Windows^® 7 For Dummies^®

Introduction

Welcome to Windows 7 For Dummies, the world’s best-selling book about Windows 7!

This book’s popularity probably boils down to this simple fact: Some people want to be Windows whizzes. They love interacting with dialog boxes. Some randomly press keys in the hope of discovering hidden, undocumented features. A few memorize long strings of computer commands while washing their hair.

And you? Well, you’re no dummy, that’s for sure. But when it comes to Windows and computers, the fascination just isn’t there. You want to get your work done, stop, and move on to something more important. You have no intention of changing, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

That’s where this book comes in handy. Instead of making you a whiz at Windows, it merely dishes out chunks of useful computing information when you need them. Instead of becoming a Windows 7 expert, you’ll know just enough to get by quickly, cleanly, and with a minimum of pain so that you can move on to the more pleasant things in life.

About This Book

Don’t try to read this book in one sitting; there’s no need. Instead, treat this book like a dictionary or an encyclopedia. Turn to the page with the information you need and say, “Ah, so that’s what they’re talking about.” Then put down the book and move on.

Don’t bother trying to memorize all the Windows 7 jargon, such as Select the Menu Item from the Drop-Down List Box. Leave that stuff for the computer enthusiasts. In fact, if anything technical comes up in a chapter, a road sign warns you well in advance. Depending on your mood, you can either slow down to read it or speed on around it.

Instead of fancy computer jargon, this book covers subjects like these, all discussed in plain English:

Keeping your computer safe and secure

Finding, starting, and closing programs

Locating the file you saved or downloaded yesterday

Setting up a computer for the whole family to use

Copying information to and from a CD or DVD

Working with your digital camera’s photos and making slide shows

Printing your work

Creating a network between PCs to share an Internet connection or printer

Fixing Windows 7 when it’s misbehaving

There’s nothing to memorize and nothing to learn. Just turn to the right page, read the brief explanation, and get back to work. Unlike other books, this one enables you to bypass the technical hoopla and still get your work done.

How to Use This Book

Something in Windows 7 will eventually leave you scratching your head. No other program brings so many buttons, bars, and babble to the screen. When something in Windows 7 leaves you stumped, use this book as a reference. Look for the troublesome topic in this book’s table of contents or index. The table of contents lists chapter and section titles and page numbers. The index lists topics and page numbers. Page through the table of contents or index to the spot that deals with that particular bit of computer obscurity, read only what you have to, close the book, and apply what you’ve read.

If you’re feeling spunky and want to find out more, read a little further in the bulleted items below each section. You can find a few completely voluntary extra details, tips, or cross-references to check out. There’s no pressure, though. You aren’t forced to discover anything that you don’t want to or that you simply don’t have time for.

If you have to type something into the computer, you’ll see easy-to-follow bold text like this:

Type Media Player into the Search box.

In the preceding example, you type the words Media Player and then press the keyboard’s Enter key. Typing words into a computer can be confusing, so a description follows that explains what you should be seeing on the screen.

This book doesn’t wimp out by saying, “For further information, consult your manual.” Windows 7 doesn’t even come with a manual. This book also doesn’t contain information about running specific Windows software packages, such as Microsoft Office. Windows 7 is complicated enough on its own! Luckily, other For Dummies books mercifully explain most popular software packages.

Don’t feel abandoned, though. This book covers Windows in plenty of detail for you to get the job done. Plus, if you have questions or comments about Windows 7 For Dummies, feel free to drop me a line on my Web site at www.andyrathbone.com.

Finally, keep in mind that this book is a reference. It’s not designed to teach you how to use Windows 7 like an expert, heaven forbid. Instead, this book dishes out enough bite-sized chunks of information so that you don’t have to learn Windows.

And What about You?

Chances are good that you already own Windows 7 or are thinking about upgrading. You know what you want to do with your computer. The problem lies in making the computer do what you want it to do. You’ve gotten by one way or another, perhaps with the help of a computer guru — either a friend at the office, somebody down the street, or your fourth-grader.

But when your computer guru isn’t around, this book can be a substitute during your times of need. (Keep a doughnut nearby in case you need a quick bribe.)

