Introduction to Windows

The Desktop

• The Desktop is the main screen. It is the work area where dialog
boxes, windows, icons, and menus appear.

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Desktop Icons
• The Desktop is where you’ll find icons (small pictures) for many of
your most frequently used programs. You’ll most likely see icons for
Computer, Documents, Recycle Bin, and Internet Explorer.

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Desktop

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Desktop Components
• Icons – graphic image (pictures ) that represents an object available to your computer.
• Desktop picture or background-Displays the colors and graphics of your desktop; you can change
the desktop background to look the way you want it such as using a picture. Also called wallpaper.
• Desktop-your workplace on the screen.
• Start Button-provides access to Windows 11 programs, documents, and information on the
Internet. Generally located in the lower left corner of the desktop.

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• Program buttons-launches Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player,
Windows Explorer and the program buttons that you have chosen to
pin to the taskbar.
• Taskbar-contains the Start button and buttons that give you quick
access to common tools and the programs currently running.
Generally located along the bottom of the desktop.

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• Notification area-shows the notification icons, the current date and time and lets
you set the clock. Also known as the system tray and generally located in the
lower right corner of the desktop.
• Recycle Bin icon-contains files and folders that you delete. The deleted files are
not gone until you empty the Recycle bin.
• My Computer: My Computer allows the user to explore the contents of their
computer drives as well as manage their computer files

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The Taskbar

• The taskbar enables you to move between open windows and

provides access to the resources of your computer.
• Using the taskbar, you activate a window that is covered by other
windows by clicking the program icon.

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The Notification Area

Pop-up window

Open Action Center

link

Action Center icon Notification area

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Creating folder while on the Desktop
1. Right-click anywhere on the Desktop (not on
icon)
2. Point at ‘New’ with the mouse pointer
3. Click on ‘Folder’ in the dropdown menu and
4. Give your folder a name.
5. Punch the ‘Enter Key’ OR punch the ‘Tab
key’ (to save your folder name)
Renaming items (file, folder, image etc.)
1. Click on the item
2. Right-click on the item
3. Click on ‘Rename’ from the list
4. Write the name of your item
5. Save the item name
Opening folder, file, image, or Application
1. Right-click on the item (folder, file, image or Application)
2. Click on ‘Open’ or double click on the item.

Deleting Folder or File to the Recycle Bin

1. Right-click on the folder you want to delete
2. Click on ‘Delete’ from the list

Restoring deleted folder or File from the Recycle Bin back to

the Desktop
1. Open the Recycle Bin
2. Search for the folder or file you want to restore to the Desktop
3. Double click on the folder or file and click on ‘Restore’ or Right-click
on the file or folder and click on ‘Restore’
Deleting folder or file from the Recycle Bin (permanent deletion)
1. Open the Recycle Bin
2. Find the item (file, folder, image etc.) you want to delete permanently
3. Right-click on the item and click ‘Delete’
4. Read the prompt and Click on ‘Yes’
Modifying icon size on the Desktop
1. Right-click anywhere on the Desktop (Not on icon)
2. Point at ‘View’
3. Click on ‘Large icons’
4. Repeat step 1 and step 2
5. Click on ‘Medium icons’
6. Repeat step 1 and step 2
7. Click on ‘Small icons’
Hiding all icons on the Desktop
1. Right-click anywhere on the Desktop (Not on icon)
2. Point at ‘View’
3. Click on ‘Show desktop icons’

Arranging all icons on the Desktop

1. Right-click anywhere on the Desktop (Not on icon)
2. Point at ‘Sort by’
3. Click on any of the following: ‘Name’ or ‘Size’, or ‘Item
type’ or ‘Date modified’
Refreshing the computer (PC)
1. Right-click anywhere on the Desktop (Not on icon)
2. Click on ‘Refresh’
3. Continuously punch and release the F5 key.

