C HAPTER 7 Microsoft Windows 7

Part1: Getting Started with Windows7 Fundamentals 7.1 What is Windows 7? It is the latest version of a series of Operating Systems before Windows 8 that Microsoft has produced. A program is a set of instructions written for a computer to execute. It uses a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that allows you to visually interact with your computer’s functions in a logical, fun and easy way.

7.2 Previous versions of windows Release dateProduct name May 1990Windows 3.x July 1993Windows NT August 1995Windows 95 June 1998Windows 98 February 2000Windows 2000 September 2000Windows Me October 2001Windows XP November 2006 (volume licensing) January 2007 (retail) Windows Vista July 2007Windows Home Server February 2008Windows Server 2008 October 22, 2009Windows 7

7.3 What is new in Windows 7? New Taskbar (Larger icons and hidden icons in the Taskbar) New Start Icon Desktop icons are accessed through the Start Menu Quick Launch toolbar has been replaced by pinning a program to the Taskbar Aero Snap, Shake and Peek Jump Lists for easier access A Search Bar in the Start Up Menu The "Run" command is accessed through the Start Menu's Search Bar

7.4 What are the improvements in Windows7 than Vista and XP? Faster and smoother gaming components Parental Controls for monitoring computer use Improved Start Up, Sleep and Resume performance Improved power management saves memory and battery life Libraries to improve file access and organization Action Center for system maintenance, backups, troubleshooting and more

7.5 Advantages of Windows 7 More effective than the old versions Faster with using CPU Graphic 3D Using hardware with the most effective ability No useless index like Window Vista It’s firm although it’s a test version. Decreasing rate of closing screen. Remembering the last URL that you enter Virtualization and reproducing the work as well. It’s able to use applications of Windows Vista and some of Windows XP.

7.6 Drawbacks of Windows 7 Requiring large space for installing Some programs on Windows XP maybe cannot work with Windows 7. Having a few driver hardware Sometime it have bug of IE 8 beta on some web site.

7.7 Windows 7 Desktop

Icons are small images that represent items such as the Recycle Bin on your computer A file is a collection of stored information The Recycle Bin is where you place the files and folders that you don’t need any more and want to delete The desktop background is the shaded area behind your desktop objects Icons can be placed on the desktop background called shortcuts, which you can double-click to access programs, files, folders, even devices that you use frequently Gadgets are optional programs that present helpful or entertaining information on your desktop

7.7 Windows 7 Desktop

7.8 Windows 7 Taskbar The taskbar is the thin strip that runs across the bottom of your screen. It is split into a number of different areas: a round Start button, Quick Launch icons, a notification area, and a clock. All other areas are the Taskbar itself. The image below shows where the different areas are:

There is one more area on the Taskbar, and it's easily overlooked - the Show Desktop button. In the images above, you can just see a narrow rectangle to the right of the clock: Click this button to minimize all open programmes and reveal the desktop.

7.9 Quick Launch Icons You can quickly launch any of the programmes you find next to start button. When you hold your mouse over one of the icons, you'll see a small popup rectangle that shows you a preview of any open windows.

7.10 Notification Area Formally called the System Tray, is the area of the Taskbar where you can view programmes and tasks that are running in the background, as well as view important messages about updating your computer.

7.11 Windows Aero It is a set of special effects for selected versions of Window 7 that gives windows transparent backgrounds and fine animations upon minimizing, maximizing, and moving When you arrange windows using Aero, the windows can appear in a 3-D stack that you can quickly view without having to use the taskbar When you point to a taskbar button, Aero displays a small preview of the file, a feature called Aero Peek Your computer’s hardware must also support Windows Aero to view and work with these features

7.11 Windows Aero

7.12 Jump Lists A Jump List is what you'll see when you right- click on a program icon on the Windows 7 taskbar (or Start menu). What appears depends on the specific application, but typically contains a list of frequently or last-viewed files, as well as quick access to common commands.

7.12 Jump Lists

7.13 Using Command Buttons, Menus, and Dialog Boxes Command buttons let you issue instructions to modify program objects Some command buttons reveal menus Some menu commands automatically display a dialog box A dialog box is a type of window in which you specify how to complete an operation A dialog box may have one or more tabs for organizing related settings together on a single sheet

7.13 Using Command Buttons, Menus, and Dialog Boxes

7.14 A Sample Dialog Box

7.15 Dialog Box Elements