The Start menu and Start Button are user interface elements used in later versions of Microsoft Windows operating systems and some X window managers. The Start menu provides a central launching point for applications and tasks. It has evolved over time, starting as the Program Manager in early Windows versions. In modern versions it provides customizable access to programs, documents, settings and more from a main menu. The Start menu will be replaced by the touch-oriented Start Screen in Windows 8.
Working with Windows 7 - This presentation will make you well versed with
It's Introduction, Features of Windows 7, How to start Windows, The start button, My Computer, Files and folders- how to open create, delete, Creating a file, folder, modifying it, Context menu
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Working with Windows 7 - This presentation will make you well versed with
It's Introduction, Features of Windows 7, How to start Windows, The start button, My Computer, Files and folders- how to open create, delete, Creating a file, folder, modifying it, Context menu
Shortcut and many more.... Lets get started
3 Module - Operating Systems Configuration and Use by Mark John LadoMark John Lado, MIT
3 Module - Operating Systems Configuration and Use
More on https://www.markjohn.cf/courses
This course will deliberate on the basics of an operating system, which may include Computer Memory, the Operating System, its Graphical User Interface, The Windows Operating System, and Desktop, Operating System Installation.
1. Start menu
The Start menu and Start Button are user interface elements used in the later versions of the Microsoft
Windows operating systems and in some X window managers. The Start Button provides a central
launching point for application and tasks.
On Windows operating systems before Windows Vista, the Start Button consists of the word "Start" and
the Windows Logo (the word "Start" was localized for each different language version of the system, for
instance reading Avvio in Italian). On the Windows Vista and Windows 7 desktop, the word "Start" has
been replaced by a blue Windows "orb" logo.[1] However the user can revert to displaying the word
"Start" and the Windows Logo by setting the theme to Windows Classic.
Traditionally, the Start menu provided a customizable nested list of programs for the user to launch, as
well as a list of most recently opened documents, a way to find files and get help, and access to the
system settings. Later enhancements via Windows Desktop Update included access to special folders
like "My Documents" and "Favorites" (browser bookmarks). Windows XP's Start menu was expanded to
encompass various My Documents folders (including My Music and My Pictures), and transplanted
other items like My Computer and My Network Places from the Windows desktop.
The Start menu is not a truly essential feature, as programs and files can also be opened by navigating to
them in the Windows Explorer interface. However, the Start menu provides a much quicker and
easier[citation needed] way to open programs, even for experienced users, and consolidates a list of
programs into one place. Microsoft uses the Start menu more in each version of Windows as a way to
shield novice users from the complexities of the operating system. For example, in Windows XP, the
root, Program Files and Windows folders are hidden from the user by default, and access to programs is
expected to be achieved through the Start menu.
Microsoft has stated that the Start menu will be retired as of Windows 8 and be replaced by the tablet
and touch orientated 'Start Screen' based off the new Metro UI.
2. Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Evolution
3 Technical details
4 Tweaks
5 Start screen
6 Other operating systems
7 See also
8 References
9 Further reading
[edit]
History
3. The Windows 95 Start menu
In the earliest versions of Windows a program called MS-DOS Executive provided basic file management
and program menu capability. This was eventually replaced by the programs File Manager and Program
Manager in Windows 3.0, with the Program Manager taking on the role of the program menu.
The Program Manager was a full windowed application, which required the whole screen to be used
effectively. It consisted of a simple multiple document interface which allowed users to open "program
groups" and then execute the shortcuts to programs contained within.
The Start menu was first introduced in Windows 95 superseding the Program Manager, being
comparable in some respects with the Apple Macintosh "Apple Menu". It also boasted several
advantages over the Program Manager. Program Manager had lacked the ability to nest groups within
other groups, however there was no such limitation with the Start menu, where Start menu folders
could contain sub-folders. Items could also be simply added to the Start menu by using drag-and-drop to
drop program files, document files onto the Start Button.
[edit]
Evolution
4. Later developments in Internet Explorer and subsequent Windows releases have allowed users to
customize the Start menu and access and expand Internet Explorer Favorites, My Documents and
Administrative Tools (Windows 2000 and later) from the Start menu.
