PCs All-in-One Desk Reference

How This Book Is Organized

Time for a quick summary of what’s included in those eight mini-books (with cross references where appropriate, included at great expense).

Book I: PC Hardware

It’s not a PC without the hardware. In this mini-book, I discuss both the standard equipment (like your monitor, keyboard, and mouse) and optional things that you can attach (like a scanner or a game controller). I also cover the different ports on your PC and the proper methods of maintaining your PC hardware.

Book II: Windows XP

A mini-book for the XP generation — with everything that you need to know about today’s most popular PC operating system, including the basics, advanced customizing topics, the included applications, maintenance, and (insert ominous chord here) . . . troubleshooting.

Book III: The Internet

The obligatory Internet stuff fills this mini-book. Discover how to navigate the Web, block that infernal spam from your e-mail, fritter away countless hours with instant messaging, and — most important — keep yourself secure while you’re online.

Book IV: Microsoft Works

Most people call Works “the programs I got with my PC.” But as you dis-cover in this mini-book, there’s no shortage of features or functionality within Works (even though it’s usually overshadowed by the behemoth that is Microsoft Office). You’ll find out how to use each of the Works applications and how to use them in tandem to accomplish tasks.

Book V: Office XP

Okay, so I decided to cover the behemoth as well. Microsoft Office com-prises Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook — and the gang’s all here, with each application covered in a separate chapter. If you use Office, you’ll treasure this mini-book — if not, you’ll still enjoy it as a spellbinding work of nonfiction. (Sure, Mark.)

Book VI: Fun with Movies, Music, and Photos

Your PC is now a digital, multimedia production center — and a great combi-nation for watching video and listening to music, to boot. In this mini-book, I show you the latest cutting-edge fun that you can have with your DV cam-corder, your MP3 player, and your digital camera . . . wait until you show your home movies on DVD!

Book VII: Upgrading and Supercharging

The gloves come off in this mini-book: If you’re hankering to turn the corner and become a PC power user, use these chapters to help you upgrade your PC’s hardware, including your system RAM, your CPU and motherboard, your graphics card, and even external connections like USB 2.0 and FireWire. “To the Batcave!”

Book VIII: Home Networking

The final mini-book is devoted to one of the fastest-growing segments of the PC population — those folks who are adding a home (or small office) network. In these chapters, I demonstrate how to install your own wired net-work as well as how to expand with the latest wireless technology. Then I turn your attention to security so that you can use your network without fear of intrusion.
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