MS WINDOWS

Windows
Operating System is a system software. Operating system is the software that manages all the computer's resource. Operating system performs basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk and controlling the peripheral devices. In ansther word we can say, it provides interface between hardware and software. There are so many operating systems available like WIN 95, 98, 2000, XP,Vista, Win 7, WIN NT. There are two types of platform available on which operating system works i.e. GUI and CUI.
CUI- (Character User Interface):- In CUI, to execute anything we need to use command. Without command not any action will perform on the screen. For GUI, only keyboard is required. E.g DOS
GUI:- (Graphical User Interface):- A program interface takes advantage of the computer's graphics capabilities to make the program easier to use. A graphical user interface (GUI) is a human-computer interface that uses windows, icons and menus and which can be manipulated by a mouse and a keyboard as well. An icon is a small picture or symbol in a GUI that represents a program, a file, a directory or a device. Icons are used both on the desktop and within application programs. Commands are issued in the GUI by using a mouse, trackball or touchpad to first move a pointer on the screen to, or on top of, the icon, menu item or window of interest in order to select that object. For example, icons and windows can be moved by dragging and objects or programs can be opened by clicking on their icons.
User Interface:- User Interface is one, which allow user to communicate with the system in order to perform certain tasks. User interface is generally designed in a computer to make it easier to use.
History:- Bill Gates announced Microsoft Windows in Nov 10,1983. In Nov 20, 1985 announced Microsoft Windows 1.0. Microsoft released latest window, Windows 7 in Oct 22,2009.
Microsoft announced development of its first operating system that incorporated a GUIin November 1983, and the initial version, Windows 1.0, was released in November 1985. Windows 2.0, released in December 1987, represented a improvement over the Windows 1.0 with its addition of icons and overlapping windows, but in 1995 with the launching of Windows 95 that Microsoft was able to offer a relatively high quality GUI.
The Apple Macintosh, launched in 1984, was the first commercially successful use of a GUI. The Macintosh introduced the first menu, icons, and point-and-click, mouse driven processing.
Advantages of GUls
An advantage of GUIs is that they make computer operation more effective and friendly so it is easier to learn and use. It is much easier for a new user to move a file from one directory to another by dragging its icon with the mouse
GUI feature the following basic components:-
Pointer : A symbol that appears as a small arrow on the display screen and that you move to select objects and commands.
Pointing device : A device, such as a mouse or trackball, that enables you to select objects on the display screen.
Icons : Small pictures that represent commands, files, or windows. By moving the pointer to the icon and pressing a mouse button, you can execute a command or convert the icon into a window.
Desktop : The area on the display screen where icons are grouped is often referred to as the desktop because the icons are intended to represent real objects on a real desktop.
Windows : You can divide the screen into different areas. In each window, you can run a different program or display a different file.
Menus : Most graphical user interfaces let you execute commands by selecting a choice from a menu.
Microsoft Windows Basic:- Windows XP, 2000, 98, NT, ME... all of these are windows operating systems.
The Desktop: The Microsoft Windows desktop is made of various parts. From the upper left to the lower left side of the screen, there are small pictures or images called icons. Each one is used to make the computer do something. Here is an example:
On the left side of the taskbar, there is an object labeled "Start" or "Start" In some versions (Windows 95, 98, Windows Server 2003), the color of the taskbar may be gray (or Silver). In some other versions like Windows Me, the taskbar may be yellowish. In Windows XP, it may be blue. In Windows 7, you can find transparent or with color.
Operation on Windows Screen
We can start operating windows by clicking on START button or, icons available on screen. When we click on start button we can find the screen shown below:-
Screen of WIN 7
All Program:- After clicking on START button, you can click on All Program to work on desired software or program.
Control Panel:- You can use control panel to change system setting, adding hardware and software, controlling user accounts etc.
Important Icon on Desktop:-
Some important Icons on desktop are given below:-
My Computer:- This is one of the important icon available on your desktop screen which allows user to access drives, printers, control panel etc.
Recycle Bin:- When we delete the file or folder, it goes into the Recycle bin. If we delete any file by mistake then we can find it in Recycle bin and we can restore it to its original place. If you want to delete permanently then clear the recycle bin. Recycle bin uses the space of hard disk
My Network Place:- It shows all network connection, which you can use to connect your computer system.
My Documents:- This is available on the start menu, if you want to use it for fast access then you can create shortcut and place it on desktop. It is a location for storing all documents like text file, word wife, spreadsheet etc.
The Icon and Shortcuts:- The icons and shortcuts are small images situated on the desktop of Windows. Like buttons, icons have the objective of immediately executing a given program. To start the related application simply double-click with the left mouse button.
