List of Figures

Chapter 1: The Basics of Windows Vista

Figure 1-1: The Windows Vista desktop

Figure 1-2: The Windows Vista Start menu

Figure 1-3: A Properties dialog box displays the properties of an object and may enable you to edit them.

Figure 1-4: The Control Panel window

Figure 1-5: The General tab of the Folder Options dialog box, where you can specify how Windows icons work.

Chapter 2: Running Programs

Figure 2-1: The parts of a window

Figure 2-2: The Open With dialog box lets you tell Windows which program can open the file you clicked.

Figure 2-3: Use the Run dialog box to launch programs using a command-line entry.

Figure 2-4: Dialog boxes may contain many types of settings.

Figure 2-5: A dialog box with tabs is like a dialog box with multiple pages.

Figure 2-6: The WordPad Save As dialog box

Figure 2-7: Press ALT-TAB to use Windows Flip.

Figure 2-8: Use Windows Flip 3D to scroll through a stack of open Windows.

Figure 2-9: Windows Task Manager

Figure 2-10: Use the Program Compatibility Wizard to help run older Windows programs.

Figure 2-11: Select display settings for the program you want to run in compatibility mode.

Chapter 3: Installing Programs

Figure 3-1: The Installed Programs window

Figure 3-2: You can install additional programs from the Windows Vista CD-ROM.

Figure 3-3: The Windows Easy Transfer program helps you transfer files from one computer to another.

Figure 3-4: Which program do you want to run to open this file (and files like it)?

Figure 3-5: The Set Associations window lets you change the default program for a file type.

Figure 3-6: Uninstalling a program from the Installed Programs window

Chapter 4: Getting Help

Figure 4-1: The home page of the Help And Support tool

Figure 4-2: Help topics related to the keyword "networking"

Figure 4-3: Send an invitation for someone to help you fix your Windows problem.

Figure 4-4: Hosting a Remote Assistance session on your computer

Chapter 5: Copying, Moving, and Sharing Information Between Programs

Figure 5-1: Use this dialog box (or one like it) to embed an Excel document into another file.

Figure 5-2: Part of an Excel worksheet embedded in a Word document

Figure 5-3: Edit an Excel object in a Word document by using the Excel menu and toolbars that appear when you double-click the object.

Chapter 6: Sharing Your Computer with Multiple Users

Figure 6-1: The User Account Control window

Figure 6-2: Add a new account with this window.

Figure 6-3: The Computer Management window

Figure 6-4: Adding a new user

Figure 6-5: The Profile tab of the Properties dialog box for a user account

Figure 6-6: Specifying the location of your Documents folder

Figure 6-7: Changing the password for a user account

Figure 6-8: The Welcome screen greets you when you start up Windows, log out, or press WINDOWS-L to switch users.

Figure 6-9: The Security tab of the Properties dialog box for a file

Chapter 7: Managing Appointments and Schedules with Windows Calendar

Figure 7-1: Use Windows Calendar to set up appointments, create tasks , invite others to a meeting, and more.

Figure 7-2: Set Windows Calendar options using the Options dialog box.

Figure 7-3: You can select attendees to attend your appointment.

Figure 7-4: You can send calendar invitations to attendees by using e-mail.

Figure 7-5: Appointments can include details.

Figure 7-6: Create new tasks to help you keep track of your projects and "to-do" items.

Figure 7-7: Printing a hard copy of your calendar is handy for those times you're away from the computer.

Figure 7-8: To share your calendar, set up the Publish Calendar dialog box.

Figure 7-9: You can announce to others that your calendar is published.

Figure 7-10: Type the path to a shared calendar in this dialog box.

Figure 7-11: A subscribed-to calendar appears in your Calendars list in the Navigation Pane.

Chapter 8: Using Files and Folders

Figure 8-1: The upper levels of the folder tree.

Figure 8-2: Anatomy of Windows Explorer window. You can choose to display as many or as few of these components as you like.

