Windows XP has to log on when there is in used. It is the operating system. When you click on "start" button (which is on the task bar), you'll see the picture of the user. It contains internet applications, my computer, all programs installed to the computer, also log off (to sign out from current user), and turn off computer.
Task bar and start menu
Start is the center of the command in windows xp. When you click at start, you will see 2 parts of it. The first part is the programs that is often used and window’s programs. For another part, there are directories which is contains folders and programs.
Task bar shows application’s status (what application is opened, which is activated <currently used>), language and time.
My computer – everything of computer is in here.
My document – every folders will be here.
My recent document – is used when you want to review the program that is used before.
Log off – when you want to exit from the current user and can log on in the new user.
Turn off – shut down.
Recycle – is the bin where files, folders, etc. that are not used anymore be kept and you can recover them later if you want.
Mouse
There are 2 sides of it. Some mouse has wheel in between the two buttons.
One click is to select items.
Double click is to open.
Left button is used when you want to select any files, folders, programs, etc.
Right button is used when you want to know more details about what you have selected.
Drag is used when you want to move files, folders, etc. to another. If you move to a different folders, it is to copy.
Wheel is to zoom in and out in some applications, scroll up and down.
Keyboard
Keyboard is use for typing. Enter - to go to next line, Backspace - to remove backward <text before cursor>), Delete (Del) (to remove text after cursor), Ctrl, Alt, Shift (support function, must be used with other letter, except Shift which can be used alone to changed the letter between lowercase and capital letters), Window button (the button that contains windows’ logo – used to open start menu pop up).
The important buttons here are: Ctrl, Alt, Shift. These are help button when use with another buttons for example;
Ctrl + c = copy, Ctrl + v = paste
Shift when you hold it while type any letter, that letter will be capital.
Folder Component
Each folder window contains:
Title bar which shows current folder’s name, and to its right, there are 3 buttons: minimize, maximize (restore down), close.
Menu bar – contains command and pop up that is used with folders and programs.
Tool bar – contains often used command
Back – back to the previous page.
Forward – go to the next page.
Up – go to the previous folder.
Address – contains location used to call any parts of windows.
Status bar – shows status of selected files.
Search – use to search files, folders in the window.
Window XP Major Programs
Acessories:
- Accessibility helps people who cannot use computer as normal people to use computer easily.
- Communications is use to connect network or anything concerns about network.
- Entertainment is about multimedia.
- System Tools is the tools for systems in window.
Also these programs: address book, calculator, notepad, paint, windows movie maker, wordpad, internet explorer (use when you want to serve in the internet), msn explorer, outlook express, windows media player, msn messenger, etc.
1. Click to select an item.
2. If you want to select more than one, hold down CTRL key and click items.
3. Drag to select item.
4. To rename a file: click on its name or press F2 key. To rename more than one file: select files, type in at one of the name and the rest will change following by numbers.
Press Shift while select any icons, it will select more than 1.
Press Ctrl while select any icons, it will select more than 1 but spread out from one another.
Shortcut – use to go to programs more quickly. Shortcut can be created by draging, copying, moving and creat shortcut.
Create shortcut
To move – drag item to where you want it to be.
To copy – hold down CTRL key and drag to where you want it to be.
To create shortcut – right drag to destination, it will appear pop up when you drop which contains command – copy, move, create shortcut.
Deleting shortcut does not affect the original item.
Customize Window XP
Display Properties
Theme – is the emotions of the display, select the theme of the display.
Screensaver helps to save the monitor whenever there is not in used while program is opened.
Display – is what you see in the monitor. You can change the picture of it.
Appearance – how you want window to appear.
Setting – use to change colour of the display.
Task bar – Customize taskbar and start menu (right click on taskbar space or start menu > taskbar manager, or go to control panel > taskbar and start menu.
User can set taskbar option which can be: lock taskbar, auto hide (hide when not in used). User can also customize start menu to different view of its pop up. User can set anything that will appear on the taskbar.
Quick launch – you can put any programs here for going to the programs quickly.
Notification Area – is the right corner down below. It shows time and icons.
Start Menu
To customize program in start pop up. User can create new list, move, or delete
Folder Options
To customize folder(s) (select tools on menu bar > folder option or control panel > folder option)
User can set its option, for example: to show hidden folder(s), can select picture for folder (thumbnails view)
File Type
User can edit command on each item pop up, change icon. User can also select default application to open each file type.
Customize Folder
To customize icon on folder’s tool bar. User can select or remove command icon(s).
Change Logon Icon
Click on the picture on start pop up to change. User can browse for more pictures.
Custom Sound Events
User can set sound using in windows. For example: when log on, log off, windows start up, alert, etc.
Using Windows XP
Common Task
This contains task shortcut. It is different, depends on a window that user opens such as pictures’ folder, music will result different command of common task.
Folder Command
On menu bar, there are several commands: file (to create new file, folder, etc.), edit (to cut, copy, paste, etc.), view (to change to different views), etc.
