Chapter 4

Getting Started with Windows

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Chapter 4
Chapter overview
 In this chapter, you will learn how to:
 Start and shut down Windows
 Launch programs
 Work with Windows taskbar
 Customize your screen-based desktop
 Designate printers, using Control Panel
 Install Windows software
 Use Windows Help and Support Center
 Find information about your Windows version and service
packs

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How do I turn on my computer
and start Windows?
 To start Windows, turn your computer on and Windows starts
automatically
 You may have to enter a user name and password
 Windows password allows you to view, change, and
delete files
 Network password allows access to network resources
such as printer and shared files
 When Windows desktop appears, your computer is ready to use

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How do I turn on my computer
and start Windows? Cont’d.
 If computer looks like it is off, but power light is on,
computer is in power-saving mode. Touch any key
or the mouse to start computer
 If computer displays “non-system disk” during boot
process, floppy disk is probably left in disk drive.
Remove, then press any key to continue
 When prompted, type password, then press Enter

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What’s on the Windows desktop?
 Windows desktop is gateway to all tasks
performed with PC
 Screen seen when boot process complete
 Remains in background as you use other software
 Use controls on Windows desktop to:
 Start a program
 Switch from one program to another
 Access information about your computer hardware
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Chapter 4
What’s on the Windows desktop?

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What’s on the Windows desktop?
Cont’d.
 Desktop contains small graphics called icons
 Each icon represents a program, hardware device, or
document
 Double-clicking icon gives access to component it represents

 A shortcut icon provides alternative access to programs and

documents
 Desktop provides work area where programs and files appear in
“windows”
 The pointer is used to select and manipulate on-screen objects
 The taskbar contains controls to help launch programs, switch
between windows, and access system settings

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Chapter 4
How do I use the taskbar?
 Taskbar is divided into several areas
 Start button provides access to:

 Programs
 Documents
 System settings
 Help
 Quick Launch toolbar gives one-click access to frequently used
programs
 Program buttons show what’s open on desktop
 Notification area:
 Displays time
 Contains shortcuts to programs, and utilities

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How do I use the taskbar?

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How do I use the taskbar? Cont’d.

 To find out what the taskbar does, point to it and wait. ScreenTip
appears with icons title
 On some computers, taskbar is set to disappear when not in use.
To reveal, pass mouse pointer off bottom edge of screen
 Computer keeps track of time and date
 Clock used when files are created or modified
 Always displayed in taskbar notification area
 To see date, point to time and wait a second
 Automatically keeps track of daylight savings

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How do I use the taskbar? Cont’d.
 Taskbar’s Volume icon lets you adjust
sound level
 Program buttons on taskbar represent open,
or “running”, programs
 Add toolbars and icons to taskbar by right-
clicking any empty area on taskbar

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How do I use the taskbar? Cont’d.

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How do I arrange icons and
windows on the desktop?
 To create new icon on desktop:
 Right-click any empty area on desktop
 Select New
 Select icon type from list
 Assign name
 To delete icon, right-click, then click delete
 To arrange icons
 Right-click anywhere
 Select Arrange Icons By

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How do I arrange icons and
windows on the desktop? Cont’d.
 Also arrange icons by dragging to the new location
 Right-click anywhere on desktop
 Choose Arrange Icons By
 Make sure Auto Arrange and Align to Grid not checked
 Drag icon to any desktop location
 To move file into folder or storage device, simply
drag it to folder or storage device

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How do I arrange icons and
windows on the desktop? Cont’d.
 To rename icon, right-click icon and select Rename
 To display icon properties, right-click icon and select Properties
 When several windows open on desktop, you can manipulate in
a variety of ways:
 Maximize window for maximum work space
 When working back and forth between windows, size them to fit
side-by-side
 Windows automatically tiles windows to fit screen when you right-
click taskbar and select Tile or Cascade

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How do I arrange icons and
windows on the desktop? Cont’d.

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How do I use the Start menu?
 Start Menu appears when Start button pressed
 Left side features All Programs option
 Produces list of all software installed
 Top-left area is Pinned items list
 Use to show favorite programs
 Lower-left area contains programs used most recently
(added automatically)

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How do I use the Start menu?
Cont’d.
 Right side provides options for:
 Viewing stored files
 Opening recently used documents
 Adjust system settings
 Accessing the Internet
 Controlling printers
 Getting help
 Shutting down computer

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How do I use the Start menu?
Cont’d.

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How do I use the Start menu?
Cont’d.
 Windows gives two choices of start menu
 Default style shown on previous slide
 Classic Start menu appears in single-column and has few options
 To change Start menu style:
 Right-click taskbar
 Click properties select Start Menu tab
 To add to Pinned Items list:
 Right-click any program in All Programs list
 Click Pin to Start Menu
 You can also drag icon to Pinned Items area
 Add programs to All Programs list by dragging icon to list
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Chapter 4
What is the Control Panel?
 Control Panel is collection of tools for
customizing Windows systems settings
 To open Control Panel:
 Click start button
 Select Control Panel
 From Control Panel, select tools by double-
clicking

