| The Desktop 1. Desktop 2. Icons 3. Cursor 4. Start Menu 5. Quick Launch 6. Window Buttons 7. Task Bar 8. System Tray ("Notification Area") |
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The Desktop is the working place for the computer user. When you start your computer, you begin at the Desktop. Right-click on the Desktop to change the appearance of the Desktop, the arrangement of icons, or other Monitor settings.
Icons are small pictures that represent data files or containers in the computer storage. Icons can be containers: volumes or folders (directories); they can be software (programs) which do things on the computer; or they can be documents, which contain information (like text, photos, audio, movies, etc.).
The Cursor is your "hand" on the desktop. It moves with the mouse, and when you move it over something, a click of the mouse will select it.
The Start Menu allows you to access various programs and functions (such as shut down, control panels, find file, etc.).
Quick Launch buttons allow you to open software quickly, with just one click of the mouse, at any time. This is faster than a regular icon because the Quick Launch is always visible, even when you cannot see the Desktop. Note: the name of this feature is Quick Launch, and it is NOT "Quick Lunch." Many students make that mistake.
Window Buttons show you all the windows that are open. Windows may show folder windows (volumes or folders) or application windows.
The Task Bar is the whole stripe at the bottom of the screen which contains various parts. Right-click on it for options; for example, you can turn on and off features like QuickLaunch. If you want, you can move the task bar to any side of the screen, unless it is locked.
The System Tray (Microsoft calls it the "Notification Area," but most call it the "System Tray") shows the clock, sound control, and possibly other controls (printers, anti-virus, upgrades, etc.). You can click or double-click on any icon in the tray to see the control panel or application window for the utility. For example, if you double-click on the clock, you can see the Date & Time control panel; if you just hold the cursor over the time without clicking, you can see the date. If you single-click on the speaker icon, you can set the volume simply; double-click on the speaker icon to get the detailed control panel.
