1. Microsoft Windows 7 - Illustrated
Unit A:
Introducing Windows 7

2. Objectives Start Windows and view the desktop Use pointing devices
Use the Start button
Use the taskbar
Work with windows
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

3. Objectives Use menus, toolbars, and panes Use dialog boxes
Use Windows Help and Support
Shut down the computer
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

4. Unit Introduction
Microsoft Windows 7 is an operating system program that controls:
the operation of computer
programs you run on your computer
Programs, also known as applications, are task-oriented software that help you to accomplish tasks such as word processing or using a spreadsheet
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

5. Unit Introduction (cont.)
Microsoft Windows has a Graphical User Interface (GUI, pronounced “gooey”)
you interact with the computer through the use of graphics, icons (small meaningful pictures), and other meaningful words, symbols, and windows
contains Windows, rectangular frames that contain file contents, a program, or icons
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

6. Unit Introduction (cont.)
Windows 7 provides two distinct GUI experiences
Basic experience for entry-level systems or
Windows Aero which is more visually dynamic for high-level systems
provides expanded visual effects, such as glasslike interface elements that you can see through, subtle window animations, window colors, and live thumbnails that you can display on the taskbar
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

7. Starting Windows and Viewing the Desktop
The desktop is the graphical background on screen that represents a desk, containing windows, icons, files and programs
The taskbar is the horizontal bar at the bottom of the screen that allows you to start and switch among open programs
The Start button is on the left end of the taskbar, and is used to start programs, find and open files, access Windows Help and Support, and more
Next to the Start button are taskbar-pinned programs which are used to quickly start your internet browser, Windows Explorer, and Windows Media Player
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

8. Starting Windows and Viewing the Desktop (cont.)
The Notification area (also known as the system tray) is on the right end of the taskbar, and displays the time, date, program related icons and the Show the desktop button (the blank button next to the time and date)
note: If you upgraded your computer to Windows 7 from a previous version of Windows, your desktop might contain additional desktop icons, toolbars, and other elements, such as miniprograms called Gadgets
Gadgets provide easy access to frequently used tool and information such as new headlines
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

9. Starting Windows and Viewing the Desktop (cont.)
Turn on your computer
Windows automatically starts and displays a security prompt-the Welcome screen or the desktop, or a logon screen where you must enter a password
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

10. Using and changing a password
Passwords are used to maintain security on a shared or networked computer
you can set up your computer to require users to log on with a username and password- specify a username and password when installing Windows 7
click the Control Panel, User Accounts and Family Safety, then click Change your Windows password and choose either “Click Change your password or Create a password for your account” and follow the instructions
if you have forgotten your password, you can click Reset password on the Welcome screen to start the Forgotten Password Wizard and follow the instructions
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

11. Using Pointing Devices
A pointing device is hardware connected to or built into the computer you use to position the mouse pointer is a small symbol that indicates the pointer’s position on the desktop
The most common pointing devices are a mouse for desktop computers and a touch pad for laptop or notebook computers
When you move the mouse on a flat surface or place your finger on the touch pad and drag, the pointer moves across the screen in the same direction
The shape of the pointer changes to indicate different activities
If your mouse has a scroll wheel you can roll the wheel backward or forward to scroll through windows
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

12. Using Pointing Devices (cont.)
A typical mouse has two buttons, although yours may differ:
Left button: used to select text or click icons
Right button: used to open a shortcut menu
Typical mouse
Shortcut menu
Screen Tip
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

13. Using Pointing Devices (cont.)
Basic mouse pointer shapes include
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

14. Using the Mouse with the Web style
Windows integrates with the Internet and allows you to choose to single-click an item to select it (Web style) instead of double-clicking (Classic style)
click the Start button on the taskbar, then click Control Panel
in the Control Panel, click Appearance and Personalization, then click Specify single- or double to open
single-click to open an item (point to select) or Double-click to open an item (single-click to select) option button, then click OK
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

