Introduction to Windows XP

1. Introduction to Windows XP CIS 100: Introduction to Computers Mr. A. Craig Dixon Spring 2006

2. Types of Interfaces • An interface is the set of tools used for communicating with an operating system. • Early operating systems, like MS-DOS and UNIX, used command-line interfaces. • All input is done by keyboard • Requires the user to know special operating system commands Examples: dir, mkdir, copy, type, chkdsk • Most modern operating systems, like Windows, Mac OS, and Linux, employ a graphical user interface (GUI) • Input is accomplished by using the keyboard or mouse to interact with onscreen elements Introduction to Windows XP

3. The Windows Desktop • After the user logs in on a Windows system, he or she is taken to the Windows desktop. • The desktop may contain icons, which are small pictures that, when clicked, launch programs or open locations on your computer. • The desktop may also be decorated with a picture or pattern called a wallpaper. • At the bottom of the desktop is the taskbar. Almost all running programs appear on the taskbar. • On the far left of the taskbar is the Start button, which displays the Start menu. Most programs can be launched from the Start menu. • On the far right of the taskbar is the system tray. The system tray contains small icons that represent programs that stay active throughout your computing session. Introduction to Windows XP

4. Icon Cursor Taskbar System tray Start button Anatomy of the Desktop Introduction to Windows XP

5. What is a window? • Almost all Windows programs run in a region of the screen called, conveniently, a “window.” • Most windows may be resized and / or overlapped to maximize the available screen real estate. • Most windows can be displayed in three states • Maximized – the window covers all available screen real estate, excluding the taskbar • Restored – the window reverts to a smaller state, which may be resized by the user • Minimized – the window is not displayed on the desktop, but a button for it appears in the taskbar Introduction to Windows XP

6. Close button Restore / maximize button Title bar Menu bar Minimize button Status bar Window button in taskbar Content area Anatomy of a window Introduction to Windows XP

7. Mouse actions in Windows XP There are five primary types of mouse actions that Windows XP recognizes. • Point – position the cursor over the item being pointed to • Click – point to an item, then click the left mouse button • Double Click – point to an item, then click the left mouse button twice in rapid succession • Right Click – point to an item, then click the right mouse button • Drag-and-Drop – point to an item, click and hold down the left mouse button, move the mouse (drag), and release the left mouse button over another item (drop) Introduction to Windows XP

8. Purposes of Mouse Actions • Point – pointing and hovering (allowing the cursor to remain stationary) over most items will display a tool tip, a small label indicating the item’s name or purpose • Click – selects the clicked item, but usually attempts no further action with it • Double click – attempts to interact with the item in some way (launch a program, view a picture, or play a sound) • Right click – displays a context menu (sometimes called a popup menu) containing common actions associated with the right-clicked item • Drag-and-drop – attempts to cause the dragged item to interact with the item it was dropped on. For example, dragging a picture file and dropping it on the Internet Explorer icon will allow the user to view the picture using Internet Explorer (if possible) Introduction to Windows XP

9. The Windows File System • All drives installed in the computer are assigned a drive letter • A: is reserved for a floppy disk drive • B: is reserved for a second floppy disk drive, although this is seldom seen nowadays • C: is reserved for the primary hard drive • CD and DVD drives, secondary hard drives, flash, Zip, tape, and network drives are assigned subsequent letters which are usually, but not always, in sequence • A single drive may be segmented into multiple partitions. In this case, each partition has its own drive letter. • Drives may be organized into folders and subfolders, giving the file system a hierarchical tree-like topology. Appropriately, the lowest folder on a drive (referenced by the drive letter) is called the root. Introduction to Windows XP

10. Navigating the File System To view the files and folders on your computer, do one of the following: • Double click the My Computer icon on the desktop • Click Start, then click My Computer • Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, click on Windows Explorer Introduction to Windows XP

11. My Computer This computer has a floppy drive, a hard drive, and a CD-ROM drive. Introduction to Windows XP

12. Local disk C: can be collapsed DELL can be expanded Contents of C: temp cannot be expanded (has no subfolders) Windows Explorer Subdirectories of C: are BACKUP, CDROM, DELL, etc. Files in the root are Dumplog, FRUNLOG, ZTECH, etc. Introduction to Windows XP

13. About Files • In the early days of MS-DOS and Windows 3.x, all file names were at most 8 characters long with a 3 character extension. • This was called 8.3 file naming • An example file name would be README.TXT • Beginning with Windows 95, filenames grew to 255 characters (including spaces, which were not previously possible) with longer extensions • Despite these new capabilities, many files still adhere to the old 8.3 naming system. • Most extensions still do not exceed 4 characters Introduction to Windows XP

14. Denotes a folder (no extension) Denotes a text file (extension .txt) Denotes a Microsoft Word file (extension .doc) Denotes a Microsoft Excel file (extension .xls) Denotes a Microsoft Access file (extension .mdb) Denotes a Microsoft PowerPoint file (extension .ppt) File Types File extensions were meant to denote the type of data in the file. Many files have also special icons to denote what type of files they are. Introduction to Windows XP

15. More File Types Other file types have different icons depending on which program the user prefers to use when opening them. Some examples are: • Web pages (extensions .htm and .html) • Picture files (extensions .jpg, .gif, .bmp, .png, .tif, and others) • Sound files (extensions .mp3, .wav, .midi, and others) • Movie files (extensions .avi, .mpg, .mpeg, .wmv, and others) • Archive (compressed) files (extensions .zip, .tar, .jar, and others) Introduction to Windows XP

