Getting Started

 
The Desktop
 
Windows is very user friendly, you'll always feel comfortable with your computer, no more typing
strange commands on your black Screen. The computer is now colorful, very friendly and accessible
to everyone.
 
The opening screen of Windows 98 is called the desktop. This workspace on your computer
screen contains:
 
• Icon or graphical pictures (These represent applications, files and other parts of your computer
system.)
• Start button
• Taskbar
 
The Start button, in the lower-left corner of your desktop, is one of the most important
tools you will use while working with Windows 98. The Start button allows you to open menus and
start applications.
 

 
Before going through details, here's a short description of each item
 
Desktop Icons
 
The small pictures on the desktop are called icons. One type of icon is an object icon. Examples of
object icons are My Computer, Recycle Bin, and Internet Explorer. These icons allow you to open
applications and documents on your computer.
 
A shortcut icon has a small jump arrow in the left corner. You can use a shortcut icon to open an
application quickly. The icon below is a shortcut icon for the Microsoft Word application found on the
Start menu. You don't have to use the Start menu to access the application if you have a shortcut for
it on your desktop.
 

 
My Computer:
 

 
This is where your Hard Drive(s) lies, 3.5 Floppy (a:) the CD-Rom (the item with a CD icon) Printers
(where you have the Printer icon inside in case you installed a Printer) Control Panel (Computer
controls, it's like your Computer operation room, this is where you can change colors, configure
devices, install software.... Dial-up Networking for Internet Connection, Scheduled Tasks (give your
computer jobs to perform when you're out)
 
My Computer is the portal to everything in your Computer
 
My Documents
 

 
This is where you store all your personal stuff e.g files anything you create with your computer. Don't
worry you can put your things somewhere else. Think of My Documents as your Desktop drawer
where you can put your papers
 
Recycle Bin
 

 
Microsoft worries about the environment so it recycles everything ! The Recycle Bin is the Trash
basket, when you wanna get rid of a paper/file you can throw it there, you can easily restore
anything you trash.
 
Internet Explorer
 

 
Perhaps you will be reading this tutorial using Internet Explorer, it's a piece of software called a
browser that comes with Windows for FREE, let you explore the Internet.
This icon will not appear unless the software is installed.
You might have another icon like "Connection Wizard" that will help you
configure your computer to access the Internet.
 
 
Network Neighborhood
 

 
When you connect two or more computers together you obtain a Network, with Network
Neighborhood you can share what's on every computer, you can go into the second computer just by
clicking on its name.
 
Online Services
 
If someone is not already connected to the Internet, he can subscribe to companies like
CompuServe, AOL, Prodigy, MSN to get online
 
 
The Start Menu
 
When you click the Start button, a pop-up menu (the Start menu) appears. The Start menu shows all
the applications that are on your computer. It also lists several options, including Shutdown, Help,
Find and Programs.
If you select Programs, a pop-up menu appears. Pop-up menus like this are called cascading menus.
If a cascading menu is available, a small black triangle appears next to the name of the application or
function.
 

 
Taskbar
 
When you turn on the computer, the taskbar appears as an empty gray area at the bottom of the
screen. When a window or application is open on the desktop, you can see a rectangular button on
the taskbar that shows the name of the application.
 
 
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