Laptops For Seniors For Dummies

The basics you need to get more comfortable with laptops, without any of the fluff

Laptops For Seniors For Dummies is just for you. We help readers in the 55+ club get the most out of their laptops. You’ll discover how to choose the best laptop for your needs and how to use Microsoft Windows, to share photos, surf the web, use e-mail, and much more. With large text, clear graphics, and easy-to-follow instructions, this For Seniors For Dummies guide will get you up to speed on your new device in no time. Even if you’re upgrading from a typewriter, we can help you choose the right laptop to buy, understand your operating system, use files and folders, download and install software, and stay safe online. It’s all the stuff you need to know to make your laptop work for you.

• Choose and purchase the right laptop for your needs
• Navigate your Windows 10 or 11 operating system with confidence and discover useful programs
• Connect to Wi-Fi, go online, send e-mails, and get started with social media
• Protect and secure your laptop and your personal data

Whether you’re purchasing your first laptop or upgrading from older technology, this Dummies guide will take you step by step through everything you need to know to get laptop savvy.

Faithe Wempen, M.A., CompTIA A+, is a computer information technology instructor at Purdue University. She also writes and designs online technology courses for corporate clients and is the author of over 150 books, including Office For Seniors For Dummies and Computers For Seniors For Dummies.

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Foolish Assumptions 2

Icons Used in This Book 2

Beyond the Book 3

Where to Go from Here 3

Part 1: Get Going! 5

Chapter 1: Buying a Laptop 7

What Is a Laptop? 8

What Can You Can Do with a Laptop? 10

Get Up to Speed on Laptop Hardware 13

Input Devices: Putting Stuff In 16

Output Devices: Getting Stuff Out 18

What Is Software? 18

What Ports Should a Laptop Have? 21

Choose a Display Type 22

Evaluate Your Storage Options 24

Consider How You Will Get Online 26

Where to Shop for Your New Laptop 27

Chapter 2: Setting Up Your Laptop 31

Out of the Box: Set Up Your New Laptop 32

Set Up Windows 36

Take a First Look at Windows 38

Use a Mouse, Trackball, or Touchscreen 40

Get Familiar with the Start Menu 43

Sign Out and In 46

Switch Accounts 48

Lock Windows While You’re Away 49

Restart Windows 50

Place the Laptop in Sleep Mode 51

Shut Down Your Laptop 51

Create Additional User Accounts 52

Change an Account’s Type 55

Manage Family Settings 57

Chapter 3: Buying and Setting Up a Printer 59

Do You Need a Printer? 60

Choose the Right Printer 60

Unpack and Install a New Printer 62

Set Up a Printer to Work with Windows 62

Set a Default Printer 65

Set Printer Preferences 67

Manage a Print Queue 70

Remove a Printer 71

Part 2: Getting Things Done with Software 73

Chapter 4: Working with Apps in Windows 75

Learn the Names of Things 76

Start an App 79

Exit an App 82

Find Your Way Around in a Desktop App 84

Find Your Way Around in a Microsoft Store App 88

Work with a Window 89

Switch Among Running Apps 92

Move and Copy Data Between Apps 95

Install New Apps 99

Remove Apps 102

Chapter 5: Six Great Apps That Come with Windows 105

Do the Math with the Calculator App 106

Write Brilliant Documents with WordPad 108

Jot Quick Notes with Notepad 112

Set Alarms and Timers 114

Keep Up on the Weather 117

Saving Time with Cortana 119

Explore Other Windows Apps 122

Chapter 6: Managing Your Personal Files 125

Understand How Windows Organizes Data 126

Explore the File Explorer Interface 130

Move Between Different Locations 132

Locate Files and Folders 135

View File Listings in Different Ways 138

Select Multiple Items at Once 140

Move or Copy an Item 141

Delete or Restore an Item 143

Rename an Item 144

Create a Shortcut to an Item 145

Create a Compressed File 146

Customize the Quick Access List 147

Back Up Files to an External Drive 149

Chapter 7: Managing Power 151

Change How Quickly Power-Saving Features Kick In 152

Change the Display Brightness 154

Adjust the Battery Saver 156

Choose a Power Plan 158

Create a Customized Power Plan 159

Define Power Button Functions 160

Chapter 8: Making Windows Your Own 163

