizing the Quick Launch Toolbar.

Task 49: Customizing the Start Menu.

Task 50: Adding Shortcuts to Your Desktop.

Task 51: Arranging Your Desktop Items.

Task 52: Picking a Program’s Icon to Display.

Task 53: Placing Standard Items and Icons on the Desktop.

Task 54: Putting Web Pages on Your Desktop.

Task 55: Customizing Mouse Options.

Task 56: Customizing the Mouse Pointers.

Task 57: Setting Keyboard Options.

Task 58: Automatically Starting a Program at Startup.

Task 59: Changing Regional Settings.

Task 60: Changing Number and Currency Formatting.

Part 4: Graphics and Digital Photography.

Task 61: Copying Pictures from Your Camera to Your Hard Drive.

Task 62: Using a Scanner to Capture Photographs.

Task 63: Capturing a Picture of Your Screen.

Task 64: Creating Your Own Icons in Paint.

Task 65: Drawing Pictures in Paint.

Task 66: Organizing Your Pictures into Folders and Photo Albums.

Task 67: Storing and Retrieving Information about Your Pictures.

Task 68: Viewing, Zooming, and Reorienting Your Pictures.

Task 69: Resizing a Picture.

Task 70: Cropping a Picture.

Task 71: Adding Notes and Drawings to a Picture.

Task 72: Converting a Picture’s File Type.

Task 73: Printing a Picture.

Task 74: Ordering Prints of Your Pictures Online.

Task 75: Putting Your Pictures on the Web.

Task 76: Creating a Screen Saver with Your Own Pictures.

Part 5: Working with Digital Music.

Task 77: Upgrading Windows Media Player.

Task 78: Playing Music CDs.

Task 79: Copying Music from a CD to Your Hard Drive.

Task 80: Identifying Your Album Name, Artist, and Tracks.

Task 81: Finding and Playing Music in Your Media Library.

Task 82: Searching for Music to Add to Your Media Library.

Task 83: Adding and Viewing Song Lyrics.

Task 84: Creating and Listening to a Playlist.

Task 85: Downloading Music from the Internet.

Task 86: Tuning In to Internet Radio.

Task 87: Copying Music to a Portable Music Player.

Task 88: Creating Your Own Audio CD.

Task 89: Duplicating an Audio.

Task 90: Making Windows Media Player Beautiful with Skins.

Part 6: Working with Digital Movies.

Task 91: Upgrading Windows Movie Maker.

Task 92: Playing a Movie on DVD.

Task 93: Playing a Video File.

Task 94: Creating and Deleting Collections in Windows Movie Maker.

Task 95: Importing Clips and Other Items into Your Collections in Windows Movie Maker.

Task 96: Making Movies.

Task 97: Capturing Video from Your Camcorder.

Task 98: Capturing a Photograph from a Video.

Task 99: Capturing Live Video.

Task 100: Splitting and Combining Video Clips.

Task 101: Trimming a Video Clip.

Task 102: Adding Transitions between Your Video Clips.

Task 103: Adding Video Effects to Your Clips.

Task 104: Adding Titles and Credits to Your Movie.

Task 105: Adding Photographs to a Movie.

Task 106: Adding Background Music and Sound Effects to a Movie.

Task 107: Adding Narration to a Movie.

Task 108: Saving a Movie to View on Your Computer.

Task 109: Sending a Movie via Email.

Part 7: Working with Notepad.

Task 110: Creating a New Document Using Notepad.

Task 111: Saving a Document from Notepad.

Task 112: Changing the Page Setup in Notepad.

Task 113: Creating Headers and Footers on a Notepad Document.

Task 114: Changing the Font in Notepad.

Task 115: Printing a Document in Notepad.

Task 116: Finding and Replacing Text in Notepad.

Task 117: Creating a Log File with Notepad.

Task 118: Creating a Web Page in Notepad.

Part 8: Working with WordPad.

Task 119: Creating a New Document in WordPad.

Task 120: Saving a Document in WordPad.

Task 121: Changing the Page Setup in WordPad.

Task 122: Using WordPad’s Print Preview.

Task 123: Printing from WordPad.

Task 124: Changing Font Characteristics in WordPad.

Task 125: Formatting Paragraph Margins in WordPad.

Task 126: Adding Lists to a WordPad Document.

Task 127: Searching and Replacing Text in WordPad.

Task 128: Inserting a Picture into a WordPad Document.

Task 129: Adding an Object to a WordPad Document.

Task 130: Changing Object Properties in a Document.

Task 131: Sending a WordPad Document to Someone Else.

Task 132: Setting Options in WordPad.

Part 9: Getting Connected to the Internet.

Task 133: Creating an MSN Account to Access the Internet Using a Modem.

Task 134: Connecting to the Internet with a Modem Using Another ISP.

Task 135: Connecting to the Internet with a Broadband Cable or DSL Line.

Task 136: Connecting to the Internet with a LAN and a Router.

Task 137: Connecting to a Virtual Private Network.

Part 10: Surfing the Web with Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Task 138: Using Internet Explorer for the First Time.

Task 139: Going to a Site’s Address with Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Task 140: Searching the Web.

Task 141: Saving a Web Page.

Task 142: Emailing Web Pages.

Task 143: Printing Web Pages.

Task 144: Downloading Files from the Web.

Task 145: Copying and Saving Images from the Web.

Task 146: Keeping a Favorites List of Sites.

Task 147: Organizing Your Favorites List of Sites.

Task 148: Customizing the Links Bar.

Task 149: Checking Your History in Internet Explorer.

Task 150: Clearing and Customizing History Features.

Task 151: Deleting Temporary Internet Files.

Task 152: Setting Your Home Page.

Task 153: Customizing Internet Explorer’s Support Programs.

