Windows Vista Inside Out Deluxe Edition

Acknowledgments;
Conventions and Features Used in This Book;
Text Conventions;
Design Conventions;
About the CD;
What’s on the CD;
System Requirements;
Support Information;
Part I: Setup and Startup;
Chapter 1: What’s New in Windows Vista;
1.1 What’s in Windows Vista Service Pack 1?;
1.2 Introducing the Windows Vista Family;
1.3 The Windows Vista Interface: Up Close and Personalized;
1.4 Searching, Sharing, and Other File Management Tasks;
1.5 Windows Vista Security at a Glance;
1.6 Digital Media Essentials;
1.7 New Ways to Network;
1.8 Mail and Collaboration;
1.9 Performance and Reliability;
1.10 And Much, Much More . . .;
Chapter 2: Installing and Configuring Windows Vista;
2.1 Before You Start . . .;
2.2 Setting Up Windows Vista;
2.3 Activating and Validating Windows Vista;
2.4 Transferring Files and Settings from Another Computer;
2.5 Configuring System Recovery Options;
2.6 Finishing Your Windows Vista Installation;
Chapter 3: Obtaining Help and Support;
3.1 Using Windows Help And Support;
3.2 Connecting to Another PC with Windows Remote Assistance;
Chapter 4: Personalizing Windows Vista;
4.1 Customizing the Aero User Interface;
4.2 Turning Aero Off;
4.3 Modifying the Predefined Color Schemes;
4.4 Making Text Easier to Read;
4.5 Customizing the Desktop Background;
4.6 Choosing a Screen Saver;
4.7 Changing the Way Events Are Mapped to Sounds;
4.8 Customizing Mouse Pointers;
4.9 Saving Your Settings as a Theme;
4.10 Configuring Screen Resolution;
4.11 Configuring a Multimonitor Display;
4.12 Configuring Desktop Icons;
4.13 Using and Customizing Windows Sidebar;
4.14 Personalizing the Start Menu;
4.15 Launching Programs with the Quick Launch Toolbar;
4.16 Customizing the Taskbar;
4.17 Controlling the Display of Icons in the Notification Area;
4.18 Using Additional Toolbars;
4.19 Setting Default Programs, File Type Associations, and AutoPlay Options;
Chapter 5: Using a Stylus, Voice, and Other Unconventional Input Devices;
5.1 Using Windows Vista on a Tablet PC;
5.2 Getting Started with Windows Speech Recognition;
5.3 Controlling a PC with Voice Commands;
5.4 Using Speech to Enter and Edit Data;
5.5 Adjusting Ease of Access Options;
Chapter 6: Adding, Removing, and Managing Programs;
6.1 Dealing with User Account Control;
6.2 Dealing with Compatibility Issues;
6.3 Installing Programs on 64-Bit Editions of Windows;
6.4 Creating and Customizing Program Shortcuts;
6.5 Managing Startup Programs;
6.6 Managing Running Programs and Processes with Windows Task Manager;
6.7 Running a Program as an Administrator or Another User;
6.8 Uninstalling Programs;
Chapter 7: Setting Up and Troubleshooting Hardware;
7.1 A Crash Course in Device Drivers;
7.2 Installing and Configuring a New Device;
7.3 Changing Settings for an Installed Device;
7.4 Managing Installed Drivers;
7.5 Enabling and Disabling Individual Devices;
7.6 Decoding Hardware Errors;
Chapter 8: Using Internet Explorer 7;
8.1 Choosing a Default Web Browser;
8.2 Using and Personalizing Internet Explorer;
8.3 Managing Your Favorites;
8.4 Blocking Pop-up Windows;
8.5 Using (or Refusing) AutoComplete;
8.6 Internet Explorer Security and Privacy Options;
8.7 Finding, Reading, and Subscribing to RSS Feeds;
8.8 Using Internet Explorer as an FTP Client;
Chapter 9: Finding and Organizing Files and Information;
9.1 What’s What in Windows Explorer;
9.2 Navigating in Windows Explorer;
9.3 Working with Properties in the Details Pane;
9.4 Using and Configuring Search and Indexing;
