This document provides an overview of getting started with Windows 7, including how to start Windows 7, what is on the desktop, how to use the taskbar, arrange icons and windows, use the Start menu and search, learn about basic Windows controls, check your Windows version, understand updates, access help, and shut down Windows 7. The document contains information on these topics in the form of descriptive text and screenshots.

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
2Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

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
3Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

4. How do I start Windows 7?
4Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

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
5Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

6. What’s on the Windows 7 desktop?
6Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

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)
7Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

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
8Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

9. How do I use the taskbar?
9Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

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
10Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

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
11Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

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
12Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

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
13Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

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
14Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

15. How do I arrange icons and windows
on the desktop?
15Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

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
16Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

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
17Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

18. How do I use the Start menu?
18Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

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
19Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

20. What do I need to know about basic
Windows controls?
20Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

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
21Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

22. Which version of Windows 7 do I
have?
22Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

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
23Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

24. What should I know about Windows
updates?
24Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

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
25Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

26. How do I access Windows 7 Help?
26Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

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
27Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition

28. How do I shut down Windows 7?
28Practical Computer Literacy, 3rd Edition