PCs and Laptops for Dummies / Dan Gookin.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gookin, Dan, author.

Series:

--For dummies.

For dummies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Laptop computers.

Computers.

Microcomputers.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (355 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Hoboken, NJ : John Wiley & Sons, Inc., [2025]

Summary:

A one-stop guide to making the most of your desktop PC or laptop computer. PCs and Laptops For Dummies is the essential user's guide to the features your PC or laptop has to offer—and how to use them successfully. With this book as your coach, you can jump over technological hurdles with ease, navigating the hardware and software of your personal computer. Regardless of what brand of computer you use, you'll learn to navigate the latest version of Windows. You'll also explore how PCs, laptops, and other mobile devices can be used together, and how to keep your data secure. This Dummies guide is your first step toward computer-whiz status, saving you time and energy with everything in one place. This is the perfect Dummies guide for PC or laptop users at home or at work who need a go-to guide for their hardware and software questions.

Contents:

Intro

Title Page

Copyright Page

Table of Contents

Introduction

About This Book

Foolish Assumptions

Where to Start

Conventions Used in This Book

Icons Used in This Book

Where to Go from Here

Part 1 Hello, Computer!

Chapter 1 Computer 101

The Fast Idiot

What a computer does

Hardware and software

Doubtless, You Have Some Questions

"What is a PC?"

"Do I need a laptop?"

"Can you be more specific?"

"Why not just use a tablet or smartphone instead of a computer?"

"Seriously, can a computer explode?"

Buy That Computer!

Step 1: Determine what you want the computer to do

Step 2: Choosing between a desktop and a laptop

Step 3: Calculate how much hardware you need

Step 4: Locate service and support

Step 5: Buy it!

What to Do with Old Computers

Disposing of a geezer desktop PC

Discarding that old laptop

A Final Thing to Remember

Chapter 2 The PC Tour

The Many Shapes of PC

Around the Desktop PC

Exploring a typical computer system

Finding interesting things on the box's front

Stuff found on a desktop PC's rump

The I/O panel

Laptop Exploration

Chapter 3 Setup, Connections, and Power

Desktop PC Assembly

Finding a place for the computer box

Setting the monitor

Laptop Setup

The Plug-In Guide

Plugging in the monitor

Attaching the keyboard and mouse to a desktop PC

Connecting to a wired network

Hooking up a printer

Adding audio stuff

It Must Have Power

Plugging everything into a power strip

Taking advantage of a UPS

Using the UPS (a short play)

Chapter 4 To Turn On a Computer

Turn On the Computer

Powering on a desktop PC

Turning on a laptop

Here Comes Windows

Identifying yourself

Staring at the desktop

Working the taskbar

Accessing the Start menu

Settings and Controls.

Summoning the Action Center

Using the Settings app

Visiting the Control Panel

Chapter 5 To Turn Off a Computer

Goodnight, Computer

Finding the Windows power options

Putting the computer to sleep

Hibernating the computer

Shutting down the computer

Restarting the PC

Locking Windows

Signing out of Windows

Switching to another user

Shutdown Options and Configuration

Setting the power button's function

Determining what happens when you shut a laptop's lid

Should You Leave the Computer On All the Time?

"I want to leave my computer off all the time"

"I want to leave my computer on all the time"

Keeping a laptop on all the time

Part 2 A Non-Nerdy Guide to Computer Hardware

Chapter 6 A Peek Inside the Box

Computer Guts

Looking under the hood

Powering Mr. Computer

Lurking on the motherboard

Storing mass storage devices

The Processor Rules the Motherboard

Understanding the processor's role

Naming PC processors

Measuring processor speed

Discovering your PC's processor

Your Computer Is Also a Timepiece

Chapter 7 Computer Memory

Random Access Memory

One Byte at a Time

Memory Chips and Dips

Memory Q&amp

A

"How much memory is in my PC right now?"

"Do I have enough memory?"

"Does my PC have enough memory?"

"Can I test whether my PC has enough memory?"

"Can I add memory to my computer?"

"Will the computer ever run out of memory?"

"What is virtual memory?"

"What is video memory?"

Chapter 8 Disks and Drives

The Mass Storage System

Reviewing mass storage types

Measuring mass storage

Connecting mass storage

Removable Media

Adding storage

Ejecting storage media

Unmounting an external drive

Mass Storage Alphabet Soup

Handing out drive letters

Exploring drive icons and names

Checking drive capacity.

Using mass storage

Chapter 9 The PC's Graphics System

Graphical Guts

Discovering the display adapter

Attaching the monitor

The Monitor, the Screen, the Display

Classifying monitor types

Measuring a monitor

Reading monitor messages

Working the monitor's controls

Windows Controls What You See

Setting monitor resolution

Adding more monitors

Orienting a monitor

Chapter 10 Input This!

