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WINDOWS VISTA

These notes are from the “Windows Basics” section in “Windows Help and Support” in

Windows Vista

They are used in the manuals “My Computer” (all versions)

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Microsoft Vista Are you new to computers? Do you wonder what they do and why you would want to use one?

Welcome—you're in the right place. This article gives an overview of computers: what they are, the different types, and what you can do with them.

What are computers? Computers are machines that perform tasks or calculations

according to a set of instructions, or programs. The first fully electronic computers, introduced in the 1940s, were huge machines that required teams of people to operate. Compared to those early machines, today's computers are amazing. Not only are they thousands of times faster, they can fit on your desk, in your lap, or even in your pocket.

Computers work through an interaction of hardware and software. Hardware refers to the parts of a computer that you can see and touch, including the case and everything inside it. The most important piece of hardware is a tiny rectangular chip inside your computer called the central processing unit (CPU), or microprocessor. It's the "brain" of your computer—the part that translates instructions and performs calculations. Hardware items such as your monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, and other components are often called hardware devices, or devices.

Software refers to the instructions, or programs, that tell the hardware what to do. A word processing program that you can use to write letters on your computer is a type of software. The operating system (OS; e.g. Windows XP, Windows Vista) is software that manages your computer and the devices connected to it. Two well-known operating systems are Windows and Mac OS. Your computer uses the Windows operating system.

Types of computers Computers range in size and capability. At one end of the scale are supercomputers, very large

computers with thousands of linked microprocessors that perform extremely complex calculations. At the other end are tiny computers embedded in cars, TVs, stereo systems, calculators, and appliances. These computers are built to perform a limited number of tasks.

The personal computer, or PC, is designed to be used by one person at a time. This section describes the various kinds of personal computers: desktops, laptops, handheld computers, and Tablet PCs.

Desktop computers Desktop computers are designed for use at a desk or table. They

are typically larger and more powerful than other types of personal computers. Desktop computers are made up of separate components.

The main component, called the system unit, is usually a rectangular case that sits on or underneath a desk. Other components, such as the monitor, mouse, and keyboard,

ENIAC Introduced in 1946, ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integra-tor and Computer) was the first general-purpose electronic computer. It was built for the United States military to calcu-late the paths of artillery shells. Physically, ENIAC was enormous, weighing more than 27,000 kilograms (60,000 pounds) and filling a large room. To process data, ENIAC used about 18,000 vacuum tubes, each the size of a small light bulb. The tubes burned out easily and had to be con-stantly replaced.

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connect to the system unit.

Laptop computers Laptop computers are lightweight mobile PCs with a thin screen. They

are often called notebook computers because of their small size. Laptops can operate on batteries, so you can take them anywhere. Unlike desktops, laptops combine the CPU, screen, and keyboard in a single case. The screen folds down onto the keyboard when not in use.

Handheld computers Handheld computers, also called personal digital assistants (PDAs), are battery-

powered computers small enough to carry almost anywhere. Although not as powerful as desktops or laptops, handhelds are useful for scheduling appointments, storing addresses and phone numbers, and playing games. Some have more advanced capabilities, such as making telephone calls or accessing the Internet. Instead of keyboards, handhelds have touch screens that you use with your finger or a stylus (a pen-shaped pointing tool).

Tablet PCs Tablet PCs are mobile PCs that combine features of laptops and

handhelds. Like laptops, they're powerful and have a built-in screen. Like handhelds, they allow you to write notes or draw pictures on the screen, usually with a tablet pen instead of a stylus. They can also convert your handwriting into typed text. Some Tablet PCs are “convertibles” with a screen that swivels and unfolds to reveal a keyboard

What can you do with computers? In the workplace, many people use computers to keep records, analyze data, do research, and

manage projects. At home, you can use computers to find information, store pictures and music, track finances, play games, and communicate with others—and those are just a few of the possibilities.

You can also use your computer to connect to the Internet, a network that links computers around the world. Internet access is available for a monthly fee in most urban areas, and increasingly, in less populated areas. With Internet access, you can communicate with people all over the world and find a vast amount of information.

Here are some of the most popular things to do with computers:

The Web The World Wide Web (usually called the Web, or

web) is a gigantic storehouse of information. The web is the most popular part of the Internet, partly because it displays most information in a visually appealing format. Headlines, text, and pictures can be combined on a single webpage—much like a page in a magazine—along with sounds and animation. A website is a collection of interconnected webpages. The web contains

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millions of websites and billions of webpages.

Surfing the web means exploring it. You can find information on the web about almost any topic imaginable. For example, you can read news stories and movie reviews, check airline schedules, see street maps, get the weather forecast for your city, or research a health condition. Most companies, government agencies, museums, and libraries have websites with information about their products, services, or collections. Reference sources, such as dictionaries and encyclopedias, are also widely available.

The web is also a shopper's delight. You can browse and purchase products—books, music, toys, clothing, electronics, and much more—at the websites of major retailers. You can also buy and sell used items through websites that use auction-style bidding.

E‑mail E‑mail (short for electronic mail) is a convenient way to communicate with others. When you

send an e‑mail message, it arrives almost instantly in the recipient's e‑mail inbox. You can send e‑mail to many people simultaneously, and you can save, print, and forward e‑mail to others. You can send almost any type of file in an e‑mail message, including documents, pictures, and music files. And with e‑mail, you don't need a stamp!

Instant messaging Instant messaging is like having a real-time conversation with another person or a group of

people. When you type and send an instant message, the message is immediately visible to all participants. Unlike e‑mail, all participants have to be online (connected to the Internet) and in front of their computers at the same time. Communicating by means of instant messaging is called chatting.

Pictures, music, and movies If you have a digital camera, you can move your pictures from the camera to your computer.

Then you can print them, create slide shows, or share them with others by e‑mail or by posting them on a website. You can also listen to music on your computer, either by importing (transferring to your computer) music from audio CDs or by purchasing songs from a music website. Or, tune in to one of the thousands of radio stations that broadcast over the Internet. If your computer comes with a DVD player, you can watch movies.

Gaming Do you like to play games? Thousands of computer games in every conceivable category are

available to entertain you. Get behind the wheel of a race car, battle frightening creatures in a dungeon, or control civilizations and empires! Many games allow you to compete with other players around the world through the Internet. Windows includes a variety of card games, puzzle games, and strategy games.

Parts of a computer If you use a desktop computer, you might already know that there isn't any single part called

the "computer." A computer is really a system of many parts working together. The physical parts, which you can see and touch, are collectively called hardware. (Software, on the other hand, refers to the instructions, or programs, that tell the hardware what to do.)

The illustration on the next page shows the most common hardware in a desktop computer system. Your system may look a little different, but it probably has most of these parts.

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A laptop computer has similar parts but combines them into a single notebook-sized package.

Let's take a look at each of these parts.

System unit The system unit is the core of a

computer system. Usually it's a rectangular box placed on or underneath your desk. Inside this box are many electronic components that process information. The most important of these components is the central processing unit (CPU), or microprocessor, which acts as the "brain" of your computer. Another component is random access memory (RAM), which temporarily stores information that the CPU uses while the computer is on. The information stored in RAM is erased when the computer is turned off.

Almost every other part of your computer connects to the system unit using cables. The cables plug into specific ports (openings), typically on the back of the system unit. Hardware that is not part of the system unit is sometimes called a peripheral device or device.

Storage Your computer has one or more disk drives—devices

that store information on a metal or plastic disk. The disk preserves the information even when your computer is turned off.

Hard disk drive Your computer's hard disk drive stores information

on a hard disk, a rigid platter or stack of platters with a magnetic surface. Because hard disks can hold massive amounts of information, they usually serve as your computer's primary means of storage, holding almost all of your programs and files. The hard disk drive is normally located inside the system unit.

CD and DVD drives Nearly all computers today come equipped with a CD or DVD drive, usually

located on the front of the system unit. CD drives use lasers to read (retrieve) data from a CD, and many CD drives can also write (record) data onto CDs. If you have a recordable disk drive, you can store copies of your files on blank CDs. You can also use a CD drive to play music CDs on your computer.