Figure 8-3: The folder-tree map, as shown in the Navigation Pane.

Figure 8-4: Vista's new Address bar includes context menus to help you choose where you want to navigate.

Figure 8-5: Use Vista's new Open button to display options for selecting the application to launch a file.

Figure 8-6: Give the new disc a title.

Figure 8-7: The Recycle Bin in Details view

Chapter 9: Managing Files and Folders

Figure 9-1: The properties of a file

Figure 9-2: The General tab of the Folder Options dialog box, with the default settings

Figure 9-3: In Details view, you can sort by clicking any column head.

Figure 9-4: A folder's contents sorted by name

Figure 9-5: A folder's icons arranged manually

Figure 9-6: Search pane and search filtering choices

Figure 9-7: Indexing Service options can be modified.

Figure 9-8: Saved searches are located in the Searches folder.

Figure 9-9: The Properties dialog box of the Recycle Bin

Chapter 10: Backing Up Your Files with the Backup Utility

Figure 10-1: Backup Status and Configuration window.

Figure 10-2: Backup And Restore Center window.

Figure 10-3: Specify where Windows Backup Status and Configuration stores the backup files.

Figure 10-4: Specify the types of files to back up.

Figure 10-5: Determine how often and what time your backup will run.

Figure 10-6: Start restoring files from the Backup Status and Configuration window.

Figure 10-7: Choose what backup job you want to restore.

Figure 10-8: You can restore everything from the backup or choose individual files and folders to restore.

Figure 10-9: Search for files or folders to restore.

Figure 10-10: Choose to restore files from a previous backup.

Figure 10-11: Specify the backup job date from which to restore.

Figure 10-12: Create a system image backup using Complete PC Backup.

Figure 10-13: Specify where you to save the system image backup.

Chapter 11: Setting Up Your Start Menu and Taskbar

Figure 11-1: The Windows Vista Start menu.

Figure 11-2: The Start menu with the Accessories menus displayed.

Figure 11-3: Using Windows Explorer to edit the Start menu.

Figure 11-4: Choosing the style of your Start menu.

Figure 11-5: Changing the properties of the Start menu.

Figure 11-6: Changing the properties of the Classic Start menu.

Figure 11-7: The parts of the taskbar.

Figure 11-8: Changing the properties of the taskbar.

Figure 11-9: Select a drive or folder to create a toolbar with a button for each folder and file in the drive or folder.

Chapter 12: Setting Up Your Desktop

Figure 12-1: The Personalization window includes tools for customizing your desktop.

Figure 12-2: Choosing a desktop theme from the Theme Settings dialog box.

Figure 12-3: Vista's Welcome Center provides tools and information to help you get started using Vista.

Figure 12-4: Use Welcome Center tasks to start using Windows Vista.

Figure 12-5: Microsoft special offers are shown on the Welcome Center screen.

Figure 12-6: Use the Desktop Background window to select your background.

Figure 12-7: Choosing and configuring a screen saver.

Figure 12-8: The Appearance Settings dialog box.

Figure 12-9: The Color dialog box.

Figure 12-10: The Advanced Appearance dialog box gives you finer control over the look of Windows.

Figure 12-11: Choosing special desktop effects.

Figure 12-12: The Desktop Icon Settings dialog box.

Figure 12-13: Control sound effects from the Sounds tab of the Sound dialog box.

Figure 12-14: The Monitor tab of the Display Settings dialog box.

Figure 12-15: Setting the color profile of your monitor.

Figure 12-16: Windows Vista includes the Sidebar, which can display gadgets.

Figure 12-17: Customize the Sidebar with the Windows Sidebar Properties dialog box.

Figure 12-18: Gadgets can be added to the Sidebar using this window, the Gadget Gallery.

Figure 12-19: Microsoft has gadgets online that you can download and install.

Figure 12-20: Gadgets can be moved to the desktop.