Meet Mr. Keyboard

Attaching a keyboard

Examining the typical PC keyboard

Reviewing laptop keyboard layout

Controlling keyboard behavior keys

Finding the laptop's secret numeric keypad

The Pointing Device

Connecting a pointing device

Reviewing basic mouse parts

Moving the mouse

Using a touchpad

Wielding a digital pen

Changing pointing device settings

Use the mouse left-handed

Adjust the scroll wheel

Set touchpad options

Additional mouse settings

Touchscreen Input

Reviewing touchscreen techniques

Typing on a touchscreen

Voice Input

Chapter 11 System Expansion

The Versatile USB Port

Reviewing USB standards - and colors

Knowing the USB cable connector varieties

Adding and removing USB peripherals

Using hubs to expand the USB universe

Working with USB-powered gizmos

Expansion Slots

Shopping for expansion cards

Installing an expansion card

Wireless Connections with Bluetooth

Accessing Bluetooth controls

Pairing a Bluetooth peripheral

Unpairing a Bluetooth device

The Laptop Becomes a Desktop

Using a full-size keyboard and mouse

Adding a monitor

Running the laptop with its lid closed

Chapter 12 P Is for Printer

Step Aside, Gutenberg

Surveying the printer landscape

Touring the typical printer

Drinking ink

Eating paper

Choosing the proper paper

The Union of Printer and PC

Connecting the printer.

Finding printers in Windows

Adding a printer manually

Setting the default printer

Printer Operation

Printing a wonderful whatever

Printing when you don't have a printer

Stopping a printer run amok

Chapter 13 Webcams, Scanners, and Audio

The Computer Is Watching You

Obtaining a webcam

Attaching the webcam

Securing the webcam

The Document Scanner

Computer Goes Beep

Setting up speakers

Using headphones

Configuring the speakers in Windows

Shhh - It's Listening to You!

Exploring microphone options and connections

Configuring the microphone

Securing the microphone

Part 3 Network and Internet Stuff

Chapter 14 The Networking Thing

The Big Networking Picture

Make the Network Connection

Accessing a Wi-Fi network

Connecting to a hidden Wi-Fi network

Checking and setting the network type

Break the Network Connection

Disconnecting from a wired network

Releasing the Wi-Fi connection

Forgetting a Wi-Fi connection

Chapter 15 The Internet

What Is the Internet?

Internet Access

It's a World Wide Web We Weave

Finding another web browser

Browsing tips

Going undercover on the web

Searching-the-web tips

Stealing an image from a web page

Copying text from a web page

Printing web pages

Sharing a web page

Email Messages

Using an email program

Configuring email

Chapter 16 Files from Elsewhere

Files Lurking on the Local Network

Activating Network Discovery

Accessing a network folder

Mapping a shared folder

Sharing a folder

Cloud Storage Synchronization

Understanding cloud storage

Exploring cloud storage options

Integrating cloud storage

Sharing a file from cloud storage

Chapter 17 Internet Safety

Behind the Firewall

Finding the firewall.

Dealing with a firewall warning

Beware the Bogus Website

Checking the website's security

Avoiding a phishing attack

Part 4 On the Go with Your Laptop

Chapter 18 Portable Power

The Battery Will Get a Charge Out of This!

Using the battery (or not)

Monitoring the battery

Charging the battery

Replacing the battery

When the Power Gets Low

Setting low-battery warnings

Using the Battery Saver

Reviewing the power management plan

Chapter 19 O, the Places You'll Go

In the Bag

Features to look for

Size

Style

Pouches and places

Things to pack in your laptop bag

Flying with Your Laptop

Things to do before you leave

Laptop inspection

All aboard!

Air power

Airplane mode

In-flight Wi-Fi

Arriving at your destination

Café Computing

Find a good seat

Other tips 'n' stuff

In a Hotel Room

Mind the Laptop's Temperature

Chapter 20 A More Secure Laptop

The Hot Laptop

Before Your Laptop Is Stolen

Attaching the laptop to something sturdy

Marking your laptop

Registering the laptop and its software

Paying attention to your environment

Protect Your Data with a Strong Password

The Laptop Reset

Part 5 Security and Maintenance

Chapter 21 System Security

The Windows Security Center

The Malware Scourge

Doing a virus scan

Dealing with a quarantined file

Paying attention to the UAC warnings

Keep Windows Up-to-Date

Checking the update status

Postponing a Windows update

Exploring other updates and upgrades

Your Privacy

Locking the screen

Reviewing Windows privacy settings

Chapter 22 An All-Important Safety Copy

Back Up Your Data

Obtaining backup storage

Configuring File History

Checking the backup schedule

Using cloud backup

The Restore Operation

Restoring an older version.

Restoring more than a single file.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781394276950

1394276958

9781394276967

1394276966

OCLC:

1468068090