Prerequisites

Essentials of Microsoft Windows

ByRobert T. GrauerMaryann Barber

Objectives (1 of 2)

Describe the objects on the Windows desktop; use icons on the desktop to start applications

Explain the significance of the common user interface; identify elements that are present in every window

Use the Help command

Format a floppy disk

Differentiate between a program file and a data file; explain the icons that appear next to a file in My Computer and Windows Explorer

Objectives (2 of 2)

Explain how folders are used to organize the files on a disk; use the View menu/Folder Options command to change the appearance of a folder

Distinguish between My Computer and Windows Explorer when viewing files and folders; explain the advantages of the hierarchical view available within Windows Explorer

Use Internet Explorer to download the practice files for the Exploring Windows series; describe how to view a Web page from within Windows Explorer

Copy/move a file from one folder to another; delete a file, then recover the deleted file from the Recycle Bin

Evolution of Windows

Windows 3.1 First widely used version of Windows Replaced MS-DOS

Windows 95 Start button for ease of reference Taskbar for multitasking My Computer for easier file management

Windows NT Intended for business computing Increased reliability and security

Evolution of Windows (Continued)

Windows 98 Active desktop displays Web content Enables Web conventions on the desktop

Windows 2000 Security of NT with Windows 98 Interface Windows 2000 Professional/Server editions

Windows Me (Millennium Edition) Successor to Windows 98 for home computing

Windows XP – future successor

The Windows Desktop

Start Button

Taskbar (multitasking)

My Computer

Anatomy of a Window

Title bar with Min, Max or Restore, and Close buttons Menu bar, Toolbar, and Address bar Status bar and Scroll bars

The Devices on a System

Drive A is always a floppy disk Drive B is a second floppy disk

(obsolete) Drive C is always a fixed disk Drives D, E, are variable

CD ROM Zip drive or removable media Network drives

Pull-down Menus

Pull-down menu Dimmed command Ellipsis Check Bullet Arrowhead Submenu

The Mouse

Point Click Right Click Double Click Drag Mouse Pointer

Dialog Boxes

Tabbed dialog box Option buttons Check box Text box Spin button Command buttons

Dialog Boxes continued

• Command buttons• Open List Box• Scroll bar• List box• Tabbed dialog box• Help button ?• Cancel button• OK button

Moving and Sizing a Window

To Move a Window Click and drag the title bar

To Size a Window Click and drag a corner to change the

length and width in proportion with one another

Click and drag a border to change just the length or the width

Formatting a Floppy

Disk capacity 720Kb 1.44Mb

Types of formatting Quick (erase) Full

Label

File Management

My Computer Simpler and less sophisticated Has multiple open windows at one time

Windows Explorer Hierarchical view on left Contents of the selected folder on the right

Multiple views available for both Small icons, Large icons, List, and Details view

Windows Explorer

Folder Expanded Collapsed

Files Program

file Data file

File names Name Extension

(type)

Moving and Copying Files

Moving Files Click and drag to a

different folder on the same drive

Cut and Paste Shortcut Menu

Copying Files Click and drag from

one drive to another

Copy and Paste Shortcut Menu

The Help Command

Accessed from the Start button

Tabs Contents tab Index tab Search tab Favorites tab

Web help

Summary

Windows operations take place on desktop Begin at Start button Mouse is essential Window elements Dialog box supplies information for

commands Floppy disks Organization using files and folders