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"Recycle
Bin"
This is another useful program. Any time you delete something, it is sent to the
recycling bin, and is not deleted from the system until you clear it. This to to
make sure that you or someone else doesn't accidentally delete an important
file. If you wish to empty the recycling bin, just double click the icon, and
then click "empty recycling bin" on the left side. This will
permanently delete your data.
"My Briefcase"
This is the last icon that all Windows systems. It is not used very often, but
useful none the less. It is for people who have both a laptop and a computer
that they would like to keep up to date with the same info. You can save a file
to the briefcase, and then save the briefcase to another computer. Beginners,
don't worry about this, I just though it would be useful to mention the options
available to you.
That pretty much sums up the icons part of the Desktop, and that leaves us with
two more major parts, the open programs menu and the Start Menu.
The open program menu is located at the bottom right hand corner of the screen.
It usually contains a clock, that can be set by double clicking on the displayed
time. It will also show all open programs that are currently running on your
system. By right clicking these icons, the programs will display their won
unique menu.
On to the biggest of the all, the Start Menu!
At the bottom right corner of your screen, you will find the word Start. By
clicking on this once, it will expand and show a bunch of buttons. These buttons
are described as follows:
"Shut Down"
This button will allow you to shut down, restart, put the computer in standby
(think of it as sleeping) or restart it in MS-DOS mode. MS DOS is the basic
computer operating system. It is that black and white screen that uses the
C-prompt (The letter c with a dash, colon and greater than sign). It is not used
by most computer users.
By shutting down the computer, it will turn itself off and all you have to do is
turn off its electrical source. Restarting is the equivalent of shutting down
and then instantly rebooting the computer, but the computer does it itself.
"Log Off"
This function is usually only found on networked computers. If you are connected
to a network, like a public school or library might be, you will be asked a
password before signing in. Logging off will exit you from the network.
"Run"
This is where you can run any of the programs that are on a CD or floppy for the
first time. This is most commonly used when installing disk-based software.
Click on run, then browse for the file. Click both okays and the program should
start.
"Help"
AKA. Beginners Bible. This will tell you anything and everything you are having
trouble with. It was created by Microsoft and is the same stuff that came in the
manual for Windows. If you have any trouble, either email us and we'll probably
be able to respond within an hour or to, or try to find it in here. If the help
files don't have it, we probably do.
"Find"
This is one of the most useful things Microsoft put in Windows. Lost a file,
just search for it here! You can search by name, date and file type. You can
look in any of your drives and even specify folders and other things. Go to
Find, and then the submenu Files or Folders...Just for fun, type in the letter A
as your search criteria. This will show you all programs on your computer that
have the letter A in them. There are most likely over 10,000 and your computer
will tell you so after your search is done.
"Settings"
This is most definitely going to be the longest section of this computer basics
course. There are so many things that you will learn to change that you will no
longer feel powerless. You shall be in control!
We'll start you off at the control panel. Look around for display, and double
click on it. These will be all the display options that you will have to choose
from.
Here is where you can change your menu, scroll down the list by clicking the
down arrow on the vertical bar. You can also click browse and find a picture of
your choice. If you are on a website, you may right click any image and select
"Save as Wallpaper". This will put the selected picture in the
background. You can also choose if you want your picture to be centered or
tiled.
Go to part III of IV.
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