Introduction to Windows XP

Windows XP is the name of the operating system that runs your computer; you may have Windows Vista at home. Every computer must have an operating system to run other programs. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.

Desktop - As pictured below is the main user interface (screen).

Icons
The pictures/images on your desktop are called icons when double clicked the icon opens and runs a program, such as; Internet Explorer.

Folders
Your desktop may also have images of folders that contain files. You can double-click on a file and it will open up the program that the file was created in and the file itself.

Start Button
The Start Button located in the lower left hand side of the screen is the central link to all the programs on your computer and to all the tasks you can carry out in Windows XP. Clicking on the Start Button will open the Start Menu.

Taskbar
To the right of the Start Button is the Taskbar. It shows which programs you have open at any time.

The Desktop Notification Area
Located in the lower right hand side of the Taskbar the time is displayed and as you work other items will be place in the notification area temporarily, such as a print job.

When you open a computer program, it opens up into a Window.

Title Bar
The Title Bar runs across the top of the Window. In the upper left hand corner of the bar is an icon that represents the program that is running, the file name, and the name of the program. The three buttons located in the far right-hand side of the Title Bar are used to control the Window. They are the Minimize, Restore Down/Maximize, and Close Button.

This image is from Word 2003, click here for Word 2007.

The first button is the Minimize Button, which looks like a minus sign or a closed window. When the Minimize Button is clicked the current Window disappears and is placed in the Taskbar, but the program is still running. The icon can be clicked in the Taskbar to make the Window reappear. When you place your mouse on top of the button a pop-up message box reads, “Minimize”.

The next button is the Restore Down/Maximize Button, which looks like two windows. When you place your mouse on top of the button a pop-up message box reads, “Restore Down”. When clicked the window shrinks to a smaller size. Dragging with the Title Bar can move this window. Try it, place your mouse on top of the blue Title Bar, hold down the left mouse button and drag the window around. Notice the Restore Button now looks like one window and when you place your mouse on top of the button the pop-up message box reads, “Maximize”.

Place your mouse on the edge of the window and the mouse changes shape. A two-headed arrow indicates “Resize Mode” where a four-headed arrow indicates “Move Mode”.

Click to maximize the window.

The last button is the Close Button which looks like an “X”. When you place your mouse on top of the button the pop-up message box reads, “Close”. When clicked the Close button closes the file and the program. To close the file without closing the program, click on the “X” below the Close Button.

Working Area
The main part of the window where you produce work is called the Working Area.

Scroll Bars
Scroll Bars let you move around the document to show parts of the document that may not be visible in the window. Scroll Bars are located on the right side and the bottom of the window. You can click on the arrow or you can drag the lift up and down. Note: You can move around a document by using the Up, Down, Left, and Right Arrows. You can also use the Page Up and Page Down keys.

Status Bar
The Status Bar is located at the bottom of the window directly above the Task Bar. This Status Bar provides information such as the page number, section, column, or other status such as “Ready”.