Broadband Fixed Wireless

With the advent of the IEEE 802.16 standard, Broadband Fixed Wireless Access (BFWA) is becoming a new hype for high-speed internet access for residential customers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Up till now, a large variety of incompatible wireless solutions were promoted for BFWA. Moreover, these solutions only worked under restricted operating conditions and hence had a high operational cost for installation and maintenance. Both shortcomings are eliminated by the new standard.

Recognizing the importance of this standard, we started in 2001 a spin-off company of IMEC, LoraNet, with funding of the IMEC Incubation Fund. LoraNet had the mission to become a leading provider of BFWA technologies. LoraNet could capitalize on the IMEC know-how on Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) systems and actively developed techniques to reduce the total cost of ownership of a BFWA solution for the operators.

To this end, we participated in the development of the IEEE 802.16 standard and its European counterpart, HIPERMAN. LoraNet also executed an SME development project that was fiinded by the Institute for the Promotion of Innovation by Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT). In addition, LoraNet participated in the European IST-STRIKE project, which investigates multi-antenna techniques for BFWA as well as the bridging between BFWA and WLAN.

Due to the lack of venture capital LoraNet had to be closed down in mid 2003. Nevertheless, the interest in BFWA is still growing and we did not want that the experience that was build up in LoraNet, got lost. Therefore we bundled our experience in a tutorial for the 2004 International Conference on Communications (ICC) in Paris. The success of this tutorial led us to the idea to reach a wider audience by extending the tutorial material into a manuscript. The result of this effort is in front of you. We hope that you enjoy reading it and that it is useful in your professional work.

MS Windows Server R2

Windows Server 2008 R2, or simply R2 for short, is the second release of Windows Server 2008. It isn’t a completely new release, but rather adds additional features and refinements to the existing release. In this book, we focus on the new features and refinements in R2. We assume you have at least a general knowledge of Windows Server, and that you have some familiarity with Windows Server 2008, although we don’t assume you’re actively running Windows Server 2008. Where an R2 feature is a refinement of a feature that was new in Windows Server 2008, we provide background on the Windows Server 2008 feature to provide context.


Introduction

Chapter 1 What’s New in Windows Server R2
Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration: Adding R2 to Your World
Chapter 3 Hyper-V: Scaling and Migrating Virtual Machines
Chapter 4 Remote Desktop Services and VDI: Centralizing Desktop and Application Management
Chapter 5 Active Directory: Improving and Automating Identity and Access
Chapter 6 The File Services Role
Chapter 7 IIS 7.5: Improving the Web Application Platform
Chapter 8 DirectAccess and Network Policy Server
Chapter 9 Other Features and Enhancements

Windows Speed Secrets

XP Speed Secret #1: Disable Extra Startup
Programs

There are certain programs that Windows will start every time you boot up your system, and during the startup phase, they're all competing for a slice of your CPU speed. Extra or unwanted items in the startup list will definitely increase your startup time, perhaps by several minutes. Some common examples are things related to AOL, RealPlayer, Napster, instant messengers, and video managers. If you're not sure about an item, no big deal. You can turn it off, restart your PC, and see if everything seems to work. If not, you can always go back and re-enable an item in the Startup list. This tip alone should speed up your start-up by 250%. Here are is what
you have to do:
1. Go to Start button  Run
2. Type "msconfig", without quotations
3. Hit enter key or click the OK button
4. A System Configuration Utility window will show up
5. Click the Startup tab
6. In the Startup tab you will see several boxes and some of them will selected (checked). All you have to do is to uncheck extra items that are of no use. If you run an antivirus program it is not recommended to uncheck it.
7. After making you choices press the OK button, you will be prompted to restart computer to apply changes.
8. After restarting your computer a dialogue will be displayed. You can check the option for not showing this dialogue every time your PC reboots.



