Vista Training 101: The Basics

One of the many possible reasons why you are reading this article is that you decided to upgrade your Windows Operating System from Windows XP to Vista.  Another reason could be that you purchased a new computer desktop PC or a laptop and it comes with pre-installed Windows Vista. For whatever reason or purpose you may have to learn how Windows Vista works, this tutorial is intended to make your learning experience worthy of your time.

The Start Menu

The Start menu is the main gateway to your computer’s programs, folders, and settings. It’s called a menu because it provides 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 different user account

Getting started with the Start menu

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

The Start menu is divided into three basic parts:

1. The large left pane shows a short list of programs on your computer. Your computer manufacturer can customize this list. Therefore,  its exact appearance will vary. Clicking All Programs displays a complete list of programs (more on this later).
2. In the lower left-hand corner is the search box, which allows you to look for programs and files on your computer by typing in search terms.
3. The right pane provides access to commonly used folders, files, settings and features. It's also where you go to log off from Windows or turn off your computer.

Opening programs from the Start menu

One of the most common uses of the Start menu is opening programs installed on your computer. 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't see the program you want to open, click All Programs at the bottom of the left pane. Instantly, the left pane displays a long list of programs in alphabetical order, followed by a list of folders:

Clicking one of the program icons launches the program, and the Start menu closes. So what's inside the folders? More programs.

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

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

For example, pointing to Calculator displays this message: "Performs basic arithmetic tasks with an on-screen calculator." This trick works for items in the right pane of the Start menu, too.

You might notice that over time, the lists of programs in your Start menu change. This happens for two reasons. First, when you install new programs, they get added to the All Programs list. Second, the Start menu detects which programs you use the most, and it places them in the left pane for quick access.

The Search box

The Search box is one of the most convenient ways to find things on your computer. The exact location of the items doesn't matter—the Search box will scour your programs and all of the folders in your personal folder (which includes Documents, Pictures, Music, Desktop, and other common locations). It will also search your e?mail messages, saved instant messages, appointments, and contacts.

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

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

Besides programs, files and folders, and communications, the Search box also looks through your Internet favorites and the history of websites you've visited. If any of these web pages include the search term, they appear under a heading called "Favorites and History."

What's in the right pane?

The right pane of the Start menu contains links to parts of Windows that you're likely to use 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 are two buttons: the Power button and the Lock button. Click the Power button to turn off your computer, or click the Lock button to lock your computer without turning it off. Once locked, your computer cannot be used until you unlock it with your password.

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

Desktop Fundamentals

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

The taskbar is 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 visible almost all the time. It has four main sections:

1. The Start button , which opens the Start menu.
2. The Quick Launch toolbar, which lets you start programs with one click.
3. The middle section, which shows you which programs and documents you have open and allows you to quickly switch between them.
4. The notification area, which includes a clock and icons (small pictures) that communicate the status of certain programs and computer settings.

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