Windows
Windows
Editions
What is your Windows edition?
If using touch, press and hold on computer icon. Click or tap Properties. Under Windows edition,
the Windows version is shown.
Windows 11 is the latest major release of Microsoft's Windows NT operating system, released on
October 5, 2021. It succeeded Windows 10 (2015) and is available for free for any Windows 10
devices that meet the new Windows 11 system requirements.
In addition to choosing the operating system version, we will also need to choose the edition. Each
edition has a subset of features for an intended market. Typically every Windows version has a
Home edition, or a Home Premium. Those editions are intended for a small network in a home
environment.
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Basic: Interface, part of a window, dialog box
Interface
"Window interfaces" refers to the commonly used way to organize a computer monitor's screen
space for interaction with a human user. Screen space is organized into regions called "windows."
Each window utilizes some screen space for computer–human interaction.
Part of a window
An application window includes elements such as a title bar, a menu bar, the window menu
(formerly known as the system menu), the minimize button, the maximize button, the restore
button, the close button, a sizing border, a client area, a horizontal scroll bar, and a vertical scroll
bar.
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Common windows components include the desktop, taskbar, start menu,
maximize/minimize/close buttons, my computer, recycle bin, shortcuts, mouse functions, and
copy/cut/paste options.
Dialog box
In computing, a dialog box (also simply dialog) is a graphical control element in the form of a small
window that communicates information to the user and prompts them for a response.
taskbar
The default settings for the taskbar in Microsoft Windows place it at the bottom of the screen and
includes from left to right the Start menu button, Quick Launch bar, taskbar buttons, and
notification area. The Quick Launch toolbar was added with the Windows Desktop Update and is
not enabled by default in Windows XP.
(tæskbɑr ) also task bar. Word forms: taskbars. countable noun. The taskbar on a computer screen
is the narrow strip of icons, usually located at the bottom of the screen, that shows you which
windows are currently open and that allows you to control functions such as the Start button and
the clock
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Typically, the taskbar is at the bottom of the desktop, but you can also move it to either side or the
top of the desktop. When the taskbar is unlocked, you can change its location. See the Lock and
unlock the taskbar section to find out if yours is locked.
The taskbar is an important part of the Windows operating system and is used to give users quick
access to all of their essential programs, applications, settings, and notifications. It can be found in
the bottom left corner of the screen or in the top right corner depending on what version of
Windows you are running.
The main Taskbar is where you find a button for each page of each application you have open. If
you Right Click on one of the buttons, you will see a popup menu that allows you to restore,
maximize or close that window. To customize the Taskbar, right click on any blank space.
A ribbon was originally used to refer to a toolbar, but it now means a complex user interface which
consists of multiple toolbars chosen between through tabs. A taskbar is a toolbar provided by an
operating system to launch, monitor and manipulate software. A taskbar may hold other sub-
toolbars.
Windows 10
Press the Windows logo key + I to get to Settings (or select Start and Settings).
Select Personalization.
Select Taskbar.
Set the hide Automatically hide options to Off. Check the Taskbar location on screen and make
sure the setting location is in a visible area of the screen. Also set Lock the taskbar to On.
To get to the taskbar and notification bar are both Windows built-in commands. For the taskbar,
press windows key plus the letter t. For the notification bar, press windows key plus the letter b.
Start Menu
To open the Start menu—which contains all your apps, settings, and files—do either of the
following:
On the left end of the taskbar, select the Start icon.
Press the Windows logo key on your keyboard.
Start screen may refer to: Home screen. Boot screen, a screen shown at the start of an operating
system. Loading screen, a screen shown at the start of a level or mission in a video game.
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What is the key for the Start menu?
You can use these keyboard shortcuts to open, close and otherwise control the Start menu and the
taskbar.
Windows key or Ctrl + Esc: Open Start menu.
Windows key + X: Open the secret Start menu.
Windows key + T: Cycle through the apps (including pinned apps) on the taskbar.
Search in Windows is no longer just about launching apps in the Start Menu. It provides universal
search for apps, documents, settings, email, and web results.
Press the Windows logo key on your keyboard. Swipe up from the bottom center or left of your
screen. Note: When using display languages that read right-to-left (RTL), you can swipe up from
the bottom center or right of your screen.
Yes, in certain systems, pressing the F12 key during the computer's startup process can provide
access to the boot menu. The boot menu allows you to choose a specific boot device from which
the computer will start, such as a USB drive.
My Computer
"My Computer" gives us an overview about different types of drives present in the computer. The
My Computer folder is a gateway to all the data stored on the computer, attached devices, and the
network -- as well as a shortcut to most of your system information.
It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data. You may already know that you can use a
computer to type documents, send email, play games, and browse the Web. You can also use it to
edit or create spreadsheets, presentations, and even videos.
Find it. To get to This PC in Windows 10, open File Explorer from the taskbar and select This PC in
the left pane.