9.5 Recovering Lost, Damaged, and Deleted Files and Folders;
9.6 Maximizing Storage Space with NTFS Compression and Compressed (Zipped) Folders;
Chapter 10: Synchronizing Files and Working with User Profiles;
10.1 Managing User Profiles;
10.2 Relocating Personal Data Folders;
10.3 Advanced File Transfer and Sync with Robocopy;
10.4 Staying in Sync with Offline Files;
Chapter 11: E-Mail, Collaboration, and Personal Productivity;
11.1 Using Windows Live Mail;
11.2 Managing Contacts;
11.3 Using Windows Calendar;
11.4 Using Windows Meeting Space;
Part II: Security and Networking;
Chapter 12: Security Essentials;
12.1 Understanding Security Threats;
12.2 What’s New in Windows Vista;
12.3 Preventing Unsafe Actions with User Account Control;
12.4 Monitoring Security in Windows Vista;
12.5 Blocking Intruders with Windows Firewall;
12.6 Keeping Your System Secure with Windows Update;
12.7 Blocking Viruses and Worms with an Antivirus Program;
12.8 Stopping Spyware with Windows Defender;
12.9 Controlling Your Children’s Computer Access;
Chapter 13: Managing User Accounts, Passwords, and Logons;
13.1 Introducing Windows Security;
13.2 Working with User Accounts;
13.3 Setting a Logon Password;
13.4 Managing the Logon Process;
13.5 What Happened to the Administrator Account?;
13.6 Learning About Your Own Account with Whoami;
13.7 Advanced Account Setup Options;
Chapter 14: Setting Up a Small Network;
14.1 Capabilities of a Small Network;
14.2 What’s New in Windows Vista;
14.3 Using Network And Sharing Center;
14.4 Hardware, Cabling, and Connections;
14.5 Setting Up a Wireless Network;
14.6 Setting Up a Shared Internet Connection;
14.7 Exploring the Network;
14.8 Understanding Location Types;
14.9 Changing Network Settings;
14.10 Managing Network Connections;
Chapter 15: Managing Shared Folders and Printers;
15.1 Understanding Sharing and Security Models in Windows Vista;
15.2 Configuring Your Network for Sharing;
15.3 Sharing Files with Public Folders;
15.4 Sharing Files and Folders from Any Folder;
15.5 Managing Shared Folders;
15.6 Accessing Shared Folders;
15.7 Sharing a Printer;
15.8 Command-Line Utilities for Managing Shared Resources;
Chapter 16: Tweaking and Troubleshooting a Small Network;
16.1 Viewing Status in Network And Sharing Center;
16.2 Diagnosing Problems Using Network Map;
16.3 Troubleshooting TCP/IP Problems;
16.4 Network Troubleshooting Tools;
16.5 Fine-Tuning Network Performance;
16.6 Bridging Two Networks;
Chapter 17: Accessing Your Computer from Remote Locations;
17.1 Getting Started with Remote Desktop;
17.2 Configuring Your Network for Remote Desktop Connections;
17.3 Enabling Inbound Remote Desktop Connections;
17.4 Using a Remote Desktop Connection;
17.5 Allowing Remote Access via a Virtual Private Network;
17.6 Connecting to a Virtual Private Network;
Part III: Digital Media;
Chapter 18: Digital Media Essentials;
18.1 Using Windows Media Player;
18.2 Customizing the Player’s Look and Feel;
18.3 Using Plug-ins and Extensions;
18.4 Adding and Updating Codecs;
18.5 Which File Formats Are Supported?;
18.6 Managing Your Media Library;
18.7 Using Media Center;
18.8 Synchronizing and Sharing Media with Portable Devices;
18.9 Understanding and Protecting Your Digital Rights;
18.10 Security and Privacy Issues;
Chapter 19: Playing and Organizing a Digital Music Collection;
19.1 Playing Music in Windows Media Player;
19.2 Building a Digital Music Library;
19.3 Organizing a Music Collection;
19.4 Working with Playlists;
19.5 Burning Custom CDs or DVDs;
