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Making the Windows GUI Work for You
Who Invented the Desktop?Navigating the Windows GUI
Configuring & Customizing the Windows DesktopManaging Files in Windows
Launching Programs in WindowsSelecting a Strategy for Leaving the Desktop
Troubleshooting Common Desktop Problems
Chapter
6
2
Learning Objectives
Explain the nature & history of the Windows GUI Navigate the Windows GUI Configure and customize the Windows desktop Manage files in Windows Launch applications in Windows Select a method for leaving the desktop Troubleshoot common Windows desktop
problems
3
Who Invented the Desktop?
1968: Douglas Engelbart’s demonstration 1970’s: Xerox PARC influences others Result: desktop metaphor
4
Navigating the Windows GUI
Getting to the Desktop via Logon User Accounts
Each account is a record in an accounts database Local database or server-based Windows 9x does not have local accounts database
Workgroups and Domains Workgroups
Logical grouping for sharing resources Unique name on the network No central accounts database – only local
5
Navigating the Windows GUI
Getting to the Desktop via Logon (continued)
Workgroups and Domains (continued) Domains
Logical grouping for sharing resources Unique name on the network Central accounts database
The use of CTRL-ALT-DELETE before logon Most versions of Windows can require
Ctrl-Alt-Delete to open logon dialog box Security measure to clear memory
6
Navigating the Windows GUI
Getting to the Desktop via Logon (continued)
Working with Logon Dialog Boxes Logging onto a stand-alone or workgroup computer
Windows XP Welcome to Windows dialog box Windows NT Logon Information dialog box Windows 98 Welcome or Enter Network Password Windows 2000 Log On to Windows dialog box
7
Navigating the Windows GUI
Getting to the Desktop via Logon (continued)
Working with Logon Dialog Boxes (continued) Logging onto a Microsoft Windows Domain
User logs on to access domain resources A computer can be a member of a domain and be
centrally managed as a resource of a domain The computer from which a user logs on must be a
domain member Windows 9x exception – user logon without computer
membership Windows XP Home cannot be a member of a domain,
and a user cannot log onto a domain from XP Home
8
Navigating the Windows GUI
Getting to the Desktop via Logon (continued)
Working with Logon Dialog Boxes (continued) Buttons in the Logon Dialog Boxes
OK Cancel Help Shut Down Options
9
Navigating the Windows GUI
Step-by-Step 6.01
Logging Onto Windows
Page 258
10
Navigating the Windows GUI
A Tour of the Desktop Getting Started
Special dialog boxes in Windows NT, 98, and 2000 Cartoon-style message balloon in Windows XP
First Look Default desktop includes mouse pointer, taskbar,
Start menu button, and one or more icons
11
Navigating the Windows GUI
A Tour of the Desktop (continued)
Desktop Icons Default icons vary among versions of Windows My Computer, Internet Explorer, Recycle Bin.
Network Neighborhood, My Network Places, My Briefcase, My Documents, MSN Internet Account, Online Services, Connect to the Internet
12
Navigating the Windows GUI
A Tour of the Desktop (continued)
Taskbar Default position across bottom of screen Start button Quick Launch toolbar Buttons for running programs Notification area (AKA system tray or systray) Reposition and resize Windows XP default locked Taskbar Properties
13
Navigating the Windows GUI
A Tour of the Desktop (continued)
Start Menu Programs/All Programs Documents/My Recent Documents Personal Folders
14
Navigating the Windows GUI
Step-by-Step 6.02
Using the Start Menu
Page 271
15
Configuring and Customizing the Windows Desktop
Classic Desktop vs. Active Desktop Active Desktop: web content on desktop Classic desktop: double-click to open objects Enable/Disable in Display applet
Web tab Desktop tab in Windows XP Single-click a separate option in Windows XP
16
Configuring and Customizing the Windows Desktop
Decorating the Desktop: Background, Color Schemes, and Settings Background/Desktop page of Display applet
Background Wallpaper Colors Screen saver Themes
17
Configuring and Customizing the Windows Desktop
Customizing the Taskbar Quick Launch toolbar
An area on the taskbar designed to launch programs that are used frequently
18
Configuring and Customizing the Windows Desktop
Step-by-Step 6.03
Customizing the Desktop
Page 274
19
Managing Files in Windows
File and Folder Basics A file is information organized as a unit A folder is a special file that holds a list of files
and other folders An application may save to a default folder User may choose to save in other folder
20
Managing Files in Windows
File and Folder Basics (continued) File/folder management actions
Opening Closing Copying Moving Deleting
21
Managing Files in Windows
What Files Should You Manage? Users only manage data files Understand folder structure:
Document and Settings Windows Program Files Fonts System and System32 Temp
22
Managing Files in Windows
What Files Should You Manage? (continued) Hands Off System Files!