Figure 12-21: The Monitor tab of the Display Settings dialog box with two monitors .

Figure 12-22: The advanced settings for a monitor depend on the monitor's device driver.

Chapter 13: Configuring Your Keyboard, Mouse, Game Controller, and Regional Settings

Figure 13-1: The Keyboard Properties dialog box contains settings for the keyboard and the cursor.

Figure 13-2: You can switch among several languages and keyboard layouts.

Figure 13-3: The Mouse Properties dialog box.

Figure 13-4: The Game Controllers dialog box.

Figure 13-5: The Regional And Language Options dialog box displaying the regional settings for Kyrgyzstan.

Figure 13-6: The Customize Regional Options dialog box.

Figure 13-7: The Date And Time dialog box.

Figure 13-8: Displaying additional clocks in Vista.

Chapter 14: Adding and Removing Hardware

Figure 14-1: The Device Manager lists the hardware in your computer.

Figure 14-2: The Device Manager window.

Figure 14-3: The Driver tab provides information about a component's hardware device driver.

Figure 14-4: Checking the status of your PC cards and other hot-swappable devices.

Figure 14-5: Select a device to install if the Add Hardware Wizard cannot find your new device.

Figure 14-6: Adding non-Plug and Play devices.

Figure 14-7: The Add Hardware Wizard getting ready to install a new device.

Figure 14-8: This modem has a hardware problem.

Chapter 15: Printing

Figure 15-1: Windows keeps track of printers in the Printers folder.

Figure 15-2: Use the Details view to see the number of documents in a printer's queue.

Figure 15-3: Configure a printer from its Properties dialog box.

Figure 15-4: The Print dialog box

Figure 15-5: The Print Control window

Figure 15-6: Set the print job to start during off-peak times.

Chapter 16: Running Windows Vista on Laptops

Figure 16-1: Windows Mobility Center

Figure 16-2: Set your presentation settings prior to slide shows.

Figure 16-3: Set tablet PC settings with this dialog box.

Figure 16-4: Control digital pens and other input devices using this dialog box.

Figure 16-5: Synchronize files using the Sync Center.

Figure 16-6: A printer's Properties dialog box

Figure 16-7: Choose users who can access the computer remotely.

Figure 16-8: The remote desktop appears on your screen-notice the special toolbar at the top.

Figure 16-9: Setting the options for your remote connection

Figure 16-10: Manage how your laptop (or desktop) uses power by using these settings.

Chapter 17: Ease of Access Center

Figure 17-1: The Ease of Access Center

Figure 17-2: Ease of Access keyboard features

Figure 17-3: The Set Up Mouse Keys window

Figure 17-4: Use the Use Text Or Visual Alternatives For Sounds Ease of Access features to turn on tools for the hearing impaired.

Figure 17-5: Set Display Ease of Access options from here.

Figure 17-6: A dialog box and window shown in High Contrast

Figure 17-7: Use the Microsoft Narrator dialog box to set Narrator's reading options.

Chapter 18: Working with Documents in Windows Vista

Figure 18-1: Run Notepad when you need to edit a text file.

Figure 18-2: Notepad options for printing a text file

Figure 18-3: WordPad offers many of the features of a word processor-free.

Figure 18-4: Choose the font for the selected text.

Figure 18-5: WordPad's Options dialog box

Figure 18-6: The Scientific Calculator displays a big piece of pi.

Figure 18-7: The Character Map lets you use unusual characters .

Chapter 19: Working with Graphics

Figure 19-1: Extra Large Icons view

Figure 19-2: Windows Photo Gallery

Figure 19-3: Viewing a picture in Windows Photo Gallery

Figure 19-4: Windows Photo Gallery Fix pane

Figure 19-5: The new Windows Snipping Tool

Figure 19-6: A screen capture in the Snipping Tool window

Figure 19-7: Annotating a screenshot

Figure 19-8: Typing information into the Details tab of an image file's Properties dialog box is like writing on the back of a print.

