Training Computer:The taskbar (overview)

The taskbar is the long horizontal bar at the bottom of the screen. Unlike the desktop, which may be obscured by the windows at the top of it, the taskbar is visible almost all the time. It has four main sections:

In the Start button, open the Start menu. See the Start menu (overview).

The Quick Launch toolbar, which lets you launch programs with one click.

The middle section, which shows you what programs and documents that have been open and lets you quickly switch between them.

The notification area, which includes a clock and icons (small pictures) that communicate the status of certain programs and computer settings.

It is very likely to use the central section of the taskbar more, so let's discuss that first.

Keep track of your windows
If you open more than one program or document at a time, you can quickly begin accumulating the windows on your desktop. Due to cover the windows often to each other or take the whole screen, sometimes it's hard to see what else is underneath or remember what you've already opened.

That is where comes the task bar in his hand. When you open a program, folder or document, Windows creates a button on the taskbar for that matter. The button displays the icon and the name of the item. In the picture below, two programs are open, Calculator and Minesweeper and each has its own button on the taskbar.

Notice how the button on the task bar appears pressed Minesweeper inches indicating that Minesweeper is the active window, which means that it is in front of other windows open and ready for you to interact with.

To switch to another window, click its button on the taskbar. In our example, click the button on the taskbar Calculator brings its window to the front:

Minimize and restore windows
When a window is active (your taskbar button is pressed), clicking on its button on the taskbar minimizes the window. This means that the window disappears from the desktop. Minimizing a window does not close, or delete its contents, simply removes it from a temporary desk.

In the next image, the calculator has been minimized but not closed. You can say it is still running because it has a button on the taskbar.

You can also minimize a window by clicking the minimize button in the upper right corner of the window:

How the task forces for similar items
As more open windows, you see the buttons on the taskbar to reduce the width to allow new buttons squeeze in. However, if the taskbar gets too full of buttons, and buttons for the same program will be grouped into a single button.

To see how this works, suppose you have three images of paintings opened on the desktop. If the taskbar space is insufficient, shows painting of the three windows separate buttons:

But if you have many programs and documents open, the taskbar collapses these three buttons on a single button that displays the name of the group (painting) and the number of elements in the group (3). When you click the menu button displays a list of files in the group:

Clicking on one of the items on the menu is activated your window so you can see.

Tip
To close all elements in the group, click on the taskbar button of the group, and then click Close Group.

See previews of open windows
When you move the mouse pointer to a button on the taskbar, a small image that shows a miniature version of the window. This preview, also called a thumbnail, is especially useful if you can not identify a window by its title alone. And if one of the windows has video or animation for games, you'll see that play in the preview.

When pointing to a button on the taskbar grouped, you'll see a stack of previews, but only a preview of the utmost will be visible.

Note
Taskbar previews the window will not work unless your computer is running Windows Aero, the premium visual experience for Windows Vista. Aero is not available in Windows Vista Starter or Windows Vista Home Basic.
The Quick Launch toolbar
To the right immediately to the Start button is the Quick Launch toolbar. As its name implies, that lets you launch (start) programs with one click. For example, click the icon for Internet Explorer to start Internet Explorer.

You can customize the Quick Launch toolbar by adding your favorite programs to it. Locate the program in the Start menu, click the button, and then click Add to Quick Launch. (If you do not see this option, you can also drag the program icon to the Quick Launch toolbar.) The program icon now appears on the toolbar. To remove an icon on the Quick Launch toolbar, right-click, click Delete, and then click Yes.

By default, the Quick Launch toolbar also contains two special buttons. Click on the Show Desktop button to temporarily hide all open windows and show the desktop, click the button again to show all the windows again. Click the button to switch between windows to switch between open windows using Windows Flip 3D.
Notes
If you can not see the icons that you've added to the Quick Launch toolbar, and you see double angular instead, it means that the icons do not fit on the toolbar. You can click on the double-angled to access the toolbar of hidden programs, but it is better to resize the toolbar to preserve one click access to them.

To resize the Quick Launch toolbar
Right-click an empty area of the taskbar, then click Lock the Taskbar to clear the check mark and unlock the taskbar.

Move the toolbar sizing handle to the right (see photo) until you see all your icons.



Drag the handle to resize the Quick Launch toolbar

If your computer is not running Windows Aero, Switch, click the button between the windows will not open Flip 3D. Instead, you'll see the same window as you would if you press ALT TAB on your keyboard.

The notification area
The notification area on the far right of the taskbar, includes a clock and a group of icons. It looks like this:

These icons communicate the status of something on your computer or access to certain adjustments. The set of icons you see depends on which programs or services you have installed and how the computer manufacturer set up your computer.