How This Book Is Organized

The information in this book has been well sifted. This book contains seven parts, and I divide each part into chapters relating to the part’s theme. With an even finer knife, I divide each chapter into short sections to help you figure out a bit of Windows 7 weirdness. Sometimes, you may find what you’re looking for in a small, boxed sidebar. Other times, you may need to cruise through an entire section or chapter. It’s up to you and the particular task at hand.

Here are the categories (the envelope, please).

Part I: Windows 7 Stuff Everybody Thinks You Already Know

This part dissects Windows 7’s backbone: its opening screen and username buttons, the mammoth Start button menu that fetches all your important stuff, and your computer’s desktop — the background where all your programs live. It explains how to move windows around, for example, and click the right buttons at the right time. It explains the Windows 7 stuff that everybody thinks that you already know.

Part II: Working with Programs and Files

Windows 7 comes with bunches of free programs. Finding and starting the programs, however, often proves to be a chore. This part of the book shows you how to prod programs into action. If an important file or program has vanished from the radar, you discover how to make Windows 7 dredge your computer’s crowded cupboards and bring it back.

Part III: Getting Things Done on the Internet

Turn here for a crash course in today’s computing playground, the Internet. This part explains how to send e-mail and globetrot across Web sites. Best yet, an entire chapter explains how to do it all safely, without viruses, spyware, and annoying pop-up ads.

A section explains Internet Explorer’s built-in security tools. They stop evil phishing sites from tricking you and keep Web parasites from attaching themselves to your board as you Web surf.

Part IV: Customizing and Upgrading Windows 7

When Windows 7 needs a jolt, fix it by flipping one of the switches hidden in its Control Panel, described here. Another chapter explains computer maintenance you can easily perform yourself, reducing your repair bills. You discover how to share your computer with several people in your family or in a shared apartment — without letting anybody peek into anybody else’s information.

And when you’re ready to add a second computer, head to the networking chapter for quick instructions on linking computers to share an Internet connection, files, and a printer, as well.

Part V: Music, Movies, Memories (And Photos, Too)

Turn here for information on playing music CDs, DVDs, digital music, and movies. Buy some cheap CDs and create your own greatest hits CDs from your favorite tunes. (Or just copy a CD so that your favorite one doesn’t get scratched in the car.)

Digital camera owners should visit the chapter on transferring pictures from your camera to your computer, organizing the pictures, and e-mailing them to friends. Bought a camcorder? Head to the section that explains how to edit out the dopey parts with the Windows Live Movie Maker program and save your completed masterwork onto a DVD the relatives will enjoy for a change.

Part VI: Help!

Although glass doesn’t shatter when Windows crashes, it still hurts. In this part, you find some soothing salves for the most painful irritations. Plus, you find ways to unleash the Windows 7 program’s team of troubleshooters.

Stuck with the problem of moving your files from an old computer to a new one? You can find help here, as well. (If you’re ready to upgrade your Windows XP or Vista computer to Windows 7, check out the appendix, too, which holds complete instructions.)

Part VII: The Part of Tens

Everybody loves lists (except during tax time). This part contains lists of Windows-related trivia, such as ten aggravating things about Windows 7 (and how to fix them). As a bonus for the laptoppers, I’ve collected Windows 7’s most useful laptop tips and placed them into one chapter, complete with step-by-step instructions for the most frequently used laptopping tasks.

Icons Used in This Book

It just takes a glance at Windows 7 to notice its icons, which are little push-button pictures for starting various programs. The icons in this book fit right in. They’re even a little easier to figure out.

Watch out! This signpost warns you that pointless technical information is coming around the bend. Swerve away from this icon to stay safe from awful technical drivel.

This icon alerts you about juicy information that makes computing easier: a tried-and-true method for keeping the cat from sleeping on top of the monitor, for example.

Don’t forget to remember these important points. (Or at least dog-ear the pages so that you can look them up again a few days later.)

The computer won’t explode while you’re performing the delicate operations associated with this icon. Still, wearing gloves and proceeding with caution is a good idea.

Are you moving to Windows 7 from Windows Vista? This icon alerts you to areas where 7 works significantly differently from its predecessor.

More than a few folks skipped Windows Vista altogether. If you’re a Vista skipper, this XP icon alerts you to the many places where Windows 7 works significantly differently from Windows XP. (Keep an eye out for the New in Windows 7 icon, too, because you’ve missed quite a few changes.)