The most significant revision to the Start menu since its inception came in Windows XP. To help the user
access a wider range of common destinations more easily, and to promote a greater sense of
"personality", the Start menu was expanded to two columns; the left-hand column focuses on the user's
installed applications, while the right-hand column provides access to the user's documents, and system
functionality. Links to the Documents, Pictures and other Special Folders are brought to the fore. The
Computer and Network (Network Neighborhood in Windows 95 and 98) icons were also moved off the
Desktop and into the Start menu, making it easier to access these icons while a number of applications
are open (they could be restored optionally in the Display Properties control panel "Desktop" settings).
Commonly used programs are automatically displayed in the left-hand menu, and the user may opt to
"pin" programs to the Start menu so that they are always accessible without having to navigate through
the Programs folders.
In Windows Vista, the Start menu underwent some significant changes, with the taskbar button no
longer labeled "Start" but instead has the Windows orb. At the top level, the Start menu, as in Windows
XP, has two columns of menu choices. Under the default configuration, the "Run," and "Printers"
options do not appear. However, those items can be added to the Start menu. One of the chief additions
with Windows Vista is a Search pane or box, where users may begin typing immediately. The contents of
the Start menu itself are indexed and searchable, besides the global search index. If indexing is turned
on, the search box returns results on-the-fly as users type into it. This allows the Start menu to act as a
fast and powerful application launcher. The Start menu search also doubles as the Run command from
previous versions of Windows; simply typing any command will execute it. The Run command can also
be added separately to the right column in the Start menu.
Another major change to the Start menu in Windows Vista is that it no longer presents the All programs
menu as a horizontally expanding cascading list which utilizes the entire screen space, but instead as a
nested folder view with a fixed size. The list of submenus and single items appears over the left column
contents with a Back button below it. Subfolders expand and collapse vertically within the list when
single-clicked, in a tree-like fashion similar to Windows Explorer. Single items appear at the top and
folders appear at the bottom. Hovering the mouse over a folder does not open it; the folder needs to be
clicked. A limitation of the new Start menu is that subfolders inside the All Programs menu cannot be
opened simply by searching or double clicking. Also, as more programs are installed, a vertical scroll bar
appears between the two columns. A dynamically changing icon showing the user's display picture by
default is present at the top of the right column. It changes as users hover over any other item to reflect
that item's icon. The Power button's action is configurable through Power options in the Control Panel,
5. though the default setting is to put the computer into Sleep mode. Users can quickly lock their user
account by pressing the Lock button. Additional power and account related actions are listed in a sub-
menu which appears when the small arrow next to the Lock button is clicked.
Like Windows XP, Windows Vista allows users to switch back to the pre-Windows XP style "Classic" Start
menu.
In Windows 7, the pre-Windows XP "classic" Start menu has been removed, but an open-source
software program called "Classic Shell" can emulate it. The search box has been extended to support
searching Control Panel items. Search results are now overlaid on both columns of the Start menu.
There is now a single power-related button (instead of two buttons in Windows Vista) with all other
power actions accessible from the secondary pop-up menu. The right column links to the respective
Libraries instead of ordinary folders. Items on the Start menu also support Jump lists through cascade
buttons on their right.
[edit]
Technical details
Users may add entries by creating various folders and shortcuts in the Start menu folder, located on the
hard drive. These appear in a separated section at the top of the Start menu, or, if placed in the
Programs sub-folder, in the Programs menu.
In Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me, it is located in %windir%Start menu, or, if there are
multiple users, %windir%ProfilesusernameStart menu.
In Windows NT 4.0, the folder is located in %systemroot%Profiles%username%Start menu for
individual users, or %systemroot%ProfilesAll UsersStart menu for all users collectively. One
distinguishing feature is Windows NT 4.0 is that the Start menu separated the per-user shortcuts and
folders from the All users shortcuts and folders by a separator line and used different icons for the
program folders in per-user and All users menus as seen in this screenshot.[2]
In Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003, the folder is located in %userprofile%Start
menu for individual users, or %allusersprofile%Start menu for all users collectively.
In Windows Vista, the folder is located in %appdata%MicrosoftWindowsStart menu for individual
users, or %programdata%MicrosoftWindowsStart menu for all users collectively.
6. In Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, and Windows 8, the folder is located in
%appdata%MicrosoftWindowsStart menu for individual users, or
C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWindowsStart menu for all users collectively.
