Computer Fundamental & Office Automation

ADITYA KUMAR (ASST. PROFESSOR I.T. DEPT @ UTTAM INSTITUTE OF I.T AND MANAGEMENT, AGRA)

UNIT-4
Windows Operating Environment

The Features of a Microsoft Windows

Microsoft's line of Windows operating systems is the most used in the world. The original
Windows operating system dates back to 1981. Subsequent versions have included Windows
2.0, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP and
Windows Vista. The most recent, most advanced, and most feature-rich version of the operating
system is Windows 7.

Historical Features
MS-DOS was the earliest consumer operating system that gained Microsoft worldwide attention.
In the beginning, Windows was regarded primarily as a graphical user interface (GUI) that did
little more than provide an easier and more visually pleasing way to use MS-DOS. What
eventually made Windows a standout operating system was its ability to do what its name
implies--allow a computer user to have more than one program or process operating
simultaneously in various "windows" on the computer screen.
Advancements
As Windows matured, Microsoft added advances to make the user experience more enjoyable
and the development of software for the operating system easier. Windows 2.0 was the first to
feature Control Panel, a tool that allowed the user to navigate a graphical interface to adjust
settings on the computer. Subsequent advancements included peer-to-peer networking support,
Internet support and dial-up networking capabilities. Software became "plug and play," which
allowed users to insert diskettes (and eventually CD-ROM discs) into their computer and install
software more easily, something that was still at the time difficult on other operating systems.
Surface Features
Windows 7, released in 2009, is Microsoft's most recent iteration of the Windows operating
systems. On the surface, it features full 64-bit support, remote media streaming, and touchscreen
functionality (when paired with a touchscreen monitor). It also features a new tool call Jump
Lists, which makes accessing your most used media and programs easier. The desktop features
Snap, a new way to organize, order and size the windows on your desktop so that they are easier
to read and compare.
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Computer Fundamental & Office Automation
ADITYA KUMAR (ASST. PROFESSOR I.T. DEPT @ UTTAM INSTITUTE OF I.T AND MANAGEMENT, AGRA)

Advanced Features
Taking a cue from Apple's OS X operating system, Windows 7 features "Sleep" and "Resume"
functionality. The search system has been made quicker and easier to navigate. Memory usage
has also been optimized to ensure faster and more reliable performance. Windows 7 has also
been redesigned for better power management through the reduction of background activities,
less power-hungry media drives, automatic screen dimming and the intelligent and automated
removal of power to unnecessary accessory ports.
Control Panel (Windows)
The Control Panel is a part of the Microsoft Windows graphical user interface which allows
users to view and manipulate basic system settings and controls via applets, such as
adding hardware, adding and removing software, controlling user accounts, and
changing accessibility options. Additional applets can be provided by third party software.

The Control Panel has been an inherent part of the Microsoft Windows operating system since
Windows 2.0 with many of the current applets being added in later versions. Beginning with
Windows 95, the Control Panel is implemented as a special folder, i.e. the folder does not
physically exist, but only contains shortcuts to various applets such as Add or Remove Programs
and Internet Options. Physically, these applets are stored as .cpl files. For example, the Add or
Remove Programs applet is stored under the name appwiz.cpl in the SYSTEM32 folder.
In recent versions of Windows, the Control Panel has two views, Classic View and Category
View, and it is possible to switch between these through an option that appears on either the left
side or top of the window.
Many of the individual Control Panel applets can be accessed in other ways. For instance,
Display Properties can be accessed by right-clicking on an empty area of the desktop and
choosing Properties.
The classic view consists of shortcuts to the various control panel applets, usually without any
description (other than the name). The categories are seen if the user use "Details" view.
The category view consists of categories, which when clicked on display the control panel
applets related to the category. In Windows Vista, the category used applets below the name of
the category.
The Control Panel can be accessed quickly by typing control in the Run dialog box (⊞ Win+R)

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Computer Fundamental & Office Automation
ADITYA KUMAR (ASST. PROFESSOR I.T. DEPT @ UTTAM INSTITUTE OF I.T AND MANAGEMENT, AGRA)

The taskbar
The taskbar is the long horizontal bar at the bottom of your screen. Unlike the desktop, which
can get obscured by open windows, the taskbar is almost always visible. It has three main
sections:
 The Start button  , which opens the Start menu. See The Start menu (overview).
 The middle section, which shows you which programs and files you have open and allows
you to quickly switch between them.
 The notification area, which includes a clock and icons (small pictures) that communicate
the status of certain programs and computer settings.
You're likely to use the middle section of the taskbar the most, so let's look at it first.