DVD drives can do everything that CD drives can, plus read DVDs. If you have a DVD drive, you

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can watch movies on your computer. Many DVD drives can record data onto blank DVDs.

Floppy disk drive Floppy disk drives store information on floppy disks, also

called floppies or diskettes. Compared to CDs and DVDs, floppy disks can store only a small amount of data. They also retrieve information more slowly and are more prone to damage. For these reasons, floppy disk drives are less popular than they used to be, although some computers still include them.

Why are floppy disks "floppy"? Even though the outside is made of hard plastic, that's just the sleeve. The disk inside is made of a thin, flexible vinyl material.

Mouse A mouse is a small device used to point to and select items on

your computer screen. Although mice come in many shapes, the typical mouse does look a bit like an actual mouse. It's small, oblong, and connected to the system unit by a long wire that resembles a tail. Some newer mice are wireless.

A mouse usually has two buttons: a primary button (usually the left button) and a secondary button. Many mice also have a wheel between the two buttons, which allows you to scroll smoothly through screens of information.

Mouse pointers When you move the mouse with your hand, a pointer on your screen moves in the same

direction. (The pointer's appearance might change depending on where it's positioned on your screen.) When you want to select an item, you point to the item and then click (press and release) the primary button. Pointing and clicking with your mouse is the main way to interact with your computer. For more information

Using your mouse Just as you would use your hands to interact with objects in the physical world, you can

use your mouse to interact with items on your computer screen. You can move objects, open them, change them, throw them away, and perform other actions, all by pointing and clicking with your mouse.

Basic parts A mouse typically has two buttons: a

primary button (usually the left button) and a secondary button (usually the right button). The primary button is the one you will use most often. Most mice also include a scroll wheel between the buttons to help you scroll through documents and webpages more easily. On some mice, the scroll wheel can be pressed to act as a third button.

Tip If you have a recordable CD or DVD drive, periodically back up (copy) your important files to CDs or DVDs. That way, if your hard disk ever fails, you won't lose your data.

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Advanced mice might have additional buttons that can perform other functions.

Holding and moving the mouse Place your mouse beside your keyboard on a clean,

smooth surface, such as a mouse pad. Hold the mouse gently with your index finger resting on the primary button and your thumb resting on the side.

To move the mouse, slide it slowly in any direction. Don't twist it—keep the front of the mouse aimed away from you. As you move the mouse, a pointer (see picture) on your screen moves in the same direction. If you run out of room to move your mouse on your desk or mouse pad, just pick up the mouse and bring it back closer to you.

Hold the mouse lightly, keeping your wrist straight

Pointing, clicking, and dragging Pointing to an item on the screen means moving your mouse so the pointer appears to be

touching the item. When you point to something, a small box often appears that describes the item. For example, when you point to the Recycle Bin on the desktop, a box appears with this information: "Contains the files and folders that you have deleted."

Pointing to an object often reveals a descriptive message about it

The pointer can change depending on what you're pointing to. For example, when you point to a link in your web browser, the pointer changes from an arrow to a hand with a pointing finger .

Most mouse actions combine pointing with pressing one of the mouse buttons. There are four basic ways to use your mouse buttons: clicking, double-clicking, right-clicking, and dragging.

Clicking (single-clicking) To click an item, point to the item on the screen, and then press and release the primary

button (usually the left button).

Clicking is most often used to select (mark) an item or open a menu. This is sometimes called single-clicking or left-clicking.

Double-clicking To double-click an item, point to the item on the screen, and then click twice quickly. If the

two clicks are spaced too far apart, they might be interpreted as two individual clicks rather than as one double-click.

Double-clicking is most often used to open items on your desktop. For example, you can start a program or open a folder by double-clicking its icon on the desktop.

Right-clicking To right-click an item, point to the item on the screen, and then press and release the

secondary button (usually the right button).

Right-clicking an item usually displays a list of things you can do with the item. For example, when you right-click the Recycle Bin on your desktop, Windows displays a menu allowing

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you to open it, empty it, delete it, or see its properties.

If you're ever unsure of what to do with something, right-click it.

Right-clicking the Recycle Bin opens a menu of related commands.

Clicking the “Application key” (below “Shift” at the right of the keyboard) is the same as clicking the right button.

Dragging You can move items around your screen by dragging them. To drag

an object, point to the object on the screen, press and hold the primary button, move the object to a new location, and then release the primary button.

Dragging (sometimes called dragging and dropping) is most often used to move files and folders to a different location and to move windows and icons around on your screen.

Using the scroll wheel If your mouse has a scroll wheel, you can use it to scroll through documents and webpages.

To scroll down, roll the wheel backward (toward you). To scroll up, roll the wheel forward (away from you).

Customizing your mouse You can change your mouse settings (AT HOME!) (to suit your personal preferences:

To switch the Left/Right buttons: see the “Tips” box above.

To change how the mouse pointer looks: click the Pointers tab, and then do one of the following:

To give all of your pointers a new look: click the “Scheme” list, and then click a new mouse pointer scheme.

To change an individual pointer: click the pointer you want to change in the “Customize” list, click Browse, click the pointer you want to use, and then click Open.

To change how the mouse pointer works: click the Pointer Options tab, and then do any of the following:

To change the speed at which the mouse pointer moves: move the Select a pointer speed slider towards Slow or Fast.

To make the pointer work more accurately when you're moving the mouse slowly: se-

Tip If you have trouble double-clicking, you can adjust the double-click speed (the amount of time acceptable be-tween clicks). Follow these steps:

Click on Start > Control Panel; double-ckick on mOuse (the window at right opens)

Click the Buttons tab, and then, under Double-click speed, move the slider to increase or decrease the speed. Note: to change the Left/Right buttons for left-handed users : click on the “Left handed button” but DO NOT do this on SeniorNet computers)

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lect the “Enhance pointer precision” check box.

To speed the process of selecting a choice when a dialog box appears: select the “Automatically move pointer” to the default button in a dialog box check box .

To make the pointer easier to find when you move it: select the “Display pointer trails” check box, and then move the slider towards Short or Long to decrease or increase the length of the pointer trail.

To ensure that the pointer doesn't block your view of the text you're typing: select the “Hide pointer while typing” check box.

To find a misplaced pointer by pressing the CTRL key: select the “Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key” check box.

Keyboard Note: these notes apply to full-size keyboards. USB keyboards can be attached to laptops.

A keyboard is used mainly for typing text into your computer. Like the keyboard on a typewriter, it has keys for letters and numbers, but it also has special keys

Whether you're writing a letter or entering numerical data, your keyboard is the main way to enter information into your computer. But did you know you can also use your keyboard to control your computer? Learning just a few simple keyboard commands (instructions to your computer) can help you work more efficiently.

How the keys are organized The keys on your keyboard can be divided into several groups based on function:

Typing (alphanumeric) keys. These keys include the same letter, number, punctuation, and symbol keys found on a traditional typewriter.

Control keys. These keys are used alone or in combination with other keys to perform cer-tain actions. The most frequently used control keys are CTRL, ALT, the Windows logo key , and ESC.

Function keys. The function keys are used to perform specific tasks. They are labeled as F1, F2, F3, and so on, up to F12. The functionality of these keys differs from program to program.

Navigation keys. These keys are used for moving around in documents or webpages and

Tips for using your mouse safely Holding and moving your mouse properly can help you avoid soreness or injury to your wrists, hands, and arms, particularly if you use your computer for long periods of time. Here are some tips to help you avoid problems:

Place your mouse at elbow level. Your upper arms should fall relaxed at your sides.

Don't squeeze or grip your mouse tightly. Hold it lightly.

Move the mouse by pivoting your arm at your elbow. Avoid bending your wrist up, down, or to the sides.

Use a light touch when clicking a mouse button.

Keep your fingers relaxed. Don't allow them to hover just above the buttons.

