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`Windows Vista™
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`A L L - I N - O N E D E S K R E F E R E N C E
`FOR
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`DUMmIES‰
`
`by Woody Leonhard
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`Windows Vista™
`
`A L L - I N - O N E D E S K R E F E R E N C E
`FOR
`
`DUMmIES‰
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`Windows Vista™
`
`A L L - I N - O N E D E S K R E F E R E N C E
`FOR
`
`DUMmIES‰
`
`by Woody Leonhard
`
`6
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`

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`Windows Vista™ All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies®
`Published by
`Wiley Publishing, Inc.
`111 River Street
`Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
`www.wiley.com
`Copyright © 2007 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
`Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
`Published simultaneously in Canada
`No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or
`by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permit-
`ted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written
`permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the
`Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 646-8600.
`Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Legal Department, Wiley Publishing,
`Inc., 10475 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46256, (317) 572-3447, fax (317) 572-4355, or online at http://
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`Trademarks: Wiley, the Wiley Publishing logo, For Dummies, the Dummies Man logo, A Reference for the
`Rest of Us!, The Dummies Way, Dummies Daily, The Fun and Easy Way, Dummies.com, and related trade
`dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United
`States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. Windows Vista is a trade-
`mark of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley
`Publishing, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
`
`LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: THE PUBLISHER AND THE AUTHOR MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS
`OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS WORK AND
`SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A
`PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NO WARRANTY MAY BE CREATED OR EXTENDED BY SALES OR PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS.
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`TENT PROFESSIONAL PERSON SHOULD BE SOUGHT. NEITHER THE PUBLISHER NOR THE AUTHOR SHALL BE LIABLE
`FOR DAMAGES ARISING HEREFROM. THE FACT THAT AN ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE IS REFERRED TO IN THIS
`WORK AS A CITATION AND/OR A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FURTHER INFORMATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE
`AUTHOR OR THE PUBLISHER ENDORSES THE INFORMATION THE ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE MAY PROVIDE OR
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`THIS WORK MAY HAVE CHANGED OR DISAPPEARED BETWEEN WHEN THIS WORK WAS WRITTEN AND WHEN IT
`IS READ.
`
`For general information on our other products and services, please contact our Customer Care
`Department within the U.S. at 800-762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3993, or fax 317-572-4002.
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`Library of Congress Control Number: 2006934840
`ISBN-13: 978-0-471-74941-7
`ISBN-10: 0-471-74941-9
`Manufactured in the United States of America
`10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
`1O/QW/RS/QW/IN
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`About the Author
`
`Curmudgeon, critic, and self-described “Windows Victim,” Woody Leonhard
`runs www.AskWoody.com, the Web’s single best source of up-to-the-nanosecond
`news about Windows and Office — warts and all. Check it out for answers to
`your most pressing questions, no-bull analysis of Microsoft’s latest gaffes,
`and all sorts of information that you can’t find anywhere else.
`
`With several dozen computer books under his belt, Woody knows where the
`bodies are buried. He was one of the first Microsoft Consulting Partners and a
`charter member of the Microsoft Solutions Provider organization. He’s a one-
`man, major Microsoft beta testing site and delights in being a constant thorn
`in Microsoft’s side. Along with several coauthors and editors, he’s won an
`unprecedented six Computer Press Association Awards and two American
`Business Press Awards.
`
`Woody; his long-time girlfriend, Duangkhae Tongthueng (better known as
`“Add”); and twelve talented Thai staff run Khun Woody’s Bakery and its sister
`operation, the Sandwich Shoppe, in Patong, Phuket, Thailand. Woody moved
`to Phuket in late 2000, where he now lives with Add; his father, George; his
`teenage son, Justin; and their all-American beagle, Chronos.
`
`Most mornings you can see him jogging on Patong Beach with the dogs and
`then downing a latte and New Yawk bagel-n-Philly at the Shoppe. Feel free to
`drop by and say, “Sawadee krap!” Microsoft hit squads, please take a number
`and form a queue at the rear of the building.
`
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`Dedication
`To Dad, who’s always been there for me.
`
`And to Add, who’s helped me in more ways than I ever thought possible.
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`Author’s Acknowledgments
`
`Many thanks to Becky Huehls, who’s slaving away at this very moment
`trying to get this tome whipped into shape. Best of luck with your latest, uh,
`endeavor, Becky! To the entire editorial crew at Wiley, the ones who righted
`my wrongs and slapped my scratchings into something legible, and espe-
`cially to Melody Layne, head editorial honcho on this project. To the folks at
`Snagit who kept their screen grab utility working all the way through the Vista
`beta versions. (Whew!) And particular thanks, as always, to Claudette Moore
`and Ann Jaroncyk at Moore Literary Agency.