Figure 19-9: The anatomy of a Paint window

Figure 19-10: View your photographs taken with your digital camera.

Figure 19-11: Windows Fax and Scan lets you scan photos or documents.

Chapter 20: Working with Sound

Figure 20-1: The properties of an audio file.

Figure 20-2: The Sound dialog box.

Figure 20-3: Use the General tab to set speaker jack information.

Figure 20-4: Set microphone options in the Microphone Properties dialog box.

Figure 20-5: Use the Volume icon for adjusting audio volumes .

Figure 20-6: Use the Volume Mixer to adjust device and application volumes.

Figure 20-7: Associating sounds with Windows events.

Figure 20-8: Playing and recording sounds using the Sound Recorder.

Figure 20-9: The Windows Media Player window.

Figure 20-10: Media Player can show visualizations as your audio files play.

Figure 20-11: Add media to the Library tab using the Add To Library dialog box.

Figure 20-12: Customize the information about your media files using the Advanced Tag Editor dialog box.

Figure 20-13: Synchronize lyrics with a song.

Figure 20-14: Use the Options dialog box to control how your audio files play, sync, and rip in Media Player.

Figure 20-15: Microsoft's Media Guide web site.

Figure 20-16: Use Media Player's preset graphic equalizer settings, or make your own with the Custom setting.

Figure 20-17: Sync your portable devices using Media Player.

Figure 20-18: You can apply the Revert skin to make Media Player small.

Figure 20-19: Specify your microphone type here.

Figure 20-20: Set your volume level for using Windows Speech Recognition here.

Figure 20-21: Use the Windows Speech Recognition Tutorial to learn how to speak to your computer.

Chapter 21: Working with Video

Figure 21-1: View your installed video and audio codecs on this Windows Media Player troubleshooting web page.

Figure 21-2: You can use Windows Photo Gallery to organize and view videos on your computer.

Figure 21-3: Windows Photo Gallery can play back your videos.

Figure 21-4: Windows Photo Gallery can play back your videos, too.

Figure 21-5: View a video in full-screen mode in Windows Media Player.

Figure 21-6: The Performance tab of the Windows Media Player Options dialog box.

Figure 21-7: View videos on a web page using the Windows Media Player applet.

Figure 21-8: The Media Guide button offers links to online video-some appear in the Windows Media Player window, but most play in your browser.

Figure 21-9: Windows Vista displays a warning message when your system cannot run Movie Maker 6.

Figure 21-10: The Windows Movie Maker editor window, where you compose the next Oscar winner.

Figure 21-11: Import your home movies from digital video cameras using the Import Video tool.

Figure 21-12: Movie Maker shows imported clips in the Clips area.

Figure 21-13: You can also add titles and credits to your movie using Windows Movie Maker.

Figure 21-14: Windows Media Player playing a DVD.

Figure 21-15: Playback restrictions in Windows Media Player.

Chapter 22: Working with Windows Media Center

Figure 22-1: Record, watch, and pause live TV using Media Center and a TV tuner card.

Figure 22-2: Use the Setting window to configure settings after you initially set up Media Center.

Figure 22-3: Windows Media Center uses large text and buttons to make it easy to read and select onscreen items.

Figure 22-4: Media Center provides a handy way to select the tool and feature you want to use.

Figure 22-5: Media Center displays information about the current show.

Figure 22-6: Use the Program Guide to find a show to watch on TV.

Figure 22-7: Get more information and set up to record a show from the Program Info window.

Figure 22-8: The Movies Guide lists the movies that are scheduled to appear on TV in your area.

Figure 22-9: The Music Library shows the music stored on your computer.

Figure 22-10: See details about an album when you click the album in the Music Library.

Figure 22-11: Show your family pictures using the Picture Library tool.

Figure 22-12: Use Media Center to play back your videos on your TV or projector.

Figure 22-13: Select a format for burning a DVD or CD from Media Center.