15. Using the Start Button
The key to getting started with the Windows desktop is learning how to use the Start button on the task bar
Clicking the Start button on the taskbar displays the Start menu which is a list of commands that allows you to start a program, open a document, change a Windows setting, find a file, or display support information
Windows 7 allows you to search the Start menu to find installed programs and other Windows items such as the Control Panel programs for configuring your computer, documents, music, Web sites you have visited, contacts, , and appointments
to search the Start menu, click in the Search box on the Start menu and then start typing the search text you want; the Start menu filters out items to show you possible results
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

16. Using the Start button (cont.)
The Start button on the taskbar opens a list of commands that allow you to:
Start a program
Open a document
Change a Windows setting
Find a file
Display Help and Support
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

17. Using the Start button (cont.)
Start menu commands
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

18. Using the Taskbar
The taskbar is the horizontal bar at the bottom of the desktop and includes the Start button on the left end, program buttons and open window buttons in the middle, and the notification area on the right end
The taskbar allows you to start programs and switch among currently running programs and open windows
When you start a program or open a window, a corresponding button appears on the taskbar and if the task bar becomes too crowded the buttons associated with the same program automatically group together into a single button
Resting the pointer over a taskbar button, Windows Aero displays a live thumbnail, showing the content of that window
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

19. Using the Taskbar (cont.)
Windows Aero provides two other ways to manage windows:
Windows Flip 3D creates a view of open windows in a three-dimensional stack on your desktop
Windows Flip allows you to flip through open windows (using [Alt][Tab]), providing a live thumbnail of each window
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

20. Using the Taskbar (cont.)
Live thumbnail
Windows Flip 3D
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

21. Working with the taskbar
Similar to the Start menu, the taskbar allows you to pin programs or files to it for easy one-click access
After a program is pinned to the taskbar, you can right-click the taskbar button to display a jump list of recently opened files for the program
The taskbar also provides several options for arranging open windows
The taskbar is locked by default, so it cannot be accidentally resized or moved but can be unlocked by right-clicking a blank area on the taskbar, then clicking Lock the taskbar on the shortcut menu to deselect the option
The taskbar can be moved by dragging it to any edge
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

22. Working with Windows
One of the powerful things about the Windows operating system is that you can open and work with more than one window or program at once
You can identify a window by the name on the title bar at the top of the program window or in the Address bar of a Windows Explorer window which you use to navigate to different locations on your computer
Each window is surrounded by a border that you can drag to resize or move the window; and buttons to maximize or minimize it
You can click the Show desktop button (the blank button) at the right end of the taskbar to minimize all windows
In Windows Aero point to the Show desktop button to make all open windows transparent
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

23. Working with Windows (cont.)
You can organize the desktop in several ways:
Click the appropriate button in the upper-right corner of the window. To make it:
an icon on the taskbar, click the Minimize button
fill the screen, click the Maximize button
closed, click the Close button
To move a window, position the mouse pointer over the title bar, click the left mouse button, then drag the window to the new location
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

24. Working with Windows (cont.)
Window controls in the Control Panel
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

25. Using scroll bars
Scroll bars appear at the right and bottom edges of the window when you cannot see all of the items available in the window
the vertical scroll bar moves your view up and down through a window; the horizontal scroll bar moves your view from left to right
There are several ways you can use the scroll bars:
use the scroll arrows when you need to scroll just a little ways
when you need to scroll more quickly you can use the scroll bar on either side of the scroll box, which appears in the middle of the scroll bars, or dragging the scroll box moves you even more quickly to a new part of the windows
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

26. Using Menus, Toolbars, and Panes
A menu is a list of commands that you use to accomplish certain tasks
A command is a directive that provides access to a program’s features
Each Windows program has its own set of menus, which are usually located on a menu bar
To access the commands in a menu, you click the name of the menu
A toolbar contains the most commonly used commands and also contains buttons that display menus, selection options, or perform commands
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

27. Using Menus, Toolbars, and Panes (cont.)
Some buttons have arrows next to them; clicking the button itself causes a default action whereas clicking the arrow next to the button opens a menu
A pane is a frame within a window, from which you can access commands and navigation controls or display information
On a menu, a check mark identifies a currently selected feature, meaning the feature is enabled, or turned on
To disable, or turn off a feature, you click the command again to remove the check mark
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