When you move the pointer to an icon, you will see the icon of the name or the status of an adjustment. For example, suggesting that the volume icon shows the current volume level of your computer. Referring to the network icon displays information about whether you are connected to the network, connection speed, and the signal strength.

Double-click an icon in the notification area usually opens the program or settings associated with it. For example, double-click the volume icon opens the volume controls. Double-click the network icon opens Network and Sharing Center.

Occasionally, an icon in the notification area will display a small pop-up window (called a notice) to notify you about something. For example, after adding a new hardware device to your computer, you can see this:

Click the Close button in the upper right corner of the notification to dismiss it. If you do nothing, the notification will fade away on its own after a few seconds.

To reduce clutter, Windows hides the icons in the notification area when they have not been used in a while. If you become icons hidden, click Show hidden icons temporarily to the screen icons hidden.

Customize your taskbar
There are many ways to customize the taskbar to suit your preferences. For example, you can move the entire task bar to the left, right, or upper edge of the screen. You can make the taskbar larger, have Windows automatically hide when you're not using, and add toolbars to it.

Training Computer:The Start menu (overview)

The Start menu is the main gateway to its computer programs, folders and settings. It's called a menu because it offers a list of options, like a restaurant menu. And as in "Start" implies, it is often the place you are going to start or open things up.

Use the Start menu to do these activities:

Start programs

Open the folder in common use

Search for files, folders and programs

Adjust computer settings

Get help with the Windows operating system

Turn off the computer

Log on to Windows or switch to another user account

Getting started with the Start menu
To open the Start menu, click the Start button in the lower left corner of the screen. Or, press the Windows logo key on your keyboard. The Start menu appears.

The Start menu is divided into three basic parts:

The big left panel shows a short list of programs on your computer. Your computer manufacturer may customize this list, so its exact appearance will vary. When you click All Programs shows a complete list of programs (more on that later).

In the lower left corner is the search box that allows you to search for programs and files on your computer by typing in search terms.

The right panel gives access to commonly used folders, files, settings and features. It is also where you go to log off or shut down your Windows computer.

The opening program from the Start menu
One of the most common uses of the Start menu is the opening of the programs installed on your computer. To open a program shown in the left pane of the Start menu, click it. The program opens and closes the Start menu.

If you do not see the program you want to open, click All Programs at the bottom of the left pane. Instantly, the left panel shows a long list of programs in alphabetical order, followed by a list of folders:

Clicking on one of the icons of the program is started the program, and the Start menu closes. Therefore, what inside the folders? More programs. Click Accessories, for example, and a list of programs that are stored in the folder that appears. Click any program to open it. To return to the programs you saw when you first opened the Start menu, click Back at the bottom of the menu.

If you're never sure what a program does not move the pointer over its icon or name. A box often contains a description of the program. For example, pointing to the calculator shows this message: "Perform basic arithmetic tasks with a display of the calculator." This trick works for items in the right pane of the Start menu, too.

You may notice that over time, the lists of programs on your Start menu change. This happens for two reasons. First, when you install new programs, which are added to the All Programs list. Secondly, the Start menu detects that the programs use more, and puts them in the left pane for quick access.

The search box
The search box is one of the most convenient ways to find things on your computer. The exact location of the elements no matter the search box scrubbing their programs and all the folders in your personal folder (which includes documents, images, music, Desktop, and other common locations). Also, your search for e-mails, instant messages saved, appointments and contacts.

To use the search box, open the Start menu and start typing. You do not need to click inside the box first. As you type, the search results appear above the search box in the left pane of the Start menu.

A program, file or folder will appear as a search result if:

Any word in its title or parties begins with the search term.

Any text in the actual content of the file, such as the text in a word-processing document or parties begins with the search term.

Any word on one of the file properties, such as the author, matches or begins with the search term.
Click on any search result to open it. Or, click the Delete button to delete the results of the search and return to the list of programs. You can also click Browse around the world to search your entire computer, or Search the Internet to open your web browser and search the Internet to its mandate.

In addition to programs, files and folders, and communications, the search box is also through their Internet Favorites and history of the websites you've visited. If any of these web pages include a search term, appear under a heading called "Favorites and History."

What is in the right pane?
The right pane of the Start menu contains links to parts of Windows that is very likely to use frequently. Here they are, from top to bottom:

Personal Folder. Open your personal folder, which is the name of someone who is logged on to Windows. For example, if the current user is Molly Clark, the folder will be named Molly Clark. This folder, in turn, contains user-specific files, including documents, Music, Photos, Videos and folders.

Documents. Open the Documents folder, where you can save and open text files, spreadsheets, presentations and other documents.

Pictures. Open the Pictures folder, where you can store and view digital photos and graphics files.

Music. Open the Music folder, where you can store and play music and other audio files.

Games. Open the folder Games, where you can access all the games on your computer.

