100 Things You Need to Know About Microsoft Windows Vista
Eric Geier
800 East 96th Street,
Indianapolis, Indiana 46240 USA
100 Things You Need to Know About Microsoft Windows Vista
Copyright 2008 by Que Publishing
All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Nor is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.
ISBN-13: 9780789737274
ISBN-10: 0-7897-3727-2
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Geier, Eric, 1984
100 things you need to know about Microsoft Windows Vista / Eric Geier.-- 1st ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 0-7897-3727-2
1. Microsoft Windows (Computer file) 2. Operating systems (Computers) I. Title. II. Title: One hundred things you need to know about Microsoft Windows Vista.
QA76.76.O63G43 2007
005.446--dc22
2007036760
Printed in the United States of America
First Printing: November 2007
Associate Publisher
Greg Wiegand
Acquisitions and Development Editor
Rick Kughen
Managing Editor
Gina Kanouse
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Composition
Nonie Ratcliff
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Dedication
To my wife Sierra, and my daughter Madison, for your motivation and love.
Contents at a Glance
Table of Contents
About the Author
Eric Geier is an author of many computing and wireless networking books, including Geeks on Call PCs: 5-Minute Fixes, published by John Wiley and Sons and Wi-Fi Hotspots: Setting Up Public Wireless Internet Access, published by Cisco Press. Eric also is a regular contributor of tutorials at Wi-FiPlanet.com, an online resource for wireless network administrators and users.
Through spending countless days and nights in front of the computer since he could type and working in the Information Technology (IT) field as an adult, Eric has gained expertise in computers and Microsoft Windows.
For more information about Eric Geier and his writings, visit his website at www.egeier.com .
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank everyone who has worked on this book. Working with Que Publishing and Pearson Education has been a great experience!
Special thanks to my mom, Aylsie Geier, for giving periodic feedback on my work.
Thanks to my agent Carole McClendon, from Waterside Productions, for coordinating the pairing of myself and Pearson Education to write this book.
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As an associate publisher for Que Publishing, I welcome your comments. You can email or write me directly to let me know what you did or didnt like about this bookas well as what we can do to make our books better.
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When you write, please be sure to include this books title and author as well as your name, email address, and phone number. I will carefully review your comments and share them with the author and editors who worked on the book.
Email:
Mail: Greg Wiegand
Associate Publisher
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Introduction
The purpose of this book is to provide you with information, tips, and tricks about using and transitioning to Windows Vista.
Although there are many other books published that discuss Windows Vista, most cover basic tasks (such as printing and opening documents) and are tailored toward those less experienced in computers. If you have experience with computers and Microsoft Windows, youll find that this book offers better value. Basic tasks and information that you will probably figure out on your own are skipped in this book, and items that you typically wouldnt discover using your computing common sense and previous Windows experience are emphasized.
This book will help you analyze your PC and computer peripherals for their Vista readiness, and discuss upgrading components to achieve better performance. Also covered is how to back up or transfer your files and settings when upgrading a PC or when purchasing a new system. Youll also learn about the different editions of Windows Vista to find which will provide the best fit for your personal, family, or business needs.
After the preparations, youll be stepped through the Windows installation, and then introduced to the redesigned and enhanced Vista interface and functionality. Youll also learn about the new Windows applications and features. Furthermore, youll see how to change Vista back to the classic look and feel, find relocated items, and discover many tips and tricks, using simple step-by-step procedures and bullets.
Overall, this book will improve your entire Windows Vista experience!
Whats in This Book
This book contains information and steps useful when transitioning to Windows Vista, whether youre upgrading a PC or purchasing a new system loaded with Vista.
Heres a chapter-by-chapter summary:
- : Upgrading to Windows Vista shows you how to check if your computer and peripherals are compatible with Windows Vista, and gives tips on common hardware upgrades you might perform and on transferring and backing up your data for the transition to Vista.