`
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`Publisher’s Acknowledgments
`We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our online registration form
`located at www.dummies.com/register/.
`Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:
`
`Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media
`Development
`Project Editor: Rebecca Huehls
`Senior Acquisitions Editor: Melody Layne
`Copy Editor: John Edwards
`Technical Editor: Lee Musick
`Editorial Manager: Leah P. Cameron
`Media Development Manager:
`Laura VanWinkle
`Editorial Assistant: Amanda Foxworth
`Sr. Editorial Assistant: Cherie Case
`Cartoons: Rich Tennant
`(www.the5thwave.com)
`
`Composition Services
`Project Coordinator: Erin Smith
`Layout and Graphics: Claudia Bell,
`Jonelle Burns, Denny Hager,
`Stephanie D. Jumper Barbara Moore,
`Barry Offrings, Heather Ryan
`Proofreaders: Laura Albert, John Greenough,
`Christine Pingleton, Christine Sabooni
`Indexer: Techbooks
`Anniversary Logo Design: Richard Pacifico
`Special Help Mary Lagu, Rebecca Senninger
`
`Publishing and Editorial for Technology Dummies
`Richard Swadley, Vice President and Executive Group Publisher
`Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher
`Mary Bednarek, Executive Acquisitions Director
`Mary C. Corder, Editorial Director
`Publishing for Consumer Dummies
`Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher
`Joyce Pepple, Acquisitions Director
`Composition Services
`Gerry Fahey, Vice President of Production Services
`Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services
`
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`Contents at a Glance
`
`Introduction .................................................................1
`Book I: A Vista Orientation............................................9
`Chapter 1: Windows 4 N00bs ..........................................................................................11
`Chapter 2: Vista versus the WinXPerienced .................................................................27
`Chapter 3: Choosing a Version........................................................................................35
`Chapter 4: Upgrades and Clean Installs.........................................................................43
`Book II: Vista Boot Camp ............................................59
`Chapter 1: Running Vista from Start to Finish ..............................................................61
`Chapter 2: Controlling Users...........................................................................................97
`Chapter 3: Maintaining Your System............................................................................113
`Chapter 4: Getting the Basic Stuff Done ......................................................................147
`Chapter 5: Getting Help with Vista...............................................................................171
`Book III: Securing Vista ............................................187
`Chapter 1: Lock Down: Spies, Spams, Scams, and Slams ..........................................189
`Chapter 2: Security Center Overview ..........................................................................217
`Chapter 3: Windows Firewall Backward and Forward...............................................225
`Chapter 4: Patching and Plugging ................................................................................249
`Chapter 5: Virus Protection and the Big Defender.....................................................263
`Book IV: Customizing Vista........................................281
`Chapter 1: Personalizing Your Desktop.......................................................................283
`Chapter 2: Organizing Your Vista Interface.................................................................303
`Chapter 3: Searching on Your Desktop........................................................................321
`Chapter 4: Beating and Cheating Vista’s Games.........................................................333
`Book V: Vista on the Internet.....................................345
`Chapter 1: Getting the Most from the Internet ...........................................................347
`Chapter 2: Finding Your Way around Internet Explorer (And Firefox) ....................363
`Chapter 3: Making Internet Explorer Your Own .........................................................387
`Chapter 4: Windows Mail and the Alternatives ..........................................................399
`Chapter 5: Working Together — IM OK, You’re OK....................................................413
`Chapter 6: Searching on the Internet...........................................................................425
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`Book VI: Adding Cool Hardware.................................437
`Chapter 1: Finding and Installing the Hardware You Want .......................................439
`Chapter 2: iPimping iPods and iTunes.........................................................................465
`Chapter 3: Adding a Second (Or Third) Hard Drive...................................................485
`Chapter 4: Picking Printers and Printer/Scanner/Faxers ..........................................493
`Book VII: Joining the Multimedia Mix.........................511
`Chapter 1: Jammin’ with Windows Media Player .......................................................513
`Chapter 2: Podcasting....................................................................................................553
`Chapter 3: Discovering Digital Cameras......................................................................563
`Chapter 4: Mugging in the Photo Gallery ....................................................................581
`Chapter 5: Lights! Action! Windows Movie Maker .....................................................595
`Book VIII: Vista Video...............................................617
`Chapter 1: Preparing a Media Center PC.....................................................................619
`Chapter 2: Starting Media Center.................................................................................631
`Chapter 3: Turning On the Tube...................................................................................641
`Chapter 4: Beyond the Media Center Basics ..............................................................651
`Book IX: Setting Up a Vista Network..........................667
`Chapter 1: Those Pesky Network Things You Need to Know ...................................669
`Chapter 2: Building Your Network................................................................................683
`Chapter 3: Putting the Why in Wi-Fi.............................................................................705
`Index .......................................................................721
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`Table of Contents
`
`Introduction..................................................................1
`About This Book...............................................................................................2
`Conventions......................................................................................................3
`What You Don’t Have to Read ........................................................................3
`Foolish Assumptions .......................................................................................4
`Organization .....................................................................................................4
`Icons...................................................................................................................6
`Where to Go from Here....................................................................................7
`
`Book I: A Vista Orientation ............................................9
`
`Chapter 1: Windows 4 N00bs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
`Hardware and Software .................................................................................12
`Why Do PCs Have to Run Windows? ...........................................................14
`Buying a Computer ........................................................................................14
`Inside the big box .................................................................................15
`Screening ...............................................................................................17
`Managing disks and drives..................................................................18
`Making PC connections .......................................................................20
`Futzing with sound...............................................................................22
`A Terminology Survival Kit ...........................................................................23
`Chapter 2: Vista versus the WinXPerienced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
`What You See ..................................................................................................27
`The Glass UX .........................................................................................27
