MAY 2015

I’VE SWITCHED ON! So What Happens Next?

DO I REALLY CARE? For most of us, we switch on and the computer works – SO WHAT? A basic understanding of what is happening from the time you press the switch to your first working key stroke can help when things happen a little differently And there are some very useful options which, if understood, allow you to make life easier!

AN AUTOMATIC SEQUENCE OF EVENTS A small program – the “Bootstrap” – located on a ROM chip activates; it “Boots” the computer and initiates the following: Checks if all was well the last time the computer was shut down and offers options if any potential problems were noted Checks to see if there are any updates to Windows that have been downloaded but not yet fully installed or activated. If so it completes these. It takes longer to boot when this happens Installs the basic Windows Operating System

THE PROBLEM START-UP

AN AUTOMATIC SEQUENCE OF EVENTS [2] Initiates Services, Utilities & Apps Sets Up the Start Menu Sets Up the Desktop Sets Up the All Programs Menu Sets Up the Task Bar Sets Up the “Power” Menu Sets Up the Notification Area Sets up hidden “Drop Down” Menus – mostly found with “Right Click”

INITIATES SERVICES, UTILITIES & APPS Services & Utilities are, basically, management and housekeeping programs that are needed by you or by the computer. Some will be activated during the “Boot”; for others, access points are created – e.g. Control Panel Windows decides certain items are needed immediately and activates them during the “Boot”

INITIATES SERVICES, UTILITIES & APPS [2] Installed applications [Apps] – whether pre-installed or installed by you - may also be partially started during the “Boot” or, indeed, actually started Many software manufacturers consider their apps so vital to you that saving a couple of seconds in loading them is critical – NOT! Often more than you realize – e.g. extra toolbars. Also when downloading Apps may get more than you wanted – READ EVERY WINDOW when downloading The problem is that this all takes memory and eventually your computer may actually slow down because of them – or maybe just become annoying

INITIATES SERVICES, UTILITIES & APPS [3] Some Apps will ask during installation if you want this Anti-Virus & Anti-Malware normally do this automatically. Since you always want to be protected from the very first moment you switch on, this is a GOOD thing and should NOT be changed. Say YES if asked Some Apps [e.g. Skype] can be changed at will – usually in an “options” menu Apps that do not start automatically & which do not have a setting to change, can still do so. This does take a little more know-how!

INITIATES SERVICES, UTILITIES & APPS [4] How to check & manage what is happening POWER MENU Click “Run” TYPE msconfig Click OK TWO TABS [WINDOWS 7] Services & StartUp

INITIATES SERVICES, UTILITIES & APPS [4A]

STARTUP IN WINDOWS 8 IS DIFFERENT BUT SERVICES IS THE SAME

STARTUP IN WINDOWS 8 IS DIFFERENT

SETS UP THE START MENU On install, Windows loads certain shortcuts to Apps You can add your personal choices from “All Programs” [Windows 7] or “Apps” [Windows 8/8.1] – Right Click – “Pin to Start [Menu]” Either can be removed – Right Click & Unpin

SETS UP THE START MENU WINDOWS 7WINDOWS 8/8.1

SETS UP THE DESKTOP On install, Windows loads certain shortcuts to Apps You can add your personal choices Either can be removed – Right Click then “Delete”

SETS UP THE DESKTOP

SETS UP THE ALL PROGRAMS MENU [WINDOWS 7] OR APPS MENU [WINDOWS 8/8.1] These menus list all the programs that were present when Windows was installed. This includes Apps e.g. Skype and various tools e.g. Snipping Tool Apps that you add are normally also automatically installed here. This includes things like Printers. [some unauthorized programs hide] Right clicking gives choices e.g. Pin to Start Menu Some special programs – mainly diagnostic or repair - need to install elsewhere and will normally tell you as the install proceeds

SETS UP THE ALL PROGRAMS MENU [WINDOWS 7] OR APPS MENU [WINDOWS 8/8.1]

SETS UP THE TASK BAR On install, Windows loads certain shortcuts to Apps You can add your personal choices – right click in “All Programs” or “Apps” – “Pin to Task Bar” Either can be removed – right click on the icon then “Unpin”

SETS UP THE “POWER” MENU The “Power” menu provides short cuts to a number of Utilities In Windows 8.1 it also has the “Shut down” options

SETS UP THE NOTIFICATION AREA Certain Apps, Utilities & Services are placed in the Notification Area - You do not control this; it is built into each software You can not, with Windows, “add” it to a software that does not contain it. There are 3 rd party Apps that claim to do this but we do not recommend You can customize in a limited way

SETS UP THE NOTIFICATION AREA There are basically 3 choices for each item It is most strongly recommended that anti-virus and anti-malware icons be set as “show icons and notifications”. It is not impossible that these Apps did not load during the Boot. If so, the icons will not be shown – an important warning. The notifications will “pop up” if you are in a danger area – take appropriate action

SETS UP THE NOTIFICATION AREA Note that Windows Defender [Windows 8/8.1 built in anti-virus] does NOT show here BUT if “Action Centre” is set to “show icons and notifications” then it will warn if Defender is not activated

SETS UP HIDDEN “DROP DOWN” MENUS – MOSTLY FOUND WITH “RIGHT CLICK” Many areas have hidden menus that are revealed by a ‘right click” The Desktop [blank areas] is one as is the Task Bar Many Icons & Menu items do the same

START PRESENTATION