Operating System

Notes

2
OPERATING SYSTEM

The operating system in these days uses a Graphical User Interface (GUI). Here
you do not have to remember all the commands by heart. The commands are visible
on the interface. Nowadays, proprietary operating system and open source
operating systems are being used. As you are aware that proprietary operating
system requires licensing from the particular company whereas open source
operating systems can be downloaded freely without requiring any particular
license from the companies. The most popular proprietary operating system
available today is Windows. The Windows operating system has evolved over time
in the form of Windows 95, 98, 2000, XP, NT, Vista, 7. Currently Windows 7, 8
and 10 are in use out of which windows 7 is most widely used. In this lesson, we
will explain the main features and file management of Windows 7.

Objectives
After reading this lesson, you will be able to:

z explain the features of Windows 7;

z explain various icons and their features;

z define file management;

z create/delete/search/rename a file or folder;

z view file details;

z copy/move files or folders.

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 Operating System

2.1 Windows 7
Notes Operating system provides the interface for the hardware and software. When the
computer system with Windows 7 operating system is started, it will present a log-
in screen to logon to Windows or to network, if the system is part of a computer
network.
To logon the computer system, do the following:
z Enter the password (if it is password protected) (refer Fig. 2.1).
z Click on the key (→) or hit the Enter key.

Fig. 2.1: Login Screen

After the successful login, Windows 7 will allow you to work on the computer
system. The first screen which you see after login screen is the Desktop. Desktop
contains many elements. Let us discuss about the desktop elements now.

2.2 Desktop Elements

The most used Desktop elements are Start button, Task bar, Computer icon,
Network icon and Recycle bin icon.

Start Button
Start button will help you to do the major tasks in your computer system like
choosing the installed programs, searching programs or files, shutting down the
Windows, etc. When you click the start button, a menu appears as follows (refer

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Fig. 2.2) on the screen which will list the available options to start using the
Windows.
Notes

Search box

Start Button

Fig. 2.2: Start Menu

The following table will give you the brief information about the tasks of the start
menu and its descriptions.
Table 2.1: Start Menu Options And Descriptions
Start Menu Option Description
All Programs Displays a list of installed program, which a user
can start or use.
Documents Displays letters, reports, notes and other kind of
documents stored in ‘documents’ folder.
Pictures Displays and organizes list of digital pictures
those are saved in the folder ‘pictures’.
Music Displays a list of music and other audio files from
the ‘My Music’ folder.
Computer Shows the disk drives and hardware connected to
this computer.

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Control Panel Used to change the system settings and customize

the functionality of your computer and to install/
Notes
uninstall a program.
Devices and Printers Displays list of devices (printers, mouse, keyboard
...) installed in your computer system.
Default Programs Choose default programs for web browsing, e-
mail, playing music etc.,
Help and Support Start the Windows Help and support program to
find how to do a task in Windows.
Search Program and Files Helps the user to search the documents, files and
(search box) folders saved previously on this computer.
Switch User Switch between windows users without closing
the programs.
Log Off Close programs and log off the currently logged in
user of the system.
Lock You can lock your computer by choosing this
option. A password (if set) will be required to
unlock again.
Restart Closes all open programs, shuts down Windows,
and then starts Windows again.
Sleep Saves your session, and puts the computer in a
lower power state so that you can resume working
later.

Task Bar
When you start the computer system, then start button and task bar (refer Fig. 2.3)
appears on the bottom of the screen and by default remains visible when Windows
is running. You can place the taskbar on the right side of the screen also. Whenever
a program is run or a window is opened, an icon representing the program appears
on the taskbar. To switch between windows or the program, click on the icon
representing the window on the task bar. When the program or window is closed,
the icon disappears from the task bar.

Fig. 2.3: Task Bar

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Start a Program
To start a program, do the followings;
Notes
z Click on the ‘Start’ button.
z Click on the ‘All Programs’.
z Point to the desired folder say ‘Accessories’ and select the desired program
to run such as ‘Calculator’.

Getting Help
Online help and support provided is of great help in using and learning Windows.
One can get help on a specific topic or current task being executed. To start help
z Click on the ‘Start’ button.
z Click on ‘Help and support’.
Windows help and support will be opened, refer Fig. 2.4. Type keywords in which
help is desired.
Quitting a Program
To quit a program select the close button in the upper-right corner of the
window OR click on ‘File’ menu and choose ‘Close’ option.

