COSC 1301 Spring

Transcription

1 Windows operating systems are by far the most popular in the world. Approximately 90% of personal computers use some type of Microsoft operating system. An evolution of Windows software since the mid 1980 s has continued to provide a PC operating system with a simple interface and enhancements to keep abreast of hardware advances and new computing capabilities. Microsoft s founders are Bill Gates and Paul Allen. I. Windows 7. Windows 7 was introduced in late Windows 7 had many new enhancements and was intended to provide all the remedies to the flaws identified in Windows Vista. Windows 7 introduced a new interface called Aeroglass. II. Windows 8 Microsoft s current operating system has many new modern enhancements, including the new Metro interface. Windows 8 has not been well received by Industry, almost instantly after its release Microsoft was back to work on a new Windows version. III. Starting Windows 7 - Windows is loaded into memory simply by turning on your computer (booting). Once you launch Windows, the Windows desktop displays on the monitor. Beginning with Windows Vista, the operational emphasis shifted from the desktop to the Start menu. By default, when you install Windows 7, only 1 icon appears on the desktop (the recycle bin). Why the deemphasis of operating from the desktop? The following are basic Windows components: COSC 1301 Spring

2 A. Desktop - The desktop contains icons that represent tasks, commands, programs, files, or shortcuts. Icon display options may either be in classic (double-click) or web style (single-click) view (underlined icons). When you right-click on the Desktop, you can select options to customize the appearance (Personalize): B. Task bar - located at the bottom of the desktop, displays three possible objects: 1. Current open programs in the form of buttons or pinned items (several examples above) 2. The Start button (left corner above) 3. The notification area (right hand corner above) that displays Terminate & Stay Resident programs (TSRs). TSRs are programs running behind the scenes or in the background such as virus detection software, volume control, time, etc. C. Start button when selected, displays the Start menu. The Start menu provides access to everything not on the Desktop, programs, help information, change program settings, shut down your computer, and also provides access to other menus containing tasks and functions. The Start menu includes 2 columns: The one on the left contains the pinned items list (top part) and the most frequently accessed programs list. The column on the right is the actual Start menu. 1. Pinned items list by default displays your default browser and default application. The content of the Pinned Items list can be modified. COSC 1301 Spring

3 2. Most Frequently Accessed Programs list displays the most recently accessed programs from previous sessions. Using options from the Start menu property sheet, you can alter the number of programs that display Pinned Items List Most Frequently Accessed Programs List Start Menu D. Windows - all active Window's objects appear within a rectangular work area called a window. The window encompasses a program or task and in essence is the desktop workspace allotted for that particular operation. The content of any window may be altered by selecting options from the View menu. The structure or components of certain windows can be altered by selecting options from the "Organize" button on the toolbar. Windows 7 Explorer View Other window contents include: 1. Buttons for managing windows: a. The Minimize button reduces an application window to a button on the taskbar. The application is still active. What Windows 7 option provides an alternative for minimizing? COSC 1301 Spring

4 b. The Maximize button increases the size of a window to meet the full dimensions of the screen. What Windows 7 option provides an alternative for maximizing? c. The Restore down button restores a maximized window back to its original size. What s another way? d. The Close button closes a window and removes the application or task from memory. 2. A window is also comprised of the following: a. Title bar the bar that appears at the top that is used to identify the application running in the window b. Menu bar the bar that contains the series of menus containing options for manipulation of the objects in the window (optional) c. Toolbar like the menu bar, contains options for manipulating the objects in the window. The options are represented as buttons d. Address bar - allows you to navigate to another area within your computer, network, or even the Internet e. Status bar displays the status of whatever object is selected in the window. The status bar lies along the bottom border of the window (optional) f. Icons the graphical representation of Window s objects. Eight different view options: 1) Extra-large icons 2) Large icons 3) Medium Icons 4) Small Icons 5) List 6) Details 7) Tiles 8) Content (new in Windows 7) g. Other objects or components may be added as per user preference (using Organize & View options) Ex. Details pane, Preview Pane, Navigation pane, Menu bar, Status bar, etc.) COSC 1301 Spring

5 E. Gadgets can reside anywhere on the desktop. Gadgets are mini-applications, additional gadgets can be obtained online. F. The mouse is Window s primary input device allowing a user to maneuver through the Desktop to select objects 1. Common mouse pointer shapes: a. Used to select objects on the desktop b. I The I-beam pointer is displayed when the mouse pointer appears in a text box. c. Indicates Windows is busy processing a command d. Allows you to resize or change the dimensions of a window, appears when the mouse pointer is on a window s border e. A hand appears when identifying an icon or object that requires a single click (Web style), often associated with a link 2. Basic Mouse techniques: a. Pointing - Move the mouse pointer to position it over an object on the desktop. COSC 1301 Spring