Recent topics. A list of files that have opened recently. Click a file from the list to open it.

Computer. Opens a window where you can access the disk drives, cameras, printers, scanners and other hardware connected to your computer.

Network. Opens a window where you can access the computers and devices on your network.

To connect. Opens a window where you can connect to a new network.

Control Panel. Open the Control Panel, where you can customize the look and functionality of your computer, add or remove programs, configure network connections, and manage user accounts.

Default programs. Opens a window where you can choose which program want Windows to use for activities such as web browsing, image editing, sending e-mail, and play music and videos.

Help and Support. Open the Windows Help and Support, where you can browse and search Help topics about using Windows and your computer.
In the lower right panel has two buttons: the power button and Lock button. Click the power button to turn off the computer, or click on the button lock to lock the computer without turning it off. Once locked, the equipment can not be used until you unlock it with your password.

Clicking on the arrow next to the Lock button displays a menu with additional options for switching users, log off, restart or shut down.
Note
Switch User option does not appear on the Start menu in Windows Vista Starter.

Customize Start Menu
You can control the elements that appear on the Start menu. For example, you can add icons to see your favorite programs to the Start menu for easy access, or remove programs from the list. You can also choose to show or hide certain elements in the right pane.

Training Computer:The desktop (overview)

The desktop is the main area of the screen that appears when you turn on your computer and log on to Windows. Like the top of a real desktop, it serves as an area for their work. When you open programs or folders that appear on the desktop. You can also put things on the desktop, such as files and folders, and arrange them however you want.

The desktop is sometimes defined more broadly to include the Windows taskbar and sidebar. The taskbar is located at the bottom of the screen. He shows what programs are running and lets you switch between them. It also contains the Start button, you can use to access programs, folders and computer configuration. On the side of the screen, Sidebar contains small programs called gadgets.

Where do I go from my desktop?
Since the programs that run on top of the desk, the desk is often partially or completely hidden. But even there, underneath it all. To see the full desktop without closing any of its programs or windows open, click the Show Desktop button on the taskbar. The desktop is revealed. Click on the icon again to restore all of their windows to the way it is.
Working with desktop icons
Icons are small pictures that represent files, folders, programs and other issues. The first time you start Windows, you will see at least one icon on the desktop: the Recycle Bin (more on that later). Your computer manufacturer may have added other icons on the desktop. Some examples of the icons on the desktop below.

Double-click a desktop icon starts or opens the item it represents. For example, double-click the icon for Internet Explorer starts Internet Explorer.

Add and remove the icons on the desktop
You can choose the icons on the desktop, you can add or remove an icon at any time. Some people, like a clean, uncluttered desktop with few or no icons. Others place dozens of icons on your desktop to give them quick access to frequently used programs, files and folders.

If you want easy access from the desktop to your favorite files or programs, create shortcuts to them. A shortcut is an icon that represents a link to a topic, rather than the item itself. When you double-click a shortcut, the item opens. If you delete a shortcut, only the shortcut is removed, not the original item. You can identify shortcuts by the arrow on its icon.

Icons moving around
Batteries of the Windows icon in the columns on the left side of the desk. But you're not stuck with that agreement. You can move an icon by dragging it to a new place on the desktop.

You also can have Windows automatically organize your icons. Right-click an empty area of your desktop, click View, then click Auto Arrange. Windows battery icon in the upper left corner and locks into place. To unlock the icons so you can move again, click Auto Arrange again, clearing the check mark next to it.

Note
By default, the Windows icon spaces on a grid uniformly invisible. To place the icons closer to each other, or more accurately, turn off the network. Right-click an empty area of your desktop, click View, then click on Align to Grid to clear the check mark. Repeat these steps to activate the network again.

Selecting multiple icons
To move or delete a bunch of icons at once, you must first select each of them. Click an empty area of your desktop and drag the mouse. Icons of the envelope that you want to select with the rectangle that appears. Then release the mouse button. Now you can drag icons as a group or remove them.

Hide desktop icons
If you want to temporarily hide all your desktop icons, without removing them, right-click an empty part of the desktop, click View, then click Show Desktop Icons to clear the check mark from that option. Now do not display icons on the desktop. You can get back by clicking on Show Desktop Icons again.

The Recycle Bin
When you delete a file or folder, do not actually deleted immediately, which goes to the Recycle Bin. That's a good thing, because if you ever change your mind and decide you need a file deleted, you can get it again.
If you are sure it does not eliminate the need for new items, you can empty the Recycle Bin. Making permanently remove the items and recover all the disk space that is used.
Picking up a screen
One of the easiest ways to personalize your computer is changing the desktop background, also called the wallpaper. You can choose one of the background provided with Windows, choose a favorite digital image of his own collection, or use a solid color background. You can also find pictures on the Internet designed to be used as wallpapers.