1. Chapter 5
Getting Started with Windows 7

2. What’s inside and on the CD?
• In this chapter, you will learn:
– How to Start Windows 7
– What’s on the desktop
– How to use the Windows taskbar
– How to arrange icons and windows on your desktop
– How to use the Start Menu and Search box
– About Windows Controls
– How to find your Windows version
– About Windows updates
– How to access Windows 7 Help
– How to shut down Windows 7
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3. How do I start Windows 7?
• To start Windows 7, turn your computer on and
Windows starts automatically
– Might be in power saving mode
• Login screen displays icon that provides access to
adapt computer to special needs users
• You may have to enter a user name and password
– Allows you to view, change, and delete files
– Allows access to network resources such as
shared files and printers
• When Windows 7 desktop appears, your computer is
ready to use
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4. How do I start Windows 7?
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5. What’s on the Windows 7 desktop?
• Windows 7 desktop is gateway to all tasks
performed with PC
– Screen seen when boot process is complete
– Remains in background as you use other software
– Use controls on Windows desktop to:
• Start a program
• Access information about your computer
hardware
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6. What’s on the Windows 7 desktop?
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7. What’s on the Windows 7 desktop?
• Desktop contains small graphics called icons
– Each icon represents a program, hardware device, folder,
or document
– Double-clicking icon gives access to component it
represents
• A shortcut icon provides alternative access to programs and
documents
• Desktop provides work area where programs and files appear
in “windows”
• The pointer is used to select and manipulate on-screen
objects
• The taskbar contains controls to help launch programs, switch
between windows, and access system settings
• Gadgets are customizable mini-applications that perform
various tasks (weather, performance, market data)
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8. How do I use the taskbar?
• Taskbar is divided into several areas
– Start button provides access to:
• Programs
• Documents
• System settings
• Help
– Program buttons show what’s open on desktop
– Notification area:
• Displays time
• Contains shortcuts to programs, and utilities
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9. How do I use the taskbar?
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10. How do I use the taskbar?
• To find out what the taskbar does, point to it and
wait. ScreenTip appears with icons title
• Program buttons on taskbar represent open, or
“running”, programs
• Computer keeps track of time and date
– Clock used when files are created or modified
– Always displayed in taskbar notification area
– To see date, point to time and wait a second
– Automatically keeps track of daylight savings
– Right click to adjust when changing time zones
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11. How do I use the taskbar?
• Taskbar’s Volume icon lets you adjust sound level
• Show Desktop button will temporarily hide all open
windows, click again to reopen
• On some computers, taskbar is set to disappear
when not in use. To reveal, pass mouse pointer off
bottom edge of screen
• To customize, right-click and select Properties from
the shortcut menu
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12. How do I arrange icons and windows
on the desktop?
• To create new icon on desktop:
– Right-click any empty area on desktop
– Select New
– Select icon type from list
– Assign name
• To delete icon, right-click, then click delete
• To arrange icons
– Right-click anywhere
– Select Sort By
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13. How do I arrange icons and windows
on the desktop?
• Also arrange icons by dragging to the new location
– Right-click anywhere on desktop
– Choose View
– Make sure Auto Arrange and Align to Grid not
checked
– Drag icon to any desktop location
• To move file into folder or storage device, simply
drag it to folder or storage device
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14. How do I arrange icons and windows
on the desktop?
• To rename icon, right-click icon and select Rename
• To display icon properties, right-click icon and select
Properties
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15. How do I arrange icons and windows
on the desktop?
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16. How do I use the Start menu and
Search box?
• Start Menu appears when Start button clicked
– Handy collection of controls for
• Starting programs
• Searching for files
• Getting help
• Adjusting system settings
• Shutting down your computer
– Search Box helps you quickly find files and programs
• All programs option lists software on your computer
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17. How do I use the Start menu?
– Top-left area is Pinned items list
• Use to show favorite programs
– Lower-left area contains programs used most recently
(added automatically)
– Right side provides options for:
• Viewing files in your personal folders
• Accessing your account settings
• Adjusting system settings
• Getting help
• Shutting down your computer
– Hover mouse pointer over any program to see Jump List
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18. How do I use the Start menu?
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19. What do I need to know about basic
Windows controls?
– User Interface is a combination of hardware and software
• Helps people and computers communicate
• Hardware
– Display device
– Mouse
– Keyboard
• Software
– Command buttons and split buttons
– Checkboxes and option buttons
– Sliders, lists, and menus
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20. What do I need to know about basic
Windows controls?
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21. Which version of Windows 7 do I
have?
• Helpful to know when troubleshooting hardware and
software problems.
• Windows 7 available in several editions
– Starter, Home Premium, Professional, and
Ultimate
• All except Starter available in 32 or 64 bit
versions
• To discover which version you have:
– Enter “System” in Start Menu Search box
– Click the System option listed under Control Panel
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22. Which version of Windows 7 do I
have?
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23. What Should I Know about Windows
updates?
• Windows 7 has three categories – Important, Recommended,
and Optional
– Important offer security, reliability, and privacy benefits
• Installed automatically
– Recommended pertain to non-essential problems and
enhancements
• Installed automatically
– Optional include updated drivers and Microsoft
applications
• Manual install
– Type “Update” in search box to check status
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24. What should I know about Windows
updates?
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25. How do I access Windows 7 Help?
• To access information about Windows features, look
for Help and Support option on Start menu
• Help and Support Center is gateway to Windows
manuals, FAQs, and troubleshooting wizards
• If Help and Support Center does not help, use search
engine to hunt for user groups or articles
• Consider asking local experts
• Help is a two-way street
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26. How do I access Windows 7 Help?
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27. How do I shut down Windows 7?
• Start menu provides several options:
– Shut down option ensures work saved
– Log Off option or Switch user option where
multiple users have access to computer
– Sleep option puts computer in low power state
– Hibernate option saves record of programs and
files, and restores when restarted
– Restart option powers computer down and
reboots it
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28. How do I shut down Windows 7?
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