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Windows Operating System

A Module of the CYC Course – Computer Basics

8-28-10

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Handout

• Everyone should have a handout called Desktop and Windows.

• Use it as a reference.

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Operating Systems

Windows: Vista, XP, 2000, etc.

MACs: Leopard, OS X, OS, etc.

Open Source

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Desktop• Desktop- Just like the physical top of a desk, the Windows desktop is where you put the things you’re working on or want to access. The desktop is the main screen in Windows where you can put icons & the toolbar.

• Icon- Picture or graphic that represents a program, process, folder or file. You can double click on an icon to run a program or view contents.

Notification Area/System Tray

Taskbar

Start Button

Quick Launch

Minimized Program

Icons

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Taskbar

• The bar at the bottom of the desktop that displays the start button, quick launch & notification areas and buttons for programs that are open and running.

Taskbar

Program or Task Buttons

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Start Button

• The portion of the taskbar used to access the start menu to shut down the computer, start programs, search for files, change computer settings, etc.

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Quick Launch

• The portion of the taskbar that is visible on the screen and contains icons of favorite programs that can be opened with a single mouse click.

Quick Launch

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Notification Area

• The portion of the taskbar that contains the clock and displays icons for system and program features.The notification area also provides a temporary source for notifications and status.

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Browser Window

• When you open a program, it is visible as a window or rectangular area on the monitor screen.

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Microsoft Word WindowsTITLE BAR

MENU BAR

MAINTOOLBAR

BOTTOM SCROLL BAR

SCROLLBOX

CLOSEMINIMIZE

RESTORE DOWN OR RESIZE

FORMATTOOLBAR

DRAWINGTOOLBAR

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Practice

• Follow along the exercises of the handout.

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Sources

• This curriculum was partially adapted from a slide presentation entitled “Windows Presenation 2009” created by the Indian Prairie Public Library.

• Additional content created by Connect Your Community, a project of OneCommunity, funded by the federal Broadband Technology Opportunities Program.

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Creative Commons License

• This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0