1983: Windows is born

• In 1983 Microsoft announced its development of Windows, a graphical user interface.

• A graphical user interface (or GUI, pronounced "gooey") is a method of interacting with a computer through a direct manipulation of graphical images. (ex: mouse clicks on an picture )

• Bill Gates modeled the GUI after that of Apple's Mac operating system.

• Before Windows, PC’s used only the DOS operating system, which was exclusively text based.

Windows Basics

Windows is a kind of program called an operating system. It is another layer between the machine’s own binary language and the software programs that you use to do your work.

Windows provides basic functions for your computer such as:

•Controlling your hardware (printer, monitor, etc.) •Running your programs •Organizing your information

You think you know

• Many of you already know how to get around in windows. You may know how to do tons of stuff… but you may not know the correct terminology. A prerequisite to understanding higher level computer operations begins with knowledge of this basic “lingo”. I ask you to please read through this section carefully so that you can use these terms easily. They will be used throughout this course and throughout your computer life. If there are things you already know, great! Hearing things over several times is the best way to really make them stick.

The Desktop

The initial screen in Windows is called the Desktop. It is the work environment, which, more or less, is used like a desk. Containing items you can use to do your job, it can be arranged to suit your own particular needs. The Windows Desktop is intended to make it easy for you to work and to find and use applications.

taskbarSystem

tray

Start button

Icons

shortcut

Desktop icons, buttons, and elements

ICONS

An icon is a small graphic symbol that represents a program, file, or folder on a computer. Clicking on an icon with a mouse generally causes the program to run, the folder to open, or the file to be displayed.

A collective term for the various controls whose on-screen appearance typically simulates a push button or a radio button. The user clicks buttons to specify commands or set options

BUTTONS

Shortcuts

• A shortcut is an icon usually on your desktop (You can also put a shortcut in a document or folder).

• Shortcuts are pointers to an original file, giving you access to the file without having the actual file on the desktop. These pointers are handy for files used frequently, programs you prefer not to add to the Start Menu, and objects you have difficulty finding.

To place a shortcut anywhere – right-click, choose “shortcut” and navigate to the file or folder you want to get to. ( We will cover this “how-to” more thoroughly in the

next lesson)

The taskbar

• This horizontal bar located at the bottom of your Desktop displays the Start button, the clock, and other icons. Buttons representing open folders, applications, and documents are displayed on the Taskbar. Its primary purpose is to allow you to switch quickly and easily between applications

• Like your own desk, you can have the paperwork for several projects scattered on the workspace at the same time. Sometimes you are concentrating on one, but need to switch to the other quickly. The taskbar stores the ones you are not using until you need them again.

Then all you have to do is click once with your mouse to show or hide any of them

System Tray

• Windows' system tray is on the far right end of your task bar. It holds shortcuts to programs that load or install when your PC boots (turns on). You will usually see 5 or 6 icons there. If there are many more icons in the system tray, it can slow down your system. Most of these programs don’t need to be taking up system resources running in the background. You can always open them later if you need them.

Start button

• The Windows Start button is on the bottom left corner of your desktop on the Taskbar. The Start button is what you click on to begin almost any task on your computer. A single left-click on the Start button opens the Start menu. In the Programs section of the Start menu, you have access to many of the applications on your computer. In the Settings section of the Start Menu you can access your computer's settings, printer, Taskbar and Start Menu options. From the Start menu you can also Shut Down your computer.

My Documents

• My Documents is a folder where you store your personal files. You can create other folders to save files in, but My Documents is easy to find because it is on the desktop. Double-click My Documents to view your personal files and folders

My Computer

• My Computer — This icon provides access to your disk drives (hard, CD, floppy, removable, and network drives. This is the workcenter for manipulating your files.

• (see the lesson on “Working with files and folders”.)

Recycle bin

• This icon provides a temporary storage place for files that you have deleted, but might still want to recover.

• Drag any file or folder from your desktop over the recycle bin, and when the icon darkens, release the mouse button.

• You can “empty the trash” at any time by right clicking on the recycle bin icon and choosing “Empty the recycle bin”

• Caution - Emptying the Recycle Bin permanently erases any files or folders in the bin. These files cannot be restored!

Internet Explorer• Microsoft Internet Explorer is a program called a browser

that lets you view Web sites and Web pages on the Internet. Double-click this icon to open the browser.

• This icon will work when you have a direct connection to the Internet via cable modem, DSL, or Network

• The page that opens up when you click this Icon at school is Edline.

• To go to an internet site, you must type the URL (the site’s address) into the browser and off you go!

The browser

Customize Your Desktop

To change the Background of the Desktop (called the Wallpaper):

Click the Background tab if it is not already selected and play. You can browse your files for your own photo if you like. You will learn how to find files in the next few lessons.

You can make your desktop a reflection of who you are. You can add your favorite pictures, change the colors, move the icons

around, add shortcuts to your favorite web sites, etc.

Right click on the Desktop. Select Properties.

To change the screen saver

Select the Screen Saver tab. Under Screen Saver, click on the down

arrow to see a list of Screen Savers. Click the various Screen

Savers, and find one you like. Click on Preview. The Wait option

determines how many minutes will lapse before the Screen Saver

"kicks in" after the computer has been idle.

To change the colors

Select the Appearance tab and play with the various themes, or create your own color scheme !