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eMachines T3508 8512780 - eMachines Desktop PC User Guide - Page 12

Using the Windows desktop

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Chapter 2: Using Windows Using the Windows desktop After your computer starts, the first screen you see is the Windows desktop. The desktop is like the top of a real desk. Think of the desktop as your personalized work space where you open programs and perform other tasks. . Help For more information about the Windows desktop, click Start, then click Help and Support. Type Windows desktop in the Search Help box, then press ENTER. Your desktop may be different from this example, depending on how your computer is set up. The desktop contains the taskbar, the Start button, and the Recycle Bin icon. Desktop elements Description The taskbar is the bar at the bottom of the computer display containing the Start button on the left and a clock on the right. Other buttons on the taskbar represent programs that are running. Click a program's button on the taskbar to open the program's window. The Start button provides access to programs, files, help for Windows and other programs, and computer tools and utilities. Click the Start button, then open a file or program by clicking an item on the menu that opens. The Recycle Bin is where files, folders, and programs that you discarded are stored. You must empty the Recycle Bin to permanently delete them from your computer. For instructions on how to use the Recycle Bin, see "Deleting files and folders" on page 12. The Windows Security Center icon may appear on the taskbar near the clock. The icon changes appearance to notify you when the security settings on your computer are set below the recommended value or when updates are available. Double-click this icon to open the Windows Security Center. For more information, see "Modifying security settings" on page 61. 6

