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1. EXPLORING THE BASICS
OF WINDOWS XP
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 1

2. XP
OBJECTIVES
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 2
• Start Windows XP and tour the desktop
• Explore the Start menu
• Run software programs, switch between them, and
close them
• Manipulate windows
• Identify and use the controls in menus,toolbars,etc

3. XP
OBJECTIVES
Navigate your computer with Windows Explorer and My Computer
Change the view of the items in your computer
Get help when you need it
Shut down Windows
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 3

4. XP
STARTING WINDOWS XP
Windows XP
 Starts when computer is turned on
 Elements of the desktop
 Icon
 Pointer
 Desktop
 Date/Time control
 Taskbar
 Start button
 Notification area
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 4

5. XP
STARTING WINDOWS XP
Figure 1-1 shows the Windows XP desktop
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T
W I N D O W S X P 5

6. XPSTARTING WINDOWS XP
Windows XP desktop uses a graphical user interface
Graphical user interface (GUI)
 Displays icons to represent items stored on the computer
 Icons: Pictures of familiar objects
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 6

7. XPTHE WINDOWS XP DESKTOP
Desktop
 Area that appears on the screen when Windows XP starts
 A workspace for projects and tools
 Uses default settings when the computer is first started
 Default settings: settings preset by the operating system
 Appearance can be changed by the user
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 7

8. XP
USING A POINTING DEVICE
A pointing device
 Helps the user interact with objects on the computer screen
 Comes in many shapes and sizes
Mouse
 Most common pointing device
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 8

9. XP
POINTING
Pointing device
 Used to move the mouse pointer over objects on the desktop
Pointing
 Positioning the pointer over a specific part of the screen
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 9

10. XP
POINTING
ScreenTips
 Appear when the mouse pointer is positioned over certain objects
 Display the purpose or function of the object
 Figure 1-3 shows a ScreenTip
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T
W I N D O W S X P 10

11. XP
CLICKING
Clicking
 Pressing a mouse button and immediately releasing it
Menu
 A list of options which can be used to perform tasks
 Submenus
Start menu
 Appears when the Start button is clicked
 Provides access to programs, documents, etc.
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 11

12. XP
CLICKING
Figure 1-6 shows the Start menu
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T
W I N D O W S X P 12

13. XPSELECTING
Selecting a menu command
 Two possible ways of selecting objects in Windows XP
 Pointing to an object
 Pointing to and then clicking an object
 A selected object is highlighted
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 13

14. XP
SELECTING
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T
W I N D O W S X P 14

15. XPVIEWING THE CONTENTS
OF THE RECYCLE BIN
Click the desktop, and then point to the Recycle Bin icon. After a few
moments, a ScreenTip appears that describes the Recycle Bin
Click the left mouse button twice quickly to double-click the Recycle Bin
icon. The Recycle Bin opens
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 15

16. XP
VIEWING THE CONTENTS
OF THE RECYCLE BIN
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 16

17. XP
RIGHT-CLICKING
Right-clicking
 Clicking an object with the right button of the mouse
 Selects an object and opens its shortcut menu
 Shortcut menu: a list of options directly related to the object
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 17

18. XP
RIGHT-CLICKING
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T
W I N D O W S X P 18

19. XP
EXPLORING THE START MENU
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 19

20. XP
STARTING AND CLOSING A PROGRAM
Starting a program
 A program must be started before it can be used
 To start a program
 Click the Start button
 Locate and click the program’s name in the submenus
An open or running program
 A program which has been started
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 20

21. XP
STARTING AND CLOSING A PROGRAM
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 21

22. XP
STARTING AND CLOSING A PROGRAM
Program button
 Appears on the taskbar for each open program
 Click to switch between open programs
Close button
 Located in the upper-right corner of the program window
 Click to close the program
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 22

23. XP
STARTING AND CLOSING A PROGRAM
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 23

24. XP
RUNNING MULTIPLE PROGRAMS
Multitasking
 Ability to run multiple programs on Windows XP at the same time
 Allows the user to work on more than one project at a time
 The active program is the one you are currently using
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 24

