Section Four: Welcome to Windows

Windows is a big program that is called an “operating system”. It is the master program that runs
all of the other programs you use on your computer. It is also the program you use to give your
computer instructions to make it do things.
In order to get the most out of your computer, it’s important that you understand the key parts of the
Windows operating system. Windows was designed to be both easy and highly visual.
By the way. For now you can consider Windows 95, 98, 2000, ME, etc to be the same. Whenever
any significant differences between them need to be explained it will be done at the time.
Windows Terminology
Imagine that you are sitting at an electronic desk. When your computer starts up and no programs
are running you will see what is called the “desktop”. On the desktop you will see little pictures.
These pictures are called “icons”.
On every Windows desktop is an icon called “My Computer”. It resembles
a computer. Another icon is labelled “Recycle Bin”. This one looks like a
trash can and may be empty or full which we will discuss later.
Another object on your computer screen looks like a little arrow. It is called the “pointer”. Think of
it as an electronic finger you use for pointing to things on the screen. The pointer is attached to the
mouse so when you move the mouse the pointer moves too. The pointer is important because it
tells you where on the computer screen your electronic finger is pointing.
You can use the mouse to point to things like programs or folders. You do this by moving the pointer
on top of the icon. By then clicking the left button on the mouse, you can tell the computer to run the
program or open the folder.
Also on the desktop is what is called a “task bar”. It is a light gray (usually) bar usually located at
the bottom of the screen. An indicator that you are looking at the task bar is when you see the
“Start” button at one end and the clock at the other end as shown below.
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If you don’t see the task bar it might be hidden from view or moved around the screen. You can find
it by using the mouse to move the pointer all the way to the edge of the screen. You may have to try
all four sides to find it but when the pointer bumps into it, the task bar jumps out and becomes
visible. After you move the mouse pointer off it will automatically disappear again.
On the task bar if you move the pointer
over the clock a pop up box will appear
telling you the current date. If you click
once on the start button a list of available
options will pop up and if you right click on
the Start button an alternative menu
appears allowing you to use the explorer,
etc. which will be explained later.
In Windows just about every program you run will appear on your screen as a small rectangular box
called a window. Either a name or information inside the window tells you what program you are
running. The program will also appear on the task bar.
Become familiar with the following parts of a window as shown above. Don’t worry if you don’t
understand them yet as they will be explained later on in the manual.
Application
This is simply another name for a program.
Open
This means to begin running a program.
Close
This means to quit or exit a program. When you close a window, it disappears from the desktop.
You can close any window by clicking on the “X” in the upper right hand corner of the window you
want to close. This will also close any program that is running inside the window.
Drag
Place the pointer over an icon by moving the mouse. Press the left button and hold it down. While
holding the left button down, move the mouse and watch the icon move with it. You can literally drag
the icon around the screen. When you move the icon to where you want it release the mouse
button.
Double-Click
Quickly press down twice on the left mouse button. You should hear the button click each time you
press it. If you don’t click twice quickly enough the computer won’t know what you want to do.
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Execute
This simply means to run a program or launch an application.
File
A file an be either a program or part of a program. A file contains information you have generated.
If you have created a letter in Word Perfect and have saved it the saved letter is called a file.
Folder
Files are kept inside folders. In fact, your computer stores information much as you would store it
in a file cabinet.
Gadget
A gadget is a small icon that is used to make something happen on your screen. Good examples
are the “Close” gadget in the upper right hand corner of a window (it is an “X”), or the “Scroll
bar” in a window.
Pointer
the pointer, you might recall, is your electronic finger that is controlled by the mouse. The pointer is
usually shaped like an arrow but it can change into other shapes as you run programs. For example,
if your computer is busy working on a task the pointer change into an hourglass, letting you know
that you should wait until the computer is done.
Input
This is a verb meaning to place information into your computer. For example, if your computer asks
you a question such as “What is your name” and you respond by typing your name, you are
inputting.
Install
When you put a new program on your computer you are installing it. This enables you to run it.
Launch
This means to run or execute a program or to start using an application.
Left Click
Pressing the left mouse button with your fingers and releasing it. The more you use your mouse the
more you will get the hang of it.
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Maximize
The maximize gadget is located on every window in the upper right hand corner. It is the middle
button that looks like a square. When you click the maximize gadget it will enlarge the window so
that it fills up your entire desktop. Once you have your screen maximized the button will change to
have 2 overlapping squares. The gadget has now changed into the restore button. If you click the
button once it will enlarge your screen but, if you click it again it will make your screen appear half
the size which is handy for working on multiple projects.
Minimize
This is the small gadget located in the upper right corner of every window to the left of the maximize
gadget. If you press the minimize gadget it appears to make the window disappear. If you look at
your taskbar, you will see a small rectangle with the name of the window or program you just
minimized. If you left click once on the rectangle the window will return to the size it was before you
minimized it. This feature comes in handy when you are working on multiple programs and are
moving back and forth between them.
Menu
A menu is a list of commands and options you can give the computer.
Right Click
This means pressing the right button on your mouse with your finger and releasing it. You only need
to click the right button once.
Run
This simply means to start something on the computer. When you double click on a program to
start it, you are running a program.
Save
This means to put your work onto a floppy, CD or your hard drive so you can retrieve it and use it
later.
Scroll Bar
On the right side and along the bottom of some windows is a slider with arrows at each end.
These are “scroll Bars”.
Place your pointer on either the vertical or horizontal bar and drag it up and down or side to side.
If there is a very big picture on your screen that won’t all fit in a window, scroll bars will appear.
You can then click on the arrows to view the other parts of the image.
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Shortcut
A logical name for a bookmark to a program or a file that you use frequently. For example, if you are
working on a letter, you could create a shortcut to that file on your desktop. The next time you
wanted t work on the letter, you could double click on the shortcut to start the associated program
and load the file in one step.
Start Button
This is labelled “Start” on the task bar in the lower left corner. Use this button to start programs and
to perform many important tasks on the computer and to shut the computer off.
Task Bar
This is the bar containing the start button and the clock. It shows you what tasks or programs you
are running by placing them in small rectangle boxes. You can quickly switch from program to
program or window to window by clicking the appropriate box in the task bar. If nothing is showing
in the task bar, you an assume that no programs are running, or that no files or folders are open.
Title Bar
This appears at the top of each window and contains the name of that particular window. Usually
the computer puts inside the title bar the name of the program or file that is being displayed in the
window. Moving a window is easy. Just point the pointer over the title bar, click on the left mouse
button and hold it down, and then drag the window anywhere on your desktop.
Window
A box that appears as you run or open things on your computer is called a window. Everything you
do happens in a window and you can have multiple windows open at once.