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Laptops For Dummies
Table of Contents
Introduction
About This Book
And Just Who Are You?
Icons Used in This Book
Where to Go from Here
Part I: Choosing a Laptop Just for You
Chapter 1: Sometimes You Can Take It with You
The Power Cord Can Stretch Only So Far
The Osborne 1
The luggables
The Model 100
Hybrid beasts, or the “lunch buckets”
Early PC laptops
The search for weightlessness
From laptop to notebook
The modern notebook
The future of the laptop
Why You Need a Laptop
Why You Don’t Need a Laptop
Chapter 2: Buying a Laptop Just for You
Buy That Laptop!
The five steps to buying any computer
The hunt for software
Figuring out how much basic laptop power you need
Finding out what you don’t need
Special laptoppy issues
Laptop expansion options
Communications options
Energy management hardware
Docking stations and port replicators
Hunting for Service and Support
Where to Buy
The Final Step: Buying Your Laptop
Part II: I Have My Laptop, Now What?
Chapter 3: Out of the Box and into Your Lap
Basic Box Unpacking 101
Making piles for the various things in the box
“How long should I keep the box?”
When to send in the warranty
Setting Up Your Laptop
Do you need to charge the battery?
Is some assembly required?
Finding a place for the laptop
The last thing to do: Plug it in!
“Should I plug the laptop into a UPS?”
What to Do Next?
Chapter 4: Laptop Goes On, Laptop Goes Off
Turning It On
Before you turn on the power!
Open the lid
“Where is the power button?”
“What is the moon button for?”
Random power button symbols
Power on!
A Brief Foray into Windows
Windows for the first time
Special deal software
Windows every time
Exploring the Start thing
Various Options for Turning Off (Or Not) the Laptop
Properly shutting down your laptop
“I need to restart Windows”
Putting your laptop to sleep (Stand By) mode
Waking up from sleep (Stand By) mode
“What the heck is hibernation?”
Turning on Hibernation mode
Shutting down when the laptop doesn’t want to
Changing the Whole On-Off Scheme of Things
Setting the function of the power button
Changing the sleep button’s function
What happens when you just close the lid?
Chapter 5: Basic Laptop Hardware Tour
Your ’Round the Laptop Tour
A place for your CD/DVD
Does Mr. Laptop have a floppy drive?
A home for Mr. PC Card
Mystery things called ports
A place for the old ball and chain
The thing’s gotta breathe
Look at the Pretty Lights!
This Isn’t Your Daddy’s Keyboard
The general keyboard layout
Where did the numeric keypad go?
The Fn key is the Fun key!
Mind these specific keys
This Isn’t Your Momma’s Mouse
The mouse pad
Where is the wheel button?
IBM’s “happy stick” keyboard mouse
Controlling the mouse
Get a real mouse!
Cleaning
Cleaning the case
Cleaning the keyboard
Cleaning the screen
Chapter 6: Windows and Your Laptop Software
Places to Do, Things to Go
My Documents
My Computer
My Network Places
The Network Connections window
What’s Important in the Control Panel
Setting the best Control Panel view
The optional Start menu approach
Display options
Network connections
Power options
System
Phone and modem options
Printers and faxes
Wireless link
Laptop-specific icons
Goodies in the System Tray
Where Your Programs Lurk
Installing new software
Removing old software
Software you want, software you don’t want
Logging On to Windows
The User Accounts icon
Changing your password
Changing your image
Adding new accounts
Removing an account
Disabling the Guest account
Logging on as administrator
Do you really, really hate to log on?
Chapter 7: Expanding Your Laptop’s Universe
Beyond Your Lap
The miraculous expandability options of the USB port
Doing the USB thing
What are the A and B ends of a USB cable?
Connecting USB gizmos
USB-powered devices
Adding a hub
Adding external USB storage
Removing external storage
Using a PC Card
Inserting a PC Card
Using the PC Card
Removing the PC Card
Adding Some Big Boy Toys
Using an external keyboard
Connecting a second monitor or video projector
Using two monitors at once
Gotta getta mouse
Printing
Setting up the printer
Printing in Windows
Options for when you don’t have a printer
Chapter 8: Power Management Madness
The Battery Will Get a Charge Out of This!
Types of batteries
Finding your laptop’s battery
Monitoring the battery
What happens when the power gets low
Charging the battery
The spare battery
Don’t fall off the battery cycle!
Should you keep the battery in the laptop when you use AC power all the time?
RIP battery
Managing Your Laptop’s Power
Part III: Between Your Laptop and the World
Chapter 9: All That Networking Nonsense
Adding Your Laptop to an Existing Network
The hardware connection
Setting up the connection in Windows XP
Adding and removing your laptop to and from the network
Finding other computers on the network
Getting into another computer’s disk drives
Accessing network printers
Sharing a folder on your laptop
Unsharing a folder
Networking with No Strings Attached (Wireless Networking)
The ABGs of 802.11
Wireless networking hardware
Connecting to a wireless network
Scanning for wireless networks
What if you don’t know the SSID?
What is the computer’s MAC Address?
Renewing your lease
Accessing a pay service wireless network
Disconnecting the wireless connection
Chapter 10: Laptop to Internet, Hello?
What You Need to Get on the Internet
Bonus Laptop Goodies Your ISP Can Offer
Getting ISP access from all over the country
Check for Web-based e-mail access
Connecting Your Laptop to the Internet the Ethernet Way
The Ethernet connection
Getting on the Internet
Connecting your laptop directly to a DSL or cable modem
Connecting to a router
Dial-Up Internet br>
Configuring a dial-up connection
Finding the connection
Making the dial-up connection
Dialing a specific connection
Don’t forget to disconnect the dial-up connection!
