ICT - LESSON 1

Desktop and Windows Applications

Introduction:

Many people are naïve on how’s and why’s of modern day computer. To add to, many electronic
companies issues their technologies with more advanced aspects one after another. In the span of only
few years, leaps and bounds of computer technology advancement have left many people behind. That
also includes the older versions of hardware and software.

Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer. Computer Hardware is any part of
the computer that we can touch. This are the primary electronic devices used to build up the computer.
Example of hardware in a computer is the Processor, Memory Devices, Monitor, Printer, Keyboard,
Mouse and the Central Processing Unit. Software on the other hand, is collection of instructions
procedures, documentation that perform different tasks, on a computer system. We can say also
Computer Software is a programming code executed on a computer processor . The code can be
machine-level code or the code written for an operating system. Examples of software are MS word,
Exel, Power Point, Google Chrome, Photoshop, etc.

Furthermore, in the age of modern technology, information can be accessed in a most

convenient ways possible, the basics and the essential parts and terms are left behind by the modern
generation. Unless a student takes a course majoring on the computer field, he will not know this parts.

In this lesson, the parts of the Windows screen, The ones that users see what they can interact,
and what they can manipulate are discussed. These parts are put in different functions, each of which
has its own different functions, each of which has its own purpose.

What is a Desktop?

A desktop is working area of computer screen regarded as a representation of imaginary

desktop and containing icon representing items such as files, folders and recycle bin. Dektop is
sometimes called as the window screen.

Parts of the Desktop

1. Start button – When you click the start button, the start menu appears. The start menu is your
gateway to the applications that are on your computer. The left side of the start menu lists programs,
and the right side allows access to common Windows folders (My Documents, for example). It also
provides access to Help and Support, Search, and Run.

Note: If you select All Programs, a pop-up menu appears. Pop-up menus like this are called cascading
menus. If a cascading menu is available, a small black triangle appears next to the name of the
application or function.
 ICT - LESSON 1
Components of a Start Button:

a. Log Off – to Log off the current user.

b. Turn Off Computer – to shutdown, restart, and standby

c. All Programs – to access additional programs

d. Run – is used to manually start executable files (programs)

e. Search – search your PC for pictures, music, documents, files, and folders.

f. Help and Support - Opens the built-in Windows help, including various help topics and windows
updates it also allows you to request remote assistance from a friend/colleague viaq the internet or
network.

g. Printers and faxes – Give you access to your printers and faxes folder; allowas you to add and
configure printers/faxes.

h. Control Panel – used to configure various Windows XP setting. We will be looking at the Win XP
control panel in details later in the tutorial.

i. My Computer – gives access to computer’s disk drivers and files and show you the local and network
drives

j. My Music -