Figure 22-14: View the list of media files you selected to burn to disc.

Chapter 23: Configuring Windows to Work with Your Modem

Figure 23-1: The Phone And Modem Options dialog box.

Figure 23-2: The Properties dialog box for a modem.

Figure 23-3: Your existing dialing locations.

Figure 23-4: Creating or editing dialing locations.

Figure 23-5: The New Area Code Rule dialog box tells Windows when to dial 1 and the area code.

Figure 23-6: Many calling cards are predefined in Windows.

Figure 23-7: Entering information about a new calling card.

Figure 23-8: The Long Distance tab shows the steps for dialing long-distance numbers using the calling card.

Chapter 24: Connecting to the Internet

Figure 24-1: The Control Panel's Network and Sharing Center window.

Figure 24-2: The Network Connections window shows both Internet and LAN connections.

Figure 24-3: The Set Up A Connection Or Network window.

Figure 24-4: The Properties dialog box for a dial-up connection.

Figure 24-5: Configuring the TCP/IP version 4 settings for a connection.

Figure 24-6: The Connections tab of the Internet Properties (or Internet Options) dialog box.

Figure 24-7: Settings dialog box for a dial-up connection.

Figure 24-8: Dialing up a network connection.

Chapter 25: Using Windows Mail for E-mail

Figure 25-1: Your first view of Windows Mail.

Figure 25-2: Importing messages from other e-mail programs into Windows Mail.

Figure 25-3: All the features of Windows Mail, if you choose to display them.

Figure 25-4: The folder list, the list of messages in your Inbox, and the Windows Mail welcome message.

Figure 25-5: Your first view of Windows Contacts.

Figure 25-6: Creating a new contact.

Figure 25-7: The Find Message dialog box.

Figure 25-8: Defining a new message rule.

Figure 25-9: Blocking a few selected senders can lower your blood pressure.

Figure 25-10: Google Groups enables you to set up your own profile.

Figure 25-11: An example of a Google Group you can subscribe to.

Chapter 26: Browsing the World Wide Web with Internet Explorer

Figure 26-1: The Internet Explorer 7 window.

Figure 26-2: IE 7 s new tabs make viewing multiple pages easy.

Figure 26-3: Using Quick Tabs in IE 7.

Figure 26-4: Change the days to keep history records in this dialog box.

Figure 26-5: Finding additional search providers for IE.

Figure 26-6: Use Windows CardSpace to manage cards for logging into secure sites automatically.

Figure 26-7: Creating a new personal card.

Figure 26-8: Setting up an RSS feed.

Figure 26-9: Subscribing to an RSS feed to appear in IE 7.

Figure 26-10: Viewing your RSS feeds in the Feeds pane.

Figure 26-11: Setting RSS feed properties.

Figure 26-12: The Internet Options dialog box.

Figure 26-13: Internet Explorer's Fonts dialog box.

Figure 26-14: The Advanced tab of the Internet Options dialog box.

Figure 26-15: Setting IE's privacy options.

Chapter 27: Internet Conferencing with Windows Live Messenger

Figure 27-1: Download Live Messenger.

Figure 27-2: Work through the Windows Live Messenger Setup Wizard.

Figure 27-3: The Windows Live Messenger signup window.

Figure 27-4: Sign up for a Live ID here.

Figure 27-5: The Windows Live Messenger window.

Figure 27-6: Adding a new contact.

Figure 27-7: Windows Live Messenger with one contact online.

Figure 27-8: The Instant Message window.

Figure 27-9: Use emoticons (but sparingly please ) in your messages.

Chapter 28: Other Internet Programs That Come with Windows Vista

Figure 28-1: You must install Telnet before using it.

Figure 28-2: The Telnet window.

Figure 28-3: Telnetting into the Library of Congress computer.

Figure 28-4: The Ftp window.

Figure 28-5: A directory list from an FTP server.

