1.Introduction
Windows
XP (XP Stands for eXPerience) is the most popular an operating system.
There are two different version of Windows XP, namely: Windows XP Home
Edition and Windows XP Professional Edition.
Features of the Windows System
Most
PCs run on a operating system called Windows. This popular tutorial
deals with the Windows XP Professional version of the Windows operating
system. The operating system is what allows you as the user to access
the information in the computer. To understand to use a computer, it is
important to know several features of the Windows system.
2.Starting system of computer
We know
that a computer is simply a machine which works under the control of a
set of instructions called program. For a computer to be ready to work,
all its peripherals should be checked and activated, and the
relationship between hardware and software needs to be established. For
this purpose, a special type of software is used, which is called as an
Operating System.
Starting process of computer varies from one operating system to
another. There are different processor to enter into the programs. It
depends upon the operating system installed into the computer. So, you
have to know about operating system of computer before running the
programs.
There are mainly two types of Operating system used in the computer:
1. Ms. Dos (Microsoft Disk Operating System)
2. Ms. Windows (Microsoft Windows 3.11, ’95, ’98, ‘Me, ’00, ‘XP..)
However, the inner process of starting your computer is same, which is called Booting.
Booting:
The process of loading the system files of the operating system from
the disk into the computer memory to complete the circuitry requirement
of the computer system is called booting. The system files of MS. DOS
are:
· IO.SYS: It checks all the input and output devices and their activities and make them ready
· MS. DOS.SYS: It builds the relation between the hardware and the application software-acting as interface.
· COMMAND.COM: It helps to make the instructions given to the computer using the different programs executable.
IOS.SYS AND MSDOS.SYS are hidden files but COMMAND.COM is visible.
Types of Booting:
There are two types of booting:
· Cold
Booting: If the computer is in off state and we boot the computer by
pressing the power switch ‘ON’ from the CPU box then it is called as
cold booting.
· Warm
Booting: It the computer is already ‘ON’ and we restart it by pressing
the ‘RESET’ button from the CPU box or CTRL, ALT and DEL key simultaneously from the keyboard then it is called warm booting.
3.How to start a computer in Ms. Windows mode?
There is nothing special you need to start this system. Just,
1. Switch ON the Power Supply.
2. Switch ON the CPU and,
3. Switch ON the screen (Monitor).
Then,
wait for sometime, you will directly enter into the windows Environment
(i.e. Desktop) and see the following window. With the help of this
Environment, you can perform any types of work related to the computer.
4.Terms used in Windows XP.
· The Desktop
The
background area of the computer screen is called the desktop. It is the
main interface to computer. The desktop is your work surface. It is the
screen you see once your computer has finished booting up and you are
ready to get started.
· Taskbar
The taskbar appear at the bottom of the windows desktop; it lets you launch and manage programs.
· The Start Button
The
start button is located on the taskbar. From Start Button you can do
almost everything: Start Programs, Access your files, shutdown computer
and much more.
· Icon
The
small pictures are shortcuts to programs called icons. Small pictures
that represent command and programs in windows. You can launch programs
by double click icons to start a program.
·Wall Paper
The image on your desktop is called Wallpaper or Desktop Background.
The Desktop
· My Computer
You
can use my computer icon to locate files, folder and hard disk or CD
drive, zip drive or control panel, mapped drive or other computer
connected to the network.
·My Documents
My document is desktop folder that provide you with a convenient
place to store documents, graphics or other files you
want to access quickly. If you save any file in Ms. Paint or Ms. Word
program automatically saved in my documents unless you choose
different location.
·My Network places
A
network is collection of interconnected two or more computers. It helps
to share, copy, move, delete, edit, print etc from one
computer to another staying on one computer.
· Internet Explorer
It helps to starts the deleted files on your hard disk. You can restore and emptize from recycle bin.
Start Menu
5.About the start menu in Windows XP.
The Start menu
In
the bottom left-hand corner of the Windows screen is a button labeled
“start”. This button displays a menu that gives you access to many of
the computer’s features. Once the start menu is opened, all you have to
do is highlight what you want and more options will appear. Here, we
will discuss the many features and uses of the Start menu from top to
bottom.
 |
| Classic View Start Menu |
· All Programs
This
prompt will open another menu filled with more options. These options
are all programs that the computer can run. To see what the Programs
menu has to offer, refer to the Programs page.
·My Documents
This item allows you to temporarily store saved works.
· Control Panel
This
item access to Network Connections; Printers and Faxes; and Taskbar and
Start Menu. Through these options you can customize the
appearance and functions of your computer.
· Search
This menu allows you to find anything on the computer or on the internet.
·Help and Support
This
feature will open the Windows Help and Support Menu. To use this
feature, refer to the Help Option section of level 1.
·Run
This item allows you to run programs located on a disk, CD, or on the Internet.
·Log Off
This allows you to log off the computer, ( It is not important for use in your own home or in acomputer lab)
6.About Basic control in windows XP.
Most of what you do in
Windows XP will be done using a utilities buttons, menus, dialog box or a
window. This chapter shows you how you can use these structures.
ñ Structure of window
All
windows are similar in their structure. It is a rectangular frame. As
an example we will look at the basic window structure from My Computer
window.
Ì Title Bar
It
is located at the top of the window. It contains name of the program,
name of file, minimize, maximize, restore and close buttons.
Ì Maximize
This function allows you to concentrate on on e application by making its window cover the entire screen
Ì Minimize
This
function allows you to keep an application running, but remove it from
the desktop area so that other applications can be accessed. The
minimized program becomes a bar at the bottom of the screen, and can be
accessed by clinking on the bar.