Table of Contents

Windows XP

XP Speed Secret 1 – Disable Startup Programs
XP Speed Secret 2 – Remove Spyware and Malware
XP Speed Secret 3 – Optimize Display Settings
XP Speed Secret 4 – Speed‐Up File Browsing
XP Speed Secret 5 – Reduce Page File Size
XP Speed Secret 6 – Clean Your System Registry
XP Speed Secret 7 – Run Disk Clean‐Up
XP Speed Secret 8 – Enable Direct Memory Access (DMA)
XP Speed Secret 9 – Disable File Indexing
XP Speed Secret 10 – Remove Unused Files & Programs

Windows Vista

Vista Speed Secret 1 – Turn‐Off User Account Control
Vista Speed Secret 2 – Disable Graphic Effects
Vista Speed Secret 3 – Remove Spyware and Malware
Vista Speed Secret 4 – Shutdown Search Indexing
Vista Speed Secret 5 – Disable Automatic Disk Defragment
Vista Speed Secret 6 – Clean Your System Registry
Vista Speed Secret 7 – Disable Auto Windows Defender
Vista Speed Secret 8 – Turn‐Off Un‐Needed Features
Vista Speed Secret 9 – Disable Unused Services
Vista Speed Secret 10 – Shutdown Remote Compression
Vista Speed Secret 11 – Shut‐Off Windows Hibernation

Disclaimer

Autocade 2007

Welcome to the AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD LT 2007 Bible. Whether you use AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT, you’ll find complete explanations of all of the powerful features that you need to know to design and draw anything. This book is designed to be your comprehensive guide to both the AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT programs. This book covers every significant AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT feature. If you’re a beginning user, you’ll find everything you need to start out; if you’re already using AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT regularly, the book covers advanced material as well. Although you can use this book as a tutorial if you’re just starting out or learning a new set of features, it also provides a solid reference base to come back to again and again.

The short tutorials on almost every topic will quickly have you drawing professionally. The CD-ROM is chock-full of drawings, a trial version of AutoCAD 2007, and add-in programs (which are mostly for AutoCAD only). This book should be all that you need to make full use of either program. For AutoCAD 2007, the emphasis is on 3D tools, including new 3D objects, new ways of navigating in 3D, and a completely new environment. For AutoCAD LT 2007, the emphasis of the new features is on ease of use and automation, including dynamic blocks and object snap tracking.

For both programs, layer tools that were previously in the Express Tools set have been incorporated into the core program; these are available for AutoCAD LT for the first time. Other minor changes make drawing easier and faster.


Part I: AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT Basics

Part I provides the background information that you need to start drawing. It starts with a “quick start” that has you drawing right away, and then covers how to start a drawing, use commands, specify coordinates, and set up a drawing.

Part II: Drawing in Two Dimensions

Part II covers all of the commands and procedures for drawing and editing in two dimensions. In addition, I discuss how to control the drawing process with layers, zooming, and panning. Also included in this part is information about dimensioning, plotting, and printing.

Part III: Working with Data

Part III covers many ways to organize and share data, including blocks, attributes, external references, and external databases.

Part IV: Drawing in Three Dimensions

Part IV explains everything that you need to know to draw in three dimensions. It also discusses how to present 3D drawings using hiding, shading, and rendering techniques.

Part V: Organizing and Managing Drawings

Part V helps you to incorporate AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT into your work world by explaining how to set standards, manage drawings, and work with other applications. It concludes with a chapter on getting drawings on the Internet.

Part VI: Customizing AutoCAD

Part VI introduces the tools that you need to customize commands, toolbars, linetypes, hatch patterns, shapes, fonts, and menus. You’ll also find a chapter on script files, which you can use to create macros.

Part VII: Programming AutoCAD

Part VII introduces you to programming AutoCAD. It includes three chapters on AutoLISP and Visual LISP, and one chapter on Visual Basic for Applications. This part applies to AutoCAD only.

Part VIII: Appendixes

Part VIII provides additional information for AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT users. Appendix A gives instructions for installing and configuring AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. Appendix B covers further resources for AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT users. Appendix C explains what you’ll find on the CD-ROM.

USB Complete Third Edition

This book is for developers who design and program devices that use the Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface. My goal is to introduce you to USB and to help you get your devices up and communicating as quickly and easily as possible.

The USB interface is versatile enough for a wide range of peripheral devices. Standard peripherals that use USB include mice, keyboards, drives, printers, and audio/video devices. USB is also suitable for data-acquisition units, control systems, and other devices with specialized functions, including one-of-a-kind designs.

To develop a device with a USB interface, you need to know something about how the interface works, what tasks your device firmware must perform to communicate on the bus, and what class drivers and other support are available on the host computers that your device will attach to. The right choices of device hardware, device class, and development tools and techniques can go a long way in avoiding snags and simplifying what needs to be done.

