Using the Taskbar and the Start Button Clicking the Start Button opens the Start menu

Button opens the Start menu that gives you

access to all the programs installed on the computer and other
Taskbar is the horizontal rectangular bar that is located at the Windows features.
most bottom part of the desktop. We can pin to the taskbar our
favorite or most commonly used programs for easier access. The Start menu is the primary location in Windows to locate
Through the taskbar, we can also switch easily between your installed programs and find any files or folders. From the
programs or files that are simultaneously opened or running. Start Menu, you can access all your programs through the All
apps option and in the left pane.
The taskbar contains the following:
1. Start Button
2. Cortana search bar
3. Quick Launch bar
4. System tray

1 2 3 4

We can move the taskbar to the right, top, or left side of the
screen, To do this, we:
1. Position the cursor to an empty area of the taskbar,
2. Once the mouse cursor is over an empty area on the
taskbar, click and hold the left mouse button down.
3. While holding the mouse button down, move the cursor to
the middle edge of where you want the taskbar to be.
4. When the taskbar has moved to its new location, release the
left mouse button.
Moved taskbar on the right side of the screen will look like the
one below.
Using the Cortana Search Bar
The Cortana Search Bar
The Cortana search bar is used to find programs, folders, or
files easily by just typing a keyword.
To use Cortana search bar, we do the following:
1. on the desktop, locate the taskbar, usually found at the
bottom of the screen.
2. In the Search bar, located next to the Start button, type in
the name of the program or file to access.

3. In the search results, select the file or program that matches

to open. Below is a sample search of the MS Paint program
using the Search bar.

The Start Button

The Start Button is found on the bottom left corner of the
desktop that is located on the taskbar.
The pictures below show the evolution of the Start Button

The search bar also allows you to execute searches on the

Internet, in addition to searching in Windows.

Who Is Cortana?
Do you know who Cortana is? Have you heard of this name?
Let us get to know Cortana.
Cortana is the name for the intelligent personal assistant and
knowledge navigator for Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 10.
The name Cortana comes from the fictional, artificially
intelligent (Al) character in the Halo video game series.

More than searching for a program, folder, or file, Cortana is

our digital agent. She will help us get things done. The more
we use Cortana, the more personalized our experience will be.

To get started, type a question in the search bar, or select the 2. Documents
microphone and talk to Cortana. Typing works for all types of
computers with Windows 10, but we need a microphone to
talk.

What Can Cortana Do for Us?

Here are some of the things that Cortana can do for us:
1. Give us reminders based on time, places, or people.
2. Track packages, teams, interests, and flights. Not to be confused with a written document, Documents is
3. Send e-mails and texts.
a folder that stores computer documents and other files
4. Manage the calendar and keep us up to date.
associated with programs on the computer.
5. Create and manage lists.
For example, when saving a file in Microsoft Word,
6. Chit chat and play games.
the default folder is Documents. Saving all of the personal
7. Find facts, files, places, and information.
files into the Documents folder makes them easier to back
8. Open any app on the system.
up and locate.
In the previous versions of Windows, it was called My
Common Icons we can find on the desktop: Documents.

1. This PC 3. Network

The This PC icon allows us to explore and manage
the contents of our computer drives. This shows the contents
of our computer. Double-clicking this icon will display the
window below.
The Network icon is used to show the available
network connections, computers, and devices.
In the previous versions of Windows, it was named
Network Neighborhood. It was then replaced with My Network
Places and now renamed as Network.
4. Recycle Bin

The This PC icon was called My Computer in the previous

versions of the Windows operating systems.
The picture below shows the look of the My Computer
icon in Microsoft Windows XP, Vista and Window 7, as well as This icon looks like a trash can. What is trash for? How is it
the This PC icon in Windows 8 and in Windows 10. Although related to the Recycle bin?
the name has changed, This PC still has the same functionally
The Recycle bin is a location where deleted files are
as My Computer.
temporarily stored. It allows users to recover files that have
been deleted. Files in the bin can also be deleted permanently.