`Improved video effects ........................................................................27
`Sidebar: A truly active desktop ..........................................................29
`What You Get ..................................................................................................30
`What Stands in the Way.................................................................................31
`Do You Need Windows Vista? .......................................................................32
`Chapter 3: Choosing a Version . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
`The Eightfold Path .........................................................................................35
`Versions to Ignore ..........................................................................................37
`The Final Four.................................................................................................38
`Home Basic: Thumbs down ................................................................39
`Business Edition: Maybe .....................................................................39
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`xiv
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`Windows Vista All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies
`
`Home Premium: Usually the sweet spot............................................41
`The Ultimate..........................................................................................41
`Windows Live OneCare .................................................................................41
`Chapter 4: Upgrades and Clean Installs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
`Can Your Computer Handle Vista?...............................................................43
`Performing a Clean Install.............................................................................45
`Working through the Welcome Center ........................................................48
`Using Easy Transfer .......................................................................................51
`What will transfer .................................................................................52
`Making the transfer ..............................................................................52
`Product Activation.........................................................................................54
`What If the Wheels Fall Off? ..........................................................................58
`
`Book II: Vista Boot Camp.............................................59
`
`Chapter 1: Running Vista from Start to Finish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
`A Few Quick Steps to Make the Desktop Your Own...................................61
`Disabling the Welcome Center............................................................63
`Changing the background ...................................................................64
`Enabling the Sidebar ............................................................................65
`Cleaning up useless icons and programs ..........................................65
`Making the taskbar taller.....................................................................66
`Mousing with Your Mouse ............................................................................66
`Working with Files and Folders ....................................................................67
`Showing filename extensions..............................................................69
`Sharing folders......................................................................................71
`Recycling ...............................................................................................79
`Starting with the Start Button ......................................................................81
`Getting Around ...............................................................................................84
`Using Windows Explorer .....................................................................84
`Working with the Windows taskbar ...................................................90
`Creating shortcuts................................................................................92
`Sleep: Perchance to Dream ...........................................................................94
`Chapter 2: Controlling Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
`Logging On ......................................................................................................98
`Choosing Account Types ..............................................................................99
`Using standard accounts...................................................................100
`Using administrator accounts ..........................................................100
`Working with User Account Control ................................................101
`Disabling User Account Control .......................................................104
`Adding Users.................................................................................................105
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`Table of Contents
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`Enabling the Guest Account .......................................................................107
`Changing Accounts ......................................................................................107
`Changing other users’ settings .........................................................108
`Changing your own settings..............................................................110
`Switching Users ............................................................................................111
`Chapter 3: Maintaining Your System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
`Using the Control Panel...............................................................................113
`Removing and Changing Programs............................................................116
`Removing Windows Patches.......................................................................118
`Making Backups ...........................................................................................118
`Using shadow copies/previous versions.........................................120
`Creating data backups .......................................................................122
`Restoring backed-up data .................................................................127
`Ghosting with CompletePC backups................................................130
`Maintaining Drives .......................................................................................131
`Running an error check .....................................................................132
`Scheduling cleanups ..........................................................................134
`Defragmenting a drive .......................................................................134
`Scheduling the Task Scheduler ..................................................................134
`Zipping and Compressing ...........................................................................139
`Compressing with NTFS ....................................................................141
`Zipping the easy way with Compressed (zipped) Folders............142
`Creating Checkpoints and Using System Restore ....................................143
`Chapter 4: Getting the Basic Stuff Done . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147
`Burning CDs and DVDs ................................................................................147
`Understanding -R and -RW ................................................................148
`What to burn .......................................................................................149
`Mastered or Live File System? ..........................................................150
`Burning with Vista..............................................................................152
`Improving Your Experience Index..............................................................158
`Getting Word Processing — Free ...............................................................160
`Running Notepad................................................................................160
`Writing with WordPad........................................................................162
`Taming the Character Map................................................................164
`Calculating — Free .......................................................................................165
`Painting..........................................................................................................166
`Using Sneaky Key Commands.....................................................................167
`Conjuring up the Task Manager........................................................167
`Switching coolly .................................................................................169
`Chapter 5: Getting Help with Vista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171
