Windows Os 93a10

Introduction to Windows Operating Systems Windows  Is an interface that enables you to work with your computer through graphical symbols and text rather than text alone.  It helps you work with the various pieces of information that makes your computer run and makes it easy to run the other programs.

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What is Windows XP ?  Windows XP is an operating system. An operating system is a software program that controls and runs just about everything on your computer.  Functions of an Operating System Controls Your Computer’s Hardware Runs Your Computer’s Programs Organizes Files

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Elements that all Windows programs have in common  buttons, called tools  menus that contain commands that you select to perform tasks

 desktop - a central place from where all your files and programs can be accessed

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Features of Windows XP     

Improved Interface Personalized Menus More Reliable Better File and Folder Management Better Help and

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How to exit Windows Depending on how your computer is set up you may have the following options:  Log Off – choose Log off if you want the computer to remain on but don’t want other s to have access to your personal profile.

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How to exit Windows (continued)  Turn Off – choose Turn Off when you want to completely turn off power to your computer.  Stand by – an option available with computers that have Advanced Power Manager (APM) or AI built in. Stand by saves energy and lets you come right back to where you were working.

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How to exit Windows (continued)  Restart – choose Restart when it is necessary to exit Windows, but you want to keep using the computer.

 Switch – choose this option if you want to change the of the computer.

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Starting and Logging on to Windows 1. Turn on your computer’s monitor. 2. Turn on your computer. 3. If necessary, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to start the log on procedure. The Windows Log On dialog box appears. 4. Enter your name and and press enter. 5. If the Getting Started with Windows XP dialog box appears click the Exit button to close it.

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Understanding Windows XP’s window

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Major Parts of Windows XP Screen  Desktop. This is the large, background area of the Windows screen.  My Documents. A special folder that provides a convenient place to store files and documents you create on your computer.  My Computer. It lets you see everything on your computer.  Recycle Bin. It stores all the files you delete from your computer. 10

Major Parts of Windows XP Screen (continued)  My Network Places. If you’re on a network, the My Network Places icon will appear on your desktop. This allows you to browse through the computers in your workgroup and the computers on the network.  The Taskbar. It usually appears at the bottom of your screen, and contains the famous Start button, which you use to start your programs.

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Major Parts of Windows XP Screen (continued)  The Start button. It lets you quickly open your programs and documents.  The Quick Launch Toolbar. It gives you quick access to your most frequently used applications. Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, the Windows desktop, and several Web sites, called channels, are already included on the Quick Launch Toolbar by default.

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Using the Mouse There are five basic actions you perform with the mouse: Pointing; Clicking; double-clicking; right-clicking; and dragging

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Things you can click and double-click Click when you want to:

Double-click when you want to:

Select something.

Open a file.

Open a menu.

Open a folder.

Press a button on a toolbar or in a dialog box.

Display the properties or settings for an object (in certain programs)

Move to the area or field you want in a program then drag

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Things you can drag and drop You can do this:

By dragging this:

Move a window to a new location on the screen

Drag the window by its title bar and drop it in a new location on the screen.

Move a file to a new folder

Drag the file and drop it in the desired folder.

Change the size of a window

Drag the borders or corners of the window.

Scroll a window to see something located offscreen

Drag the scroll box (the little elevator) up or down the scroll bar and drop it in a new location.

Move just about anything on your computer’s screen

Point to the object, click, and hold down the mouse button, drag the object to a new place, and then release the mouse button.

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Using the Keyboard 1.

Pressing Alt + F4 closes the currently running program.

2. Press the Esc key. Pressing Esc does the same thing as clicking the Cancel button.

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Working with a Window Menu bar Contains menus for the program. Click on the menu names to display the menus and their commands.

Toolbar Command represents by icon, simply for faster execution of commands.

Title bar Displays the title of the document. It is also use for dragging the window.

Maximize button Window fills the entire desktop Close button Closes document, or quits program Document window This is where you type your document Status bar Shows you information about the document

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Working with Menus and Commands  A menu is a list of commands or instructions that tell your computer to perform an action (such as opening a program or saving a document). The main menu associated with Windows XP is the Start menu.

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Common Windows Program Menus File

Description

File

Commands to open, save, close, print, and create new files

Edit

Commands to copy, cut, paste, find, and replace text in a document

View

Commands to change how the document is displayed on the screen

Insert

Lists items that you can insert into a document, such as graphics, page numbers, and the current date

Format

Commands to format text, paragraphs, tab stops, etc. Strangely, the command to format the page (i.e. margins, etc.) is located in the File menu under Page Setup.

Window

Commands to display and arrange multiple windows (if you have more than one document open). WordPad doesn’t have this option since it can only have one file open at a time.

Help

Get help on the Windows program you are using 19

Toolbars  Toolbars are another common way to boss your programs around. It contain buttons only for the commands you use most frequently.  The Standard toolbar appears on top and contains buttons for the most frequently used commands, such as saving and printing a document.

 The Formatting toolbar is located right underneath the Standard toolbar and has buttons for quickly formatting fonts and paragraphs. 20

Working with Files and Folders Windows stores information in files and folders, just like a file cabinet does.

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Using My Computer to see what’s in your computer

My Computer displays the drive, folders (directories), and files that are in your computer. 22

The My Computer Toolbar

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Creating and Renaming a Folder

The expanded File and Folder Tasks menu 24