When you don't need to use the mouse, don't hold it.

Take short breaks from computer use every 15 to 20 minutes.

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editing text. They include the arrow keys, HOME, END, PAGE UP, PAGE DOWN, DELETE, and INSERT.

Numeric keypad. The numeric keypad is handy for entering numbers quickly. The keys are grouped together in a block like a conventional calculator or adding machine.

The illustration at right shows how these keys are arranged on a typical keyboard. Your keyboard layout may differ — and keyboards of laptops are quite different (not illustrated).

Typing text Whenever you need to type something in a program, e‑mail message, or text box, you'll see a

blinking vertical line ( ). That's the cursor, also called the insertion point. It shows where the text that you type will begin. You can move the cursor by clicking in the desired location with the mouse, or by using the navigation keys (see the "Using navigation keys" section of this article).

In addition to letters, numerals, punctuation marks, and symbols, the typing keys also include SHIFT, CAPS LOCK, the TAB key, ENTER, the SPACEBAR, and BACKSPACE.

Using keyboard shortcuts Keyboard shortcuts are ways to perform actions by using your keyboard. They're called

shortcuts because they help you work faster. In fact, almost any action or command you can perform with a mouse can be performed faster using one or more keys on your keyboard.

A plus sign (+) between two or more keys indicates that those keys should be pressed in combinat-ion. For example, CTRL+A means to press and hold CTRL and then press A. CTRL+SHIFT+A means to press and hold CTRL and SHIFT and then press A.

Key name How to use it

SHIFT Press SHIFT in combination with a letter to type an uppercase letter. Press SHIFT in combination with another key to type the symbol shown on the

CAPS LOCK Press CAPS LOCK once to type all letters as uppercase. Press CAPS LOCK again to turn this function off. Your keyboard may have a light indicating

TAB Press the TAB key to move the cursor several spaces forward. You can also press the TAB key to move to the next text box on a form.

ENTER Press ENTER to move the cursor to the beginning of the next line. In a dia-log box, press ENTER to select the highlighted button.

SPACEBAR Press the SPACEBAR to move the cursor one space forward.

BACKSPACE Press BACKSPACE to delete the character before the cursor, or the selected text.

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Find program shortcuts You can do things in most programs by using the

keyboard. To see which commands have keyboard shortcuts, open a menu. The shortcuts (if avail-able) are shown next to the menu items (see illustration next page).

Keyboard shortcuts appear next to menu items

Choose menus, commands, and options You can open menus and choose commands and

other options using your keyboard. When you press ALT in a program with menus, one letter in each of the menu names becomes underlined. Press an underlined letter to open the corresponding menu. Press the underlined letter in a menu item to choose that command.

Press ALT+F to open the File menu, then press P to choose the Print command

This trick works in dialog boxes too. Whenever you see an underlined letter attached to an

option in a dialog box, it means you can press ALT plus that letter to choose that option.

Useful shortcuts The following table lists some of the most useful keyboard shortcuts.

Using navigation keys

Press this To do this

Windows logo key Open the Start menu

ALT+TAB Switch between open programs or windows

ALT+F4 Close the active item, or exit the active program

CTRL+S Save the current file or document (works in most programs)

CTRL+C Copy the selected item

CTRL+X Cut the selected item

CTRL+V Paste the selected item

CTRL+Z Undo an action

CTRL+A Select all items in a document or window

F1 Display Help for a program or Windows

Windows logo key +F1 Display Windows Help and Support

ESC Cancel the current task

Application key Open a menu of commands related to a selection in a program. Equivalent to right-clicking the selection.

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The navigation keys allow you to move the cursor, move around in documents and webpages, and edit text. The table (next page) lists some common functions of these keys.

Using the numeric keypad The numeric keypad arranges the numerals 0 though 9, the arithmetic operators + (addition),

- (subtraction), * (multiplication), and / (division), and the decimal point as they would appear on a calculator or adding machine. These characters are duplicated elsewhere on the keyboard, of course, but the keypad arrangement allows you to rapidly enter numerical data or mathematical operations with one hand.

To use the numeric keypad to enter numbers, press NUM LOCK. Most keyboards have a light that indicates whether NUM LOCK is on or off. When NUM LOCK is off, the numeric keypad functions as a second set of navigation keys (these functions are printed on the keys next to the numerals or symbols).

You can use your numeric keypad to perform simple calculations with Calculator.

1. Click Srart > All Programs > Accessorieas > Calculator

2. Check your keyboard light to see if NUM LOCK is on. If it isn't, press NUM LOCK.

3. Using the numeric keypad, type the first number in the calculation.

4. On the keypad, type + to add, - to subtract, * to multiply, or / to divide.

5. Type the next number in the calculation.

6. Press ENTER to complete the calculation.

Three odd keys So far, we've discussed almost every key you're likely to use. But for the truly inquisitive,

let's explore the three most mysterious keys on the keyboard: PRINT SCREEN, SCROLL

Key name How to use it

LEFT ARROW, RIGHT AR-ROW, UP ARROW, or DOWN ARROW

Move the cursor or selection one space or line in the direction of the arrow, or scroll a webpage in the direction of the arrow

HOME Move the cursor to the beginning of a line or move to the top of a webpage

END Move the cursor to the end of a line or move to the bottom of a webpage

CTRL+HOME Move to the top of a document

CTRL+END Move to the bottom of a document

PAGE UP Move the cursor or page up one screen

PAGE DOWN Move the cursor or page down one screen

DELETE Delete the character after the cursor, or the selected text; in Win-dows, delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin

INSERT Turn Insert mode off or on. When Insert mode is on, text that you type is inserted at the cursor. When Insert mode is off, text that you type replaces existing characters

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LOCK, and PAUSE/BREAK.

Print Screen (or Prt Scn) A long time ago, this key actually did what it says—it sent the current screen of text to your

printer. Nowadays, pressing PRINT SCREEN captures an image of your entire screen (a "screen shot") and copies it to the Clipboard in your computer's memory. From there you can paste it (CTRL+V) into Microsoft Paint or another program and, if you want, print it from that program.

More obscure is SYS RQ, which shares the key with PRINT SCREEN on some keyboards. Historically, SYS RQ was designed to be a "system request," but this command is not enabled in Windows.

Scroll Lock(or Scr Lk) In most programs, pressing SCROLL LOCK has no effect. In a few programs, pressing SCROLL

LOCK changes the behavior of the arrow keys and the PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN keys; pressing these keys causes the document to scroll without changing the position of the cursor or selection. Your keyboard might have a light indicating whether SCROLL LOCK is on.

Pause/Break This key is rarely used. In some older programs, pressing this key pauses the program or, in

combination with CTRL, stops it from running.

Other keys Some modern keyboards come with "hot keys" or buttons that give you quick, one-press

access to programs, files, or commands. Other models have volume controls, scroll wheels, zoom wheels, and other gadgets. For details about these features, check the information that came with your keyboard or computer, or go to the manufacturer's website.

Tip

Press ALT+PRINT SCREEN to capture an image of just the active window, instead of the entire screen.

Tips for using your keyboard safely Using your keyboard properly can help avoid soreness or injury to your wrists, hands, and arms,

particularly if you use your computer for long periods of time. Here are some tips to help you avoid problems:

Place your keyboard at elbow level. Your upper arms should be relaxed at your sides.

Center your keyboard in front of you. If your keyboard has a numeric keypad, you can use the spacebar as the centering point.

Type with your hands and wrists floating above the keyboard, so that you can use your whole arm to reach for distant keys instead of stretching your fingers.

Avoid resting your palms or wrists on any type of surface while typing. If your keyboard has a palm rest, use it only during breaks from typing.

While typing, use a light touch and keep your wrists straight.

When you're not typing, relax your arms and hands.

Take short breaks from computer use every 15 to 20 minutes.