28. Using Menus, Toolbars, and Panes (cont.)
Organize button in the Libraries window
View menu open with the status bar visible
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

29. Setting Accessibility for special needs
If you have difficulty using a mouse, or typing, have slightly impaired vision, or are deaf you can adjust the appearance and behavior of Windows 7 to make you computer easier for you to use
The Accessibility wizard takes you step-by-step through a series of instructional windows to help you configure Windows for your vision, hearing, and mobility needs
You can also save your setting in a file that you can use on another computer
To open the Accessibility Wizard, click the Start button on the taskbar, click Control Panel, click Ease of Access, then click Ease of Access Center
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

30. Using Dialog Boxes
A dialog box is a window that contains options for completing a task
Dialog boxes:
open when you choose a menu option that is followed by an ellipsis (…) indicating you must supply more information before the program can carry out the command; or when you open a program in the Control Panel
may contain tabs at the top that separate commands into related categories
can be closed by clicking OK to accept all of your changes, or by clicking Cancel to not make any changes
you can also access a dialog box from the notification area on the taskbar
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

31. Using Dialog Boxes (cont.)
Dialog box elements
Mouse Properties dialog box
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

32. Using Dialog Boxes (cont.)
Typical items in a dialog box
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

33. Using Windows Help and Support
Microsoft Help and Support is a complete resource of information, training, and support to help you learn and use Windows 7
Help and Support is like a book stored on your computer, with additional links to the Internet, complete with search features, and a table of contents to make finding information easier
If you have an Internet connection you can get online help from a support professional at Microsoft or other users, join a newsgroup or invite a friend to chat with you, view your screen, and work on your computer to provide remote support
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

34. Using Windows Help and Support (cont.)
Help topic
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

35. Getting Help Online
If you need additional help and have an Internet connection, you can use Windows Help and Support to get online help from a support professional at Microsoft
To get help, in Windows Help and Support, click the Ask button on the toolbar at the top of the Windows Help and Support window, click Windows Remote Assistance under Ask a person for help, and follow the step-by-step instructions
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

36. Shutting Down the Computer
When you finish working on your computer, you need to make sure to turn off, or shut down, your computer properly
shutting down the computer involves several steps
saving and closing all open files
closing all open windows
exiting all running programs
shutting down Windows
turning off the computer
Shutting down your computer makes sure Windows and all its related programs are properly closed, this avoids potential problems starting and working with Windows in the future
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

37. Shutting Down the Computer (cont.)
Shut down options
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

38. Shutting Down the Computer (cont.)
Shut down menu
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

39. Working on a computer set up for multiple users
When many users share a computer, each user should have his or her own Windows identity to:
keep files completely private
customize Windows preferences
give identities unique user names and passwords
To set up user accounts, do so during the Windows 7 installation, or using User Accounts in the Control Panel to add a new user
When Windows starts, a user account must be selected and the correct password entered
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

40. Working on a computer set up for multiple users (cont.)
When you are done using the computer, yet you want to leave it on for another person to use, you can choose the Switch user or Log off command from the Start menu
The Switch user command allows you to switch between users quickly without having to save your current settings, so you can switch back and continue working
The Log off command saves your current settings and exits you from Windows
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

41. Summary Microsoft Windows 7 is an operating system program
Passwords are used to maintain security on a shared or networked computer
A pointing device is hardware connected to or built into the computer you use to position the mouse
Windows integrates with the Internet, allowing you to choose to single-click an item to select it instead of double-clicking
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated

42. Summary
Clicking the Start button on the taskbar displays the Start menu which is a list of commands that allows you to start a program, open a document, change a Windows setting, find a file, or display support information
A dialog box is a window that contains options for completing a task
Microsoft Help and Support is a complete resource of information, training, and support to help you learn and use Windows 7
Shutting down your computer makes sure Windows and all its related programs are properly closed
Microsoft Windows 7 – Illustrated