16. Copying Files • Due to the volatile nature media, it is desirable to keep multiple copies of a file on several types of media • Copying a file from one location to another can be accomplished in several ways • The process of copying leaves copies on both the source and destination media Introduction to Windows XP

17. Copying a File • Open My Computer and navigate to the location of the file to be copied. • Right click the file to be copied. A context menu will appear. • Click Copy from the context menu. • Navigate to the destination that the file will be copied to. • Right click in the white space of the window. Another context menu will appear. • Click Paste from this context menu. Your file will appear in its new location. Introduction to Windows XP

18. Creating a Folder • Open My Computer and navigate to the location where you want the folder created. • Right click in the white space of the window; a context menu is displayed. • Point to New; a context submenu is displayed. • Click Folder in the submenu. A new folder appears with the name New Folder. • Type a name for the folder and press Enter. Introduction to Windows XP

19. Deleting a File or Folder • Open My Computer and navigate to the file or folder to be deleted. • Right click the file or folder; a context menu will be displayed. • Click Delete. You are asked to confirm your choice. • Click Yes; the file or folder disappears, BUT… Introduction to Windows XP

20. Deleting (continued) • … it’s still on your hard drive in a special location called the Recycle Bin. • From the desktop, double click the Recycle Bin icon. A window listing all the files you deleted appears. • Click File from the menu bar, then click Empty Recycle Bin. • You will be prompted to confirm your choice. • Click Yes. Your file is now permanently deleted. Introduction to Windows XP

21. The Recycle Bin • The idea of the Recycle Bin was actually stolen from Apple Macintosh, who called it the Trash Can. • It gives the user a chance to recover files he or she may have accidentally deleted. • The Recycle Bin icon will have papers in it if there are files in the Recycle Bin; otherwise, it appears empty. Introduction to Windows XP

22. Recovering a Deleted File • From the desktop, double click the Recycle Bin icon. A window listing your deleted files and folders appears. • Right click the file or folder you want to restore; a context menu appears. • Click Restore. The file or folder is returned to the location from which it was deleted. Introduction to Windows XP

23. Selecting Multiple Files • You can select multiple files to copy, delete, or restore by using a combination of keypresses and mouse clicks. • There are two methods of selecting multiple files: • Semi-surgical selection • Surgical selection Introduction to Windows XP

24. Click “Syllabus for CIS 100” Click “CIS 100 – Project 2” Semi-surgical selection Semi-surgical selection is the process of selecting multiple files that are displayed contiguously. • Open My Computer and navigate to the directory containing the files or folders you want to select. • Click the first file in the contiguous block. • Press and hold the Shift key. • Click the last file in the contiguous block. • Release the Shift key. Press and hold Shift Introduction to Windows XP

25. Click “Syllabus for CIS 100” Click “CIS 100 – Project 2” Surgical selection Surgical selection is the process of selecting multiple files that are not displayed contiguously. • Open My Computer and navigate to the directory containing the files or folders you want to select. • Click one of the files you want to select • Press and hold the Ctrl key. • Click all of the other files you want to select. • Release the Ctrl key. Press and hold Ctrl Introduction to Windows XP

26. Renaming a File or Folder • Open My Computer and navigate to the file or folder you want to rename. • Right click the file or folder; a context menu will appear. • Click Rename. The old file or folder name is highlighted. • Type the new name for the file or folder. The old name will be overwritten. • Press Enter. Introduction to Windows XP

27. Shutting Down Windows When you are ready to turn off your computer, it is important to shut down Windows properly. Failure to do so can cause you to lose data or corrupt critical files that will cause your computer to behave abnormally. • Click Start, then click Turn off computer from the Start menu. • The screen dims and the Shut down menu appears. Click Turn off. • The computer performs some shut down procedures, then powers itself off. Introduction to Windows XP

28. Lock-ups • Windows is notorious for a condition known as a lock-up. • There are two types of lock-ups: • Program lock-ups – a particular program stops responding to commands given by the user. • System lock-ups – Windows itself stops responding to commands given by the user. • It may be difficult if not impossible to shut down properly after either type of lock-up. Introduction to Windows XP

29. Program Lock-ups If a program locks up, try the following: • Press the Ctrl, Alt, and Del keys simultaneously. • The task manager window should appear, displaying all of your currently running programs. • Click on the program that has stopped responding, (its status may read Not Responding) then click the End Task button. • You will be warned that you will lose any unsaved information in this program. Click OK. • The program should end, although it may not. Introduction to Windows XP

30. System Lock-ups • Press the Ctrl, Alt, and Del keys simultaneously. • If the task manager appears, (it probably won’t) click Shut Down from the menu bar, then select Restart. • If the task manager does not appear, release Ctrl, Alt, and Del, then press them again. This is supposed to restart the computer. Be patient; it may take a few seconds. • If none of the above works, press and hold your computer’s power button until the computer powers off. NOTE: Manually powering your computer off and back on (called a hard reset or cold boot) can damage files and / or hardware. It is always best to try Ctrl+Alt+Del (a soft reset or warm boot) first. Introduction to Windows XP