Close Button

Fig. 2.4: Help and Support Window

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Locating Files and Folders

Notes If you do not know where a document or folder is located, you can use the search
companion to locate it in the local storage such as hard disk, CD or in the network
drive.
To search for a file or folder
z Click ‘Start’ and click on ‘Search’.
z Type the name of the file or folder in part or full, or type a word or phrase that
exists in the file to be searched (refer Fig. 2.5).

Fig. 2.5: Searching a File or Folder

Changing System Settings

By using Control Panel’s tools you can customize the way Windows look and
work. Also you can install new hardware, add and remove (install/uninstall)
software programs, change the look and feel of your desktop and much more. It
also includes a number of administrative tools in administrative tools option for
better administration of Windows in terms of User Management Event viewer,
Component service etc.

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 Operating System

To start control panel and use the available tool, do the following:
z Click on ‘Start’. Notes
z Click on ‘Control Panel’ (refer Fig. 2.6).
z Select the desired tool to use.

Fig. 2.6: Control Panel

For example to change the user account settings and passwords for the users who
share the computer, click on the ‘User Account’ icon in the control panel.

Using Computer
When you open Computer icon (refer Fig. 2.7), that shows disk drives (hard disk,
CD ROM, DVD and network drives, etc.) and hardware which are connected to
your computer system. To see what’s on your hard disk, under hard disk drives or
CD or DVD or pen drives, double click the drive you want to see such as C:, D:,
etc. It will display the files and folders present in that particular drive. Then you
double click on the file which you want to work. The file will be opened in the
separate window.

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Notes

Fig. 2.7: Computer Icon

File Management in Windows

File management in Windows can be done through Windows explorer or Computer.
Windows explorer displays the hierarchical list of files, folders and storage drives
(both fixed and removable) on your computer (refer Fig. 2.8). It also lists any network
drives that have been mapped to as a drive letters on your computer. Windows
explorer can be used to copy, move, rename, and search for files and folders. For
example, to copy a file, you can open a folder that contains the desired file to be copied
or moved and then just drag and drop the file to the target folder or drive.

Fig. 2.8: File Management

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When files or folders are deleted from hard disk, Windows places them in the
recycle bin, where they can be retrieved, until the recycle bin is made empty. Files
or folders deleted from removable storage media such as network drive are Notes
permanently deleted and are not sent to the recycle bin.

Using Windows Explorer

To open Windows explorer:
z Click on ‘Start’.
z Choose ‘All Programs’.
z Then choose ‘Accessories’ and click on ‘Windows Explorer’.
Copying or moving a file or folder:
z Click on ‘Start’, and then click on ‘Documents’ (refer Fig. 2.9 and 2.10).
z Click the file or folder to be copied. More than one file or folder can be copied
at a time.

Fig. 2.9: Start Menu (Choose Documents)

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Notes

Fig. 2.10: Documents Folder

z Under ‘Edit’, select ‘Copy’ (or use the windows shortcut → Ctrl + C).
z Select the target drive or folder to which you want to copy the files.
z Under ‘Edit’, select ‘Paste’ to copy the desired file or folder to the target drive.
z To select more than one file or folder listed consecutively, click the first file
or folder, press and hold down ‘SHIFT’ key and then click the file or folder.
z To select non-consecutive files or folders press and hold down ‘CTRL’ key,
and then click each of the files or folders to be copied.

View File Details

To view the file details:
z Click on ‘Start’ button, and then click on ‘Documents’ (You can choose
computer or music, pictures, etc.).
z Double-click the folder that contains the files to be viewed.
z On the ‘View’ menu (refer Fig. 2.11), Click ‘Details’.
z It will display all the details about the files such as Name, Type, size, etc.

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Notes

Fig. 2.11: View Menu

Copying and Moving Files Using Explorer

To copy and move files using Explorer, carry out the following steps:
z Click ‘Start’, point to ‘All Programs’, point to ‘Accessories’, and then click
‘Windows Explorer’.
z Make sure the destination for the file or folder you want to move is visible.
z Drag the file or folder to the destination.
z If you drag an item while pressing the right mouse button, you can move,
copy, or create a shortcut to the file in its new location.
z To copy the item instead of moving it, press and hold down ‘CTRL’ key while
dragging.
z If you drag an item to another disk, it is copied, not moved. To move the item,
press and hold down ‘SHIFT’ key while dragging.
z Dragging a program to a new location creates a shortcut to that program. To
move a program, right-click and then drag the program to the new location.
You must be logged in as an administrator to move a program.

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 Operating System

Create a New Folder

Notes To create a new folder:

z Open Windows Explorer.
z Under ‘File’ menu, select ‘New’ and then select ‘Folder’.
z A new folder will be displayed with the default name, ‘New Folder’.
z Type a new name for the folder, and then press ‘ENTER’.
z A new folder can also be created by right clicking on blank area, in a folder
window or on the desktop, choose ‘New’ and then select ‘Folder’.