Windows Explorer
Show directories (folders) on the left and contents on the right.
Click + / - in front of each folder icon to show / hide sub items.
Using drag and drop to move, copy files.
Search
Put in destination, type of file you want to search
To type in, if you are not sure in your file name, you can use “*” or “?” to place what you do not remember. For example: “a*” to search file name started with “a”, or “a??” to search file name started with a following by 2 other letters which can be “alt” or something that you do not remember.
User can also change search setting
Compression Folder
Compressed folder or zipped folder is to decrease folder’s size. User can create compresses folder by right click on space on a window, then select new > compressed folder. Put files in.
To unzip folder: select zipped folder, click extract all files, it will launch extraction wizard. User can set the destination.
Recycle Bin
Contains file you want to delete
This bin does not permanently delete your files, you must empty your bin.
User can also set its properties.
Using Scanner
Connect your scanner, then scan icon will appear in my computer.
User can set scanning preference.
When using scanner, user can preview page before scan onto computer, and also select file type, destination.
Scanner also can be launch from specific application such as Paint.
Digital Camera
When it is connected, computer will automatically launch the wizard. User can copy files from camera onto their computer, take a picture through the command of window (does not have to press shutter on camera).
Using CD-Rom
When CD is put into computer, system will pop up a dialogue. Select the action (actions are different, depend on type of CD). User can set default action.
To copy music file using Windows Media Player. Select copy from CD, tick on song(s) you’d like to copy, then press copy music button on top. If you have burner, you can create audio CD. Select copy to CD or device (left). Select album that you already copied to. Then copy music.
CD-RW can be re-written, windows can erase or add files into CD.
Accessories
Text Editors
Notepad: to note something. Font can use only one type for all file.
WordPad: can import picture, edit align of the page, fonts are set separately, can set margin, bullet, also create bitmap image (will launch Paint to create).
User can print with both applications.
Paint
User can open JPG file, crop file, scale, capture screen (press print screen button on keyboard > paste in paint).
User can draw shapes, also can connect to scanner or camera to get pictures.
Windows Movie Maker
To edit video: user can import video file, picture file, and audio file to use in a video. User can change view to picture frame or timeline, zoom in and out. To do transition between clip file, just drag the file over the previous file. When you are done editing, save project, then save movie (set quality, description). Then program will render the video, its render speed depends on length, and speed of your computer.
Option view: user can create duration of still image.
Magnifier
To zoom in working area, it will be a pop up window which can be moved anywhere.
User can set its settings such as if you want magnifier to follow your cursor or not.
Narrator
This application is used to read your text, information, data (in English).
Can set what to read, voice, speed, volume.
On-Screen Keyboard
In case you do not have keyboard or uncomfortable to use. This will show your keyboard on screen. You can set its character, anything just like your manual keyboard.
This can be used in any application.
Compatibility Wizard
To set application’s condition: some application cannot work on Windows XP but can use on Windows 98. You can use this to set mode, display setting, etc.
System Restore
Sometimes when user install an application and not complete, there will be a trash file, and sometimes causing windows error. Before this error occur, user can create restore point and when your system starts to occur, you can go back to the restore point.
Schedule Task
To set sort of alarm and launch application you set to open by those time.
Disk Checking
To check disk space and remove unwanted files, components (disk cleanup), organize files (disk defragmenter), checking error and fix problems (scan disk).
Character map
To show type face, key stroke of alphabet (how to put those unique characters into application by typing.
Can be copied and paste to any application.
Control Panel
Simple Tools
Date and time is to set current date and time, time zone
Display properties - it display themes, wallpaper, screen saver, appearance, settings, etc.
Folder option - it's used to customize folders
Fonts are used to view font face, install, uninstall fonts
Keyboard is use for setting properties: speed, delay, etc.
Mouse is used to set pointers, cursor face, etc.
Power option is use to set time automatically shut down, sleep, stand by, for hard disk, monitor, computer, etc.
Printer
To show current printer install on computer, can be added or removed
Regional Settings
To set multiple languages, install other language fonts such as Japanese, Chinese (so users can view those languages especially from internet).
To set keyboard setting, how to switch language.
Add or Remove Program
Often used to remove application rather than add.
To remove unused software or windows components
User Accounts
To create, set an account in case you have more than one user in one computer.
Administer account will be normal, you can do anything. Limit will limit user, some applications cannot be used and some files cannot be shared.
Sound and Audio Devices
To control volume of device, speaker, microphone (for recording).
Launch mixer
Text to Speech
To use this option to speak a type-in word, sentence. User can choose voice to speak, set speed.
System Performance
Use when your window seems to run slow unusually.
To turn on and off some effects, to speed up your window.
Disk Management
To create partition, to format each drive, to delete.
MS – Dos Startup Disk
When your computer cannot boot up.
To create MS - Dos, format floppy disk, tick on “create an MS-DOS startup disk”.