Windows Operating System - 2

Windows Desktop

        Desktop just like a physical top of a desk, the Windows desktop is where you put the things you are working on or went to access. They are appearing on the monitor hence, the full appearance calls desktop. The desktop is the main screen in Windows (or any other operating system) where you can put icons that act as shortcuts to various programs.

• Icon

        An icon in Windows is a small picture or object that represents a file program, web page, or commands. Most of the time, the icon picture relates to the function of the item that it represents.

        For example, if the icon is attached to an e-mail program, it might be a picture of a letter. Icons are located on the desktop, in the start menu, and various other places.

• Shortcut

       A shortcut is a Windows icon that when clicked does something - starts a program, views a graphic, plays a sound, etc. Since they are only "paths" to the program, they can be deleted without deleting the actual program itself. On your desktop, you probably have several shortcuts.

• Recycle Bin

      When you delete a file, Windows XP will place the file into the recycle bin instead of deleting altogether; this allows you to restore the file in case you deleted it by mistake. For example say you deleted a file by accident you could double click on the recycle bin icon to see its contents, and then restore the file back to where you deleted it from by right clicking on it and then selecting restore from the menu that appears.

Keeping the Desktop tidy

      The more you use Windows XP the more your desktop may start to fill up with icons, either because you install more software or you create your own icons.

      Windows XP can automatically align and sort your desktop icons to keep the desktop tidy, to achieve this click the right mouse button anywhere on the desktop and a menu will appear, hover the mouse pointer over Arrange Icons By and a sub menu will appear, from here you can sort your desktop icons be Name, Size, Type, Last Modified date.

       Selecting the Auto Arrange option will automatically align your desktop icons every time you add one to the desktop.

       The Desktop Cleanup Wizard will remove any desktop shortcuts that have never been used to a new folder on your desktop called Unused Desktop Shortcuts.

 

Windows Operating System - 1 | Using the Mouse

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Windows Operating System - 1

Using the Mouse

A mouse is a hand - held device that controls the movement of a pointer on your screen. You use your mouse to perfome tasks on your computer.

As you move the mouse, a mouse pointer moves on your screen. When you position the pointer over an object, you can press (click pr double click) the mouse button to perform different action on the object. The pointer usually appears as an arrow, but it can change shape. The following sections explain the other actions you can perform with your mouse.

Mouse Functions

• Click - To select something on-screen., click the left button quickly and lightly - whatever you are pointing to when you click appears high lighted to show that it's selected.

• Double-Click - To activate an object on-screen, click twice in rapid succession. Click - Click will manipulate the object usually resulting in the opening of a specific program.

• Drag - To move or size an object on-screen, hold down the mouse button while you move the mouse across the mouse pad. Dragging moves the object to a new location. Dragging a border or frame changes the size of the object.

• Right-Click - Displays special menus. When you right-click, you see a menu of commands related to the icon or area of the screen that you are pointing to.

• Wheel Button - Some mice have a third button or wheel button. The Wheel Button allows you to scroll from screen to screen in a multiple screen document. It also allows you to move to a certain location in the document quickly by moving the mouse button, similar to dragging the navigation bar on a web page.

Windows Operating System - 2 | Windows Desktop

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