Document Outline

• PCs For Dummies®, 12th Edition
• Table of Contents
• Introduction
  • What’s New in This Edition?
  • Where to Start
  • Conventions Used in This Book
  • What You Don’t Need to Read
  • Foolish Assumptions
  • Icons Used in This Book
  • Getting in Touch with the Author
  • Where to Go from Here
• Part I: Hello, PC!
  • Chapter 1: What Is This Thing, This PC?
    • Some Quick Questions to Get Out of the Way
    • Basic Computer Concepts in Easily Digestible Chunks
    • Buy Yourself a PC!
    • A Final Thing to Remember
  • Chapter 2: The PC Knobs, Buttons, and Doodads Tour
    • The Big Picture
    • All Around the Console
  • Chapter 3: PC Setup
    • Computer Assembly
    • The Plugging-Things-In Guide
    • It Must Have Power
  • Chapter 4: On and Off
    • Turn On Your PC
    • Windows, Ahoy!
    • Turn Off the Computer
    • Should You Leave the Computer On All the Time?
• Part II: The Nerd’s-Eye View
  • Chapter 5: Deep Inside the Console
    • Console Guts
    • The Mother of All Boards
    • The Processor Rules
    • Your Computer Is Also a Timepiece
    • About the PC’s Battery
    • The Chipset
    • The Source of PC Power
  • Chapter 6: PC Memory
    • What Is Computer Memory?
    • Tasty Chocolate Memory Chips
    • Memory One Byte at a Time
    • Memory Q&A
  • Chapter 7: Mass Storage
    • What Is Mass Storage?
    • Your PCs Primary Storage Media
    • Removable Storage
    • External Storage
    • Permanent Storage ABCs
  • Chapter 8: Merry Monitor Mayhem
    • The PC’s Graphics System
    • Descriptive Display Data
    • Windows Controls What You See
  • Chapter 9: Input This!
    • Meet Mr. Keyboard
    • Say “Eeek!” to the Mouse
    • Touchscreen Input
  • Chapter 10: System Expansion
    • It’s a Port
    • USB, a Most Versatile Port
    • Legacy Ports
    • Expansion Slots
  • Chapter 11: P Is for Printer
    • The Printer, the Paper, the Document Maker
    • Where the Printer Meets the PC
    • Basic Printer Operation
  • Chapter 12: PC Audio Abilities
    • The Noisy PC
    • Sound Control in Windows
    • Windows Goes Bleep
    • It Listens
  • Chapter 13: Delicious Hardware Leftovers
    • Manage the PC’s Power
    • Merry Modems
• Part III: Basic Computing
  • Chapter 14: The Windows Tour
    • What’s an Operating System?
    • Windows and Its Gooey, Glorious Graphical Interface
    • The Control Panel
  • Chapter 15: It’s the Software Chapter
    • Software Cavalcade
    • Programs on Your PC
    • More Software, Less Software
    • The Latest Version
  • Chapter 16: Fun with Files and Folders
    • Behold the File!
    • Folder Folderol
  • Chapter 17: The Grim Topic of File Management
    • Organized File Torture
    • The Actual File Torture Itself
    • Find Escaped Files
  • Chapter 18: Save Your Butt When You Really Screw Up
    • The File You Had Yesterday
    • The OMG Safety Copy
    • Zip-a-dee-do Folders
  • Chapter 19: The Optical Disc Factory
    • Disc Creation Overview
    • Birth of a Disc
• Part IV: Networking Nonsense
  • Chapter 20: The Non-TV Kind of Network
    • The Whole Network Enchilada
    • The Wired Network
    • The Wireless Life
    • The Broadband Modem
  • Chapter 21: Network Abuse
    • “Am I On the Network?”
    • Windows Network Central
    • Network Sharing
  • Chapter 22: Why Does This Book Have a Bluetooth Chapter?
    • That Bluetooth Thing
    • Bluetooth Pairing
  • Chapter 23: As Little of the Internet as Possible
    • What Is the Internet?
    • How to Access the Internet
    • It’s a World Wide Web We Weave
    • Get Stuff from a Web Page
  • Chapter 24: PC Nightmares
    • Fight the Bad Guys
    • The Action Center
• Part V: Your Digital Life
  • Chapter 25: The Whole Digital Photography Thing
    • The Digital Camera
    • The Scanner
    • Picture Files
    • Image Resolution
  • Chapter 26: Electronic Entertainment
    • PC Movies
    • Your PC Is a TV
    • Your TV Is a PC
    • Your PC Is Your Stereo
  • Chapter 27: Sharing Your Life Online
    • The Scourge of Social Networking
    • Share Your Photos Online
    • Your Video Life
    • Network Media Sharing
  • Chapter 28: Kid-Safe Computing
    • An Account for Junior
    • Parental Controls
    • PC Parenting
• Part VI: The Part of Tens
  • Chapter 29: Ten PC Commandments
    • I. Thou Shalt Not Fear Thy PC
    • II. Thou Shalt Save Thy Work
    • III. Thou Shalt Back Up Thy Files
    • IV. That Shalt Not Open or Delete Things Unknownst
    • V. Thou Shalt Not Be a Sucker
    • VI. Thou Shalt Use Antivirus Software, Yea Verily, and Keepeth It Up-to-Date
    • VII. Thou Shalt Upgrade Wisely
    • VIII. Thou Shalt Compute at a Proper Posture
    • IX. Thou Shalt Keepeth Windows Up-to-Date
    • X. Thou Shalt Properly Shut Down Windows
  • Chapter 30: Ten Tips from a PC Guru
    • Remember That You’re in Charge
    • Mind Who “Helps” You
    • Give Yourself Time to Learn
    • Create Separate Accounts
    • Use a UPS
    • Consider Some Hardware Upgrades
    • Don’t Reinstall Windows
    • Shun the Hype
    • Keep on Going!
    • Remember Not to Take This Computer Stuff Too Seriously
• Index