The document provides instructions on learning basic computer skills, including an overview of the desktop, start menu, and how to open and close programs. It explains the different parts of the desktop like icons, taskbar, and system tray. It also defines common icons like My Computer, My Documents, and Recycle Bin. The start menu is described as providing access to programs, settings, and help. Sub-menus in the start menu are explained. Finally, it outlines three ways to open files and programs: double-clicking icons, highlighting and pressing enter, or right-clicking and selecting open.

1. Learning Computer Basics
in a Step by Step practices
Presentation By:
Vijay Kumar Ratre
Mumbai-49
Contact: vijayratre@outlook.com

2. PART 2: Objectives
After this lesson you will be familiar with:
A. The Desktop and Icons
B. The Start Menu
C. Opening and Closing Programs
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3. PART 2: The Desktop
The Desktop is the first
screen after Windows starts.
It is similar to a real desktop The visual layout of aa
The visual layout of
in an office. For example: desktop with icons or
desktop with icons or
other pictures for
other pictures for
On a real desktop, you put your accessing programs is
accessing programs is
referred to as aa
documents, common files, and referred to as
Graphical User
Graphical User
other tools (calculator etc.) in Interface or GUI
Interface or GUI
(“gooey”).
places where you can easily (“gooey”).
access them.
and
On the Windows Desktop you
can put programs (or shortcuts),
files and other tools that help
you easily get to the things you
need to get your “virtual” work
done.
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4. PART 2: Exploring the Desktop
Icons
Icons
Often, an icon gives you a
Often, an icon gives you a
clue about the program.
clue about the program.
System Tray
System
This contains programs that
This contains programs that
typically run in the background
typically run in the background
File Folder Icons
File Icons as you work in Windows.
as you work in
Try double-clicking on the
Try double-clicking on the
time. What happens?
time. What happens?
Task Bar
Task Bar
This is the entire gray line
This is the entire gray line
Program Button
Program Button
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5. PART 2: Desktop Definitions
The little pictures that you see are called icons. Each represents a
Icons function, program or document on your computer. Double-click to
open an icon.
The long gray strip at the bottom of the screen. It allows you to quickly
Task Bar switch between any programs that you have running. The Taskbar has
three sections: Start button, Quick Launch Bar and System Tray.
This provides a quick way to start programs you use frequently. By
Quick default it includes icons for your Web browser, e-mail program and MS
Launch Bar Office applications etc. The Bar also contains a special Show Desktop
icon. Clicking on this icon quickly hides all open windows so you see
a clear view of your Desktop.
This contains icons for handy little programs which run while your
System
computer is on. On the far right it displays the time. It may contain
Tray anti-virus software, media player etc. You can discover an icon’s
purpose by holding the mouse pointer on top of it; after a few seconds,
a tooltip will pop up.
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6. PART 2: More about the Desktop
My Computer Icon
My Computer Icon
My Documents Icon
My Documents
Recycle Bin Icon
Recycle Bin Icon
Start Button
Start Button Computer C.O.R.E Introduction to
Windows 98
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7. PART 2: More Desktop Definitions
The wastepaper bin of the computer where you can dump unwanted
Recycle documents and programs by dragging and dropping them with the
Bin mouse or by selecting them and then pressing the Delete key. If you
accidentally delete a file from the hard drive, you can ‘undelete’ it.
My My Computer stores information about the computer system. It
contains icons which give you access to disk drives and to the Control
Computer
Panel, where you can adjust system settings.
The icon that looks like a folder bulging with documents provides
My central storage for all the documents you create or store on your
Documents computer. Think of it as a huge filing cabinet, which you can fill with
documents neatly sorted into their own folders for easy retrieval.
This provides access to all programs and Windows settings. It includes
Start Menu a Help guide, a Find (search) facility for locating documents and other
items on your computer or on the Internet, and several other options.
Some start menu items have a small black arrow to the right of their
name. Selecting these will display a sub-menu. Selecting any item
without an arrow beside it will activate that item.
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8. PART 2: The Start Menu
Sub Menus
Sub Menus
The little arrow on a
The little arrow on a Most programs can be
Most programs can be
menu indicates a ‘sub-
menu indicates a ‘sub- accessed from the Start
menu’.
menu’. accessed from the Start
Menu.
Menu.
The Start Menu pops up
The Start Menu pops up
when you click on the Start
when you click on the Start
Button.
Button.
When software is installed
When software is installed
on your computer it
on your computer it
automatically forms a link in
automatically forms a link in
the Start Menu. You can
the Start Menu. You can
access software programs
access software programs
from the Programs sub-
What does this tell you?
What does this tell you? from the Programs sub-
menu in the Start Menu.
Click on it and see what
menu in the Start Menu.
Click on it and see what
happens.
happens.
Start Button
Start Button Start Menu
Start Menu
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9. PART 2: Sub-Menus
The Start Menu contains sub-menus or pop-out menus that
have descriptive names to help you locate the file or program
you need -- for example:
Programs Displays a list of programs you can start
Documents Displays the files you have created and opened
recently.
Settings Displays system components you can change to
customize Windows 98
Find A search tool to help you find files or folders on
your computer.
A comprehensive resource that explains how
Help
things work and offers step-by-step instructions
Shut Down Shuts down or Restarts the computer
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10. PART 2: Opening Files
Three several ways to ‘open’ a file or ‘launch’ an
application in Windows. When you open a file,
Windows will automatically start the ‘application’
that it needs to display the file properly. When you
start an application, you can then open different
files from inside it.
1. Double-click an icon with mouse (the easiest
and most common way).
2. Highlight the icon and hit “Enter.”
3. Right click and select “Open” to start the
program.
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