Prior to Windows Vista, the folder name "Start menu" had a different name on non-English versions of
Windows. For example, on German versions of Windows XP it is "Startmenü". Windows installers
generally use the Windows API to find out the real names and locations of the Start menu and Desktop
folders. However, since Windows Vista, all Versions of Windows use the same English named folders and
only display different names in the Windows Explorer.
[edit]
Tweaks
The Windows Power Toy TweakUI offers many other customizations, including speeding up the response
time of the Start menu, window animation, and other "power user" hacks.[3][4] On Windows XP and
Windows Vista, it is possible to prevent specific applications from appearing in the recent programs list
by modifying the Windows registry.[5]
[edit]
Start screen
The Start screen in Windows 8
The Start screen is the successor of the Start menu. This feature is present in Windows Phone 7,
Windows 8, Windows Server 2012 and Windows Phone 8. The Start screen is designed for touch
interaction and uses dynamic tiles instead of static computer icons to represent applications.[6] Such
tiles may update the user of the status of software. For example, the tile for the Messages app can show
recent messages the user has received.
7. Since Windows 8 does not feature a Start button in the taskbar, the Start screen is accessed by either
clicking the lower left corner of the screen, or by pressing the Start button on the Charm bar. In addition,
the Windows key on the keyboard or on the mobile devices also invokes the Start screen.
[edit]
Other operating systems
The Start menu is also present in releases of Windows CE and Windows Mobile. In Windows Mobile
Standard, which runs on Smartphones, the Start menu, produces a separate screen of icons. The Start
menu in Windows CE and Windows Mobile Standard is, by default, located at the bottom of the screen;
in Windows Mobile Classic or Professional, however, it is located at the top of the screen.
The Linux Mint Cinnamon Start menu
Ubuntu Start menu (part of the Unity desktop environment)
8. KDE Kickoff Application Launcher
Interfaces similar to Start menu can also be found amongst Linux distributions as the following Window
managers provide an interface similar to Start menu:
Cinnamon
FVWM95
GNOME
IceWM
FVWM95
GNOME
IceWM
JWM
KDE
10. MY COMPUTER
My Computer
A section of Microsoft Windows that was introduced with the
release of Microsoft Windows 95 and included with all versions
of Windows after that. My Computer allows the user to explore
the contents of their computer drives as well as manage their
computer files. In the pictures to the right, are examples of the
My Computer icon in Microsoft Windows XP and just
Computer, which was introduced with Windows Vista. Although
the name has changed, this icon still acts the same as My
Computer.
How to open My computer
Get to the Windows Desktop.
11. Double-click the My Computer icon, this icon is almost always
located on the top-left portion of the desktop and should look
similar to the icon shown earlier. Below are two examples of
what should appear when My Computer is open.
Drive listing in My Computer
12. Browsing My Computer in Windows 2000
You can also access My Computer or Computer through the start
menu, as shown below.
Using My Computer
Once My Computer is open you'll see all available drives on your
computer. For most users, you'll only be concerned with the
13. Local Disc (C:) drive, which is the hard drive and what stores all
your files. Double-click this drive icon to open it and view of its
contents.
Tip: If you're looking for a document such as a word processor
file you've created, music file, picture, or other personal file it's
likely that it's contained in your documents folder. This folder is
displayed in My computer as a folder and usually contains your
name. For example, if your username was John, this folder
would be named John's Documents.
Finding files in My Computer
If you're having trouble finding where one of your files is stored,
use the Windows find feature to find the file. To do this from
within My Computer either click on File and then Search or
right-click on the C: drive or other folder you wish to search and
click Search.
In the Search window, type the name or part of the name of the
file you're trying to find.
14. Adjust system settings with your computer
If you wish to manage your computer or view other settings and
information about your computer instead of double-clicking the
My Computer icon to open it, right-click on the My Computer
icon and click Properties. Performing these steps will open your
System Properties (the same window accessible through the
Control Panel).
15. Window explorer
Windows Explorer is a file manager application and also a navigation tool that is included with releases
of the Microsoft Windows operating system from Windows 95 onwards. It provides a graphical user
interface for accessing the file systems. It is also the component of the operating system that presents
many user interface items on the monitor such as the taskbar and desktop. Controlling the computer is
possible without Windows Explorer running (for example, the File | Run command in Task Manager on
NT-derived versions of Windows will function without it, as will commands typed in a command prompt
window). Located in the C:Windows directory, it is sometimes referred to as the Windows shell,
explorer.exe, or simply “Explorer”.