Getting to Know Windows

Chapter-4

Start!
 Operating system

An operating system:
1) Manages the hardware and software and helps
them work with each other.
2) Lets us run many different programs on the
computer at the same time.
3) Allows us to make and change files and folders.
 The Desktop 1

- The desktop is where we do all our work.

- Files, folders and programs open on the desktop.
- The desktop may have icons for files, folders and programs.
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Shortcuts

Music T

- Some icons on the desktop may have an arrow .These

icons are shortcuts. X
- A shortcut gives us a quick way to open things like
programs, files, or folders lying somewhere else on
the computer.
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- We can open a file, folder or program by just double
clicking on its shortcut.

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 Arranging icons on the desktop. 1

- Right click on the desktop.

- Select view from the menu.
- Select Auto arrange icons. 2
- The icons get arranged in columns on
the left side of the desktop.

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 Desktop background 1

● Right click on the desktop.

● Select the Personalize from the menu.
● Select desktop background option. 3
● Click the down arrow of the picture
location list.
● Click on the picture which you like.
● Click on save change option. 4
Steps to change background 1

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 The Taskbar 1

- The taskbar is the long band you normally see at the bottom of the screen.
- The start button is on the left side of the taskbar.
- On the right side of the taskbar is the notification area.
- Between the start button and the notification area you may see the icons 2
of some programs.

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Windows 7 Desktop
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Start Menu
● Clicking the start button opens the
start menu. T

● The start menu helps us open files,

folders and programs.
● It has two sides, called panes. X

● The left pane of the start menu has

a list of programs you usually use.
● To see all the programs on the T
computer click All Programs.
● To look for a file or a program, type
its name in the search box in the left F
pane.
The right pane of the Start menu has options to open different kinds
of things.
It also has the Shut down button for turning off the computer.
The notification area shows the date and time. It has small icons that
let you change settings.
The notification area also shows messages and warnings.
The middle section of the taskbar shows icons of programs.
Any application program that is open is shown as a button on the
taskbar.
 Pin the Programs

You can pin programs you use often to the

taskbar.
To pin a program means to place its
shortcut on the taskbar or the start
menu.
A pinned program can be opened quickly
because we can reach the taskbar
quickly.
Clicking Once on the pinned program
opens it.
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Program Windows

T
You know that Programs, files
and folders open in boxes
called Windows.
X

For example, the Notepad T

program opens in a window
like this.
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Pin the Programs
Clicking the Minimize ( ) button hides the
window.
The window is then shown as a button with
the program's icon on the taskbar.
To bring the window back, we click this
button.
Clicking the maximize ( ) button makes the
window fill the screen.
When a window is maximised, this button
changes to a Restore Down button.
Clicking the Restore Down button brings the
window back to its original size.
Clicking the Close ( ) button closes the
window.
 Setting the size of a window 1

You can change the size of a window by dragging at

its borders.
If the window is maximized, first Press the Restore
Down button. 2

To change the height of the window, point to the

top or bottom border, and drag when you see
the resize-arrow .
To change the width of the window, drag the left or 3
right border.
To change the height and the width together, drag
one of the corners. Once you set the size of a
window,it will always open at that size.
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 Some common tasks 1

Making a new file or folder

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To make a new file or folder, follow these steps:-
1) Right-Click on the desktop or in the right
pane of a folder's window.
2) Select New from the menu.
3) Then select the type of file or select folder. 3
4) A new file or folder appears.
5) Type in a name for your file or folder.

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 Deleting files and folders 1

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(1). Right-Click on the file or folder.
(2). Select Delete from the menu
(3).A dialog box opens.
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(4). Click Yes to delete the file.

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 The Recycle Bin 1

1) Open the Recycle Bin. It will deleted files and

folders.
2) Right- click on the file or folder you want to 2
get back.
3) Select Restore from the menu.
4) The file or folder is restored, that is sent back
to its original place. 3

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 Delete from Recycle Bin 1

Things in the Recycle Bin can be deleted permanently (for

ever).
When you delete something from the Recycle Bin, it is 2
removed from the hard disk.
After that, you cannot get it back.
(1). Open the Recycle Bin and right-click on the item
(thing)you want to delete permanently.
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(2) Select Delete from the menu
(3)Then click on Yes in the dialog box.

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 To permanently delete all things in Recycle Bin 1

1) Right-click in any empty space in the Recycle Bin window.

2) You could also right-click on the icon of the Recycle Bin on the
2
desktop.
3) Select Empty Recycle Bin from the menu.
4) Then click on Yes in the dialog box.

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Let’s Test our Knowledge
Write two things that an operating system does.
Why is shortcut useful ? T
What are the steps to arranging icons on the desktop ?
What is a dialog box?

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Identify the pictures