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What is the Control Panel? Cont’d.
 Some Control Panel tools accessed from Start menu
 Others accessed by right-clicking taskbar or desktop
 Be careful when changing system settings
 Be sure you understand effects of changes on computer
 Good idea to jot down original settings
 Some networks prevent users from making changes. Check
system administrator if you are having trouble
 Some system settings take effect only for person logged on

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How do I change display settings?
 Many options available to customize desktop
 Select predefined desktop theme that includes:
 Background
 Sound
 Icons
 Select screen saver
 Choose screen resolution and color quality for display

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How do I change display settings?
Cont’d.
 To open Display Properties dialog box:
 Double-click Display tool in Control Panel window
 You can also right-click any empty area of desktop
 Most computers set at 1024 X 768 resolution. Some notebooks
have more readability at 800 X 600
 At higher resolution, monitor displays larger work space. Fonts
and icons appear smaller than at lower resolution
 Screen savers are fun and hide work when you’re away from
work station

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How do I adjust keyboard and
mouse settings?
 Control Panel includes Keyboard tool to adjust sensitivity
 Increase or decrease repeat delay

 Adjust the repeat rate

 Change rate curser blinks

 Control Panel includes Mouse tool for customizing mouse,

trackball, or pointing stick
 Adjust double-click speed

 Reverse mouse buttons for left-handers

 Adjust mouse speed across monitor

 Select different pointer shape

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How does Control Panel help me
work with printers?
 Control Panel has tool to help work with printers and
faxes
 Lists all printers and faxes you can access
 Use Printer and Faxes tool to:
 Add new printer
 Add new fax machine
 Create connections to network printers
 Use Printers and Fax tool to designate the default
printer

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How does Control Panel help me work
with printers? Cont’d.
 You can open Printers and Faxes window
from Control Panel or from Start menu

 When you have access to several printers, it

is useful to name them by function

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How do I install software?
 All Windows software includes Setup
program
 Setup generally starts when you insert CD
 If it doesn’t start automatically:
 Click start button
 Select Run
 Type x:\setup ( where x is the letter of CD drive)

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How do I install software? Cont’d.
 Some software from Web installs automatically
 Other software requires manual procedures such
as:
 Double-clicking to activate Setup
 Unzipping files
 Locating and printing Web page containing installation
instructions
 Be cautious when downloading. Check for viruses

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How do I install software? Cont’d.

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How do I install software? Cont’d.
 The software installation process can fail
 If Startup program does not start or stops before
completion:
 Use Windows Explorer to get directory files from CD
 If directory not produced, CD might be defective – call
software customers support number
 If attempt failed at work or school, failure may be because
you don’t have right to add software
 If installation fails to work or program fails, check
manufacturer’s web site or call customer support

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How do I remove software?
 Remove software by using authorized
removal tools
 Some software provides its own removal tool
found in program’s submenu in All Programs list
 You can use Control Panel’s Add or Remove
Programs tool

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How do I remove software?

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How do I remove software?
Cont’d.
 As you proceed through removal, Windows sometimes displays
message about components. Typically you can accept default by
responding “OK”
 When you update software, you might or might not need to
delete old version
 Make sure to follow update instructions

 Making assumptions about removing software can have

frustrating results
 If you sell or give away old computer, remove software you
intend to use on new one
 If removed software causes other software to malfunction, check
Windows System Restore feature

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Chapter 4
Which version of Windows do I
have?
 Help menus provided by Windows Explorer and My
Computer offer useful information
 Use About Windows menu option to find out which version
you have
 Select Is this copy of Windows legal to
 Ensure it is non-pirated
 See version number of operating system
 Any service packs installed
 Links to End-User License Agreement
 Amount of memory available on computer

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Which version of Windows do I
have? Cont’d.
 A service pack is collection of changes
packaged together
 Typically contain minor changes to feature set
and critical updates (“patches”) to repair bugs
 Use Control Panel to specify whether you want to
automatically or manually download and install
service pack

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Which version of Windows do I
have? Cont’d.

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Which version of Windows do I
have? Cont’d.
 You can access version and system
information using Control Panel’s system tool
 If using Classic Start menu, Windows version
is displayed on left side of it
 Information about service packs, memory,
and license agreement are found in Help
About dialog box

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How do I access Windows help?
 To access information about Windows features, look for
Help and Support option on Start menu
 Also access Help and Support Center from Help option on
Windows Explorer or My Computer menu bars
 Help and Support Center is gateway to Windows manuals,
FAQs, and troubleshooting wizards
 If Help and Support Center does not help, use search
engine to hunt for user groups or articles

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How do I access Windows help?

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How do I shut down Windows?
 Start menu provides several options:
 Log Off option where multiple users have access
to computer
 Shut Down or Turn Off depending on Windows
version
 Use this option before turning off power
switch to ensure files are saved

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How do I shut down Windows?

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How do I shut down Windows?
Cont’d.
 Turn Off Computer dialog box offers three options
 Use Power Off when you want to power down the computers
 Stand by option puts computer in state that only requires enough

power to maintain memory

 Restart option powers down computer then reboots

 If computer was turned off without being shut down, you will be
prompted to run a short disk test. Just follow instructions on
screen
 If computer “freezes up”, or “hangs”, and doesn’t respond, hold
down the Ctrl, Alt, and Del keys at the same time, then follow
directions on screen

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