The
initial screen in Windows is
called the Desktop. It is the work
environment, which, more or less, is
used like a desk. Containing items you
can use to do your job, it can be
arranged to suit your own particular
needs. The Windows Desktop is
intended to make it easy for you to work
and to find and use applications.
The
default items on the Desktop are these:
-
My
Computer - This icon provides access
to your disk drives (hard, CD,
floppy, removable, and network
drives), printers, and control
panel.
-
Network Neighborhood or Network
Places-This icon provides access to
shared resources, such as printers and
other computers.
-
Recycle Bin-This icon provides a
temporary storage place for files that
you have deleted, but might still want
to recover.
-
Start button-This icon is the starting
point for Windows. Click here to find a
menu of programs, documents, settings,
help topics, and search options.
-
Taskbar-This horizontal bar located at
the bottom of your Desktop displays the
Start button, the clock, and other
icons. Buttons representing open
folders, applications, and documents are
displayed on the Taskbar. Its primary
purpose is to allow you to switch
quickly and easily between applications.
(Ctrl + Esc will bring up the taskbar.)
To turn the computer on:
-
If
the CPU, monitor, speakers, and
printer are plugged into a power
strip, simply turn on the power
strip.
-
If
each component is plugged into
different outlets, turn on the
monitor first, then the CPU, and
finally the speakers and the
printer.
To turn the computer off:
-
Close all open programs, windows,
and folders.
-
Click on Start.
-
Click on Shut Down.
-
Click on Yes.
-
Wait for the computer to give you
the message that it is safe to turn
off your computer.
It is
important that you Shut Down your
computer properly. If you turn the power
off before you shut down the computer,
you could lose valuable data or damage
an open file. Windows provides a
safe Shut Down feature that checks for
open programs and files, warns you to
save unsaved files, and prepares the
program for you to turn off your
computer.
To play an audio CD:
-
Press the button on the CD-ROM drive
to open the tray.
-
Insert an audio CD.
-
Press the same button to close the
drive door.
-
The
CD should automatically start
playing.
-
The
CD Player can now be seen on
the Taskbar.
-
Click on the CD Player to
open it and to investigate the
options there.
-
The
Stop button is the black square.
-
The
Play button is the black triangle.
To control the volume:
-
Be
sure the speakers are turned on and
that they are plugged into the
speaker jack on the back of the CPU.
-
Click on the picture of the speaker
in the right corner of the Taskbar
and move the lever up or down to
adjust volume.
-
Use
the volume control button on the
left speaker to adjust the level of
sound; or click on
Start/Programs/Accessories/Multimedia/Volume
Control.
To open and run a program:
To install a program:
-
Any
CD that was designed for Windows
95 or 98 will automatically open
up to the Install Option.
-
Follow on-screen directions.
-
If
you prefer, click
Start/Settings/Control
Panel/Add-Remove Programs and click
Install.
-
Insert CD or Disk #1 into the
appropriate drive.
-
Click Next and follow the
directions.
To change the Background of the Desktop
(called the Wallpaper):
-
Right click on the Desktop.
-
Select Properties.
-
Click the Background tab if it is
not already selected.
-
Under Display, click on Tile.
-
Under Wallpaper, click on the
various patterns you can use on your
Desktop.
-
Find a pattern you like, and click
on it (highlight it).
-
Click on Apply-it will be displayed
in the right portion of the screen.
-
Click on OK.
To change the screen saver:
-
Right click on the Desktop.
-
Select Properties.
-
Select the Screen Saver tab.
-
Under Screen Saver, click on the
down arrow to see a list of Screen
Savers.
-
Click the various Screen Savers, and
find one you like.
-
Click on Preview.
-
Click anywhere on the screen to
return to the Display Properties
screen.
-
The
Wait option determines how many
minutes will lapse before the Screen
Saver "kicks in" after the computer
has been idle.
-
Click on OK.
To change the number of colors the
display uses:
-
Right click on the Desktop.
-
Select Properties.
-
Select the Settings tab.