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Turning off your computer properly To turn off your computer, click the Start button , and then

click the Power button in the lower right corner of the Start menu. The Power button normally looks like this:

The Power button (sleep)

When you click this button, your computer goes to sleep. Windows automatically saves your work, the display turns off, and any noise from the computer's fan stops. Usually, a light on the outside of your computer case blinks or turns yellow to indicate that the computer is sleeping. The whole process takes only a few seconds.

Because Windows saves your work, there's no need to close your programs and files before putting your computer to sleep. The next time you turn on your computer (and enter your password, if required), the screen will look exactly as it did when you turned off your computer.

To wake your computer, press the power button on your computer case. Because you don't have to wait for Windows to start, your computer wakes within seconds and you can resume work almost immediately.

Note: While your computer is sleeping, it uses a very small amount of power to maintain your work in its memory. If you're using a mobile PC, don't worry— the battery won't be drained. After the computer has been sleeping for several hours, or if the battery is running low, your work is saved to the hard disk, and then your computer turns off completely, drawing no power.

Why your Power button might look different The Start menu's Power button can change its appearance. Under some circumstances, the

button looks like this: The Power button (shut down)

When you click the button in this form, your computer shuts down. Unlike putting your computer to sleep, shutting down closes all open programs, along with Windows itself, and then turns off your display and computer completely. Because shutting down doesn't save your work, you must save your files before shutting down.

The Power button shuts down your computer under the following circumstances:

The Sleep option is not available on your computer hardware.

You or your computer administrator has set the Power button to always shut down the computer.

The Power settings can be changed: 1. Click on Start > Control Panel; dou-

ble-click on Power Options

2. On the “Select a power plan” page, click “Choose what the power buttons do” (in the panel at the left)

3. Make changes if desired; click on Save Changes

Tip (Laptop): To save battery power and quickly resume working, select “Sleep”. For “When I close the lid”. When you wake your mobile PC, Windows restores your work session within seconds.

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There's one other form that the Power button can take. If you've set your computer to receive updates automatically, and the updates are ready to be installed, the button appears with a shield on it: The Power button (install updates and shut down)

When you click the button in this form, Windows installs the updates and then shuts down your computer when installation is complete.

Note: Starting your computer after it has been shut down takes longer than waking your computer from sleep — typically 30 seconds or more, depending on the speed of your computer.

When to shut down Even though putting your computer to sleep is the fastest way to turn it off, and the best

option for resuming work quickly, there are certain times when you should shut down instead:

You are adding or upgrading the hardware inside your computer—such as installing memory, a disk drive, a sound card, or a video card. Shut down the computer, and then disconnect it from its power source before proceeding with the upgrade.

You are adding a printer, monitor, external drive, or other hardware device that does not connect to a universal serial bus (USB) or IEEE 1394 port on your computer. Shut down the computer before con-necting the device.

To shut down your computer, click the arrow next to the Lock button, and then choose Shut Down.

Note: When adding hardware that uses a USB cable, you don't need to turn off the computer first. Most newer devices use USB cables. A USB cable looks like this:

The Desktop The desktop is the main screen area that you

see after you turn on your computer and log on to Windows. Like the top of an ac-tual desk, it serves as a surface for your work. When you open programs or folders, they appear on the desktop. You can also put things on the desktop, such as files and folders, and arrange them however you want.

The desktop is sometimes defined more broadly to include the taskbar and Windows Side-bar. The taskbar sits at the bottom of your screen. It shows you which programs are running and allows you to switch between them. It also contains the Start button , which you can use to access programs, folders, and computer settings. On the side of the screen, the Sidebar contains small programs called gadgets.

Where did my desktop go? Because programs run on top of the desktop, the desktop itself is often partially or com-

pletely hidden. But it's still there, underneath everything. To see the whole desktop

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without closing any of your open programs or windows, click the Show Desktop button on the taskbar. The desktop is revealed. Click the icon again to restore all of your win-dows to the way they were.

Working with desktop icons Icons are small pictures that represent files, folders,

programs, and other items. When you first start Windows, you'll see at least one icon on your desktop: the Recycle Bin (more on that later). Your computer manufacturer might have added other icons to the desktop. Some examples of desktop icons are shown.

Double-clicking a desktop icon starts or opens the item it represents. For example, double-clicking the Internet Explorer icon starts Internet Explorer.

Adding and removing icons from the desktop You can choose which icons appear on the desktop—you can add or remove an icon at any

time. Some people like a clean, uncluttered desktop with few or no icons. Others place dozens of icons on their desktop to give them quick access to frequently used programs, files, and folders.

If you want easy access from the desktop to your favorite files or pro-grams, create shortcuts to them. A shortcut is an icon that repre-sents a link to an item, rather than the item itself. When you double-click a shortcut, the item opens. If you delete a shortcut, only the shortcut is removed, not the original item. You can identify shortcuts by the arrow on their icon.

To add a shortcut to the Desktop 1. Locate the item that you want to create a shortcut for. (For help with finding a file or

folder, see Find a file or folder. For help with finding a program, see The Start menu (overview).)

2. Right-click the item, click Send To, and then click Desktop (create shortcut). The shortcut icon appears on your desktop.

To add or remove common desktop icons Common desktop icons include Computer, your personal folder, Network, the Recycle Bin,

Internet Explorer, and Control Panel.

1. Right-click an empty area of the desktop, and then click Personalize.

2. In the left pane, click Change desktop icons.

3. Under “Desktop icons”, select the check box for each icon that you want to add to the desktop, or clear the check box for each icon that you want to remove from the desktop, and then click OK.

To move a file from a folder to the desktop 1. Open the folder that contains the file.

2. Drag the file to the desktop.

To remove an icon from the desktop Right-click the icon, and then click Delete. If the icon is a shortcut, only the shortcut is

removed; the original item is not deleted.

A folder icon (left) and a shortcut icon (right)

Windows Vista p 17

Moving icons around Windows stacks icons in columns on the left side of the desktop. But you're not stuck with

that arrangement. You can move an icon by dragging it to a new place on the desktop.

You can also have Windows automatically arrange your icons Right-click an empty area of the desktop, click View, and then click Auto Arrange. Win-

dows stacks your icons in the upper-left corner and locks them in place.

To unlock the icons so that you can move them again, click Auto Arrange again, clearing the check mark next to it.

Note: By default, Windows spaces icons evenly on an invisible grid. To place icons closer to-gether or with more precision, turn off the grid:

Right-click an empty area of the desktop, click View, and then click Align to Grid to clear the check mark.

Repeat these steps to turn the grid back on.

Selecting multiple icons To move or delete a bunch of icons at once, you must first select

all of them. Click an empty area of the desktop and drag the mouse. Surround the icons that you want to select with the rectangle that appears. Then release the mouse button. Now you can drag the icons as a group or delete them.

Hiding desktop icons If you want to temporarily hide all of your desktop icons without actually removing them,

right-click an empty part of the desktop, click View, and then click Show Desktop Icons to clear the check mark from that option. Now no icons are displayed on the desktop. You can get them back by clicking Show Desktop Icons again.

The Recycle Bin When you delete a file or folder, it doesn't actually get deleted right away—it goes to the

Recycle Bin. That's a good thing, because if you ever change your mind and decide you need a deleted file, you can get it back:

When you delete a file from your computer, it's temporarily stored in the Recycle Bin. This gives you an opportunity to recover accidentally deleted files from the Recycle Bin and restore them to your computer:

1. On the desktop, double-click Recycle Bin. 2. Do one of the following:

To restore a file, right-click it, and then click Restore. To restore all of the files, on the toolbar, click Restore all items.

The files will be restored to their original location on your computer.

If you're sure that you won't need the deleted items again, you can empty the Recycle Bin. This will permanently delete the items and reclaim any disk space they were using:

Double-click on the Recycle Bin icon on the Desktop. Then do one of the following: To delete one file, click it, and then press Delete. To delete all of the files, on the toolbar, click Empty the Recycle Bin.

Tips To empty the Recycle Bin without opening it, right-click the Recycle Bin, and then click

Empty Recycle Bin.

