Computers For Seniors

For Seniors: Shut Down Your Laptop with Windows 7

To shut down your laptop safely, you must log off Windows 7 properly. Windows lets you log off normally, or by hibernating, sleeping, restarting, or switching users. [more…]

For Seniors: Install and Charge a Laptop Battery

Once you unpack your new laptop, you might need help getting it set up, such as installing and charging its battery. After installing a laptop's battery, you'll need to charge it fully before using it. [more…]

For Seniors: Log Onto Your Laptop with Windows 7

Logging onto Windows is a process that typically involves turning on the laptop and typing in your password. Logging onto Windows the very first time is slightly different, but no more difficult. [more…]

For Seniors: Use a Laptop's Touchpad

A laptop includes a touchpad, which you use in place of a traditional mouse to select items and text onscreen. Using a laptop's touchpad, you move a cursor or pointer onscreen and use it to select things [more…]

For Seniors: Set the Date and Time in Windows 7

Windows 7 normally keeps good track of the current date and time, but often with a new computer, you have to change the Windows time zone to match your location so it can maintain time accurately. [more…]

For Seniors: Create a Windows 7 User Account

Windows 7 allows you to create different user accounts so each person who uses the computer can work with his or her personal Windows environment. After multiple user accounts are created, each user of [more…]

For Seniors: Switch Windows User Accounts

Windows 7 allows supports multiple user accounts so each person can work with his or her personal Windows environment. After multiple user accounts are created, each user of that computer must select the [more…]

For Seniors: Change Your User Account Picture

Change the picture associated with your Windows user account so you can more easily identify it when you log on. The user account picture can be anything — from an actual photo of you to a graphic image [more…]

For Seniors: Power Plans for a Windows 7 Laptop

A Windows 7 power plan can help you manage the battery life of your laptop. Windows 7 power plans have preset timings for actions such as dimming your screen or putting your computer to sleep. Managing [more…]

For Seniors: Customize a Windows 7 Power Plan

Windows 7 power plans can be customized to control precisely when the display dims or turns off, or the computer goes to sleep after a period of inactivity. By customizing a Windows 7 power plan, you can [more…]

For Seniors: Change When a Laptop Goes to Sleep

Changing how much time lapses before your laptop automatically goes to sleep can save precious battery power. Sleep is a state that uses minimal power but keeps the currently open documents and programs [more…]

For Seniors: Define Laptop Power Button Functions

You can control what happens when you press the Power button on your laptop, close its lid, or press the Sleep button (if your laptop offers one). When you perform one of these actions, you can opt to [more…]

For Seniors: Connect a Printer to Your Laptop

Connect a printer to your laptop whenever you need to print out a document or photo. To use a printer with your laptop, you have to install software — called a printer driver — and tell your laptop how [more…]

For Seniors: Set a Default Printer in Windows

In Windows 7, you can set up a default printer that will be used every time you print. With a default printer set, you don’t have to select a printer each time — instead, unless you specifically select [more…]

For Seniors: Set Default Printer Preferences in Windows

Set default printer settings for your Windows printer so you don't have to select them each time you print. Your printer might offer preferences such as printing in color or black and white, printing in [more…]

For Seniors: View Documents in the Windows Print Queue

As you send documents to your Windows printer, they are placed in a queue as they wait to be printed, one by one. View documents in the print queue anytime you like, without disturbing the printing process [more…]

For Seniors: Remove a Printer from Your Laptop

If you upgrade to a new printer for your laptop, remove the old printer (and its printer driver software) to keep it running lean and mean.

To use a printer with your laptop, you have to install its printer [more…]

For Seniors: Install a Scanner on Your Laptop

Connect a scanner to your laptop, and use it to convert hard copies of information into electronic files. Before you can scan documents into your laptop, you need to install the scanner driver so that [more…]

For Seniors: Modify Your Laptop's Scanner Settings

Change a scanner's default settings in Windows 7 to make it easier to scan material using your preferred options. You use a scanner connected to your laptop to convert hard copies of information into electronic [more…]

For Seniors: Connect Speakers to a Laptop

Although your laptop might have built-in speakers, you can attach external speakers to the laptop in order to improve its sound quality. Connect laptop speakers by plugging them into the appropriate connection [more…]

For Seniors: Adjust the Volume on a Windows Laptop

Windows 7 allows you to adjust the volume on your laptop so that it's louder or softer as desired. Mute the volume on your laptop when needed, simply and easily. [more…]