If you’re involved with designing USB devices, writing the firmware that resides inside USB devices, or writing applications that communicate with USB devices, this book will help you along the way.


Introduction
Chapter 1 : USB Basics
Chapter 2 : Inside USB Transfers
Chapter 3 : A Transfer Type for Every Purpose
Chapter 4 : Enumeration: How the Host Learns about Devices
Chapter 5 : Control Transfers: Structured Requests for Critical Data
Chapter 6 : Chip Choices
Chapter 7 : Device Classes
Chapter 8 : How the Host Communicates
Chapter 9 : Matching a Driver to a Device
Chapter 10 : Detecting Devices
Chapter 11 : Human Interface Devices: Using Control and Interrupt Transfers
Chapter 12 : Human Interface Devices: Reports
Chapter 13 : Human Interface Devices: Host Application
Chapter 14 : Bulk Transfers for Any CPU
Chapter 15 : Hubs: the Link between Devices and the Host
Chapter 16 : Managing Power
Chapter 17 : Testing and Debugging
Chapter 18 : Signals and Encoding
Chapter 19 : The Electrical Interface
Chapter 20 : Dual-role Devices with USB On-The-Go
Index

Wifi Security

Security is now an essential element that forms the cornerstone of every corporate network. Without privacy, however, your solution is incomplete! My expertise in the areas of security and privacy has provided me with a valuable perspective that has enabled me to save my clients hundreds of thousands of dollars of what would have been revenue lost to hackers.

Many of my clients ask me to work with their organizations as either a contractor or consultant to assist them in implementing effective security measures because there is no greater cost to an organization than falling prey to a plethora of security vulnerabilities. As a Director of CyberSecurity for IBM Global Consulting Services for over a decade, I established myself as the leading expert in both network security and enterprise resource planning in several IT sectors. I have published 11 best-selling computer books and have written over 1000 articles for the trade magazines. Today, I am always involved in writing specialized, private analyses for customers interested in acquiring my consulting services.

My experience comes from my extensive work with most of the Fortune 500 companies through my company, Executive Information Services. I work well with personnel to handle the most difficult computing problems, as I am dedicated to creating solutions that specifically meet my clients’ individual computing needs.

Preface
Chapter 1 : Introduction to Wireless LAN Security Standards
Chapter 2 : Technology
Chapter 3 : Wireless LAN Security Factors
Chapter 4 : Issues in Wireless Security
Chapter 5 : The 802.11 Standard Defined
Chapter 6 : 802.11 Security Infrastructure
Chapter 7 : 802.11 Encryption: Wired Equivalent
Chapter 8 : Unauthorized Access and Privacy
Chapter 9 : Open System Authentication
Chapter 10 : Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum
Chapter 11 : Wi-Fi Equipment Issues
Chapter 12 : Cross-Platform Wireless User Security
Chapter 13 : Security Breach Vulnerabilities
Chapter 14 : Access Control Schemes
Chapter 15 : Wireless Laptop Users (PC and Mac)
Chapter 16 : Administrative Security
Chapter 17 : Security Issues for Wireless Applications (Wireless PDAs)
Chapter 18 : The Future of Wi-Fi Security?
Index

ASP.NET 3.5 for Dummies

Greetings! You just entered the world of ASP.NET 3.5 For Dummies. In case you weren’t told on the way in, ASP.NET is Microsoft’s technology for building dynamic, interactive, data-driven Web pages. The primary tool for creating ASP.NET sites is Visual Web Developer (VWD), which you use throughout this book. Wait a minute! An introduction to an introduction is not only wordy and redundant, it’s superfluous and unnecessary.

How to Use This Book

People have different learning styles. Many are adventurers who turn to manuals only to get out of trouble. They barge into a new programming task like a deer into the forest until some grimy detail stops them in their tracks. Suddenly, progress can’t be made until they find an example or fill a knowledge gap. That’s when they scout out a likely topic in the book’s index, follow a few numbered steps, and snatch a snippet of “just-in-time” information. In contrast to the adventurers, you might be the organized and methodical
type. Perhaps you prefer to get a feel for the subject, ease into it, and analyze examples while you’re building skill and confidence. This book accommodates both approaches by including multiple hooks and starting points.