Task 154: Customizing Internet Explorer’s Tools and More.

Task 155: Choosing Privacy Settings.

Task 156: Choosing Security Settings.

Task 157: Restricting Objectionable Materials.

Part 11: Interacting with Email.

Task 158: Setting Up Your Email.

Task 159: Retrieving and Viewing Email Messages.

Task 160: Opening and Saving Received Attachments.

Task 161: Creating and Sending Email.

Task 162: Forwarding or Replying to a Message.

Task 163: Sending a Picture or File as an Attachment.

Task 164: Using Stationery.

Task 165: Creating Your Own Stationery.

Task 166: Creating and Using a Signature.

Task 167: Organizing Your Inbox.

Task 168: Filing Your Email into Folders.

Task 169: Finding a Message.

Task 170: Using Your Address Book.

Task 171: Creating Your Own Virtual Business Card.

Task 172: Sending Virtual Business Cards.

Task 173: Adding Virtual Business Cards to Your Address Book.

Task 174: Using Message Rules to Kill Spam and Do Other Cool Stuff.

Part 12: Discussing with Newsgroups.

Task 175: Connecting to a Newsgroup Server.

Task 176: Searching for and Subscribing to Newsgroups.

Task 177: Reading Newsgroup Messages.

Task 178: Posting a New Message to a Newsgroup.

Task 179: Replying to a Newsgroup Message.

Task 180: Downloading Newsgroup Message Attachments.

Task 181: Downloading Multipart Newsgroup Message Attachments.

Task 182: Searching for Messages in a Newsgroup.

Part 13: Exploring Windows Messenger.

Task 183: Creating a Passport Account.

Task 184: Adding and Deleting Contacts.

Task 185: Carrying On a Conversation.

Task 186: Changing Your Look in Windows Messenger.

Task 187: Sending a File or a Picture.

Task 188: Receiving a File or a Picture.

Task 189: Configuring Your Audio and Video in Windows Messenger.

Task 190: Adding Voice and Video to Your Conversation.

Part 14: Exploring the Other Accessories.

Task 191: Using the Basic Calculator.

Task 192: Using the Scientific Calculator.

Task 193: Performing Statistical Calculations.

Task 194: Converting Numbers.

Task 195: Configuring Your Computer to Send Faxes.

Task 196: Sending a Fax.

Task 197: Recording Sounds: The Sound Recorder.

Task 198: Mixing and Modifying Sounds.

Part 15: Accessibility Features.

Task 199: Changing the Windows Font Size.

Task 200: Using the Magnifier.

Task 201: Using the Narrator.

Task 202: Using the On-Screen Keyboard.

Task 203: Selecting the On-Screen Keyboard Layout.

Task 204: Setting Usability Feature Options.

Task 205: Setting Usability Feature Options with the Accessibility Wizard.

Task 206: Using and Setting StickyKeys.

Task 207: Using and Setting FilterKeys.

Part 16: Working with User Accounts.

Task 208: Setting Up a Guest Account.

Task 209: Creating New User Accounts.

Task 210: Deleting a User Account.

Task 211: Changing a User’s Account Name.

Task 212: Changing the Icon on a User Account.

Task 213: Changing a User’s Account Type.

Task 214: Adding a Password to a User Account.

Task 215: Changing a User Account’s Password.

Task 216: Removing a Password from a User Account.

Part 17: Configuring Your Hardware.

Task 217: Checking Your Hardware’s Status.

Task 218: Customizing Speaker Settings.

Task 219: Installing a Printer.

Task 220: Using a Removable Storage Device.

Task 221: Installing a Game Controller.

Task 222: Setting Up Two Monitors.

Task 223: Uninstalling a Device.

Part 18: Creating a Simple Network (LAN).

Task 224: Setting Up Your Own Network.

Task 225: Configuring Your Computers for the Network.

Task 226: Sharing a Printer.

Task 227: Accessing a Shared Printer.

Task 228: Sharing Files.

Task 229: Accessing Shared Files.

Task 230: Assigning a Drive Letter to a Shared Folder.

Part 19: Taking Windows XP on the Road.

Task 231: Conserving Power.

Task 232: Putting Your Computer to Sleep: Hibernating.

Task 233: Creating Multiple Dial-Up Connections.

Task 234: Taking Files with You: Identifying Offline Files.

Task 235: Using Offline Files and Resynchronizing.

Task 236: Creating and Using a Briefcase.

Part 20: Maintenance and Optimization.

Task 237: Checking Your Hard Drive for Errors.

Task 238: Defragmenting Your Hard Drive.

Task 239: Cleaning Up Your Hard Drive and Making Room.

Task 240: Adding and Removing Windows Components.

Task 241: Removing an Application.

Task 242: Cleaning Up Your Desktop.

Task 243: The Ultimate Undo: System Restore.

Task 244: Creating a Restore Point.

Task 245: Configuring System Restore.

Task 246: Backing Up Your Files.

Task 247: Restoring Files from a Backup.

Task 248: Updating Your System with the Latest Patches and Add-Ons.

Part 21: Troubleshooting.

Task 249: Getting Detailed Information about Your Computer.

Task 250: Getting Older Programs to Run in Windows XP.

Task 251: Closing a Program That Stops Responding.

Task 252: Finding Lost Files.

Task 253: Fixing the Screen When It Doesn’t Look Right.

Task 254: Configuring Your System for Remote Access.

Task 255: Using Remote Desktop.

Task 256: Asking for Remote Assistance.

Task 257: Providing Remote Assistance.

Task 258: Updating Your Video Driver.

Task 259: Reporting Errors to Microsoft.

Task 260: Fine-Tuning Your System’s Performance.

Task 261: My Computer’s Still Too Slow!

Index.