Chapter 11: A Very Merry Modem
The Modem Hardware
Where the Modem Dwells in Windows
Setting the modem’s volume
Adding special modem command settings
Options for disabling the modem
Adding an External Modem
Setting Up Dialing Rules
Location, location, location
Creating a new location
Area code madness! To dial or not to dial
Automatically using a calling card
Finding the Various Disconnect Timeouts
The general timeout
Timeouts for each session
Putting the Fax into Fax/Modem
Setting up the fax modem
To send a fax
Fax Central br>
Canceling a pending fax
Receiving a fax
Chapter 12: Online Security
Setting Up a Firewall
The Windows XP firewall
Monitoring the firewall
Setting Up Antivirus Software
Scanning for viruses
Shutting down your antivirus program
Good advice to help protect you from the viral scourge
Running Anti-Spyware Software
Protecting yourself from spyware
Anti-spyware software
How to tell if something is really spyware
Avoiding a Hijack
Chapter 13: Handy Web Browsing and E-Mail Tips
Web Browsing When You’re Out and About
E-Mail Away from Home
Accessing e-mail on the road
Reading your e-mail on the Web
Getting a Web-based e-mail account
Accessing your e-mail from a friend’s computer
Forwarding your e-mail
A forwarding mail rule for Outlook Express
E-Mail Options Worthy of Consideration
Omit your password
Disconnect after picking up e-mail
Disabling automatic checking
Sending everything in one batch
To pick up or leave on server
Skip messages over a given size
Chapter 14: The Desktop-Laptop Connection
Connecting Desktop and Laptop
The easy way: Over the network
That ugly wire thing
Using the infrared port
Toiling with Windows Direct Connection
Synchronizing Files between the Desktop and the Laptop
Creating a Briefcase
Populating the Briefcase with stuff
Moving the Briefcase over to the laptop
Using Briefcase files on your laptop
Synchronizing the files
Accessing the Desktop from Elsewhere
Avoiding Windows XP Remote Desktop
Real Virtual Network Computing
Part IV: On the Road Again
Chapter 15: Before You Hit the Road
The Proper Laptop Case
Avoid the manufacturer’s case
Things to look for in a case
Recommended brands
I’m Leaving, on a Jet Plane Check List
Things to do before you go
Things to pack in your laptop bag
Looming Questions at the Airport
Is your laptop case one carry-on bag or half a carry-on bag?
Laptop inspection
All aboard!
Up, up in the air
The secret 747 exit wall socket
Chapter 16: The Road Warrior (Or Computing in the Strangest of Places)
Cafe Computing
Where to sit?
Be a socket sleuth
Other tips ’n’ stuff
Laptopping in Your Hotel Room
Dealing with the Low-Battery Warning
Mind the Laptop’s Temperature
Chapter 17: Laptop Security
Laptops Are Easy for the Bad Guys to Steal
What to Do before It’s Stolen
Mark your laptop
Don’t use an obvious laptop carrying case
Register the laptop and its software
Be mindful of your environment
The old ball and chain
Protecting Your Data
The BIOS password
Use the NTFS file system
Set a password on your account
Disable the Guest account
Lock Windows
Encrypt important files or folders
Disable the infrared port
Back up your data!
Having the Laptop Phone Home
Chapter 18: Giving a Presentation
Setting Things Up
Creating the presentation
Hooking up to the video projector
PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts Worthy of Knowing
Part V: Troubleshooting
Chapter 19: Major Trouble and General Solutions
Soothing Words of Support for the Computer Weary
The Universal Quick Fix
The Miracle of System Restore
Enabling System Restore
When to run System Restore
Setting a restore point
Restoring your system
Safe Mode
Entering Safe Mode
Testing in Safe Mode
The laptop always starts in Safe Mode!
Common Problems and Solutions
The keyboard is wacky!
Making the mouse pointer more visible
The laptop won’t wake up
Power management woes
The battery won’t charge
Chapter 20: Upgrading Your Laptop
How ’bout Some New Software?
Upgrading your software
Updating Windows
Upgrading Windows
Giving Your Laptop New Hardware
Part VI: The Part of Tens
Chapter 21: Ten Battery Tips and Tricks
Don’t Drop the Battery, Get It Wet, Short It, Play Keep-Away with It,
Open It, Burn It, or Throw It Away
Every Few Months, Drain the Battery All the Way
Turn Down the Monitor’s Brightness
Power Down the Hard Drives
Add More RAM to Prevent Virtual Memory Disk Swapping
Run as Few Programs as Possible/Close Unused Programs
Guard the Battery’s Terminals
Avoid Extreme Temperatures
Store the Battery If You Don’t Plan on Using It
Batteries Will Drain Over Time!
Chapter 22: Ten Handy Laptop Accessories
Laptop Bag or Travel Case
Spare Battery
Docking Station or Port Replicator
Cooling Pad
Mini-Vac
USB Lamp
Full-Sized Keyboard
External Mouse
ID Card or Return Service Sticker
Theft Prevention System
Chapter 23: Ten Things to Throw in Your Laptop Case
Power Cord and Brick
Spare Battery
Mouse or Trackball
Screen Wipes and Cleaner
Laptop Lock
Removable Media
Headphones
Tools
Cables, Cables, Cables
Not the End of the List
Index
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