Select multiple desktop icons by dragging a

rectangle around them

The Recycle Bin when empty (left)

and full (right)

Windows Vista p 18

To permanently delete a file from your computer without first sending it to the Recycle Bin, click the file, and then press SHIFT+DELETE.

Change your desktop background (wallpaper) One of the easiest ways to personalize your computer is to change the desktop background,

also called the wallpaper. You can choose one of the backgrounds provided with Win-dows, pick a favorite digital picture from your own collection, or use a solid background color. You can also find pictures on the Internet designed to be used as desktop back-grounds.

Your desktop background (also called wallpaper) can be a digital picture from your personal collection or one that comes with Windows. You can also select a color for your desktop background or use a color to frame your background picture.

To change the desktop background 1. Click the picture or color you want

for your desktop background.

2. If the picture you want to use is not in the list of desktop background pic-tures, click Browse to search for the picture on your computer. When you find the pic-ture you want, double-click it. It will become your desktop background and appear in the list of desktop backgrounds.

3. Under “How should the picture be positioned”, choose to have the picture fit the screen, tile, or be centered on the screen, and then click OK.

Note: If you choose to have a centered picture as your desktop background, you can also have a color background to frame your picture. Under How should the picture be posi-tioned, click Change background color, click a color, and then click OK.

Tip: You can make any picture on your computer your desktop background by right-clicking the picture, and then clicking Set as Desktop Background.

The Start menu (overview) The Start menu is the main gateway to your computer's programs, folders, and settings. It's

called a menu because it provides a list of choices, just as a restaurant menu does. And as "Start" implies, it's often the place that you'll go to start or open things.

Use the Start menu to do these common activities:

Start programs

Open commonly used folders

Search for files, folders, and programs

Adjust computer settings

Get help with the Windows operating system

Turn off the computer

Log off from Windows or switch to a different user account

Getting started with the Start menu To open the Start menu, click the Start button in the lower-left corner of your screen.

Or, press the Windows logo key on your keyboard. The Start menu appears.

Sample desktop backgrounds provided with Wiundows

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The Start menu is divided into three basic parts: The large left pane shows a short list of

programs on your computer. Your com-puter manufacturer can customize this list, so its exact appearance will vary. Clicking All Programs displays a complete list of programs (more on this later).

In the lower left corner is the search box, which allows you to look for programs and files on your computer by typing in search terms.

The right pane provides access to com-monly used folders, files, settings, and features. It's also where you go to log off from Windows or turn off your computer.

Opening programs from the Start menu One of the most common uses of the Start

menu is opening programs installed on your computer. To open a program shown in the left pane of the Start menu, click it. The program opens and the Start menu closes.

If you don't see the program you want to open, click All Programs at the bottom of the left pane. Instantly, the left pane displays a long list of programs in alphabetical order, followed by a list of folders.

Clicking one of the program icons launches the program, and the Start menu closes. So what's inside the folders? More programs. Click “Accessories”, for example, and a list of pro-grams that are stored in that folder appears.

Click any program to open it. To get back to the programs you saw when you first opened the Start menu, click Back near the bottom of the menu.

If you're ever unsure what a program does, move the pointer over its icon or name. A box ap-pears that often contains a description of the program. For example, pointing to Calcula-tor displays this message: "Performs basic arithmetic tasks with an on-screen calcula-tor’ (see next page). This trick works for items in the right pane of the Start menu, too.

Start button and Start menu

The Start button after clicking

“All Programs”

Windows Vista p 20

You might notice that over time, the lists of programs in your Start menu change. This hap-pens for two reasons.

First, when you install new pro-grams, they get added to the All Programs list.

Second, the Start menu detects which programs you use the most, and it places them in the left pane for quick access.

The Search box The Search box is one of the most convenient ways to find

things on your computer. The exact location of the items doesn't matter—the Search box will scour your programs and all of the folders in your personal folder (which includes Documents, Pictures, Music, Desktop, and other common locations). It will also search your e‑mail messages, saved instant messages, ap-pointments, and contacts.

To use the Search box, open the Start menu and start typing. You don't need to click inside the box first. As you type, the search results appear above the Search box in the left pane of the Start menu.

A program, file, or folder will appear as a search result if: Any word in its title matches or begins with your search term. Any text in the actual contents of the file—such as the text in a word-processing docu-

ment—matches or begins with your search term. Any word in a property of the file, such as the author, matches or begins with your

search term.

For more information about file properties: 1. Open the folder that contains the file whose properties you want to see. 2. Right-click the file whose properties you want to see, and then click Properties. 3. Click the “Details” tab to see all the properties associated with this file.

Click any search result to open it.

Or, click the Clear button X to clear the search results and return to the main programs list.

You can also click See all results to display the search results in a folder with more ad-vanced options;

Or Search the Internet to open your web browser and search the Internet for your term.

If your search produced no results, you can click Search Everywhere to search your en-tire computer.

Besides programs, files and folders, and communications, the Search box also looks through your Internet favorites and the history of websites you've visited. If any of these web-pages include the search term, they appear under a heading called "Favorites and His-tory."

What's in the right pane? The right pane of the Start menu contains links to parts of Windows that you're likely to use frequently. Here they are, from top to bottom:

Pointing to an item displays information about it.

Windows Vista p 21

Personal folder. Opens your personal folder, which is named for whoever is currently logged on to Windows. For example, if the current user is Molly Clark, the folder will be named Molly Clark. This folder, in turn, contains user-specific files, including the Docu-ments, Music, Pictures, and Videos folders.

Documents. Opens the Documents folder, where you can store and open text files, spreadsheets, presentations, and other kinds of documents.

Pictures. Opens the Pictures folder, where you can store and view digital pictures and graphics files.

Music. Opens the Music folder, where you can store and play music and other audio files.

Games. Opens the Games folder, where you can access all of the games on your computer.

Search. Opens a window where you can search your computer using advanced options.

Recent Items. Opens a list of files you've opened recently. Click one of the files in the list to open it.

Computer. Opens a window where you can access disk drives, cameras, printers, scanners, and other hardware connected to your computer.

Network. Opens a window where you can access the computers and devices on your net-work.

Connect To. Opens a window where you can connect to a new network.

Control Panel. Opens Control Panel, where you can customize the appearance and func-tionality of your computer, add or remove programs, set up network connections, and manage user accounts.

Default Programs. Opens a window where you can choose which program you want Win-dows to use for activities like web browsing, editing pictures, sending e‑mail, and playing music and videos.

Help and Support. Opens Windows Help and Support, where you can browse and search Help topics about using Windows and your computer.

Getting help. At some point, you're likely to run into a computer problem or task that's confusing. To fig-

ure it out, you need to know how to get the right help. This article provides an overview of the best techniques.

Using Windows Help and Support Windows Help and Support is the built-in help system for Windows. It's a place to get quick

answers to common questions, suggestions for troubleshooting, and instructions for how to do things. Note, however, that it won't help you with a program that is not part of Windows—for that, you'll need to consult the program's Help (see "Getting help with a program" below).

To open Windows Help and Support, click the Start button , and then click Help and Sup-port.

Search Help The fastest way to get help is to type a word or two in the

search box. For example, to get information about wire-less networking, type wireless network, and then press Enter. A list of results appears, with the most useful results shown at the top. Click one of the results to read the topic.

Windows Vista p 22

If you're connected to the Internet, your searches can include new Help topics and the latest versions of existing topics from the Windows Online Help and Support website.

Browse Help You can browse Help topics by subject. Click the Browse

Help button , and then click an item in the list of subject headings that appears. Subject headings can contain Help topics or other subject headings. Click a Help topic to open it, or click another heading to dig deeper into the subject list.

Get Guided Help If you see a blue compass at the top of a Help topic (see the

pictures below), it means that Guided Help is available. Instead of reading about the steps required to do some-thing, you can actually see them. Guided Help can per-form the steps for you by opening menus, starting pro-grams, and clicking buttons. All you have to do is watch and learn. Or, Guided Help can show you each step but let you do the actual opening, starting, or clicking.