25. XP
SWITCHING BETWEEN PROGRAMS
Program buttons
 Located on the taskbar
 Offer the easiest way to switch between programs
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 25

26. XP
CLOSING INACTIVE PROGRAMS FROM
THE TASKBAR
Options for closing a program
 Use the Close button on the title bar of the program window
 Use the shortcut menu associated with the program button on the
taskbar
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T
W I N D O W S X P 26

27. XP
ANATOMY OF A WINDOW
A window
 A rectangular area of the screen that may contain
 A program
 Text
 Graphics
 Data
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 27

28. XP
ANATOMY OF A WINDOW
Controls
 Located in a window
 Graphical or textual objects used for
 Manipulating the window
 Using the program
 Examples
 Menu bar
 Sizing buttons
 Status bar
 Title bar
 Toolbar
 Workspace
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 28

29. XP
ANATOMY OF A WINDOW
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 29

30. XP
MANIPULATING A WINDOW
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 30

31. XP
MOVING A WINDOW
To drag an object
 Click an object and then hold down the mouse button while moving the mouse
To move a window
 Drag the window by its title bar
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 31

32. XP
CHANGING THE SIZE OF A WINDOW
Options for changing a window’s size
 Sizing handle
 Located at the lower-right corner of the window
 Window borders
 Can be dragged left, right, up, or down
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 32

33. XP
CHANGING THE SIZE OF A WINDOW
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 33

34. XP
USING PROGRAM MENUS
Menus
 Organize a program’s features and available functions
Menu bar
 Typically located at the top of the program window
 Shows the names of the menus
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 34

35. XP
SELECTING OPTIONS FROM A MENU
Menu items or commands
 Choices for a menu
 Appear when a menu name is clicked
 Possible actions when clicked
 Immediately carry out an action
 Show submenus
 Ask the user for more information about the desired action
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 35

36. XP
SELECTING OPTIONS FROM A MENU
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 36

37. XP
SELECTING OPTIONS FROM A MENU
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 37

38. XP
USING TOOLBARS
Toolbars in the program window
 Provide one-click access to frequently used commands
 Have buttons grouped and organized by tasks
To perform a command
 Select a toolbar button by clicking it
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 38

39. XP
USING LIST BOXES AND SCROLL BARS
List box
 Displays a list of available choices
 Usually includes
 Array buttons
 A scroll bar
 A scroll box
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 39

40. XP
USING LIST BOXES AND SCROLL BARS
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 40

41. XP
USING DIALOG BOX CONTROLS
Dialog box
 Opens when a menu command or item followed by an ellipsis is selected
 Allows the user to provide more information about how a program should carry
out a task
 Groups different kinds of information in panes
 Panes: bordered rectangular areas
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 41

42. XP
USING DIALOG BOX CONTROLS
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 42

43. XP
EXPLORING YOUR COMPUTER
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 43

44. XP
CHANGING THE VIEW
Change the view by selecting an option from the View menu on the men
bar
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 44

45. XP
USING HELP
Windows XP Help
 Provides on-screen information about programs
 Available by
 Clicking the Start button and selecting Help and Support from the Start menu
Windows Help and Support Center window
 Provides access to
 Help files stored on the computer
 Help information stored on Microsoft’s Web site
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 45

46. XP
USING HELP
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 46

47. XP
USING HELP
Windows XP Help and Support window
 Organizes information into pages
 Home page
 Index page
 Favorites page
 History page
 Support page
 Options page
 Search box
 Used to search for keywords contained in Help pages
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T W I N D O W S X P 47

48. XP
SHUTTING DOWN WINDOWS XP
Turn Off Computer
option
 Located on the Start menu
 Turns off the computer
Log Off option
 Located on the Start menu
 Logs off Windows XP but
leaves the computer on
E X P L O R I N G T H E B A S I C S O F M I C R O S O F T
W I N D O W S X P 48