Introduction To Windows XP: L L L L L
Introduction To Windows XP: L L L L L
Introduction To Windows XP: L L L L L
Introduction to Windows XP
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The windows operating system started with the introduction of Windows OS and Windows for work group for networking. Since then it has come a long way and Windows 95, 98 and 2000 family of operating systems were introduced. It provided the computer user with the most integrated and easy to use operating system with all the facilities in built. The Windows XP is the newborn baby in the Windows family. It is build on the windows 2000 concept and framework. It has more features to provide the user with greater stability, security and enhanced performance.
1.2 OBJECTIVES
After going through this lesson, you would be able to: explain the basics of operating system describe XP desktop elements create file or folder in XP change system settings work on windows explorer
1.3.1 Logging On
When the computer system loaded with Windows XP is started, it will present a log-in screen to log on to windows or to network, if the system is part of a computer network. To be able to log on, do the following: 1. 2. Enter the password the system (if it is password protected) click on the key or hit the Enter key
Fig. 1.1
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appears on the bottom of the screen and by default remains visible when Windows is running. Whenever a program is run or a window is opened, an icon representing the program appears on the taskbar. To switch between windows or program, click on the icon representing the window on the task bar. When the program or window is closed, the icon disappears from the task bar.
Fig. 1.2
Start Menu When clicked on the start button, menu as follows appears on the screen giving all the available options to start using the Windows.
Fig 1.3
Start a Program To start a program to the followings; 1. Click on the Start Button
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2. 3.
Click on the All Programs Point to the desired folder say Accessories and select the desired program to run such as Paint
Quitting a Program To quit a program, select the close button () in the upper-right corner of the window OR Click on File menu and select Close option. Getting Help Online help and support provided is of great help in using and learning windows. One can get help a specific topic or current task is being executed. To start help click on the Start button click on Help and Tutorial option A list of help and support topics and online tutorial is displayed on the screen. One can use the tabs in the screen to search for the desired information in several ways.
Fig. 1.4
Click on a topic or task to know more about how to get the job done or type in a search word to locate the help on a specific topic.
Click on the Index tab to locate specific topic listed alphabetically and the follow the instructions displayed on the screen. Click on Favourites tab to add Help Topics, search results to your Favourites list to make them easy to locate in the future Click on History to pick from a list of Help and Support pages that you have read in the past. Click on Support to get various kind of online supports such as Microsoft online support, News Group on Windows. Click on Option to configure the help and support center as per your requirement. To close Help and Support windows, select the close button () in the upper-right corner of the window.
Fig. 1.5
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To search for a file or folder 1. 2. 3. 4. Click Start, and click on Search. Select All files and folders from the left-hand side of the windows. Type the name of the file or folder in part or full or type a word or phrase that exists in the file to be searched. If you do not know either piece of information select one or more of the remaining options: In Look in, click the drive, folder, or network you want to search. Click on When was it modified? to look for files that were created or modified on or between specific dates. To look for files of a specific size, click on what size is it? Select a size. Click on More advanced options to specify additional search criteria. 5. Once you finish specifying the search criteria, click on Search to locate the file.
Similarly you can search for specific information on Internet, or people in your address book, search for a printer or a computer on your network.
Click on Control Panel Select the desired tool to use For example to create a new or modify the settings for an existing user click on User Account icon in the control panel.
Fig. 1.6
Display the storage Contents To see what is on your hard disk, under Hard Disk Drives, double-click the drive you want to see such as C:, D: etc. To find a file or folder on a floppy disk, CD-ROM, or other media, under Devices with Removable Storage, doubleclick on the respective storage media you want to see.
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To find a file in a folder, under Files Stored on This Computer, double-click a folder.
Fig. 1.7
When files or folders are deleted from hard disk, Windows places them in the Recycle Bin, where they can be retrieved, until the Recycle Bin is made empty. Whereas files or folders deleted from a removable storage media such as floppy disk or a network drive are permanently deleted and are not sent to the Recycle Bin.
Fig. 1.8
To open Windows Explorer, Click on Start, Point to All Programs, Point to Accessories, and then click on Windows Explorer Coping or Moving a file or Folder using My Document Click on Start, and then click on My Documents. Click the file or folder to be copied. More than one file or folder can be copied at a time.
Fig. 1.9
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To select more than one file or folder, click the first file or folder, press and hold down SHIFT key, and then click the file or folder. To select non-consecutive files or folders, press and hold down CTRL key, and then click each of the files or folders to be copied. Under Edit, select Copy. Select the target drive or folder to which you want to copy the files Under Edit, select Copy. Select the target drive or folder to which you want to copy the files. Under Edit, select Paste to copy the desired file or folder to the target drive.
Fig. 1.10
If you drag an item while pressing the right mouse button, you can move, copy, or create a shortcut to the file in its new location. To copy the item instead of moving it, press and hold down CTRL while dragging. If you drag an item to another disk, it is copied, not moved. To move the item, press and hold down SHIFT while dragging. Dragging a program to a new location creates a shortcut to that program. To move a program, right-click and then drag the program to the new location. You must be logged on as an administrator to move a program.
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7.
To permanently delete a file, press and hold down SHIFT and drag it to the Recycle Bin.
Fig. 1.11
Fig. 1.12
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Fig. 1.13
Add new features from Windows Update 1. 2. 3. 4. Click Start, click Control Panel, Double-click Add or Remove Programs. Click Windows Update. Follow the instructions to locate and install new Windows features or updates
Add or remove a Windows component To be able to use this feature of Windows, the user must log in as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group.
Fig. 1.14
1. 2. 3.
Click Start, click Control Panel, Double-click Add or Remove Programs. Follow the instructions in the Windows Components Wizard.
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Fig. 1.15
1. 2. 3.
Click Start, click Control Panel, Double-click Add Hardware. Follow the instructions on the screen.
INTEXT QUESTIONS
1. Write True of False for the following statements. (a) (b) (c) 2. Deleted Files or folders are stored in the recycle bin. Under Edit menu you can rename the file. Windows provides a quick and easy way to install new software.
Fill in the blanks. (a) (b) (c) (d) Under file, click ....................... and select folder. If you drag an item while pressing the ...................... you can create a shortcut to the file. When you start the computer system, the task bar appears ........................... on the screen. When files or folders are deleted from .....................
windows places them in the recycle bin. (e) To select non-consecutive file or folder press and hold down .................. key.