Chapter 5
Getting Started with
Windows XP
1
What’s inside and on the CD?
• In this chapter, you will learn how to:
– Start and shut down Windows XP
– Launch programs
– Work with Windows taskbar
– Customize your screen-based desktop
– Designate printers, using Control Panel
– Use Windows Help and Support Center
– Find information about your Windows version and
service packs
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How do I turn on my computer and
start Windows XP?
• To start Windows XP, turn your computer on and
Windows starts automatically
• You may have to enter a user name and password
– Windows password allows you to view, change, and
delete files
– Network password allows access to network
resources such as shared files and printers
• When Windows XP desktop appears, your computer is
ready to use
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How do I turn on my computer and
start Windows XP?
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How do I turn on my computer and
start Windows?
• If computer looks like it is off, but power light is on,
computer is in power-saving mode. Touch any key or
the mouse to start computer
• If computer displays “non-system disk” during boot
process, floppy disk is probably left in disk drive.
Remove, then press any key to continue
• When prompted, type password, then press Enter
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What’s on the Windows XP desktop?
• Windows XP desktop is gateway to all tasks performed
with PC
– Screen seen when boot process is complete
– Remains in background as you use other software
– Use controls on Windows desktop to:
• Start a program
• Switch from one program to another
• Access information about your computer hardware
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What’s on the Windows XP desktop?
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What’s on the Windows XP desktop?
• Desktop contains small graphics called icons
– Each icon represents a program, hardware device,
folder, or document
– Double-clicking icon gives access to component it
represents
• A shortcut icon provides alternative access to programs
and documents
• Desktop provides work area where programs and files
appear in “windows”
• The pointer is used to select and manipulate on-screen
objects
• The taskbar contains controls to help launch programs,
switch between windows, and access system settings
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How do I use the taskbar?
• Taskbar is divided into several areas
– Start button provides access to:
•
•
•
•
Programs
Documents
System settings
Help
– Quick Launch toolbar gives one-click access to
frequently used programs
– Program buttons show what’s open on desktop
– Notification area:
• Displays time
• Contains shortcuts to programs, and utilities
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How do I use the taskbar?
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How do I use the taskbar?
• To find out what the taskbar does, point to it and wait.
ScreenTip appears with icons title
• On some computers, taskbar is set to disappear when
not in use. To reveal, pass mouse pointer off bottom
edge of screen
• Computer keeps track of time and date
– Clock used when files are created or modified
– Always displayed in taskbar notification area
– To see date, point to time and wait a second
– Automatically keeps track of daylight savings
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How do I use the taskbar?
• Taskbar’s Volume icon lets you adjust sound level
• Program buttons on taskbar represent open, or
“running”, programs
• Add toolbars and icons to taskbar by right-clicking any
empty area on taskbar
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How do I use the taskbar?
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How do I arrange icons and windows
on the desktop?
• To create new icon on desktop:
– Right-click any empty area on desktop
– Select New
– Select icon type from list
– Assign name
• To delete icon, right-click, then click delete
• To arrange icons
– Right-click anywhere
– Select Arrange Icons By
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How do I arrange icons and windows
on the desktop?
• Also arrange icons by dragging to the new location
– Right-click anywhere on desktop
– Choose Arrange Icons By
– Make sure Auto Arrange and Align to Grid not
checked
– Drag icon to any desktop location
• To move file into folder or storage device, simply drag it
to folder or storage device
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How do I arrange icons and windows
on the desktop?
• To rename icon, right-click icon and select Rename
• To display icon properties, right-click icon and select
Properties
• When several windows open on desktop, you can
manipulate in a variety of ways:
– Maximize window for maximum work space
– When working back and forth between windows, size
them to fit side-by-side
– Windows automatically tiles windows to fit screen
when you right-click taskbar and select Tile or
Cascade
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How do I arrange icons and windows
on the desktop?
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How do I use the Start menu?
• Start Menu appears when Start button clicked
– Left side features All Programs option
• Produces list of all software installed
– Top-left area is Pinned items list
• Use to show favorite programs
– Lower-left area contains programs used most recently
(added automatically)
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How do I use the Start menu?
– Right side provides options for:
• Viewing stored files
• Opening recently used documents
• Adjusting system settings
• Accessing the Internet
• Controlling printers
• Getting help
• Shutting down computer
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How do I use the Start menu?