Root of drive C: WINNT or WINDOWS folder Hidden by default in Windows 2000 and XP Make system files visible in Tools | Folder
Options
23
Managing Files in Windows
What Files Should You Manage? (continued) Managing Data Files
Data File types Text files Word processing document files Graphic files Database files Spreadsheet files
24
Managing Files in Windows
Organizing Files Using Folders GUI Techniques
Drag-and-Drop Rules in Explorer/My Computer Dragging while pressing right mouse button =
options Dragging while pressing CTRL = move Dragging to another drive = copy Dragging to another drive while pressing SHIFT =
move Dragging a program file creates a shortcut to
program
25
Managing Files in Windows
Step-by-Step 6.04
Managing Files and Folders
Page 280
26
Managing Files in Windows
Non-GUI Techniques—The Command Prompt Open command prompt and run commands Launch any program that runs in Windows Work at command prompt within Windows
27
Managing Files in Windows
Non-GUI Techniques—The Command Prompt (continued) The Command Prompt in Windows 9x
DOS Virtual Machine Uses DOS Command shell (COMMAND.COM) Start | Programs | MS-DOS Prompt
28
Managing Files in Windows
Non-GUI Techniques—The Command Prompt (continued) The Command Prompt in Windows NT,
Windows 2000, and Windows XP Menu item = Command Prompt Launches CMD.EXE 32-bit character-mode command prompt Do no Harm!
Never do file management at the command prompt Never run third-party disk utilities at the command
prompt
29
Managing Files in Windows
Non-GUI Techniques—The Command Prompt (continued) The Command Prompt in Windows NT,
Windows 2000, and Windows XP (continued) 8.3 File Names vs. Long File Names
Windows creates both a long file name and an 8.3 alias
Best-supported in GUI Using the 8.3 file name from the command prompt
brings risk of losing the long file name
30
Managing Files in Windows
Non-GUI Techniques—The Command Prompt (continued) The Command Prompt in Windows NT,
Windows 2000, and Windows XP (continued) The Dangers of FDISK and Other DOS Utilities
FDISK will not run in Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Server 2003
FDISK is the only partitioning program in Windows 9x
FDISK run after booting with a startup disk will run unrestricted
31
Managing Files in Windows
Step-by-Step 6.05
Working at the Command Prompt in Windows
Page 285
32
Managing Files in Windows
Maintenance of Disks and Files Perform basic maintenance regularly
Remove excess files that accumulate over time Reorganize how files are saved on disk Back up valuable data and system files
33
Managing Files in Windows
Maintenance of Disks and Files (continued) Remove excess files with Disk Cleanup
Not available in Windows NT Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools Start | Run | cleanmgr
34
Managing Files in Windows
Maintenance of Disks and Files (continued) Defragmenting a Disk
Disk Defragmenting utility (not in Windows NT) Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools
| Disk Defragmenter Start | Run | dfrg.msc
35
Managing Files in Windows
Maintenance of Disks and Files (continued) Backing up data
Data is more valuable than hardware and software
Therefore, backup is critical Most Windows versions include backup program Third party programs offer more features
36
Launching Programs in Windows
Start Menu Program Shortcut Start | Run Launch by Association
37
Launching Programs in Windows
Step-by-Step 6.06
Launch Programs in Windows
Page 291
38
Launching Programs in Windows
Command Prompt Launching Windows Programs from the
Command Prompt Running DOS Applications in Windows
39
Launching Programs in Windows
Step-by-Step 6.07
Running MS-DOS Editor in Windows
Page 294
40
Selecting a Strategy for Leaving the Desktop
Logging Off and Shutting Down Log off Log off and Shut Down
41
