Windows XP

1
Windows XP

• A General Introduction to Windows

2
Operating System

• Windows XP is an operating system, sometimes you
  will come across the abbreviation OS.
• An Operating System, or OS, is a software program
  that enables the computer hardware to
  communicate and operate with the computer
  software.
• Hardware is best described as a device that is
  physically connected to your computer or
  something that can be physically touched.
  (Printer, Monitor)
• Software is a collection of instructions that
  enables a user to interact with the computer or
  have the computer perform specific tasks for
  them. (The programs that are on the computer).

3
The Start Button

• When you first log on to the computer what you
  see is called a desktop.
• To find a program on the computer the first place
  to start is the Start button this is usually
  in the lower left corner.
• Once you click on the start button move your
  cursor up and hold it over All Programs, this
  will show you the programs that are on the
  computer.
• Now you can move your cursor over to select the
  program that you would like. If there is an
  arrow to the right of the program name that means
  that if you hold the cursor over that name you
  will get more choices.

4
Windows

• In Windows when you open a new program you get a
  new Window. You can have more than one program
  or window open at a time, and you can move easily
  back and forth between two or more programs
  (windows). This is called multi-tasking.
• You will notice that each time you open a new
  program the task bar at the bottom of your screen
  contains the name of that program. To bring the
  window of another program to the front simply
  click on the name of that program in the task
  bar.
• Another way to do this us to you the alt and tab
  buttons on your keyboard hold down the alt key
  and press tab to switch through the programs that
  are running.

5
Managing Windows

• There are three important buttons in the upper
  right corner of any window.
• The first minimizes the window and to get it back
  you will need to click on the taskbar.
• The second maximizes or resizes the window.
• The third exits the window thus closing the
  program. If you click on the third button you
  will probably be asked if you would like to save
  your work.
• To close a window that is on the taskbar with
  other opening it you can use your right mouse key
  and then select close.

6
Control Panel

• The control panel is where you can manage many
  aspects of your computer.
• Click on the start button and then click on
  control panel.
• The things that I use the most are add hardware,
  add or remove programs, and displays.

7
File Management

• One of the most important aspects of using the
  computer is keeping track of your files.
• If you have already saved a file and you want to
  open it, it is probably in My Documents. To
  access the file you can click on the My Documents
  icon on the desktop, and then find your file and
  double click on it.
• When you are working in a program, the first
  thing that you should do is save the file even
  before you do any work. Most programs auto save
  every so often and if you have already set this
  up then you will know where your file is being
  saved to.

8
File Management

• In most programs the first time that you save you
  should use file save as this will allow you
  to set up where the file will be saved to. After
  that you can just use file save or click on the
  picture of the disk. Whatever you do Save,
  save save!!!!!
• When you are working on the computers in the
  library you may want to save to a disk or some
  other external medium.

9
File Management

• You can move your files to another location by
  clicking and dragging them to a different spot.
  You need to hold the mouse key down until you
  have the file where it needs to be. You can also
  move folders in the same way.
• Another way to get a file or folder where you
  would like it to go is to use the send to
  command. Click using your right mouse key and
  then go up to send to you can then select where
  to send the file. This would be useful if you
  were working on a project at the library and then
  want to move it to a disk or cd.

10
Deleting Files

• When you delete a file using the delete command
  or selecting the file and pressing delete on the
  keyboard the file is not yet gone.
• Most files first go to the recycling bin in
  order for your file to be really gone you need to
  empty the recycling bin.
• You can also get file back from the recycling bin
  by restoring them. To restore a file that is in
  the recycling bin use the right mouse key and
  then select restore the file will go back to
  where is was deleted from.
• Items in your recycling bin are still taking up
  space on your hard drive.

11
System Tools

• System tools is accessed by click on the Start
  button and then all programs, then accessories,
  then system tools. My three favorite and most
  used system tools are disk cleanup, disk
  defragmenter, and system restore.