Switching On Make sure that the floppy disk drive is empty Press the power switch on the front of the system unit You may also need to switch on the monitor.

Switching OnMake sure that the floppy disk drive is emptyPress the power switch on the front of the system unitYou may also need to switch on the monitorIf working on a network, you will need to type in a

user name and password (for security reasons the password will not be displayed on the screen)

After a short period, the Windows desktop will appear

REMEMBER: WORK SAFELY!!

The Windows Desktop

Icons

Taskbar

Start button

System Tray

Desktop IconsA directory/folder icon

Double-click on one of these to open the folder and select a file

A file icon Double-click on this to open the file in the application that created it, eg Word

An application icon

Double-click on this to launch the application

Recycle bin If you delete a file, it is stored here. You can retrieve it later if you change your mind

Printer icon You will learn more about printing later in this module

Taskbar

The most important part of the taskbar is the Start button – click on this to access all programs, documents and computer settings

Quick launch toolbar shows icons for frequently used programs

The main part of the taskbar will show which programs are currently running – each button represents a program

In the bottom right hand corner is the System Tray – if you hover your mouse over the time, today’s date will appear!

……..……………Main taskbar area………………….

Start button

Quick launch toolbar

System Tray

The Start ButtonUse the Start button to start an

applicationMove the mouse pointer over it

and click onceThe Start menu appearsIf your chosen application

doesn’t appear in the Start menu, click on All Programs

Move the mouse pointer to your required application and click once

The application will start!

The Parts of a Window

Title bar

Status Bar

Menu bar

Minimise, maximise and close buttons

What They All Mean

Title bar This shows the name of the program

Menu bar Has labels which when clicked on produce drop down menus with options to choose from

Status bar Gives information about the current status of the program you are working in

Minimise icon

Clicking on this makes the window disappear but a button appears on the taskbar. To restore the window, click once on the taskbar button

Maximise button

Clicking on this makes the window fill the screen

Restore button

Clicking on the restore icon will restore a maximised window to its previous size

Close button Click this once to close a window

Moving and Resizing a WindowTo move a window, click

on the title bar and drag the window to its new position

To resize a window, move the mouse pointer to any of the borders. A two-headed arrow will appear. Drag to make the window bigger or smaller

Switching Off Your ComputerClose all open programsClick on the Start buttonClick on Turn Off

ComputerClick on the Turn off iconMost modern computers

will switch themselves off automatically

Handy Hint: Alt + F4 will also bring up the Turn off computer dialogue box!

Restarting Your ComputerClick on the Start buttonClick on Turn Off

ComputerIn the dialogue box that

appears, click on Restart Click on OK

Handy Hint: PressingCtrl + Alt + Delete twice in quick succession will do the same job on a stand-alone PC!

Launching WordPad

Click on StartClick on All ProgramsClick on AccessoriesClick on WordPadWordPad will appear on

screen

Saving WordPad FilesType in some textClick on FileClick on Save AsThe Save As dialogue box

appearsType a file name into the

file name boxClick on the Save buttonClick on the Close icon to

exit WordPadAll WordPad files are

saved as Rich Text Format

To Save or To Save As?File, Save

Use this to save a file for the first time

Use this to save changes made to a file

When you select Save the original file will be overwritten

File, Save As Use this to save a file

using a different file name

Use this to save a file to a different location

Use this to save a different version of a file

Opening An Existing FileOpen WordPadClick on FileClick on OpenThe Open dialogue box

appearsUnless you choose

otherwise the contents of My Documents will be displayed

Double-click on the file name to open that file

Printing A FileClick on the print icon

to print one copy from the default printer

Click on File then Print to give you more options

You can choose which pages to print and how many copies

Make your selections then click on the OK button

Disk Drives On Your Computer

Most computers will have several drives

Windows assigns each drive a letter

Click on Start then My Computer to view the drives installed on your computer

If your PC is on a network you will also see Network drives

Changing the AppearanceClick on the View menu to

see the different viewsThumbnails will display

picturesTiles will display large iconsIcons will display smaller

iconsList will display a list in

columnsDetails will show you details

about each item

The C: DriveClick on Start then My

Computer Double-click on the icon

representing the hard disk (C:)A window will appear showing

the folders on the C: driveClick on the folders iconThis will show a more detailed

view

Creating a New FolderClick on Start then My

DocumentsFrom the File menu

select New then select Folder

Type in the folder name and press the Enter key

Click away from the newly created folder

Repeat as necessary

Expanding And Collapsing Folders

Click on a plus signAny folders contained

inside that folder will display in the left-hand pane

This is called expandingAn expanded folder will

now show with a minus sign

Click on the minus sign to collapse the view

A collapsed folder will now show with a plus sign

Expanded ECDL folder

Collapsed ECDL folder

Renaming A File

Right-click on the file name

Select Rename from the pop-up menu

Type in a new name for the file then press the Enter key

Click in an empty part of the same window

Sorting FilesYou can change the

order in which files are displayed in the right hand pane

Go to the View menu and select Details

Click on the bar above Name, Size, Type or Date Modified to show in ascending order