Chapter 20: Viewing, Organizing, and Sharing Digital Photos;
20.1 Installing and Configuring Windows Live Photo Gallery;
20.2 Using Windows Live Photo Gallery;
20.3 Importing Pictures into the Gallery;
20.4 Organizing and Categorizing Your Digital Pictures;
20.5 Editing Image Files;
20.6 Creating a Panoramic Image;
20.7 Sharing Digital Images;
Chapter 21: Creating and Watching Movies and DVDs;
21.1 Watching DVDs in Windows Media Player;
21.2 Introducing Windows Movie Maker;
21.3 Planning a Movie Maker Project;
21.4 Using the Storyboard and Timeline to Assemble a Project;
21.5 Saving and Sharing Movies;
21.6 Turning Movies and Pictures into Custom DVDs;
Chapter 22: Using Windows Media Center;
22.1 Getting Started with Windows Media Center;
22.2 Recording and Watching TV;
22.3 Connecting and Using a Media Center Extender;
22.4 Sharing a Media Library with Other PCs;
Part IV: System Maintenance and Management;
Chapter 23: Performing Routine Maintenance;
23.1 Checking Disks for Errors;
23.2 Defragmenting Disks for Better Performance;
23.3 Managing Disk Space;
23.4 Smart Backup Strategies;
Chapter 24: Tuning Up and Monitoring Performance;
24.1 Establishing a Performance Baseline;
24.2 Monitoring Performance in Real Time;
24.3 Basic Strategies for Improving Performance;
24.4 Using Performance Monitor for Advanced System Analysis;
Chapter 25: Monitoring System Activities with Event Viewer;
25.1 Getting Started with Event Viewer;
25.2 Understanding the Event Logs Summary;
25.3 Viewing Individual Logs and Events;
25.4 Monitoring Events;
25.5 Working with Log Files;
Chapter 26: Troubleshooting Windows Errors;
26.1 Configuring and Using Windows Error Reporting;
26.2 Reviewing the Error History with Reliability Monitor;
26.3 Reviewing the Error History with Event Viewer;
26.4 Rolling Back to a Stable State with System Restore;
26.5 Dealing with Stop Errors;
Chapter 27: Recovering from a Computer Crash;
27.1 Using Advanced Boot Options;
27.2 Making Repairs with the Windows Recovery Environment;
Chapter 28: Managing Services;
28.1 Using the Services Console;
28.2 Recommended Startup Settings for Services;
28.3 Managing Services from a Command Prompt;
28.4 Managing Services from Task Manager;
Chapter 29: Editing the Registry;
29.1 Understanding the Structure of the Registry;
29.2 Avoiding Registry Mishaps;
29.3 Browsing and Editing with Registry Editor;
29.4 Monitoring Registry Changes;
29.5 Using .Reg Files to Automate Registry Changes;
29.6 Working with a Remote Computer’s Registry;
29.7 Changing Registry Key Permissions;
29.8 Restricting Access to Registry Editor;
29.9 Editing the Registry from the Command Line;
Part V: Advanced System Management;
Chapter 30: Advanced Internet Explorer Security and Administration;
30.1 Working with (and Around) Protected Mode;
30.2 Using and Customizing Internet Security Zones;
30.3 Protecting Yourself from Unsafe and Unwanted Software;
30.4 Installing, Removing, and Troubleshooting Add-ons;
30.5 Managing Cookies;
30.6 Managing Internet Explorer’s Cache and History;
30.7 Blocking Objectionable Content;
30.8 Saving and Applying Internet Explorer Settings;
Chapter 31: Managing Disks and Drives;
31.1 Running Disk Management;
31.2 Managing Disks from the Command Prompt;
31.3 Understanding Disk Management Terminology;
31.4 Formatting Disks;
31.5 Creating New Volumes;
31.6 Assigning or Changing a Volume Label;
31.7 Assigning and Changing Drive Letters;
31.8 Mapping a Volume to an NTFS Folder;
31.9 Changing Volume Sizes;
31.10 Deleting a Volume;