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Computer Fundamental & Office Automation
ADITYA KUMAR (ASST. PROFESSOR I.T. DEPT @ UTTAM INSTITUTE OF I.T AND MANAGEMENT, AGRA)

Keep track of your windows

If you open more than one program or file at a time, you can quickly start piling up open
windows on your desktop. Because windows often cover each other or take up the whole screen,
it's sometimes hard to see what else is underneath or remember what you've already opened.
That's where the taskbar comes in handy. Whenever you open a program, folder, or file,
Windows creates a corresponding button on the taskbar. The button shows an icon that
represents the open program.
The desktop
The desktop is the main screen area that you see after you turn on your computer and log on to
Windows. Like the top of an actual desk, it serves as a surface for your work. When you open
programs or folders, they appear on the desktop. You can also put things on the desktop, such as
files and folders, and arrange them however you want.
The desktop is sometimes defined more broadly to include the taskbar. The taskbar sits at the
bottom of your screen. It shows you which programs are running and allows you to switch
between them. It also contains the Start button  , which you can use to access programs,
folders, and computer settings.

Working with desktop icons

Icons are small pictures that represent files, folders, programs, and other items. When you first
start Windows, you'll see at least one icon on your desktop: The Recycle Bin (more on that
later). Your computer manufacturer might have added other icons to the desktop. Some
examples of desktop icons are shown below.

Examples of desktop icons

Double-clicking a desktop icon starts or opens the item it represents.
Adding and removing icons from the desktop
You can choose which icons appear on the desktop—you can add or remove an icon at any time.
Some people like a clean, uncluttered desktop with few or no icons. Others place dozens of icons
on their desktop to give them quick access to frequently used programs, files, and folders.
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Computer Fundamental & Office Automation
ADITYA KUMAR (ASST. PROFESSOR I.T. DEPT @ UTTAM INSTITUTE OF I.T AND MANAGEMENT, AGRA)

If you want easy access from the desktop to your favorite files or programs, you can create
shortcuts to them. A shortcut is an icon that represents a link to an item, rather than the item
itself. When you double-click a shortcut, the item opens. If you delete a shortcut, only the
shortcut is removed, not the original item. You can identify shortcuts by the arrow on their icon.

A file icon (left) and a shortcut icon (right)

Moving icons around
Windows stacks icons in columns on the left side of the desktop. But you're not stuck with that
arrangement. You can move an icon by dragging it to a new place on the desktop.
You can also have Windows automatically arrange your icons. Right-click an empty area of the
desktop, click View, and then clickAuto arrange icons. Windows stacks your icons in the
upper-left corner and locks them in place. To unlock the icons so that you can move them again,
click Auto arrange icons again, clearing the check mark next to it.
Hiding desktop icons
If you want to temporarily hide all of your desktop icons without actually removing them, right-
click an empty part of the desktop, click View, and then click Show desktop icons to clear the
check mark from that option. Now no icons are displayed on the desktop. You can get them back
by clicking Show desktop icons again.

The Recycle Bin

When you delete a file or folder, it doesn't actually get deleted right away—it goes to the
Recycle Bin. That's a good thing, because if you ever change your mind and decide you need a
deleted file, you can get it back. For more information, see Recover files from the Recycle Bin.

The Recycle Bin when empty (left) and full (right)

If you're sure that you won't need the deleted items again, you can empty the Recycle Bin. Doing
that will permanently delete the items and reclaim any disk space they were using. For more
information, see Permanently delete files from the Recycle Bin.

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Computer Fundamental & Office Automation
ADITYA KUMAR (ASST. PROFESSOR I.T. DEPT @ UTTAM INSTITUTE OF I.T AND MANAGEMENT, AGRA)

Windows application
A program that is written to run under the Microsoft Windows operating system, also called a
"Windows app." All 32-bit Windows applications run in the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of
Windows. Any 64-bit applications (there are few by comparison) require 64-bit Windows, which
is the standard on most modern desktop and laptop PCs.

Older 16-bit Windows applications can run in the 32-bit versions of Windows, including
Windows 95, 98, XP, Vista, 7 and 8. However, 16-bit applications do not run in the 64-bit
versions of Windows
Windows Accessories
Tools to meet special vision, hearing and ability needs
Here is how you find your Windows tools.
Click:Start > Programs > Accessories > Accessability
Let's start with a few vision, hearing and ability tools. The first one is:
 The Magnifier
In all windows OS's
The Magnifier is a display utility that makes the computer screen more readable by people who
have low vision by creating a separate window that displays a magnified portion of the screen.
Magnifier provides a minimum level of functionality for people who have slight visual
impairments.
Tip! 
Usually the Magnifier by default is set to show up at the top of the screen, but you can move it
around by using your left mouse button: Click ad hold down the left button and move the
magnifier window to where you want it, then let go of the button.
When you open the Magnifier a new window appears: The Magnifier Settings window. From
that window you can change the level of magnification, change the tracking and the
presentation.To get out of the magnifer mode simply click Exit
Here is another tool:
 The Narrator
From Windows 2000 and newer
The Narrator is a text-to-speech utility for people who are blind or have low vision. Narrator
reads what is displayed on the screen—the contents of the active window, menu options, or text
that has been typed.
Note! The Narrator is designed to work with Notepad, WordPad, Control Panel programs,
Internet Explorer, the Windows desktop, and some parts of Windows Setup. Narrator may not
read words aloud correctly in other programs. Narrator has a number of options that allow you
to customize the way screen elements are read.
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Computer Fundamental & Office Automation
ADITYA KUMAR (ASST. PROFESSOR I.T. DEPT @ UTTAM INSTITUTE OF I.T AND MANAGEMENT, AGRA)