Creating Folder on the Desktop while in open file or document

1. Click on the ‘Search Area’ located at the Left side of the ‘Taskbar’
2. Type the word ‘Notepad’ in the Search Area
3. Open Notepad
4. Click on the ‘File tab’
5. Click on ‘Save as’
6. Click on ‘Browse’
7. On the Left side of the open widow click on ‘Desktop’
8. Click on ‘New Folder’ at the top, to create a new folder
9. Name the folder
10.Open the folder
11.Where you see ‘File name’ give your file a name.
12.Click on ‘Save’ at the button of the current window
13.Close the windows and locate your folder on the Desktop, open it to see your file.
Setting the Desktop background with default image(s)
1. Right-click anywhere on the Desktop (Not on icon)
2. Click on ‘Personalize’
3. Under ‘Choose your picture’ click on any of the default pictures
4. Close the active windows to see your new background image on the desktop

Setting the Desktop background with custom (your own) image(s)

1. Right-click anywhere on the Desktop (Not on icon)
2. Click on ‘Personalize’
3. Under ‘Choose your picture’, click on ‘Browse’
4. Locate and choose your picture
5. Click on ‘Choose picture’ and close the active window
6. Under ‘Choose a fit’, click on ‘Fill’. You may try all the available options.
Sleep, Shut down, Restart
1. Click on ‘Start’ at the left corner of the Taskbar or punch the ‘Windows key’
2. Click on ‘the power button’
3. Click on ‘Sleep’ to put the PC at sleep or click on ‘Shut down’ to power off the
PC or click on ‘Restart’ to restart the PC.

Setting the PC time and date

1. Right-click on the ‘Time and Date’ at the right corner of the Taskbar
2. Click on ‘Adjust time/date’
3. ‘Set time automatically’ must be turn off in order to set your time and date
4. Under ‘set time and date manually’ click on ‘Change’ now, set the time and
the date of your PC
5. To set the Time zone ‘Set time zone automatically’ must be turn off
6. Under ‘Time zone’ select your time zone from the list of time zones
Adjusting the PC speaker volume
1. Click on the speaker icon, located at the right corner on the Taskbar
2. Click on the volume and adjust it

Changing the position of the Taskbar (Top, Right, Button and Left)
1. Right-click anywhere on the Taskbar (not on icon)
2. Click on ‘Lock the taskbar’ (only if, ‘Lock the taskbar’ is checked.)
3. Click and hold the Taskbar
4. Drag it at the top of the Desktop, then, release the click button
5. Repeat step 3
6. Drag it at the Left of the Desktop or at the Right of the Desktop, then, release the click
button
Looking at the Taskbar setting
1. Right-click anywhere on the Taskbar (not on icon)
2. Click on ‘Taskbar settings’

Creating user accounts in ‘Control Panel’

1. Search for ‘Control panel’
2. Open it
3. Click on ‘User Accounts’
4. Click on ‘User Accounts’
5. Click on ‘Manage another account’
6. Click on ‘Add a new user in pc settings’
7. Under other Users click on ‘Add someone else to this PC’
8. Under ‘Who’s going to use this PC’ provide the user name
9. Provide your password and confirm it in the next box
10.Provide the security questions and answers (some PCs may not have #10).
11.Click on ‘Next’ to complete the setup
12.You should see your newly created account (A New User or Account).
Logging into Your Newly Created Account on Windows 8
1. Go to the ‘Start Menu’, at your upper right hand, click on ‘User’
2. Click on your account and provide the password
3. Punch the ‘Enter key’ to login

Logging into Your Newly Created Account on Windows 10

1. Press Win + L (to lock your PC) or ‘Restart the PC’
2. Click on your account and provide the password
Punch the ‘Enter key’ to login
Setting Parental control in ‘Control Panel’
1. Follow “Your lecturer” instructions

Checking for Hard Drive space before purchasing a PC

1. Press Win + E or click on the ‘File Explorer’
2. On the left side of the open window click on ‘This PC’. (Note: ‘This PC’ may
be rename)
3. You should see the PC Hard drive capacity.
4. recommendation: A minimum 500GB Hard drive is highly recommended
Checking for the minimum of 4GB RAM, 2.00 GHz processing speed, and 64bit System type.
Note these are the minimum system requirements for any good PC in addition to the physical
ports already discussed.
1. Right-click on ‘This PC’
2. Click on ‘Properties’
3. You should see: ‘Processor’, ‘Installed memory (RAM)’, ‘System type’

Some enhancement tools (Magnifier, On-Screen Keyboard, Snipping Tool)