Figure 28-6: An FTP site shown in Internet Explorer.

Figure 28-7: An FTP site shown in Windows Explorer.

Chapter 29: Designing a Windows-Based Local Area Network

Figure 29-1: Star topology (with twisted-pair cable).

Figure 29-2: You can bridge a cabled LAN to a wireless LAN to create a single LAN.

Chapter 30: Configuring Windows for a LAN

Figure 30-1: Assigning IP addresses to computers on a LAN.

Figure 30-2: The Windows Vista Network Center enables you to Manage your Network Connectivity.

Figure 30-3: The Setup a connection or network dialog box includes options for setting up a Internet connection or network.

Figure 30-4: Network Connections window.

Chapter 31: Sharing Drives and Printers on a LAN

Figure 31-1: The Network window showing shared drives and folders on the LAN.

Figure 31-2: Sharing a disk drive.

Chapter 33: Network, Internet, and Web Security

Figure 33-1: Windows Vista includes Windows Firewall for protecting your PC from malicious attackers .

Figure 33-2: Windows Defender is your first line of defense against spyware.

Figure 33-3: Security tab of the Internet Options dialog box.

Figure 33-4: Enabling and disabling web page elements for a security zone.

Figure 33-5: Adding sites to the Trusted Sites zone.

Figure 33-6: The Certificates dialog box showing your own certificates.

Figure 33-7: Additional security settings in Internet Explorer.

Chapter 34: Formatting and Partitioning Disks

Figure 34-1: Viewing information about drives and partitions.

Figure 34-2: Properties of a partition.

Figure 34-3: Creating a new partition with Computer Management.

Figure 34-4: Changing the drive letter of a partition, or assigning a pathname to a partition.

Figure 34-5: The Format dialog box.

Figure 34-6: The AutoPlay Options window.

Figure 34-7: Specifying what to do when you put a DVD or CD in the drive.

Figure 34-8: Configuring a DVD or CD drive.

Chapter 35: Keeping Your Disk Safe

Figure 35-1: Disk Defragmenter analyzing your disk for file fragmentation.

Figure 35-2: The Disk Cleanup's list of temporary files to delete.

Chapter 36: Tuning Windows Vista for Maximum Performance

Figure 36-1: The System Properties dialog box.

Figure 36-2: The Task Manager.

Figure 36-3: The Performance tab of the Task Manager.

Figure 36-4: Performance Information and Tools.

Chapter 38: Windows Update, Windows Ultimate Extras, and Other Windows Vista Resources

Figure 38-1: Windows Update with Windows Ultimate Extras.

Figure 38-2: Configuring the Automatic Updates system.

Figure 38-3: Windows Vista Help and Support.

Figure 38-4: The Microsoft Help and Support web site, where you can search the Microsoft Knowledge Base (MSKB).

Chapter 39: Windows Vista Configuration Files

Figure 39-1: The System Configuration window.

Figure 39-2: Editing your Services settings.

Figure 39-3: Editing the Startup settings.

Figure 39-4: The Tools tab provides links to system tools.

Figure 39-5: User and system environment variables .

Chapter 40: Registering Programs and File Types

Figure 40-1: Looking at the Registry.

Appendix A: Installing or Upgrading to Windows Vista

Figure A-1: The Install Windows window.

Figure A-2: Select to get updates now or to start the install process.

Figure A-3: Enter your 15-digit product key.

Figure A-4: Specify the installation type.

Figure A-5: The Compatibility Report helps you diagnose upgrade problems.

Figure A-6: To change partition setup parameters, click Drive Options (Advanced).

Figure A-7: Windows Vista shows you the progress of the installation process.

Figure A-8: Windows Vista displays this text-mode screen after it reboots your computer.

Figure A-9: Confirm or change the regional settings.

Figure A-10: Specify a computer name and background image.

Figure A-11: Choose the type of network you use.

Figure A-12: Finally, after several hours of installation, Windows Vista is ready for you!