| THE DESKTOP |
When you switch on the computer, Log On to your User Account and then wait for the computer to finish its start-up process you are finally presented with the Desktop.
The Desktop is made up of five sections as marked out by Figures 1.1 to 1.5 above. The main part of the desktop is made up
from the screen with the Icons (Fig 1.1) on it. Its background can either be a Picture or a Solid Colour.
An icon is simply an image that is designed to represent a file, or folder, so that you have some idea of what that file
does or what is inside the folder. For example. An icon with a Document image might be representing the Letter (data)
file itself or the Word Processor (program) file. Whereas an icon with a Paint Brush image might be representing a painting
(program) file or just the photograph (data) itself. An icon with a Folder image though normally represents a folder and
more importantly what is inside that folder. When you double click (press the left mouse button twice, quite fast on the
same spot) on an icon Windows Vista first determines what file is associated with that icon. If it is a Paint (program) file for
example (i.e Paint.exe) Windows Vista will launch that painting program only, but if it is a Photograph (data) file (i.e John.jpg)
Windows Vista will launch the painting program before instructing it to automatically open/display the photograph file for you.
A Double Click on this icon would start Microsoft Word 2007 |
A Double Click on this icon would start Internet Explorer 7 |
The rest of the desktop is made up of the other four items (Figures 1.2 to 1.5 above), which are joined together to make one standard bar at the bottom of the screen, like so:
The Start Button is the starting point from where you can Launch Software, Change Settings, Find Folders and Get Help amongst other things. I will show you more of this later.
The Quick Launch Toolbar allows you to quickly launch software, with only one click of the left mouse button. For example. If you want to launch Windows Mail from the desktop you must double click on the Windows Mail desktop icon, but with quick launch you only need to click on the Windows Mail quick launch icon.
A Quick Launch icon only needs one Click |
A Desktop icon needs a Double Click (two clicks) |
Whenever a new Task (program) is opened its window leaves an icon 
on the Taskbar to let you know
it is still running. In this example the Print Manager icon is on the taskbar, to let you know Print Manager is still running. When
a task is closed its taskbar icon disappears, to let you know the task has closed and is no longer running. The taskbar is also
used when Minimizing/Maximizing a window - For more information see the Windows section.
The Notification Area is similar to the Quick Launch Toolbar except that it is aimed at managing programs that do not need launching, as they have already been launched. Notification programs are classified as programs that are launched when Windows Vista is starting up - Usually programs associated with Anti-Virus, Broadband, the Printer and so on. If they need some sort of attention (i.e updating or have closed) you are warned of this by way of a Notification (i.e pop-up message).
Microsoft product screen shot(s) reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation. As stated here by the Microsoft Corporation.
All HTM files in the yoingco.com folder and its sub-folders are (c) John White, August 3rd 2005 - 2008. All Rights Reserved. FREE Vista Helpline: Contact John