Click again to show the files in descending order

Selecting Files And FoldersRather than selecting

files and folders one by one, you can select multiple files

To select adjacent files, click on the first file, hold down the Shift key then click on the last file

To select non-adjacent files, click on the first file, hold down the Ctrl key then click on another file

Copying/Moving Files And Folders

Use the clipboard to copy and move files

Select the files you want to copyFrom the Edit menu click on CopySelect the folder where you want

the copies to go toFrom the Edit menu click on PasteTo move a file click on Edit then

CutSelect the folder where you want

the files/folder to go toFrom the Edit menu click on PasteHandy hint: you can use keyboard

shortcuts – Ctrl + X to cut, Ctrl + C to copy, Ctrl + V to paste

Copying/Moving Files Using Drag And Drop

Another way to move or copy file(s) is to select them and drag them to a new location

If you drag to a folder on the same drive the files will be moved

If you drag to a folder on a different drive, the files will be copied

Hold down the Ctrl key when you drag to copy files on the same drive

Deleting Files & FoldersSelect the files or folder you

want to deletePress the Delete key on the

keyboardIf the files were originally on

your hard disk, they will be stored in the Recycle bin

If you delete files from a floppy disk or a zip disk they are instantly deleted

The Recycle BinTemporary storage area for

deleted filesDouble-click on the Recycle Bin

icon on your Windows DesktopA window opens showing you the

Recycle Bin contentsTo permanently delete the files

click on File then Empty Recycle Bin

If you want to retrieve a file, right click on it and select Restore from the pop-up menu

Using Windows Explorer

You can also use Windows Explorer

Click on Start then All Programs then Accessories then Windows Explorer

A similar window to My Documents will appear

Handy Hint: Press the Windows key + E

Creating/Removing A Desktop Icon

Click on Start then All Programs and point at the program (eg Solitaire)

Right click on the program name and point at Send to and select Desktop (create shortcut)

The icon will appear on your desktop

To delete an icon, right click on it and select Delete

Click on Yes to confirm

Creating Other IconsCreate a shortcut to

your printer to gain quick access to your print jobs! Click on Start, Printers

and Faxes Drag the default printer

icon (the one with a tick next to it) onto the desktop

Double click on the icon to check the status of your print jobs!

Create a shortcut to a file that is used a lot! Find the file using My

Computer Drag the file name onto

the Desktop Double click on the icon

will open that file in the program that created it!

Basic System Information

Click on StartRight click on My Computer

and select PropertiesThe System Properties

window appears which will tell you the following: The current version of

Windows Who Windows is registered

to and the serial number Type and speed of

processor, followed by the amount of RAM installed

Changing The Background

Right click on an empty part of the desktop and select Properties

From the window that appears, click on the Desktop tab

In the Background section, scroll up and down and click on a background (the preview window will show you what it looks like)

When you find one you like, click on OK

Setting Up A Screensaver

Click on Start then Control Panel then Display

From the window that appears, click on the Screensaver tab

In the Screensaver section, scroll up and down and click on a screensaver (the preview window will show you what it looks like)

When you find one you like, click on Apply then OK

Date & Time / SoundTo change the date/time,

click on Start, Control Panel then Date & Time

Select your options then click on OK

To change the volume, click on Start, Control Panel then Sounds and Audio Devices

Select your options then click on OK

Installing/Uninstalling Software

Most software which comes on CD will automatically run

On screen instructions appear telling you how to proceed

To remove an application, see if there is an uninstall link on the Start menu

Otherwise click Start, Control Panel, Add/Remove programs

Click on the program you want to remove, then click on Change/Remove

Follow on-screen instructions

Installing A New PrinterMost printers will come

with an installation CDIf you don’t have one, try

the following steps: Click on Start, Printers

and Faxes Click on the Add printer

icon Follow the on-screen

instructions

Make sure you select the correct port – LPT1 or USB

Select the printer manufacturer and model

You will be asked if you want to make the printer the default printer (click on Yes or No) and if you want to print a test page – click on Yes

If the test page doesn’t print out, you can click to start the Printer troubleshooter!