Objective 1. Get Started with Windows XP

Table of contents:

Objective 2 Resize, Move, and Scroll Windows

Windows XP is an operating systemsoftware that controls the hardware attached to your computer including its memory, disk drive space, attached devices such as printers and scanners, and the central processing unit. Windows XP and earlier versions of Windows are similar; they use a graphical user interface (GUI). A GUI uses graphics or pictures to represent commands and actions and lets you see document formatting on the screen as it will look when printed on paper. Windows, when spelled with a capital W, refers to the operating system that runs your computer.

Starting Windows is an automatic procedure; you turn on your computer, and after a few moments the version of Windows installed on your computer displays. Some versions require that you log in, and some do not. If you are using a different version of Windows, some procedures used in this chapter may work differently. Windows XP is available in two versionsa Professional Edition and a Home Edition. For basic tasks, the two versions work the same. The Professional version includes security and other features necessary in large organizations.

Alert!: Your Screen May Differ

This chapter uses Windows XP Home Edition. When you see the word Windows, it will often be accompanied by the version, such as Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, or Windows XP, which is the version introduced in this chapter. These operating systems are similar and use graphics or pictures to represent commands and actions. Different versions may result in screens that differ from those shown in this chapter. Your screen may also differ because of the setting options that have been selected for your computer.

Activity 1.1. Getting Started with Windows XP

In the following activity, you will start Windows, use the mouse, and use the Start button to open Windows' Calculator program.

Turn on your computer and either wait for the Windows program to display, or follow the log on instructions required for the computer you are using. For example, you might have to click a name on a Welcome screen, or enter a user ID or password. If this is your home computer and you are the only user, it is likely that you need do nothing except wait for a few moments.

The Windows desktop, which is the working area of the Windows XP screen, displays. The working area is called a desktop because on it you can place electronic versions of things you have on your regular desk. The screen look will vary, depending on which version of Windows you are using and what you have on your own desktop.

Compare your Windows desktop with Figure 1.2 and then take a moment to study the Windows elements identified in the table in Figure 1.3.

Figure 1.2.

Figure 1.3. Windows Screen Elements
Element	Description
Desktop	The working area of the Windows XP screen consisting of program icons, a taskbar, and a Start button.
Icon	A graphic representation of an object that you can select and open, such as a drive, a disk, a folder, a document, or a program.
Mouse pointer	The arrow, I-beam, or other symbol that moves when you move the mouse or other pointing device, and which indicates a location or position on your screenalso called the pointer.
My Computer icon	An icon that represents the computer on which you are working, and which provides access to the drives, folders, and files on your computer.
Quick Launch toolbar	An area to the right of the Start button that contains shortcut icons for commonly used programs.
Recycle Bin	A temporary storage area for files that you have deleted. Files can be either recovered or permanently removed from the Recycle Bin.
Notification area	The area on the right side of the taskbar, formerly called the system tray or status area, where the clock and system notifications display. These notifications keep you informed about processes that are occurring in the background, such as antivirus software checking, network connections, and other utility programs. Some notifications display only temporarily.
Start button	The button on the left side of the taskbar that is used to start programs, change system settings, find Windows help, or shut down the computer.
Taskbar	Displays the Start button and the name of any open documents. The taskbar may also display shortcut buttons for other programs.

Move the mouse across a flat surface to move the pointer on your screen. On the desktop, position the tip of the pointer in the center of the My Computer iconreferred to as pointing.

Double-clickpress the left mouse button twice in rapid successionusing caution not to move the mouse. If the My Computer icon is not visible, click Start, and then from the displayed Start menu, click My Computer. Compare your screen with Figure 1.4 and then take a moment to study the My Computer window elements in Figure 1.5.

Figure 1.4.

