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VISTA

OPERATING SYSTEM

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VISTA OPERATING SYSTEM

• Software that helps the computer carry out operating tasks

• Similar to a “Air Traffic Controller”– Manages input/output

– Displays info on the monitor

– Saves data on disks

– Allocates computer resources

• Includes the Start menu, Taskbar and Control Panel.

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FILE MANAGEMENT

• Is the process of creating, copying, moving, or deleting files and folders to arrange your information

– File

• something that you create or download e.g. mp3 or

word document

– Folder

• a group of related files

• Folders can be created inside of folders

FILE MANAGEMENT cont.

1. Two file managers

1. My Computer - Double click icon

2. Windows Explorer - right click Start button and choose “Explore”

2. Shows the contents of the selected drive

or folder

3. “Tree Pane” very useful!

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SHOW FILE NAME EXTENSIONS

• An extension is a 3 or 4 letter ending after a

filename that indicates the kind of file you are

looking at

– Common extensions

• mp3

• docx

• xlsx

• Pptx

• htm/html

• START > CONTROL PANEL >APPEARANCE and

PERSONALIZATION > FOLDER OPTIONS

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FILE EXTENSIONS cont.

• ORGANIZE button > FOLDER AND SEARCH

OPTIONS > the VIEW tab, > ADVANCED

SETTINGS

• Clear the HIDE EXTENSIONS FOR KNOWN

FILE TYPES > OK

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“SKY DRIVE”• Store your documents, photos, and videos

– 25 GB of free, password-protected online storage.

– Access from any web browser.

• Free Office “Web Apps”:

– Create and work online - WORD, EXCEL, PPT

– even if you don't have the latest version of

Microsoft Office installed!!

• Access via Live@AC link on Student Portal

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“SKYDRIVE”• “Cloud Computing” service

– Account available “forever”! (as alumni)

– Access from any PC, mobile phone etc.

• COLLABORATIVE facility– Can SHARE files (Share > Send a Link)

– Other person gets the link» EDIT IN BROWSER

» OPENS OFFICE WEB APPS (no need for MS

Office)

» ALL people (that you have given the “rights

to”) can open file SIMULTANEOUSLY

» See “edit history” when needed

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WINDOWS EXPLORER • Right-click on “START” > “EXPLORE”

– note: PROGRAM is: “Windows Explorer”,

• BUT you are viewing contents of “START MENU”

folder

– VIEW > DETAILS

– Click on the “MODIFIED” button (Header

button)-to put info sorted in ascending order OR

in descending order

• Click on the “NAME” button

• Click on the “SIZE” button

WINDOWS EXPLORER

• Windows Explorer's task panel has been replaced by:

• The address bar has been replaced with a breadcrumb navigation

system.

A "Favorite links" panel has been added, enabling one-click access to

common directories.

WINDOWS EXPLORER cont.:

• At the left is the navigation pane, which lists the commonly used

folders:

– Recently changed:

• a list of all files and e-mail messages that you have edited in

the last 30 days

– you can access a list of additional folders by clicking on the

FOLDERS button (at left—underneath FAVORITE LINKS list)

» if you use a folder on a regular basis, you can

drag it to the FAVORITE LINKS pane

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WINDOWS EXPLORER cont.:

• when you select a file, a pane opens at the bottom of the window

called: DETAILS PANE, displaying: PROPERTIES

• PREVIEW PANE--live preview at right

– Must be turned on: ORGANIZE button >

LAYOUT > PREVIEW PANE

– if it’s a PowerPoint presentation, using the

scroll bar, you can preview every slide in

the presentation!!

• By clicking on the LIVE ICON of a folder, you can

then get a visual look at the files contained inside

it!!