Introduction
Part I : Getting to Know ASP.NET and Visual Web Developer
Part II : Immersing Yourself in Data
Part III: Enhancing the Interface and User Experience
Part IV : Tracking Users, Controlling Access, and Implementing Security
Part V : Getting the Bugs Out and Handling Runtime Error
Index

Building Broadband Networks

Accelerating demand for extendible, dependable, and scalable high-speed, highperformance networks with vast transmission capacities and potentially unlimited bandwidth contributes to the present-day popularity of broadband communications technologies.

Building Broadband Networks is a comprehensive examination of recent developments and innovations in this dynamic field of study. The text provides a foundation for understanding distinctive attributes and functions of broadband technologies and the support of these technologies in enabling development of high-performance, high-capacity, and high-speed networking configurations. Technical features and functions, standards activities, and approaches for enabling effective broadband network deployment are described. Practical considerations for building broadband networks that are extendible, flexible, available,
scalable, and reliable are presented. Representative broadband tele-education initiatives that enable students and lifelong learners to participate in virtual classes, telecourses, and teleprograms, regardless of geographic location, are highlighted. National and international research and education networks that provision a diverse and powerful mix of broadband services are highlighted. Wireless solutions that support
fast Web connectivity at any time and from any place are indicated. Advanced broadband network applications such as digital libraries and information grids are described. Capabilities of undersea networks and powerline configurations are explored.

Building Broadband Networks is written from a contemporary perspective. Emphasis is placed on exploring the distinctive characteristics of broadband technologies, architectures, and services and current and next-generation networking implementations in present-day environments. This book begins with an examination of ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) and ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) technologies. Optical network solutions based on SONET/SDH (Synchronous Optical Network and Synchronous Digital Hierarchy), WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing), and DWDM (Dense WDM) technologies are then described.

Chapter 1 : Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
Chapter 2 : Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) Networks
Chapter 3 : Optical Network Solution
Chapter 4 : Ethernet Networks
Chapter 5 : Frame Relay (FR) and Fibre Channer (FC) Technologies
Chapter 6 : Digital Subcriber Line (DSL) and Powerline Networks
Chapter 7 : Cable Networks
Chapter 8 : Cellular Technologies and Networks
Chapter 9 : Wireless Technologies and Networks
Chapter 10 : Satellite Networks
Chapter 11 : Next Generation Networks
Chapter 12 : Network Security

FAQ on Muslims Belief

All Praise is due to Allah, Who (Alone) created he heavens and the earth, and originated the darkness and the light; yet those who disbelieve hold others as equal with their Lord. He it is Who has created you Tom clay, and then has decreed a (stated) term (for you to die). And there is with Him another determined term (for you to be resurrected), yet you doubt (in the Resurrection). And He is Allah (to be worshipped Alone) in the heavens and on the earth; He knows what YOU conceal and what you reveal, and He knows what YOU earn (good or bad). I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, Alone. He has no partner. He is Allah, (the) One. He s the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, (He neither eats nor drinks). He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth: everything renders worship to Him. To Him is due the primal origin of the heavens and the earth: when He decrees a matter, He says to it: "Be", and it is. Thy Lord does create and choose as He pleases: no choice have they (in the matter): Glory to Allah! And far is He above the partners they ascribe (to Him)! He cannot be questioned for His Acts, but hey will be questioned (for theirs).

I bear witness that our master and Prophet Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger
whom was sent with guidance and the religion of Truth, to proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it). May Allan send Peace to him, his
household, and companions who used to adjudicate to the truth and perfect justice.
And, may Allah send Peace to his followers who do not deviate from his Sunnah and,
moreover, they stick to it and defend it against any oppressors. And, may Allah send
Peace to those who follow them till the Day of Resurrection. Then after! This is a summarized book which I hope to be of great benefit to the reader. This book includes the basics of religion and principles of Islamic Monotheism. It shows the Straight Path of the True Religion (Islam). It covers what follows: Iman (Faith), its characteristics and what nullifies or demolishes it. Each statement is supported by clear-cut proofs. I focused on the views of the People of the Sunnah and discarded those of the heretics and deviators from the Straight Path. I mentioned the latter's only when I intended to refute and knock them down. I organized it in the form
of questions and answers to draw the attention of the kind reader.


example:

Q 1: What is the first (religious) obligation on worshippers?
A--- The first religious obligation on worshippers is to realize the purpose
for which Allah the Almighty created them; and for which He took their
covenant and sent them His Messengers and Books; and for which He
created this present life, the Hereafter, Paradise and Hell-fire; and for
which the Inevitable would come true; and the Event would befall; and
for which the Balance is set and the Records fly; and for which there
would be either happiness or misery; and according to which the lights
would be divided, for any to whom Allah gives not light, there will be no
light for him!