Figure 1.5. Parts of a Window

(This item is displayed on page 8 in the print version)
Screen Element	Description
Address bar	A toolbar that displays the organizational path to the active file, folder, or window.
Close button	A shortcut button in a title bar that closes a window or a program.
Left pane	In the My Computer window, a pane at the left that displays information and commonly used tools.
Menu	A list of commands within a category.
Menu bar	The bar beneath the blue title bar that lists the names of menu categories, for example File, Edit, View, and so on.
ScreenTip	A small box, activated by pointing to a button or other screen object, which displays the name of the screen element.
Status bar	A horizontal bar at the bottom of the document window that provides information about the current state of what you are viewing in the window, for example the page number of a document.
Title bar	Displays the program icon, the name of the document, and the name of the program. The Minimize, Maximize/Restore Down, and Close buttons are grouped on the right side of the title bar.
Toolbar	A row of buttons that activate commands, such as Undo or Bold, with a single click of the left mouse button.

The My Computer window displays. A windowspelled with a lowercase wis a rectangular box that displays information or a program. When a window is open, the name of the window is displayed both in the title bar and in a button on the taskbar at the bottom of the desktop.

In the upper right corner of the My Computer window title bar, point to, but do not click, the red Close button and notice the ScreenTip Close.

A ScreenTip is a small note, usually in a yellow box, that provides information about or describes a screen element.

Clickpress the left mouse button oncethe Close button to close the My Computer window. Then, point to the My Computer icon on the desktop and click the right mouse buttonthis action is known as a right-click. If the My Computer icon does not display on your desktop, click the Start button, and then right-click My Computer. Compare your screen with Figure 1.6.

Figure 1.6.

A shortcut menu displays. Shortcut menus list commands that are context-sensitivecommands commonly used when working with the selected object. On this shortcut menu, the Open command is displayed in bold because it is the default action that occurs when you double-click this icon.

In the displayed shortcut menu, point to Open to highlightselectthe command, and then click. In the displayed My Computer window, point to and then click the disk drive labeled Local Disk (C:), and then in the left pane, notice the lower panel. Compare your screen with Figure 1.7.

Figure 1.7.

(This item is displayed on page 10 in the print version)

The specifications of the Local Diskthe large disk drive inside your computer system also referred to as the hard driveare displayed in the Details panel of the left pane. A drive is an area of storage that is formatted with the Windows file system and that has a drive letter such as C, D, E, and so on. If the Details panel does not display any information, click the expand/hide arrow next to Details to expand this panel of the task pane.

In the My Computer window title bar, click the Close button . In the lower left corner of the screen, point to and then click the Start button . Compare your screen with Figure 1.8.

Figure 1.8.

(This item is displayed on page 11 in the print version)

Commands in the displayed Start menu that have arrows on the right indicate that a submenu is available for a command.

A submenu is a second-level menu. You can customize the Start menu to include shortcuts to programs and files you use often.

On the Start menu, point to, but do not click, the All Programs command.

The All Programs submenu displays. Your menu will differ from Figure 1.9 because your computer will have different programs installed. Folders in the menu contain more programs, or more folders, or some of each. A small arrow to the right of a folder indicates that the folder contains other folders or zipped (compressed) files. Programs that were recently installed are shown with a light shaded background.

Figure 1.9.

On the All Programs menu, point to, but do not click, Accessories.

10.

In the displayed Accessories submenu, point to Calculator as shown in Figure 1.10, and notice the displayed ScreenTip Performs basic arithmetic tasks with an on-screen calculator.

Figure 1.10.

(This item is displayed on page 13 in the print version)

You can access the Accessories programs from the Start menu and use them while you are using other Office programs. For example, you might want to make a quick calculation while you are typing a document in Microsoft Word. You can open the calculator, make the calculation, and then place the result in your Word document without closing Word.

11.

Click the Calculator command to open the Calculator window and close the Start menu. Then, practice using the calculator, which is shown in Figure 1.11. Point and click numbers and keys exactly as you would press keys on a calculator.

Figure 1.11.