To Organise Desktop Icons:-
Clickon the desktop with the right button of the mouse.
Select on the menu Arrange Icons By.
As the menu is displayed you can chose to organize them by Name, Size, item type or date modified.
If you click on view option you will find the option of auto arrange, show desktop icon, large icons, medium icons etc in Win 7
To Create Shortcut:-
Clickon the desktop with the right button click of the mouse.
Select the option Shortcut on the New menu. A dialog box will appear so that we can indicate the program for which we want the shortcut created.
Clickon Browse button, to find the program.
Select the desired unit and look for the file or folder you want.
After selecting the file or folder click on Ok.
ClickNext.
Type a name for the Shortcut.
Click Finish.
To change the Data and Time
Double-click on the clock on the task bar to open the dialog box.
To change the day month, year then click on change data and time setting to change it.
After clicking on change dat adn time you will get another window to change data and time, and here you have to change according to your choice
After changing date and time click on OK.
Accessories program on Windows:- In Accessories, there are so many small program for user. To open accessories use the following step:-
Click on start button ⇒ All programs ⇒ and then click on Accessories.
Calculator:- We can use calculator to perform addition, subtraction and other mathematical operation. You can also use advance capabilities of scientific and statistical calculator.
Command Prompt:- Command prompt is used to open DOS.
NotePad:- NotePad is a most commonly used to edit text or rea text on your system. The extension name of NotePad is .txt
RUN dialogue Box:- It is a powerful feature of operating system. RUN option is used to open any file or folder directly. The shortcut to open RUN dialogue box then press win button + R.
Sound Recorder:- Sound Recorder is to record the sound of user. To open sound recorder
Click on Start button ⇒ all programs ⇒ Accessories ⇒ sound recorder
Window Explorer:- The quickest way to start up the Explorer is through the icon on the task bar or desktop. It is a necessary tools in an windows operating system. The explorer consists basically of two sections. On the left side there is the directory tree, which is the list of units and folders. Only units and folders appear, no files. On the right side there is another section, which will show the content of the folder that we have opened on teh left section. This section shows its folders and files.
Click on Start ⇒ Select All programs ⇒ Select Accessories ⇒ Select Windows Explorer
The Explorer can also be started from the Start button by choosing My documents, My images or My music
Configuring the Screen:- click right mouse button on the desktop and select the option Personalize from the shortcut menu that is displayed on Windows 7. Here you can change the background picture.
Here you can change desktop icon, display, desktop background, desktop color, sound, screen save etc or you can access control panel, toolbar and start menu.
Parts of Window:- All the windows have the same basic parts. To open any application on window that have toolbar, maximize, minimize button, close button, scrollbar boarders and corners.
Toolbar:- In Toolbar it displays the name of the documents and program.
Maximize, minimize button, and close button:- These buttons hide the window, enlarge the window and close the windows.
Menu Bar:- It contains the item that you click to make choice.
Scroll Bar:- Scrolls bar scrool the contents of the windows.
Moving a Window:- To move a window, point to the file and folder with the mouse pointer and then drag the window to the desired location.
Changing the size of the window:-
To make a window fill the entire screen click on maximine button or double click on windows icon.
To return a maximized window to its former size click on restore button.
To Resize the window point to any the windows's borders or corners.
A window that is maximized cannot be resized. You have to restore it to its previous size first. Shortcut of the maximize the current windows then pres Ctrl+f10.
Hiding a window:- Hiding of your current window is know is minimizing the windows. It you want to hide the window without closing it then minimize it by clicking on minimize button. The short cut of minimizing window is to press window button + M
Closing Window :- closing a window means removing it from the desktop. If you have completed your work on the document then you can click you close button to remove it from the desktop. You can use the shortcut command also by pressing on Alt+F4
Switching between windows:- If you have open more than one program or document on your desktop then you can use ALT + TAB to switch between opened program.
Computer shutdown:- After using the computer, you can exit from it, which is to as shutting down the computer.
Windows Shortcut
F1: Help
CTRL+ESC: Open Start menu
ALT + TAB: Switch between open programs
ALT+F4: Quit program
SHIFT+ DELETE: Delete item permanently
Shortcut command by using Windows button
Windows Logo+L: Lock the computer
Windows Logo: start menu
Windows Logo+R: Run dialog box
Windows Logo+M: Minimize all
SHIFT+Windows Loge+M: Undo minimize all
Windows Logo+E: Windows Explorer
Windows Logo+D: Minimizes all open windows and displays the desktop