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WINDOWS EXPLORER cont.:– You can further personalize by going to: ORGANIZE button >

LAYOUT

• (MENU BAR—XP menu headings)

• Can hide: DETAILS , PREVIEW & NAIVGATION panes

• Choices are SAVED when you close the window

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•Can select multiple adjacent files by

click-shift-click method

•Can select multiple non-adjacent files

by ctrl-click method

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VIEWING ICONS IN WINDOWS EXPLORER

• click on button OR drop-down arrow

in “Windows Explorer” & “Computer” to change

VIEW:

– Extra large icons, Large,Medium &

Small icons List, Details, Tile

– SORT BY:

• Clicking on the COLUMN HEADINGS

• ORGANIZE button

allows creation of new

folders

»BURN button

BREADCRUMB NAVIGATION

– folder names on address bar are links –which will

take you back and open a folder

– Click on the folder name to open it

– Click on the white arrow beside folder name,

to view other subfolders/folders

– back & forward buttons

for easy navigation

» a list of recently visited websites or folders, by

clicking on “previous location button” (down-

pointing arrow at end of address bar)

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TRIANGLES BESIDE FOLDERS:

• They just show you the FILE HIERARCHY (pathnames of folder & file locations)

• Does not open FILE CONTENTS

• ADDRESS BAR:

– Click on triangles beside , will bring up folders which reside 1 folder up

– The folder name which is bolded, is the one in which the 1st folder in the

address bar resides

– Click on triangle besideFOLDER names:

» Lists subfolders

FOLDERS:– Some folders automatically there by default e.g. “Documents”,

“Program Files”

– CREATING a folder –pay attention to where it is being created

• ORGANIZE folder > NEW FOLDER OR

» Right-mouse click on an empty space on right-hand side of split screen > NEW > FOLDER

• Can also COPY, MOVE, & RENAME FOLDERS

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•SEND TO:

START MENU

• List of folders embedded in left pane

• No longer submenus

– TREE VIEW DIRECTORY:

• “Branch off” to start any program

• Can expand and collapse any folder

• Even multiple folders

– INSTANT SEARCH FEATURE

• Can key in a program/document “incrementally”:

» As you type in each letter of the name of the

program/document, the list is then

constrained to display your search string

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PIN/UNPIN/HIDE A PROGRAM ON

THE START MENU

1. To pin a program, find the program you want

2. Right-click the program > PIN TO START MENU

3. To unpin a program Right-click the pinned program

> UNPIN FROM START MENU

• To HIDE items on the START MENU:

1. Right-click the START button > PROPERTIES

1. In the PRIVACY section, clear the

check boxes to HIDE recently open

documents/programs19

ADD YOUR FAVORITES LIST TO

START MENU

• Your FAVORITES list from Internet Explorer can be

added to the START button

1. Right-click the START button > PROPERTIES

2. Click the: CUSTOMIZE button

3. Check the FAVORITES MENU check box > OK >

OK

» Now, when you select one of your

FAVORITES, IE will automatically

launch, and the desired page will open!!20

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OPENING A PROGRAM/FILE1. STARTPROGRAMSSelect the program you want to open

2. START RECENT ITEMS

– lists the last 15 documents accessed OR:

3. Open “COMPUTER” (previously: “MY Computer”) OR “Windows Explorer”

– Open the folder containing the file you want to open anddouble-click the file

– The application opens, then the file

RUN command

» START button > in the SEARCH textbox

» Key in the name of the program > i.e. “ winword.exe (MS WORD) ENTER

SHADOW COPY• If you accidentally SAVE OVER a critical file and you have no Undo

option?

• automatically creates point-in-time copies of files as you work

• While you work, VISTA makes backup copies of your work files:

SHADOW COPIES, that you can restore from earlier versions, copy,

or save with new file names.• It is a good idea to save all important files to a separate physical location, e.g. external hard drive, memory

stick, dvd, etc

– Only works if System Restore points are created. To make sure

this feature is on:

• START > type: systempropertiesprotection > ENTER

(Click Continue if you're prompted.)

– Check the disk you want shadow copies created to,

>APPLY

» Each drive must have at least 300MB of free space

» You can create a restore point manually in this dialog

box by clicking: CREATE > Type a name for the

restore point > CREATE, again. 22

SHADOW COPY cont.• When you need the previous version of a file or folder, right-click it in

Windows Explorer and choose RESTORE PREVIOUS VERSIONS

– For a full restoration, select the version you want and click

RESTORE

• If you're not sure which version to choose,

– select one and click OPEN to see it in read-only form.