The Magnifier
1. Search for ‘Magnifier’
2. Open it
+ -
3. Click on the ‘ ’ to zoom in, or click on the ‘ ‘ to zoom out.
The On-Screen Keyboard
1. Search for ‘On-Screen Keyboard’
2. Open it

The Snipping Tool

1. Search for ‘Snipping Tool’
2. Open it
3. Click on ‘New’

How to ‘Pin’ application (app) on the Taskbar

1. Right-click on the application you wish to pin to the Taskbar
2. Click on ‘Pin to taskbar’

How to ‘Unpin’ application from the Taskbar

1. Right-click on the desire application you wish to unpin from the Taskbar
Click on ‘Unpin from taskbar’
How to send single file on external storage device
1. Right-click on the file you want to send
2. Point at ‘Send to’
3. In the dropdown menu click on the device you want to send the file to

How to send multiple files on external storage device

1. Select all the files you want to send at once (hold down the ‘Ctrl’ key, click on each
item you want to send)
2. Release the ‘Ctrl’ key
3. Right-click ONLY on any of the selected files
4. Point at ‘Send to’
5. Click on the device you want to send to
How to compress (reduce) the size of file(s) or folder(s)
1. Right-click on the item you want to reduce
2. Click on ‘Properties’
3. Click on ‘Advanced’
4. Click on ‘Compress contents to save disk space’
5. Click ‘Ok’ and close the window

How to create a Zip folder?

1. Right-click on the folder
2. Point to ‘Send to’
3. Click on ‘Compressed (zipped) folder’

How to create shortcut for file, folder, apps to the Desktop?

1. Right-click on the item
2. Point at ‘Send to’
3. Click on ‘Desktop (create shortcut)’
Creating a Gmail account (E-Mail Address)
1. Open browser (Note: you must be connected to the internet)
2. Type ‘www.gmail.com’
3. Punch the ‘Enter Key’
4. Click on ‘Create an account’
5. Fill in the form
6. Click on ‘Next’
7. Fill in the form
8. Click ‘Next’
9. Accept the ‘Terms and Condition’
Congratulations! You have successfully create an email account.
How to attach, send (cc and bcc), forward, reply, reply all, download document(s) on Gmail.
Sending (cc and bcc) file(s) or folder(s)
• Click on ‘Compose’
• Provide the email address(es) of the recipient(s) where you see ‘Recipients’ or ‘To’. (Note: each email address is
separated by a comma (,))
• Click on ‘cc’ or ‘bcc’. (Note: this will be visible after clicking on ‘Recipients’).
• Provide the ‘Carbon copy’ or the ‘Blank carbon copy’ address(es)
• Provide the subject of the email where you see ‘Subject’
• Write the body (message) of your email under the ‘Subject’ area. (Note: Recipients, Subject, and Message areas)
are separated with horizontal lines.
• Click on ‘Send’ to send your email.
Sending email with attachment(s)
• Log into your Gmail
• Click on ‘Compose’
• Click on ‘Attach files’
• Select your file(s) and click on ‘Open’ or double click on the file
• Wait until your file(s) are uploaded, (the waiting time depend on your internet speed and the file(s)
size).
How to Reply to an email
• Log into your Gmail account
• Open the email you want to reply
• At the button of the email you will see ‘Reply’ and ‘Forward’
• Or click on the three vertical dots located at the right side of the open email
• Click on ‘Reply’ or ‘Forward’
• Click on ‘Send’

Note: You can only see ‘Reply all’ if the email was sent to more
than one person
Working with Google Drive
• Log into your Gmail account
• Click on ‘Google apps’ located at the right side of your email
• Click on ‘Drive’
• Click on ‘My Drive’

• Click on ‘Upload files’ or ‘Upload folder’

• Select your file or folder and click on ‘Open’

Logging out of your Gmail account

• Click on ‘Google Account’ located at the right side of your
Gmail account
• Click on ‘Sign out of account’
How to install application
1. Right-click on the application you want to install
2. Click on ‘Run as administrator’
How to uninstall an application?
1. Search for ‘Control Panel’ and open it
2. Click on ‘Programs’
3. Click on ‘Programs and features’
4. Click on any application you want to uninstall
5. At the top of the open window you will see ‘uninstall’ or ‘right-click’ on the
application
6. Click on ‘uninstall’
7. Read the prompt and click on ‘continue’