Flash CS4 for Dummies

Welcome to Flash CS4 For Dummies, your friendly Web animation companion. In this book, we explain in plain English how to make the most of Flash to create stunning, animated Web sites. We aim to give you all the information you need to start using Flash right away — with no hassle.

About This Book

As though you hadn’t guessed, Flash CS4 For Dummies covers the powerful animation product Flash CS4, from Adobe. (The preceding version was Adobe Flash CS3. You’re holding the 6th edition of this book.) Flash CS4 is the latest version of the popular software used on some of the coolest Web sites on
the planet. We comprehensively explain the Flash features, including

_ Working with the Flash screen, toolbars, and menus
_ Creating graphics and text in Flash
_ Adding sound and video
_ Using layers to organize your animation
_ Creating symbols, which are objects that you save for repeated use and animation
_ Animating graphics (the key to Flash)
_ Creating interactive Web sites
_ Publishing Flash movies to your Web site

Introduction
Part I : A Blast of Flash
Part II : 1000 Pictures and 1000 Words
Part III: Getting Symbolic
Part IV : Total Flash-o-Rama
Part V : The Movie and the Web
Part VI : The Part of Tens
Index

Hacking Wireless for Dummies

Welcome to Hacking Wireless Networks For Dummies. This book outlines plain-English, wireless-network hacker tricks and techniques you can use to ethically hack 802.11-based wireless networks (yours or someone else’s if you’ve been given permission) and discover security vulnerabilities. By turning the tables and using ethical hacking techniques, you then have a leg up on the malicious hackers — you’ll be aware of any vulnerabilities that exist and be able to plug the holes before the bad guys have a chance to exploit them. When we refer to ethical hacking, we mean the professional, aboveboard, and legal type of security testing that you — as an IT professional — can perform as part of your job. Villains need not apply.

Wireless networks are popping up everywhere. They provide a lot of freedom but not without cost: All too many wireless networks are left wide open for attack. As with any other computer or network, you must be up on the latest security concepts to properly secure 802.11-based wireless networks. But locking them down involves more than just port-scanning testing and patching vulnerabilities. You must also have the right security tools, use the proper testing techniques, and possess a watchful eye. And know your enemy: It’s critical to think like a hacker to get a true sense of how secure your information really is.

Ethical hacking is a means of using the bad-guy (black-hat) techniques for good-guy (white-hat) purposes. It’s testing your information systems with the goal of making them more secure — and keeping them that way. This type of security testing is sometimes called penetration testing, white-hat hacking, or vulnerability testing, but it goes further than that as you’ll see when we outline the methodology in this book. If you use the resources provided in this book, maintain a security-focused mindset, and dedicate some time for testing, we believe you’ll be well on your way to finding the weaknesses in your wireless systems and implementing countermeasures to keep the bad guys off your airwaves and out of your business. The ethical hacking tests and system-hardening tips outlined in this book can help you test and protect your wireless networks at places like warehouses, coffee shops, your office building, your customer sites, and even at your house.

Introduction
Part I : Building the Foundation
Part II : Getting Rolling with Common Wi-Fi Hacks
Part III: Advanced Wi-Fi Hacks
Part IV : The Part of Tens
Part V : Appendixes
Index

SQL for Dummies

SQL is the internationally recognized standard language for dealing with data in relational databases. Originally developed by IBM, SQL became an international standard in 1986. The standard was updated in 1989, 1992, 1999, and 2003. It continues to evolve and gain capability. Database vendors continually update their products to incorporate the new features of the ANSI/ISO standard. (ANSI is the American National Standards Institute, and ISO is the International Organization for Standardization.) SQL is not a general-purpose language, such as C++ or Java. Instead, it is strictly designed to deal with data in relational databases. With SQL, you can

