This is an introductory guide to Windows and to the following concepts: Operating system, interface, desktop, windows, icons, drives, folders, files and programs.

OPERATING SYSTEM

Software (programs) running on a PC tells the Hardware (physical components) what to do. The Operating System (OS) is the basic Software. It controls the computer, translating your instructions (which we input via keyboard, mouse etc...) into a language that the Hardware can understand. It is the link between the PC and the user.

Windows is an Operating System known for it's 'GUI' (Graphic User Interface). This is because you use windows and icons to communicate with the PC instead of text.

The Windows Desktop is the workspace on the screen. On it appear the windows and icons which represent the elements that you can use. Everything that you do with Windows is done 'on' the desktop.

MAIN DESKTOP ITEMS

In Windows you work with a desktop, folders and files, just as you would in a regular office. You work 'on' the desktop. Folders themselves are not information, but 'containers' used to organize the machine's contents. Files are data that can be programs (or software applications) or documents (information) that these software applications use or create.

The Windows graphic interface allows you to organize folders, applications and documents, run various applications at the same time, move and copy information. The programs that you open or run, usually appear as windows on the desktop. These can usually be sized and placed according to your need.

WINDOWS, FOLDERS AND FILES

These images show some of the items that make up a window. Each window is the working area which is surrounded by a border and has a title at the top. There are a few overlaid windows in this example. Each icon is the small image that represents either a folder or a file, which in turn can be a program file or a data file (sometimes called document if it is created by an application.)

In the example, the larger window (physically on screen) contains the smaller ones. There are four levels deep which you can see in the blue title bar.

• From the desktop My Computer was opened by double clicking it. This opens the first window. In it you can see that it contains Drive A:, the printers folder etc...

• Then Drive C: was opened. Here you can see folders and files.

• Then the Program Files folder was opened . Here you can only see folders.

• Then the Office folder was opened. Here you can see a file called Excel. This is the program or application for working with spreadsheets.

The last opened window could cover the whole screen if it were maximized (physically covering the screen and in front of other windows).
Inside each window there are many items, but for this example only one folder was opened in each.

WINDOW ELEMENTS

Control Icon: Opens a window related menu with a click.
Title Bar: Shows the window title and 3 control buttons.
Minimize button: Hides the window from view but it remains as a button on the task bar. (See desktop)
Maximize/restore button: Maximizes (shows) a window so that it covers the whole desktop and Restores a maximized window to its original size.
Close button: Closes the window.
Menu Bar: From the menus you access all Software instructions. By clicking one of the words on a menu bar you open the corresponding menu. You can then point to the desired action and run it with a click. In this image you can see the standard operating system menu bar, while in an application window, you will see the menus which include the instructions for that specific software.
Scroll Bar: Appears when the contents of the window don't fit in the window. You can use the button to scroll the contents in order to see them or you can use the two arrows. You could get a vertical, a horizontal or both scroll bars.
Window corner: From here you can change the window size by clicking and dragging to the desired size. Note that the window corner doesn't show if the window is maximized.
Status Bar: This bar provides information about the window contents or about the action you are performing. It's a good idea to get used to checking what it says.

MY COMPUTER:

My Computer is the icon which represents your machine. Within that window are the drives and some special system folders.

Activity

1. Turn on the machine (Windows loads automatically).

2. Open the Control Panel. (For this double click on My Computer icon and then double click on the Control Panel icon).

3. Try expanding, contracting and moving the Control Panel window until you can see all the contents. (You'll know when both scroll bars disappear).

4. Organize the icons in the Control Panel window. (Click on the View menu and then choose Arrange icons. You'll see a submenu opens where you can choose by Name).

5. Resize the window to the desired size.

6. Close all open windows.

7. Open My Computer and then Drive C.

8. Try all four ways of viewing the contents of the window:

• View - Large Icons

• View - Small Icons

• View - List

• View - Details

9. Close all open windows.

All programs you can use in Windows are called Applications. For example Word (processes texts), Paint (for graphics), Solitaire (game), Netscape Navigator (Internet browser), etc.

In all Windows applications you work with Menu bars. From there you can pick commands you need. The Menu bar options vary according to the active window. There are four main ones: File, Edit, View, and Help plus the specific application window menus.

Each time you click an option, a Menu drops with commands:

 

In this example the Open command from the File menu has been selected. Clicking with a mouse would open a dialog box asking which file we want to open.

The information on the computer is organized in a hierarchical tree:

IMPORTANT: To turn off the computer you click the Start button and then choose Shut Down. A dialog box called Shut Down Windows will appear. Confirm your choice and clic OK.

If you don't follow these steps you could damage program files and lose data.