The desktop (overview) Working with desktop icons The desktop is the main screen area that you see after you turn on your computer and log on to Windows. it serves as a surface for your work. When you open programs or folders, they appear on the desktop. You can also put things on the desktop, such as files and folders, and arrange them however you want. The taskbar (overview) sits at the bottom of your screen. It shows you which programs are running and allows you to switch between them. It also contains the Start button, which you can use to access programs, folders, and computer settings

Working with desktop icons Icons are small pictures that represent files, folders, programs, and other items. When you first start Windows, you'll see at least one icon on your desktop: The Recycle Bin (more on that later). Your computer manufacturer might have added other icons to the desktop. Some examples of desktop icons are shown below.

To add or remove common desktop icons Common desktop icons include Computer, your personal folder, the Recycle Bin, and Control Panel. Right-click an empty area of the desktop, and then click Personalize. In the left pane, click Change desktop icons. Under Desktop icons, select the check box for each icon that you want to add to the desktop, or clear the check box for each icon that you want to remove from the desktop, and then click OK.

Create a new folder A folder is a location where you can store your files. You can create any number of folders and even store folders inside other folders (subfolders). Here’s how to create a new folder: Go to the location (such as a folder or the desktop) where you want to create a new folder. Right-click a blank area on the desktop or in the folder window, point to New, and then click Folder. Type a name for the new folder, and then press Enter.

To move a file from a folder to the desktop Open the folder that contains the file. Drag the file to the desktop. To remove an icon from the desktop Right-click the icon, and then click Delete. If the icon is a shortcut, only the shortcut is removed; the original item is not deleted.

Selecting multiple icons To move or delete a bunch of icons at once, you must first select all of them. Click an empty area of the desktop and drag the mouse. Surround the icons that you want to select with the rectangle that appears. Then release the mouse button. Now you can drag the icons as a group or delete them.

The Recycle Bin When you delete a file or folder, it doesn't actually get deleted right away—it goes to the Recycle Bin To recover files from the Recycle Bin Open the Recycle Bin by double-clicking the Recycle Bin on the desktop. Do one of the following: –To restore a file, click it, and then, on the toolbar, click Restore this item. –To restore all of the files, make sure that no files are selected, and then, on the toolbar, click Restore all items. The files will be restored to their original locations on your computer.

The Start menu (overview) Use the Start menu to do these common activities: Start programs Open commonly used folders Search for files, folders, and programs Adjust computer settings Get help with the Windows operating system Turn off the computer Log off from Windows or switch t o a different user account

The search box The search box is one of the most suitable ways to find things on your computer. the search box will scour your programs and all of the folders in your personal folder (which includes Documents, Pictures, Music, Desktop, and other common locations). It will also search your e ‑ mail messages, saved instant messages, appointments, and contacts

What's in the right window? The right pane of the Start menu contains links to parts of Windows that you're likely to use frequently. Here they are, from top to bottom: Personal folder. Opens your personal folder, which is named for whoever is currently logged on to Windows. For example, if the current user is Molly Clark, the folder will be named Molly Clark. This folder, in turn, contains user-specific files, including the My Documents, My Music, My Pictures, and My Videos folders. Documents. Opens the Documents library, where you can access and open text files, spreadsheets, presentations, and other kinds of documents. Pictures. Opens the Pictures library, where you can access and view digital pictures and graphics files. Music. Opens the Music library, where you can access and play music and other audio files.

Games. Opens the Games folder, where you can access all of the games on your computer. Computer. Opens a window where you can access disk drives, cameras, printers, scanners, and other hardware connected to your computer. Control Panel. Opens Control Panel, where you can customize the appearance and functionality of your computer, install or uninstall programs, set up network connections, and manage user accounts. Devices and Printers. Opens a window where you can view information about the printer, mouse, and other devices installed on your computer. Default Programs. Opens a window where you can choose which program you want Windows to use for activities such as web browsing. Help and Support. Opens Windows Help and Support, where you can browse and search Help topics about using Windows and your computer

The notification area The notification area, at the far right of the taskbar, includes a clock and a group of icons. It looks like this. The notification area, at the far right of the taskbar When you move your pointer to a particular icon, you will see that icon's name or the status of a setting. For example, pointing to the volume icon shows the current volume level of your computer. Pointing to the network icon displays information about whether you are connected to a network, the connection speed, and the signal strength. Double-clicking an icon in the notification area usually opens the program or setting associated with it. For example, double-clicking the volume icon opens the volume controls. Double-clicking the network icon opens Network and Sharing Center.

Occasionally, an icon in the notification area will display a small pop-up window (called a notification) to notify you about something. For example, after adding a new hardware device to your computer, you might see this. The notification area displays a message after new hardware is installed Click the Close button in the upper-right corner of the notification to dismiss it. If you don't do anything, the notification will fade away on its own after a few seconds. To reduce clutter, Windows hides icons in the notification area when you haven't used them in a while. If icons become hidden, click the Show hidden icons button to temporarily display the hidden icons.

Working with Control Panel search. To find a setting you're interested in or a task you want to perform, type a word in the search box. For example, type "sound" to find specific settings for your sound card, system sounds, and the volume icon on the taskbar

Printer A printer transfers data from a computer onto paper. You don't need a printer to use your computer, but having one allows you to print e ‑ mail, cards, invitations, announcements, and other material. The two main types of printers are inkjet printers and laser printers. Inkjet printers are the most popular printers for the home. They can print in black and white or in full color and can produce high-quality photographs when used with special paper. Laser printers are faster and generally better able to handle heavy useing able to print their own photos at home