Selecting a Strategy for Leaving the Desktop
System Standby Sleep state Consumes minimal power On resume, all programs and data open Settings in Power Options applet Not really turned off Requires power (AC or battery)
42
Selecting a Strategy for Leaving the Desktop
Hibernate Contents of memory saved to disk Computer powered off – no power required On resume, all programs and data open Settings in Power Options in Control Panel
43
Selecting a Strategy for Leaving the Desktop
Start Menu Start | Shut Down
Shut Down Windows dialog box May include Log off, Shut Down, Restart,
Hibernate (not in NT), and Standby (not in NT) Start | Log off (Windows XP) Start | Turn Off Computer (Windows XP)
44
Selecting a Strategy for Leaving the Desktop
Ctrl-Alt-Delete Opens Security dialog box Select Log off or Shut down
45
Troubleshooting Common Windows Desktop Problems
Disappearing Dialog Box Dialog box closes before completion Pressing Enter closes Do not press Enter until completed
46
Troubleshooting Common Windows Desktop Problems
Inability to Find Something Forget where you saved a file? Use the Windows Find or Search utility Flexible searches on almost anything you can
remember about a file
47
Troubleshooting Common Windows Desktop Problems
Windows Fails to Start Data floppy disk left in drive Last Known Good Advanced Options Menu
48
Troubleshooting Common Windows Desktop Problems
Windows Stalls No response from Windows or apps Cannot close any apps In Windows 9x press Ctrl-Alt-Delete In newer versions press Ctrl-Shift-Esc If Explorer not responding, restart Any other single app can be removed
49
Troubleshooting Common Windows Desktop Problems
An Application Fails to Start Possible lack of memory Close other applications and retry
50
Chapter Summary
Who Invented the Desktop? The origins go back several decades Many innovative people contributed to the
desktop metaphor; Douglas Engelbart demon-strated the use of a mouse in 1968.
The mouse and keyboard are your primary input devices.
51
Chapter Summary
Who Invented the Desktop? The Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) was a
major contributor to the desktop metaphor. The Apple Macintosh was the first successful
consumer product using a GUI and a mouse. The desktop metaphor endures today in
Windows, Macintosh OS, and in various GUI interfaces for UNIX and Linux.
52
Chapter Summary
Navigating the Windows GUI In most organizations, you must log on and be
authenticated before you can access the desktop.
A user account is a record in an accounts database that may exist locally (except for Windows 9x) or on a network server.
Logging onto a computer requires a user name and password that match those in a user account.
53
Chapter Summary
Navigating the Windows GUI A workgroup is a grouping of computers on a network
for the sake of sharing printers and folders. A Microsoft Windows domain has a centralized
security accounts database, maintained on one or more special servers called domain controllers. This database contains accounts for users, groups, and computers in the domain and can be used to authenticate a user for access to any domain resource.
54
Chapter Summary
Navigating the Windows GUI For a more secure logon, ctrl-alt-delete is
required to bring up the logon dialog box in all but Windows 9x.
By default, Windows XP, Windows 2000 Professional, and Windows NT Workstation allow users to select Shutdown even though no one is logged on. Not allowed on servers.
55
Chapter Summary
Navigating the Windows GUI Windows Help has improved with each
version of Windows. Use it! Windows now has a variety of graphical
objects: the cursor, icons, shortcuts, dialog boxes, windows, folders, buttons, toolbars, menus, and the taskbar.
The Start button gives you access to menus from which you can launch programs.
