Chapter 19. Upgrading Your Computer

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Adding a Printer

• Customizing Your Printer

• Printing Preferences and Properties

• Installing New Fonts

• Setting Up New Hardware

• Troubleshooting Hardware Problems

As you use your computer more and more, you may find that you want to add features to it. For instance, you may purchase a digital camera or music player such as an iPod. You may add a new printer for printing photographs. As another example, you may change how you connect to the Internet, such as by using a cable modem. When you want to add something to your computer, you first install that item, and then you set up Windows so that it recognizes and knows the features of that component. For the latter step, you install a driver, a special file that tells Windows the details of your particular component.

The most common addition to a computer is a printer, and Windows XP includes a wizard that leads you through the steps specific for installing a new printer. For other hardware additions, you can use the Add Hardware wizard. This chapter covers how to upgrade and improve your computer setup.