WINDOWS INTERFACE

AND DESKTOP

Using Computer with Windows

LOGGING ON TO WINDOWS
 When the installation of Microsoft Windows 7 is
finished and you turn on your computer, the
Windows 7 logon screen will appear. If you set a
password for your user account during the
installation of Windows, click on the user account
button and enter your password.
WINDOWS 7 INTERFACE
WINDOWS 7 INTERFACE
 Additional new features of the Windows 7 interface
are the new themes and new wallpapers sliding
over time.
WINDOWS 7 DESKTOP COMPONENTS
DESKTOP
 The desktop is composed of the contents of your
computer screen after Windows 7 is started.
TASKBAR
 The taskbar is the long horizontal bar at the bottom of the screen.
Unlike the desktop, which can get obscured by open windows, the
taskbar is almost always visible. It has four main sections:

 The Start button opens the Start menu.

 The middle section shows you which programs and files you
have opened and allows you to quickly switch between them
 The notification area includes a clock and icons (small pictures)
that communicate the status of certain programs and computer
settings.
 The show desktop button minimizes all open windows to show
the desktop. <Start>+<D> key combination can also be used to
show the desktop.
START BUTTON
 The Start button is located on the left edge of the
taskbar; it is the most important component on the
Windows desktop. It is used to open the Start menu,
which is used to access all your programs as well as
recently used programs and files.
TIME AND DATE
 The time and date are displayed near the right edge of
the taskbar. You can change time and date settings by
clicking on the time and date icon.
WINDOW
 A window is a frame on the screen that displays the
contents of opened files, folders, or programs.
TASKBAR BUTTONS
 Taskbar buttons are icons representing open and pinned
programs, folders, or files. Whenever you open a program,
folder, or file, Windows creates a corresponding button on
the taskbar. The button shows an icon that represents the
open program.

 When you move your mouse pointer

to a taskbar button, a small picture
appears to show you a miniature
version of the corresponding
window. This preview, also called a
thumbnail, is capable of playing
videos and animations.
START MENU
 You can open the Start menu
by clicking the Start button or
by using the <Ctrl>+<Esc> key
combination. The Start menu
lets you easily access the most
useful items on your computer.
The All Programs item opens a
list of programs currently
installed on your computer.
Programs are added to the
most frequently used programs
list above the All Programs item
when you use them. Another
feature of the Start menu is the
search box. You can search for
a program, file, or folder by
typing a word or a phrase into
the search box.
RECYCLE BIN
 The Recycle Bin stores all the files you delete from your
computer. You can use the Recycle Bin to restore files
you have accidentally deleted. You get more disk space
by emptying the Recycle Bin. The Recycle Bin is the only
folder displayed on the desktop when you first start
Windows 7.
COMPUTER ICON
 You can access all your drives, removable media (e.g.,
DVD or flash memory), folders, and files using the
Computer icon. It is the main access to all files in your
computer. Your files and folders are displayed in
Windows Explorer. Windows Explorer can be opened
using the <Start>+<E> key combination.
NETWORK ICON
 The Network icon provides handy access to
the computers and devices on your network.
From there, you can see the contents of
network computers and find shared files and
folders. You can also view and install network
devices, such as printers.
CONTROL PANEL
 You can use the Control Panel to change settings for
Windows. These settings control nearly everything about
how Windows looks and works, and they allow you to set
up Windows so that it’s just right for you.
SHORTCUTS
 Shortcuts are a type of icon that
offers quick access to files, folders,
or programs. You can create a
shortcut that appears on the desktop
and provides faster access to a file.
You use shortcuts in the same way
you use other icons, double-clicking
on them to open files or folders or to
run programs.
 Shortcuts look similar to other icons
except that they have a small, curved
arrow in the bottom-left corner. You
might think of shortcuts as
placeholders for other icons. You can
create, copy, move, and delete a
shortcut without affecting the file,
folder, or program itself.
ICONS
 Files, folders, and programs are represented by small
pictures called icons. A file’s icon is represented by the
program the file was created. For example, a Microsoft
Word document’s icon is similar to the icon of the
Microsoft Word program in which the document was
created. Folder icons look like a folder. The name of the
file, folder, or program is displayed under the icon
 GADGETS
 Gadgets are mini-programs that
come with Windows 7. Using
gadgets, you can access
frequently used tools. For
example, you can display a
picture slideshow, clock, or the
status of your memory or CPU
usage as well as view
continuously updating
headlines or look up contacts.
You can place gadgets
anywhere on the screen by
dragging them.
 POWER BUTTON OPTIONS
 Switch user: If you have more than one user account on your computer,
Fast User Switching is an easy way for another person to log on to the
computer without logging you off or closing your programs and files.
 Log off: When you log off from Windows, all of the programs you were
using are closed, but the computer is not turned off. After you log off,
another user can log on without needing to restart the computer.
 Restart: Saves any Windows settings, writes any information stored in
your computer’s memory to the local disk, and restarts your computer. Use
this option if Windows or your Windows-based programs start acting flaky.
 POWER BUTTON OPTIONS
 Sleep: Sleep is a power-saving state that allows a computer to quickly
resume full-power operation when you want to start working again. The
computer immediately stops what it’s doing and is ready to start again
when you want to resume working.
 Hibernate: Hibernation is a power-saving state designed primarily for
laptops. While sleep puts your work and settings in memory and draws a
small amount of power, hibernation puts your open documents and
programs on your hard disk, and then turns off your computer.
 Shut down