Section	Page
Getting Help	7
Thank you for purchasing our computer!	8
Using the eMachines Web site	8
Using Help and Support	8
To start Help and Support:	8
Contacting eMachines	9
Getting help for Windows Media Center	9
To access Media Center help:	9
Using online help	9
Using Windows	11
Using the Windows desktop	12
Using the Start menu	13
To use the Start menu:	13
Adding icons to the desktop	14
To add icons to the desktop:	14
Identifying window items	14
Working with files and folders	16
Viewing drives	16
To view the drives, folders, and files on your computer:	16
Creating folders	16
To create a folder:	17
Copying and moving files and folders	17
To copy a file or folder to another folder:	17
To move a file or folder to another folder:	17
Deleting files and folders	18
To delete files or folders:	18
To recover files or folders from the Recycle Bin:	18
To empty the Recycle Bin:	19
Searching for files	19
Using the Windows Search	19
To find files and folders using the Search:	19
Using advanced search options	20
Browsing for files and folders	20
To browse for a file:	20
Working with documents	21
Creating a new document	21
To create a new document:	21
Saving a document	21
To save a document:	21
Opening a document	22
To open a document:	22
Printing a document	22
To print a document:	22
Shortcuts	23
Using the Internet and Faxing	25
Learning about the Internet	26
Setting up an Internet account	26
Accessing your Internet account	27
Using the World Wide Web	27
Connecting to a Web site	27
To connect to a Web site:	27
Downloading files	28
To download files or programs from a Web site:	28
Using e-mail	28
Sending e-mail	28
To send e-mail using Windows Mail:	28
Checking your e-mail	29
To check your e-mail using Windows Mail:	29
Using Windows Fax and Scan	29
Sending a fax	29
To send a fax:	29
Setting up your cover page template	32
To set up your fax cover page template:	32
Faxing a scanned document or from programs	33
To fax a scanned document or to fax directly from programs:	33
Canceling a fax	33
To cancel a fax that has not been sent:	33
Receiving and viewing a fax	34
To receive and view a fax:	34
Playing and Creating Media Files	35
Playing music and movies	36
Playing audio and video files	36
To play a file using Windows Media Player:	36
Playing optical discs	37
Playing an optical disc using Windows Media Player	37
To play an optical disc:	37
Creating audio files and music libraries	39
Creating music files	39
Recording audio files	39
To record an audio file:	39
Creating WMA and MP3 music files	40
To create WMA or MP3 files:	40
Building a music library	41
Editing track information	41
To edit track information:	41
Creating music CDs and video DVDs	42
Creating a music CD	42
Creating a music CD using Windows Media Player	42
To create a music CD using Windows Media Player:	42
Creating a video DVD	43
Creating a video DVD using Windows DVD Maker	43
To create a video DVD using Windows DVD Maker:	43
Creating and copying data discs	45
Creating a data disc	45
To create a data disc:	45
Using Windows Media Center	46
Starting Windows Media Center	46
To start Windows Media Center:	46
Using the Media Center remote control	48
Networking Your Computer	49
Introduction to Networking	50
Networking terms you should know	50
Ethernet networking	50
Wired Ethernet networking	50
Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, or Gigabit Ethernet	50
Using a router	50
Example router-based Ethernet network	50
Equipment you need for a router-based Ethernet network	51
Determining if an Ethernet card is already installed on your computer	51
To determine if an Ethernet card is already installed on your computer:	51
Setting up wired Ethernet network hardware	52
Making sure your broadband connection works	52
Installing Ethernet cards and drivers	52
Connecting network cables	52
Setting up a network using a router	52
To set up a network using a router:	53
Wireless Ethernet networking	53
Wireless Ethernet standards	54
Using an access point	54
Equipment you need for an access point-based network	54
Determining if a wireless Ethernet device is already installed on your computer	55
To determine if an Ethernet card is already installed on your computer:	55
Setting up wireless Ethernet network hardware	55
Making sure your broadband connection works	55
Installing wireless cards and drivers	55
Setting up your access point	55
Establishing your Ethernet network connection	55
Naming the computers and the workgroup	55
To identify this computer on the network:	55
Configuring the TCP/IP protocol	56
Using a DHCP server	56
Configuring your router	56
Connecting to a wireless Ethernet network	56
Connecting to your network	56
To connect to your wireless Ethernet network:	57
Wireless security	58
Testing your network	58
Adding a printer to your network	58
Sharing resources	58
Sharing drives and printers	58
Sharing drives or folders	59
To share drives or folders:	59
Un-sharing drives and folders	59
To un-share drives or folders:	59
Sharing printers	60
To share printers:	60
Using the network	60
Viewing shared drives and folders	60
To view shared drives and folders:	60
Creating a shortcut to a network drive	60
To map a network drive:	60
Opening files across the network	60
To open files across the network:	60
Copying files across the network	61
To copy files across the network:	61
Printing files across the network	61
To print files across the network:	61
Bluetooth networking	61
To install a Bluetooth enabled device:	61
To install a Bluetooth printer:	61
To connect to a Bluetooth personal area network:	61
Protecting your computer	63
Hardware security	64
Kensington lock slot	64
Data security	64
Startup and hard drive password	64
Windows user accounts	64
Protecting your computer from viruses	65
Using Norton Internet Security	65
Removing viruses and spyware	66
To scan for and remove viruses and spyware:	66
Updating your virus and spyware definitions	66
To update your virus and spyware definitions:	66
Using Windows Security Center	67
Modifying security settings	67
To modify security settings:	67
Security updates	68
Windows Update	68
To update Windows:	68
Scheduling automatic updates	69
To schedule automatic updates:	69
BigFix	69
Customizing Windows	71
Changing screen settings	72
Changing color depth and screen resolution	72
To change the color depth or screen resolution:	72
Changing the appearance of windows and backgrounds	73
To change window colors and effects:	73
To change the Windows desktop background:	73
Selecting a screen saver	74
To select a screen saver:	74
Changing gadgets	75
To add a gadget:	75
To configure a gadget:	75
Using a gadget’s control panel	76
To use a gadget’s control panel:	76
Configuring the gadget Sidebar	76
To change Sidebar properties:	76
Setting up multiple monitors	77
To use a projector or additional monitor:	77
Changing system sounds	78
To change system sounds:	78
Changing mouse settings	79
To change your mouse settings:	79
Adding and modifying user accounts	79
User account tips	79
To add, delete, or modify user accounts:	80
To switch between user accounts:	80
Changing power-saving settings	81
Changing the power plan	81
To change the power plan:	81
Changing accessibility settings	83
Using the Ease of Access Center	83
To use the Ease of Access Center:	83
Using voice recognition	84
To set up voice recognition:	84
Setting up parental controls	84
Filtering Internet access	85
To set up Internet filtering:	85
Scheduling computer and Internet use	86
To schedule the times a user can access the Internet:	86
Restricting game access	86
To restrict games by game ratings:	86
To restrict specific games:	87
Restricting specific programs	88
To restrict specific programs:	88
Creating activity reports	88
To create a report of a user’s computer and Internet use:	88
Notices	89
All Rights Reserved	89
Trademark acknowledgments	89
A	91
B	91
C	91
D	91
E	91
F	91
G	92
H	92
I	92
K	92
L	92
M	92
N	92
O	93
P	93
R	93
S	93
T	93
U	94
V	94