6 b. Clicking - Press and release the left mouse button once. c. Double-clicking - Press and release the left mouse button twice, rapidly. d. Dragging - Point at an object, press and hold the left mouse button, move the object to the desired location, release the left mouse button. e. Right-clicking displays a pop-up or shortcut menu with options to perform an action. f. Right-dragging also displays a pop-up menu. G. Running applications or programs. Windows supports multi-tasking that is, running more than one application at a time. When multiple applications are open, they are represented on the task bar as buttons. The active application is the one highlighted on the task bar. Programs can be run or be launched by double clicking on a program icon or by selecting the program name on a menu. 1. You can switch between different open applications by doing one of the following: a. Single click the application button from the task bar. b. Press and hold the ALT key while tapping the TAB key. Windows will display all open applications as thumbnails in the middle of the screen. Continuously pressing the TAB key places a rectangle around a different thumbnail. When the desired application thumbnail is surrounded by a rectangle, releasing the ALT key allows the user to switch to that application. In Windows 7 this is called flip. c. Press and hold the ALT key while tapping the ESC key. Every tap on the ESC key allows the user to switch to an open application window. When the desired application window displays, release the ALT key. d. Windows Flip 3-D was a new Vista scroll option which displays open windows in an Aero 3-D view, Windows key + Tab. H. Other: e. A user may also display multiple program windows simultaneously on the screen by using Windows Stacked or Windows Side by Side options (right click on the task bar and select the appropriate options.) Other options for displaying multiple windows are available. COSC 1301 Spring

7 1. Bread Crumb Navigation - easier way to link to objects on a computer. When displaying a file specification or path, each entry is a hyperlink to the displayed object. 2. Ready Boost increases performance (improves Virtual memory) - use a USB flash drive for caching, faster than traditional Virtual memory which uses the magnetic hard-drive. 3. Improved Security - Windows Defender Malware protection. 4. Windows Touch - Cool (need the hardware to support it). 5. Revamped Interface and actions - Aero shake, Aero peek, Jump lists, Aero themes, Windows snap (look them up in Help & Support). 6. How do I know if my computer supports all Windows 7 enhancements? Enter the word "Experience Index" in the Start menu Search box and then select the option for "Check the Windows Experience Index". If your "Windows Experience Index Rating" is 3.0 or better you are fully Windows 7 capable. If not, you can't experience all Windows 7 enhancements. IV. Using Windows 7 Help. The Help and Support option accessible from the Start menu provides a sophisticated help system with information over a diverse number of topics stored in a help database. Gone are the help tabs from previous Windows versions. COSC 1301 Spring

8 Help information is now better categorized and an index option (Search) still exists to obtain specific information not included in a displayed category. Online help is available by clicking the Windows Online Help button (globe) within the help window. You may also access Help by pressing the F1 function key while on the desktop or selecting Help from the menu bar of any window. V. Windows Accessories and Utilities - In addition to the obvious operating system files required by your computer, Windows is also packaged with a wide variety of accessories and utility programs. A. Accessories Mini-application programs called applets are located in the Window s programs submenu called Accessories. 1. Paint a drawing program. Revamped in Windows WordPad - a mini word-processor. Revamped in Windows Games - when you have nothing better to do? 4. Calculator -Revamped in Windows 7. COSC 1301 Spring

9 5. Windows Explorer used for file management operations (to be covered later). B. Utilities A category of system s programs that perform functions not associated with typical operating system operations. 1. Backup - allows you to backup or copy files from alternate storage devices. 2. Disk Defragmenter reorganizes scattered clusters to reverse the effects of fragmentation, results in faster access to files. 3. Scandisk - disk analysis tool. Identifies problem areas on your disk and offers solutions for repair. 4. Disk cleanup identifies files to be deleted to free up disk space. 5. System Restore allows you to roll back to a functioning state if problems arise after system modifications. 6. Snipping Tool / Print Screen key. Used to capture desktop images. Works with the Clipboard in RAM. 7. On Screen Keyboard Virtual Keyboard. VI. Exiting - Windows must be exited properly in order to insure all previously opened files are correctly closed to prevent file corruption. Exiting Windows involves the following steps: A. Click the Start button from the Task bar. B. Select an option from the Shutdown menu: 1. Switch user - keep your programs running in the background (but inaccessible until you log on again), and allow another user to log on. 2. Log off - close all your programs and close your user account. This method leaves the computer running so that another user can log on. 3. Lock - to deny anyone except those who have authorized access to log on the computer. 4. Restart - Restart to close all open programs, log off, and restart the computer. Many times when applying a change, a restart is necessary. COSC 1301 Spring

10 5. Sleep - wait for Windows to save your work to memory and then power down your computer to a low-power state. This is useful if you are expecting to return to your computer within a short amount of time. 6. Hibernate - Windows will save your session to the hard disk and turn off your computer. When you turn the computer on again, Windows restores your session. This is useful if you are expecting to not use your computer for several hours. 7. Shut down power ceases to the computer, closes all open programs but provides an opportunity to Save. VII. Windows 10 predicted to be released as early as June Shut Down menu Watch the video identified below and then proceed to the Discussion board. Give a 2 sentence opinion on how you believe technology will improve with Windows 10. Counts for a grade. Windows 10 Video After watching the Windows 10 video, scroll down on the page at the web site and proceed to watch the video on holograms, again, afterwards proceed to the Discussion board and give a 2 sentence opinion on what you think of holograms in our society. Counts for a grade. COSC 1301 Spring