Customize the Windows 11 Start Menu 164

Customize the Windows 11 Taskbar 166

Customize the Windows 10 Start Menu 167

Customize the Windows 10 Taskbar 170

Customize the Screen Resolution and Scale 171

Apply a Desktop Theme 173

Change Desktop Background Image 173

Change the Accent Color 175

Manage Desktop Icons 177

Add Widgets to the Desktop 178

Make Windows More Accessible 179

Part 3: Going Online 185

Chapter 9: Getting Connected to the Internet 187

What Is the Internet? 188

Explore Different Types of Internet Connections 190

Identify the Hardware Required 194

Set Up a Wi-Fi Internet Connection 197

Assess Your Software Situation 199

Chapter 10: Browsing the Web 201

Meet the Edge Browser 202

Search the Web 206

Find Content on a Web Page 209

Pin a Tab 210

Create and Manage a Favorites List 210

Use Favorites 213

View Your Browsing History 214

Print a Web Page 215

Customize the New Tab Page and the Home Page 217

Adjust Microsoft Edge Settings 219

Chapter 11: Staying Safe While Online 221

Understand Technology Risks on the Internet 222

Download Files Safely 224

Use InPrivate Browsing 226

Use SmartScreen Filter and Block Unwanted Apps 227

Change Edge Privacy Settings 229

Understand Information Exposure 231

Keep Your Information Private 233

Spot Phishing Scams and Other Email Fraud 235

Create Strong Passwords 237

Chapter 12: Keeping in Touch with Mail 241

Sign Up for an Email Account 242

Set Up Accounts in the Mail App 244

Get to Know the Mail Interface 246

Receive Messages 247

Reply to or Forward a Message 249

Create and Send Email 251

Manage Addresses 253

Send an Attachment 255

Change Mail Account Settings 256

Chapter 13: Working in the Cloud 259

Understand Cloud-Based Applications 260

Use Microsoft Office on the Web 262

Access Your OneDrive Storage 263

Add Files to OneDrive 265

Share a Folder or File Using OneDrive 267

Create a New OneDrive Folder 269

Use the Personal Vault 270

Adjust OneDrive Settings 271

Configure Online Synchronization 272

Chapter 14: Connecting with People Online 275

Use Discussion Boards and Blogs 276

Participate in a Chat 278

Understand Instant Messages 280

Explore Microsoft Teams 281

Explore Skype 284

Use a Webcam 286

Get an Overview of Collaborative and Social Networking Sites 288

Sign Up for a Social Networking Service 289

Understand How Online Dating Works 291

Part 4: Having Fun 295

Chapter 15: Let’s Play a Game! 297

Learn the Types of Game Delivery 297

Explore the Various Gaming Genres 299

Understand How Game-Makers Get Paid 305

A Few of My Favorites 307

Chapter 16: Creating and Viewing Digital Photos and Videos 313

Capture Pictures and Video with the Camera App 314

Make Audio Recordings with Voice Recorder 319

Make Audio Recordings with Sound Recorder 322

Find and Play Videos Using the Movies & TV App 324

Transfer Photos and Videos from a Camera or Phone 328

View and Edit Photos in the Photos App 329

Create a Video with the Video Editor 331

Chapter 17: Listening to Music on Your Laptop 335

Prepare to Listen to Digital Music 336

Get to Know Windows Media Player 339

Access Your Stored Music 342

Play Music 344

Create a Playlist 346

Rip a Music CD 349

Burn a Music CD 352

Acquire New Music 353

Part 5: Windows Toolkit 355

Chapter 18: Working with Networks 357

Plan and Set Up a Home Network 358

Enable Wireless Router Security 360

Set Up File Sharing on Your PC 362

Choose What Folders to Share 364

Share a Local Printer 367

Connect Bluetooth Devices to Your PC 370

Use Your Cell Phone as a Hotspot 371

Chapter 19: Protecting and Securing Your Laptop 373

Physically Secure Your Laptop 374

Choose Security Software 376

Update Windows 378

Check Windows Security Settings 381

Change Your Microsoft Account Password 383

Change How You Sign into Windows 385

Chapter 20: Troubleshooting and Maintaining Your Laptop 387

Troubleshoot Startup Problems 388

Troubleshoot Hardware Problems 388

Shut Down an Unresponsive Application 389

Troubleshoot Application Problems 392

Repair or Remove an App 393

Set an App to Run in Compatibility Mode 395

Restore Your System Files 396

Use Windows Troubleshooter Utilities 399

Reset Your PC: The Last Resort 401

Free Up Disk Space 403

Index 407

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