Where to Go from Here

Now, you’re ready for action. Give the pages a quick flip and scan a section or two that you know you’ll need later. Please remember, this is your book — your weapon against the computer nerds who’ve inflicted this whole complicated computer concept on you. Please circle any paragraphs you find useful, highlight key concepts, add your own sticky notes, and doodle in the margins next to the complicated stuff.

The more you mark up your book, the easier it will be for you to find all the good stuff again.

Part I

Windows 7 Stuff Everybody Thinks You Already Know

In this part . . .

Most people are dragged into Windows 7 without a choice. Their new computers probably came with Windows 7 already installed. Or maybe the office switched to Windows 7, and everyone has to learn it except for the boss, who still doesn’t have a computer. Or maybe Microsoft’s marketing hype pushed you into it.

Whatever your situation, this part gives a refresher on Windows basics and buzzwords like dragging and dropping, cutting and pasting, and tugging at vanishing toolbars.

This part explains how Windows 7 has changed things for the better, and it warns you when Windows 7 has messed things up completely.

Chapter 1

What Is Windows 7?

In This Chapter

Getting to know Windows 7

Discovering the new features in Windows 7

Understanding how Windows 7 affects your old programs

Figuring out whether your PC is powerful enough to run Windows 7

Knowing which version of Windows 7 you need

Chances are good that you’ve heard about Windows: the boxes and windows and mouse pointer that greet you whenever you turn on your computer. In fact, millions of people all over the world are puzzling over it as you read this book. Almost every new computer sold today comes with a copy of Windows preinstalled — cheerfully greeting you when first turned on.

This chapter helps you understand why Windows lives inside your computer and introduces Microsoft’s latest Windows version, called Windows 7. I explain how Windows 7 differs from previous Windows versions, whether you should upgrade to Windows 7, and how well your faithful old PC will weather the upgrade.

What Is Windows 7, and Why Are You Using It?

Created and sold by a company called Microsoft, Windows isn’t like your usual software that lets you write term papers or send angry e-mails to mail-order companies. No, Windows is an operating system, meaning it controls the way you work with your computer. It’s been around for more than 20 years, and the latest whiz-bang version is called Windows 7, shown in Figure 1-1.

Windows gets its name from all the cute little windows it places on your monitor. Each window shows information, such as a picture, a program that you’re running, or a baffling technical reprimand. You can put several windows on-screen at the same time and jump from window to window, visiting different programs. You can also enlarge a window to fill the entire screen.

Like the mother with the whistle in the lunch court, Windows controls every window and each part of your computer. When you turn on your computer, Windows jumps onto the screen and supervises any running programs. Throughout all this action, Windows keeps things running smoothly, even if the programs start throwing food at each other.

In addition to controlling your computer and bossing around your programs, Windows 7 comes with a bunch of free programs. Although your computer can run without these programs, they’re nice to have. These programs let you do different things, like write and print letters, browse the Internet, play music, and even create a slide show from your vacation photos and burn it to a DVD — automatically.

And why are you using Windows 7? If you’re like most people, you didn’t have much choice. Nearly every computer sold since October 22, 2009 comes with Windows 7 preinstalled. A few people escaped Windows by buying Apple computers (those nicer-looking computers that cost a lot more). But chances are good that you, your neighbors, your boss, your kids at school, and millions of other people around the world are using Windows.

Microsoft took pains (and several years of work) to make Windows 7 the most secure version of Windows yet. (Just ask people who upgraded from previous versions.)

Windows makes it easy for several people to share a single computer. Each person receives his or her own user account. When users click their name at the Windows opening screen, they see their own work — just the way they left it. Windows 7 includes controls for parents to limit the time their kids spend on the PC, as well as what programs they can open.

Windows includes a new backup program that makes it easier to do what you should have been doing all along: Make copies of your important files every night, a task I describe in Chapter 12.

The powerful new search program and library system in Windows 7 mean that you can forget about where you’ve stored your files. To find a missing file, just click the Start menu and type what that file contained: a few words in a document, the name of the band singing the song, or even the year your favorite jazz albums were released.

Should I Bother Switching to Windows 7?

Microsoft hopes everybody will immediately switch to Windows 7. Because people buying new PCs automatically already receive Windows 7 preinstalled on their PC, Microsoft is targeting two other groups: people using Windows XP and people using Windows Vista.