56
Chapter Summary
Navigating the Windows GUI The Documents shortcut icon contains
shortcuts to recently opened data files. In Windows XP this folder is named My Recent Documents, but is not enabled by default.
57
Chapter Summary
Navigating the Windows GUI Personal folders are a subset of special folders
that Windows creates to hold files and folders for each user. Included are files containing desktop configuration and preference information, each user’s own data files. Shortcuts to some personal folders are on the Start menu.
Personal Folders include Start Menu, My Documents, Favorites, Desktop, and many others.
58
Chapter Summary
Configuring and Customizing the Desktop If Active Desktop is enabled, choose between
the classic Windows desktop and Web view. In classic Windows desktop, double-click to open an object; in Web view, objects on the desktop behave like links in a web page that can be open-ed with a single click.
Shortcuts added to the Quick Launch area of the taskbar are launched with a single click.
59
Chapter Summary
Configuring and Customizing the Desktop Control Panel contains many applets that allow
you to configure your hardware and software. Right-click on the desktop, choose Properties
to open the Display Properties box, a Control Panel applet that allows you to customize many aspects of the desktop.
60
Chapter Summary
Manage Files in Windows A file is information organized as a unit, and
the author of a file determines how much information is stored in a file.
Files allow you to put information into manageable chunks.
A special type of file acts as a container for files, called a folder in Windows, but previously called a directory in MS-DOS. You can create folders in a hierarchy, enhancing the organization of your files.
61
Chapter Summary
Manage Files in Windows File management in the Windows GUI is easier
and safer than in DOS because you don’t have to memorize commands that use cryptic syntax; you don’t have to feel like you are taking a typing test every time you want to create, copy, move, or delete a file or folder; and because you can see exactly what files and folders you have selected for a file management operation.
62
Chapter Summary
Manage Files in Windows Two important file types are program files and
data files. Program files (also called binary files) contain programming code, and data files contain the data you create and work with in your applica-tion programs.
It is best not to attempt to manage program files, especially those the operating system requires, called system files. Leave them in the folders in which the operating system or installation pro-grams place them.
63
Chapter Summary
Manage Files in Windows Manage data files. A short list of data file types includes
Text files—most often have the TXT extension Word processing document files—DOC extension Graphic files—BMP, DIB, GIF, JPG, TIF, etc. Database files—Access uses the MDB extension Spreadsheet files—Excel uses the XLS extension
64
Chapter Summary
Manage Files in Windows The Find/Search option has been improved
with each version of Windows. In Windows NT, you can search for files, folders, and com-puters, but in Windows XP, you can search for almost anything in the world that is searchable over the Internet.
Users can manage files and folders in My Computer and Windows Explorer and from the command prompt. The last is not recommended.
65
Chapter Summary
Launching Programs in Windows Users can launch programs by using the Start
menu. Another method for launching programs is
with the use of shortcuts on the desktop or other locations.
66
Chapter Summary
Launching Programs in Windows Using the file extensions of data files, Windows
associates the files with applications that can create and read that file type. When you click on a file that has an extension for which Windows
has an association, Windows will start the associated program and load the file as data for the program.
67
Chapter Summary
Launching Programs in Windows Another method for launching a program is to
use Start | Run. Then enter a command name in the box to launch a program.
Launch a program from the command prompt. If the program is a GUI program, it will be launch-ed in a window.
68
Chapter Summary
Leave the Desktop by Logging Off and Shutting Down Your end-of-day procedure depends on the rules
for using the computer. In some organizations, users are required to log
off but to leave the computer running. In other organizations, users are required to log
off and shut down the computer. Never just switch off your desktop computer with
the on/off switch. You should always do so from within Windows.
69
Chapter Summary
Troubleshoot Common Windows Desktop Problems Pressing ENTER when you intended to select a
new field may cause a dialog box to disappear. Use the Find or Search function to find lost files. Leaving a floppy disk in the drive is a frequent
cause of startup failure. If Windows stops responding, you may have no
other choice but to restart your computer.