✦Create a database, including all tables and relationships
✦Fill database tables with data
✦Change the data in database tables
✦Delete data from database tables
✦Retrieve specific information from database tables
✦Grant and revoke access to database tables
✦Protect database tables from corruption due to access conflicts or user mistakes

About This Book
This book is not just about SQL, but also about how SQL fits into the process of creating and maintaining databases and database applications. In this book, I cover how SQL fits into the larger world of application development and how it handles data coming in from other computers, which may be on the other side of the world, or even in interplanetary space. Here are some of the things you can do with this book:

✦Create a model of a proposed system and then translate that model into a database
✦Find out about the capabilities and limitations of SQL
✦Discover how to develop reliable and maintainable database systems
✦Create databases
✦Speed up database queries
✦Protect databases from hardware failures, software bugs, and Internet attacks
✦Control access to sensitive information
✦Write effective database applications
✦Deal with data from a variety of non-traditional data sources using XML

Introduction
Book I : SQL Concepts
Book II : Relational Database Development
Book III : SQL QUeries
Book IV : Data Security
Book V : SQL and Programming
Book VI : SQL and XML
Book VII : Database Tuning Overview
Book VIII : Appendixes
Index

PHP 5 for Dummies

Because you’re here, you must be interested in writing PHP scripts. Perhaps you just want to learn to program and you heard that PHP is one of the easiest languages to learn. You’re right; it is. PHP is a good choice for your first programming language. Perhaps you’re developing an interactive Web site and you heard that PHP is particularly good for Web site development. You’re right; it is. You can be interacting with users at your Web site in no time at all. Perhaps you have an application to write and you have a short timeline. You heard that PHP is easy to learn. You’re right; it is. It was designed with easy to learn as a specific design goal.

Perhaps you have some system administration, file manipulation, or data handling
tasks to perform and you heard that PHP can handle these tasks. You’re right; it can. PHP can do almost anything that you can think of, although it draws the line at asking your boss for a raise. Well, wait a minute, PHP can send e-mail. . . . Hmmm.


About This Book

Think of this book as a friendly introduction to programming in PHP. This book is both an introduction to programming and an introduction to PHP. The book starts with the basics of PHP, including how to tell whether you need to install it. (Full installation instructions are included in Appendix A.) The book describes the basic features of PHP with examples of their use. If you have experience with programming, you can probably just skim this section, but if you don’t, all the programming basics are here.

The book goes on to describe the most common uses of PHP. It shows how to write scripts for Web sites, file manipulation, databases, and other common tasks. It provides techniques and shortcuts and warns against common errors. Both beginners and experienced programmers can write useful scripts for many common applications in a very short time by using the information in the application section (Part IV) of the book.


Introduction
Part I : Say Hello to the PHP Scripting Language
Part II : Variables and Data
Part III: Basic PHP Programming
Part IV : Common PHP Application
Part V : The Part of Tens
Part VI : Appendixes
Index

MS Windows 7

What’s in This Book

Windows 7 Your Way is all about customizing and optimizing Windows 7 on your computer system. Obviously, it covers all the new features of Windows 7; there’s something here for everyone!
To present all the various ways you can configure Windows 7 your way, this book contains 28 chapters, divided into 6 major parts. Each part walks you through a different way to have Windows your way, from basic interface personalization to hard-core system tweaks:

• Part I: Personalizing Windows—Your Way
presents all the things you can do to reconfigure Windows 7’s basic settings. That includes personalizing the desktop, of course, but also working with the taskbar and Start menu, as well as setting Windows’ default programs. This is easy stuff that makes a big difference in terms of how Windows looks and feels.

• Part II: Managing Windows Data and Media—Your Way
is all about working with various types of files. You’ll learn how to personalize Windows Explorer, as well as advanced methods of managing files and folders. There’s also a lot here about working with digital media files (photos, music, and videos), including using Windows Media Center to play your media files in your living room—and throughout your house.

• Part III: Managing Windows Users and the Network—Your Way
Is where you learn all about configuring Windows’ user accounts—and Windows’ User Account Control feature. There’s also a lot here about network configuration, including how to share files and devices over the network.