`Meeting Windows Help and Support .........................................................171
`How to Really Get Help................................................................................174
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`xvi
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`Windows Vista All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies
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`Connecting to Remote Assistance .............................................................176
`Understanding the interaction .........................................................176
`Limiting an invitation.........................................................................177
`Troubleshooting Remote Assistance ...............................................178
`Making the connection ......................................................................178
`Getting the Most from Vista Help...............................................................184
`Ensuring that you get all the Help....................................................184
`Working through the index ...............................................................185
`Getting Help on the Web .............................................................................186
`
`Book III: Securing Vista.............................................187
`
`Chapter 1: Lock Down: Spies, Spams, Scams, and Slams . . . . . . . . .189
`Understanding the Hazards ........................................................................189
`Zombies and botnets .........................................................................191
`Phishing ...............................................................................................193
`0day exploits.......................................................................................195
`Staying Informed ..........................................................................................196
`Getting Protected .........................................................................................198
`Viruses, viruses everywhere.............................................................198
`Credit card fraud ................................................................................200
`Defending your privacy .....................................................................202
`Keeping cookies at bay......................................................................203
`Reducing spam ...................................................................................207
`Recovering from an Attack .........................................................................209
`Don’t Become Part of the Problem ............................................................209
`Using Parental Controls...............................................................................211
`Chapter 2: Security Center Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .217
`Entering the Security Center ......................................................................217
`Working with the Security Center ..............................................................219
`Scanning for Rootkits...................................................................................220
`Chapter 3: Windows Firewall Backward and Forward . . . . . . . . . . .225
`Comparing Firewalls ....................................................................................225
`Understanding Vista Firewall’s Basic Features.........................................227
`Speaking Your Firewall’s Lingo ...................................................................229
`Peeking into Your Firewall ..........................................................................230
`Using Public and Private Networks ...........................................................231
`Establishing a network type..............................................................232
`Changing network types....................................................................233
`Changing individual network settings .............................................235
`Starting, Stopping, and Goosing Inbound WF...........................................237
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`Table of Contents
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`xvii
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`Making Inbound Exceptions .......................................................................238
`Adding a program...............................................................................240
`Adding a port ......................................................................................241
`Coping with Vista’s Outbound Firewall .....................................................243
`Chapter 4: Patching and Plugging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .249
`Patching Woes ..............................................................................................250
`Choosing an Update Level ..........................................................................252
`Setting Your Update Level...........................................................................253
`Selectively Patching (A Panacea for Those Woes) ..................................255
`Applying patches from Windows Update........................................256
`MS-DEFCON .........................................................................................258
`Getting what you need from a Security Bulletin.............................259
`Chapter 5: Virus Protection and the Big Defender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .263
`Understanding Antivirus Software.............................................................263
`The challenges for antivirus software .............................................265
`What’s a false positive? .....................................................................266
`Live OneCare and the Safety Center ..........................................................267
`Caring for Your Antivirus Program ............................................................270
`Downloading and Installing AVG Free........................................................272
`Making Windows Acknowledge Your AV Program ...................................274
`Dealing with Spyware ..................................................................................276
`
`Book IV: Customizing Vista ........................................281
`
`Chapter 1: Personalizing Your Desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .283
`Recognizing Desktop Levels .......................................................................283
`Setting Colors in Vista .................................................................................286
`Picking a Background ..................................................................................288
`Energizing the Sidebar.................................................................................289
`Changing Sidebar settings.................................................................290
`Playing with the gadgets ...................................................................291
`Controlling Icons ..........................................................................................292
`Changing Mouse Pointers ...........................................................................294
`Selecting Screen Savers...............................................................................295
`Changing the screen saver ................................................................296
`Setting up a Super Boss Key .............................................................297
`Using Desktop Themes................................................................................301
`Chapter 2: Organizing Your Vista Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .303
`Customizing the Start Menu .......................................................................303
`Genesis of the Start menu .................................................................304
`Pinning to the Start menu .................................................................305
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`xviii
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`Windows Vista All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies
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`Reclaiming most recently used programs.......................................309
`Changing the All Programs menu.....................................................311
`Showing recent items.........................................................................314
`Making minor tweaks to the Start menu .........................................315
`Using the Quick Launch Toolbar................................................................317
`Performing a Custom Startup.....................................................................318
`Chapter 3: Searching on Your Desktop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .321
`A Brief History of Finds ....................................................