Chapter 2- Operating System

Define Window XP.

Window XP is a popular operating system. Windows XP uses a graphical user interface (GUI).
The commands are visible on the monitor as icons

Define Task Bar.

A taskbar is an element of a GUI. It is a bar which is located at the bottom of the screen that allows
quick access to current or favourite applications.

When you start the computer system, then start and task bar appears on the bottom of the screen
and by default remains visible when Windows is running.

Whenever a program is run or a window is opened, an icon representing the program appears on
the taskbar.
How to start a program ?
• Click on the Start Button.
• Click on the All Programs.
• Point to the desired folder say “Accessories” and select the desired program to run such
as MS Paint.
Define Help and Getting Help.
Help and support option is used to find how to do a task in windows.
• Click on a topic or task to know more about how to get the job done or type in a search
word to locate the help on a specific topic.
• Click on the ‘Index’ tab to locate specific topic listed alphabetically and the follow the
instructions displayed on the screen.
• Click on ‘Favourites’ tab to add Help Topics, search results to your Favourites list to
make them easy to locate in the future
• Click on ‘History’ to pick from a list of Help and Support pages that you have read in the
past.
• Click on’ Support’ to get various kind of online support such as Microsoft online support,
News Group on Windows.
• Click on ‘Option’ to configure the help and support center as per your requirement.
How to Search Files and Folders?

1. Click Start and click on Search.

2. 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.
3. Remaining options:
• In Look in, click the drive, folder, or network you want to search
Click on When was it modified? to look for files that were created or modified on
or between specific dates.
• To look for files of a specific size, click on What size is it? Select a size.
• Click on More advanced options to specify additional search criteria.

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4. Click Search
Define Control Panel.
The Control Panel is a component of Microsoft Windows that provides the ability to view and
change system settings. It is used to configure and manage almost all aspects of Windows,
including keyboard and mouse functionality, users and passwords, power options, network
settings, desktop background, display settings, sound settings, mouse settings, hardware and
software options, installation and removal of programs etc.
Define My Computer.
• My Computer gives a brief view of what one sees in the Windows Explorer.
• It displays the contents of floppy, hard disk, CDROM, and network drives.
• One can also search for and open files and folders, and use options in Control Panel to
modify computer’s settings.
To use My Computer, click on Start, and then click on My Computer.
storage Contents: Hard Disk Drives, double-click the drive and we can see as C: D: etc.
CD-ROM, or other media,
Removable Storage
What is File Management in Windows XP?
File management in windows can be done through Windows explorer or My Computer.
Windows Explorer displays the hierarchical list of files, folders, and storage drives.
Windows Explorer can be used to create, copy, move, rename, save, update, name and search for
files and folders.

How to Open Windows Explorer?

• Click on Start
• Click on All Programs
• Click on Accessories → Windows Explorer

How to Copy or Move a file or Folder using My Documents?

• Click on Start, and then click on My Documents.

• Select the file or folder which is to be copied or moved.
• Then Right click and click on copy or cut option.
• Then go to the desired location and paste it.
Otherwise use the shortcut keys.
For Copy a file -CTRL+C
For Cut or Move -CTRL+X
For Pasting -CTRL+V

How to select More than one file or folder same time.

• To select more than one file or folder consecutively, click the first file or folder, press
and hold down SHIFT key, and then click the file or folder.
• To select non-consecutive files or folders, press and hold down CTRL key, and then click
each of the files or folders
How to View file details
• Click on Start, and then click on My Documents.
• Double-click the folder that contains the files to be viewed.
• On the View menu, click Details.
• It will display all the details about the files such as Name, Type, size etc.
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.How to copy files or folders using windows Explorer?
Using Key board Shortcut Using Shortcut menu Using Menu
Select Start → point to All Programs → Select Accessories → Click Window Explorer
Select the Files/Folder which you want copy
Press Ctrl +C Right Click on the file/Folder Click Edit → Click Copy
Select Copy
Select the drive/Folder where you want to copy
Press Ctrl + V Right Click on the file/Folder Click Edit → Click Paste
Select Paste
How to create a new folder

• Click on Start, and then click on My Documents

• Select File, click New and select Folder.
• A new folder is displayed with the default name, New Folder.
• Type a name for the new folder, and then press ENTER.
Or
• Right-clicking a blank area in a folder window or on the desktop
• Pointing to New, and then clicking Folder
• Type a name for the new folder, and then press ENTER.

How to rename a file or folder

• Click on Start, and then click on My Documents.
• Click on the file or folder you want to rename.
• Select File, click Rename.
• Type the new name, and then press ENTER key.

OR
• File or folder can also be renamed by right-clicking it and then clicking Rename.
• Type the new name, and then press ENTER key.

How to delete a file or folder

• Click on Start, and then click on My Documents
• Click on the file or folder you want to delete.
• Select File, click Delete.

OR

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

Define Recycle Bin

• 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.
• 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.
• To permanently delete a file, press and hold down SHIFT and drag it to the Recycle Bin.
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How to install software?

• Windows provides a quick and easy way to install new software.

• Add or Remove Programs utility in Control Panel help to manage programs and
components on the computer system computer.
• Steps :
➢ Click Start, click Control Panel
➢ Double-click Add or Remove Programs.
➢ Click on Add New Programs, and then select the source where the software to be
installed is located such as CD ,USB etc.
➢ Follow the instructions.
How to change or remove software?

• Click Start, click Control Panel,

• Double-click Add or Remove Programs.

• Click on Change or Remove Programs, and then select the program you want to change
or remove.
➢ To change a program, click on Change button.
➢ To remove a program, click on Remove button.
How to add new features from Windows Update?

• Click Start, click Control Panel,

• Double-click Add or Remove Programs.
• Click Windows Update.
• Follow the instructions to locate and install new Windows features or
updates

How to add or remove a Windows component?

To be able to use this feature of Windows, the user must log in as an administrator or a member
of the Administrators group.
• Click Start, click Control Panel,
• Double-click Add or Remove Programs.
• Follow the instructions in the Windows Components Wizard.

How to install hardware?

Windows can helps you set up new hardware component such as sound card, video card or
network card etc. to our computer.
• Click Start, click Control Panel,
• Double-click Add Hardware.
• Follow the instructions on the screen.