S02.W03. - Windows Interface and Desktop
- 1. WINDOWS INTERFACE AND DESKTOP Using Computer with Windows
- 2. LOGGING ON TO WINDOWS When the installation of Microsoft Windows 7 is finished and you turn on your computer, the Windows 7 logon screen will appear. If you set a password for your user account during the installation of Windows, click on the user account button and enter your password.
- 4. WINDOWS 7 INTERFACE Additional new features of the Windows 7 interface are the new themes and new wallpapers sliding over time.
- 5. WINDOWS 7 DESKTOP COMPONENTS
- 6. DESKTOP The desktop is composed of the contents of your computer screen after Windows 7 is started.
- 7. TASKBAR The taskbar is the long horizontal bar at the bottom of the screen. Unlike the desktop, which can get obscured by open windows, the taskbar is almost always visible. It has four main sections: The Start button opens the Start menu. The middle section shows you which programs and files you have opened and allows you to quickly switch between them The notification area includes a clock and icons (small pictures) that communicate the status of certain programs and computer settings. The show desktop button minimizes all open windows to show the desktop. <Start>+<D> key combination can also be used to show the desktop.
- 8. START BUTTON The Start button is located on the left edge of the taskbar; it is the most important component on the Windows desktop. It is used to open the Start menu, which is used to access all your programs as well as recently used programs and files.
- 9. TIME AND DATE The time and date are displayed near the right edge of the taskbar. You can change time and date settings by clicking on the time and date icon.
- 10. WINDOW A window is a frame on the screen that displays the contents of opened files, folders, or programs.
- 11. TASKBAR BUTTONS Taskbar buttons are icons representing open and pinned programs, folders, or files. Whenever you open a program, folder, or file, Windows creates a corresponding button on the taskbar. The button shows an icon that represents the open program. When you move your mouse pointer to a taskbar button, a small picture appears to show you a miniature version of the corresponding window. This preview, also called a thumbnail, is capable of playing videos and animations.
- 12. START MENU You can open the Start menu by clicking the Start button or by using the <Ctrl>+<Esc> key combination. The Start menu lets you easily access the most useful items on your computer. The All Programs item opens a list of programs currently installed on your computer. Programs are added to the most frequently used programs list above the All Programs item when you use them. Another feature of the Start menu is the search box. You can search for a program, file, or folder by typing a word or a phrase into the search box.
- 13. RECYCLE BIN The Recycle Bin stores all the files you delete from your computer. You can use the Recycle Bin to restore files you have accidentally deleted. You get more disk space by emptying the Recycle Bin. The Recycle Bin is the only folder displayed on the desktop when you first start Windows 7.
- 14. COMPUTER ICON You can access all your drives, removable media (e.g., DVD or flash memory), folders, and files using the Computer icon. It is the main access to all files in your computer. Your files and folders are displayed in Windows Explorer. Windows Explorer can be opened using the <Start>+<E> key combination.
- 15. NETWORK ICON The Network icon provides handy access to the computers and devices on your network. From there, you can see the contents of network computers and find shared files and folders. You can also view and install network devices, such as printers.
- 16. CONTROL PANEL You can use the Control Panel to change settings for Windows. These settings control nearly everything about how Windows looks and works, and they allow you to set up Windows so that it’s just right for you.
- 17. SHORTCUTS Shortcuts are a type of icon that offers quick access to files, folders, or programs. You can create a shortcut that appears on the desktop and provides faster access to a file. You use shortcuts in the same way you use other icons, double-clicking on them to open files or folders or to run programs. Shortcuts look similar to other icons except that they have a small, curved arrow in the bottom-left corner. You might think of shortcuts as placeholders for other icons. You can create, copy, move, and delete a shortcut without affecting the file, folder, or program itself.
- 18. ICONS Files, folders, and programs are represented by small pictures called icons. A file’s icon is represented by the program the file was created. For example, a Microsoft Word document’s icon is similar to the icon of the Microsoft Word program in which the document was created. Folder icons look like a folder. The name of the file, folder, or program is displayed under the icon
- 19. GADGETS Gadgets are mini-programs that come with Windows 7. Using gadgets, you can access frequently used tools. For example, you can display a picture slideshow, clock, or the status of your memory or CPU usage as well as view continuously updating headlines or look up contacts. You can place gadgets anywhere on the screen by dragging them.
- 20. POWER BUTTON OPTIONS Switch user: If you have more than one user account on your computer, Fast User Switching is an easy way for another person to log on to the computer without logging you off or closing your programs and files. Log off: When you log off from Windows, all of the programs you were using are closed, but the computer is not turned off. After you log off, another user can log on without needing to restart the computer. Restart: Saves any Windows settings, writes any information stored in your computer’s memory to the local disk, and restarts your computer. Use this option if Windows or your Windows-based programs start acting flaky.
- 21. POWER BUTTON OPTIONS Sleep: Sleep is a power-saving state that allows a computer to quickly resume full-power operation when you want to start working again. The computer immediately stops what it’s doing and is ready to start again when you want to resume working. Hibernate: Hibernation is a power-saving state designed primarily for laptops. While sleep puts your work and settings in memory and draws a small amount of power, hibernation puts your open documents and programs on your hard disk, and then turns off your computer. Shut down