Ì Resize/Restore
If
an application window is not maximized, it can be resized so that more
or less contain can be seen. If you move your mouse pointer to one of
the edges of the window, it will become a two-way arrow. At
This
point, hold down the left mouse button and drag the perimeter of the
window in our out. When you release the mouse button, the window will
resize to your specifications.
Ì Close 
This
function closes and exits the application you are running. However, if
you are running an application such as Microsoft word, the window of
each document will have a close button, and clicking this button will
only close that particular document, and not the entire program, it is
important to always save your work before using the close feature, as
any unsaved changes will be lost.
Ì Menu
Most
of the windows will have a menu bar near the top, displaying the menu
options relevant to a particular window. Simply click on a menu option
to reveal a drop down list of further options within it. As a n
example, we look at the view menu from My Computer window.
Ì Dialog Boxes
Simple
setting can be made from menu options, other setting need to be made
from dialog box. Dialog box appear with Tabs, Check Boxes, Radio buttons
and Action buttons etc.
Ì Tab
Click on the appropriate one to display its setting.
Ì Check Boxes
Click
on as many as required.
A trick indicates that the option is active. If you click on it again it will be turn off. If an option is dimmed out, it cannot be selected.
A trick indicates that the option is active. If you click on it again it will be turn off. If an option is dimmed out, it cannot be selected.
Ì Radio Buttons
Only one out of group of radio buttons can selected. If you click
another radio button, the previously selected one is automatically
turned off.
Ì Action buttons
OK
will save the setting selected and close the dialog box or window.
Cancel will close the window without saving the amended setting-click on
it if you’ve made a
mistake. Apply will save the setting selected so far but will not close the window, in case you want to make further changes.
As an example we will look at the dialog boxes of bolder option from my computer window.
Ì Tools Bar
Tool bar contains the short cut icon of the menu bar. It helps to work with the file directly by clicking icon.
Ì Scroll Bar
u Drag the slider along the scroll bar towards one of the two scroll arrows to scroll in that direction.
u Click on the scroll bar to display the next window’s amount of information towards the scroll arrow arrested to it.
u Click
on one of the scroll arrows to scroll just a little in that direction.
Hold down your mouse button to scroll continuously.
Ì Resize Pointers.
If window is not maximized of minimized, it can be resize.
u Place the mouse arrow anywhere on the edge of a window. It will change to a double header resize pointer.
u Drag
the pointer outwards to increase the size of the window or inwards to
reduce the size. Release the mouse button when the window is the desired
size.
7.About task bar properties in windows XP.
Taskbar Properties
It is used to change the task bar appearance and notification area
u Right click on taskbar properties.
u Click on Properties.
Note: Check and unchecked to change the properties lock the taskbar.
It locks the taskbar if checked
Auto hide the taskbar
Auto hid the taskbar if it is hot required if checked.
Show quick launch
Shows the quick launch bar on task bar if checked.
Show the Clock
Shows the clock icon on taskbar, if checked.
Hide inactive icons
Hide the inactive icons of taskbar if checked.
Then the taskbar properties dialog box will appear.
u Click on Apply.
u Click on OK.
8. About Turn Off computer options.
When this phrase is
clicked, the Shut Down menu will appear, allowing you to hibernate shut
down, or Restart the computer. To use this feature, refer to the Start
Up and Shut Down portion of Level 1.
· Stand by
When
a computer is left alone for a while, it goes into “sleep” or “stand
by” mode to save energy. In stand by mode, the computer slows down its
inner processes because they are not being used. The computer also
blacks out the monitor. If
You
wish to use a computer and the monitor is dark, check to see if it is
in stand by before you try to start it up. Usually the computer has a
green light on or near the power button that signifies that it is on,
but in stand by mode. To “wake it up,” move the mouse or hit a key on
the keyboard. If you do not realize that the computer is in stand by and
you try to turn it on with the power button, the computer will wake up
and a dialogue box will appear, but it will not damage the computer.
·Turn Off
Click
here and Windows XP saves any unsaved work before turning off your
computer Most newer – type monitors are also turn off automatically.
·Restart
This
also saves your work and shuts down your computer, but it starts it up
again right way Click on this option after making changes to some of
your windows setting and you want these to take effect, or after
installing some programs.
·Hibernate
Hibernate
only appears on some computers. If you don’t see it initially, hold
down the shift key and stand by button is replaced by the hibernate
button. Its function is similar to the stand by mode, but it also saves
whatever is in memory at the time to your hard disk. So when you turn
your PC back on, the memory state is loaded automatically on your
desktop and open programs appear just as you left them- you can then
simply carry on from the point you left off. The Hibernate mode is not
as sage as the turn off option so try and avoid using it
.Switch User
Click
here if someone else wants to use your computer for few minutes. The
welcome screen is displayed, from where you can log on a new user.
·Steps to Log Off/Switch User on your Computer
Ì Click on Start Button.
Ì Click on Log Off option
ÌClick on Switch User/Log Off button.
9.Most reliable method to search application program.
Most Reliable method to search application programs:
- Click on Start button.
- Choose search
- Choose for Files and Folders and click on it; again click on All files or Folders option in case of Windows ‘XP.
Then the following dialog box will appear.
- Type any above required application file name at the search for files or folders (All or part of the file name) box.
- Select My computer or Local Hard Drives from the look in drop down menu.
- Click on Search now (Search) button.
Then, the icon of the selected program will display
- Give double click on it.
Then you will directly enter into the program.
Note:
You can also run the applications by using its application file name.
Start-Run-type application file name and click on ok.
Wild Card:
You can use the following character at the time of searching any types of unknown item inside the computer.
1. Question mark (?) – It represents single unknown characters.
2. Asterisk or Star mark (*) – It represents group of unknown characters.