• Part IV: Optimizing Windows Online—Your Way
connects you to the Internet—and helps you speed up your Internet connection.
You’ll learn how to customize the Internet Explorer web browser, how to change default web browsers, and how to use IE’s new InPrivate Browsing mode to anonymously surf the Web. You’ll also learn how to surf safely—and avoid all the pesky nuisances that plague the Internet.

Part V: Using Windows on the Road—Your Way
is the section to read if you have a notebook PC. Windows 7 offers a lot of configuration options for mobile users, as well as ways to extend your notebook’s battery life.

• Part VI: Optimizing Windows Performance—Your Way
Presents many ways to speed up your Windows-based PC. You’ll learn how to prepare for optimization (think: protecting your data), manage your system security, remove unwanted programs and files, work with hard drives and system memory, and even tweak the Windows Registry for some high-level performance improvements. There’s also a section on running problem programs, including using the new Windows XP Mode with older applications. And we wrap things up with a section on troubleshooting Windows problems—those annoying crashes and freezes that keep you from using Windows any which way.

That’s a lot of stuff—but then again, there’s a lot you can configure in
Windows 7. When you’re done, your version of Windows will be unique;
you’ll truly have Windows 7 your way.


Introduction
Personalizing Windows-Your Way
Managing Windows Data and Media-Your Way
Managing Windows User and the Network-Your Way
Optimizing Windows Online-Your Way
Using Windows on the Road-Your Way
Optimizing Windows Performance-Your Way

H Network For Dummies

If you have more than one computer in your home, you should have a network.
I used to consider that statement an opinion, but it’s so logical that I now think of it as a fact of nature. Nobody has ever presented a convincing (to me) argument that supports keeping multiple computers isolated from each other.

Using and managing multiple computers is easier if you create a network. You
don’t have to remember which computer you were using when you started that letter to Uncle Harry because you can just reach across the network to finish it, using any computer in the house. A home network allows you to do the work you have to do better and more efficiently.

One of the best reasons to set up a home network is that when you install it, you become the network administrator, the person who controls which files your spouse and children can access, as well as which printers they can use. Talk about power! And the wonderful thing about being a network administrator is that the title makes it sound like you do a lot of hard work (but you don’t — you’ll be amazed at how easy all of this is).

About This Book

This book isn’t a novel or a mystery, so you don’t have to start at page one and read every chapter in order — you can’t spoil the ending. This book is meant to be digested on a subject-by-subject, not a chapter-by-chapter, basis. Each chapter is self-contained, covering a specific subject. However, because the process of creating the network requires that tasks be performed in a certain order, I recommend that you check out the chapters in either Part I or Part II before you go to any of the other chapters. After you get up to speed on the basics, you can decide which chapters you want to look at next and figure out which network features you want to add to your home network.


Introduction
Part I : Network Basics
Part II : Configuring Computers for Networking
Part III: Communicating Across the Network
Part IV : Network Security and Maintenance
Part V : The Part of Tens
Index

AJAX, For Dummies

Making Web applications look and feel like desktop applications is what this book is all about — that’s what Ajax does. Although Web development is getting more and more popular, users still experience the nasty part of having to click a button, wait until a new page loads, click another button, wait until a new page loads, and so on.
That’s where Ajax comes in. With Ajax, you communicate with the server behind the scenes, grab the data you want and display it instantly in a Web page — no page refreshes needed, no flickering in the browser, no waiting.

That’s a big deal, because at last it lets Web applications start to look like desktop applications. With today’s faster connections, grabbing data from the server is usually a snap, so Web software can have the same look and feel of software on the user’s desktop.

And that, in a nutshell, is going to be the future of Web programming — now the applications in your browser can look and work just like the applications installed on your computer. No wonder Ajax is the hottest topic to come along in years.

About This Book

This book gives you the whole Ajax story, from soup to nuts. It starts with a tour of how Ajax is used today, taking a look at some cutting-edge applications (as well as some games). Then, because Ajax is based on using JavaScript in the browser, there’s a chapter on how to use JavaScript (if you already know JavaScript, feel free to skip that material).

Then the book plunges into Ajax itself, creating Ajax applications from scratch, from the beginning level to the most advanced. And you’ll see how to put many of the free Ajax frameworks, which do the programming for you, to work. Because Ajax also often involves using XML, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), and server-side programming (using PHP in this book), there’s also a chapter on each of these topics.