-
Under Color Palette, change the
number of colors to be displayed.
-
Under Desktop area, check the pixels
displayed and change them, if
needed.
To make a folder on the Desktop:
To make a shortcut:
To move an open window:
To resize a window:
To copy and move files:
-
Double click on My Computer.
-
Double click on the drive where the
file is located.
-
Double click on the drive where the
file is to be moved or copied.
-
Arrange the open windows so you can
see both of them; click and drag on
the Title Bar to move the windows.
-
Find the file you want to copy or
move and select it.
-
To
copy it, click and drag and drop the
file icon onto the appropriate
drive; the file will now be
available to you in both drives.
-
To
move the file, hold the Shift key
down as you drag and drop the file.
It will be available only in the
place in which you dropped it.
To delete a folder or file:
-
Select it and tap the Delete key.
-
It
goes to the Recycle Bin (unless it's
on a diskette).
-
To
recover the folder or file from the
Recycle Bin, open the Recycle Bin,
select the item you wish to restore,
and click on File/ Restore; the
folder or file will return to its
original location.
To rename a folder or file:
To create a System (Start Up) Diskette:
-
Double click on My Computer.
-
Double click on Control Panel.
-
Double click on Add/Remove Programs.
-
Select the Start Up Disk tab.
-
Click on Create Disk.
-
Insert a formatted diskette in A
Drive (the floppy drive).
-
Select OK, and OK.
To format a disk:
-
Double click on My Computer.
-
Insert a floppy disk into the A
drive.
-
Right click on the floppy drive icon
and select Format.
-
Under Format Type, select Full for a
new, unformatted disk; use the Quick
option if you just want to erase
some files that are no longer
needed.
-
Select Start.
To copy a disk:
-
Double click on My Computer.
-
Insert the disk you want to copy,
the Source Disk, into the A drive.
-
Right click on the A drive.
-
Select Copy Disk.
-
Click Start.
-
When you see the message "Insert the
Destination Disk," put the blank
disk into the drive.
-
Select OK.
-
Select Close when you get the
message "Copy Completed
Successfully."
To bring up the Taskbar:
To clear items from the Documents menu:
To create a new folder on the Desktop:
To open programs:
To switch from one program to the next:
To close a window:
To close all the windows in a sequence:
To minimize all windows at once:
To maximize and restore a window
quickly:
To tile windows:
To keep multiple windows from opening:
To move to a previous window:
To change the window display:
To move icons on the Desktop when they
don't move as you drag them:
To view file extensions:
To customize Taskbar options:
To move the Taskbar:
To resize the Taskbar:
To Shut Down the computer:
To warm boot the computer (restart it):
To start the Computer in DOS mode:
To log on as a different user:
To restart the Computer in Safe Mode:
To get Help:
To find a file:
To save a file in a folder on the
Desktop:
To open a file in a folder:
To choose a program in which to open a
file:
To copy and paste between two opened
programs:
To insert a Special Character:
-
Select Start/
Programs/Accessories/Character
Map/Wingdings (or other font). Pick
a Character. Select it and click
Copy. Click on the X on the Title
Bar.
-
With the insertion point at the
appropriate place, click on Edit/
Paste.
To set a Default Printer:
To install a printer:
To view the Clipboard:
To change the date and/or time:
To change the Wallpaper:
To change the Screen Saver:
To change the Background Color of the
text on the Desktop:
To change the font of the text on the
Desktop:
To change Mouse settings:
To add items to the Start menu:
To remove items from the Start menu:
To install a software program:
To create a shortcut to Drive A, C, and
D on the Desktop:
-
Double click on My Computer. Click
and drag Drive A to the Desktop.
Click Yes at the message.
-
Double click on My Computer. Click
and drag Drive C to the Desktop.
Click Yes at the message.
-
Double click on My Computer. Click
and drag Drive D to the Desktop.
Click Yes at the message.
To create a shortcut to a software
program out on the Desktop:
To get out to a DOS Prompt:
To install a font:
To do file management:
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