Getting help with a program Almost every program comes with its own built-in Help system.

To open a program's Help system:

On the Help menu of the program, click the first item in the list, such as "View Help," "Help Topics," or a similar phrase. (This text will vary.)– or –Press F1. This function key opens Help in almost any program.

Getting help with dialog boxes and windows In addition to program-specific help, some dialog boxes and

windows contain links to Help topics about their specific functions. If you see a question mark inside a circle or square, or a colored and underlined text link, click it to open the Help topic.

Getting Online help If you have a question that can't be answered by Help informa-

tion, there is information about getting assistance on the Internet:

1. Click on Start > Help and Support > Windows Basics > The Start menu (Overview)

A step in Guided Help A Help topic with Guided Help available

Help links in dialog boxes (left) and windows (right)

Windows Vista p 23

2. Scroll down to “Help and Support “; click on Getting Help

3. Scroll down to “Getting help from other Windows users”; for further instructions, click on links in blue.

At the bottom of the right pane are two buttons: the Power button and the Lock button. Click the Power button to turn off your computer, or click the Lock but-ton to lock your computer without turning it off. Once locked, your computer cannot be used until you unlock it with your password.

Clicking the arrow next to the lock button displays a menu with additional options for switching users, logging off, restarting, or shutting down.

Customize the Start menu You can control which items appear in the Start menu. For example, you can add icons for

your favorite programs (or any which are missing) to the Start menu for easy access, or remove programs from the list. You can also choose to hide or display certain items in the right pane.

1. Right-click on the Start button; click on Properties

2. Click the Start Menu tab, and then click Customize.

3. In the “Customize Start Menu” dialog box, select the options in the list that you want, and then click OK.

The taskbar (overview) The taskbar is the long horizontal bar at

the bottom of your screen. Unlike the desktop, which can get obscured by the windows on top of it, the taskbar is visible almost all the time. It has four main sections:

The Start button , which opens the Start menu.

The Quick Launch toolbar, which lets you start programs with one click.

The middle section, which shows you which programs and documents you have open and allows you to quickly switch between them.

The notification area, which includes a clock and icons (small pictures) that communicate the status of certain programs and computer settings.

You're likely to use the middle section of the taskbar the most, so we'll discuss that first.

Keep track of your windows If you open more than one program or document at a time, you can quickly start piling up

windows on your desktop. Because windows often cover each other or take up the whole screen, it's sometimes hard to see what else is underneath or remember what you've al-ready opened.

The Taskbar is located at the bottom of your screen

Windows Vista p 24

That's where the taskbar comes in handy. When-ever you open a program, folder, or docu-ment, Windows creates a button on the taskbar corresponding to that item. The but-ton shows the icon and name of the item. In the top picture at right, two programs are open—Calculator and Minesweeper—and each has its own button on the taskbar.

Notice how the taskbar button for Minesweeper appears pressed in. That indicates that Minesweeper is the active window, meaning that it's in front of any other open windows and is ready for you to interact with.

To switch to another window, click its taskbar button. In our example (lower picture), clicking the taskbar button for Calculator brings its window to the front.

Clicking taskbar buttons is only one of several ways to switch between windows.

Working with windows Whenever you open a program, file, or folder, it

appears on your screen in a box or frame called a window (that's where the Windows operating system gets its name). Because windows are everywhere in Windows, it's im-portant to understand how to move them, change their size, or just make them go away.

Parts of a window Although the contents of every window are dif-

ferent, all windows share some things in common. For one thing, windows always ap-pear on the desktop — the main work area of your screen. In addition, most windows have the same basic parts (illustration at right).

Title bar. Displays the name of the docu-ment and program (or the folder name if you're working in a folder).

Minimize, Maximize, and Close buttons. These buttons hide the window, enlarge it to fill the whole screen, and close it, respectively (more details on these shortly).

Menu bar. Contains items that you can click to make choices in a program. Scroll bar. Lets you scroll the contents of the window to see information that is currently out of view.

Borders and corners. You can drag these with your mouse pointer to change the size of the window.

Other windows might have additional buttons, boxes, or bars. But they'll usually have the ba-sic parts, too.

Windows Vista p 25

Moving a window To move a window, point to its title bar with the mouse pointer . Then drag the window

to the location that you want. (Dragging means pointing to an item, holding down the mouse button, moving the item with the pointer, and then releasing the mouse button.)

Changing the size of a window To make a window fill the entire screen, click its Maximize button or double-click

the window's title bar.

To return a maximized window to its former size, click its Restore button (this ap-pears in place of the Maximize button). Or, double-click the window's title bar.

To resize a window (make it smaller or bigger), point to any of the window's borders or corners. When the mouse pointer changes to a two-headed arrow (see picture below), drag the border or corner to shrink or enlarge the window.

A window that is maximized cannot be resized. You must re-store it to its previous size first.

Note: Although most windows can be maximized and resized, there are some windows that are fixed in size, such as dia-log boxes.

Hiding a window Hiding a window is called minimizing it. If you want to get a

window out of the way temporarily without closing it, minimize it.

To minimize a window, click its Minimize button . The window disappears from the desk-top and is visible only as a button on the taskbar, the long horizontal bar at the bottom of your screen.

To make a minimized window appear again on the desktop, click its taskbar button. The win-dow appears exactly as it did before you mini-mized it.

Closing a window Closing a window removes it from the desktop and taskbar. If you're done with a program or

document and don't need to return to it right away, close it.

To close a window, click its Close button .

Note: If you close a document without saving any changes you made, a message appears that gives you the option to save your changes.

Switching between windows If you open more than one program or document, your desktop can quickly become cluttered

with windows. Keeping track of which windows you have open isn't always easy, because some windows might partially or completely cover others.

Using the taskbar. The taskbar provides a way to organize all of your windows. Each window has a corresponding

button on the taskbar. To switch to another window, just click its taskbar button. The window appears in front of all other windows, becoming the active window — the one you're currently working in.

To easily identify a window, point to its taskbar button. A small picture called a thumbnail appears that shows you a miniature version of the window. This preview is especially use-ful if you can't identify a window by its title alone.

Windows Vista p 26

If the taskbar becomes too crowded with buttons, then the buttons for the same program become grouped into a single button, as shown in the picture below. Click the button to see a menu of the items in the group, then select an item to make it the active window.

Using ALT+TAB You can switch to the previous window by pressing Alt+Tab, or cycle

through all open windows and the desktop by holding down ALT and repeatedly pressing Tab. Release Alt to show the selected win-dow.

Using Windows Flip 3D Windows Flip 3D arranges your windows in a

three-dimensional stack that you can quickly flip through. To use Flip 3D:

1. Hold down the Windows logo key and press Tab to open Flip 3D.

2. While holding down the Windows logo key, press Tab repeatedly or rotate the mouse wheel to cycle through open windows. You can also press Right Arrow or Down Arrow to cycle forward one window, or press Left Ar-row or Up Arrow to cycle backward one win-dow.

3. Release the Windows logo key to display the frontmost window in the stack. Or, click any part of any window in the stack to display that window.

Note: Flip 3D and taskbar window previews won't work unless your computer is running Windows Aero, the premium visual experience of Windows Vista. Aero is not available in Windows Vista Home Basic.

You can also open Flip 3D by clicking the Switch between windows button on the taskbar. Then click a window in the stack to display that window, or click outside the stack to close Flip 3D without switching windows.

Arranging windows automatically Now that you know how to move and resize windows, you can arrange them however you like

on your desktop. You can also have Windows automatically arrange them in one of three ways: cascading (left, vertically stacked (centre), or side by side (right).

To choose one of these options, right-click an empty area of the taskbar, then click Cascade Windows, Show Windows Stacked, or Show Windows Side by Side.

Windows Vista p 27

Dialog boxes A dialog box is a special type of window that asks you a question, allows you to select op-

tions to perform a task, or provides you with in-formation. You'll often see dialog boxes when a program or Windows needs a response from you to continue.