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How do I use the Start menu?
• Windows gives two choices of start menu
– Default style shown on previous slide
– Classic Start menu appears in single-column and
has few options
– To change Start menu style:
• Right-click taskbar
• Click Properties, select Start Menu tab
– To add to Pinned Items list:
• Right-click any program in All Programs list
• Click Pin to Start Menu
• You can also drag icon to Pinned Items list area
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What is the Control Panel?
• Control Panel is collection of tools for customizing
Windows systems settings
• To open Control Panel:
– Click Start button
– Select Control Panel
– From Control Panel, select tools by double-clicking
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What is the Control Panel?
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What is the Control Panel?
• Some Control Panel tools accessed from Start menu
• Others accessed by right-clicking taskbar or desktop
• Be careful when changing system settings
– Be sure you understand effects of changes on
computer
– Good idea to jot down original settings
• Some networks prevent users from making changes.
Check system administrator if you are having trouble
• Some system settings take effect only for person logged
on
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How do I change display settings?
• Many options available to customize desktop
– Select predefined desktop theme that includes:
• Background
• Sound
• Icons
– Select screen saver
– Choose screen resolution and color quality for display
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How do I change display settings?
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How do I change display settings?
• To open Display Properties dialog box:
– Double-click Display tool in Control Panel window
– You can also right-click any empty area of desktop
• Most computers set at 1024 X 768 resolution
• At higher resolution, monitor displays larger work space.
Fonts and icons appear smaller than at lower resolution
• Screen savers are fun and hide work when you’re away
from your desk
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How do I adjust keyboard and mouse
settings?
• Control Panel includes Keyboard tool to adjust sensitivity
– Increase or decrease repeat delay
– Adjust the repeat rate
– Change rate cursor blinks
• Control Panel includes Mouse tool for customizing
mouse, trackball, or pointing stick
– Adjust double-click speed
– Reverse mouse buttons for left-handers
– Adjust mouse speed across monitor
– Select different pointer shape
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How do I adjust keyboard and mouse
settings?
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How does the Control Panel help me
work with printers?
• Control Panel has tool to help work with printers and
faxes
– Lists all printers and faxes you can access
– Use Printer and Faxes tool to:
• Add new printer
• Add new fax machine
• Create connections to network printers
• Use Printers and Fax tool to designate the default
printer
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How does the Control Panel help me
work with printers?
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How does the Control Panel help me work
with printers?
• You can open Printers and Faxes window from Control
Panel or from Start menu
• When you have access to several printers, it is useful to
name them by function
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Which version of Windows XP do I
have?
• Help menus provided by Windows Explorer and My
Computer offer useful information
– Use About Windows menu option to find out which
version you have
– Select Is this copy of Windows legal to
• Ensure it is non-pirated
• See version number of operating system
• Any service packs installed
• Amount of memory available on computer
• Links to End-User License Agreement
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Which version of Windows XP do I
have?
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Which version of Windows XP do I
have?
• You can access version and system information using
Control Panel’s system tool
• If using Classic Start menu, Windows version is
displayed on left side of it
• Information about service packs, memory, and license
agreement are found in Help About dialog box
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How do I access Windows XP Help?
• To access information about Windows features, look for
Help and Support option on Start menu
• Also access Help and Support Center from Help option
on Windows Explorer or My Computer menu bars
• Help and Support Center is gateway to Windows
manuals, FAQs, and troubleshooting wizards
• If Help and Support Center does not help, use search
engine to hunt for user groups or articles
• Consider asking local experts
• Help is a two-way street
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How do I access Windows XP Help?
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How do I shut down Windows XP?
• Start menu provides several options:
– Log Off option where multiple users have access to
computer
– Turn Off Computer option
• Use this option before turning off power switch to ensure
files are saved and unneeded “scratchpad” data is not
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How do I shut down Windows XP?
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How do I shut down Windows XP?
• Turn Off Computer dialog box offers three options
– Use Turn Off when you want to power down the
computers
– Stand By option puts computer in state that only requires
enough power to maintain memory
– Restart option powers down computer then reboots
• If computer was turned off without being shut down, you
will be prompted to run a short disk test. Just follow
instructions on screen
• If computer “freezes up”, or “hangs”, and doesn’t
respond, hold down the Ctrl, Alt, and Del keys at the
same time, then follow directions in dialog box that
appears
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