Windows XP Basics Next. When you start your computer, you will see the following screen: STARTING YOUR COMPUTER Choose a session at the right to open.

Windows XP Basics

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When you start your computer, you will see the following screen:

STARTING YOUR COMPUTER

Choose a session at the right to open Windows XP. When you close a session, you automatically come back to this window. You may turn off your

computer from this window by clicking on « Turn off computer ».

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The Start Menu…

The login name is displayed on top of the

Start Menu.

Here we find programs that let you access

Internet and that are permanent to the Start

Menu. For example, we find Internet Explorer

(navigator) and Outlook Express (e-mail).

This part of the Start Menu includes the programs that you recently used. As you work with other programs,

that list will change. To delete a program from the

list, right-click on the program and click on

« Delete from the list ».

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The Start Menu…

You can easily find all your files from this list.

Check the settings on your computer

Here you can get Quick Support options with « Help and Support », search folders, files or

others with « Search » and execute different

programs with « Run… ».

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The Start Menu…

Click here to display all the programs that are

installed on your computer.

When you have finished,

you have two choices  : Log Off

Or

Turn Off Computer

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The Start Menu…

In the Log Off menu, you may "Switch Users" or "Log Off".  By switching users, your programs and session will remain

open, but hidden to the next user.  The next user must click on their session to activate their programs.  To close your

 user session, click Log Off.

Once you have finished, click on « Turn Off ».

This will let you  Standby (Hibernation mode), Turn Off (Shut down entire system) or Restart your computer (typically used when new programs are installed).  If you chose to "Turn Off" your computer, make sure no other session is

open. See the previous option « Log Off ».

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The Start Menu…The task bar includes the following elements :

1. The Start Menu (Information discussed above);

2. Shortcut Icons located beside the Start Menu.

3. All Open programs in your session;

4. In this area you will find system notices, system activities, specific program settings,   reception of e-mail messages etc...  These icons are automatically inserted into the Windows XP taskbar by specific programs and allow a shortcut to the settings of the program

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A valuable icon on the desktop is the Recycle Bin.

Recycle Bin : When you delete a file or folder in any program, it goes directly into the Recycle Bin. It remains in the Recycle Bin until you empty the Recycle Bin. This gives you a chance to restore these files or folders if they were deleted by mistake.

If you want to empty the recycle bin, right click on the Recycle Bin icon and choose “Empty the Recycle Bin”.  NOTE : If you empty the Recycle Bin, you will no longer be able to restore these files or folders.

When you delete a file or folder, the recycle bin fills itself with crumpled paper and looks like the icon you see here.

RECYCLE BIN

Recycle empty Recycle fullNext

USING ELEMENTS IN ACCESSORIES

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By clicking on Start, All Programs and selecting Accessories you will find programs to help you in your day-to-day activities.

We will start with Accessibility, Communications, Entertainment, Interactive Microsoft Training and System Tools.

Accessibility: It lets you adjust the settings on your computer – display (zoom), sounds or use of the mouse or keyboard (we also find it

in the control panel).

Communications: To connect to a network.

Entertainment: You find the sound control and

recorder.

Tour Windows XP: Interactive training on XP.

System Tools: For the maintenance of your

computer (We also find it in the control panel).

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Calculator: You can use the calculator in

standard display to make simple

calculations or for more complex calculations in

scientific mode.

Notepad: Notepad lets you modify or create text files which do not need formatting and are no

larger than 64 Kb.

Paint: Lets you change, create or display

images. You can paste an image into another document or use it as

your wallpaper.

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Windows Explorer: The storage capacity of

a hard disk is huge; Windows Explorer

displays all files and folders that are installed

on your computer.

WordPad:

Word Pad is a text editor that will allow you to open or create text

files that do incorporate some formatting and is a useful if you do not

have a specific document creating

software.

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What is a shortcut?Shortcuts: A shortcut makes it easier for you when you use the same programs frequently. It is a quick way to open your application or file folder. They are represented by an icon with a curved arrow . You can create as many

shortcuts as you want.

Here is how you would create a shortcut on your desktop from the Start Menu:

1. Click on Start.

2. Drag your mouse on All Programs and then on Accessories.

3. In Accessories, click on WordPad while keeping your finger on the right mouse button.

4. Slowly move (drag) the file to an open space on your desktop and let go of the button.

5. In the displayed menu, chose Copy Here.

6. To open the program, simply double-click on the shortcut.

Once you have read these steps, please click on the

left mouse button to proceed to the next step.

Shortcuts icons

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Shortcut Curved Arrow

Shortcut

How to create a folder on the desktop?

1. Right click on the mouse while on the desktop.  Select New, then select Folder. .

2. Type in a name for your folder.

3. Double-click on the folder to open it.

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Control Panel

To open the Control Panel, click on Start and Control Panel.

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This window will be displayed

Lets have a more detailed look at those options:

Appearance and Themes: It will let you modify the Theme of your

computer, the desktop background, chose a screen saver and modify your screen

resolution. You can also change the appearance of the

task bar or the Start Menu.We will have a closer look at this option later on.

Network and Internet Connections : Lets you connect

to a network or to Internet.

Add or Remove Programs: Lets you change or uninstall

programs.

Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices: Lets you modify the

settings of the speakers and set the volume of your computer.

Performance and Maintenance: This option will let you

manage your computer. You can see basic information

about your computer, Adjust visual effects, Free up space on

your hard disk, Back up your data or Rearrange items on your hard disk to make programs run

faster.

Printers and Other Hardware: Lets you change the settings of your

printer, your mouse, your keyboard and other hardware.

User Accounts : People who share your computer have their own

personalized desktop and parameters.

Date, Time, Language and Regional Options:

Lets you change the current date and time, your

format and allows you to add other languages.

Accessibility Options: It lets you adjust the settings on your computer – display (zoom), sounds, special options for the mouse or

keyboard. Several of these features are of great

advantage to people with physical, visual or hearing

impairments.

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Let’s have a closer look at Appearance and Themes

Click on « Appearance and Themes ».

The following window will display : Click on « Change the computer’s theme ».

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Appearance and Themes

The following window will display :

Themes will let you change the appearance of Windows. If you

want Windows to look like previous versions, choose

Windows Classic by clicking on the drop-down menu Windows

and buttons.

Click on the tab “Desktop”

Here, you can change the appearance of your desktop. Chose an image on

your left and click on Apply. Return on your desktop to view the changes.

Click on the tab “Screen Saver”

The screen saver appears when your computer remains idle for a certain

period of time. To change the screen saver, click on the small arrow located at the right of Settings button. Chose an option and click on Preview. If the screen saver suits you, click on Apply

to save the settings.

Click on the tab “Appearance”

You can change the appearance of your windows and your desktop. Click on the small arrows at the end of each menu to choose your options and click

on Apply to view the changes.

Click on the tab “Settings”

In this window, we can see that the screen resolution is 1024x768 pixels. If you want a different resolution, you

use the small slider between Less and More. If you want a lower resolution, you move towards Less, if you want a higher resolution, you move towards

More. Click on Apply to view the changes.

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Let’s have a closer look at User Accounts   

Click on « User Accounts »

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User Accounts

The following window will display:

Section

« Pick a task…»

1. Change an account: Lets you change an existing account.

2. Create a new account: Lets you create new user accounts for

your account.

3. Change the way users log on or off: Lets you change users

sessions.

Section « or pick an account to change » means the same as the step Change an account,

except you access it faster.

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End of Windows XP Basic Quick-Clics

Demo

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