The next two sections describe what Windows 7 offers to Windows Vista owners, and to those holdouts still running Windows XP.

Why Vista owners will like Windows 7

Vista owners will rejoice at Windows 7, with many folks calling the new operating system “What Windows Vista should have been.” Windows 7 certainly isn’t perfect, but it’s a welcome relief for Windows Vista owners. Here’s why:

Easy upgrade path: As a perk for suffering through Vista, you can upgrade to Windows 7 simply by slipping in a Windows 7 Upgrade DVD. Your programs, printer, and nearly everything else that worked with Vista work fine with Windows 7. Windows XP owners face a dirty chore: They must erase their hard drives and install Windows 7 from scratch.

No more nag screens: Easily the most loudly cursed feature of Windows Vista, User Account Control (UAC) perpetually popped up messages asking if you’re sure you want to do something. Windows 7 comes with a toned-down version that merely warns you if something drastic might happen. You can even adjust UAC’s warning level to match your comfort level, from paranoid to relaxed.

Streamlined controls: Vista demanded many keystrokes and clicks to accomplish what Windows 7 does in a few. In Vista, for example, trying to turn off a PC brought up two shortcut icons and an arrow that fetches a seven-option menu. Windows 7’s single-click “Shut Down” key does what most folks want: Saves work, closes programs, and turns off the PC.

Better backup: In an effort to simplify backing up your PC, Vista made backup copies of everything, even if you wanted to back up only a few files or folders. Windows 7, by contrast, lets you back up everything, but it also offers an option for selecting only a few things to back up.

Runs better on laptops: Vista’s sloth-like performance upset many laptop owners. Many new netbooks — ultralight laptops built for on-the-road Internet access and word processing — couldn’t even run Vista, forcing Microsoft to extend the Windows XP expiration deadline twice.

Why Windows XP owners should switch to Windows 7

Microsoft releases a new version of Windows every few years. If you bought your PC between 2001 and 2006, you’ve probably grown accustomed to the mechanics of Windows XP. That leaves the nagging question, why bother upgrading to Windows 7 when Windows XP works just fine?

Actually, if Windows XP is running just fine, you may not need Windows 7. But because your PC could be almost six years old — an antique in the tech world — Microsoft hopes the following improvements in Windows 7 will push your hand toward your credit card:

DVD burning: More than five years after DVD burners hit the market, Windows can finally take advantage of them without third-party software. Windows 7 can copy files and movies to DVDs as well as to CDs. Its DVD Maker program gathers your vacation photos and burns a slick slide show onto a DVD, ready for passing out to every yoga retreat attendee.

Easier file searches: Windows XP really drags its feet when searching for files. Searching for a filename takes several minutes on a crowded hard drive, and if you’re searching your files for a particular word or phrase, you’re in for a long weekend. Windows 7, by contrast, spends its idle time fine-tuning an index of every word on your hard drive. Type a word from a file’s name or contents into the Start menu’s Search box, and Windows 7 quickly finds the goods.

New Internet Explorer: Windows 7’s new Internet Explorer 8 lets you surf the Web more easily and securely. It has the old standbys — tabbed browsing, RSS feeds, and a filter alerting you to potential fraudulent Web sites — and other new features I cover in Chapter 8.

Media Center: This entertainment center not only plays DVDs and music but also lets you watch TV on your PC and even record shows onto your hard drive for later viewing. Recording TV shows requires a PC with a TV Tuner in your PC, an upgrade I cover in one of my other books, Upgrading and Fixing PCs For Dummies, published by Wiley Publishing, Inc.

Taskbar: Microsoft spent some time building on Vista’s three-dimensional look. The new taskbar in Windows 7 adds pop-up thumbnails, shown in Figure 1-2, that help you find a lost window. Or, right-click a taskbar icon to see more information about it — your recent history of browsed Web sites, for example, is shown in Figure 1-3.

Can My PC Still Run Windows 7?

If your PC already runs Windows Vista, it will probably run Windows 7. In fact, Windows 7 runs better on some PCs, mostly laptops, than Windows Vista does.

