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Home > Jan's CompLit 101 > Working with Windows > Windows Basics > Summary
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Jan's Working with Windows:

   Windows Basics: Summary

In Windows Basics you have learned the basics of how to get around in Windows. You have started and shut down Windows. You have learned the parts of the user interface and of a window. You have seen how Windows contains multiple methods to accomplish tasks - mouse, menu, keyboard, touch. You have accessed Help for Windows and for applications. You manipulated windows -up, down, and all around. When it all sinks in a bit, you'll be ready for the mysteries of Files and Folders, your next project.


Skills Covered - by lesson

Start Up

  • Turn on your computer and log on to start Windows

Shut Down

  • Shut down Windows
  • Restart Windows

Control Mouse

  • Move mouse pointer
  • Click, double-click, right click, and drag
  • Adjust mouse settings using the Mouse Properties dialog

Control Window

  • Move, resize, minimize, maximize, and restore a window with mouse
  • Move window with keyboard

Context menus

  • Open a context-sensitive menu 
  • What is on some of the context menus

Dialogs: Date/Time

  • Use the different types of input in dialog boxes
  • Use Dialog Help (WinXP)
  • Change the time and date 
  • Close a dialog box

Dialogs: Display

  • Customize the look of Windows: 
        Theme
        Background
        Screen saver
        Appearance
        Return to the default settings
        Display Settings

WinXP Contents
Vista, Win7, Win8/Win8.1 Contents

  • Open Help for Windows
  • Navigate the Table of Contents to find a topic
  • Navigate topics and related topics

WinXP Index

  • Use the Index in Help for Windows to find a topic
  • Locate an article in the Table of Contents
  • Use History to return to a previous article

Vista, Win7, Win8/Win8.1: Search Help

  • Use Search in Help
  • Include or exclude online help
  • Use 'Find (on this page)' to search a Help article
  • Recognize and expand hidden text on the page

WinXP Tour
Vista, Win7, Win8/Win8.1 Demos

  • Navigate a multimedia tour/demos
  • Use Windows Search to find a program

Application Help

  • Open an application from the Start menu/Start screen
  • Use Help for an application
  • Work in an application with Help remaining open
  • Learn about and use drawing tools in Paint

WinXP: Search App. Help

  • Use the Search tab to find a topic in Help (WinXP)
  • Close application from the Task Bar

Skills in Exercises

Exercise Win1-1

  • Practice using the mouse to:
       click
       double-click
       drag 
  • Select options from different types of controls, like radio buttons, check boxes, slides

Exercise Win1-2

  • Open a program from the Run box (WinXP)
  • Use Windows Search to open a program
  • Use Help for Calculator

Exercise Win1-3

  • Manage multiple windows by tiling and cascading
  • Rotate through open windows with ALT + TAB

Important Terms

Do you know these? The Glossary contains definitions.

active window

Aero

Appearance

app or application

Apply button

Back button

background

bookmark

boot

bread crumbs

browse

Cancel button

canvas

cascade

charms

check box

click

close

color depth

command button

Contents tab

context-sensitive

control icon

control menu

Control Panel

cursor

customize

default

demo

Desktop

diagonal resize

dialog box

dialog help button

Display Settings

document

double-click

drag

drop list

Favorites

file

Find dialog

Find tab

folder

Forward Button

gadget

grayed out

GUI

Help

hibernate

History

Home

horizontal resize

hover

icon

inactive window

Index tab

interface

jump list

keywords

link

list box

Live Preview

lock

log off

log on

maximize

menu

Menu bar

Metro/Modern interface

minimize

mouse

move

notification area

OK button

offline Help

online Help

open

option button

Options

palette

pattern

personalize

pin

pointer

pointing device

preview

properties

Quick Launch

radio button

resize

resolution

restart

restore

ribbon

right click

screen saver

screen tip

scroll arrow

scroll bar

scroll box

scroll wheel

search

Search Help

select

shortcut

shut down

Sleep

slide control

snap window

spin control box

Stand by

Start menu

Start screen

Status bar

stretch

Switch User

tab

Taskbar

text box

texture

theme

Title bar

tip

toolbar

topic

Tray

unavailable command

user interface

vertical resize

wallpaper

Welcome Center

window

Windows Classic

Windows Media Player

Windows Search

Windows Sidebar