Recycle Bin
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The Recycle Bin is a feature in computer systems that acts as a virtual trash can, allowing users to
store deleted files temporarily before permanently deleting them. It provides a way to restore or
retrieve deleted files if needed.
A file is the common storage unit in a computer, and all programs and data are "written" into a file
and "read" from a file. A folder holds one or more files, and a folder can be empty until it is filled.
A folder can also contain other folders, and there can be many levels of folders within folders.
A folder is a storage space, or container, where many files can be placed into groups and organize
the computer. A folder can also contain other folders.
A file is a collection of data stored in a computer system. Typically, these files are used for storing
information about users, software applications, or other data that are needed for running
programs. Files can also be used to store pictures, videos, music, and other types of media.
Basic file management refers to a way to name, save, backup, organize files/folders and keep track
of files on a computer.
For example, you might store your digital photos in a "Pictures" folder, your audio files in a
"Music" folder, and your word processing documents in a "Documents" folder. In Windows,
software programs are installed by default in the "Program Files" folder, while in OS X they are
stored in the "Applications" folder.12 Nov 2020
Folders are used to organise and store your files. You can create as many folders as you need, and
also create folders within folders, called subfolders.
Searching
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Search from the taskbar: Type the name of a document (or a keyword from it) into the search box
on the taskbar. You'll see results for documents across your PC and OneDrive. To filter your search,
you can select the Documents tab—and then your search results will only show documents.
Search File Explorer: Open File Explorer from the taskbar or select and hold the Start menu (or
right-click), select File Explorer , then select a search location:
To quickly find relevant files from your PC and the cloud, search from Home.
To find files stored inside a folder, search from a folder like Downloads.
Starting with Windows 11, version 22H2, you can find your files from Office.com in File Explorer
Home. To change this setting, select More > Options . On the General tab, under Privacy, choose
your settings for Show files from Office.com.
Libraries
Libraries are virtual containers for users' content. A library can contain files and folders stored on
the local computer or in a remote storage location. In Windows Explorer, users interact with
libraries in ways similar to how they would interact with other folders.
To show libraries in File Explorer, select the View tab, and then select Navigation pane > Show
libraries.
Four default libraries exist in Windows 7: Documents, Music, Pictures and Videos. By default,
Windows 7 will attempt to save your files into these libraries.
The system comes with four default libraries, including Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos,
and each library includes the locations of the known folders. You can add and remove locations to
the default libraries, or you can create custom libraries to organize specific folders.
Gadgets
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Microsoft Gadgets are lightweight single-purpose applications, or software widgets, that can sit on
a Microsoft Windows user's computer desktop, or are hosted on a web page. Ex - clock & calender
To open the widgets board, you can press Windows logo key + W or select the Widgets icon on the
taskbar. Select your avatar to open the Widget settings①. Under Add widget, select the Plus sign
② next to any widget to add it to your board.
Method 2: Uninstall Windows Desktop Gadgets via Apps and Features/Programs and Features.
Look for Windows Desktop Gadgets in the list and click on it. The next step is to click on uninstall,
so you can initiate the uninstallation.
To access the directory where the gadgets are stored, press Win+R and paste the following text:
"%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Sidebar\Gadgets" and hit Enter. Each folder
there contains a gadget and you can do with them whatever you like.
Click start or press Windows key --> Click Control Panel --> Click Programs --> Click Programs and
Features --> Click Turn Windows features on or off --> Remove the checkbox from Windows
Gadget Platform --> click OK --> Restart your computer.
Click Start > Settings > Personalization > Themes. Under "Change theme", click the tile to switch to
the theme you'd like to use.
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Click Get button.
After downloading your theme push the button Launch.
Move to C:/Users//AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Themes/
The answer is yes, you can replace your windows with a completely different style of window.
Keep in mind the size of your existing window opening. Often, it is possible to make the opening
larger or smaller, and in some cases replace a window with a door or vice versa.
Change theme
Type and search [Themes and related settings] in the Windows search bar①, and then click [Open]
②. In Themes, you can select a built-in theme of Windows③, or click [Get more themes in
Microsoft Store]④ to get more various and colorful themes to personalize your computer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=3A6aExxeJgI
Calculator
The Calculator app for Windows is a touch-friendly version of the desktop calculator in previous
versions of Windows. You can open multiple calculators at the same time in resizable windows on
the desktop and switch between Standard, Scientific, Graphing, Programmer, Date calculation, and
Converter modes.
Paint
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Answer: MS Paint is found in the Windows Start menu within the Accessories Folder.
Paint is a versatile and user-friendly graphics editing app in Windows for you to create, edit and
manipulate images and drawings. Paint is great for simple image cropping, resizing, drawing and
adding basic shapes and text to images.
We will start by exploring the pencil tool options along with various brush tools. We will also look
at how to work with different types of shapes and color options. Followed by cropping and resizing
options. After that, we will be exploring the Interface Management and Print options in the
application.