Unlike regular windows, most dialog boxes can't be maximized, minimized, or resized. They can, however, be moved.

Minimize and restore windows When a window is active (its taskbar button ap-

pears pressed down), clicking its taskbar but-ton minimizes the window. That means that the window disappears from the desktop. Mini-mizing a window doesn't close it or delete its contents—it merely removes it from the desk-top temporarily.

In the picture below, Calculator has been mini-mized, but not closed. You can tell it's still running because it has a button on the task-bar.

You can also minimize a window by clicking the Minimize button, in the upper-right corner of the window. To restore a minimized window (make it show up again on the desktop), click its taskbar button.

How the taskbar groups similar items As you open more windows, you'll see existing taskbar buttons shrink in width to let new

buttons squeeze in. However, if the taskbar becomes too crowded with buttons, then the buttons for the same program will be grouped into a single button.

To see how this works, suppose you have three Paint pictures open on the desktop. If the taskbar has enough room, it dis-plays the three Paint windows as separate buttons.

But if you have many programs and documents open, the taskbar col-lapses these three buttons into a single button that shows the name of the group (Paint) and the number of items in the group (3). Clicking the button displays a menu listing the files in the group.

Clicking one of the items in the menu activates its window so you can see it.

See previews of your open windows When you move your mouse pointer to a taskbar button, a

small picture appears that shows you a miniature version of the corresponding window. This preview, also called a thumbnail, is especially useful if you can't identify a window by its title alone. And if one of your windows has video or animation playing, you'll see it playing in the preview.

Minimising alculator leaves only its taskbar button visible

Tip: To close all of the items in the group, right-click the group's taskbar button, and then click Close Group.

Windows Vista p 28

When you point to a grouped taskbar but-ton, you'll see a stack of previews, but only the topmost preview will be visi-ble.

Note: Taskbar window previews won't work if your computer is running Win-dows Vista Home Basic.

The Quick Launch toolbar To the immediate right of the Start button is the Quick Launch tool-

bar. As its name implies, it lets you launch (start) programs with a single click. For example, click the Internet Explorer icon to start Internet Explorer.

You can customize the Quick Launch toolbar by adding your favorite programs to it. Locate the program in the Start menu, right-click it, and then click Add to Quick Launch. (If you don't see this option, you can also drag the program's icon to the Quick Launch toolbar.) The program's icon now appears in the toolbar. To remove an icon from the Quick Launch toolbar, right-click it, click Delete, and then click Yes.

By default, the Quick Launch toolbar also contains two special buttons. Click the “Show Desk-top” button to temporarily hide all open windows and show the desktop; click the button again to show all windows again. Click the “Switch between windows” button to switch between open windows using Windows Flip 3D (not available if your computer is running Windows Vista Home Basic).

Notes: If you don't see icons that you've added to the Quick Launch toolbar, and you see double chevrons instead, it means that the icons won't fit in the toolbar. You can click the double chevrons to access the hidden toolbar programs, but it's better to resize the toolbar to preserve one-click access to them.

To resize the Quick Launch toolbar: 1. Right-click an empty area of the taskbar, and then click Lock the Taskbar to clear the

check mark and unlock the taskbar. 2. Move the toolbar sizing handle to the right (see picture)

until you see all of your icons. 3. Drag the handle to resize the Quick Launch toolbar

If your computer is running Windows Vista Home Basic, clicking the Switch between windows button won't open Flip 3D. Instead, you'll see the same window as you would if you pressed Alt+Tab on your keyboard.

The notification area The notification area, on the far right side of the taskbar, includes

a clock and a group of icons.

These icons communicate the status of something on your computer or provide access to cer-tain settings. The set of icons you see depends on which programs or services you have installed and how your computer manufacturer set up your computer.

When you move your pointer to a particular icon, you will see that icon's name or the status of a setting. For example, pointing to the volume icon shows the current volume level of your computer. Pointing to the network icon displays information about whether you are connected to a network, the connection speed, and the signal strength.

The Quick Launch toolbar sits to the right of the

Start button.

Windows Vista p 29

Double-clicking an icon in the notification area usually opens the program or setting associ-ated with it. For example, double-clicking the volume icon opens the volume controls. Double-clicking the network icon opens Network and Sharing Center.

Occasionally, an icon in the notification area will display a small pop-up window (called a notifi-cation) to notify you about something. For ex-ample, after adding a new hardware device to your computer, you might see this:

Click the “Close” button X in the upper-right corner of the notification to dismiss it. If you don't do anything, the notification will fade away on its own after a few seconds.

To reduce clutter, Windows hides icons in the notification area when you haven't used them in a while. If icons become hidden, click the Show hidden icons button to temporarily display the hidden icons.

Customise the taskbar The taskbar is the area of the desktop that contains the Start menu and taskbar buttons

for all open programs. By default, the taskbar is located at the bottom of the desktop.

There are many ways to customize the taskbar to suit your preferences. For example, you can move the entire taskbar to the left, right, or top edge of the screen. You can make the taskbar larger, have Windows automatically hide it when you're not using it, and add toolbars to it.

To hide the taskbar You can hide the taskbar to create more space. 1. Open the “Taskbar and Start Menu Properties” win-

dow (right-click on the Start button or on a blank part of the Taskbar; click on Properties).

2. On the Taskbar tab, select “Auto-hide the taskbar”, and then click OK. The taskbar is hidden from view but reappears when you point to it.

To show the taskbar If you don't see the taskbar on the screen, it might be

hidden. 1. Open the “Taskbar and Start Menu Properties win-

dow” (see “To hide the taskbar”) 2. On the Taskbar tab, clear the Auto-hide the taskbar check box, and then click OK.

To lock or unlock the taskbar You can keep the taskbar in one place by locking it, which can prevent accidental moving or

resizing. Right-click an empty space on the taskbar, and then click “Lock the Taskbar” so that it

has a check mark next to it. To unlock the taskbar, click “Lock the Taskbar” to clear the check mark.

To move the taskbar You can move the taskbar to any edge of your screen. Make sure it is unlocked before you

move it.

Windows Vista p 30

1. Right-click an empty space on the taskbar. If Lock the Taskbar has a check mark next to it, the taskbar is locked. Unlock it by clicking Lock the Taskbar, which removes the check mark.

2. Click an empty space on the taskbar, and then hold down the mouse button as you drag the taskbar to the top, bottom, or side of the desktop. When the taskbar is where you want it, release the mouse button.

To resize the taskbar 1. Right-click an empty space on the taskbar. If Lock the Taskbar has a check mark next to

it, the taskbar is locked. Unlock it by clicking Lock the Taskbar, which removes the check mark.

2. Point to the edge of the taskbar until the pointer changes into a double-headed arrow , and then drag the border up or down.

To stop grouping similar taskbar buttons on the taskbar 1. Open the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window (see “To hide the taskbar”)

2. If the Group similar taskbar buttons check box is selected, the buttons will automatically stack on top of each other. To turn off grouping, clear the “Group similar taskbar but-tons” check box.

To show or hide icons in the notification area Click the arrow next to the notification area to show more or hide

more icons the notification area.

To add a toolbar to the taskbar A toolbar is a row, column, or block of buttons or icons representing tasks you can do within

a program. Some toolbars, such as the Quick Launch toolbar, can appear on the taskbar.

1. Right-click an empty area on the taskbar and point to “Toolbars”.

2. Items with check marks beside them are already on the taskbar. Click any item in the list to add or remove it.

To add or remove the Quick Launch toolbar The Quick Launch toolbar contains shortcuts to frequently used programs.

Right-click an empty area on the taskbar and point to “Toolbars”. To add the Quick Launch toolbar to the taskbar, click Quick Launch. A check mark should appear. To re-move the Quick Launch toolbar, click the check mark.

To show or hide icons in the Quick Launch toolbar 1. Right-click an empty space on the taskbar. If Lock the Taskbar has a check mark next to

it, the taskbar is locked. Unlock it by clicking Lock the Taskbar, which removes the check mark.

