Windows is the worlds most popular operating system, andWindows For Dummies is the bestselling computer book ever. When you look atWindows XP For Dummies, 2nd Edition, its easy to see why. Heres all the stuff you want to know, served up in plain English and seasoned with a few chuckles. But make no mistake, this book means business.

Author Andy Rathbone listened to what you wanted to know, and this edition is loaded with additional information about

E-mail, faxing, and troubleshootingMaximizing security featuresCustomizing and upgrading Windows XPMultimedia applicationsCDs, digital music and photos, video, and moreAnswers to questions asked by thousands of Windows users

If youre just getting started with Windows XP, youll findWindows XP For Dummies, 2nd Edition is a lot easier than trying to get the fourth-grader next door to explain it to you. (Andy Rathbone is a lot more patient.) Theres a whole section devoted to Windows XP Stuff Everybody Thinks You Already Know, so you can get the hang of the basics quickly and in the privacy of your own home. And if youve been around a couple of generations of Windows, youll be especially interested in how to squeeze maximum security from the beefed-up anti-spam and firewall features in Service Pack 2.

Windows XP For Dummies, 2nd Edition is sort of like a buffetyou can sample everything, or just stick with the stuff you know you like. Youll find out how to

Locate programs and files, organize your information, and fax, scan, or print documentsGet online safely, send and receive e-mail, work with Internet Explorers security toolbar, and steer clear of pop-ups, viruses, and spamMake Windows XP work the way you want it to, share your computer while maintaining your privacy, set up a network, and perform routine maintenanceTransfer and organize pictures from your digital camera, edit digital video, and create custom CDs of your favorite tunesUse Windows XPs troubleshooting wizards and become your own computer doctor

With its task-oriented table of contents and tear-out cheat sheet,Windows XP For Dummies, 2nd Edition is easy to use. You can quickly find what you want to know, and you just may discover that this book is as important to your computer as the power cord.

Andy Rathbone may be the bestselling technology author ever. He has written 35 For Dummies books and is also an authority on PC hardware and entertainment technology.

Introduction 1

Part I: Windows XP Stuff Everybody Thinks You Already Know 7

Chapter 1: What Is Windows XP? 9

Chapter 2: The Desktop, Start Menu, and Other Windows XP Mysteries 15

Chapter 3: Basic Windows Mechanics 41

Chapter 4: Flipping Through Files, Folders, Floppies, and CDs 61

Part II: Working with Programs and Files 83

Chapter 5: Playing with Programs and Documents 85

Chapter 6: I Cant Find It! 107

Chapter 7: Printing, Faxing, and Scanning 115

Part III: Getting Things Done on the Internet 139

Chapter 8: Cruising the Web 141

Chapter 9: Sending Mail and Instant Messages 163

Chapter 10: Safe Computing 185

Part IV: Customizing and Upgrading Windows XP 203

Chapter 11: Customizing Windows XP with the Control Panel 205

Chapter 12: Keeping Windows from Breaking 229

Chapter 13: Sharing One Computer with Several People 243

Chapter 14: Connecting Two or More Computers with a Network 255

Part V: Music, Movies, Memories (And Photos, Too) 273

Chapter 15: Playing and Copying Music in Media Player 275

Chapter 16: Fiddling with Photos and Movies 295

Part VI: Help! 321

Chapter 17: The Case of the Broken Window 323

Chapter 18: Strange Messages: What You Did Does Not Compute 333

Chapter 19: Moving from an Old Computer to a New One 347

Chapter 20: Help on the Windows XP Help System 359

Part VII: The Part of Tens 367

Chapter 21: Ten Aggravating Things about Windows XP (And How to Fix Them) 369

Chapter 22: Ten Things to Remember about Windows XP 375

Chapter 23: Ten Things to Look Forward to in the Next Version of Windows 379

Appendix A: Upgrading to Windows XP 381

Index 387