You can also leaf through this book as you like, rather than having to read it from beginning to end. Like other For Dummies books, this one has been designed to let you skip around as much as possible. You don’t have to read the chapters in order if you don’t want to. This is your book, and Ajax is your oyster.

Introduction
Part I : Getting Started
Part II : Programming in Ajax
Part III: Ajax Frameworks
Part IV : In-Depth Ajax Power
Part V : The Part of Tens
Index

Adobe Illustrator CS4

About Digital Classroom

Adobe® Illustrator® CS4 lets you create artwork for a variety of uses. Illustrator’s drawing tools let you take advantage of many ways to control color, text, and artwork in your designs.Illustrator provides you with ways to express your creative ideas and experiment with the presentation. Illustrator CS4 is also tightly integrated with other Adobe products such as Photoshop® CS4 and Flash® CS4 Professional.

Adobe Illustrator CS4 Digital Classroom is like having your own personal instructor guiding you through each lesson while you work at your own speed. This book includes 12 self-paced lessons that let you discover essential skills and explore the new features and capabilities of Illustrator CS4. Each lesson includes step-by-step instructions, lesson fi les, and video tutorials, all of which are available on the included DVD. This book has been developed by the same team of Adobe Certifi ed Instructors and Illustrator experts who have created many of the offi cial training titles for Adobe Systems.

Prerequisites
Before you start the lessons in Illustrator CS4 Digital Classroom, you should have a working knowledge of your computer and its operating system. You should know how to use the directory system of your computer so that you can navigate through folders. You need to understand how to locate, save, and open fi les. You should also know how to use your mouse to access menus and commands.

Before starting the lessons fi les in Illustrator CS4 Digital Classroom, make sure that you have installed Adobe Illustrator CS4. The software is sold separately, and not included with this book. You may use the 30-day trial version of Adobe Illustrator CS4 available at the adobe.com web site, subject to the terms of its license agreement.

System requirements

Before starting the lessons in Illustrator CS4 Digital Classroom, make sure that your computer is equipped for running Adobe Illustrator CS4, which you must purchase separately. The minimum system requirements for your computer to eff ectively use the software are listed on the following page.

Table of Contents

Starting Up
Lesson 1: Adobe Illustrator CS4 Jumpstart
Lesson 2: Getting to Know the Workspace
Lesson 3: Illustrator CS4 Essentials
Lesson 4: Adding Color
Lesson 5: Working with the Drawing Tools
Lesson 6: Working with and Formatting Text
Lesson 7: Organizing your Illustrations with Layers
Lesson 8: Working with Symbols
Lesson 9: Using Eff ects and Transparency
Lesson 10: Exporting and Saving Files
Lesson 11: Advanced Blending Techniques
Lesson 12: Illustrator CS4 New Features

Greatest Windows

Windows XP is far more than just an empty platform on which to install a slew of third-party applications and multimedia programs. Take a closer look and you’ll see that many powerful features and useful apps are built in, and over the next few pages you’ll discover what these programs do, and how to use them more successfully. For instance, discover how to communicate instantly with your friends and colleagues with the versatile chat program Windows Messenger, including how to send faxes, text messages and video mail from it. If you’re tired of talking and want to relax with your favourite music, brush up on Windows Media Player, the powerful music and video application that’s included in Windows XP.

We tell you how to have a karaoke singalong with your favourite songs, how to download visual effects that dance in time to the music and how to improve music quality, along with other top tips. If you’re more productivity-minded, you can learn how to streamline and personalise Windows XP with our top ten system tools tips. Also, if you haven’t got around to buying third-party applications yet, be sure to look at our tips for using word processing and drawing applications within Windows XP. If you’re in need of some time-out after all of that, improve your playtime with salient advice on how to make Windows XP games more fun, both on your own and in an online multiplayer environment.

Chapter 1
Getting Started
Originally printed in Issue 13, it’s your beginner’s guide!

Chapter 2
Security
It’s important to protect your PC from external threats

Chapter 3
Troubleshooting
35 common solutions, and tips for fixing problems

Chapter 4
Clean-up Tips
A clutter-free PC is a faster PC, as our 50 hints reveal

Chapter 5
Makeover Tips
Customise your PC! 50 tricks from Issue 8

Chapter 6
Microsoft Office
A massive 350 tips for using Microsoft Office XP better