Select the “Home” tab. Find & pick the paintbrush tool: In the “Home” tab, you'll notice a group of
icons called “Clipboard”. Look for a paintbrush icon and click it to activate. Start using the
paintbrush tool: With the tool activated, select any text or object by clicking and dragging.
Activity:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSb-W9ifB7s
How to Draw In Computer | Microsoft Paint Tutorial | MS Paint | Computer Drawing | Scenery
Drawing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz5SxJf2Puw
Beautiful Moonlight Scenery Step by Step - MS Paint - Computer Drawing - Scenery Drawing
Recorder
Sound Recorder (known as Voice Recorder in Windows 10) is an audio recording program included
in most versions of the Microsoft Windows family of operating systems.
Windows step recorder is a built-in tool for Windows operating systems, Windows 7, 10 and 11,
that can be used to record actions. Capturing screenshots and mouse clicks, Windows Step
Recorder is ideal for users looking to record their actions.
Windows 10 Voice Recorder app is a useful tool. Though it is not packed with advanced features, it
helps you to record something quickly and the one, which requires minimal editing tools.
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How do I use Windows audio recorder?
Voice Recorder is an app for recording lectures, conversations, and other sounds (previously called
Sound Recorder).
Activity:
Snipping tool
Take a snapshot to copy words or images from all or part of your PC screen. Use Snipping Tool to
make changes or notes, then save, and share. Draw a freeform shape around an object.
What's the shortcut key to open the Snipping Tool on Windows? The shortcut key to open the
Snipping Tool in Windows is “Windows Key + Shift + S.
Enter Text:
Click on the location in the snip where you want to add text. A text box will appear, and you can
start typing your desired text. You can also adjust the text size, font, and color using the formatting
options in the toolbar.
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Click and drag anywhere over your image to draw a new shape. You can resize, move, or change
your shape color before clicking away. Once the shape is deselected, it will merge with your image,
but you can still remove shapes with the eraser tool or undo your annotations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey3MBgR82cg
Extract text from any picture using the Snipping Tool in Windows 11
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sphoFKPQDw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5_oNfC0G3A
By selecting the pen or highlighter on the Snipping Tool tool bar, you can use the small dot on your
screen to circle or highlight the issue you want the HelpDesk to see.
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How to use a ruler in a Snipping Tool?
Open the document that you want to insert the image in. Select Insert > Pictures > Picture from
File. Navigate to the folder where the image is stored, select it, then select Insert.
Method 1: Screen Snipping by Hotkey or Shortcut (Rectangular Mode) Step 1: Press the Windows
logo key + Shift + S. Step 2: Select Rectangular Snip from the menu. Step 3: Drag your mouse
cursor over the area of the screen you want to capture. Step 4: Release the mouse button to
capture the screenshot.
The snipping tool is a powerful feature of most Windows computers and can be used to create
images of the device's screen.
After you select a mode (there are 4) and create a screenshot, it will open in the Snipping Tool
editor. There you can crop, highlight, draw, or write on your image.
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pictures\screenshots
Every snip you take is stored in pictures\screenshots.
Taking a Screenshot
Step 1 Open the Snipping Tool.
Step 2 Click the downward pointing arrow next to ``New''.
Step 3 Choose a snip type from the drop-down menu that appears.
Step 4 Click ``New''.
Step 5 Draw free-form around the object you want to capture.
Step 6 Release the cursor to take the snip.
The Snipping Tool is easy to use and lets you take screenshots, edit them, and annotate them in
Windows 10 and other Microsoft operating systems.
Step 1. Start Snipping Tool and select the window. Next, click the Record button with the
camcorder icon (the camera icon is for screen capture only) to let the tool know you want to use
this feature. Then click on the +New button in the top left corner of the window to begin a new
screen recording.
After you capture a snip, it's automatically copied to the Clipboard and the mark-up window. From
the mark-up window, you can annotate, save, or share the snip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=81KJ6NR5mYE
Activity:
System tools
Operating system tools are programs that help you manage and optimize your computer's
performance, security, and functionality. They can be built-in or downloaded from third-party
sources, depending on your needs and preferences.
Activity:
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Shortcut keys
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Ctrl + W Close Closes the active window or application
When it comes to function keys on a keyboard (F1 to F12), many of us rarely use them. But there is a
valid reason for them being there.
In fact, once you get to grips with them, they can become ’second nature’ and save you heaps of
time on a daily basis!
So check out our quick overview below and try a few of your own today.
F7 – Used to spell check and grammar check a document in Microsoft Apps (e.g. Word).
F8 – Used to access the boot menu in Windows when turning on the computer.
F9 – Refreshes a document in Microsoft Word and sends and receives emails in Outlook.
F10 – Activates the menu bar of an open application. Shift + F10 is the same as right clicking.
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