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LMT 1501 UNIT 2: Extra Reading I: Using the Windows XP Start Menu

Objective: To explore the basic features of the Windows XP Start Menu.

Equipment: The following equipment is required for this exercise:

A computer system with Windows XP Professional installed.

Procedures.

There are many new features that are included in Windows XP Pofessional. Some features
such as the Start Menu and Control panel have undergone some drastic changes. These
changes might make it difficult to use the first time using the graphical User Interface (GUI).
Navigating the Windows XP Professional file system will be done almost the same as with
Windows 2000; however, Windows XP Professional has added a few extra features that will
help in navigating the file system easier and faster.

Using the Windows XP Start Menu.

Step 1

Once the system boots, the Windows XP welcome screen will appear. Click on the proper
username, and then log in with the password.
When finished entering the pasword, press Enter. If the password is typed correctly, the
system will authenticate the user and grant him access.

Step 2

After the system authenticates the user, the desktop environment appears
Notice that the Windows XP Professional desktop environment is different from Windows
2000. By default, the My Computer, My Documents, My Network Places, and Internet
Explorer icons do not appear on the desktop. The users can enable these icons to appear on
the desktop if they wish.

Step 3: Using the new Windows XP Start Menu

Using the new Windows XP Start Menu can be a little confusing when using it for the first
time.
However, once a user becomes familiar with the new Start Menu they will see that the
changes that Microsoft made will help them navigate through the Graphical User Interface
(GUI) easier. The following tasks will help a user to become familiar with the new Start Menu.

a) To get an idea of what the new Start Menu looks like, click on the Start Menu icon
located in the bottom left corner of the screen. Notice that the icons that are missing
from the desktop are now located in the Start menu. The user will also see that the
Start menu is now divided in 2 parts. The left side shows a list of programs that are
used frequently. The right side shows what is in My Computer and My Network
Places. It also contains the Control Panel, Printers and Faxes, and the search and
run functions icons.

b) Click on a few of the programs and open up a few windows to simulate a typical
environment that a user would have when working on the computer.
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c) Now, access My Computer by using the start Menu. Click the Start icon, and then
click on the My Computer icon. Instead of having to close all the windows and then
clicking on the icon on the desktop, it has been placed in the Start menu so that a
user can have access to it much quicker.

d) Now examine some of the various options that are available to customize the
Windows XP Start menu. First, right - click on the Start Menu icon in the lower left
bottom of the screen and select Properties.

e) Next, click on the Taskbar tab. There will be several options to choose from in order
to change how the Start Menu and Taskbar work. Click on some of the radio boxes to
select or deselect certain options until the Start Menu is the way you like it. When
finished, click the Start menu tab.

f) Notice that Windows XP provides the option of using the Clasic Start menu that came
with previous releases of Microsoft Windows operating systems. Now, click the
Customize button. This button provides a new interface to manipulate the Start
menu. First, change the setting to use Small icons rather than the large ones.
Second, deselect the Internet and E-mail radio buttons located on the bottom of the
dialog box. They will no longer appear in the Start menu.

Remember, the user can always go back and select these boxes if they want them to
be quickly available in the Start Menu.

g) Next, look at the Programs section of this screen; the user will see that it is possible
to change how many programs that are vailable for quick selection on the Start menu.
Change the amount to 11, and then click OK. The first box should disappear. Click the
Apply button and then the OK button. You should see the new changes on the Start
Menu.

h) Keep in mind that the more a user uses Window XP, they will learn that the majority
of the Graphical User Interface (GUI) operations performed will involve the Start
menu as the starting place. Users will quicly learn that there is really no need to have
any icons on the desktop. For those who like the icons shown on the desktop, Step 4
shows how to add the icons to the desktop.

Step 4: Enabling the My Computer, my Documents, My Network Places, and Internet

Explorer icons.

1. Locate the mouse pointer on the desktop and right -click the mouse. Scroll down and click
on the Properties button. This will display the system Display Properties dialog box.

2. Next, select the Desktop tab. This will bring you to the menu that will allow a user to
change the desktop feature.

3. Now, click on the Customize Desktop button located in the bottom left corner of the
properties box. This will bring up a dialog box that will allow a user to make further
adjustments to the desktop. From this point a user can select which icons they want to
display on the desktop. They may also change what the icon looks like or run the desktop
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cleanup tool. The Web tab allows Web pages to be displayed on the desktop. A user may
also lock the desktop items to prevent moving or resizing of web items on the desktop.

USING THE WINDOWS XP START MENU - EXERCISES

I. Order the sentences according to Step 4 “Enabling the Icons”

1. ___2____ Right - click the mouse.

2. ___5____ Click on the Customize Desktop button.
3. ___7____ Select the icons you want to display on the desktop.
4. ___1____ Locate the mouse on the desktop.
5. ___4____ After the system displays Properties dialog box, select the desktop.
6. ___6____ When the dialog box is opened, the user is allowed to make any change
to the desktop.
7. ___3____Click on the properties button.

II. Match the words to the definitions.

1) Equipment : ___6___ Graphical User Interface
2) Features : ___7___ Characters typed to allow the user to have
access to the system.

3) Start menu : ___8___ An icon located in the bottom left corner of the
Left side screen.

4) Screen : ___9___ Click on this button when you want to make any
changes on the start Menu.

5) Apply button : __10____ It shows the contents which are in My

Computer
and Network places.

6) GUI : ___5___ It gives a new way to change the start Menu.

7) Password : ___3___ It displays a list of programs which are

frequently used.

8) Start Menu : ___1___ A computer system with Windows XP installed

9) Customize button : ____4__ It makes possible to see icons and images on

the desktop.

10) Start Menu : ___2___ New characteristics like start Menu and Control
Right side Panel.
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III. Write a T for true statements and F for false statements.

1) ___F____ Start the menu and Control panel Windows XP are very similar to
Windows 2000. (drastic changes)

2) ___F____ Use windows XP for the first time is very easy and simple. (difficult
using the GUI)

3) ___T____ XP Professional desktop environment is different from other

windows because the icons are hidden.

4) ___F____ Icons are never possible to appear in the desktop environment.

(you can customize the desktop)

5) ___T____ A few extra features have been added to help in navigating.

6) ___T____ The more a user works with Windows XP, he/she will understand
that there is no need to have visible icons on the desktop.

7) ___T____ The Start Menu icon is located in the lower left corner.

8) ___F____ After the system validates the user, you have to restart the
computer. (The desktop environment appears)

IV) Complete the sentences with the following words

Appear Start menu Right - click

Features Help
Classical start menu Select

1) Many ____features______ have been included in Windows XP.

2) After you enter the password, press Enter button and the desktop environment
will ____appear_______________.

3) Microsoft made lots of changes to ____help_________ users to navigate easier.

4) If you want to customize the WXP Start menu, first ___right - click______ on the
Start Menu icon and _____select_______________ Properties.

5) The icons that do not appear on the desktop are now placed in the ___Start
menu________.

6) Windows also gives the option to use the ___Classical Start Menu______.