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Cheat Sheet
PCs All-in-One For Dummies
True PC power users make wise choices when upgrading their PCs, getting the best improvements in speed and performance for their money. They also follow a maintenance schedule to keep their PCs running smoothly. They speed through tasks in Windows 7 by using keyboard shortcuts, and recognize commonly used file formats at a glance.
Best PC Upgrade Bang for Your Buck
When upgrading your desktop PC, look to buy and install the following items first to ensure you get the most improvement in speed, storage space, and performance for the money you spend.
To increase speed: Add more RAM (memory) to your PC. (A RAM upgrade is a good idea for both desktop and laptop/notebook PCs.)
To increase storage space: To house digital photos, movies, and music, add an internal hard drive or an external USB 2.0/3.0 or FireWire hard drive. (Internal drive upgrades are easiest to perform on desktop PCs, while it’s a cinch to add an external drive to both desktop and laptop/notebook PCs.)
To improve sound and video: For a better experience playing movies or games, install a sound and/or graphics card. (Only desktop PCs can be upgraded with a new sound or graphics card.)
Windows 7 Window Key Shortcuts
Use these keyboard shortcuts to quickly navigate Windows 7 using the Windows logo key (Win). You’ll find using the keyboard an efficient alternative to depending on your mouse.
| Key or Key Combo | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Win | Displays (or hides) the Start menu |
| Win+D | Displays the desktop |
| Win+E | Opens a Windows Explorer window |
| Win+F | Displays the Search window for files and folders |
| Win+Ctrl+F | Displays the Search window for networked computers |
| Win+G | Cycles through Sidebar gadgets |
| Win+L | Displays the Welcome/Logon/Lock screen |
| Win+M | Minimizes all open windows |
| Win+Shift+M | Restores all windows minimized with Win+M |
| Win+R | Opens the Run dialog box |
| Win+T | Cycles through taskbar programs |
| Win+Tab | Cycles through taskbar programs using Flip 3D |
| Win+U | Displays the Ease of Access Center |
| Win+F1 | Displays Windows Help |
| Win+Break | Displays the System Properties dialog box |
Windows 7 Maintenance Checklist
Stick to this maintenance schedule for your PC to help keep Windows 7 and your hardware running like a race car! Print the checklist and display it somewhere near your system as a reminder.
| Task | Schedule |
|---|---|
| Check for updates with Microsoft Update | Once daily or automatically |
| Check all hard drives for errors with Windows Scan Disk | Once weekly |
| Run the Disk Cleanup Wizard | Once weekly |
| Defragment all hard drives with Windows Defragmenter | Once monthly |
| Manually scan for viruses (avast! Antivirus) | Once monthly |
| Back up your hard drives | Once monthly (at minimum) |
| Check manufacturer’s Web site for latest video and sound card drivers | Once monthly |
| Check for hardware problems with Device Manager | Once monthly |
Common File Format Guide
You’ll encounter these digital media and archival formats everywhere on the Web, so it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with their use and which applications will load them.
| Name or Extension | Type of File | Good for This Task |
|---|---|---|
| AAC/M4P | Audio | Play music from the Apple iTunes Store |
| AVI | Video | Play video clips on any PC with Windows |
| BMP | Image | Store archive images on CD or DVD |
| JPEG | Image | Send photos through e-mail or display them on the Web |
| MOV | Video | Play video clips on PCs and Macs |
| MP3 | Audio | Play music on your hard drive or MP3 player |
| MPEG | Video | Play video clips on PCs, Macs, and Linux computers |
| Document | Share and print high-quality documents online | |
| PNG | Image | Display images on a Web page in the best format |
| RAR | Archive | Archive and compress multiple files into one file |
| TIFF | Image | Share files between PCs, Macs, and Linux computers |
| WAV | Audio | Add sound effects within Windows 7 |
| ZIP | Archive | Archive and compress multiple files into one file |