2. Point to the “Quick Launch toolbar”.

3. Click the toolbar sizing handle, and then drag it to show or hide the Quick Launch tool-bar. If you don't see the toolbar sizing handle, there's probably not enough room on the taskbar to expand it further

To add a program to the Quick Launch toolbar 1. Locate the program you want to add on the Start menu or on the desktop.

2. Click the program icon, and then drag it to the Quick Launch toolbar.

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To remove a program from the Quick Launch toolbar On the Quick Launch toolbar, right-click the program icon, and then click Delete.

Note: Removing a shortcut from the taskbar won't uninstall the program from your com-puter.

Windows Sidebar and Gadgets Windows Sidebar is a long, vertical bar that

is displayed on the side of your desktop. It contains mini-programs called gadg-ets, which offer information at a glance and provide easy access to frequently used tools. For example, you can use gadgets to display a picture slide show, view continuously updated headlines, or look up contacts.

Why use Sidebar? Sidebar can keep information and tools read-

ily available for you to use.

If the Sidebar is not visible, click on the “Windows Sidebar” icon in the Notification Area.

Note: using this option, the Sidebar disappears when you carry out any on-screen activity

To keep windows from covering Sidebar

Note: Because of the space the Sidebar requires, this option works best if you're using a large or wide-screen monitor or multiple monitors.

1. Right-click on the Windows Sidebar icon; click on Proper-ties

2. Select the “Sidebar is always on top of other windows” check box (see at right); click OK.

Getting started with gadgets Windows comes with a small collection of

gadgets, but only some of them appear on Sidebar by default.

Adding gadgets to the Sidebar You can add any installed gadget to Sidebar.

1. At the top of Sidebar, click the plus sign (+) to open the “Gadget Gallery” (see next page)

If the Windows Sidebar icon is not in the Notification Area:

Click on the Start button; click on Control Panel

Double-click on Windows Sidebar

Have a tick in the box “Start Sidebar when Win-dows starts” (see below)

Close down and restart your computer

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2. Double-click a gadget to add it to Sidebar.

To remove a gadget from Sidebar Right-click the gadget, and then click Close

Gadget

To close Sidebar

Right-click on the Sidebar, and then click Close Sidebar. To open the Sidebar again, right-click the Sidebar icon in the notifi-cation area of the taskbar, and then click Open

Using menus, buttons, bars, and boxes Menus, buttons, scroll bars, and check boxes are examples of controls that you operate with

your mouse or keyboard. These controls allow you to select commands, change settings, or work with windows. This section describes how to recognize and use controls that you'll encounter frequently while using Windows.

Using menus Most programs contain dozens or even hundreds

of commands (actions) that you use to work the program. Many of these commands are organized under menus. Like a restaurant menu, a program menu shows you a list of choices. To keep the screen uncluttered, menus are hidden until you click their titles in the menu bar, located just underneath the title bar. For example, clicking "Image" in Paint's menu bar displays the Image menu.

To choose one of the commands listed in a menu, click it. Sometimes a dialog box appears, in which you can select further options. If a command is unavailable and cannot be clicked, it is shown in gray, like the Crop command in the picture.

Some menu items are not commands at all. Instead, they open other menus. In the picture at right, pointing to "Zoom" opens a submenu. Pointing to "Custom" in the submenu would open yet another sub-menu.

If you don't see the command you want, try looking at another menu. Move your mouse pointer along the menu bar and its menus open automatically; you don't need to click the menu bar again. To close a menu without selecting any commands, click the menu bar or any other part of the window.

Recognizing menus isn't always easy, because not all menu controls look alike or even appear on a menu bar. So how can you spot them?

When you see an arrow next to a word or picture, you're probably looking at a menu control. Some examples are shown above.

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Using scroll bars When a document, webpage, or picture exceeds the size

of its window, scroll bars appear to allow you to see the information that is currently out of view. The following picture shows the parts of a scroll bar.

To operate a scroll bar: 1. Click the up or

down scroll arrows to scroll the win-dow's contents up or down in small steps. Hold down the mouse button to scroll continu-ously.

2. Click an empty area of a scroll bar above or below the scroll box to scroll up or down one page.

3. Drag a scroll box up, down, left, or right to scroll the window in that direction.

Using command buttons A command button performs a command (makes some-

thing happen) when you click it. You'll most often see them in dialog boxes, which are small windows that contain options for completing a task. For example, if you close without saving it first, you might see a dialog box like this:

To close the picture, you must first click either the Yes or No button. Clicking “Yes” saves the picture and any changes you've made, and clicking :”No” deletes the picture and discards any changes you've made. Clicking “Cancel” dismisses the dialog box and returns you to the program.

Outside of dialog boxes, command buttons vary in appearance, so it's sometimes difficult to know what's a button and what isn't. For example, command buttons often appear as small icons (pictures) without any text or rectangular frame. The pictures at right show a variety of command buttons.

The most reliable way to determine if something is a command button is to rest your pointer on it. If it "lights up" and becomes framed with a rectan-gle, you've discovered a button. Most buttons will also display some text about their function when you point to them.

If a button changes into two parts when you point to it, you've discovered a split button. Clicking the

Tips If a keyboard shortcut is available

for a command, it is shown next to the command.

You can operate menus using your keyboard instead of your mouse.

If your mouse has a scroll wheel, you can use it to scroll through documents and webpages. To scroll down, roll the wheel backward (toward you). To scroll up, roll the wheel forward (away from you

Pressing ENTER does the same thing as clicking a command but-ton that is selected (outlined).

Pointing to a button usually displays text about it

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main part of the button performs a command, whereas clicking the arrow opens a menu with more options.

Using option buttons Option buttons allow you to make one choice among two or more

options. They frequently appear in dialog boxes. The picture below shows three option buttons. The "Flip vertical" option is selected.

To select an option, click one of the buttons. Only one option can be selected.

Using check boxes Check boxes allow you to select one or more independent op-

tions. Unlike option buttons, which restrict you to one choice, check boxes allow you to choose multiple options at the same time.

1. Click an empty square to select or "turn on" that option. A check mark will appear in the square, indicating that the op-tion is selected.

2. To turn off an option, clear (remove) its check mark by clicking it.

3. Options that currently can't be selected or cleared are shown in gray.

Using sliders A slider lets you adjust a setting along a range of values.

A slider along the bar shows the currently selected value. In the example shown above, the slider is positioned mid-way between Slow and Fast, indicating a medium pointer speed.

To operate a slider, drag the slider toward the value that you want.

Using text boxes A text box allows you to type information, such as a search term or password. The picture

shows a dialog box containing a text box. We've entered "bear" into the text box.

A blinking vertical line called the cursor indicates where text that you type will appear. In the ex-ample, you can see the cursor after the "r" in "bear." You can easily move the cursor by click-ing the new position. For example, to add a word before "bear," you would first move the cursor by clicking before the "b."

If you don't see a cursor in the text box, it means the text box isn't ready for your input. Click the box first, and then start typing.

Text boxes that require you to enter a password will usually hide your password as you type it, in case someone else is looking at your screen.

Using drop-down lists Drop-down lists are similar to menus. Instead of clicking a command, though, you choose an

Clicking a button selects that option

Click an empty check box to select that option

Moving the slider changes the pointer speed

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option. When closed, a drop-down list shows only the currently selected option. The other available options are hidden until you click the control, as shown at right.

To open a drop-down list, click it. To choose an option from the list, click the option.

Using list boxes A list box displays a list of options that you can choose from. Unlike a

drop-down list, some or all of the options are visible without having to open the list.

To choose an option from the list, click it. If the option you want isn't visible, use the scroll bar to scroll the list up or down.

If the list box has a text box above it, you can type the name or value of the option in-stead.

Using tabs In some dialog boxes, options are divided

into two or more tabs. Only one tab, or set of options, can be viewed at a time.

The currently selected tab appears in front of the other tabs. To switch to a different tab, click the tab.

A drop-down list, shown closed (left) and open (right)