If your PC already runs Windows XP well, it will probably run Windows 7, but perhaps not at its best. Upgrading your PC with a few things will help Windows 7 run better, a job I tackle in Upgrading and Fixing PCs For Dummies, 8th Edition. Here’s the shopping list:

Video: Windows 7 requires powerful graphics for its fanciest 3-D features. Upgraded video cards cost around $50, and they’re not available for laptops. But if your PC’s video lacks the muscle and your wallet lacks the cash, don’t despair. Windows 7 simply slips into more casual clothes, letting your PC run without the 3-D views.

Memory: Windows 7 loves memory. For best results, your PC should have 1GB of memory or more. Memory’s easy to install and relatively cheap, so don’t skimp here.

DVD drive: Unlike Windows XP, which comes on a CD, Windows 7 (like Windows Vista) comes on a DVD. That means your PC needs a working DVD drive to install it. That probably won’t rule out many PCs these days, but it may rule out some older laptops and netbooks.

Windows 7 can run nearly any program that runs on Windows Vista, and it can run a great number of Windows XP programs. Some older programs, however, won’t work, including most security-based programs, such as antivirus, firewall, and security programs. You’ll need to contact the program’s manufacturer to see whether it’ll give you a free upgrade.

Shopping for a new PC to run Windows 7? To see how well a particular showroom PC will handle Windows 7, click the PC’s Start button, choose Control Panel, and open the System and Security category. In the System area, choose Check the Windows Experience Index. Windows tests the PC and gives it a grade ranging from 1 (terrible) to 7.9 (extraordinary).

Not sure what version of Windows your PC has? Right-click Computer from the Start menu and choose Properties. The screen that appears states your Windows version.

The Seven Flavors of Windows 7

Windows XP came in two easy-to-understand versions: one for home and one for business. Windows Vista split into five different versions, each with a different price tag, and a confusing array of features. Windows 7 ups the confusion level with seven versions, but the versions are much easier to figure out.

The vast majority of consumers will choose Windows 7 Home Premium, and most businesses will choose Windows 7 Professional. Still, to clear up the confusion, I describe all seven versions in Table 1-1.

Table 1-1 The Seven Flavors of Windows 7
The Version of Windows 7	What It Does
Windows 7 Starter	This stripped-down version of Windows 7 runs mostly on netbooks — tiny PCs that lack the power for much more than Web browsing and simple word processing.
Windows 7 Home Basic	Designed for developing countries, this version contains everything from the Starter edition and tosses in better graphics, Internet connection sharing, and settings for more powerful laptops.
Windows 7 Home Premium	Built to fill most consumers’ needs, this version includes programs to let people watch and record TV on their PC, as well as create DVDs from their camcorder footage.
Windows 7 Professional	Aimed at the business market, this features everything from Home Premium, as well as tools used by small businesses: extra networking features, for example, and similar business tools.
Windows 7 Enterprise	Microsoft sells this large business version in bulk to large businesses.
Windows 7 Ultimate	This version aims at the wallets of information technology specialists who spend much of their lives in front of their keyboards. If you’re reading this book, you don’t need this version.
Windows 7 “E”	Visit www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/windows7 for more information about this proposed browserless version aimed at European markets.

Although seven versions may seem complicated, choosing the one you need isn’t that difficult. And because Microsoft stuffed all the versions on your Windows 7 DVD, you can upgrade at any time simply by whipping out the credit card and unlocking the features in a different version.

Unlike with Vista, each version contains all the features of the version below it. Windows 7 Professional contains everything found in Windows 7 Home Premium.

Here are some guidelines for choosing the version you need:

If you’ll be using your PC at home, pick up Windows 7 Home Premium.

If you need to connect to a domain through a work network — and you’ll know if you’re doing it — you want Windows 7 Professional.

If you’re a computer industry professional, you should get your hands on Windows 7 Ultimate because it includes everything found in the other versions.

If you’re a computer tech who works for businesses, go ahead and argue with your boss over whether you need Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Enterprise. The boss will make the decision based on whether its a small company (Windows Professional) or a large company (Windows Enterprise).

If you own a netbook — a tiny laptop — that runs Windows 7, you can upgrade to a more powerful version right from the Start menu.

That inexpensive Windows 7 Home Basic version isn’t sold in the United States. It’s sold at reduced prices in developing nations like Malaysia. (It’s not really a goodwill gesture as much as it’s an attempt to reduce software piracy.)