31.11 Checking the Properties and Status of Disks and Volumes;
31.12 Setting Quotas for Disk Space Use;
Chapter 32: Controlling Access to Files and Folders;
32.1 Changes to NTFS Permissions in Windows Vista;
32.2 Controlling Access with NTFS Permissions;
32.3 Troubleshooting Permissions Problems;
Chapter 33: Automating Windows Vista;
33.1 Using the Windows Vista Task Scheduler;
33.2 Automating Command Sequences with Batch Programs;
33.3 Automating Tasks with Windows Script Host;
33.4 Introducing Windows PowerShell;
Chapter 34: Advanced Security Management;
34.1 Protecting a System with Windows Firewall;
34.2 Testing Your Computer’s Network Security;
34.3 Managing User Rights;
34.4 Auditing Security Events;
Chapter 35: Encrypting Confidential Information;
35.1 Using the Encrypting File System;
35.2 Best Practices for Safe Encryption;
35.3 Using BitLocker Drive Encryption;
Chapter 36: Using Group Policy;
36.1 Understanding Multiple Local Group Policy Objects;
36.2 Using the Local Group Policy Editor;
Appendixes;
Appendix A: Windows Vista Editions at a Glance;
Five Editions to Serve Two Markets;
Feature Summary;
Appendix B: Downloadable Resources;
Sysinternals Suite;
SyncToy 1.4;
SyncToy 2.0 (beta);
Robocopy GUI;
Network Monitor 3.1;
Microsoft Photo Info 1.0;
Windows Live Photo Gallery;
Windows PowerShell 1.0;
Windows PowerShell 1.0 Documentation Pack;
Scriptomatic 2.0;
Microsoft Silverlight;
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 2.1 for IT Professionals (beta);
Windows Live OneCare (90-day trial);
Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor;
Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.0;
Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008;
Internet Explorer Administration Kit 7;
Microsoft Deployment;
Windows Help Program (WinHlp32.exe) for Windows Vista;
Windows NT Backup – Restore Utility;
Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator 1.4;
Virtual PC 2007;
XML Notepad 2007;
Windows Live Mail;
Windows Live Messenger;
Microsoft Experience Pack for Windows Vista;
Microsoft Ink Desktop for Windows Vista;
Appendix C: Working with the Command Prompt;
Starting and Ending a Command Prompt Session;
Using Commands;
Using Environment Variables;
Customizing Command Prompt Windows;
Appendix D: Using and Customizing Microsoft Management Console;
Running MMC Consoles;
Using MMC Consoles;
Creating Your Own MMC Consoles;
Appendix E: Viewing System Information;
Finding Basic Information About Your Computer;
Digging Deeper with Dedicated System Information Tools;
Finding and Decoding Information in System Information;
Exporting System Information;
Appendix F: Windows Vista Certification Exams;
Preparing for Certification Exams;
Appendix G: Fixes Included in Windows Vista Service Pack 1;
Application Compatibility;
Computer Management, Administration, and Tools;
Desktop and Shell;
Development Tools, Including .NET Framework and Data Components;
Hardware and Drivers;
International/Localization;
Internet Explorer;
Multimedia;
Networking;
Networking: IIS and WebDAV Issues;
Networking: Remote Access, VPN;
Networking: Wireless;
Offline Files;
Performance and Reliability;
Printing and Scanning Technologies;
Security;
Setup, Deployment, Backup, and Activation;
Sleep/Hibernation and Power Management;
Startup/Shutdown;
Storage;
Time Zone/Daylight Saving Time;
Windows Mail and Web-Based Software;
Windows Media Center;
Windows Media Player and Related Technologies;
Windows Portable Devices;
Windows Sidebar and SideShow;
Index to Troubleshooting Topics;
About the Authors;