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Using Windows and the Desktop

The modern Windows Desktop offers many features that make using your computer easier. You can easily start programs, copy and move files from one place to another and drag and drop files and program where you want them; including into applications or even on to an application's icon to start it with a specific file open. Open and Save menus are streamlined to allow all applications to have the same basic features plus program specific features. Though Windows is backwardly compatible with many of the older programs the application must be designed for Windows 95 or greater to allow it to have modern Windows features.

Desktop

Start Button

The Start Button starts programs, opens documents, and access most parts of the system. It can be customized as needed.

  • Program displays a list of the programs that are installed through Windows and available to use
  • Documents displays a list of the last 15 documents used allowing the user to open them directly from this menu
  • Settings displays system components, such as printers, control panel and taskbar
  • Find/Search has search abilities to find files, folders and phrases in documents on your computer
  • Help displays help topics broken up into contents, index and find components
  • Run allows you to start a program from a command line
  • Shut down shuts down the computer, restarts the computer or logs you off a network
  • Favorites and Active Desktop is an option available to Windows 98+ (or Internet Explorer 4x) users

Taskbar
Taskbar image

  • displays the program running and windows open
    • to bring a program or window to the front single click on the item on the taskbar
    • right click to display a menu for the item
  • right click an open area for a Taskbar menu
  • the notification area on the right displays indicators for certain tasks
    (for instance a printer icon will appear when the printer is engaged)
    • double click the icon to display setting for the task
  • click and drag the taskbar to the top, bottom, left or right to customize it.
  • drag it to make it bigger or to move it off the screen
  • use Start/Settings/Taskbar & Start Menu (or right click and Properties) to customize the settings

Control Panel Control Panel

  • used to change system settings like screen savers, time, screen colours
  • also used to add and remove programs, fonts add and make changes to hardware and software settings

My Computer My Computer

  • displays all the components of the computer including disk drives and networks
  • all parts of the computer can be accessed through My Computer's hierarchical structure
  • double click on any icon to view the contents of a disk, folder or run a program

Window

Windows are what the operating system was named for. All programs, folders, tasks and most other operations open in a window. Windows has increased the capabilities of the window to

Window

  • share common attributes through out the entire system
  • contain menus for File, Edit, View and Help which update depending on the task
    • File
      • open, rename, delete or change properties of files and folders
      • Send To used to open files in a specified program
      • create "Shortcuts"
    • Edit
      • move, copy and paste files and folders
      • Undo the last change
    • View
      • change how menu items are displayed
      • toggles Toolbar and Status bar
      • sorts files with Arrange Icons
      • Options set system wide menu options
    • Help
      • displays help topics
      • Windows 95 displays resource and memory allocation

Toolbar

  • displays icon menu of main options (hold pointer over icon for description)

Status bar

  • shows current status of the window including hints

Shortcuts

  • can be created anywhere you need to access a program, file or folder
  • select item and choose Create Shortcut then move it to its target folder (destination)
  • or open target folder and choose File, New, Shortcut
  • use the right mouse button to drag the item to the target and choose Create Shortcut Here from the menu that appears
  • when you delete a Shortcut the original remains intact

*Favorites is a feature available with Windows 98+ and Internet Explorer version 4.x

  • allow items (web pages, folders, document, etc...) to be added to Window menus

Programs & Features

Feature of Window

  • Long file names - document names can now use names up to 255 characters including spaces using any character except \ / : * ? " < > |
  • Plug and Play - Win 95 will detect many hardware devices like CDs, tape drives, upgrade cards, etc... and automatically install them on your system
  • 32 bit Preemptive Multitasking - allows users to leave a task running while working on another
  • Right Mouse button - used to display event specific or context sensitive menus
  • Drag and Drop feature allows you to drop files into programs to open them, drag selected text to new location, drag graphics to a new window and many more options
  • Active Windows - make your Desktop behave like a web site
  • Active Update - update Windows automatically through the Internet

Using Help Help

  • to get help about a specific procedure click the help button in the top right corner of the screen (or right click the item and choose What is This?)
  • Contents list general topics grouped by subject
  • Index list specific topics accessed by scroll bars or typing the topic
  • Find creates an index of words in Help and allows searches by word or phrase
  • click Help Topics to return to the Help menu
  • Troubleshooters will step you through a series of steps to solve computer problems

Windows Explorer Windows Explorer

  • not to be confused with Microsoft Explorer
  • displays drives and folders on the left side and files and sub-folders in the right
  • click a folder to display it's contents on right
  • plus sign (+) beside a drive or folder indicates that there are sub-folders
  • click plus to expand or show the folders and minus to hide them

Using DOS programs DOS

  • many older DOS program will run under Window
  • the PIF editor is replaced with a Properties dialogue box
  • note that some DOS programs cannot run in a window and require a full screen

Switching between tasks (programs/applications/folders)

  • depending in your system's resources you can have many programs running at once an easily switch from one to another using various methods
  • hold down Alt while tapping Tab to display a menu of tasks running
  • click on the taskbar icon of the task you want to bring it to the front

Hints & Shortcuts

The right mouse button is a great feature of the Windows operating system and can be a real time saver. Right click on an empty space of the desktop to change Desktop Properties, right click on My Computer to display or modify your computer's properties, right click Network Neighborhood to display and modify your network properties, right click on a Start menu item to modify it, right click an icon to work with it, etc.

Backing up files

  • there are a few system files that need to be backed up periodically
  • all initialization (.ini) files in the Windows directory
  • all registry files (.dat) files in the Windows directory
  • all password (.pwl) files in the Windows directory
  • all files referred to in; as well as the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files
  • any other proprietary configuration and logon scripts
  • and of course your personal and business data

Five Methods of Opening Documents

  • Open a program and use the Open command in the File menu
  • Use the Documents command in the Start menu to open a recently used document
  • Use the Find command in the Start menu
  • Double click on an icon in a Desktop Folder
  • Right click and choose Open

Creating Folders

  • Use the New option in the File menu (or right click) to create a folder in the active window

Moving and Deleting Files

  • Use Drag & Drop to drag the file or folder from one window to another with the right button
    • a menu will appear allowing you to Copy or Move the file or folder
  • Use Drag & Drop to drag the file or folder from one window to another with the left button
    • files on the same disk are moved (hold Ctrl to copy)
    • files on another disk are copied (hold Ctrl to move)
  • Use the Edit menu to Cut the file and Paste it in the destination window
  • Hold down Shift while Deleting a file to by pass the Recycle Bin and permanently delete files

Multiple Selection

  • to select files sequentially click on the first file and move to the last file, press hold and press click on the last file in the sequence
  • to select files non-sequentially click on the first file and hold Ctrl while clicking the rest
  • the two methods can be used together

Organizing your files

  • any folder created on the Desktop will be available as a root directory in any program designed for Windows 95
  • folder created on the Desktop are stored in the C:\Window\Desktop directory
  • My Documents is the default folder created by Windows

Troubleshooting

  • Windows has a number of tools built in to assist in solving computer problems
  • Choosing Help allow users to access Troubleshooting Wizards that provide step-by-step suggestions
  • System Information under System Tools provide valuable information and access to other system tools

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