• If the file you want to restore was moved or deleted from its original

location, or if it has a different name:

– select the folder that formerly contained the version you want to

restore.

– If the folder no longer exists, select the next highest folder that

contained the missing folder.

» Right-click it and choose RESTORE PREVIOUS

VERSIONS > double-click to navigate through the

folders in the PREVIOUS VERSIONS tab to open or

copy the older version.

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ARRANGING OPEN WINDOWS.

• Right-click an open area on the taskbar.

• On the shortcut menu, click

– Cascade Windows.

– Show Windows Stacked

– Show Windows Side by Side

– Show the Desktop

• UNDO arrangement– Right-click an open area on the taskbar

– On the shortcut menu, click Undo

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CREATING SHORTCUTS

• Locate the specific file/program you want in

”Windows Explorer”

– OR: An INTERNET web address to “DESKTOP”

• Right-click and drag the file from the ”Windows

Explorer” window to:

– an open area on the desktop

» OR: right-mouse click on DESKTOP >

NEW > SHORTCUT > a Wizard will come

up > key in the name of the website >

NEXT > key in the name of the shortcut

» Wizards assist you with the installation

of software/programs/applications

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FORMATTING A DRIVE

DISPLAYING PROPERTIES

• FORMATTING:

– Makes a disk ready to receive data

– Will delete all data on a drive that has information on it, including the operating system

– Right click on the drive

– Select Format from the shortcut menu.

– Click the START button > OK > OK > CLOSE

• DISPLAYING PROPERTIES:

» Right click the drive

» Select Properties from the shortcut menu

• SYSTEM PROPERTIES– To get an overview of your operating system and the amount of

available RAM, click System Properties

– CONTROL PANEL > SYSTEM

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RECYCLE BIN

• SHOW DESKTOP icon

(on taskbar)

• RECYLE BIN

– Stores deleted items (deleted items do take up space

on hard drive)

– Can “restore” items

– If the recycle bin contains deleted files, crumpled

pieces of paper display in the icon on the desktop.

– Once you delete from the Recycle Bin—

PERMANENTLY deleted

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SEARCH FOR FILES

• SEARCH (textbox; top of window)

– Filenames

• WILDCARDS * ? e.g.. *.DOC

– Key in “SEARCH BY” in SEARCH textbox

• Click on the ADVANCED SEARCH drop-down arrow

– Location

– Date etc.

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COMPRESSING/EXTRACTING FILES

• COMPRESSING:– Makes files smaller when size is important

• e.g. email size limits

– Right-click on specific file:

– On the shortcut menu, point to Send To. (sometimes zip option appears on main choices of shortcut menu)

– Click Compressed (zipped) Folder.

– Will store the Compressed folder in the same folder/drive

• EXTRACTING:

• Right-click the Compressed folder. – Click Extract All

» Click Next on the Welcome screen of the Wizard.

» Click the Browse button.

» Select a Destination file location > OK > NEXT >FINISH

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HELP-F1; OR: START > HELP AND SUPPORT

OR: CLICK ON QUESTION MARK AT TOP OF

WINDOW

• Help & Support home

BROWSE HELP:

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ASK SOMEONE OR EXPAND

YOUR SEARCH•

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A blue compass on

a help topic indicates

that Guided help is

available.

PRINTING

• Check the “Print Status” of your print jobs:

– Double-click on PRINT icon on taskbar

• How to Change “Default Printer”

– START > CONTROL PANEL > HARDWARE

and SOUND > PRINTERS > CHANGE

DEFAULT PRINTER

»Right click on the desired printer >

SET AS DEFAULT PRINTER

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ACCESSORIES• START > ALL PROGRAMS >

ACCESSORIES

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i.e. CALCULATOR

CHANGE VIEW OF ICONS ON DESKTOP

• Right-click on DESKTOP > SORT BY

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DISPLAY COMPUTER S DATE & TIME

• CONTROL PANEL > CLOCK LANGUAGE

& REGION > SET THE TIME & DATE

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