Windows Basics

Developed by: D. Cook

 User Interface
• Hardware and Software
• Monitor
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• User friendly vs. MS-DOS
• GUI (graphical user interface)
Launching Windows 2000 (XP)
• CTRL-ALT-DEL
• Desktop
• Icons
– My Computer
– My Documents
– My Network Places
– Recycle Bin
 Launching Windows 2000 (XP)
• Taskbar
– Start
– Quick Launch toolbar
• IE
• Show desktop
– Taskbar buttons area (open applications)
– Tray status area
• clock
 Communicating with W2K
MOUSE
• 1960
• 1984 Apple
• Parts
– Primary mouse button
– Secondary mouse
button
– Wheel button
• Ball vs. optical
 Communicating with W2K
Mouse operations:
1. Point
2. Click
3. Right-click
4. Double-click
5. Drag
6. Right-drag
7. Scroll
 Point and Click
• Point – you move the mouse across a flat
surface until the mouse pointer rests on the
item of choice on the desktop
• Click – you press and release the primary
mouse button (left mouse button)
 Activity #1 Point & Click
1. Point to the Start button on the taskbar
• Move the mouse across a flat surface until the
mouse pointer rests on the Start button.
• Screen tip should read “Click here to begin.”
2. Click the Start button on the taskbar
• Press and release the left mouse button.
• The Start menu displays.
 Start Menu
• Three Parts
– Top – Office
commands
– Middle – application
launches
– Bottom – Shut Down,
Log Off, Restart
 Activity #1 Point & Click
3. Point to Programs on the Start menu
• Programs submenu is displayed.
• Submenu (cascading menu) – is displayed
when you point to a command that is
followed by a right arrow.
• When you point to a command, it is
highlighted.
 Activity #1 Point & Click
4. Point to an open area of the desktop.
5. Click the open area.
• The Start menu and Programs submenu close.
• To close a menu anytime, click any open area
of the desktop except on the menu itself.
 Right-Click

• Press and release the secondary mouse

button
 Activity #2 Right-Click
1. Point to an open area of the desktop and
release the right mouse button.
• Short cut menu is displayed
• Specifically for use with the object
• If dimmed out, that option is unavailable
 Activity #2 Right-Click
2. Point to “New” on the shortcut menu.
3. Point to an open area of the desktop.
4. Click the open area to close the shortcut
menu and the submenu.
 Double-Click
• When you press and release the left
mouse button twice without moving
the mouse.
 Activity #3 Double-Click
1. Point to the “My Computer” icon on the
desktop.
2. Double-click by quickly pressing and
releasing the left mouse button twice
without moving the mouse.
 My Computer
• Double-Click to open “My Computer”
• Active window – the window currently
being used
• Recessed button in the taskbar button area
 ‘My Computer’ Screen
• Window Border – surrounds the window
 ‘My Computer’ Screen
• Title Bar – contains small icon and Window
Title

• Window Title – identifies the window

 ‘My Computer’ Screen
• System Menu – click on the icon to the left

•The commands given will be associated

with the open window.
 ‘My Computer’ Screen
Three Buttons on the right of the title bar:
1. Minimize button – keeps open but in the taskbar button
area
2. Maximize button – fills the screen
3. Close button – exits the program
 Drag
• You point to an item, hold down the left
mouse button, move the item to the desired
location, and then release the left mouse
button.
• You can move any window by dragging the
title bar.
 Activity #4 Drag
1. Point to the My Computer window title
bar.
 Activity #4 Drag
2. Hold down the left mouse button.
3. Move the mouse so the window moves to
the center of the desktop.
4. Release the left mouse button.
 Activity #5 Resize by Dragging
1. Position mouse pointer over the lower-
right corner of the window until pointer
changes to a two-headed arrow.
Activity # 5 Resize by Dragging
2. Drag the lower-right corner upward and to
the right.
Lab Assignment

Using the Mouse

 Scrolling
• Wheel button on the mouse
• Scroll bar on the right side of window
 Keyboard
• Input device on which you manually key, or
type, data
 Keyboard Shortcuts
• Pressing a single key (enter)
• Pressing and holding down one key and
then pressing a second key (CTRL + ESC)
 Keyboard Shortcut Examples
1. Press the F1 key (Windows Help)
2. Press CTRL + ESC (open Start menu)
Computer Lab

Using the Keyboard

 Launching Applications
• A program is a set of computer instructions
that carries out a task
• Application program allows you to
accomplish a specific task for which that
program is designed.
– Word processing program
– Presentation graphics program
– Web browser program