The third tool I will mention is:

 The On-screen Keyboard

On–Screen Keyboard is a utility that displays a virtual keyboard on the computer screen. This
tool allows people with mobility impairments to type data by using a pointing device or joystick.
Besides providing a minimum level of functionality for some people with mobility impairments,
On–Screen Keyboard can also be helpful for people who do not know how to type.
Note! The program in which you want to type characters must be active while you are using
On–Screen Keyboard. The accessibility tools in the Windows operating system are intended to
provide a minimum level of functionality for users with special needs. 
Windows tools 
to help you optimize your computers performance
In the Windows Accessories you wil also find some very handy tools that will help you keep
your system running smoothly. It's a good idea to get aquanted with these tools and how to use
them.
You find the tools by clicking System Tools from the Accessories menu
The most important accessories to know are:
 Back Up
 Disk Cleanup
 Disk Defragmenter
Backup!
Where I come from, we have a saying "Real men do not back up!". The very same "real men"
always come to me for help, when they run into trouble from NOT having backed up anything
and their hard drive crashes. Unfortunately there is nothing I can do to help them - other than
point out to them that in MY opinion "real men" are smart men, who DO back up important files
on a weekly or monthly basis, - time frame depending on how much they use their computers
and how important to them their work is.
So take my advice and learn how to Backup!
The Backup accessory in the Windows Accessories menu makes it easy to backup all your
important files. If you click through the backup wizard presented to you when you
click Backupfrom the System Tools menu you will find several choices for backing up your
files. If you took my advice on how to manage your files and saved all your files in the
Documents folder or on the D: drive (if you have one), backing up your personal files is easy.
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Computer Fundamental & Office Automation
ADITYA KUMAR (ASST. PROFESSOR I.T. DEPT @ UTTAM INSTITUTE OF I.T AND MANAGEMENT, AGRA)

The Backup wizard gives you the oportunity to create a "System recovery Disk", too. This is a
handy tool if you're not TOO sure how well rotected you are from virus and other malware. The
restore dsc will include all data on your computer and the iles neccesary to restore windows in
the case of a major failure.
Note! Backing up means making a copy of files and store it on another media, such as a CD
Rom disk, a Smart drive or another hard drive.  Choose the one that suites you the best.For the
CD Rom backup option - of course - you will need a "Burner" to make a copy.
An external hard drive attached to your USB port is a good choice for backup media.
The next of the important accessories is:
 The Disk Defragmenter
When you click the Disk Defragmenter from the Windows accessories > System Tools menu

you will see this window.

The Disk Fragmenter sorts out the files on your drive(s) to optimize the space you are using.
Defragmenting you drive(s) periodically is a good tool for optimizing your computers
performance.
If you click the Analyze button first, the defragmenter will analyze the specific drive selected in
the window and tell you, whether or not it is time to go through the defragmentation process.

Notepad
Notepad is a basic text-editing program that you can use to create documents. For more
information about using Notepad,

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Computer Fundamental & Office Automation
ADITYA KUMAR (ASST. PROFESSOR I.T. DEPT @ UTTAM INSTITUTE OF I.T AND MANAGEMENT, AGRA)

 Open Notepad by clicking the Start button  . In the search box, type Notepad, and then,
in the list of results, click Notepad.

To create a log file in Notepad:

1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Notepad.
2. Type . LOG on the first line, and then press ENTER to move to the next line.
3. On the File menu, click Save As, type a descriptive name for your file in the File name box,
and then click OK.

Paint (software)
Paint (formerly Paintbrush for Windows) is a simple computer graphics program that has been
included with all versions of Microsoft Windows. It is often referred to as MS Paint or Microsoft
Paint. The program mainly opens and saves files as Windows bitmap (24-bit, 256 color, 16
color, and monochrome, all with the .bmp extension), JPEG, GIF (without animation or
transparency, although the Windows 98 version, a Windows 95 upgrade, and the Windows NT4
version did support the latter), PNG (without alpha channel), and single-page TIFF. The program
can be in color mode or two-color black-and-white, but there is no grayscale mode. For its
simplicity, it rapidly became one of the most used applications in the early versions of Windows
—introducing many to painting on a computer for the first time—and is still widely used for
very simple image manipulation tasks.

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