Vista Training 101: The Basics

One of the many possible reasons why you are reading thisarticle is that you decided to upgrade your Windows Operating System fromWindows XP to Vista. Another reasoncould be that you purchased a new computer desktop PC or a laptop and it comeswith pre-installed Windows Vista. For whatever reason or purpose you may have tolearn how Windows Vista works, this tutorial is intended to make your learningexperience worthy of your time.

TheStart Menu

The Start menu is the main gateway toyour computer’s programs, folders, and settings. It’s called a menu because itprovides a list of choices, just as a restaurant menu does. And as “Start”implies, it’s often the place that you’ll go to start or open things.

Use the Start menu to do these common activities:

· Start Programs

· Open commonly used folders

· Search for files, folders and programs

· Adjust computer settings

· Get help

· Turn off the computer

· Log off from Windows or switch to a differentuser account

Getting started with the Start menu

To open the Start menu, click the Start button in thelower left-hand corner of your screen or press the Window logo key on yourkeyboard.

TheStart menu is divided into three basic parts:

1. Thelarge left pane shows a short list of programs on your computer. Your computermanufacturer can customize this list. Therefore, its exact appearance will vary. Clicking All Programs displays a complete list ofprograms (more on this later).

2. Inthe lower left-hand corner is the search box, which allows you to look forprograms and files on your computer by typing in search terms.

3. Theright pane provides access to commonly used folders, files, settings andfeatures. It's also where you go to log off from Windowsor turn off your computer.

Opening programs from the Start menu

One of themost common uses of the Start menu is opening programs installed on yourcomputer. To open a program shown in the left pane of the Start menu, click it.The program opens and the Start menu closes.

If you don'tsee the program you want to open, click AllPrograms at the bottom of the left pane. Instantly, the left pane displaysa long list of programs in alphabetical order, followed by a list of folders:

Clicking oneof the program icons launches the program, and the Start menu closes. So what'sinside the folders? More programs.

Click Accessories (see screenshot below), forexample, and a list of programs that are stored in that folder appears. Clickany program to open it. To get back to the programs you saw when you firstopened the Start menu, click Back near the bottom of the menu.

If you'reever unsure what a program does, move the pointer over its icon or name. A boxappears that often contains a description of the program.

For example, pointing to Calculatordisplays this message: "Performs basic arithmetic tasks with an on-screencalculator." This trick works for items in the right pane of the Startmenu, too.

You mightnotice that over time, the lists of programs in your Start menu change. Thishappens for two reasons. First, when you install new programs, they get addedto the All Programs list. Second, the Start menu detects which programs you usethe most, and it places them in the left pane for quick access.

The Searchbox

The Searchbox is one of the most convenient ways to find things on your computer. Theexact location of the items doesn't matter—the Search box will scour yourprograms and all of the folders in your personal folder (which includesDocuments, Pictures, Music, Desktop, and other common locations). It will alsosearch your e‑mail messages, saved instant messages, appointments, andcontacts.

To use theSearch box, open the Start menu and start typing. You don't need to clickinside the box first. As you type, the search results appear above the Searchbox in the left pane of the Start menu.

Click anysearch result to open it. Or, click the Clear button to clear the searchresults and return to the main programs list. You can also click SearchEverywhere to search your entire computer, or click Search the Internet to openyour web browser and search the Internet for your term.

Besidesprograms, files and folders, and communications, the Search box also looksthrough your Internet favorites and the history of websites you've visited. Ifany of these web pages include the search term, they appear under a headingcalled "Favorites and History."

What's in the right pane?

The rightpane of the Start menu contains links to parts of Windows that you're likely touse frequently. Here they are, from top to bottom:

• Personal folder. Opens your personal folder, which is named for whoever is currently logged on to Windows. For example, if the current user is Molly Clark, the folder will be named Molly Clark. This folder, in turn, contains user-specific files, including the Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos folders.
  
  
• Documents. Opens the Documents folder, where you can store and open text files, spreadsheets, presentations, and other kinds of documents.
  
  
• Pictures. Opens the Pictures folder, where you can store and view digital pictures and graphics files.
  
  
• Music. Opens the Music folder, where you can store and play music and other audio files.
  
  
• Games. Opens the Games folder, where you can access all of the games on your computer.
  
  
• Recent Items. Opens a list of files you've opened recently. Click one of the files in the list to open it.
  
  
• Computer. Opens a window where you can access disk drives, cameras, printers, scanners, and other hardware connected to your computer.
  
  
• Network. Opens a window where you can access the computers and devices on your network.
  
  
• Connect To. Opens a window where you can connect to a new network.
  
  
• Control Panel. Opens Control Panel, where you can customize the appearance and functionality of your computer, add or remove programs, set up network connections, and manage user accounts.
  
  
• Default Programs. Opens a window where you can choose which program you want Windows to use for activities like web browsing, editing pictures, sending e‑mail, and playing music and videos.
  
  
• Help and Support. Opens Windows Help and Support, where you can browse and search Help topics about using Windows and your computer.
  

Power button (left); Lock button (right)

At the bottom of the right pane aretwo buttons: the Power button and the Lock button. Click the Power button toturn off your computer, or click the Lock button to lock your computer withoutturning it off. Once locked, your computer cannot be used until you unlock itwith your password.

Clicking thearrow next to the lock button displays a menu with additional options forswitching users, logging off, restarting, or shutting down.

DesktopFundamentals

The desktop is the main screen area thatyou see after you turn on your computer and log on to Windows. Like the top ofan actual desk, it serves as a surface for your work. When you open yourprograms or folders, they appear on the desktop. You can also put things on thedesktop, such as files and folders, and arrange them however you want.

Thetaskbaris the long horizontal bar at the bottom of your screen. Unlike the desktop,which can get obscured by the windows on top of it, the taskbar is visiblealmost all the time. It has four main sections:

1. TheStart button , which opens the Start menu.

2. TheQuick Launch toolbar, which lets you start programs with one click.

3. Themiddle section, which shows you which programs and documents you have open andallows you to quickly switch between them.

4. Thenotification area, which includes a clock and icons (small pictures) thatcommunicate the status of certain programs and computer settings.