Fig. 2.12: Windows Explorer

Rename a File or Folder

To rename a file or folder follow the steps:
z Click on ‘Start’, and then click on ‘Documents’.
z Click on the file or folder you want to rename.

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z Under ‘File’, click ‘Rename’.

z Type the new name, and then press ‘ENTER’ key. Notes

z File or folder can also be renamed by selecting the file or folder and then right
click it and then select ‘Rename’.

Delete a File or Folder

To delete a file or folder follow the under mentioned steps:

z Click on ‘Start’, and then click on ‘Documents’.

z Click on the file or folder you want to delete.

z Under ‘File’, click ‘Delete’.

z Files or folders can also be deleted by right-clicking the file or folder and then
clicking ‘Delete’.

z Deleted files or folders are stored in the Recycle Bin, till they are permanently
removed from the ‘Recycle bin’.

z To retrieve a deleted file, double-click the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop.
Right-click on the file to be retrieved, and then click ‘Restore’.

z To permanently delete a file, press and hold down ‘SHIFT’ key and drag it
to the Recycle Bin or click delete.

Install Software/Hardware
Windows provides a quick and easy way to install new software and hardware.
Programs and features option in Control Panel help to uninstall or change the
programs in your computer system. Device driver utility in Control Panel helps to
view / update your hardware’s settings and driver software.

Let us learn about installing software and hardware in the computer system.

Install Software
You can download the required software (free software) from the Internet or you
can use the licensed version of the software (available in the CD/DVD/USB).
Before you try to install any software kindly ensure that it is not malicious software
(the software which brings harm to your computer). Then locate the file you need
to install from the CD/DVD/USB or from your drive. Double click the file or run
the executable file (.exe) of that particular software and allow the programs to run.

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Follow the instructions of that program or software and finish the setup. It will
prompt the message that software is installed successfully in your computer.
Notes
To use the installed software click ‘Start’ menu → choose ‘All Programs’ option
and then choose the software which you have installed.
You can uninstall the software which you want to remove from your computer
system. Follow the below mentioned steps for uninstalling.
z Click ‘Start’ → click ‘Control Panel’.
z Choose ‘Programs and Features’ option.
z Choose the software which you want to uninstall.
z Right click on the name of the software and choose ‘Uninstall’ (refer Fig.
2.13).

Fig. 2.13: Uninstall or Change a Program

Install Hardware
Windows can help you to set up new hardware components such as sound card,
video card or network card, etc., to your computer.
z Click ‘Start’. Click ‘Control Panel’.
z Double Click ‘Device Manager’.
z Right click the root node and then choose ‘Add Legacy Hardware Option’
(refer Fig. 2.14).

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Notes

Fig. 2.14: Adding Hardware

z Add hardware wizard dialog box will open (refer Fig. 2.15).
z Follow the instructions for adding the hardware.

Fig. 2.15: Add Hardware Wizard

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Notes Intext Questions 2.1

1. State True or False
(a) Deleted files or folders are not stored in the recycle bin.
(b) Under File menu you can choose the rename option for renaming the
file.
(c) To select non-consecutive file or folder press and hold down the shift
key.
2. Fill in the blanks:
(a) When you start the computer system, by default the task bar appears at
..................... of the screen.
(b) To permanently delete a file, press and hold down ..................... and
drag it to the Recycle Bin.

What You have Learnt

z Whenever a program is run or a window is opened, an icon representing the
program appears on the taskbar.
z To switch between windows or the programs, press tab key and choose the
windows or the programs or click on the icon representing the window on the
task bar.
z Windows explorer displays the hierarchical list of files, folders, storage drives
on your computer and lists any network drives that have been mapped to as
a drive letters on your computer.
z Dragging a program to a new location creates a shortcut to that program.
z To retrieve a deleted file, double-click the ‘Recycle Bin’ icon on the desktop.
Right-click on the file to retrieved, and then click ‘Restore’.

Terminal Exercise
1. List out various steps to delete a file or folder.
2. Write down the steps to search for a file or folder.

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3. Describe file management in Windows.

4. Differentiate between copying and moving file. Notes
5. Write down the steps for:
(a) creating a new folder
(b) renaming a file or folder

Answers to Intext Questions

2.1
1. (a) False (b) False (c) False
2. (a) Bottom (b) shift

Key Learning Outcomes

Be able to:
z identify the desktop elements and use various icons available on the
desktop for accessing the programs.
z manage the files and folders in the computer system.

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